There are multiple accidents on area roadways, and motorists are urged to stay home, if possible. If not, allow plenty of extra time for the commute.
A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 3pm. A total of 6-9 inches of snowfall is expected today.


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Urban AC
Babyface, Sheryl Lee Ralph tapped to perform at Super Bowl LVII pregame show
Kevork Djansezian/NBC
Babyface and Sheryl Lee Ralph will warm up the crowd ahead of Super Bowl LVII. The stars have been tapped as entertainment for the event's pregame show.
According to a press release, Babyface will sing "America the Beautiful." Sheryl, who recently won an Emmy for her role in Abbott Elementary, will showcase her singing during a performance of "Lift Every Voice and Sing."
Also taking the stage is Chris Stapleton, who will sing the national anthem.
Super Bowl LVII will take place at the State Farm Stadium in Arizona on Sunday, February 12. The game will air on FOX and will feature a halftime show headlined by Rihanna.
Kerry Washington to release memoir titled 'Thicker Than Water'
Trailer for Bravo's 'SWV & Xscape: The Queens of R&B' released
Lil Jon wants compensation for Live Nation's use of "Lovers and Friends" as festival name
"Dreams do come true": 'Everything Everywhere' star Ke Huy Quan on "incredible" Oscar nominations
Teenagers Today Are Totally Different | RSMS

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Expedition 60 crew launches to space station on Apollo 11 anniversary
On the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, two astronauts and a cosmonaut launched to the International Space Station.
The multinational crew making up Expedition 60 is NASA astronaut Andrew Morgan, European Space Agency astronaut Luca Parmitano and Roscosmos cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov.
Expedition 60 is the space station mission that began June 24 and will end October 3. Space station crews are referred to as expeditions.
They launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 12:28 p.m. ET. They will dock at the station at 6 p.m. and enter the space station at 8 p.m.
They will be joining Roscosmos Expedition 60 Commander Alexey Ovchinin, as well as NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Christina Koch. They arrived at the space station in March.
This is Morgan's first spaceflight; he was selected as an astronaut in 2013. The West Point graduate also serves as an emergency physician with the US Army. He will enjoy an extended stay on the station and return to Earth in April 2020.
Parmitano will be going up to the station for the second time in his career. He was selected as an astronaut in 2009 and was assigned as a flight engineer for the Italian space agency's first long-duration flight mission to the International Space Station. He spent 166 days on the station in 2013, participating in two spacewalks and docking four spacecraft.
When Ovchinin returns to Earth, Parmitano will become the first Italian astronaut to take on the role of commander.
This is Skvortsov's third spaceflight. He was the commander of Expedition 24 in 2010 and was the flight engineer for Expedition 39 in 2014.
Expedition 60 will conduct biology, biotechnology, physical science and Earth science experiments on the space station.


Good Morning, Lois Lion….The Pope cannot afford to tear down his walls. The first thing you know…a concerned person may speak to a raped choir boy…and then Dopey Popey will have to put on another fake act of concern. I bet the walls in Heaven are beautiful..they must be…A PEARLY GATE is the entrance. Good fences make good neighbors….Tall Walls make good borders!


"At Beautycounter, we've banned more than 1,500 ingredients setting a new health and safety standard"
with every shot, and possesses a sharp awareness of the flow of the shoot day. Not only do the actors look gorgeous, the producers, directors, and clients are smiling." Brent Thomas, director, Green Dot Films.
education by acquiring makeup skills while she pursued an academic career. Her resume now includes a BA degree in Broadcasting from the University of the Pacific, and three years experience in commercial production. As a result she has an intuitive grasp of the relationship between the client, agency, producer, and director/photographer that informs her work style. In short, she gets it.
Erica specializes is Beauty makeup. Her work includes commercials, music videos, television, print, and fashion. She's inventive, clever, and the consummate professional.
Erica has been represented by Aim Artists since 2008.


The bed mattress is perfect for all kinds of sleepers as it presents a medium level of firmness together with a sleeping surface area that seems like a cloud.
The Puffy Bed mattress has actually been developed and established by the business Puffy that has actually been formed just recently with the easy idea of providing a mattress to individuals that is universally comfy and offers a feeling like you are sleeping on a bed of clouds.
After 4 years of research study, foam formulations, advancement, sleep trials, and many hours of perfecting the foam layers, the Puffy mattress was crafted and established to guarantee a sleep surface area that will be perfect for a deep, restorative sleep.
The Puffy bed mattress is one of the current products in the bed mattress market and the company thinks that they have actually crafted the best sleep system that will provide a comfortable sleep to sleepers of any ages, sizes, and sleeping habits.
Puffy has accomplished its objective by managing to develop a mattress that seems like a cloud when you lay on it.
The business has actually used the highest quality foams layers in developing the mattress with environment friendly production processes and practices.
The mattress has actually been distinctively developed using the latest innovation to offer a body adapting cloud formula, cloud cooling surface area, and a pressure eliminating firm support.
The Puffy bed mattress is a bed in a box bed mattress that has actually been designed using 2 layers of remarkable quality foams that work together to supply an unrivaled level of hug, shape, and comfort for proper back alignment.
The mattress adapts to all kinds of sleeping positions and offers an extremely comfy sleep as it has been developed utilizing body adapting foams that provide a deep sleep to almost all kinds of sleepers.
It has been created to supply its sleepers utmost comfort, excellent support, good bounce and, a cool sleeping surface area.
As soon as you lay on the Puffy bed mattress you will feel an instant relief on your pressure points which not only helps in enhancing blood flow and joint discomfort however likewise provides increased levels of energy when you awaken.
The company does not use any hazardous or harmful materials in the production or construction of this bed mattress and rather aims to utilize eco-friendly products and procedures any place possible.
This level of firmness is taken pleasure in by a big quantity of sleepers, almost 75% as they prefer a medium level of firmness.
This mattress features a comfort level which is perfect for all kinds of sleepers consisting of side, back, and stomach sleepers.
The mattress supplies a soft comfort that is chosen by side sleepers, hug and contour for correct spine alignment that is preferred by back sleepers, and firm support which is perfect for stomach sleepers.
The Puffy bed mattress has actually been crafted to present an outstanding level of comfort that envelopes your body and adapts to your body shape to offer a sleep to the full capacity.
This layer is created to supply a cool sleeping surface by convection and conduction and unbelievable breathability that dissipates heat far from the body.
The infused gel soaks up heat from the body and assists in offering airflow that is 8 times more than a regular foam mattress.
This layer also uses support by changing according to the shape of the body, and supplying suitable shape that assists in easing pressure points and tension that a traditional bed mattress put on your shoulders, knees, hips, and joints.
The 2nd layer of the Puffy bed mattress comprise of a 7 inch Firm Core Support foam which is a 1.5 PCF polyurethane foam also produced utilizing the Variable Pressure Foaming technology.
The base layer offers an unique level of firmness that assists in proper back positioning. The layer also provides strong support and helps in maintaining comfort for sleepers of all sizes.
In addition to this, it helps in balancing weight inning accordance with the body and offers pressure relief, improved blood flow, and lowered tossing and turning.
The Insta-Firm Technology of this layer carries out distinctively well and provides 99% more responsiveness and 4 times higher level of support than a basic mattress.
This layer serves as an ideal structure to the mattress by offering general support, shape, and durability to the mattress.
The Puffy bed mattress carries out really well when it comes to the motion seclusion and sinkage tests.
The bed mattress offers among the very best weight distribution systems on the market and utilizes distinctively designed foams that are created utilizing the latest technology.
The layers of this mattress work very well together and offer an outstanding level of contour and durability which help in taking in movement and restricting it to a specific area.
The layers also provide solid support and bounce which assist limiting the body from sinking in too much. You will not feel the lighter partner rolling to the heavier partner on this mattress.
The bed mattress also has a stable edge support and offers a bigger sleeping surface area by supplying edge to edge accessible surface.
The Puffy Mattress has been created and developed to offer a cool sleeping surface area to its sleepers for a comfortable and a restful sleep.
The top layer of the bed mattress is a gel infused foam layer that is developed to limit any locations on the mattress that you may have to experience.
The bottom layer offers a solid support and does not let you sink into the bed mattress, keeping you closer to the surface which prevents any heat develop around the body.
The cover of the bed mattress is also thin and breathable which helps in regular air flow and keeps the body more detailed to the gel instilled foam layer.
The mattress presents an excellent heat dispersion system and presents an optimal temperature for comfort.
On the Puffy mattress, you do not need to stress over sweating or sleeping hot, as this top rated mattress is designed to provide a comfortable and cool sleeping surface throughout the night.
The Puffy Mattress, much like the other bed in a box mattresses does have a slight 'new bed mattress' odor at first when it is unwrapped from the packaging.
Although the smell remains for a long time but it is not a cause of issue as this is common amongst compressed bed mattress and the smell dissipates practically entirely in about a few days.
The business uses specialized variable pressure manufacturing procedure that gets rid of the use of harmful chemicals and supplies foams that surpass the needed standards set by CertiPUR-US for durability, emissions, and foam content.
The business likewise aims to use environmental-friendly items any place possible, in the construction and manufacturing procedure of the bed mattress.
The Puffy Mattress does not need a particular or special type of structure as it is created to work with any frame or structure.
The bed mattress can be placed on any surface consisting of a flat frame, boxspring, or a slatted frame, nevertheless, make sure that the slats are not more than 4 inches apart.
The only thing to consider before placing the mattress is to inspect whether the base is flat and even or not, as the bed mattress will not offer correct comfort on an uneven base.
In case you do not have a structure and do not want to purchase a new one as well, then you can also put the mattress directly on the floor and the mattress will work absolutely fine. Just make certain that the area is not prone to moisture as this might hurt the cover and the foam layers of the bed mattress.
The cover of the Puffy bed mattress has been uniquely developed and crafted utilizing high quality products to work well together with the foam layers and offer a comfortable sleeping experience.
The cover has tiny pores and is created to be thin. This assists in providing breathability and a cool sleeping surface along with helps in wicking away heat and wetness.
The top of the cover is white in color and has a textured surface with small clouds placed distantly all over that make it attractive and appealing. The side panels of the cover are constructed of high quality long lasting fabric and dark grey in color.
The Puffy logo is positioned near the footing of the bed mattress, right in the center. The cover has a zipper that indicates it is removable and can be cleaned also.
The Puffy bed mattress is really easy to maintain and look after if used with appropriate instructions.
The mattress has a detachable and washable cover that can be hand washed as well as machine washed. It is not suggested to clean the cover typically as this may harm the fabric.
In case of little stains, the area cleaning approach is advised.
A sponge needs to be dipped into a mixture of water and a mild detergent, and ought to be rubbed in circular motion over the stain until it eliminates. Make certain no hazardous or extreme cleaning agents are used.
The area must be dried off right away with a hand dryer as this will avoid any damage to the foam layers.
The mattress needs to not be turned as the comfort layer has actually been placed on the top side however it should be rotated from head to toe after every 6 to 7 months as this will supply an even wear and prevent the mattress from bottoming out.
The Puffy mattress has been crafted using remarkable quality, uniquely created foam layers that work well together to supply a long-term durability.
The bed mattress is entirely made in the USA which ensures that the very best quality items and foams are utilized in the construction of this mattress.
The base core layer of the mattress supplies total support to the bed mattress and secures it from bottoming out.
The latest innovation integrated into the specifically created foam layers of this mattress helps it to last for a much longer time than the standard foam bed mattress.
The Puffy mattress is readily available in six various sizes that are like the basic United States bed mattress dimensions.
All Puffy bed mattress are made to purchase and prepared in spotless conditions so that the mattress remains compressed for as little time as possible and feels fresh when unpacked.
The box is white in color and has the Puffy logo design printed over it. Package looks basic yet enticing and the size makes it simple to maneuver and handle.
The company provides free shipping through FED-EX to the contiguous 48 States and charges $150 for shipping to Hawaii and Alaska. The company likewise provides complimentary shipping to most of the states in Canada.
Since the bed mattress is made to buy, therefore it will take about 2 to 3 days to prepare the order. The bed mattress is delivered in about 3 to 6 business days.
It is very easy to set up the mattress as soon as you get it, all you have to do is unbox the bed mattress, put it over a structure, and cut open the packing.
The bed mattress will begin to decompress itself and will immediately take its proper shape in a couple of hours.
Puffy offers a 101 night safe trial with its bed mattress, which implies that you can return the bed mattress within the first 101 nights from the date of delivery if you are not encouraged with its quality or comfort.
It is recommended to use the bed mattress for a minimum of 3 to 4 of weeks prior to making a decision as it requires time for the body to adjust and adapt to a brand-new comfort level.
When the bed mattress is gotten, the company will contribute it to a regional charity and refund you all your money.
The contribution policy of the business guarantees that your foam mattress will not wind up in a junkyard, and will be offered to those who are in genuine requirement of it.
If you stay in Alaska, Hawaii, or Canada and choose to return the bed mattress under the 101-Night Trial Policy, then the company will not be able to reimburse you the shipping charges paid for the original shipment of the bed mattress.
Puffy's 101-Night Trial Policy stands for only the original purchasers who have purchased directly from their site.
Puffy is highly confident about their sleep system and states that it will be the very best foam mattress that you have ever attempted, and therefore supports the bed mattress with among the very best guarantees offered in the mattress market.
If any flaws are faced in the craftsmanship or products throughout the first 10 years from the date of purchase then the business will replace the mattress with a brand name brand-new Puffy mattress totally free of cost.
If any problems are faced after the very first ten years then the business will either repair or change your mattress at its discretion.
They will also charge a $50 shipping cost sustained each way which will be waived off if it is confirmed that a producer's defect exists.
At your discretion, the business also uses a special "Quick Sleep" alternative as a part of your life time service warranty.
After the conclusion of the first ten years you can decide to choose this alternative, where instead of fixing or replacing your bed mattress, the company provides you with a new mattress at half of the original rate you paid to buy the mattress.
The guarantee covers any noticeable indentations that are higher than 1.5 inches and manufacturing defects in the zipper of the cover as well.
This is valid only for the original purchaser of the bed mattress and does not transfer if the mattress is sold even more.
The Puffy bed mattress is built using the best quality materials and foams but is still available at extremely affordable rates.
To reduce the rates of the bed mattress and make it more inexpensive, the business has actually avoided intermediaries and cut out on pointless commissions.
The discounted rates make this mattress a fantastic alternative to think about for all types of sleepers lurking for a new mattress.
The Puffy mattress is a high standard bed mattress that suits the needs of nearly all kinds of sleepers. It offers a medium level of firmness which is preferred by the majority of sleepers.
The company has actually tried to utilize the highest possible quality of products and items and offer the bed mattress at really cost effective rates.
The mattress supplies utmost comfort and exceptional pressure relief that assists in sleeping to the complete capacity and awakening fresh and stimulated.
This is likewise among the best mattresses for neck and back pain due to its spinal alignment support.
Additionally, the bed mattress supplies terrific motion isolation and is extremely long lasting.
It does not sleep hot at all as it has actually been carefully designed to prevent any heat retention and offer comfy sleeping temperature levels.
Since the products utilized in this mattress are very resilient and the bed mattress is created with superior quality foams, the Puffy is a great financial investment for an unequaled comfortable sleep.
Puffy also has a generous program where it donates a brand name new Puffy Bed mattress to a children's shelter for every 20 posts from various fans with the puffy mattress.
Overall, the Puffy bed mattress, with the extra $200 discount is a great value for your money and is highly recommended for the people who want to purchase a brand-new bed mattress.


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Steve Howard
CHIEF SUSTAINABILITY OFFICER – TEMASEK
Steve Howard is Chief Sustainability Officer of Temasek. In addition to chairing the We Mean Business Coalition, Steve is on the Administrative Board of SEforALL, and until recently was Co-Chair of the World Economic Forum's Global Future Council on Environmental and Natural Resource Security.
He was Chief Sustainability Officer at IKEA Group and served on IKEA's Executive Group Management from 2011-2017. In 2015, Steve co-founded We Mean Business, a leading climate change coalition of organisations that helped support the Paris Agreement. Prior to IKEA, Steve was Founder and CEO of The Climate Group, a global NGO that has built networks of cities, states, regions, and businesses committed to a net-zero carbon world. Before the Climate Group, Steve consulted on sustainability for major corporations and institutions, working as a partner at ERM Group in London and a Director at URS Corporation.
Steve has worked with various NGOs and UN bodies on a wide range of global sustainability topics. Earlier in his career, Steve worked in WWF, where he established the Global Forest and Trade Network, chaired the UK Forest Stewardship Council and helped launch and chair The Forest Trust. Steve is trained as an ecologist and has a PhD in Ecophysiology and Environmental Physics based on research in Kenya.


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'Just a face in the crowd': Pakistani film icon Fawad Khan escapes the spotlight as a Saudi guest at Hajj
'Just a face in the crowd': Pakistani film icon Fawad Khan escapes the spotlight as a Saudi guest at Hajj /node/1362641/saudi-arabia
Award-winning Pakistani actor, model and singer Fawad Khan speaks at the Media Ministry's reception for foreign delegates at Hajj 2018. (SPA)
Updated 28 August 2018
Siraj Wahab
'Being one among 2.4 million people is the easiest thing on earth,' Bollywood star tells Arab News
Fawad Khan congratulates King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for Hajj success
JEDDAH: Hajj means many things to many people — a show of devotion, a demonstration of solidarity with Muslims worldwide, and an opportunity to take part in rituals stretching back centuries.
But for award-winning Pakistani actor, model and singer Fawad Khan, the pilgrimage also offered a rare chance to escape the spotlight.
The 36-year-old Bollywood and soap opera star, an entertainment icon to millions in Pakistan and India, was among the celebrities hosted by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Media to perform Hajj this year. And the one thing that Khan enjoyed most about being at the Hajj was the anonymity that the pilgrimage promised.
"Being one among 2.4 million people is the easiest thing on earth," he told Arab News during an exclusive interview at the Ritz-Carlton in Jeddah. "You feel comfortable because you are in the same space with other people who bare their hearts to God. You feel just like any other person among them. And you are not under media scrutiny as you are on normal days.
"It feels nice to be a face in the crowd."
With his film-star looks, charismatic personality and high-profile acting background in Pakistani soap operas — including "Zindagi Gulzar Hai" — and Indian films, Khan is used to being mobbed by fans wherever he goes.
"But I enjoy the anonymity now and then," he said. "In a way, it is very refreshing. People during Hajj are so busy and caught up in what they are doing that they don't have time for these things. They are very considerate. They are very careful about what they are doing."
Saudi Arabia's Minister of Media Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad with Fawad Khan during a reception. (Via Social Media)
Khan said he is often frightened by the adulation he receives.
"When I wake up, I feel just as human as all people do," he said. "When I see such a massive outpouring of affection and adulation, I feel frightened since being elevated to such a position is something to be feared. It is an honor, yes, but I also feel afraid because the responsibilities are greater."
Few of his admirers are aware that Khan spent part of his childhood in the Saudi capital Riyadh, where his father was employed.
"I was in Riyadh from 1986 to 1992 as a child," he said. "My mother is a very pious woman and when my father was posted to Riyadh, she would say, 'I will never miss an opportunity to perform Umrah,' so we used to perform Umrah every year."
So how does Makkah compare now? "The number of pilgrims has increased many times over," Khan said. "It was a very different time back then, but things have always been comfortable in Saudi Arabia. I remember seeing snow in Riyadh because of the extreme weather deserts sometimes have."
What was his first impression when he saw the Holy Kaaba in Makkah's Grand Mosque?
"It reminded me of my childhood," he said. "I really enjoyed the time when I was growing up. When I left Riyadh, I was sad because those were my formative years. I had a feeling of nostalgia. I remember as a child when performing Umrah, there wasn't much rush or traffic. The running between Safa and Marwa as part of the ritual was more like a game because I would race with my sister at that time and being there again brought all those memories back.
"I cherished my childhood, so I think I got my childhood back this time."
Khan was full of praise for the Media Ministry's arrangements for its guests.
#Hajj means many things, such as a show of devotion and a demonstration of solidarity with #Muslims worldwide. And for award-winning #Pakistani actor, model and singer #FawadKhan, it also offered a rare chance to escape the spotlight. @thefawsadkhan https://t.co/TWy9MIL08v pic.twitter.com/dUX0LkLzmn
— Arab News (@arabnews) August 27, 2018
"The Hajj was made very easy by the ministry. The facilities made everything comfortable despite the blistering heat," he said.
"The arrangements were seamless. At Jamrat, where the stoning ritual takes place, there is a sea of people coming down and you feel like it is going to be impossible. Then you get into the crowd and you start moving slowly but comfortably. There is still space to move even though it looks like it is impossible. And then, suddenly, you are done. All this is possible only because there is an efficient security force and a government that is paying close attention to how everything is happening. And they are trying to make it flow as easily as possible. Kudos to them," he said.
"And people are very helpful. There is obviously a language barrier, but you overcome that somehow."
Khan praised his Saudi hosts, saying: "The banquet arranged for guests is a reflection of the host. A lot of love and affection goes into it. It is not about the quantity that you are given but the quality. And our experience was of the highest quality because there was a lot of care, love and affection in it. The pilgrimage was made very pleasurable."
During a speech at a reception for the foreign delegates at Hajj, Khan congratulated King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
"I'd like to congratulate them for a successful Hajj, which was accomplished because of their sincere efforts," he said in the presence of Media Minister Dr. Awwad Al-Awwad.
"I'm also happy to see that the message of peace and tolerance has been a continuous agenda, even with the slogan for the Hajj this year. The Kingdom has embraced the world with open arms."
He said Saudi Arabia through its Vision 2030 is leading the Muslim world while projecting the Islamic values of moderation, tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
"The world today has huge respect and appreciation for the young crown prince, who has become an example for the younger Muslim generation," he said.
What was the highlight of Khan's pilgrimage? "The whole experience was very spiritual," he said. "I remember on the night before the trek to Arafat, there was a wind blowing and it suddenly started raining, and lightning was streaking the sky. It was humbling and it felt like someone from on high was talking to us."
Fawad Khan during the interview with Arab News at the Ritz Carlton in Jeddah. (AN photo)
The respect accorded to women was another Hajj highlight for him.
"The thing that I liked most was that women were respected in such a positive way. People gave way to women and were careful to help them, and that was something to acknowledge and admire," he said.
The decision to perform Hajj came easily to Khan. "A close associate said to me, 'When the call comes from Allah, you must go.' So when we got the invitation from the Ministry of Media, we happily accepted it. This was the start and it was more like a guided tour. If I get the chance again, I'll be quiet about it."
As to what was in his mind when he was praying at Arafat, at the peak of the pilgrimage, he said: "First and foremost, my feelings were for all humanity. We consider this world to be a global village. We act upon it for very little time. We have boundaries and borders, which are things to be respected, but humanity is one group and, above all, everyone wants to pray for peace, love, kindness and bonds between everyone in this world, Muslim or not.
"Overall you pray for humanity, for the betterment of our children and for the entire world."
People should undertake the pilgrimage when they are young, Khan said.
"My reason for saying that is not just because of the energy of the young and able," he said, adding: "When you are younger, your mind is like a sponge and it absorbs more. I feel Hajj and Makkah is not only for the pilgrimage. When people from all over the world meet in groups in congregations, it is actually a means of cultural exchange.
"Imagine meeting 3 million Muslims coming from different backgrounds and all walks of life from many different countries and spending 10 days with them. It is the best form of communication. Being exposed to these things teaches you tolerance and gives you an invaluable form of education."
Khan's wife, Sadaf, who accompanied him, was happy with the pilgrimage, too. "She was very moved and she is going home carrying a lot of love," Khan said.
With Saudi Arabia opening up to creative arts and cinema, what advice would Khan offer young Saudi filmmakers?
"Art is an expression and the less advice you give, the better," he said. "Obviously, there are censorship policies, but then there are bodies in place to perform that duty. As an artist, I don't have any advice when it comes to expression as far as art is concerned, but I do say this with words of encouragement for the youth out there: If I can do it, then anyone can do it.
"It will be an honor for me to have my movie screened in Riyadh, the place where I grew up. I wish the entertainment industry the very best and I hope to see Saudi collaborations with other filmmakers all over the world."
Topics: Pakistan Fawad Khan international news latest news in english latest news headline King Salman HAJJ 2018 Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
Filmfare honors Fawad Khan with an icon award
Fawad flooded with Bollywood offers


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Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication
NPP > CONFERENCES > BIYCLC > Vol. 9 (2014)
Framing Visual Perception in Terms of Sensorimotor Mapping
Silvano Zipoli Caiani, University of Milan, Italy
inferential theory, direct theory, visual cognition, perception and action, conceptualization, propositional knowledge
Two contrasting theories, or variants of them, are predominant in the current debate on visual cognition. The standard inferential theory sees perception as a process involving the role of memory, past experiences and semantic abilities, whereas the direct theory sees perception as a connection between the perceiver and the environment that does not recruit internal information processing. In particular, the direct theory has recently been invoked because it would be able to explain the sensorimotor coupling of perception and action in humans and animals without relying on controversial notions such as those of conceptualization and propositional information. This paper aims to show that even an inferential theory of perception has enough resources to account for sensorimotor processes without necessarily involving high level cognitive functions. My claim is that there are genuine instances of sensorimotor inferential processing that do not rely on conceptual structures and propositional knowledge. Several theoretical and empirical arguments are provided to support this statement.
Zipoli Caiani, Silvano (2014) "Framing Visual Perception in Terms of Sensorimotor Mapping," Baltic International Yearbook of Cognition, Logic and Communication: Vol. 9. https://doi.org/10.4148/1944-3676.1093
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Gamberini, M., Galletti, C., Luppino, G., Matelli, M. 2002. "Cytoarchitectonic organization of the functionally defined areas V6 and V6A in the parieto-occipital cortex of macaque brain", Journal of Physiology, 543.
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text:
4″ away from glory
Tour de France (st. 9)
Movistar Team rides brilliant team time trial in Tour de France, only beaten by BMC and SKY; Valverde and Quintana now sitting in 7th and 9th overall
Four seconds avoided the Movistar Team claiming one of their most resounding victories into a discipline that rewards the squad as a whole: the team time trial. The 28km route from Vannes to Plumelec on stage nine of the Tour de France, with up to three uphill sections -including the demanding Côte de Cadoudal into the last 2k-, offered a thrilling duel between the Unzué-led squad, the British Team Sky and American outfit BMC, world champions in 2014 and winners by less than one second, while the telephone squad took 3rd place.
Loyal to their usual strategy -keeping the group together-, the Movistar Team still had its nine members pushing through the second intermediate point, just 8km from the finish, making up a 13-second deficit with BMC and leaving it in only three, with Sky a second quicker. A brief moment of discoordination into the second climb forced the Blues, with Dowsett having dropped back, to get back to their formation, keep pulling and recovering, so much that they got to the foot of Cadoudal, down to seven after Erviti completed his job, practically with the same time of BMC.
Eventually, the 32'19" clocked by Valverde, Quintana, Castroviejo, Anacona and a brilliant Herrada -Malori and Gorka Izagirre dropped back into the beginning of the climb- made the two GC references from the Movistar Team getting into the top-ten, with 'Bala' in 7th (+1'50") and Nairo in ninth (+1'59"). The Colombian will be wearing the white jersey as 2nd behind Sagan (TCS; points leader) in the young riders' classification on Tuesday, after a first rest day in Pau the riders will get to by plane, with the rest of the convoy completing the transfer on the road.
Eusebio Unzué: "The result itself is magnificent, as well the third spot as losing only four seconds; we would have taken it if offered before the start. However, there's a bittersweet taste as we think we lost it at a point of the route, the one with biggest crowds, where the group lost a big of order almost inadvertently. We might have conceded, I think, ten to fifteen seconds into that point, surely decisive for the win. The lads are the ones more conscious about the mistake.
"Still, I think we must remain optimistic about this result. It's only that you remain so close to taking a TTT win in the Tour, which would have confirmed the great progression we've carried over the last four years, with some good results along the road. We were convinced we could win. Summing things up, we reduced our deficit to some of the GC rivals -Alberto, Rigoberto-; others were further behind, like Nibali or 'Purito'; and the ones who were over us took insignificant gains, with those 3" behind Froome and 4" to van Garderen.
"Those pointed out as big favourites have all shown with facts they're up for the fight, and now it's time to tackle the mountains very consciously, without ruling out any rivals. Surely the Pyrenees will offer some surprises, and we will have to wait until the Plateau de Beille climb to really know who are the biggest candidates. This first chain of mountains will create serious changes in the GC, prior to a final week full of hardness, and also difficult for the previous efforts. We're happy with how everything went up to date, apart from that time lost on stage two, and remain hopeful for what's to come."


text:
Are school security incidents rising in the GTA?
By Oliver SachgauStaff Reporter
Tue., Oct. 27, 2015timer5 min. read
A recent spate of lockdowns in GTA schools has raised questions about whether security-related incidents are rising.
But whether they are, or why, is impossible to know, because not all boards track lockdowns. The lack of data makes it difficult to discern whether — or why — there's been a rise in threats, or hoaxes.
Of 10 school boards surveyed by the Star, five said they tracked both lockdowns and hold-and-secures; one said it tracks lockdowns and was looking for a way to track hold-and-secures; and four tracked neither.
School safety advocates say this is a concern and that Ontario needs comprehensive statistics.
"When you're not tracking it, you don't see where there are gaps … You have to have the information to be able to deal with something," said Stu Auty, president of the Canadian Safe Schools Network.
"It could be easily mandated, easy to check, easy to track. It's not a difficult job," he said.
Police received calls on Tuesday about a person with a weapon at a Mississauga Secondary School and Brampton Centennial Secondary School — the second day in a row for such a call. A lockdown also occurred at David Suzuki Secondary School in Brampton and was lifted after police detained two young offenders with a "replica hand gun."
The incidents come after a stabbing at a North York high school in September and a series of hoaxes in May that sent five Peel schools into lockdown or hold-and-secure mode.
Whenever a threat happens near a school, but not very near, it triggers a hold-and-secure procedure. During that time, all outer doors are locked and no one may enter or leave, but classes and activities go on inside as usual.
Not all hold-and-secure procedures are security-related. Janine Bowyer, safe schools superintendent for the Durham Catholic District School Board, said hold-and-secures can also be ordered for events such as a medical incident in school halls.
"If there's an upset student in the hallway, and they just want to make sure everybody stays in their room, that [can trigger] a hold-and-secure," she said.
"[It's] just a nice way of keeping students in their classrooms," she said.
If a threat is very near or inside the school, or serious in nature, it will trigger a lockdown. All doors are locked, and students are kept inside classrooms. Depending on the lockdown protocol at that particular school, students might be told to move away from windows, and students' cellphone use may be restricted.
Charles Pascal, former Ontario deputy education minister and professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, said school boards should be tracking and disclosing lockdowns happening at their schools.
"There should be some way of having a collective opportunity … to learn about the number of incidents, the different types of incidents, and how they're being handled," he said.
Pascal didn't say whether disclosure should be mandated, but said it could be explored by the school board associations.
"Whether you have to mandate or not, it just makes good common sense that this kind of information should be tracked and shared," he said.
WHO'S TRACKING LOCKDOWNS?
Toronto District School Board
Tracks: Lockdowns and hold-and-secures
Spokesperson Ryan Bird said there have been six lockdowns and 12 hold-and-secures since the school year began in September.
"Some of those might be connected to the same incident, but with different schools," Bird said.
Numbers for previous years could not be immediately provided.
Toronto Catholic District School Board
Tracks: Neither lockdowns nor hold-and-secures
Spokesperson John Yan said the school board may track lockdowns and hold-and-secures in the future.
"We understand some boards have just recently started collecting these statistics, and our board may consider this option, if we believe the data is useful to increasing school safety," he said.
York Region District School Board
The board has had no lockdowns this school year or last, spokesperson Licinio Miguelo said. Since September, the board had five hold-and-secures, three stemming from the same incident but affecting multiple schools. In the year before, there were 11 hold-and-secures.
The board had no lockdowns in the last school year, but did have five hold-and-secures in 2014 and 11 in 2015, according to spokesperson May Moore. Typically, hold-and-secures are police-initiated, she said.
The school board said it could not immediately provide numbers for lockdowns in current or previous years.
Halton Catholic District School Board
Spokesperson Carla Pereira said, "Anecdotally there have been more lockdowns in the past few weeks here, but most of them have been false.
"So many of them have nothing to do with our schools but are in response to something happening in the community, which is why we don't keep track of them," Pereira said, adding that all boards do keep track of the number of their own students suspended or expelled for having weapons or threatening behavior.
"We get very few lockdowns. I can't even recall that we've had one this year," spokesperson Bruce Campbell said, adding hold-and-secures were usually not school-related, but rather external events such as a robbery in the vicinity of a school.
"There's not great value in tracking them," Campbell added about hold-and-secures.
"I don't know that we're required to track them, and also … the incident is usually related to police activity in the area. It's done under direction from police," spokesperson Andrea Pidwerbecki said, adding that, anecdotally, there did not seem to be an increase in either category.
Durham Catholic District School Board
Tracks: Lockdowns, but not hold-and-secures
The school board is looking at tracking hold-and-secures, but in a way that differentiates security-related incidents from those where students are not threatened, said Janine Bowyer, safe schools superintendent.
She added that hold-and-secures related to police incidents are on the rise in the area. "It's not as easy as saying hold-and-secure, because we're more interested in the reason behind the hold-and-secure," she said.
With files from Louise Brown and Evelyn Kwong
With files from Louise Brown
More Your Toronto


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When is a Tequila no Longer a Tequila?
William M. Dowd Reports And Comments On Distilled Beverages.
I've been posing that question to various people in the tequila field for the past year as more and more tequila makers introduce aged spirits that have been matured in anything from used bourbon barrels to cognac casks to wine barrels. The latest discussion was with Carlos Camarena, third-generation head of Tequila Tapatia which manufactures the El Tesoro line.
So far, the preponderance of opinion has been that we're seeing something that, while called tequila, really isn't since tequila is almost by definition a young spirit with the nose and palate punch of youth. When you see people sampling a tequila in a brandy snifter instead of a traditional 2-ounce caballito (left), you know they aren't regarding it as run-of-the-mill tequila, be it 100% blue agave or mixto.
I asked Camarena if he agreed with the idea that extra-aged añejos are becoming a new spirit until themselves.
"To some extent, yes," he said during a celebratory dinner at his Arandas, Jalisco, facility marking its 70th anniversary.
Read the complete article at the link below.


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You're a pretty clean eater. During the week you have no trouble choosing whole foods and eating in a way that supports your health and fitness goals. But, all of your healthy eating flies out the window on the weekends.
We all lead increasingly stressful lives during the week. Your typical "9 to 5" has been crowded out by the "7:30 to 6pm". Whether it's putting in extra hours at the office, driving the kids to and from, or your own recreational activities, you probably have very little time to relax. With so much rushing around during the work week, we see the weekends as a time to let go of the week's stresses—including the stress of keeping up with healthy food choices.
While one or two days of "eating off plan" might not make a big deal in the long run, months and months of food crazy weekends will definitely have an impact on reaching your health and fitness goals. Not only does the weekend cheat quickly turn into an entire week of cheats per month, it also feeds that conventional diet mentality.
When Sunday night starts to feel like the last supper and you tell yourself you'll get back on track on Monday, you're playing into a diet mentality that will keep you stuck, deprived and unhappy.
With summer rapidly approaching (and thus cookouts, BBQs and beach blanket bingo), you may be even more enticed to go food crazy during those weekend days.
Here are four tips for keeping your cool during the hot summer months and sticking to your guns when it comes to those healthy food choices.
Design a special weekend eating schedule. You have an eating schedule during the week, why wouldn't you have one for the weekends as well? Yes, it will look a little different from your 12:00 to 1:00pm lunch hour, but it will still serve to keep you mindful of your food choices. Wake up late on Sundays? Plan a healthy brunch for 11:00am. Have a cookout on Saturday night? Don't forget to eat during the rest of the day leading up to it.
Eat breakfast. I'm often guilty of waking up late on Saturday and immediately jumping into the weekend's errands and festivities, only to realize that it's 3:00pm and I haven't eaten anything all day. Starting your morning with some eggs, greens and fruit is a great way to put your healthy eating schedule in motion. A healthy breakfast can keep you motivated to make good food choices the rest of the day.
Plan some of your indulgences for the work week. If you see the weekend as a time to indulge and let loose, consider swapping one weekend day of indulging for a week day. Incorporating some care-free eating into your work week may help you find balance in your weekend food choices. If you see every day as a day to relax around food and enjoy eating, the weekend indulgences will lose their luster.
Go ahead! Enjoy that cookout! With all of your responsibilities during the week, it can feel impossible to keep that same level of diligence over the weekend when it comes to food. So, go ahead and enjoy yourself. Have fun with friends and family, eat foods that you don't normally eat, and, once you've had your fill, return to your weekday food habits. After a wild party, don't try to make up for treating yourself: if you skip a meal or eat very little the next day, you will perpetuate feelings of guilt, deprivation and restriction. Your next meal is your next opportunity to get back on track.
Do you eat differently on the weekends than the rest of the week?
3 Responses to Why is it so much harder to eat healthy on the weekends?
Great post. I was just thinking about this very issue recently. Thanks for sharing.


text:
Cinygmula unicolorata is een haft uit de familie Heptageniidae. De wetenschappelijke naam van de soort is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1979 door Tshernova.
De soort komt voor in het Palearctisch gebied.

Heptageniidae
Dier uit het Palearctisch gebied

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
all-powerful
181 Buka Island — is the second largest island in the Papua New Guinean province of Bougainville. History Buka was first occupied by humans in paleolithic times, some 30,000 years ago. The present inhabitants speak languages that in all likelihood stem from the… …
182 Mummies Alive! — title card Written by Gary Stuart Kaplan Steven Melching Paul Harrison Directed by Seth Kearsl …
183 Kandrakar — is a fictional world in the comic book W.I.T.C.H. and the animated series of the same name. It is an ethereal realm at the centre of the universe and the heart of infinity, existing beyond both time and space (though the Season 5 finale… …
184 Fantaghirò series — Infobox Film name = Fantaghirò caption = The Cave of the Golden Rose (French edition) director = Lamberto Bava producer = Roberto Bessi writer = Francesca Melandri starring = Alessandra Martines Kim Rossi Stuart Brigitte Nielsen music = Amedeo… …
185 Mu'tazila — This article is part of the series …
186 Teleological argument — A teleological or design argument[1][2][3] is an argument for the existence of God. The argument is based on an interpretation of teleology wherein purpose and intelligent design appear to exist in Nature beyond the scope of any such human… …
187 Hoshin Engi — For the Chinese novel, known in Japanese as Hōshin Engi, see Fengshen Yanyi. Hoshin Engi First volume of Hoshin Engi (Viz Media rendition) 封神演義 …
188 List of Yin Yang Yo! episodes — This is a list of episodes of Yin Yang Yo!, an animated television series that currently airs on Disney XD and The Disney Channel in the United States. Since the show s premiere in August 2006, the series has aired 65 episodes. Contents 1 Episode …
189 Ethiopia — • Includes geography, history, and religion Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Ethiopia Ethiopia † …
190 List of Virtua Fighter characters — The following is a list of characters from the Virtua Fighter fighting game series released by Sega. Starting with Virtua Fighter, this series has spanned five games (not including updates) and has been released on arcade systems as well as home… …
191 Edo period — The nihongo|Edo period|江戸時代|Edo jidai, also referred to as the Tokugawa period (徳川時代 Tokugawa jidai ), is a division of Japanese history running from 1603 to 1868. The period marks the governance of the Edo or Tokugawa shogunate, which was… …
192 Tolnedra — is a fictional empire in the Belgariad and Malloreon fantasy novels of David Eddings. Tolnedra is an empire in the West named after the god Nedra. It is one of the larger kingdoms with its northern border set at the river Arend and its southern… …
193 List of characters in the Virtua Fighter series — The following is a list of characters from the Virtua Fighter fighting game series released by Sega. Starting with Virtua Fighter, this series has spanned five games (not including updates) and has been released on arcade systems as well as home… …
194 God in Islam — In Islam, God is believed to be the only real supreme being, all powerful and all knowing Creator, Sustainer, Ordainer, and Judge of the universeGerhard Böwering, God and his Attributes , Encyclopedia of the Quran] John L. Esposito, Islam: The… …
195 List of characters in The Books of Magic — The Books of Magic was a four issue mini series published by DC Comics written by Neil Gaiman, later revived as an ongoing series written by John Ney Rieber (issues 1 50) and Peter Gross (issues 51 75). The comics told the story of Timothy Hunter …
196 Shikand-gumanic Vichar — Part of a series on Zoroastrianism Portal Primary topics Zoroas …
197 Midnight Oil — at Manly Leagues Club, 2005 Background information Origin Sydney, Australia …
198 Noble Warriors — The Noble Warriors Trilogy is a fantasy series, written by British novelist William Nicholson. The first book, Seeker, was published 2006, as was the second in the trilogy, Jango. The third book, Noman, was published in September 2007. Contents 1 …
199 Abdul Alhazred (comics) — Superherobox| character name=Abdul Alhazred real name=Abd el Hazred publisher=Marvel Comics debut= Marvel Comics Presents #154 (1994) creators=Jack Kirby John Buscema aliases=The Mad Arab, Death God, Master powers=mystical and psionic abilities,… …
200 epistemology — epistemological /i pis teuh meuh loj i keuhl/, adj. epistemologically, adv. epistemologist, n. /i pis teuh mol euh jee/, n. a branch of philosophy that investigates the origin, nature, methods, and limits of human knowledge. [1855 60; < Gk… …


If you attend a school within our league boundaries AND have been enrolled since the beginning of this school year (specifically prior to Oct 1st), you can use this one form to fulfill your residency requirement. The qualifying schools are: Jeannette Rankin Elm., Chief Charlo Elm., Russell Elem., Lewis & Clark Elem., Paxson Elem., Meadow Hill Middle School, Washington Middle School, and St. Joseph Elm. & Grade School.
If you live within the Mount Sentinel Little League boundary, you can submit three documents to prove residency. Click MSLL Map to download.
Please note that you must provide one document per group. You cannot use the same document as proof for more than one group.
Each document must show the parent name, address and date. No envelopes. Ensure they are dated or valid between Feb 1, 2018 and Feb 1, 2019. You can black out any financial, etc. info if you'd like.


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I just found this article on Entertainment Weekly and thought it would be fun to share.
Jess Day (Zooey Deschanel) on New Girl I don't watch this show but I love Zooey Deschanel's style!
Ben Epstein (Bryan Greenberg) on How to Make it in America OOOOOOOHHHH YEAH! Love him!
The Ladies of Pan Am Have this on my dvr. Excited to check it out!
Blaine Anderson (Darren Criss) on Glee I miss his warbler uniform!
Sutton/Emma (Alexandra Chando) on The Lying Game Have this on my dvr too. Still need to watch.
Do you agree with the list above? Who is on your list this fall?
I adore Blair and Emily Thorne's wardrobe!
I absolutely love the outfits that Emily Thorne wears on Revenge. So cute and preppy!
I can't get enough of Emily Throne on Revenge!
I am so in for GG, Revenge, and Pan Am ... must check out the others, but I trust your taste!


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Tag Archives: Carmen Pedrosa
The dangers of no-sweat journalism
What Domini Torrevillas wrote for today's edition of The Philippine Star is, by any measure, a rather pitiful excuse for a column, consisting as it does of text practically lifted wholesale from three separate e-mail messages that her friends had forwarded to her. This is not a practice exclusive to Torrevillas, of course—one columnist in another major daily did this so frequently that the paper had to ask that person to leave. In all fairness—and the defensive self-importance of some writers notwithstanding—writing is difficult work, and cranking out anywhere between 3,000 to 5,000 characters for a coherent, compelling column at least once a week is not a task to scoff at.
To make such a concession, however, is not to excuse the writer from accountability. While the writer may not have to come up with anything especially original—whatever this might mean in the 21st century—it behooves him/her to ensure that the information he/she is disseminating is accurate and reliable, a notion that unfortunately does not seem to occur to or is dismissed by many journalists because of laziness, ignorance, or both. (A recent demonstration of these vices occurred during the furor over President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's lavish dinner at Le Cirque: a theoretical bill posted by Manuel L. Quezon III in his blog became reported as the actual bill by several media outfits.)
In the third section of her column, Torrevillas cites an e-mail from a friend—hardly a credible source—on the supposed dangers of using antiperspirants: antiperspirants are allegedly "the leading cause of breast cancer" among women. This claim is based on the following premises: first, that sweating allows one to purge toxins; and second, that an antiperspirant prevents one from sweating, and therefore from purging toxins.
In addition, men are supposedly less prone to cancer from antiperspirant use because the antiperspirant chemicals "are caught in their hair and are not directly applied to the skin", while women who apply antiperspirants right after shaving increase their risk "because shaving causes almost imperceptible nicks in the skin which give the chemicals entrance into the body from the armpit area".
That antiperspirant use leads to cancer has been floating around the Internet at least as far back as 1999, but no causality between the two has been firmly established up to this time. A fact sheet on antiperspirants and deodarants by the U.S. National Cancer Institute (NCI) identifies three separate studies on the presumed relationship:
A 2002 study by Dana K. Mirick, Scott Davis, and David B. Thomas did not show any increased risk for breast cancer in women who reported using an underarm antiperspirant or deodorant. Nor was there increased breast cancer risk for women who reported using a blade (nonelectric) razor and an underarm antiperspirant or deodorant, or for women who reported using an underarm antiperspirant or deodorant within one hour of shaving with a blade razor.
A 2003 study by Kris McGrath [PDF] suggested that underarm shaving with the use of antiperspirants/deodorants may be related to breast cancer, but failed to demonstrate a conclusive link between these underarm hygiene habits and breast cancer. (The McGrath study was used as a reference in a 2006 CBS news investigation [streaming video].)
A 2006 study by S. Fakri, A. Al-Azzawi, and N. Al-Tawil found that the use of antiperspirants had no association with the risk of breast cancer, while family history and oral contraceptives use were found to be associated.
According to the NCI, "additional research is needed to investigate this relationship and other factors that may be involved". A 2003 monograph by the U.S. Food and Drugs Administration (FDA), which established conditions under which over-the-counter (OTC) antiperspirant drug products are generally recognized as safe and effective and not misbranded, did not rule out the possibility of a link between antiperspirants and cancer—or indeed other diseases such as Alzheimer's disease—but generally found that data pointing to the link was, at best, inconclusive.
Torrevillas does say that her readers should check with their respective doctors regarding these claims, but if she had bothered to do even the most perfunctory online research after checking her e-mail, she could have provided much better information and raised actual awareness instead of stoking unwarranted fear among women. She did not even have to wade through highly technical literature—all she had to do was review the entry on perspiration in Wikipedia, a resource that her colleague Carmen N. Pedrosa so loves. She would then have found out that sweat does not contain "toxins", that oft-abused term of pseudo-medicine, at all. If toxins enter the body, it is the job of the kidneys and the liver to get rid of them—one cannot sweat them out. (On a related note, those popular "detoxifying" foot patches do not work, because such a manner of detoxification would involve what is thus far only fit for science fiction: turning one's feet into a pair of auxiliary livers.)
My impression—which I wish were wrong—is that articles on beauty, health, and wellness tend to be particularly soaked in sloppiness, which is certainly the case here. Whatever the merits of scaring people into taking care of themselves may be, that journalists, especially lifestyle writers, settle for what is essentially paranoia-mongering instead of public enlightenment is irresponsible, unethical, and thoroughly deplorable.
Posted in Commentary	| Tagged antiperspirants, breast cancer, cancer, Carmen Pedrosa, deodorants, Domini Torrevillas, ethics, Food and Drugs Administration, health, journalism, lifestyle diseases, medicine, National Cancer Institute, Philippines, pseudo-medicine, The Philippine Star, toxins	| 2 Replies
Should Pedrosa be fired?
Eric Tomas of Daily Musings apparently wrote to The Philippine Star when he caught Carmen N. Pedrosa plagiarizing Dave Berman back in 2006, but to no avail. He also believes that Pedrosa should leave the Star, comparing her case to that Hilarion "Larry" M. Henares, Jr., whom Philippine Daily Inquirer sacked back in 1990 when he was caught plagiarizing from the International Herald Tribune. (Funnily enough, Manila Standard, now Manila Standard Today, praised Inquirer for "upholding the standards of professional journalism", then hired Henares shortly afterwards. Would it be a stretch to say that this move presaged the reinstatement of Malu Fernandez?)
I posted my entry on Pedrosa primarily out of pique, not realizing the extent to which the problem of plagiarism pervades Philippine journalism. (Consider, just as an example, this article by Hector Bryant L. Macale of the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility). That it is apparently rampant should be disturbing, at the very least, because, as pointed out on Eye on Ethics: Asia Media Forum, "The practice of journalism involves the use of power: the power to influence the way people look at themselves, their societies, and the world; the power to help shape the attitudes and values of others; and the power to help liberate men and women from the shackles of ignorance so they may exercise their sovereign human right to decide their destinies."
I suppose it would be trite to quote Ben Parker, but great responsibility does come with great power. And the journalist who plagiarizes, as David Plotz of Slate puts it, "is the cop who frames innocents, the doctor who kills his patients. The plagiarist violates the essential rule of his trade. He steals the lifeblood of a colleague".
On a lighter note, I found some indescribably lovely photos of Carmen Pedrosa, courtesy of Joe Galvez.
Posted in Commentary	| Tagged Carmen Pedrosa, Dave Berman, Eric Tomas, ethics, journalism, Larry Henares, Philippines, plagiarism, The Philippine Star, Wikipedia	| Leave a reply
Carmen N. Pedrosa, serial plagiarist?
As I suspected, given that plagiarism all too easily develops into a bad habit, Carmen N. Pedrosa's plagiarism of a Wikipedia article in her 20 June column is by no means an isolated incident.
A Google search led me to the blog Daily Musings, whose author, Eric Tomas, reads Pedrosa's column regularly in order to "see what counter-arguments can be readied against her [pro–charter change] assertions". (There are, in fact, several posts that specifically mention Pedrosa.) In a post entitled "Postnote to Pedrosa Article", Tomas points out that Pedrosa's 5 November 2006 column lifts a sentence directly from "Advocacy Journalism, The Least You Can Do, and The No Confidence Movement", an article by Dave Berman, without any acknowledgement.
It may be observed that the same article–the same sentence–is properly quoted by the Wikipedia page on advocacy journalism. (The 16 October 2006 version, a copy of which I have uploaded to Scribd and included below, would have been the latest Pedrosa could have–and probably did–read prior to the publication of her column.)
Tomas, toward the end of his post, asks, "How can she rail about the lack of integrity that she perceives in the Supreme Court for trashing the Sigaw ng Bayan petition, when she herself doesn't practice integrity in her writing, in this case, giving credit where credit is due?"
How, indeed? Does she think that she is somehow magically exempt from acknowledging her sources–akin, perhaps, to how she seems to think that the parliamentary system is a magic bullet against the problems of the country?
Posted in Commentary	| Tagged Carmen Pedrosa, charter change, Dave Berman, Eric Tomas, ethics, journalism, Philippines, plagiarism, The Philippine Star, Wikipedia	| Leave a reply
Citations needed, or: Plagiarism and Carmen N. Pedrosa
This post was initially conceived as an attempt to respond to Carmen N. Pedrosa, who of late has been again advocating charter change toward a parliamentary form of government in "From A Distance", her column in the The Philippine Star.
Yesterday's installment caught my attention because she began by characterizing the choice between charter change now or presidential elections in 2010 as a catch-22. That she subsequently spoke of charter change as the better option—as the way out of this supposed double bind—seems to speak of a turn of mind that is rather strange, to say the least, considering that a catch-22 is supposed to be irresoluble.
Even stranger to me was this statement: "Changing persons without changing the system means more of the same in our flawed presidential system." After all, are not the persons in any given system, political or otherwise, themselves the causes and/or perpetuators of flaws? Can a system and the persons that animate it and circulate within it indeed be separated, not merely for theoretical purposes, but for pragmatic ones? And simply appalling to me was this: "The question boils down to this. Who should be followed? It is not about rightness or wrongness."
Bearing these thoughts in mind, I decided to review Pedrosa's earlier columns [registration required] in order to better understand her position. I also decided to consult a few online sources regarding the presidential and parliamentary systems of government, among them Wikipedia.
Notwithstanding the criticism against the community-generated encyclopedia—which, naturally, is documented in a Wikipedia page of its own (a page that, also naturally, has been flagged for questionable neutrality)—I have found it to be a valuable resource. I would not set much store by its reliability or its appropriateness for research, but it serves very well as a primer to the veritable swamp of information that is the Internet. It is even gaining slow acceptance in journalistic circles. It was also here that I found the actual subject matter of this post: plagiarism.
Plagiarism, derived from the Latin plagiarus (literally, "kidnapper")—which in turn is derived from plagium (literally, "kidnapping")—may be defined as follows: an act or instance of stealing and passing off the ideas or words of another as one's won; using a created production without crediting the source; committing literary theft; or presenting as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
Plagiarism, as far as I am concerned, is the kidnapping—and mutilation—of ideas. It is akin to kidnapping the child of another, hacking off its limbs, and sewing these limbs onto one's own already horribly deformed infant, creating an even worse monster than what one had to begin with.
The Wikipedia page on the presidential system was last edited on 15 June 2009, 11:14 AM, by user Reub2000. (Below is a copy of the aforementioned version of the Wikipedia page uploaded to Scribd.)
One will find it interesting to juxtapose the section discussing criticism of the presidential system to Pedrosa's 20 June article, which is entitled "Gridlock rears its ugly head".
(1) THE DISADVANTAGES OF THE PRESIDENTIAL SYSTEM
Critics generally claim three basic disadvantages for presidential systems:
Tendency towards authoritarianism — some political scientists say that presidentialism is not constitutionally stable. According to some political scientists, such as Fred Riggs, presidentialism has fallen into authoritarianism in nearly every country it has been attempted.
Separation of powers — a presidential system establishes the presidency and the legislature as two parallel structures. Critics argue that this creates undesirable gridlock, and that it reduces accountability by allowing the president and the legislature to shift blame to each other.
Impediments to leadership change — it is claimed that the difficulty in removing an unsuitable president from office before his or her term has expired represents a significant problem.
Political scientists agree that gridlock is a major disadvantage of the presidential system. There are others — the tendency towards authoritarianism. Because the presidential system is not constitutionally stable it easily deteriorates into authoritarianism. According to Fred Riggs, a political scientist, presidentialism has fallen into authoritarianism in every country it has been attempted, except the United States.
(2) THE PRESIDENT V. THE PRIME MINISTER
Winning the presidency is a winner-take-all, zero-sum prize. A prime minister who does not enjoy a majority in the legislature will have to either form a coalition or, if he is able to lead a minority government, govern in a manner acceptable to at least some of the opposition parties. Even if the prime minister leads a majority government, he must still govern within (perhaps unwritten) constraints as determined by the members of his party—a premier in this situation is often at greater risk of losing his party leadership than his party is at risk of losing the next election. On the other hand, once elected a president can not only marginalize the influence of other parties, but can exclude rival factions in his own party as well, or even leave the party whose ticket he was elected under. The president can thus rule without any allies for the duration of one or possibly multiple terms, a worrisome situation for many interest groups.
The presidency by the nature of the system is "a winner-take-all, zero-sum prize — unlike a prime minister, who may have to form a coalition. The president and her/his party can rule without any allies for up to six years. That becomes a threat for other interest groups.
(3) THE SEPARATION OF POWERS
Presidential systems are said by critics not to offer voters the kind of accountability seen in parliamentary systems. It is easy for either the president or Congress to escape blame by blaming the other.
As mentioned earlier the separation of powers in a presidential system is a disadvantage rather than an advantage. The presidency and the Congress as two parallel structures inevitably create gridlock and make it often impossible to govern. Worse it reduces accountability because the president and Congress end up blaming each other for perceived wrongs.
(4) THE ARGUMENT OF JUAN LINZ, POLITICAL SCIENTIST
Juan Linz argues, "The danger that zero-sum presidential elections pose is compounded by the rigidity of the president's fixed term in office. Winners and losers are sharply defined for the entire period of the presidential mandate… losers must wait four or five years without any access to executive power and patronage. The zero-sum game in presidential regimes raises the stakes of presidential elections and inevitably exacerbates their attendant tension and polarization.
"Winners and losers are sharply defined for the entire period of the presidential mandate. . . losers must wait four or five years without any access to executive power and patronage. The zero-sum game in presidential regimes raises the stakes of presidential elections and inevitably exacerbates their attendant tension and polarization," argues Juan Linz.
(5) THE CASE OF ECUADOR
Ecuador is sometimes presented as a case study of democratic failures over the past quarter-century. Presidents have ignored the legislature or bypassed it altogether. One president had the National Assembly teargassed, while another was kidnapped by paratroopers until he agreed to certain congressional demands. From 1979 through 1988, Ecuador staggered through a succession of executive-legislative confrontations that created a near permanent crisis atmosphere in the policy.
Ecuador is cited as a good example of democratic failures with a presidential system. Often, presidents ignore the legislature. Things got so bad that one president was driven to teargas the National Assembly.
The country went through a succession of executive-legislative confrontations from 1979 to 1988.
(6) LEADERSHIP CHANGE
In parliamentary systems, unpopular leaders can be quickly removed by a vote of no confidence, a procedure which is reckoned to be a "pressure release valve" for political tension.
This would not have been necessary in a parliamentary system when an unpopular leader could be removed by a vote of no confidence. This is a device comparable to a "pressure release valve" in a country besieged by political tension.
(7) SLOWNESS OF RESPONSE TO THE NEEDS OF CITIZENS
Finally, many have criticized presidential systems for their alleged slowness in responding to their citizens' needs. Often, the checks and balances make action extremely difficult. Walter Bagehot said of the American system "the executive is crippled by not getting the law it needs, and the legislature is spoiled by having to act without responsibility: the executive becomes unfit for its name, since it cannot execute what it decides on; the legislature is demoralized by liberty, by taking decisions of others [and not itself] will suffer the effects".
Finally, the presidential system by its nature is slow to respond to citizens' needs. Often, the "checks and balances" make action extremely difficult.
Since the Philippines followed the American presidential system, let us hear what one constitutionalist said of the American system: "the executive is crippled by not getting the law it needs, and the legislature is spoiled by having to act without responsibility: the executive becomes unfit for its name, since it cannot execute what it decides on; the legislature is demoralized by liberty, by taking decisions of others will suffer the effects."
The sixth provision of the Journalist's Code of Ethics as adopted by the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines is, "I shall not commit any act of plagiarism." The necessity of this provision should be obvious enough. How can a journalist be considered credible when he or she steals ideas from others? Or, as in this case, when she lifts and paraphrases, without proper citations, entire sections of a text that is governed by a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License?
More significantly for Pedrosa, how can she endorse a form of government that she believes is more accountable and more transparent to its citizens, when she herself is evidently unwilling or unable to be accountable and transparent to her reading public? Perhaps she ought to ask herself the question that she posed last 17 May: When is change real change?
For the record, I am not wholly or fanatically against amending the Constitution or shifting to a parliamentary system. And yet I think it is fair to expect that a person who supports a cause for ostensibly moral reasons, the tack that Pedrosa seems to have taken in beating the drum for charter change, ought to be himself or herself beyond most, if not all, reproach.
Posted in Commentary	| Tagged Carmen Pedrosa, charter change, ethics, journalism, parliamentary system, Philippines, plagiarism, presidential system, The Philippine Star, Wikipedia	| 3 Replies


The Gospel Project takes kids on a Christ-centered, chronological journey through Scripture. Kids will discover how the gospel unfolds from Genesis through Revelation. When kids truly experience the gospel, their hearts are transformed. It is the gospel, not good behavior, that changes everything.
Thanks to a dedicated group of volunteers, Parker First Baptist joyfully offers Children's Church during the sermon portion of the worship service.
Children's Church is for ages 2 – 5 only. As soon as your little one turns 2 send them on their way to us. We ask that kids who turn 6 before Kick Off Sunday in September graduate to sitting with the grown-ups in "big church".
If your child turns 6 after Kick Off Sunday they are welcome to finish up the year in Children's Church, or they can transition into sitting in church with you.
If your child has a learning disability or developmental delay please don't be afraid to send them to Children's Church. You can contact the Education Board with any concerns you may have.
While you are out shopping for School Supplies for your children, consider donating some supplies to the Sunday School. We are in need of stick glue (not liquid glue), lacing (for beaded bracelets/necklaces), yarn, and children's round tip safety scissors. Any donation would be greatly appreciated.