A few snippets of science to round out your week.
Milk didn't always do a body good. But the combination of a genetic mutation and the discovery that milk could be fermented may have fueled — quite literally — the rise of farming in prehistoric Europe.
Not only might urine power cell phones of the future, but it (rather, cells that get flushed with it) might also help dentists grow new teeth for you.
New genome studies are helping scientists make sense of how we sense scents.
The Chelyabinsk meteor that made a dramatic entrance over Siberia earlier this year might have made its home in a cluster of space rocks first seen in 2011.
As primitive birds go, Archaeopteryx may have been flashy and all, but it was otherwise pretty unremarkable, according to a new study of the brain cases of fossils from several species of ancient birds.
Are you ruled by your heart or your gut? Given that the medications you take for your heart can be changed by bacteria in your gut — a phenomenon probed in a recent study — I think the answer is: your microbes.
See, even farming amoebas use pesticides. They just happen to be organic.
"Parasitism is the most popular lifestyle on Earth." And they weren't even talking about Wall Street. Boom!
How would you have liked to be wheeled into an operating room for surgery and, just before the anesthetic took hold, see the surgical team walk in in space suits?
Say hello to your robot phlebotomist. It's just as likely to miss your vein as a human one. Keep working on it, guys.
Does your sweet tooth mean you're a drunkard? Maaayyyybeeeeee…….


A peek into the community room.
Choose a 1-hour, 2-hour, or 3-hour block below to get started with your reservation. If you don't see the time available that you want, it means the room has already been booked. You can contact us with any questions!


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Sanctuary is the seventh album by trumpeter Dave Douglas and his second live album. It was released on the Japanese Avant label in 1997 and features performances by Douglas, Cuong Vu, Yuka Honda, Anthony Coleman, Mark Dresser, Hilliard Greene, Chris Speed and Dougie Bowne.

Reception
The Allmusic review by Joslyn Layne states "Although Dave Douglas is credited as leader, Sanctuary is not just an album of him supported by a backing band. Instead, Douglas plays as equal member in a project of standout musicians. ...Part abstract space shooting, part late-night dance party, all mixed with the scratching and balladry of outside jazz, Sanctuary is a definite strong addition to any collection that values these musicians, and a good introduction to them for all adventurous listeners ready to jump right in".

Track listing
Part One (Disc 1)
 "Apparition" - 9:07
 "Three Beasts" - 6:27
 "Swoon" - 6:57
 "The Lethe" - 3:48
 "Dark Wood" - 5:20
 "The Dome" - 6:35
 "Heavenly Messenger" - 11:44
 "Among Frogs" - 4:23
Part Two (Disc 2)
 "Limbo" - 6:36
 "The Great Cliff" - 4:43
 "The Lantern" - 11:52
 "Mad Dog" - 7:39
 "The Flower" - 9:13
 "Contemplation" - 5:50
 "Coins" - 9:34
 "Among Stars" - 2:44
All compositions by Dave Douglas
Part One (Disc 1) recorded at Knitting Factory, New York City on August 6, 1996; Part Two (Disc 2) recorded at Knitting Factory, New York City on August 27, 1996

Personnel
Dave Douglas: trumpet
Cuong Vu: trumpet
Yuka Honda: sampler
Anthony Coleman: sampler
Mark Dresser: bass
Hilliard Greene: bass
Chris Speed: tenor saxophone, clarinet
Dougie Bowne: drums

References

Dave Douglas (trumpeter) live albums
1997 live albums
Avant Records albums
Albums recorded at the Knitting Factory

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


The Ministry of Economic Affairs is currently working on a new Electricity Market Act. In the future, the use of plug-in solar devices in Luxembourg should be allowed. Furthermore, self-consumption from solar sources may be exempt from paying the electricity tax.
Luxembourg wants to allow mini-photovoltaic systems with a new regulation.
Luxembourg's Ministry of Economic Affairs is currently revising its Electricity Market Regulation, which dates back to 2007. According to the new provisions, the use of mini-PV systems could be allowed in the country in the future, according to a response by Minister, Étienne Schneider, to a parliamentary interrogation.
The government's proposal also includes the use of pluggable solar devices that did not exist at the time of the establishment of the new Electricity Market Regulation. The Luxembourg Government Council already approved the reform on February 21. When the new law will come into force, however, remains unclear.
According to the current plans, PV modules for balconies will be exempt from the obligation to be registered with government authorities, and from paying the electricity tax.
The obligation to transmit data on a monthly basis may also be dropped for the mini-PV systems, Schneider said, although local regulators could decide to introduce an annual notification requirement. The installed mini PV systems would also have to comply with certain technical regulations to ensure safety standards – both for the user and the network operators.
In addition to the mini-PV systems, the draft also includes regulations for individual and collective self-consumption, as Schneider's answer shows. These new concepts are intended to turn electricity consumers into prosumers.
The bill also states that self-consumption will be exempt from the electricity tax. However, this is planned for generating units up to a certain size, which Schneider did not specify in the letter. In addition, the self-consumed electricity must come from renewable or combined heat and power generators.
Regarding the technical requirements and the safety of installations, Luxembourg's Minister of Economic Affairs refers to the requirements of EU Regulation 2016/631. This network code states that all power generation systems must have a telecontrol interface that allows the shutting-down of installations within five seconds.
However, systems up to 800 watts are excluded. This category includes pluggable solar devices. It also shows that the PV modules for balconies would not have to be approved by the network operators.
However, operators should always consult with an authorized electrician, said Schneider. This should ensure that the installation complies with the safety standards VDE-AR-N 4105. In addition, the photovoltaic balcony modules would have to be CE certified.


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Home Resources Press Releases Reuters Reporters Imprisoned in Myanmar Symbolize Worldwide Fight for ...
Press Release 291 Views
Reuters Reporters Imprisoned in Myanmar Symbolize Worldwide Fight for Free Expression on World Press Freedom Day
May 3rd, 2018 • Author: Amnesty International USA • 2 minute read
While the world marks World Press Freedom Day today, the plight of two reporters who have been detained in Myanmar for their investigation into military crimes against the Rohingya is just one example of the global attack on free expression that endures throughout the year, said Amnesty International USA on the occasion of the worldwide observance.
Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo were arrested in December and are being investigated for breaching Myanmar's Official Secrets Act, which carries a maximum sentence of 14 years in prison. Their arrest under this law appears to be an effort to stifle free expression and discourage journalists from reporting independently.
"Journalists are essential actors in speaking truth to power and shining a light on the deeds and actions of governments who might otherwise seek to operate in secrecy," said Margaret Huang, executive director of Amnesty International USA.
"Journalists like Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo play a critical role in obtaining and sharing the information that makes it possible to ensure accountability for human rights violations. Their plight is sadly not isolated, as oppressive governments have recently cracked down on reporters in countries including Turkey, Hungary, and Egypt. Even here in the United States, the president and other members of the government attempt to vilify reporters on a daily basis for reporting stories they find inconvenient. We must continue to be ever vigilant against attempts both at home and abroad to keep reporters from doing their jobs."
View the original press release HERE.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Deborah, also spelled Debbora, prophet and heroine in the Old Testament (Judg. 4 and 5), who inspired the Israelites to a mighty victory over their Canaanite oppressors (the people who lived in the Promised Land, later Palestine, that Moses spoke of before its conquest by the Israelites); the "Song of Deborah" (Judg. 5), putatively composed by her, is perhaps the oldest section of the Bible and is of great importance for providing a contemporary glimpse of Israelite civilization in the 12th century bc. According to rabbinic tradition, she was a keeper of tabernacle lamps.
The two narratives of her exploit, the prose account in Judg. 4 (evidently written after Judg. 5) and the martial poem comprising Judg. 5 (a lyric outburst showing a high standard of poetic skill in ancient Israel), differ in some important details. The most obvious discrepancy is in the identity of the chief foe of the Israelites. Judg. 4 makes the chief enemy Jabin, king of Hazor (present Tell el-Qedah, about three miles southwest of H̱ula Basin), though a prominent part is played by his commander in chief, Sisera of Harosheth-ha-goiim (possibly Tell el-ʿAmr, approximately 12 miles [19 kilometres] northwest of Megiddo). In the poem Jabin does not appear, and Sisera is an independent king of Canaan. Other important contradictions include the action sites (Mount Tabor in Judg. 4 is not found in Judg. 5, for example); which Israelite tribes joined Deborah and her chief commander, the Naphtalite Barak (only Zebulun and Naphtali in Judg. 4, additional tribes in Judg. 5); and the manner of Sisera's death (in Judg. 4 he is murdered in his sleep, in Judg. 5 he is struck down from behind while drinking a bowl of milk).
Assuming that the account preserved in Judg. 5 is the older (probably written in 1125 bc), the reader can reconstruct the actual history of the events. Israel holds the wilder parts of the country, the hills and the forests, but the Israelite settlements in the central range are cut off from those in the northern hills by a chain of Canaanite (or possibly Egyptian) fortresses down the Plain of Esdraelon (between Galilee and Samaria). At the instigation of Deborah, a charismatic counselor (or judge) and prophet (she predicts that the glory of war will fall to a woman, which it does—to Jael), Barak gathers the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir (Manasseh), Zebulun, Issachar, and his own tribe of Naphtali. Asher, Dan, Gilead (Gad), and Reuben remain aloof. Judah and Simeon are not mentioned (attesting to the antiquity of the poem). The Israelite clans fall on the enemy at Taanach; a thunderstorm, in which Israel sees the coming of God from Mount Sinai, strikes terror into the Canaanites; their fabled 900 chariots of iron are useless on the sodden ground; and the Kishon River, swollen by torrential rains, sweeps away the fugitives. Sisera escapes on foot, pursued by Barak, taking refuge in the tent of Heber the Kenite (the Kenites, a nomadic tribe, were supposedly at peace with Canaan); he is offered protection by Heber's wife, Jael; as he drinks a bowl of milk, she pierces his head with a tent peg and kills him (thus fulfilling Deborah's prophecy).


Mortgage Capital Trading (MCT) has announced that Rhiannon Bolen has joined the company's sales team as one of its Regional Sales Managers, responsible for overseeing the Southern territory.
Rhiannon comes to MCT most recently from Lenders One, where she held the position of Regional AVP for the Western Region, working with mortgage lenders of all types to arrive at various solutions that help reduce business costs and stay ahead of industry trends pertaining to processes and technology. Prior to Lenders One, Rhiannon was the Regional Vice President of South Region Field Sales for Arch Mortgage Insurance. At Arch, she helped hire and train a team of Account Managers and was responsible for creating sales strategies and managing and developing various territories which led to over achievement of sales production goals. Before Arch, Rhiannon spent much of her career in the credit risk space working in regional and national outside sales roles in the mortgage insurance industry.


A divided release of unearthed documents.
UVB- 76 is the former moniker of Manchester, England's power electronics debutante Natural Orthodoxy (Laurence Taylor of Caïna and Coldfell fame). Lacanthrope is the solo PE moniker of Providence, Rhode Island's Xylon Genesis Otterburn.
Cold and minimal textures people the space of this two track release. Both artists offer attempts at settling personal grief from places of strained discipline — forever indebted to those who came before.
You receive a C30 cassette tape, split. One artist per side. Each purchase also receives your choice of digital downloads in hi fidelity CBR-320 MP3s or FLAC16.


text:
[Catalyst 20 - 2015] Global Oneness Day
With events escalating in the Middle East, it is clear humanity is at a critical juncture — we must recognize and act on our common humanity.
This is why we are delighted to co-sponsor the 6th annual Global Oneness Day on October 24, 2015. Global Oneness Day was inspired by our ally Neale Donald Walsch and created by Humanity's Team, an organization of amazing volunteers around the world.
Global Oneness Day features a free virtual summit with over 40 scientists, spiritual leaders and social-change visionaries exploring the many ways humanity is and can awaken to our oneness — click here to register free. I am delighted to be speaking in this summit!
You can participate in Global Oneness Day by listening to the inspiring talks, signing the Oneness Declaration to be delivered to the United Nations (click here), doing activities with your family, joining events, etc….
In this edition of The Catalyst, our beloved James O'Dea offers a profound look at oneness from our deepest essence. We also have incredible pieces by Lisa Betz, Anna-Mari Pieterse, Jonathan Goldman and our dear Steve Bhaerman (the alter ego to Swami Beyonananda).
Steve Farrell, the Worldwide Coordinating Director for Humanity's Team, provides a beautiful story about how he left a successful career in Silicon Valley to focus on a life of service for the greater good (see Member Profile below).
Part of becoming a global family awakening to our oneness is also healing the historic wounds in the world. This is why we are also strongly supporting our Indigenous brothers and sisters in the 125th Memorial of the Wounded Knee Massacre.
Click here to support the 125th Memorial of the Wounded Knee Massacre. (100% of the funds go to support our Indigenous brothers and sisters.)
We were approached by Jean Fleury, a descended of the Black Elk and Sitting Bull peoples, who was guided by visions to hold special healing ceremonies at Wounded Knee and around the world on December 29, 2015 — the 125th anniversary of the massacres.
We strongly encourage you to join us in supporting the "Big Foot Riders" — Indigenous peoples who will be riding, running and walking the path taken by Chief Big Foot and his people in 1890 that led to the massacre. Shift team members and I will be joining the ceremonies this year at Wounded Knee.
Please watch the video created for this occasion and then go to the campaign website and make a contribution that is meaningful for you – click here. Any amount given in a spirit of love and support will be deeply appreciated. (See Featured Media) Our Shift Philanthropy also features the 125th Memorial of the Wounded Knee Massacre.
If you missed the Hakomi Global Summit, it provided profound insights into the next evolution of psychotherapy. Below we are offering a free recording of Karen Baikie talking about "Resistance is Not a Problem." (See Featured Media)
And, finally, our featured artist is Daphne Tse, a talented international musician who embodies oneness.
125th Memorial of the Wounded Knee Massacre
2015 marks the 125th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre that took place on December 29, 1890. Join us in ceremony to honor all ancestors, support the Big Foot Riders and pledge to end massacre. To learn more, click here.
Featured Hakomi Global Summit Recording – FREE
"Resistance is Not a Problem" with Karen Baikie, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, Certified Hakomi Therapist and Teacher
By James O'Dea
Someone recently asked me, "What is the relationship between music and consciousness?" Great music comes from the higher planes of consciousness which we refer to as the subtle planes where, you could say, consciousness is actually music. So the best answer to this question is, "When you ascend in consciousness you become music. You become the music of cosmos and creation. You become the music of the very roots of passion, of spirit and love without limits" . . . [read more]
The Time for Oneness is Now
By Lisa Betz
BOULDER, Colorado — A vital moment is upon us. On October 24, 2015, Humanity's Team (HT) and many partners worldwide, invite you to participate in the sixth annual Global Oneness Day, a public service day, to celebrate our Oneness with all life. Now in its sixth year, Global Oneness Day is more critical than ever. People across the Earth continue in the false idea that we are disconnected from each other. With worldwide challenges such as earthquake recovery, the plight of refugees, and the suffering caused by human trafficking and slavery throughout the globe, it is vital for all of humanity to embrace our Oneness and harness the power we have to come together to heal our planet . . . [read more]
Oneness, Love, and the Evolution of Humankind
By Steve Bhaerman
"Humankind can only evolve through human kindness."
— Swami Beyondananda
According to my friend and Spontaneous Evolution co-author Bruce Lipton, crisis precipitates evolution. If we look at the multiplicity of burgeoning crises in our world — ecological, economic, political, personal and spiritual — we can see that the chances of precipitation are about 100%. The good news is, modern science is now confirming what ancient wisdom has been telling us for millennia: We are all connected, and that connecting power is love . . . [read more]
24 October Is Global Oneness Day
We Are Owning It in the Fullest Sense!
By Anna-Mari Pieterse
We Are All One. Let's Live That Way!
Join us in Grassroots Celebrations all over the world and in the Annual Free Virtual Summit open to all.
This is the time of the year that some of us in Humanity's Team have come to think of as Global Oneness Day Season! Although spending energy on creating another more impactful, joyful and catalysing Global Oneness Day is an all-year-round endeavour, this is the time of the year when what we have intended and created begins to take flight. Global Oneness Day comes alive now and we are beginning to feel into the day! . . . [read more]
The World As One
By Jonathan Goldman
This October 24, for the 6th time thus far, we as planetary citizens have the opportunity to help create wholeness and oneness for our planet. There will be thousands of people throughout the earth who will be joining together in meditation in order to initiate a shift from separation to one of unification. This day is known as Global Oneness Day and I am honored to be a part of it. I will be a speaker and I'm also a co-creator of Global Oneness Day this year. My only regret is that from my perspective every day should be such a day . . . [read more]
I left Silicon Valley and the tech world for something more, much more
By Steve Farell
In the 1990s I lived and worked in Silicon Valley and ran a couple of tech companies I co-founded. My companies grew rapidly and I enjoyed many of the perks that go with this such as universities at sea, private jets to exclusive locations and more. But, I sold all my holdings in 2001, and moved to Boulder, Colorado with my family in 2007 because I found the American Dream to be false . . . [read more]
The Parliament of the World's Religions — Salt Lake City this October 15–19. The world's premier interfaith event is coming back to the United States bringing 10,000 people together from 80 nations and 50 faith traditions to commit to the challenges of war, violence and hate speech, climate change, and income inequity. Five nobel peace laureates led by His Holiness the Dalai Lama, an Inaugural Women's Assembly for Global Advancement, religious scholars, faith leaders, and the heart of grassroots will round out 5 days of programming to mobilize the global interfaith movement. The Shift Network can take advantage of advance registration and reclaim the heart of our humanity in 2015 by clicking here.
The Peace Alliance — Be the Movement National Conference — Washington, DC — October 16–20, 2015! The conference will focus on the Five Peacebuilding Cornerstones of Be the Movement: Empowering Community Peacebuilding, Teaching Peace in Schools, Humanizing Justice Systems, Cultivating Personal Peace, and Fostering International Peace. Come together with like-minded allies from around the nation as we dialogue with, and learn from, some of the world's most inspiring leaders and experts for a kind of peacebuilding think tank. Speakers include: Sylvia Boorstein, Congressman Bobby Scott, Phil Donahue, Rep. Pete Lee and Lynn Lee, Jeffrey Weisberg, Michael Skolnik, Rabbi Gil Steinlauf and many more. To learn more, click here.
Writing, Truth, and Community with Best Selling Author, Elizabeth Gilbert — On November 7th, you're invited to participate in a rare opportunity to learn from a creative genius and further your path on becoming a brilliant writer! Set in the beautiful Meritage Resort in Napa, California, this daylong creativity workshop with bestselling author of Eat, Pray, Love will include a gourmet lunch, workshop with writing prompts, an inspirational talk, book signing/wine reception, and more. If you are simply a fan, enjoy a glass of wine with Elizabeth Gilbert and get inspired! Participation is open to all. For tickets and more info, click here.
Friends Committee on National Legislation — Building A Pathway to Peace: Annual Meeting, Quaker Public Policy Institute & Lobby Day — November 12–15, 2015 — Washington, DC. This November, we'll be asking Congress to prevent violence before it starts. The US too often waits until war or atrocities begin, and then it only provides military solutions. But it doesn't have to be that way. We believe that by paying attention to warning signs, the international community can respond before deadly conflict erupts. Participants will learn how to lobby from FCNL's expert staff; hear from congressional staff and other speakers; connect with people from your state; practice lobbying skills; meet with your representative and senators and hear presentations on peacebuilding. To learn more, click here.
Kia Miller and Tommy Rosen are so excited to announce the 2015 Recovery 2.0 Thanksgiving Retreat to Costa Rica from November 19–26, 2015. They will be back at Blue Spirit in Nosara for what is always a powerful and blissful Recovery 2.0 experience. The retreat always sells out. If this calls to you, apply today to secure your space.
Collective Coherence: Co-Creating a New World — December 2–6, 2015 — Tao Wellness Center, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico — HeartMath and Global Coherence Initiative Special Event: Come join us for a transformative experience in Collective Coherence: Co-Creating a New World, our fourth annual Mexico event. We will practice tools for Collective Coherence and learn how this accelerates our personal unfoldment into higher potentials. Energetic connectivity will be explored and why it is effective for co-creating a new world. Be sure to use code "Mexico1" when you register to receive the Early Registration discount rate. To learn more, click here.
Maadhiam World Peace Festival — December 23–30 — Middle East Cruise — Take time off to participate in The Maadhiam World Peace Festival aboard a cruise — the Costa Fortuna. The Festival will bring together like minded people from many diverse backgrounds, talents and domains of expertise who are committed to promoting world peace. The Festival will explore many innovative ways to communicate about peace through yoga, literature, music, dance and art. Travel on an awesome mind transforming and life changing journey. And of course, do experience the warmth and hospitality of the Middle East as the cruise stops in ports in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman. To learn more, click here. (Note: Shift Network's Philip Hellmich will be a guest speaker on the cruise.)
Awake: The Life of Yogananda — DVDs available with subtitles in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch and Japanese. Plus there are new film showings in Australia and United States! You also can bring Awake to your yoga studio or community. To learn more, click here. (The filmmakers were interviewed in the Yoga Day Summit, the recording is available for free.)
New Book: Subtle Activism: The Inner Dimension of Social and Planetary Transformation — David Thomas Nicol introduces the concept of "subtle activism" to describe the use of consciousness-based practices like meditation and prayer to support collective transformation, such as global meditation directed toward peaceful resolution of a conflict. Subtle activism represents a bridge between the consciousness movement and the movements for peace, environmental sustainability, and social justice. It is not a substitute for physical action but rather a potentially crucial component of a more integrated approach to social change. To learn more and order a copy, click here.
If you have an announcement to share, please write: editor@theshiftnetwork.com.
2015 Catalyst: (#20, 10/11) (#19, 9/27) (#18, 9/12) (#17, 8/30) (#16, 8/16) (#15, 8/2) (#14, 7/19) (#13, 7/5) (#12, 6/20) (#11, 6/7) (#10, 5/24) (#9, 5/10) (#8, 4/26) (#7, 4/5) (#6, 3/21) (#5, 3/15) (#4, 2/22) (#3, 2/8) (#2, 1/25) (#1, 1/11)
2015 Issue 20 • Oct 11
• Featured Media
Please sign the Oneness Declaration – click here, and send a message to the United Nations: We Are All One, interrelated, interconnected and interdependent, with God/Life/One-another.
The 4 Essential Spiritual Initiations How Shamanic, Tantric, Transcendental & Activist Practices Can Birth the Divine Human in You — A Free Virtual Event Featuring Mystical Scholar Andrew Harvey. October 14, 2015 at 5:30pm Pacific
Caravan of No Despair Journeying Through Grief & Loss into Healing & Transformation — Featuring Interspiritual Teacher & Mystic-Scholar Mirabai Starr. A 12-week Program Providing a Sanctuary for Your Heart & Soul Learn key principles and practices for turning the heartbreaking stages of grief into portals for spiritual awakening and transformation.
New Live Program Starts Wednesday, October 21, 2015
The Hakomi Method Essentials Program Using Applied Mindfulness, Micro-Tracking & Core Belief Exploration for Embodied Transformation — A 12-week Online Training With Hakomi Pioneers Manuela Mischke-Reeds & Rob Fisher.
New Live Video & Audio Training Starts Thursday, October 22, 2015
• Sally Kempton 7-week course
• Alison Armstrong 8-week course
• Andrew Harvey 12-week course
• Enneagram 5-month intensive
• Mingtong Gu 5-month intensive
• Co-creating Heaven on Earth Summit
• Global Indigenous Wisdom Summit
• Michael Stone 7-week course
• Robert Moss 12-week course
• George Kao 12-week course
• Martin Rutte 12-week course
• Wounded Knee Indigenous Healing Summit
• Andrew Harvey 7-week course
• Sandra Ingerman 7-week course
• Chief Phil Lane, Jr. 7-week course
• Peace Ambassador Training 16-week course
125th Memorial of the Wounded Knee Massacre — 2015 marks the 125th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre that took place on December 29, 1890. The Shift Network is committed to standing with our Indigenous brothers and sisters to create healing ceremonies on this historic occasion. We invite you to join us in unity and determination to end massacre. Let us use this unique opportunity to collectively begin a great and momentous turning. Come heal with us in spirit at Wounded Knee! Click here to learn more.
Humanity's Team is an international spiritual movement whose purpose is to communicate and demonstrate the timeless truth that We Are All One, with God and life — caring for each other and the world we share — so that people's actions reflect this profound understanding within a generation. We believe that living this truth is essential to solving the most chronic and acute world problems and vital to creating a sustainable world of peace, harmony and happiness. To learn more, click here.
Daphne Tse
While attending the International Yoga Festival in India, I had the pleasure of meeting Daphne Tse, a talented international musician. Daphne had audiences at the festival spellbound with her soulful voice and spiritually uplifting music. While interviewing Daphne for the Yoga Day Summit, I was struck by her embodiment of oneness as a true global citizen. Daphne is from the US born of Chinese and Mexican parents and she tours across Asia, Europe and the Pacific. Her latest album, Finding Water, "weaves the sounds of Hawaii with eastern mantra and acoustic folk fusion songs to inspire your spirit and touch your heart." I highly recommend listening to Daphne's music as an experience of oneness emerging around the world. To learn more about Daphne and to listen to her music, click here.


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Q: check if object is castable in Android I am using xstream to parse xml to objects.
the result from
xstream.fromXML(xmlFile);

is an object.
Since i have mutiple xml-schemas, this object could be cast to multipe definition classes.
Is there a way to check if this object is castable to one these classes so I know which format the xml follows?

A: You can check with instanceof like in normal Java.
Object obj = xstream.fromXML(xmlFile);
if (obj instanceof MyClass)
  MyClass myObj = (MyClass)obj;

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Kids Adjustable Paddle is not just a short version of an adults paddle.
Our Kids paddle is a superbly designed for kids. It has a narrow 27mm coated aluminium shaft with a small palm grip specially designed for kids. The blade is specially designed for kids and has a slight dihydral to give maximum control combined with a slight curve from edge to edge which reduces snagging and increases control. This is a great kids paddle. The twin-pin quick release mechanism allows precise length adjustment. This is the perfect kids vario paddle, light and strong with rattle free twin pin adjustment.
Adjustable length from 51" - 67"
Rattle free twin pin adjustment.


Why Are Subject Lines So Hard to Write?
The best writing, every week. Subscribe to receive great stories. Submit to share yours.
I'll fess up: Writrsbloc took a week off last Sunday. Things got a little hairy, but never fear, we're back in business. Here's a set of links to four spectacular stories. They're quirky, insightful, and entirely unexpected, as great writing often is.
Meet Durland and Darvin, the Hummer-driving, rock-and-roll-playing, real-life twins keeping Twins.com in the family and out of Minnesota's baseball mitt.
A look at the bold new transactional-love economy.
What happens when a failed writer becomes a loyal spy?
The farm-by-farm fight between China and the United States to dominate the global food supply.
Papers edited in 48 hours. Return the favor, and you unlock more editing!
Want your writing featured? Drop us a link via https://writrsbloc.typeform.com/to/NjflfX. We'll take it from there.


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I've spent a couple years now studying information theory, and the more I learn the more it confirms chance and necessity cannot create complex structure. Hence the proofs I referred to.
For another day. I've written about this extensively on the BioLogos forum.
As I said, I'll engage later with you. Give it a couple weeks and ask me again when it seems things are slow. If you still think that's hand waiving, you are not paying attention.
You seem sincere so I will give you a few hints. If you follow up on them it will help you immensely.
First of all, it is clear, from the specific words you use, a large amount of your exposure to information theory is through ID and Apologetics work. Start learning about the theory from other web sources, totally independent of questions of biology.
Second, look at The Role of Simulation in Science. Use some basic programming skills (I suggest Python), to test your intuituion and understanding of information theory. Part of your difficulty is that your intuitions are not calibrated correctly, and you are relying on semantic reasoning rather than math to guide you.
Third, if you don't know how to program well enough to test your ideas, learn how to program. There are free tutorials online, and https://repl.it/ is an easy way to start testing simple snippets.
Fourth, search the BioLogos forum for what I've written on this on the past. Test what I am saying with simulation if you doubt me.
Lets see how far you get with that in a couple weeks. I'll help you along from there.
Eric Please let me know what you think of Claude Shannon, the father of Information Theory. have you studied his papers? Are you okay with the math?
The most important rule I referenced is the law of information non-growth. It is concisely proven in Leonid Levin's paper, section 1.2. This refutes the possibility that naturalistic processes can increase mutual information.
a large amount of your exposure to information theory is through ID and Apologetics work.
You shouldn't make so many assumptions about those whom you speak with. Most of my exposure to information theory comes from reading information theory text books, primarily Cover and Thomas, and Li and Vitanyi, and the papers of Leonid Levin.
Great, then you've done that part already. There are still the rest.
There are still the rest.
The most important rule I referenced is the law of information non-growth. It is concisely proven in Leonid Levin's paper, section 1.2 . This refutes the possibility that naturalistic processes can increase mutual information.
Well aware of Levin's paper. Now how does it connect to biological systems and gene flow?
So it helps that you do have some education here. Seems like you know how to program, and I'm glad to hear you have done some work here. That is great. If you'd like, even though I do not have time to engage, you could articulate what you think the key information argument is against evolution. I might not be able to answer you right away, but when I have time I will try. You can bug me about it in a couple weeks.
Ok, I may be able to keep up with you. One of my first seminars when I joined Bell Labs was given by Claude Shannon. I may be a little rusty on it but I am up to date on quantum information theory as it relates to quantum computing, entanglement, and teleportation (not the Star Trek kind but the information teleportation kind). Also familiar with Hawkins information theory arguments related to black hole. So I think I can perhaps follow you as you apply information theory to biological entities and the propagation of information transfer through genes with mutations generation after generation.
apply information theory to biological entities and the propagation of information through genes.
I(x:y) is the algorithmic mutual information between x and y.
If X is some early simple biological organism and Y is a later complex biological organism, and evolution (E) is some combination of algorithmic processing and randomness injection, then I(X:Y) \geq I(E(X):Y). So, this says evolution doesn't provide any help in turning X into Y. If X turns into Y, it is only because Y is the natural outcome of X, and evolution has nothing to do with it. In fact, the only thing evolution can do is prevent X from turning into Y.
Definition of "complex organism" and "simple organism" in precise information theoretic terms. This gets to one of the common fudge terms in most ID arguments "complexity." You have define this with ruthless precision, and ensure it maps precisely to the information theoretic analogue you are claiming. failing this, it is not valid.
Logical reasoning explanation why it matters if the equation is true: I(X:Y) \geq I(E(X):Y). If you are using the way it seems you are, it is a tautology followed by a sequitur, almost like saying "because 2 > 1 by definition, evolution is false." Though you have not even laid your reasoning, so it is not clear.
Related to the prior point, why would mutual information here?
An explanation (and demonstration) of why algoirthmic mutual information is the right type of information tor this question.
There is a critically important distinction between theoretic algorithmic information (which is uncomputable), and computable algorithmic information (which is always greater than the former). The two are very different, and algebraic manipulations using each one are different. Which one is being referenced here? It is common in ID arguments to use switch between these two definitions (without notice) in the proofs or application.
If this is your own argument, fine. If you are trying communicate one of Dembski or Marks or Durston's arguments (etc.), something is being lost in translation. It would be helpful to know if you think you are repeating an established argument, or putting forward one of your own.
At minimum, those question need to be answered to even make sense of what you are putting forward. You have a lot of work to do to even lay out your case, let alone make your case.
Finally, I'm fairly certain that I can produce a clear counter example that falsifies the equation, at least according to the rules of information theory.
In evolution nothing turns into anything. Species evolve by populations acquiring mutations that are naturally selected. That's it. I am still not getting the connection between mutual information and evolution via natural selection or even neutral evolution. I understand the math and agree with the mathematical conclusions but having difficulty applying the math to real biological systems containing information, I to start with and ending up with any new information from previous generations.
Can you define the information flow. What is the source of the information (X) and what is the receiver of the information (Y) and I(X,Y) is the mutual information between the two. I get this. But don't know how you moving the information. How about take just one cell that mutates, what is the mutual information loss of the mutation?
Logical reasoning explanation why it matters if the equation is true: I(X:Y)≥I(E(X):Y)I(X:Y) \geq I(E(X):Y). If you are using the way it seems you are, it is a tautology followed by a sequitur, almost like saying "because 2 > 1 by definition, evolution is false." Though you have not even laid your reasoning, so it is not clear.
all that he is saying is that information is lost to the biological system by evolution. That is obvious as mutations represent low fidelity flow of information from one generation to the next.
Apply this to the most simplest example: one gene mutation of one cell to its daughter cell. Please tell me what you think the information exchange is for that example?
all that he is saying is that information is lost to the biological system by evolution. That is obvious. However, the entropy of the universe (thus total information) is still increasing.
Nothing he has written is clear enough to draw that conclusion. I also do not know that it is "obvious" that information is "lost" to the biological system. That does not make a lot of sense to me. My questions still stand.
Here is my example. A single mutation changes a single gene. Information is lost, not gained.
Umm. I'm not sure what definition you are using. In information theory, as would usually be understood (at least by me), information was gained by definition.
To some degree it depends on how you define the function. If you mutate your best friends phone number and the function is defined as calling your best friend Harry then mutation will always be a loss of information. If you define function as calling any friend then the mutation may be neutral as Harrys number gets substituted for Freds. The likely hood is improbable but possible. If you are looking for a girlfriend and your function is to find the most compatible relationship possible in this case a beneficial mutation to the number of the girls in your cell phone is possible but indeed improbable.
Genes can work with this same principal depending on their defined function.
entropy of the universe (thus total information) is still increasing.
What we call information is technically known as mutual information. Entropy is necessary for mutual information to exist, but high entropy does not entail mutual information actually exists.
Evolution can only cause mutual information to decrease. Likewise with the second law of thermodynamics.
That is why I don't get the controversy over ID. Dembski is just repeating these well established information laws. The only discrepancy is he uses non-standard terminology.
What you could prove is there is a probability of generating mutual information from a random source. But, this probability drops off exponentially for each bit added. Besides this, nothing more can be proven.
In my argument I'm referring to what you call theoretic algorithmic information. My formulation may be novel due to its reliance on non-novel definitions of information, but in essence is no different than the standard ID argument.
Regarding the definition of complexity, I define it as the Kolmogorov minimal sufficient statistic (KMSS). Only compressible bitstrings have a non trivial KMSS, but most bitstrings are incompressible so their KMSS is trivial. Due to the law of information non growth (I(X:Y) \geq I(f(X):Y)) combining randomness and determinism doesn't help generate KMSS any more than flipping a coin does.


You've probably read stuff like this, but do you actually know what the glycemic index is or why exactly it's better to have a low one? Glycemic index is a very rough estimation of how much the carbs in a food will spike blood sugar, but if you take a close look, it's more complicated than low-GI = good.
1. The Glycemic Index Doesn't Account for Different Amounts of Carbs in Different Foods.
Now imagine you could take out just the carbohydrates (including fiber) from any one of these foods: get rid of all the water, any protein and fat, and all the other stuff until you just have just the carbs. For each food, you'd have a slightly different mixture of different types of carbohydrates: glucose, fructose, sucrose, other sugars, and fiber.
Now imagine you took an equal amount of pure carbohydrate from all those different foods, and ate just that pure carbohydrate. Not the broccoli or rice or wherever the carbohydrates came from, just the pure isolated carbohydrate.
The Glycemic Index (GI) measures how much that pure carbohydrate raises your blood sugar. If you extracted equal amounts of pure carbohydrate from white bread and from broccoli, the carbohydrate from bread would raise your blood sugar more, so it has a higher GI.
There's a big problem with this, though: the comparison is based on the assumption that you'll be eating the same amount of carbohydrates from all the different food sources, and that's just not how people eat. To get the amount of carbohydrates (30 grams) in two slices of white bread, you'd have to eat 5 cups of broccoli. It's easy to imagine eating two slices of bread, but who eats 5 cups of broccoli in one sitting?
In other words, the glycemic index doesn't account for the serving sizes people actually eat.
The GI of this meal will not be the same as the GI of the spinach!
The GI of a food doesn't measure how the food affects blood sugar when eaten in combination with other foods, or as part of a recipe that includes many different ingredients. How many times have you eaten nothing but boiled potatoes for dinner? What about only raw or steamed broccoli? Probably not – in real life, humans eat their carbs with protein and fat.
That completely changes the glycemic index of the meal as a whole. The glycemic index of any one food is only relevant if you're eating that one food in isolation; it's almost irrelevant if you're eating a complete meal.
If you roast your broccoli with olive oil, you'll change the GI. If you put butter on your potatoes, you'll change the GI. If you cook both your broccoli and your potatoes into a breakfast scramble with chicken, bacon, coconut oil, red peppers, and onions, you'll totally change the GI.
3. It Doesn't Measure Insulin Spikes From Sources Other Than Carbs.
The whole point of glycemic index is to measure how much a food spikes blood sugar. For a lot of people, especially people with diabetes or another metabolic problem, blood sugar is important because it demands an insulin spike to bring it back down. The real problem is the insulin; blood sugar is just a proxy measurement.
OK, but the problem is that "high-GI" is not a synonym for "insulin spiking" and "low-GI" is not a synonym for "doesn't spike insulin." Carbs are one way to spike insulin, but protein will also do it just fine – and the glycemic index doesn't measure that at all. Whey protein, for example, is a 0-carb food that causes huge insulin spikes.
4. It Makes Fructose Look Artificially Good.
In general, fructose has a lower GI than glucose, because fructose gets sent to your liver to metabolize before it gets into your blood, so it doesn't raise blood sugar as quickly. But this isn't an advantage! A high-fructose diet puts a lot of strain on your liver and can cause serious liver problems down the line.
If you only looked at GI, you'd never know that, and you might think that high-fructose foods are the healthiest foods around. For example, judging from GI alone, you might think agave nectar is a fantastic sweetener because it has a low GI. But actually, the high amount of fructose makes agave nectar a pretty lousy sweetener: if you're going to use a sweetener at all, honey would be a better choice even though the GI is higher.
If you have any faith in the power of hormones to regulate weight loss, the glycemic index seems very promising. A lot of junk food tends to be high-GI, so a low-GI diet excludes things like Wonderbread and white rice and other blood-sugar-spiking carbs. Wouldn't that help people lose weight?
Well, not really. This review found that low-GI diets weren't more effective than any other type of diet for weight loss. Replacing sugar with agave nectar: not actually the way to easy weight loss!
Diets that get rid of junk food typically do help people lose weight, but GI is only a very rough guide for that. Remember that a low-GI diet would allow Peanut M&Ms (GI: 33) but exclude watermelon (GI: 72) – this definitely isn't a perfect system for telling whole foods from junk! If you want to eliminate junk food, just eliminate junk food without getting muddled up in GI.
The problems with the glycemic index make some people more willing to trust glycemic load as a way to judge carbs. This study explains the difference: the glycemic index is based on the assumption that you'll be eating equal amounts of carbohydrate from both food, but the glycemic load accounts for the total amount of carbohydrate in a food.
In some ways, the glycemic load is more accurate. For example, the glycemic load correctly predicts that Coke will probably raise your blood sugar more than watermelon, because Coke contains so much more total sugar than watermelon does.
That's a little bit better, but it's still not perfect – it's still based on only one food at a time, it still doesn't measure anything but carbs, and it still makes it easy to (falsely) assume that fructose is better than glucose. And some studies (like this one) have found that a low-GL diet is just as unimpressive as a low-GI diet when it comes to losing weight.
If only we could come up with one number that would classify every food as "healthy" or "unhealthy." Imagine how easy everything would be!
But that number doesn't exist, and it's definitely not the GI.
The glycemic index of a food gives you one piece of information about that food. Looking at it in the context of potential food toxins, nutrient density, antinutrients, and other factors might help you make a decision about whether or not that food is right for you, and if so in what amount and when. But just looking at that one number in isolation can lead you down some very silly paths – like preferring agave nectar to honey.
Glycemic Index isn't "bad" as a measurement – it can be very helpful to some people. But it's only one number, and it's important to know what it does and doesn't mean.


text:
class CreateBooks < ActiveRecord::Migration
  def change
    create_table :books do |t|
      t.string :name
      t.references :author

      t.timestamps
    end
    add_index :books, :author_id
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


"David Robinson" is composed of at least 29 distinct authors, divided by their works.
Works have been aliased into David W Robinson.
Works have been aliased into David N. Robinson.
"David Robinson" is composed of at least 29 distinct authors, divided by their works. You can edit the division.
David Robinson is composed of 4 names. You can examine and separate out names.


text:
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In organic chemistry, phosphonium coupling is a cross-coupling reaction for organic synthesis. It is a mild, efficient, chemoselective and versatile methodology for the formation of C–C, C–N, C–O, and C–S bond of unactivated and unprotected tautomerizable heterocycles. The method was originally reported in 2004. The C–OH bond of a tautomerizable heterocycle is activated with a phosphonium salt (PyBroP, PyBOP, BroP, or BOP), and subsequent functionalization with either a nucleophile through SNAr displacement or an organometallic through transition metal catalyzed cross coupling reaction. The in situ activation of the C-OH bond in phosphonium coupling has been applied to cross coupling reactions of tautomerizable heterocycles and arenols using other types of activating reagents.

Phosphonium coupling generates in situ a pseudo aryl or heteroaryl halide (the intermediate phosphonium species), which subsequently reacts with its coupling partner.

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text:
Systems Grantmaking Resource Guide
Systems Grantmaking
Four-Stage Systemic Change Process
These resources include approaches for systems change that can be broken down into fluid stages involving stakeholder engagement in meaning making and decision-making. They often include multiple types of resources.
Systems Questions
What is the social network and how can we influence it?
What are the events, activities, actions, behaviors, and forces that affect the system, and how can we influence them?
Patterns and Structure
What are the patterns of behavior, structures, and archetypes in the system, and how can we influence them?
How do we think and learn about the system?
Grantmaking Stages
Develop grantmaking strategy
Resources in this category can help you understand the system, identify outcomes and determine grantmaking interventions.
Identify and select grantees
Resources in this category can help you understand who is in the system, the strength and content of their relationships, who is missing and the power dynamics among them.
Shape and monitor grants
Resources in this category can help you as you implement and refine your grantmaking strategy. Some of the more participatory resources in this category overlap with other grantmaking stages.
Assess impact and learn
Resources in this category can help you assess impact and learn. Since learning is often an iterative and emergent process in systems grantmaking, these resources may overlap with other grantmaking stages.
Highly participatory
Someone who has been trained on the resource
What's its purpose in systems grantmaking?
To align diverse stakeholders around a shared understanding of why a complex social problem persists and identify leverage points that might improve systemwide performance in sustainable ways.
A four-stage process to collectively engage stakeholders across a system in systemic change by harnessing the energy and sense of urgency that generates from creative tension,1 which is the gap between current reality and vision for the future. These four stages are iterative and nonlinear:
building a foundation for change,
facing current reality,
making an explicit choice about the future, and
bridging the gap between the current reality and the future.
1. Drawn from: Senge, Peter. The Fifth Discipline: The Art & Practice of The Learning Organization. (Doubleday, 2006).
When is it useful?
When stakeholders have trouble seeing how they contribute to the problem and what they can do to optimize the whole system instead of just their part of it
To identify leverage points and integrate them into a systemic theory of change
When systems are bound by a social change issue that can be addressed at a local, state or regional level
Example from the field
How does the Four-Stage Systemic Change Process work?
Image from: 'Systems Thinking for Social Change: A Practical Guide for Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results,' by David Peter Stroh. Chelsea Green, 2015.
A group of local funders, including the Battle Creek Community Foundation, Community Foundation Alliance of Calhoun County, W.K. Kellogg Foundation and United Way, supported a coalition in Calhoun County, Michigan to come up with a 10-year plan for ending homelessness. The coalition used the Four-Stage Systemic Change Process, which resulted in decreased homelessness rates even during the economic downturn.2
In the first stage of the process, the goals are to engage key stakeholders, create a shared initial picture of people's vision and where they are now, and build capacity to collaborate. The coalition engaged diverse stakeholders, including service providers, business people, government officials and the homeless. The coalition introduced this group of stakeholders to systems thinking and productive conversation techniques, and the group created a vision for the future that centered on ending homelessness.
The goal of the second stage is to develop a deep understanding of the current reality. The consultants conducted interviews with stakeholders to understand the issues around why people became homeless and why they were not able to attain stable housing. They then created a systems map to identify interdependencies among the variables influencing and affected by the problem (see Systems Mapping). A small committee expanded this map and brought it to the larger steering committee for deeper analysis, continued mapping, and catalytic conversations (which challenge stakeholders to recognize and change their role in the status quo). During this stage, they surfaced "shifting the burden" as the primary system archetype at play. System archetypes distill key insights about how the system operates (see inset). They also added mental models — the beliefs and assumptions driving actions — to the map.
12 System Archetypes
Each archetype has specific leverage points that work to shift the system. The archetypes include
• virtuous/vicious cycles,
• balancing process,
• fixes that backfire,
• shifting the burden,
• limits to growth,
• success to the successful,
• accidental adversaries,
• drifting goals,
• competing goals,
• escalation,
• tragedy of the commons, and
• growth/underinvestment.
In the third stage, people commit to moving toward their envisioned future by understanding and comparing the payoffs of the status quo with the payoffs for change and creating solutions that maximize the benefits of both states or make conscious trade-offs in support of what they care about most deeply. In Calhoun County, they explored how current efforts to solve the problem of homelessness often exacerbated it by creating negative unintended consequences. They also made decisions to shift resources from programs that helped people cope with homelessness (temporary housing) to programs that would end homelessness (permanent affordable housing).
In the final stage, stakeholders work to bridge the gap between their current reality and their commitment to the future. This includes identifying leverage points (such as those proposed by Donella Meadows) to shift a system archetype, integrating these into a systemic theory of change, and developing new mental models. It also includes creating a process for ongoing learning and engagement to recalibrate plans based on what the group is learning.
2. The coalition engaged consultants David Peter Stroh and Michael Goodman to facilitate the Four-Stage Systemic Change Process.
What are tips and cautions for systems grantmakers and the social sector?
The four-stage process is flexible. There is space to incorporate other tools and frameworks.
It is critical to engage diverse stakeholders early on in order to create accurate maps. The stakeholders should be varied enough to generate divergent thinking.
During the second stage, a facilitator skilled in managing power dynamics, who is comfortable with conflict resolution, may be needed for successful catalytic conversations.
The process includes powerful questions that foundations may ask of staff, board, grantees, and others to transform how they think about their goals and strategies. These questions can be used to help people think and act systemically. They can be found in the article "Leveraging Grantmaking – Part 2: Aligning Programmatic Approaches with Complex System Dynamics."
Systems Thinking for Social Change: A Practical Guide for Solving Complex Problems, Avoiding Unintended Consequences, and Achieving Lasting Results
By David Peter Stroh
Chelsea Green Publishing, 2015
Above image reproduced with permission from Chelsea Green Publishing.
Link to Book
Leveraging Grantmaking: Understanding the Dynamics of Complex Social Systems
Foundation Review, 2009
Leveraging Grantmaking – Part 2: Aligning Programmatic Approaches with Complex System Dynamics
By David Peter Stroh and Kathleen Zurcher
David Peter Stroh
Co-founder and Principal, Bridgeway Partners
Co-director, Applied Systems Thinking
Explore more resources Have you used this tool? Share your experience
This resource guide was developed by:
Grantmakers for Effective Organizations
Management Assistance Group


Best Comic Book Cover Artists: The top or so comic book covers aaron.
Summary : The best comic book covers of art. Cover story best comic book covers of june behind. Batman comic book values prices issues comics. The best comic book cover artists of part three.


Posting-frequency: monthly, and a pointer is posted to s.c.n-z on Mondays.
Summary: General and specific information about New Zealand and life here.
thinking of moving here.  Please POST any questions, don't e-mail them.
days' per annum seems to be about the norm.
but certainly still happens in factories.
the leave entitlement to 4 weeks after a suitable employment period."
gear, and they will even have the right plug to put on it.
from the inside as one would while wiring it up.
If you have ANY doubts, PLEASE consult a qualified electrician.
may be for shavers only.  If in doubt, ask.
colours won't be as crisp as you'd expect.
U.K.   625    8MHz    5.5MHz      +6MHz         -ve         f.m.
N.Z.   625    7MHz    5MHz        5.5MHz        -ve         f.m.
R or A and B or Mono plus data or full data.
tune into the NZ stations.
if it can be modified.
module usually has to be swapped out.
work almost exclusively in VHF 1 and 3 bands."
tv info and video conversion above as applicable.
Sole supplier of residential phone lines.
Cellular network is an analogue/digital hybrid system.
Most NZ telephone systems can handle DTMF tone dialling.
The best solution is to use tone dialing.
phones. Those without GSM Mobile phones may rent or buy one.
use their GSM digital mobiles.  They will be allocated a NZ mobile number.
their way out of the country."
are in Colville won't be too successful ;) )"
two months.  There is no option available online on this pre-pay scheme.
I suggest you ask Bell South about it if you are interested.
are often required for radios in imported Japanese cars.
you have to be prepared to wait around until a job comes up.
rec.travel.australia+nz for stuff specific to us.
return or onward ticket staying up to 90 days.
Australians and NZers need passports to get into each others countries.
NZers now need visas too, although these tend to be no real difficulty.
or business experience, and their ability to transfer >NZD 100,000 to NZ.
very difficult to get a job/grant money.
10/5/96), and for more detailed info.
in NZ, work status, etc.
into account the customs concessions available to first time migrants.
to take as much as two years before you move here.
There are 2 types of residence permits; single entry and multiple entry.
leave to ensure you can come back in.
explanation.  There is probably a minimum.  Check with the department.
living in NZ (if you are not).  Talk to your nearest NZ counsulate.
into effect in October 1995.
No change.  Applicants are required to be of good character and health.
Evidence of this by references and medical.
Flatter points structure created.  Ten pts minimum requirement.
Base degree [or equivalent], trade or 3 year diploma/cetificate = 10 pts.
Advanced trade or professional qualification = 11 pts.
Masters degree [or equivalent] = 12 pts.
Statutory resistration for professionals eg. doctors, dentists, vets.
Job Offer; offer of skilled employment = 5 pts.
$100,000 - $200,000 transferred to NZ and readily available = 1 - 2 pts.
pt.  Advanced qualifications = 2 points.
Family sponsorship = 3 pts, Community sponsorship scrapped.
points total will be enough to obtain a visa."
accidentally.  You may ask to be removed if you have respiratory problems.
into NZ as documented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
year to accomplish the process, with all the microchip implants, and tests.
the latest protocols.  They have changed recently, and I used the old ones.
him, since I had a cat, and chose to use the other cat quarantine facility.
$700.00.  I don't what the charges are for a dog.
drilling holes for the USDA seals.
up, if the paperwork isn't right, or if the Rabies test isn't correct."
plane.  It cost 600 pounds, so I hope she has a long and happy life here."
NZ Customs does not have a web site or email address.
Customs are generally more formal than in neighbouring Australia.
up to date with the duty free allowances of each country.
You will be given an allowance of value of goods to be brought into NZ.
provided they are personal belongings for your use here.
you know the exact conditions pertaining to your circumstance.
my experience - in hopes that it may help someone else.
from US $160 to $225 per 100 pounds of goods.  depending on the company.
Also, an insurance cost of $25 per $1000 of goods values was also added.
or a letter from your foreign employer.
to convert it to right hand drive - this can get VERY expensive."
cheap.  Normally 6% of the contents value.
"If you like a bit of challence in life you could do it my way.
numbers and content lists per box.
- Very inportant is to state how everything is cleaned!!!
great value too (for the really keen ones, check out www.nedlloyd.com).
That was btw International Forwarding Co Ltd.
to get the container to Papakura.  The cost risk wasn't really there.
save you a lot money."
there, so the savings can be substantial.
but the NOR container, I just looked up in my notes.
container and then sell it when you arrive in NZ."
residency.  That was three years ago.
- Owned the car for at least two years overseas.
OR converted to a right-hand drive.
manipulated in every second import.
independent workshop in Auckland.  You can bring your potential "next car"
there and get an non-partisan assessment."
attached to the traveller's boarding pass.
illness occurs within three weeks of entering the country, consult a doctor.
dates, refer to section B3.4  Holidays.
be obtained from the Visitor Information Centre of that area.
stations tend to stock regional maps only.
to have the maps too.
suit each budget or travelling mode.  Travellers will be spoilt for choice.
Camping Ground, Caravan Parks, Holiday Parks, Farm Stay etc.
you plan on being here during the tourist season (November to March).
Booking is less important with Backpacker style accommodation.
Basically these are buildings with rooms rented out by the night.
bellboys to help you with bags etc.
The price and quality depends on the type of hotel it is.
average double room is at least $150 - $200 per night during off peak.
range include, Quality Hotel, Flag Inns and Best Western.
These are by far a more popular choice of accomodation compared to hotels.
As with other accomodation modes, the range is from cheap to expensive.
Motels are typically big units that usually have full kitchen facilities.
than one room.  You should be able to park your car near your unit.
The range of prices go from around $60 per night to $200 per night.
provided.  There was a swimming pool in the Motel.
September 97 - Motel in Hamilton $65 a night.
microwave, stove, toaster etc with table that seats 2 ppl.
Bathroom was small with shower, toilet and sink.
For those of you not familiar with backpackers here's a quick rundown.
kitchen as backpackers tend to cook their meals to lower their cost.
Some backpackers segregate their rooms by genders and some don't.
one of those multidoor ones you get at dairies or petrol stations.
This was a four door fridge with glass doors and shelves.
detergent for dishes is provided.
to do is vacate your bed and room.
All backpackers have a laundry facility with washing machine and dryer.
Some of them are coin operated.  I brought my own laundry detergent.
backpackers sell small packets of washing detergent.
the bag/box with your name.
guides or YHA guide (booklets) usually tell you what's provided.
(last weekend of nov).  By then a couple of places were fully booked.
there for the night (or longer).
to throw on the grill".  So you socialise with the other travellers.
Or sometimes everyone contributes a small amout of money for the stuff.
* you can get the info from your nearest youth hostel.
miles out of the central city area."
travel by bus or train and other discounts.
can be obtained free from the visitor information centres or backpackers.
Only the 2 - 3 more popular guides are available.
sometimes you can either just turn up or book a day or two ahead.
service or charge a minimal fee.
Other than the YHA card, there's the VIP Backpacker discount card.
and bus seats.  There are also other discounts available.
Prices are normally $8-20/night for a room.
over people who book in advance!
This is the main/Blue book with over 200 hostels in it.
Cabins in motorcamps are usually the next step 'down' from motels.
Info centre in Queen St.
comfortable huts (gas stoves, mattresses) are $15/night.
from the ones in the main cities) and bookshops.
as well as one for the whole of NZ.
The page takes you to the Jasons Online Accommodation guides.
The guides are listed below and are searchable.
flexible and there are a variety of regional bus passes available.
of the cheap fares are gone.
citizens, YHA members and so on.
on any bus or train fare on the main bus lines or TranzRail.
islands, but apparently there are many mistakes in it.
there are probably other companies that offer similar packages.
Here's a list of places to rent bicycles from (typed late 1993).
those who only have time to cycle one way and have to take the bus back.
Sounds Cycling           03 578 0442  2 Selwyn St, Blenheim"
knowledge of touring is encyclopaedic.
their tours and found them excellent and good value for money."
Kennett Brothers, it's likely to be well worth a look!
are renowned as sea kayaking areas with trips possible all year round.
and walked your way back to Torrent Bay.
seen.  I hope no one spoils it.
the Pelorus Bridge.  Also visit the vineyards in that area."
If anyone can suggest a better place to put this, I'd like to hear it!
major boating areas will be added.  Thanks to the Hydrographer RNZN.
assaulted and/or has all their gear stolen.
Cook Strait and pick up another on the other side, but may not be possible.
may be charged the cost of retrieving it.
compared with US and European rates.
result was a car at about $35/day.
which covers towing anywhere in NZ.
They are one of the biggest companies in the campervan/motorhome market.
There are several sizes.  They are not cheap."
places in Auckland with phone and fax numbers.
Nationwide car rentals and "Wheels rent a car"
Rentals in Christchurch.  Because it was off season it cost us NZ$60 a day.
afternoon.  We had four people in it.
often available at extra cost.
7 day minimum, age 21, appears to allow auck-chch rental!
All sizes, no prices listed.
Economy 2  $79   $59    Hiace S.W.B.
All inclusive. Minimum age 25.  minimum 7days (sum), 5 days (win).
Also offer 4 & 6 berth vans.
brochure, minimum age 30  ph: 06-874-8833, fax: 06-874-8850"
Good, if they go where you are going.
Tauranga and a number of branch lines.
between Christchurch and Greymouth via Arthurs Pass.
saver(30%), economy(20%) and full fare.
(with recognised student IDs) are eligible for a 20% discount.
plateau, gorges, bush, rolling farmland).
running only on some days of the week outside the peak season.
Tranz Rail's fares are not as systematic as those in some countries.
Vintage Railway, SW of Auckland.
"There is one night and one day train daily [Auckland - Wellington].
spending time visiting the many wonders of the cave system around Waitomo.
selection of accommodations seems to be occurring.
"Another possible consideration for a stopover would be National Park.
and if you enjoy walking/tramping, there are many possibilities."
Lynx which takes 1hr 45mins for the crossing.
The Lynx costs NZ$190 for a car and NZ$60 per adult.
coffee table between each set of four.  Afternoon tea is served free.
want, without booking in advance.
take the ferry as a passenger."
"seats" as airlines, buses and trains are.
reload the car at each end."
of the Straits' which runs between Wellington and Picton.
Any information about making reservations, etc., would be appreciated.
available.  Phone; +64 03 218 9129.
you wish (prices for Backpacker buses fluctuate wildly due to a price war).
Here is some miscellaneous information (prices quoted are in $NZ).
the intermediate sections, you will need to pay more.
Intercity.  I am going to type excerpts from the brochure.
Taupo - Wellington, or Auckland - Thames - Rotorua - Taupo - Wellington.
You won't be eligible for any discounts (i.e. no student or YHA discount).
travel and you may get away with not paying the booking fee.
an option where you can include Ansett airline as well.
travel for 5 days over a 10 day pass, 8 days over a 3 week pass.
accommodation booked for you and stop for the sights along the way.
one of the [main] backpacker bus services; Kiwi Experience or Magic Bus.
things about Magic (from other backpackers and people running backpackers).
of where one goes, they are almost identical.
boating, maori cultural shows, adventure caving or abseiling, walks, etc.
no problem with stopping as long as you like.
marae in Rotorua, abseiling, etc.
changed a little other than price.
"This year's map has the Auckland - Wellington - Auckland return for $219.
via Waitomo Caves for $100.50 including admission to the caves.
book [well] in advance.  YHA and backpackpers card (VIP) get a 5% discount.
Numerous other tour operators and routes exist.  Shop around!
thing to remember is that driving is on the LEFT HAND SIDE.
distances between towns in NZ.
need.  The international license is an unnecessary ripoff."
the speed limits and remember that they are in km/hr, not mph."
conditions, such as delivering the car within 24 hours of picking it up.
may be worth shopping around.  See B5.3.6.
smaller airlines including companies offering helicopter transport/tours.


text:
Iowa Mauler Scherff Would Be Hard To Pass Up At 22
Since 2003, more offensive linemen from Iowa have been drafted than from any other school, 13 to be exact, and there's another first rounder, perhaps top 15 pick, in this year's draft. If he happens to be on the board come time for the Pittsburgh Steelers pick in the first round, they will be very hard-pressed to pass on him.
The very first time anyone from the University of Iowa saw Brandon Scherff was at the Iowa high school state track championships in 2008. At the time only a sophomore, it looked as if he'd settle for second in the shot put, but on his final heave, stole the gold medal.
"It wasn't technique," Iowa assistant coach Reese Morgan recalls. "It was kind of his will, and his competitive spirit, and his power."
Scherff grew up in Denison, a small farm town of about 8,000, and growing up he was head and shoulders above his classmates. As a high school freshman, he played football, basketball, tennis, track & field and baseball, and when Iowa began recruiting him his sophomore year, he wasn't even a lineman-he was the school's 270-pound starting quarterback. He earned the nickname "Paul Bunyan" and it was quite fitting, considering he'd work over Christmas breaks, helping carry trees to customer's cars.
After a move to tight end his junior year, it was clear Scherff was destined for the offensive line, and ultimately was moved to right tackle. Eventually his size and athleticism landed him at Iowa, under the tutelage of offensive line guru Kirk Ferentz. In 25 seasons coaching there, he never had one freshman enter the program weighing 300 pounds or more, until Scherff set foot on campus. Their vision was clear from the beginning, and that was to transform Scherff into the next great Iowa offensive lineman, following in the footsteps of Marshal Yanda, Riley Reiff and Bryan Bulaga.
Scherff hadn't really started weight training until his junior year of high school, so right away strength coach Chris Doyle put him on a strict eating regimen, one that shed nearly 8 percent of the body fat off Scherff. What Doyle molded him into is somewhat of a monster, as evidenced by a video last summer that surfaced. In it, it shows the superhuman brute strength of Scherff, hang cleaning a school-record 443 pounds, not once, but for three reps, which can be seen here.
After Reiff became a first round pick by the Lions after his junior year, Scherff slid into the left tackle spot and has flourished ever since.
"You know that friend we all have who can just pick up a musical instrument and play it?," asked offensive line coach Brian Ferentz, Kirk's son. "For Brandon, football is like that. Football just makes sense to him. He may not be able to verbalize to you exactly why he did something, but it's perfect."
This was put on display in November 2013, when the Hawkeyes matched up against the Nebraska Cornhuskers, and their stud pass rushing phenom Randy Gregory, another first round pick this year, lined up on the right side, squaring off against Scherff.
It was an obvious passing down, and Gregory had his ears pinned back, ready to get after the quarterback. Scherff locked in on him in pass protection at the snap, and as the play broke down, Iowa quarterback Jake Rudock scrambled to the left. It was in this moment that Scherff went from protector to road grader, and Gregory ended up at the opposite side of the field. Gregory is considered a near top-10 lock in this year's draft, as is Scherff, so this was a very dominating showing.
"Imagine your car is stalled on the top of a hill and begins to roll back down. You're trying to stop it," said Brian Ferentz. "Then suddenly, not only are you stopping it from rolling down the hill, you're pushing it back up the hill for five seconds. That's what Scherff did on that play. And he did it against one of the most gifted athletes we've seen line up across from us."
A throwback player if there ever was one, Scherff isn't a big talker, a trait he says he got from his parents. But on the field, he is the total opposite, a nasty, bully of a player who's a road grader in the run game and isn't afraid to mash an opponent's face into the ground. He's as tough as they come, and this past September offers proof. Against Ball State, Scherff tore the meniscus in his knee, finishing out the game and not finding out the news until Monday night. Tuesday morning, the knee was scoped, and Scherff denied the pain medicine, knowing team doctors would hold him out. Wednesday came, and he didn't miss a beat, and he played that Saturday in the rivalry game versus Iowa State. At the combine, where prospects are poked and prodded, team officials asked "It says you missed one practice. Do you mean one game?" "No," Scherff said. "One practice."
This past season, the senior took home the Outland Trophy, given annually to college football's best interior linemen. Where his future lies in the NFL remains to be seen, and due to his short arm length at 33 3/8 inches, many are pegging his best fit at guard. A nice comparison is Zack Martin of the Dallas Cowboys, a left tackle at Notre Dame who slid inside for his rookie year, and garnered All-Pro honors despite never even playing at guard until then.
Scherff was questioned about this at the combine, and he responded, "I'll play wherever you need me to play." Former Hawkeye great Yanda, an All-Pro guard for the Baltimore Ravens, even took to defense in the fact that Scherff could play guard, just as well as he could play tackle.
"To say he'll move inside right away, I don't think that's necessarily going to happen," said Yanda, who trained with Scherff at their alma mater in the offseason. "Sure, guys who are taller with longer arms usually excel at tackle. But Matt Light was 6-3 ½, and he was a Pro Bowler who played left tackle for 10 years. It's more about the team, and what the team needs."
This is one of the endless reasons why Scherff is the odds-on favorite to be the first offensive lineman off the board in the first round of April's draft. His team-first attitude, nasty temperament and selflessness, both of which would make him a great fit in the black and gold.
"You've got to remember where you came from, and you can never let that go," Scherff said. "Coach Ferentz is the one who gave me the opportunity at Iowa. Brian was the one who yelled at me each day and kept me on track to become a better player. Coach Doyle changed me from a 320-pound chubby dude to an all right football player. I wouldn't be here without them."
Despite obvious needs on defense, the physical Scherff would immediately add some nasty to a Steelers' offensive line that could use it. Whether playing him at left tackle or plugging him at left guard and forming a dominating trio on the interior with Maurkice Pouncey and David DeCastro, he's a potential All-Pro player who would be very difficult to pass on. Couple that with the fact that Colbert and company usually never reach for a need but instead go the best player available route, and Scherff, if he slides, very well could be the pick at 22.
"I think the thing that all of us appreciate about Brandon is the guy that he is and the person he is, and the attitude he brought every day," Kirk Ferentz said about his star left tackle. "I've never met a guy more appreciative, more humble. And if anybody had a reason to maybe feel a little cocky, that would be him."
Related Items:Baltimore Ravens, Brandon Scherff, Brian Ferentz, Bryan Bulaga, Chris Doyle, Dallas Cowboys, David DeCastro, Jake Rudock, Kirk Ferentz, Marshal Yanda, Matt Light, Maurkice Pouncey, Randy Gregory, Reese Morgan, Riley Reiff, Zack Martin
2022-2023 Divisional Round Weekend Sunday Open Discussion Thread
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text:
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Feeding a Thirsty World: Harnessing the Connections Between Food and Water Security
Mon. Mar. 25 2019
6th Floor, Woodrow Wilson Center
Directions to the Wilson Center
Webcast available
U.S. Agency for International Development, Sustainable Water Partnership, Winrock International
Webcast Recap
"Food production is the largest consumer of water and also represents the largest unknown factor of future water use as the world's population continues to balloon, and we face increasing weather-related shocks and stresses," said Laura Schulz, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator in USAID's Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment. She spoke at "Feeding a Thirsty World: Harnessing the Connections Between Food and Water Security," an event sponsored by the Wilson Center, Winrock International, the Sustainable Water Partnership, and USAID. Currently about 70 percent of global water goes to agriculture, a number that is projected to rise "as high as 92 percent," said Rodney Ferguson, the President and CEO of Winrock International.
Challenges to Linking Food and Water Security
While the connections between water and food availability may seem obvious, the relationship between the two is fairly complex. One of the biggest problems is that "the availability of water and the need for food production do not always overlap with one another," said Michael Tiboris, Global Water Fellow at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. This disconnection makes it hard to feed the hundreds of millions of people who starve every day.
75 percent of global agriculture is rainfed and as rainfall becomes less predictable, food insecurity is expected to rise. Low to middle income countries, where small-holder farmers make up the majority of the agricultural sector, are particularly vulnerable, said Tiboris. These farmers are at highest risk of extreme food insecurity, he said, as they do not possess the extensive legal and financial tools they would need to adapt to unpredictable rainfall.
However, the way the international community approaches water security and food security remains segmented. The Sustainable Development Goal targets for water do not mention food security much, Tiboris said, and "the WASH [Water and Sanitation for Hygiene], drinking water, and agriculture development communities have been somewhat siloed from one another" both financially and administratively. The separation of these agendas hinders the development of sustainable and longstanding change in both water and food security.
Long-term Consequences
Water insecurity can have far-reaching consequences. Nutrition intake is also directly affected by water security. Tiboris pointed out that globally we probably could produce enough calories right now, but calories don't necessarily translate into nutrition. Water availability and local capacity are needed to produce a diet that includes the vitamins and minerals associated with proper nutrition. What's more, the lack of safe drinking water can lead to more prevalent water-borne diseases and illnesses, which diminish a person's ability to absorb nutrients and lead to stunting in young children, said Tiboris.
"Stunting is not just a matter of short stature," said Claire Chase, Senior Economist in the Water Global Practice of the World Bank. It raises the risk of physical and cognitive deficits later in life that can erode a country's human capital by reducing people's ability to create economic value in the global economy. Many of the regions affected by future water scarcity and high population growth overlap with areas that score low on the World Bank's human capital index. "The implication is that if we fail to invest in approaches that unlock food security and nutrition gains today," said Claire, "these future generations may fall short of their potential."
Another far-reaching consequence of water insecurity is political instability and unrest. "Water insecurity affects food security; that can lead to migration and conflict," said Ferguson. An often overlooked factor in the Syrian civil war is the role that a record-breaking drought played in driving young men off agricultural land to cities, where jobs were scarce and resources few. To avoid future Syrias, we should address the conditions which contributed to those crises to begin with, he said.
One Way to Reduce Water Use
One possible solution among several that could help bolster both water and food security is innovation. Jennifer Billings, Agriculture Development Leader at Corteva Agriscience, highlighted the potential reductions in water use that technological innovations can provide. In partnership with the Conservation Farming Unit in Zambia, Corteva has developed environmentally responsible herbicides, which greatly reduce water needed for food production. The herbicides target undesired weeds, which can consume up to three times as much water as the actual crop. Eliminating those weeds allow those in the rice industry to reduce their water use as they would no longer have to flood fields to prevent weeds.
Many of the panelists recognized the need for the development community to better integrate food and water and take a systems approach that is informed by stakeholders in the community. Eric Viala, Chief of Party at Winrock International, said that about 30 percent to 50 percent of global water systems do not work correctly at any given time. "We are not preparing those communities to take care of the water systems. And that's a big issue. It's a big challenge we have," said Viala.
Self-reliance regarding water systems and water management directly relates to food security. Instead of just saving the same lives over and over again, said Viala, we need to move beyond relief and recovery and move toward self-reliance.
To continue the conversation on Twitter follow @NewSecurityBeat using the hashtag #foodsecurity and #watersecurity. You can also find related coverage on our blog at NewSecurityBeat.org.
Written by Kyla Peterson, edited by Sandra Yin.
Rodney Ferguson
President and CEO, Winrock International
Laura Abrahams Schulz
Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Economic Growth, Education and Environment, U.S. Agency for International Development
Lauren Herzer Risi
Project Director, Environmental Change and Security Program
Jennifer Billings
Agriculture Development Leader, Corteva Agriscience
Senior Economist, World Bank Water Global Practice
Michael Tiboris
Global Water Fellow, Global Food and Agriculture Program, Chicago Council on Global Affairs
Eric Viala
Director/Chief of Party, Winrock International
Jennifer Billing's Presentation: Innovation for Sustainable Farming (1.02 MB)
Claire Chase's Presentation: Running to Stand Still? (1.65 MB)
Michael Tiboris's Presentation: The Prevalence of Hunger and Water Stress (378.81 KB)
Eric Viala's Presentation: Food & Water Security to Improve Resilience (1.46 MB)
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Yesterday, a short distance from the AHA offices, supporters of immigration reform marched on the National Mall, as a bipartisan group of eight senators continue deliberations that have been alternately described as "stuck," "close," "virtually complete," or "about to get serious." The senators will likely reveal their plan for comprehensive immigration reform, if there is one, today.
In response to the flurry of activity on this previously languishing issue, the National History Center, a project of the American Historical Association, sponsored a congressional briefing in the Rayburn House Office Building last Friday. These briefings offer congressional staff and members a historical perspective on issues of current interest. The historians who present at these briefings avoid making recommendations to Congress, but discuss previous paths taken and their outcomes.
Tyler Anbinder, professor of history at George Washington University, started the session by covering the nation's experience with immigrants leading up to the Civil War. One of the most compelling of his points, from the perspective of today's debates, was how political parties struggled with immigrants' political power, and nativist fears of that power. Anbinder also noted how Irish immigrants in antebellum America, contrary to popular belief, had substantial savings. Like immigrants from many other periods, they lived in undesirable neighborhoods and wore tattered clothes in order to boost their savings accounts. Few of them were actually destitute or dependent on handouts. Anbinder's 2012 article for the Journal of American History provides more on this topic.
Alan Kraut, university professor at American University, noted that for over 100 years, the United States did not have a federal immigration policy—the regulation of immigrants was left almost entirely to the states. It was ultimately fear of a wave of Chinese immigration that brought the federal government into the field with the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. Exclusion of certain groups has been the primary function of federal legislation through the Johnson-Reed Act of 1924, which established a quota system that favored northern Europeans above all others. In a bow to business interests, however, immigrants from the Western Hemisphere were exempt, allowing Mexican and Latin American labor to freely flow across the southern border.
Mae Ngai, Lung Family Professor of Asian American Studies and professor of history at Columbia University, concluded the session by dissecting the federal legislation that undid the Johnson-Reed Act. The Hart-Cellar Act of 1965 was, she noted, "very much a piece of the civil rights legislation of 1964 and 1965" in promoting a more equal consideration of who could immigrate, but it had significant unintended consequences. The result has been that each country is limited to little more than 20,000 immigrants per year, regardless of population. This has resulted, Ngai noted, in a situation where four nations—Mexico, India, China, and the Philippines—fill their allotment every year while others never do. Ngai has written compelling articles on the irrationality of this system, including a recent op-ed in the New York Times.
Video of the complete session is available on the AHA's YouTube channel, and more information on upcoming National History Center activities can be found at nationalhistorycenter.org.