When discussing polyamory, I am often confronted by people who think it is reasonable to limit their pool of prospective partners to a single category. This is often summarized by the cliche of the Unicorn, the Hot Bi Babe. People confuse the very understandable desire to, say, limit their choices to people who don't want to eat babies in the middle of the night, with the idea that a single type of person is the only possible person that can make them happy.
What happens is that they say "I know for a fact that I can only be happy if I and my wife share the same person, and that person has no other partners, and we all live together in a house and raise children together and live off the proceeds from our chicken farm in Montana" (seriously, I was approached by a guy who said this once). They then set out to find exactly a single bisexual female to give up all present and future partners, to love them both equally, who wants to raise children, leave her home and job to move into their house, and raise chickens.
And then they wonder why they can't find it.
There *are* some things that are deal-breakers. For instance, I don't care just how much I might be attracted to the guy, if he likes slaughtering kittens, we're gonna have some relationship issues. If he thinks that the Man is the King of his Castle, we're gonna have some problems.
But these people often come up to Franklin and say "wow, you have so many bi female partners, you must be really lucky!" and Franklin hates that, with good reason. It completely negates all his hard work and effort to see people as who they are, not as providers for his happiness. It completely overlooks the part where Franklin *sees* each person individually and leaves himself open to finding out how that relationship wants to work out.
As I keep saying, I find spaces for the people in my life, I don't find people for the spaces in my life.
And, as it turns out, there has been a study on this very thing. It turns out that people who leave themselves open to just seeing what's out there, tend to be "luckier". People who focus on a single outcome tend to miss possibilities and potentials that "lucky" people don't miss. So when Franklin meets a woman, he just leaves himself open to learning about who she is and how she might naturally fit into his life and he into hers.
When the Percivals (i.e. Unicorn Hunters) meet a woman, they are not open to the experience of who she is, they are evaluating her on how she fits a narrow list of criteria, and when she doesn't fit that exact list, she is rejected wholesale as unsuitable. If she already has a husband, she is passed by without the Percival ever noticing that she actually *is* compatible with him and his wife, even with the husband, because the husband is also compatible and a quad could have formed. But, since it's not a triad with a hot bi babe, it's rejected.
People are notoriously bad at predicting what will make them happy. And this study shows that people who are not fixed on a single idea are often happier, and "luckier" in life.
So, go out and just meet people. See how things work without taking a preconceived notion of how you think they should work. You might find that this person is, indeed, incompatible. It doesn't mean you have to try dating everyone you come across, it means being open to considering the options and looking at it for what it is, not rejecting it for what it's not. You might find a relationship that brings everyone happiness that you never even considered before.
And, interestingly enough, there's a note in there about how lucky people consider both logic and emotion. The logical-only people fall into the "unlucky" category.
A decade ago, I set out to investigate luck. I wanted to examine the impact on people's lives of chance opportunities, lucky breaks and being in the right place at the right time. After many experiments, I believe that I now understand why some people are luckier than others and that it is possible to become luckier.
Jessica, a 42-year-old forensic scientist, is typical of the lucky group. As she explained: "I have my dream job, two wonderful children and a great guy whom I love very much. It's amazing; when I look back at my life, I realise I have been lucky in just about every area."
Over the years, I interviewed these volunteers, asked them to complete diaries, questionnaires and intelligence tests, and invited them to participate in experiments. The findings have revealed that although unlucky people have almost no insight into the real causes of their good and bad luck, their thoughts and behaviour are responsible for much of their fortune.
Personality tests revealed that unlucky people are generally much more tense than lucky people, and research has shown that anxiety disrupts people's ability to notice the unexpected. In one experiment, people were asked to watch a moving dot in the centre of a computer screen. Without warning, large dots would occasionally be flashed at the edges of the screen. Nearly all participants noticed these large dots.
The experiment was then repeated with a second group of people, who were offered a large financial reward for accurately watching the centre dot, creating more anxiety. They became focused on the centre dot and more than a third of them missed the large dots when they appeared on the screen. The harder they looked, the less they saw.
And so it is with luck - unlucky people miss chance opportunities because they are too focused on looking for something else. They go to parties intent on finding their perfect partner and so miss opportunities to make good friends. They look through newspapers determined to find certain types of job advertisements and as a result miss other types of jobs. Lucky people are more relaxed and open, and therefore see what is there rather than just what they are looking for.
I wondered whether these four principles could be used to increase the amount of good luck that people encounter in their lives. To find out, I created a "luck school" - a simple experiment that examined whether people's luck can be enhanced by getting them to think and behave like a lucky person.
One month later, the volunteers returned and described what had happened. The results were dramatic: 80 per cent of people were now happier, more satisfied with their lives and, perhaps most important of all, luckier. While lucky people became luckier, the unlucky had become lucky. Take Carolyn, whom I introduced at the start of this article. After graduating from "luck school", she has passed her driving test after three years of trying, was no longer accident-prone and became more confident.
Unlucky people often fail to follow their intuition when making a choice, whereas lucky people tend to respect hunches. Lucky people are interested in how they both think and feel about the various options, rather than simply looking at the rational side of the situation. I think this helps them because gut feelings act as an alarm bell - a reason to consider a decision carefully.
Richard Wiseman is a psychologist at the University of Hertfordshire. His book, The Luck Factor (Century), is available for £9.99 + £1.99 p&p. To order, please call Telegraph Books Direct on 0870 155 7222.
I keep finding these wonderful and sweet connections where I least expect them, and I have yet to have a single relationship go as expected. So I've tried recently to approach these things with as few expectations as I can manage, and just concentrate on what feels like the right course of action as I go along. Finding a space for the people, not people for the spaces is a really smart way of thinking about it. It is, after all, no one's responsibility but my own to fill my empty spaces; unbalanced bits are my project to figure out with myself, better not used to create unmeetable expectations for my sweeties, friends etc.
I don't know if it's possible to predict with any kind of certainty what is going to develop when one deepens intimacy with another person. That's part of the scariness, mystery and beauty of it.
My response to the 'you're so lucky' type of comment is generally a jokey 'I'm not lucky, just awesome in bed' - it's always fun seeing the reaction!
It is so true though, about finding spaces for the right people, and not vice versa. Just now however, I seem to have run out of spaces.
I'm having guilt at the moment, as I filled up all the spaces I had and then got ill, so I'm barely seeing friends family or partners at all. I guess I'm learning about sustainability!
Luckily (or cunningly chosen) my friends and partners all share the attribute of wanting me to be happy and healthy, so they're all being wonderfully patient right now.


iOS to Windows Phone to Android!
So as some of you may know, I was a long time iOS fanboy. I've been using smartphones since before it was cool, including Palm, HTC (Windows Mobile 5/6), iPhone (1, 3gs, 4s, and 5s), Motorola Droid (Android v2.2). Finally in 2014 I switched to Windows Phone 8 with a Lumia Icon. The switch was because I wrote a Windows Phone app, and was really impressed with the features in the testing device I bought (a Lumia 520). One of the biggest features, though it might sound silly, that I preferred in the Windows Phone was the back button. Why Apple still has no concept of this is mystifying. This one little feature improves the usability of a device immensely.
Now it's time for another leg of my journey. My experiences with Android have been limited and terrible. The Motorola Droid is the worst phone I've ever owned. In seven months it was plagued with problems, had poor reception (on Verizon which is hard to manage), and after three months the speaker went out. No more ringer! With that history I think it's understandable why I never looked back at Android. However, times they are a-changin' in the Android camp.
One of the nicest phones I've seen in a long time is the LG V10. I know most people don't think moving the buttons to the back of the phone is revolutionary, but it's a big change in the smartphone game. It's got impressive specs overall, and there's more innovation in Android right now than iOS for sure. Why am I leaving Windows though? Mainly because of my disappointment. I've been using a solid flagship phone for two years now in the Lumia Icon. It's specs are still very viable, and Miscrosoft phones seems to have a longer life than other smartphones. I could see myself using this phone for two more years easily without it being too slow. That being said, I'm sick of waiting for updated software. I had to jump through hoops to get the 8.1 release (Preview for Developers program specifically) in any decent timeline. There is also some disappointment that the latest flagships (Lumia 950/950 XL) aren't supported on Verizon. Where I live Verizon is the only network with coverage worth paying for. The final nail in the coffin for me was the lack of applications. Now I'm not trying to beat a dead horse here, because Microsoft has made great strides to add applications to the Windows Store.Specifically any kind of social media, game, utility, or media apps you want either have the top one or a similar one. The only remaining app stor problem is the small apps. Small banks for instance only support iOS and Android usually. Credit Card Companies (Except Citi who has a great Win Phone app) are missing too. It's these smaller utility apps that remove a lot of the functionality I was used to having with my iPhone before I switched. When I switched, I realized they weren't there, but I expected within a couple years to start seeing them filled in. Companies like Discover, Chase, and Capital One have no excuse.
So I'm switching back to Android this weekend. Specifically I've purchased a used Samsung Galaxy s5. While this isn't the newest, from what I've read it's a good solid Android phone. IT's supposed to get Marshmallow in May too, so this lets me experience a couple different iterations of Android. I won't be getting rid of my Windows Phone anytime soon. In fact a new flagship would likely drive me back in a heartbeat. Nevertheless, it's time I give this other platform some attention as a Mobile developer. I intend to port Offline Bible to the Android platform, so hopefully we'll see a new store addition soon. As far as going back to iOS, I don't foresee that anytime in the near future. I feel kind of like it's a been there, done that type of situation.
I'll be posting updates here on invalidpage.com as I work with the platform, and give you my thoughts.
As you can see the direct market competition areas between the two are astounding. Not all of them are feature for feature identical either. I hesitate to use Google Keep since my Google notebooks were taken away from me years ago. At the same time the Live Custom Domains doesn't offer any Site-type functionality. This post is on a Google Site. Obviously, it's used often at least by me.
While I've been an Apps For Domains user since the beta days, there's some features on the other side I'd like to have. Outlook.com is a much better webmail client. People means I don't HAVE to go to facebook and can still stay in touch. OneDrive's local sync is well though out where the Google Drive local installation simply made links to access the files online. Nevertheless there are good reasons why the Google Apps platform work for me. I just wish there was an easy way to mesh my favorites from both.
I attempted to mesh them somewhat through things like forwarding my mail from one to the other, and while it sort of worked, it still wasn't polished enough to call a solution. I guess we'll have to wait an see which direction these two end up taking. Personally I like them both.
I'm a big fan of Pocket. It let's me grab things I want to read during the day, organize them, then read them at my leisure during the off hours. It improves my productivity because I no longer have to read stories as I see them, I can "Pocket" them, and know I'll get to them later. This works well for most sites. Generally news sites and blogs have a format that slims the content down to make more pages. While this does possibly lend some good data (i.e. which people are simply clicking through, and who reads the whole article), it lends itself to annoyance for the pocket users. When I go to pocket and find the first piece of a ten part story it leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth. Many sites do have a print layout link, which helps a lot. ZDNet on the other hand doesn't (or at least not that I can find). Perhaps they don't want those of us who prefer to read sans browser. Perhaps they just didn't realize that group was there.
Google Sites for a Blog?
This is a great venture into the territory of un-managing my website. For years I have handled hosting providers, wrangle a great deal of PHP/MySql and ASP.NET. Installed Wordpress. Cried. Tried other alternatives. Installed Wordpress again, and now I'm venturing into the Can Google Apps Sites work for a simple personal Blog? I'll be sure to let you know what I think as I go along. I hope you enjoy.


text:
Auraptene is a natural bioactive monoterpene coumarin ether. It was first isolated from members of the genus Citrus.

Auraptene has shown some effect as a chemopreventative agent against cancers of liver, skin, tongue, esophagus, and colon in rodent models.

See also
 C19H22O3

References

Terpeno-phenolic compounds
Coumarins
Ethers

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


These videos have been produced solely for educational purposes and may not be copied or shared elsewhere without the expressed written permission of the Basset Hound Club of Southern California, Inc. or it's designee.
Please note that these videos may take a while to load on your device. They are hosted on our YouTube account.
This is just a quick introduction video of what we're celebrating in 2016. It gives the viewer an idea of why this celebration is so important.
This video documents the very beginning of bassets up to the time when the name Basset Hounds was widely accepted for our specific breed of short hounds. It is in no way intended to be a complete history of that period. to do that it would take a lot more time and lengh of video to tell it all.
Over the years many of the leading ladies of Hollywood have owned Basset Hounds. This video shows just a few of them.
Over the years many famous men have owned Basset Hounds. This video shows just a few of them.
These videos were created by our webmaster, Don Bullock, as part of the 2016 Sesquicentennial Celebration of the contributions of Lord Galway to our breed. They are meant for educational purposes only and may not be copied or reproduced. We hope you enjoy them.


Great economics professors. Location is amazing. Opportunity to succeed/excel as a transfer student.
Recreation department is abysmal. Social scene is lacking unless you're in a greek life. Courses are academically geared in the economics major, despite the fact that most graduates will be going directly into a business career after school.
As an economics major, spend time and seek resources focusing on career development, although these opportunities are somewhat lacking at UCLA.
Very competitive scene on south campus. If you're in the sciences or engineering come prepared.
I would highly recommend this school. It's an elite university, and even though it doesn't come with the casual grading styles of schools like Harvard and Stanford you'll learn in a way you never thought possible in an incredibly fun city. Job prospects for graduates are a huge positive as well.
High focus on a balance between academics and research. Various major degree requirements, depending on department. Lectures ranging from 60-300 and discussions ranging from 10-20 people in a class. College Academic Counseling as well as departmental counseling for individual majors.
The residential housing community is a great place to live and helps foster a very comforting transition into college. Campus is gorgeous and walking distance from residential halls. Crime is rare.
Lots of the lower division classes for life science majors are the same so it's nice to have the option to switch majors and it's nice to have many people in your classes.
The dining is amazing. When I go home for breaks I actually start to miss the dining hall food. i never feel unsafe on campus and see people I know all over the place.
Personal statements were very important, however the questions were broad enough that you could bend what you want to write about to make it fit. The application was pretty general.
Admissions was primarily based on GPA and SAT scores. However, it was very selective, and also considered essays and extra curricular activities.
We have basic general education requirements that one must fulfill before graduation. Some large lectures fit up to 500 students so classes can be large but will always be divided into smaller groups called discussions that meet with a TA who is studying in that subject. Ucla is very competitive especially in the premed classes and is a heavy workload. Study abroad is available is often utilized.
Dorm housing is a toss up based on what building you get. Cost is very high because it is in. A nice LA area. There are amazing facilities on campus, 17 libraries, sports fields, largest student union, grassy areas, etc. Safe campus.
The UC application requires a variety of background information from grades to volunteer work to employment and extra curricular activities. It also asked for 2 personal statements based on given prompts. The nursing school application required a resume, application form, and separate 3-4page essay.


Hurricane Michael ripped a hole in the roof of Amy Bauer's tiny apartment in Springfield, a poor Panama City neighborhood. An administrative assistant in her early 50s who gets paid by the hour, she met the storm with no cash on hand, no extra food, no batteries, no flashlights. Evacuation was an economic impossibility, so in the rush before the hurricane hit, she used her limited means to provide for those she cared about most — her seven dogs. In the five days since the storm struck, she's been hungry. The National Guard visited and donated two military meals, but that's not enough.
Little discussed in the aftermath of Michael is the soaring poverty rate in Panama City and the suffering of its residents following the Category 4 storm's landfall. Much attention has been focused on the ten to 15 feet of high storm surge that all but obliterated the sleepy resort town of Mexico Beach, but the storm also battered eastern portions of Panama City, which happen to be some of its poorest. "They got the direct hit of the eye wall, and they got the stronger wind coming off of the water," meteorologist Bryan Norcross explains.
Panama City's poverty is extraordinarily high and rose by almost 18 percent in just four years. About one in five residents lives below the poverty line, according to U.S. Census data.
Public order in Panama City has taken a hit in the wake of Hurricane Michael. A damaged mechanic's shop in the Springfield neighborhood bears a grim and familiar warning.
In the city's working-class, eastern sections, relief efforts have been undertaken mostly by neighbors, churches, and volunteers. The power is still out. Cellular reception is spotty. Lines for hot food served at roadside stands set up by charities and volunteers dot the main streets, and the lines for meals stretch far back into still-flooded strip-mall parking lots. Folks accustomed to living paycheck-to-paycheck find themselves surviving hand-to-mouth. "We're the lowest of the low," Bauer says.
Michelle and Kenny Richardson, friends of Bauer's who live nearby, have dropped by to deliver whatever supplies they can spare. But they're not in a position to give much — the storm caused their home's roof to collapse too.
Williams takes care of four kids and his 80-year-old grandfather. "That's why I'm standing in this line," he explains. "They need to get fed." But when he reaches the food truck's window, there's disappointing news: It's one plate per body, nothing more. Those who don't make the line — or can't — don't get fed.
Amy Bauer's home in Springfield, Panama City. Bauer weathered the storm with only water and dog food for her seven pups.
After waiting in line in the hot sun for a meal for himself and his family back home, Jonathan Williams, of Calloway, walks away with only a single serving.
Though his own rectory is unlivable and his parish center's roof was wrecked by high winds, Nixon has turned his church parking lot into a drive-thru aid station. Families can pick up food, toiletries, and diapers — all without exiting their vehicles. One desperate woman even got a free jerry can of gas. Unfortunately, many people are still stuck in their homes by the thousands of toppled trees, Nixon says. He's coordinating with volunteers to try to get them aid.


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J A M M U & K A S H M I R E D I T I O N
Sopore youth's custodial death
Strike hits life in Valley
Srinagar, August 3
Life across the Kashmir valley was affected today due to a strike call given by separatists in protest against the custodial death of a youth,Nazim Rashid, in Sopore on Saturday.
Security personnel stand guard in front of closed shops in Srinagar on Wednesday. Photo: Amin War
Human rights panel seeks report
Taking cognisance of the death of a youth, Nazim Rashid Shalla, in police custody in Sopore on Saturday, the State Human Rights Commission(SHRC) has sought a report from the state authorities.
Buddha Amarnath Yatra begins, first batch leaves for Poonch
Probe to be completed soon: CM
Sopore youth dies in police custody
11 killed as bus falls into stream in Pahalgam
Governor interacts with research scholars
Cong leaders upset with govt over 'discriminatory' policies
Former bureaucrat likely to be first VC
Sarpanches, panches to be involved in Bani tehsil
Centre unveils Rs 10,000 crore road projects for state
Security beefed up in region ahead of Independence Day
Jammu, August 3
Ahead of Independence Day celebrations, the police has been put on high alert while the security has been beefed up across the Jammu region. The police is conducting security checks in and around the winter capital.
Security personnel check vehicles on the Banihal Cart road in Jammu on Wednesday. Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Security reviewed in Rajouri
Ahead of the Independence Day celebrations, the security forces today reviewed the security scenario in Rajouri division at a core group meeting chaired by Maj-Gen, KH Singh, GOC, Ace of Spades Division, at Rajouri.
Maj-Gen KH Singh, GOC, Ace of Spades Division, chairs a core group meeting in Rajouri on Wednesday. A Tribune photograph
LeT militant held on Jammu outskirts
Jammu/Srinagar, August 3
The security forces nabbed a hardcore Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant from the outskirts of the winter capital today. The militant had been leading a normal life in Jammu, said a senior police officer.
Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif plants a sapling at an Army forward post in Rajouri district on Tuesday. — PTI
'Chhari Pujan' today
"Chhari Mubarak", depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is being kept at Shri Ankleshwar Temple at the Akhara building in Srinagar for 'darshan' till the commencement of the main course of the pilgrimage on August 8.
NC following discriminatory policies: PDP
The PDP has been trying to cash in on the differences between the NC and the Congress over the distribution of funds to various districts.
Junior doctors continue strike, patients suffer
The functioning of the Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) and its allied hospitals remained affected for the second day today as junior doctors continued their strike.
Jammu University to rusticate habitual troublemakers: V-C
Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University Varun Sahni today warned troublemakers to desist from creating tension on the varsity campus by holding protests. Some student leaders had yesterday tried to burn the effigies of Chancellor of the university NN Vohra and Pro-Chancellor Omar Abdullah on the varsity campus, leading to a clash between the police and the protesters.
Vice-Chancellor of Jammu University Varun Sahni addresses mediapersons in Jammu on Wednesday. Photo: Inderjeet Singh
Morcha flays move on interim Vice-Chancellor
The Jammu Central University Morcha, a conglomerate of student and pro-Jammu parties, has demanded immediate establishment of the Central University of Jammu with a local academician as the Vice-Chancellor.
Time for rest
Pigeons perched on an electric cable in Srinagar on Wednesday.
— Reuters
Termite-damaged tree falls, 18 students injured
At least 18 students of National Public Higher Secondary School in Rajouri town were injured when a termite-damaged tree fell on them. Eyewitnesses said the students were playing on the school premises when the incident took place this afternoon.
Focus on constructing, widening roads: Omar
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has said proposals to construct important tunnels in the state are being taken up with the Central government and hoped that the funds for these projects would be sanctioned in view of their economic importance.
'Follow Gandhi's ideology'
The Gandhi Global Family is promoting international understanding and cooperation by strengthening people-to-people contacts among nationals of various countries for the maintenance of world peace.
Dr Thappa gets additional charge of MS
The state government has given the additional charge of the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Government Psychiatric Diseases Hospital, Jammu, to Dr Jagdish Raj Thappa, Head of the Department of Psychiatry in Government Medical College and Hospital, here.
Ehsan Fazili/TNS
There were reports of clashes between youth indulging in stone throwing and the police here.The clashes led to a complete shutdown.There was a heavy deployment of the security forces.All the shops and business establishments here and in other major towns of the Valley were closed and passenger transport was off the road. Educational institutions were closed and there was a thin attendance in banks and government offices.However, private vehicles and autorickshaws were plying in many areas.
Sopore, Baramulla and Bandipore towns have been observing a strike for the past three days against the custodial death.The other major towns of the Valley, including Kupwara and Handwara in north Kashmir, Budgam and Ganderbal in central Kashmir and Anantnag, Pulwama, Shopian and Kulgam also observed a strike today in response to the separatists' call. All the shops and business establishments in the towns were closed and traffic was off the road.
The strike call,which was given by the Geelani faction of the Hurriyat Conference, was supported by the moderate faction of the party and other organisations. Separatist leaders,including Syed Ali Geelani,Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and others were placed under house arrest to prevent them from visiting Sopore.
While three policemen were suspended immediately after the death of the youth in police custody,the SP,Sopore, was transferred yesterday to ensure a fair probe into the incident.
It has issued a notice to the state government through the DGP and the Deputy Commissioner, Baramulla, seeking the report. The case would be taken up for further action on September 5, according to an SHRC order.
The action was taken in view of media reports about the "gravity of the situation, alarming facts and incriminating circumstances" pointing to the prima facia custodial torture resulting in the death of Nazim Rashid, a resident of Krankshivan, Sopore.
The youth's death has led to tension in Sopore and other towns for the past four days.
Ravi Krishnan Khajuria/TNS
While securitymen in civvies have already been deployed at crowded places and busy markets, the police has set up additional check-posts in the city.
Recently, the 16 Corps Commander, Lt-Gen JP Nehra, had stated that there were around 175 militants across the Jammu region.
Police sources said forces inimical to peace, including militants, might try to disrupt the celebrations on August 15.
"Every year, when national festivals draw near, we step up vigil against anti-national elements and in this connection, we have set up additional check- posts where the police is being assisted by the CRPF," said a senior police officer.
Policemen had also been deployed at the Parade Ground, including the mini-stadium, where the main function was held every year.
Similarly, the security grid at the border had also been strengthened. While the BSF had intensified patrolling along the 198-km-long international border, the force had also alerted its posts, besides directing VDC members to keep a strict vigil, said the officer.
In reply to a question, he said the police and other security agencies could not afford to remain off-guard in a sensitive state like Jammu and Kashmir.
"We don't have any specific intelligence inputs of a possible terror strike on Independence Day, but past experiences doesn't allow us to remain complacent," he said.
Recent Mumbai blasts were an example for the security forces, so "we cannot take any chances with the security", he added.
The meeting was attended by all sector commanders and senior officials from the civil administration, the police and intelligence agencies.
Those who attended the meeting included the DIG, Rajouri-Poonch, R K Yadav, , the Deputy Commissioner, Rajouri, G A Khwaja, the Deputy Commissioner, Poonch, A K Sahu, the SSP,Rajouri, VS Samyal, the SSP, Poonch, Ashkoor Ahmed Wani, besides other officers from the intelligence agencies.
The conference deliberated on various issues concerning the prevailing situation and reviewed the security arrangements for the ongoing Buddha Amarnath Yatra and the forthcoming Independence Day celebrations.
Various intelligence inputs were shared by the representatives concerned and it was observed that the coming days were crucial from the security point of view.
Besides these, other issues of mutual concern such as Sadhbhavna projects, the construction and development of roads in border villages such as Kirni village and land cases were also deliberated upon.
In his concluding remarks, the GOC stressed the need to maintain continuous vigil and alertness by all means and lauded the excellent cooperation between all the agencies which had resulted in achieving peace.
An Army spokesperson said on specific information, a team of the Army and the police apprehended the LeT militant, Mushtaq Ahmed, alias Mustafa, alias Master, from the Belicharana area on the outskirts of Jammu.
Mushtaq was a resident of the Budhan area in Reasi district. He was apprehended during the intervening night of August 2 and 3. He joined the LeT in 2004 and was active in Gool, Reasi and the adjoining areas of Rajouri and Poonch along with his other Pakistan accomplices, Haider, Abdullah, Abu Saad and Foreman, said the spokesperson.
Mushtaq was trained in the handling of weapons, explosives and radio sets. He had a vast network of overground workers and sympathisers in and around Reasi district, who had been regularly providing administrative and financial support to the militants. He had escaped during an encounter with the security forces in 2008 and had been living here since then.
Meanwhile, a militant was killed in an encounter with the security forces in the Handwara area of Kupwara district last night.
Acting on specific information about the presence of militants in the Butshugni Kawnar forest area of Handwara, the police and the 21 RR of the Army laid a siege,the police said.
The hiding militants opened fire at the troops, which was returned by the security forces, resulting in an encounter.
The traditional 'Chhari Pujan' will be performed at the Dashnami Akhara on the occasion of 'Nag-Panchami' here tomorrow, Mahant Deependra Giri said in a statement issued here.
Meanwhile, the Amaranth yatra in south Kashmir has been progressing satisfactorily on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
RK Goyal, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, has said, as per the Meteorological Department, the sky will remain mainly clear on Thursday and partly cloudy on Friday, while there is a possibility of light rain on Saturday, rain or thundershower on Sunday and light rain on Monday.
Goyal has again advised all the pilgrims to ascertain the weather conditions and get themselves medically examined before embarking on the pilgrimage. — TNS
Dinesh Manhotra
The PDP has been trying to cash in on the differences between the NC and the Congress over the distribution of funds to various districts. While Congress MLAs as well as a minister belonging to the party expressed resentment against the "discrimination" in the distribution of funds at District Development Board (DDB) meetings held recently, PDP leaders yesterday issued a joint statement prompting Congress leaders to "expose" the pick-and-choose policy of the NC.
Besides highlighting the differences between the Congress and the NC, the PDP expressed concern over the unending misery of the people. It said the state had been pushed into an unprecedented crisis due to "governance deficit" and the failure on the part of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to connect with the people.
To support their charges, they pointed out the ongoing protests in the city over the delay in making the Central University of Jammu functional.
"Why is the Central University of Jammu not being made functional? Why is the government adopting delaying tactics in this regard," they said.
The PDP leaders alleged that instead of addressing the issues of the people, the government had been using strong-arm tactics to stifle the voice of the people.
They said it was due to the wrong policies of the NC that the state had plunged into an unprecedented crisis. "The performance of the government is only on paper as instead of addressing the genuine problems of the people, it is busy giving press statements or conducting photo sessions," they said, adding that, "What to say of people, even the coalition partner Congress is not happy with its performance." "We have pointed out repeatedly that the government has been pursuing a pick-and-choose policy in sanctioning additional funds and the boycott of the DDB meetings by the Congress legislators has vindicated our stand," they said.
The Congress legislators had boycotted the DDB meetings at Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar. At a DDB meeting, a minister belonging to the Congress, Manohar Lal Sharma, had said the constituencies represented by the Congress MLAs were being neglected. Sources said Sharma had expressed his resentment forcefully.
Prominent among those who signed the press statement were former Rajya Sabha member Trilok Singh Bajwa, Ved Mahajan, Daman Bhasin, Falail Singh and others.
The junior doctors were demanding that the magisterial probe into the death of a Class XII student, Sukhbir Singh, be stopped. Sukhbir, who was stabbed by two students here on July 30, had died allegedly due to the negligence of some junior doctors of the GMCH.
The doctors also demanded stern action against former corporator and Congress leader Surinder Singh Shingari for allegedly provoking the members of Sukhbir's family, which, they claimed, led to protests in the hospital on July 30.
Following the strike call, the junior doctors of the SMGS Hospital, Shalamar Road, also abstained from duty and held protests on the hospital premises. However, the government had clearly told the doctors to return to work at the earliest, sources told The Tribune.
Meanwhile, patients and their attendants continued to suffer for the second day due to the doctors' strike. Patients at the GMCH and the SMGS Hospital were the worst affected. "The doctors did not bother to attend to patients. Under such circumstances the patients are at the mercy of God," said the attendant of a patient at the GMCH.
He felt that the essential services, particularly health care, where patients were totally dependent on the doctors and the paramedical staff, should not be allowed to be disrupted due to strikes and protests.
It may be stated here that the Jammu district administration has constituted a committee headed by Additional Deputy Commissioner Sheetal Nanda to conduct an inquiry into the incident. The committee has been asked to submit its report within 15 days.
Meanwhile, a deputation of striking doctors called on Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma today and apprised him of its demands and the present situation. The delegation led by Dr Satyainder Singh urged the Deputy Commissioner to withdraw the magisterial probe and register a case against Congress leader Shingari.
Sahni said the "habitual" troublemakers could be rusticated from the university. The university authorities were preparing a list of "outsiders" as well as some university students, who often caused tension on the campus.
Addressing mediapersons here this afternoon, Sahni, after highlighting various achievements of the university, said, "We can't allow chaos on the university campus. In the past few days, there have been attempts to torch the effigies of the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor on the campus. We will not allow it to happen at any cost."
The functioning of Jammu University, which was a state institution, could not be allowed to be disrupted over issues like the Central university issue, he said while referring to the frequent protests by some leaders on the campus.
"We have to get over this culture of agitations on the campus as adopted by some elements," Sahni said.
To a question, the Vice-Chancellor replied, "I feel the time has come to deal with such habitual offenders. Burning the effigies of the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor on the campus is an assault on us and if they tried to do it again, besides dealing with them under the rules, the offenders would be rusticated from the university.
"While a majority of the students are busy earning degrees and building career, there are a few troublemakers," Sahni said, adding that the list of such elements was being prepared. The outsiders would be debarred from entering the varsity while the university students on the list would be dealt with as per the rules, he said.
Sahni added that the authorities had no intention to gag the voice of the students.
Getting tough
The torching of the effigies of the Chancellor and the Pro-Chancellor will not be allowed on the Jammu University campus, says Vice-Chancellor Varun Sahni
The university is preparing a list of troublemakers
Habitual offenders can be rusticated from the university
Outsiders to be debarred from entering the university
In a press statement issued here yesterday, the morcha criticised Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal for reportedly recommending the name of a former state bureaucrat as the interim Vice-Chancellor of the Central varsity to President Pratibha Patil. The university had already lost two academic sessions.
The morcha said Sibal at a meeting with its delegation on July 18 had agreed to appoint a local academician as the Vice-Chancellor of the Central varsity. "It seems ridiculous that a government is unable to find an academician of competence to head an institution already in demand and in news. Unlike a democrat, politician and visionary, which a minister is supposed to be, Sibal has shown no respect for the democratic values. He believes in crushing the voice of people ruthlessly," read the statement.
Appreciating the role of Jammu people, especially the students, in the struggle for making the Central university functional, the morcha leaders warned the Central and state governments not to test the patience of the people.
The statement was jointly issued by morcha leaders Rajinder Jamwal, Udey Chand, Prof Virinder Gupta, Rampaul Sharma, Balwinder Singh, Kuldip Chib, Mohinderpal Singh Pandu and RR Raina.
The injured students were rushed to Government District Hospital, Rajouri, while two critically injured students were referred to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Jammu.
The seriously injured students were identified as Nashi (12) and Sakina (12), both residents of Rajouri town.
Both the students suffered head injuries and were undergoing treatment at the emergency ward of the GMCH.
Omar said this while inaugurating a 38.5-km Lethpora-Panthachowk loop road project at Lethpora on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway near here today. He said his government had focused attention on constructing, upgrading and widening roads across the state to improve connectivity and link far-off areas with the main highways.
Omar said the inter-district road projects and main highways were receiving the concentrated attention of the government. "Boring tunnels in various areas to link the inaccessible and far-off areas and make travel easy and faster between various districts is also being given attention," he added.
He said there was an understanding between the state and the National Highways Authority of India to upgrade the national highway and fast-track the construction of the four-lane, 400 km Lakhanpur-Srinagar National Highway.
The 38.5 km Lethpora-Panthachowk loop road project consisting of five loops, five km Lethpora-Ladhoo, 8.8 km Pampore-Ladhoo, 6.7 km Ladhoo-Khrew-Wuyun, 6.9 km Wuyun-Sampora and 10.9 km Wuyun-Panthachowk has been constructed at a cost of Rs 33.23 crore. The carriage way width of the road is 6.5 metres. It has a bridge with a 7.5- metre span, one crossway, 55 number slab culverts, 21,000-metre pucca drain and 1,820- metre long breast wall. The project has been undertaken by the Economic Reconstruction Agency under Asian Development Bank funds.
State president of the Gandhi Global Family SP Verma said this while addressing district coordinators of the organisation of the Jammu region here yesterday. He said the members of the organisation had to play a vital role in propagating Gandhi's ideology throughout the country.
"It is a matter of pride that the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, has emerged as a beacon of peace for the rest of the world. Since we are the successors of the Father of Nation and his ideology is our heritage, we are duty-bound to study his ideology and preach it as well," he said.
Verma said under the leadership of its president, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the Gandhi Global Family was extending its branches worldwide. "Its membership shall remain open till August-end and its elections shall be held next month," he added.
Dr Thappa has relieved Dr Romesh Gupta, MS of Government Medical College, Jammu, of the additional charge.
Similarly, Dr AK Sharma has been given the additional charge of the MS, Government SMGS Hospital, vice Dr Romesh Gupta.
Dr Gupta will now be MS, Government Medical College. — TNS

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


In 2018 over 220 Immortal athletes were unleashed on the this 10k route with great results, and for 2019 we are hoping that you will be up for the challenge once more! Enjoying the same fantastic finish line experience outside Stourhead House as the Immortal Triathlon, the route will take in many of the stunning sights and views around Stourhead Estate and adjoining forestry. We cannot pretend this is an easy route, but to earn the right to become Immortal, it has to be tough.
The route follows quiet closed country lanes, forest tracks and trails and a has a total of 770ft/235m of climbing. The race will be a mass start, under the Stone Arch of the driveway to the house. It then runs through Stourton village, past the Lakes and crosses a dam, before starting the run for the trees. The loop through the forest takes in some beautiful clearings and pasture before returning to the dam and under the Stone Arch before returning through the village and onto the driveway to receive the respect and applause from gathered spectators and families. A fantastic medal and a technical t-shirt will ensure the race stays long in the memory.


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4781 Sládkovič – asteroide della fascia principale
 Andrej Sládkovič – poeta, critico letterario, traduttore e pastore protestante slovacco


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8 Powerful Nutrients Found Only in Meat
By Thomas Wrona Updated on November 28, 2021
Tags: Animal meat, Nutrients, Organ Meat, Red Meat
What Nutrients Are in Meat?
Other Nutrients in Meat
Nutrients Only Found in Meat: The Takeaway
The human body, and its most energy-hungry organ, the brain, evolved on a diet of mostly meat for nearly two million years. So it's no wonder that meat provides an abundance of essential vitamins and nutrients. Though plants also offer various nutrients, meat provides these nutrients in the forms that our bodies absorb and utilize the best–a concept called bioavailability. Among these bioavailable compounds, there are nutrients only found in meat.
The evolutionary importance of meat explains why vegans and vegetarians are susceptible to numerous nutrient deficiencies and often have to use supplements.
In this article, we'll explore the top 8 nutrients that can only be found in appreciable quantities, in meat.
Because of an anti-meat trend in mainstream dietary guidelines, meat is often overlooked when people think of nourishing, nutrient-dense foods. Yet the reality is that meat is the most nutrient-dense food on earth.
The chart below illustrates how a small selection of animal products offers an array of nutrients.
Below are eight of the top nutrients found only, or in appreciable quantities, in meat:
Heme iron
Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)
Vitamin D3 is both a vitamin and a hormone. In addition to being consumed via foods, your skin can make vitamin D when you get enough sun. This means vitamin D becomes especially important if you live in far northern and southern latitudes, and in areas with cold, cloudy winters.
Dietary vitamin D comes in two different forms: there's ergocalciferol (D2), from plant foods, and cholecalciferol (D3), from animal foods.
Study's show that cholecalciferol (D3) from animal foods is much more absorbable than its plant-based counterpart. [1] Nature's top D3 sources include fatty fish, beef organs, and egg yolks. [2]
People who don't get enough D3 from diet and sunlight may experience a variety of negative symptoms including depression, multiple sclerosis, and an impaired immune response. Recent studies show that vitamin D3 can help you fight viral infections including Covid-19 [3][4][5]
Vitamin B12, or cobalamin, is a B vitamin that's found primarily in animal foods like meat, fish, cheese, and eggs. [6] This makes B12 hard to obtain for vegans or vegetarians who limit their meat intake. [7] The symptoms of B12 deficiency include:
Chronic fatigue [8]
Psychiatric problems [9]
Neurological problems [10]
Increased risks of Alzheimer's disease [11]
Intergenerational neurological disorders [12]
Meat is a proven source of B12 and other B vitamins. Beef liver is nature's very best source, containing 2,471 percent of your RDA per 100 grams. While chicken liver offers 220% per 100 grams and is more palatable to most people. You can find a full beef liver vs. chicken liver comparison here.
While animal products are the best source of vitamin B12 by far, a select few plant foods also contain some quantities:
Nori (seaweed) [12]
Tempeh (fermented soy) [13]
Creatine is a molecule that provides easy-to-access energy to your muscles and brain cells.
Creatine may enhance muscle size, strength, and growth, which has made it one of the most popular bodybuilding supplements over the past several decades. [14]
Small amounts of creatine can be produced by your liver, but it takes much larger amounts of this substance to saturate muscle tissue. [15]
Thankfully you can find these larger amounts in red meat. Some carnivore diet proponents argue that eating several pounds of meat per day is just as effective as supplementing with creatine. Indeed, studies have shown that creatine supplements may not be of use to meat-eaters — implying that these groups already have plenty of creatine. [16]
Eating a vegetarian diet, on the other hand, is shown to reduce one's creatine levels. Vegetarians who partake in creatine-depleting workouts may have even more trouble maintaining their creatine stores. [17]
L-carnitine is an amino acid found primarily in animal foods. While it's not technically considered an "essential" amino acid, L-carnitine is nonetheless important. It may turn on 'fat-burning mode' enough to slow the decline of Alzheimer's and increase muscular endurance. [18]
There isn't yet an established RDA/RDV for L-carnitine, but many groups recommend that dosage in the 2-4 grams/day range is most beneficial. High enough doses may have a cardioprotective effect. [19]
Beef and pork contain the highest amounts of L-carnitine. 3 ounces of beef contains ~80 milligrams, 3 ounces of pork contains ~22 milligrams, and 3 ounces of fish contains ~5 milligrams. f
Carnosine is an important antioxidant that's found in the muscles and brain. [20] Like creatine, carnosine is directly tied to improved muscular strength and endurance. [21
While carnosine is considered non-essential, these benefits shouldn't be ignored.
Meat eaters get their carnosine via two pathways: directly from meat and eggs, and indirectly via beta-alanine (which is also found in meat and eggs). Unsurprisingly, vegetarians have lower carnosine levels than carnivores and omnivores do. [22]
There are two types of iron: non-heme iron from plants, and heme iron from red meat.
If you've noticed a trend yet, you can probably deduce that heme iron is better absorbed.
[23] Meat eaters generally have replete iron levels.
Non-heme iron, on the other hand, is poorly absorbed, and its bioavailability is often limited even further by the plant antinutrients that accompany it. These factors make anemia more common in vegans and vegetarians. [24]
DHA is an omega-3 fatty acid that protects the brain from inflammation and oxidative stress. [26] DHA deficiency can cause severe mental health challenges, especially in children, as they have such quick-growing brains. [27]
The best sources of DHA include fish, grass-fed beef, pastured eggs, algae, flax seeds, and chia seeds. The healthier an animal was fed and/or raised, the more omega-3's it tends to have.
Taurine is a sulfur-based compound found throughout the body and its vital organs. The full role of taurine isn't yet known, but it seems to play major roles in antioxidant production, bile salt production, and muscular function. [28] It's also factors into :
Central nervous system function
Immune regulation
Antioxidant effects
Maintaining hydration and balanced electrolytes
Taurine is only found in animal foods like beef, fish, and dairy. Dietary taurine likely contributes to your body's baseline taurine levels. As you might expect, that means vegans have lower levels of taurine than omnivores do. [29]
In addition to the hard-to-find nutrients above, meat is also rich in several other vitamins and minerals. Here are some of the highlights.
Vitamins in meat
Niacin works with other B vitamins to promote intracellular energy production.
In addition to obtaining niacin from diet, your body can synthesize it from dietary tryptophan. The best meats, eggs, cheese, and seafood all contain an abundance of niacin and tryptophan — allowing them to boost your body's levels via both pathways.
Riboflavin is another pro-metabolic B vitamin. Its top roles include releasing energy from the foods you eat, maintaining good vision, and promoting iron uptake.
The best sources of riboflavin are mostly animal foods: meat, milk, cheese, yogurt, are all right up there in terms of riboflavin content.
Vitamin A is one of the most important nutrients for eye and skin health. [30] Vitamin A may also prevent degenerative eye problems such as:
Night blindness
Animal foods, and especially beef liver are nature's best source of preformed vitamin A. The vitamin A carotenoids in carrots and sweet potatoes are 'precursors' that your body must convert into usable vitamin A, making them low bioavailability.
Minerals in Meat
Red meat is among the very best sources of dietary zinc. In addition to having greater amounts of zinc than virtually any plant food, the zinc in red meat is 4 times better absorbed. [31]
Zinc is yet another nutrient that vegans and vegetarians tend to be running low on — it's hard to hit your zinc RDA solely from plants and grains.
Staying replete in zinc (and copper, which it works closely with) allows your body to carry out several vital functions. In children, zinc promotes motor neuron and cognitive development; in adults, it promotes insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. And it's crucial to proper immune function for all ages. [32]
Selenium is a pro-thyroid nutrient that has indirect effects on several physiological functions. It's also especially good for your heart. Most cuts of beef contain 20-30 micrograms of selenium per 3 ounces.
Pork is an even better source of selenium: a cup of roast pork contains 122% of your RDV.
Obtaining your selenium from animal sources is likely more important than ever before since our soils are becoming depleted of it. Selenium is so important to immune health that areas with especially low-selenium soil often have higher COVID infection rates. [33]
In the chart of nutrients found in fruits and vegetables below you can see just how depleted our soils have become over decades of intensive agricultural use. Meat, on the other hand, is not as susceptible to soil depletion.
Humans evolved while consuming a carnivorous diet centered on meat. Meat contains a robust combination of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, some of which are impossible to get from other food groups, while other non-meat nutrients are poorly absorbed by the body.
Red meat, and organ meats in particular, is an exceptional source of:
No other food group comes close to providing so many nutrients in their most bioavailable forms.


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Please print these Stories before Yom Tov, so you can read them on Shabbos!
An Etrog from the Garden of Eden
It was the first day of Sukkot, and all the congregants in the shul (synagogue) of Rabbi Elimelech of Lizensk were in a festive mood. One could feel the "Yom-Tov" spirit in the atmosphere.
As Rabbi Elimelech stood at the lectern and began reciting Hallel, all eyes turned upon him. There was something unusual in his manner this Sukkot. Why did he stop so suddenly in the middle of his swaying as he held the etrog and lulav in his hands to sniff the air? And why did he not go through the Service in his usual leisurely manner? It was evident that something was on his mind, something rather exciting by the look on his radiant countenance.
The minute the davening (praying) was over, Rabbi Elimelech hurried to where his brother Rabbi Zusha (who had come to spend the festival with him) was standing, and said to him eagerly: "Come and help me find the etrog which is permeating the whole shul with the fragrance of the Garden of Eden!"
And so together they went from person to person until they reached the far corner of the shul where a quiet looking individual was standing, obviously engrossed in his own thoughts.
"This is the one," called out Rabbi Elimelech delightedly. "Please, dear friend, tell me who are you and where you obtained this wonderful etrog?"
The man, looking somewhat startled and bewildered at this unexpected question, replied rather slowly, carefully choosing his words:
"With all due respect to you, Rabbi, it is quite a story. Do you wish to sit down and listen to it all?"
"Most certainly I do," answered Rabbi Elimelech emphatically, "I am sure it will be a story worth hearing!"
"My name," began the quiet-looking man, "is Uri, and I come from Strelisk. I have always regarded taking the "four kinds" on Sukkot as one of my favorite mitzvot, and so, although I am a poor man and could normally not afford to buy an etrog according to my desire, my young wife, who agrees with me as to its importance, helps me by hiring herself out as cook. Thus she is independent of any financial help from me, and I can use my own earnings for spiritual matters. I am employed as melamed (teacher) in the village of Yanev, which is not far from my native town. One half of my earnings I use for our needs and with the other half I buy an etrog in Lemberg. But in order not to spend any money on the journey I usually go on foot.
"This year, during the Ten Days of Repentance, I was making my way on foot as usual, with fifty gulden in my purse with which to buy an etrog, when on the road to Lemberg I passed through a forest and stopped at a wayside inn to have a rest. It was time for 'minchah' so I stood in a corner and davened minchah.
"I was in the middle of my prayers when I heard a terrible sound of moaning and groaning, as of one in great anguish. I hurriedly finished my davening so that I could find out what was the trouble, and if I could help in any way.
"As I turned towards the man who was in obvious distress, I beheld a most unusual and rough looking person, dressed in peasant garb with a whip in his hands, pouring out his troubles to the inn-keeper at the bar.
"From the somewhat confused story, between his sobs, I managed to gather that the man with the whip was a poor Jew who earned his living as a baal agallah (owner of a horse and cart for carting purposes). He had a wife and several children and he barely managed to earn enough to make ends meet. And now, a terrible calamity had be fallen him. His horse, without which he could do nothing, had suddenly collapsed in the forest not far from the inn, and just lay there unable to get up.
"I could not bear to see the man's despair and tried to encourage him, by telling him that he must not forget that there is a G‑d above us who could help him in his trouble, however serious it seemed to him.
" 'I'll sell you another horse for fifty gulden, although I assure you he is worth at least eighty, but just to help you out in your difficulty!' " The inn-keeper was saying to the wagon driver.
" 'I haven't even fifty cents, and he tells me I can buy a horse for fifty gulden!' the man said bitterly.
"I felt I could not keep the money I had with me for an etrog when here was a man in such desperate plight that his very life and that of his family depended upon his getting a horse. So I said to the inn-keeper:
"'Tell me what is the lowest price you would take for your horse?'
"The inn-keeper turned to me in surprise. If you pay me on the spot, I will take forty-five gulden, but absolutely not a cent less. I am selling my horse at a loss as it is!'
"I immediately took out my purse and banded him forty-five gulden, the wagon driver looking on, his eyes nearly bulging out of their sockets in astonishment. He was just speechless with relief, and his joy was absolutely indescribable.
"'Now you see that the Almighty can help you, even when the situation appears to you to be entirely hopeless!' I said to him as he hurried off with the innkeeper to harness the newly-bought horse to his forsaken cart tied to the stricken horse in the forest.
"As soon as they went off, I hurriedly got my few things together and disappeared, as I did not want to be embarrassed by the thanks of the grateful wagon driver.
"I eventually reached Lemberg with the remaining five gulden in my pocket, and naturally had to content myself with buying a very ordinary looking but kosher etrog. Usually my etrog is the best in Yanev, and everyone used to come and make a blessing over it , but this year I was ashamed to return home with such a poor-looking specimen, so my wife agreed that I could come here to Lizensk, where nobody knew me."
"But my dear Rabbi Uri," cried out Rabbi Elimelech, now that the former had finished his story, "Yours is indeed an exceptional etrog. Now I realize why your etrog has the fragrance of the Garden of Eden in its perfume! Let me tell you the sequel to your story."
"When the wagon driver whom you saved thought about his unexpected good fortune, he decided that you must have been none other than the Prophet Elijah whom the Almighty had sent down to earth in the form of a man, in order to help him in his desperation. Having come to this conclusion the happy wagon driver looked for a way of expressing his gratitude to the Almighty, but the poor man knew not a Hebrew word, nor could he say any prayers. He racked his simple brain for the best way of thanksgiving.
"Suddenly his face lit up. He took his whip and lashed it into the air with all his might, crying out with all his being: 'Dear Father in Heaven, I love you very much! What can I do to convince you of my love for you? Let me crack my whip for you as a sign that I love you!' Saying which, the wagon driver cracked his whip into the air three times.
"On the eve of Yom Kippur, the Almighty up above was seated on His 'Seat of judgment,' listening to the first prayers of the Day of Atonement.
"Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, who was acting as the Counsel for Defense on behalf of his fellow Jews, was pushing a wagon full of Jewish mitzvot to the Gates of Heaven, when Satan appeared and obstructed his path with piles of Jewish sins, so that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak just got stuck there. My brother Rabbi Zusha and I added our strength to help him move his wagon forward, but all in vain; even our combined efforts proved fruitless.
"Suddenly there came the sound of the cracking of a whip which rent the air, causing a blinding ray of light to appear, lighting up the whole universe, right up to the very heavens! There we saw the angels and all the righteous seated in a circle, singing G‑d's praise. On hearing the wagon driver's words as he cracked his whip in ecstasy, they responded: 'Happy is the King who is thus praised!'
"All at once, the Angel Michael appeared, leading a horse, followed by the wagon driver with whip in hand.
"The Angel Michael harnessed this horse to the wagon of mitzvot, and the wagon driver cracked his whip. Suddenly the wagon gave a lurch forward, flattening the piles of sins that had been obstructing the way, and drove it smoothly and easily right up to the Throne of Honor. There the King of Kings received it most graciously and, rising from the Seat of judgment, went over and seated Himself on the Seat of Mercy. A happy New Year was assured."
"And now dear Rabbi Uri" concluded Rabbi Elimelech, "you see that all this came about through your noble action. Go home, and be a leader in Israel! For you have proved your worthiness, and you shall carry with you the approval of the Heavenly Court. But before you go, permit me to hold this wonderful etrog of yours, and praise G‑d with it."
Class is in progress. Talk all you want. The kids won't listen; they have gum stuck in their minds.
Children are very perceptive. And when my students notice the colorful jars of chewing gum in the synagogue, they know it isn't for the rabbi. Why would the rabbi need three jars full of gum? They figure the gum to be kosher, and they are right. But who is the bubble gum for?
I dont know if it's Karl Marx and Russian culture, or maybe it's the age, but whatever it is, it makes giving a present to some of these kids extremely difficult. Because after all, you have three big jars of gum; he or she has none. It is only justice for you to give.
Yefim says its not Marxism or anything like that. We simply did it to ourselves, the first Lubavitch pioneers, the ones who came before Coca Cola, when heaven still cost only one dollar.
One worker who remembers them won't budge without a promise of vodka. He knows the capabilities of the American. But he doesn't know that seven years ago vodka cost ten cents, and today its ten times that amount.
You can't blame them. Who dreamed that things would change? But times have changed. Six years ago the kids here went nuts for cheap video games; today the kids want Sega Genesis, and if it's not Sony, its not worth it.
My classroom is subject to intruders all the time. This is due to its location in the middle of the shul. Visitors or beggars don't disturb; only those truly worth it are a distraction.
On that day when the two Ukrainian officials walk in, all heads turn. Big Dima, the shul manager, walks them to the office. Senya, the driver, is also in on this. Something is going on, and we know somehow that it is linked with the bubble gum.
In accordance with Kharkov tradition, things are kept quiet. Knowledge is power, and that's what separates the men from the boys. The men know what's going on, and the boys have to wait and see. And that's what we do. We watch Senya take the jars and walk out with Dima and the two officers.
The two men are from the Ukrainian Health Department. The chewing gum had come on a Humanitarian Aid container, and the department of health wants to make sure everything is okay. Things are tested and found to be okay, except for three jars of gum. The government cannot see the gum as humanitarian. The gum is to be burned, and the two officers are to witness the death of the bubble gum.
Lunch break comes, and it is too cold to play outside. My students gather by the window. They too will witness the burning, the mass murder, of hundreds of colorful gum balls.
Keeping kosher to these kids means no gum balls. Now, finally, someone who cares, someone named Yefim, has gotten them kosher gum from America. And now this? Where is justice? Where is G‑d? My students have their faces up to the glass. Why? Why are they burning our gum balls?
Do they know that the kids are watching? Probably not, but that's only because the execution does not go as well as planned.
Senya places a brown cardboard box on the snow near the metal trash bin. The gum balls are poured in, then the gasoline. You don't have to be a scientist to know that the box will burn before the gum balls even get hot. And that's what happens.
The sides of the brown box curl in pain and quickly turns to ash. The gum balls roll out in a victorious march. Red, green, yellow, blue. The gum balls roll around the parking lot, leaving colored traces in the snow. The officers turn their heads; they have seen enough.
The kids are all laughing, and I tell them to get away from the window. The break is over. Class is in progress.
The Case of the Missing Esrog
It was the second day of Sukkot and my husband came home and cheerfully informed me that his lulav and esrog were nowhere to be found. He had given his set to a yeshiva student who was making rounds to hospitals and nursing homes, to give patients the opportunity to fulfill this important mitzvah. The young man, in turn, had passed in on to someone else who promised that he would personally return it. The chain broke down at that point but it was clear that someone had my husband's set of Four Species, and it was not he.
Unfortunately, I was unable to digest this news with the same equanimity that my husband displayed. A lulav-and-etrog set is not cheap—somewhere between $100 and $200 for a nicely grown, plump, unblemished citron and a firm, straight-backed lulav branch. This is on top of all the additional holiday expenses—new clothing and shoes for all the children, festive meals nearly every night.
Before I reacted, though, I recalled a story that I heard in childhood, of a poor rabbi who sold an heirloom set of tefillin, his only valuable possession, in order to afford a beautiful etrog. His wife was so incensed at what he had done that she grabbed the etrog and bit off its tip, rendering it unfit for a blessing.
My sympathies at that moment were completely with the rebbetzin, and I probably would have done worse things to the etrog, had it been in my possession. But our precious set of Four Species was currently in the hands of a well-meaning yeshiva student, who at the moment was trudging around Brooklyn to find Jews who had not managed to acquire their own set. This image calmed me down somewhat, at least enough to ask through clenched teeth: "And if you must lend out your lulav and etrog, why can't you at least buy a cheap set just for lending?"
"And why," my husband inquired patiently, "should a Jew in the street make a blessing over a lulav and etrog less beautiful than the one I choose for myself?"
I found it difficult to argue with his logic. People who spend over $100 on a set of fruit and branches will fall for a mystical argument anytime.
I reminded myself of another childhood story, of a different rabbi (or maybe it was the same one?) who set out with the precious rubles he had hoarded all year, to purchase a truly outstanding set of Four Species. Along the way, he passed a poor coachman whose horse had just keeled over and died. The poor man was now left without any means of support. Without hesitation, the rabbi handed over the entire sum to the coachman to purchase a new horse. After all, he reasoned, blessing the Four Species is a mitzvah, and charity is a mitzvah, too. When everyone else in the synagogue blesses the Four Species, he will say his blessing over a horse.
Applying the rabbi's logic to my own situation, on the cosmic mitzvah scale there really is no difference if my husband makes a blessing over his set, or if that same set is used by hundreds of other Jews on the streets of Brooklyn. Mitzvah = mitzvah, right? Especially since the mitzvah is compounded many times over, by all the people using it.
I remembered one year when my husband's etrog had been returned to him covered with brown splotches, testimony to the dozens of hands that had gripped it. I had looked distastefully at the bruised etrog, thinking of the many hours he had spent browsing the etrog market, trying to find the most perfect, unblemished fruit. But my husband had seen it differently: "All the hand-marks make the etrog more beautiful."
Putting the missing-etrog saga into perspective, I couldn't be too angry. As the rabbi in the story had remarked to his etrog-chomping wife, family harmony is also a mitzvah, and if G‑d had seen fit to deprive them of one mitzvah there was no reason not to have the other. The rabbi kept his peace, and so did I. My husband mentally relinquished all claim to his lulav and etrog, and gifted it with a full heart to the student who had borrowed it.
We made do with borrowed etrogim for the duration of the holiday, as my husband's set never was returned. I still wish he had found a more reliable agent, but mess-ups do happen. As we say in Yiddish, zol es zain a kapparah--"let it be an atonement," and let our forgiving attitude in this instance stand us in good stead the next time we inadvertently lose or damage someone else's property.
I am writing this story nearly a year later. Looking back, I have to say that G‑d amply repaid us for the cost of the missing etrog. In fact, we were able to set aside enough money to easily meet all of this year's holiday expenses, including the most beautiful lulav and etrog that we can find.
Love of a Jew Melts Iron Curtain
The year 1935; Yaktrinoslov Russia. Stalin, may his name be cursed forever, had total control of the bodies, minds and hearts of hundreds of millions of Russians.
He was revered by them as well as Communists the world over as 'The Luminary of the Nations'. 'Leftist, Kibutzes in Israel actually displayed his picture on their lunchroom walls as the living example of good and progress.
So it was no wonder that the Jew who had been the sexton of the 'Great Synagogue of Yaktrinoslov' got swept up in the Communist fervor, changed his Jewish sounding name from 'Gershon' to Grisha and got a new job - as an outside informer for the secret police (N.K.V.D).
The Party even had him appointed as manager of the apartment building he lived in and he fulfilled his job faithfully; to spy on one of the tenants in his apartment building; the chief Rabbi of the city, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Shneerson.
Every suspicious move, every visitor, even every phone call (the Rabbi's phone was tapped) he reported. He couldn't wait to catch him in some 'sin' and even took to occasionally following him when he left the apartment.
In fact, as time passed and Grisha read more and more 'party' literature he came to detest anything that reminded him of his 'dark, past' and it was all rolled up into this Rabbi.
Communism was young, fresh, enlightening the world!! Soon it would free all mankind from the bonds of 'religion' and 'bourgeois oppression'. And the Rabbi was trying to stop it!
But for some reason he didn't just make up a story about him and have him taken away, as he could easily do. In fact he still found it hard to atually stop observing the Torah like the Sabbath and a few other commandments.
Then, one winter night about half past midnight when Grisha was sound asleep he was awakened by a knocking at his door.
'Who could it be at this time of the night?' he thought to himself. Certainly it wasn't the police; when they paid midnight visits they would almost break the door down so as to petrify their prospective 'victims'. This was a quiet steady knocking. He peeked through the peep hole in the door and thought he saw....His enemy! The Rabbi! What did he want at this hour of the night?!
He opened the door a bit and began to say something, but something about the Rabbi's face and eyes did something to him.
"May I come in?" The Rabbi asked and Grisha opened wider. The Rabbi entered, closed the door after him but for some reason Grisha had trouble turning and looking him directly in the face. "Listen Grisha" said the Rabbi putting his hands on Grisha's shoulders "I trust you. I believe you are a friend and I trust you."
Grisha wanted to protest. He even began to say that he was an informer, but he couldn't say the word.
'Not only that', the thought crossed his mind like a fleeting black crow, 'maybe now I'll get the incriminating evidence!' But he looked at the Rabbi's eyes and felt ashamed.
The Rabbi continued speaking softly, he was aware of the danger. "Tonight about an hour ago an old woman knocked at my door. Are you listening Grisha?" he shook his head yes.
The Rabbi continued, "I let her in and she began weeping. She explained that her daughter found someone to marry. A Jewish fellow that works in the Communist headquarters with her but they were going to make a civil wedding, not according to Jewish law. But this lady decided that her daughter had to get a proper Jewish wedding and, despite the fact that they are sworn atheists, she actually convinced them to do it.
"Of course this is a great risk on their part. If they get caught they will be fired from their work and possibly jailed and murdered. But they too showed up at my door about five minutes later because they didn't want to attract attention.
"The situation was dangerous. I had to work quickly but also cautiously. they had to be Jews that wouldn't breathe a word of what happened. I left my house to find nine other Jews (A Jewish wedding requires the presence of ten observant Jews).
"But why.." Grisha tried to protest. He was being spiritually dwarfed in the presence of this old Rabbi.
Why didn't he just sit and learn Torah like the other Rabbis. Why were he and these other people, the bride and groom and her mother risking their lives. for what?" Grisha was deep in thought.
The Rabbi voice broke through, "I could only find eight other Jews, with me it makes nine. We need you."
Grisha realized that the Rabbi was no fool and knew full well what that he was a spy. But now he needed him and he trusted him with his life and the lives of others.
It was in his hands. He motioned for the Rabbi to wait, slipped on a pair of pants and a shirt over his pajamas, put on his shoes and followed the Rabbi up the stairs to his apartment.
There were several other Jews, a young man and woman and an older woman as the Rabbi said and eight others. They glanced at Grisha and then at the Rav with confusion. But the Rav wasted no time.
He sat the couple down, asked them a few questions, wrote a marriage document, produced a bottle of wine and then told everyone to stand and spread a large prayer shawl (Tallit) high over the bride and groom as a wedding canopy. Then he began the short ceremony. Everything was silent except for the Rabbis voice. It was as though they had entered a time tunnel. He read the marriage document, the groom put a ring on the bride's finger, the Rabbi made several blessings... And that was it. Everyone smiled and whispered 'Mazal Tov!!
The Bride and her mother were crying with joy. The groom was crying with joy, the men around were shaking hands and kissing each other in joy. Only the Rabbi was still .his eyes were afire with love of the Creator.
They didn't dare sing or dance lest they attract attention. which would mean death for them all but their hearts spoke louder than words.
Then something happened to Grisha that he had only experienced as a child.
He felt happy
In moments, one by one they silently exited the Rabbi's house and descended the stairs into the darkness.
Until only Grisha was left.
He took out his wallet and handed the Rebbe a card.
"What is this?" he asked.
"This, Rebbe, is my Party Membership card. I don't need it anymore. From now on I'm loyal to you and your G‑d. I'm a Jew, Rebbe. I'm a Jew! And no one can take that from me. You were right, you can trust me.


text:
Q: Identifying bottlenecks In any computer, there is a bottleneck. The processor, the amount of memory, the bus to the hard drive, etc.
I just ordered a 2010 MacPro, 12 core, and although the 12*3.33 GHz cores should give me more than 3x the performance of my quad 2.8 GHz, I understand it probably won't. I am wondering what the weak link will be and how to improve it. The first thing I'm considering is a PCI card with 2 SSD RAID 0 to run the OS. On my old Pro, I saw amazing boot times from a shift to SSD.
The Mac will have 32GB of RAM, I'm assuming that's enough.
Update - One example of an intensive process is video encoding. How do I find whether writing to the hard drives is the slowdown, i.e. that raid 0 for the hard drives would help the speed?
Any other advice? How do I identify the bottlenecks once this machine is running?

A: OP I think you're looking at the problem a little backwards. Your weakest link will inherently be the I/O bus.
That being said, raid-0 on PCI-e SSDs will be quite performant.
You need to ask yourself a couple questions

*

*What are you trying to optimize for? Its a mac pro and you're cosnidering a significant $ investment, so you're probably doing some professional work. Keep in mind though that you're sinking a lot of money into a 5+ year old machine, and the parts won't be reusable on any new mac pro you buy in the future

*What are your pain points now? You just ordered this machine, so you haven't actually used it yet as part of your workflow. Firstly, you might find it more than adequate for what you want to do. But currently, what are the things you are struggling with? We can help answer from there.

A: The "biggest" bottleneck will be the I/O, as that is the slowest bus on the system (in comparison with the CPU and memory buses).
Because you're willing to use PCIe, even the 2.0 version that's on the MacPro from that era, you should be able to get closer to the SATA 3 speeds (6Gb/s) of modern SSD's (afaik, the onboard SATA bus is SATA II  -- 3 Gb/s).
Your best bet for looking at bottlenecks is taking a look at the specifications (I believe there is a 3.3Ghz CPU with matching memory speeds that will also give you a little less bottleneckage).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


There are times when life picks up a hammer and comes down on us- hard.
In these times, it feels like the blows keep just coming, each hit crushing us into smaller and smaller pieces. Matter of fact, it isn't just a hammer, it's a jackhammer, and life doesn't seem to wanna pull the plug.
We think … There's no coming back from this. I will be a mess forever. There's nothing left of me but shattered remains. How could anyone or anything make use of me now? I am nothing.
If you are broken, why would you think you are no longer beautiful?
Some of the most beautiful works of art are made from broken things. For instance, a mosaic is a picture made up of many pieces. Broken glass has been used to make mosaics, and so has clay, and many other things.
Sometimes we have to be broken.
Does this mean something is wrong with us? Are we just too weak to the point where something can come and take us down with one hit?
If you have ever exercised at any point in your life, you have probably experienced being sore.
The way that muscles become stronger is first by ripping, and then healing. The muscle is ripped by the activity and the stretching, and then it heals and is stronger and better than ever before.
But it had to feel worse to make you better.
I know I ditched my usual system, and this isn't a topic that I can really list facts on, but I felt compelled to step in with a message of hope. You need to know that no matter who you are or where you've been, you are not done for, even when your life is in pieces.
We are not meant to be alone in any sense.
I don't know where I would be without my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I don't know where I would be without my family. I don't know where I would be without my friends.
I know not everybody believes in God. I know that not everybody has family, and that some people don't have many people they consider friends.
Every work of art is different and requires different care taking.
But if you are open to God, He will always be there. Even if you aren't at this point, He's still there for you, because He loves you. He is our eternal Father, and a constant, never-failing friend.
If you don't have a family who acts like they are family, remember that family isn't limited to who shares close blood relations with you, but rather those who come into your life and stay by choice.
If you have a couple of close friends and not many others you would call friends, it is better to have few real friends than to have a hundred fake ones.
If you are currently in a situation that you feel you are drowning in, you will get through this. I promise. You are strong, and this will only make you stronger. Your life is a wonderful story that has not reached its ending. You are a unique work of art still being molded.
You are not finished here. Not even close.
You and I are simply beautifully broken.


We are excited to be up and running the first week of November with Captain Sheri and dolphin dog Maya.
Encounter wild dolphins in their natural habitat. Learn about the scientific, healing and spiritual nature of dolphins. Snorkel and swim the shallow reefs around Key West. Explore backcountry islands and uninhabited beaches. Observe diverse population of bird species. Enjoy a picnic, meet new friends and listen to the sounds of nature.
Join us on a journey of a lifetime as we share our passion, respect, knowledge and relationship with the resident dolphins. We have been operating tours for almost 14 years and have become intimately acquainted with individual dolphins, resident pods, travel patterns, behaviors and locales to find them under a variety of conditions.
Dolphin encounters are based on respect, communication, trust and are sensitive to the natural activities of the dolphins. We are committed to the preservation of the marine and wilderness environment, backcountry ecosystem and the dolphins.
6000 Peninsular Ave, Stock Island, FL 33040-6082.
Wild about Dolphins is pleased to offer a private day pass for our guests.


Coaching little league for the first time? Don't worry! You'll be a great coach as long as you follow these essential little league coaching tips.
In 1939 Little League was established by Carl E. Stotz…who probably didn't realize how big it would become!
In recent years, there have been more than 2.6 million playing Little League Baseball worldwide.
Maybe your kid is part of a team and you've been asked to coach it, or maybe you've volunteered…either way you might be regretting your decision.
Its true, coaching isn't a walk in the park, but don't worry! We've got some great coaching tips to help make your team a success!
We've done the research and come up with some coaching tips that will make you a successful leader!
Maybe you know baseball. You've been to Little League matches, maybe you even played in a team yourself in your younger days. But it's not that simple.
Rules, regulations, and policies are always being updated. You must be up to date with these changes. If you don't you might end up red-faced when trying to argue a point.
Don't forget to always carry the rule book for reference.
Just knowing the rules isn't enough, make sure to read up on the latest techniques and strategies to keep your team on top.
Safety is essential. You are supervising someone else's kids after all.
A "Safety Officer" should be appointed to oversee your team. They are responsible to keep on top of health and safety rules and regulations.
An up to date first aid box should be fully stocked and easily accessible during both practices and games.
You should be familiar with all of the players' medical backgrounds and personal circumstances and have phone numbers of their parents on hand, just in case of an emergency.
You should also choose appropriate times for practicing, i.e. not under the beating midday sun or during torrential rains. And be sure your players all warm up before every practice session and game.
You need to see this as "not just a silly game", but a chance for the kids to learn teamwork skills and make friendships for life.
You should try to be organized. i.e. have a file for each player including all of their information. Liaise freely with parents, informing them of your schedule and any big events that might be coming up.
Be confident, in control, and firm, yet fair. Respect all the members of the team and try to become like a family. This way your team will operate smoothly and you'll be on the road to victory!
Be an appropriate role model, because whether you like it or not, your players will all learn from your example, for good or bad. So watch your language, your tone and be respectful to all, especially during games. If you're kicked out of a game because of your bad attitude, your players may inherit your bad traits.
Be a good winner AND a good loser!
If you lose, don't try to shift blame onto the umpire, the other team or even your own team. Talk about how you can improve, but leave it at that, don't be bitter.
If you win, win gracefully. Always remember to teach the kids about good sportsmanship, they will all learn from your example.
Practice should be limited to 2 hours only, and the final 30 minutes should be something fun. The practices should also be well organized and planned out to save time.
Don't overdo it, you don't want to overwhelm them. Try to stick to the basic skills every week, and then have 1 or 2 advanced skills scheduled per practice.
When its game day you need to motivate them. You can do this by making time for your team's rituals and routines. This all comes down to your organization skills. Your team needs to feel organized and well prepared. Then they have a better chance of winning!
Make sure your team has lots of fun! The purpose of being on a Little League team is so they can learn many important skills like teamwork, patience, good sportsmanship and more.
But they are young and want to enjoy themselves too! Take the team out for treats, or have a pizza party. Make sure your team are happy and having fun!
So are you ready to start coaching? Following these 5 coaching tips will help you to be the best coach you can be! We also have other resources available.
It's not just about winning the game it's about the memories you all make along the way. A great way to remember those moments is by having customized pins to trade. Check out our awesome selection!
Call us at 1-888-998-1746 or fill out our form for a free quote.


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Please add another website instead of uphold. uphold has sanctions and privacy issue.
Uphold (brave payment co-worker) only support verified account for payment.
And uphold has sanctions on Iran and some other countries. that means these people cant convert brave BAT tokens. I don't know what kind of blockchain/privacy/freedom is this. sanctioned browser/blockchain !!!
Why they are using uphold that u need to identify yourself to them.
Anyway, in this system, they told me: (after sanctions) only ID (Government trackers!) they wait for. great.


text:
Tag: realpolitik
Insensible on coal
Why climate change policy is such a challenge for Australian politics
By Peter Burnett
As I write this, our national Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is mocking his Opposition counterpart as some sort of guru-seeking hippy for daring to suggest that Australia might adopt New Zealand's idea of a 'well-being budget'.
This is just the latest example of our very low level of Australian policy debate: the 'well-being budget' is a serious attempt to address the well-known limitations of GDP (basically national income) as a measure of 'progress'. It is particularly relevant to environmental issues and deserves a considered debate. Perhaps I'll write about it in another blog.
It's easy to despair over the shallow debate involving the environment, particularly when the state of our environment has started biting us in ways that are, to deploy once again this summer's most overused word, unprecedented.
Is political agreement on a rational and proportionate environmental policy even possible? I thought I would look at this question by focusing on the troublesome issue of coal and climate change.
A tough challenge even in an ideal policy world
Our quality of life has been built on fossil fuels. In Australia, one fossil fuel in particular, coal, has supported our lifestyle not only by providing most of the energy needed for electricity production, but also by serving as a 'top three' export-earner.
So, phasing out coal presents a double policy challenge.
It is common to reflect on the fact that climate change requires concerted global action. Yet it is uncommon to reflect on the system behind the international approach to orchestrating such action.
The underlying problem is one of too many people consuming too much stuff, most of which generates greenhouse gases, one way or another. This is a problem tailor-made for economics, a discipline often defined as the study of efficient allocation of scarce resources.
If we had asked economists rather than diplomats to come up with a solution, they would have told us that getting consumption down to sustainable levels is all a matter of 'getting the prices right' and that if 'stuff' produces too much greenhouse gas, the answer is to put up the price of 'stuff', in proportion to the amount of gas it generates.
In an ideal world, then, we would have ended up with a uniform global carbon tax, with the rate set at just the right level to disincentivise the production of excessive greenhouse gases. Problem solved.
The realpolitik of the Climate Change Convention
However, the real world is not built around economic theory. It's based on nation states and their absolute sovereignty. International diplomacy is a parliament of equals, but with no overarching government to enforce the rules.
As a result, when countries agree on international action, they tend to do so by agreeing to regulate only what goes on inside their own borders, relying on other countries to implement their own corresponding regulation but usually without any means of making them do so.
With climate change, this system of each nation focusing on their own back yard leads to a system where by countries regulate domestic emissions not just from consumption, but also from production. Mixed models such as this tend to produce anomalies.
For example, resource-rich countries such as Australia are advantaged in comparison to manufacturing countries such as China. Emissions from manufactured goods such as tools and furniture will be counted mostly in the country in which they are produced, increasing export prices if carbon is priced, while emissions from natural resources such as coal are (mostly) accounted for in the country in which they are consumed, with little effect on export prices under a carbon price.
What's more, if we did reduce coal exports by restricting new mines, any emission reductions would not count towards our international targets. This leaves us with an unbalanced incentive to promote coal mining, but only for export.
Just make the best of it?
Okay, so the model is less than ideal but it is not likely to change. So, despite its flaws, can we extract policy success (ie climate change mitigation) from the existing system?
If we stay focused on the outcomes rather than the inputs, as any good policy should, the answer is a qualified 'yes'. Under this approach we'd be targeting greenhouse gas reductions and not coal specifically, even though coal is a major source of greenhouse gases.
In the case of coal we would still need to phase-out domestic use, although we could be technology agnostic and pursue emissions reduction generally rather than reduced coal consumption specifically. We would also want to reduce emissions reductions from coal mining, but again the measures could be industry-blind and not directed at mining specifically.
On the other hand, we would not target emissions reduction from coal exports, because these emissions would count towards the targets of our customers rather than ourselves. Nevertheless, because it is essential for the planet that we get out of coal on a global basis, we would need to work towards the adoption of increasingly ambitious targets and regimes internationally.
Success here would have the incidental effect of reducing demand for coal, including our own exports.
Is this feasible?
Even though we wouldn't be targeting coal or exports, this approach would remain a hard sell domestically. Despite the double policy virtues of good prospects of climate mitigation success and compliance with the letter and spirit of international agreements, the politics would still be tough.
Domestic environment groups have managed to demonise not just the consumption of coal, but its production. They have done this for their own reasons, in part because domestic place-based campaigns are what they do best: the environment movement was built on them.
On the other hand, coal-producing regions would not be appeased just because we weren't targeting coal directly. We'd still be taking action internationally that would harm the coal industry. Jobs would still be under threat and transition programs would still be needed.
So action on coal, or more accurately, action on emissions including those from coal, is politically feasible, but hardly attractive. The best policy path available barely dents the political risk and pain.
The conundrum with coal is the same as that posed by climate change more generally: would you like a moderate dose of pain now or a much bigger and tougher dose of pain delivered to your children? At this point in time it seems we are happy to pass the burden to our children.
Image: Then Treasurer (now PM) Scott Morrison holds up a chunk of coal in Parliament in 2017. "This is coal," he said mockingly to the Opposition. "Don't be scared. It won't hurt you."
Peter Burnett climate change, Peter Burnett, policy, politics 2 Comments March 4, 2020