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Tom Keane
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How could my wife have Alzheimer's? She was only 56.
A Nobel Love Story
Governor Baker, lift the ban so adults can vape
Thank Ayanna Pressley and Donald Trump for a crowded city council race
Laurie K Farrell: Remembrance
Laurie K Farrell: Obituary
The College Cheating Scam Was Pointless
Employers can make Boston traffic more bearable with one simple change
The Shutdown Was Painful — But Not Nearly Painful Enough To Stop The Next One
The Boston Police Commissioner Seems To Misunderstand The Role Of The ACLU
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In casino case, SJC delivers a setback to all vested interests
Casino opponents and Martha Coakley's gubernatorial rivals aren't the only ones who should be pleased with last week's big state Supreme Judicial Court opinion.
In allowing a question on repealing the state gambling law onto the ballot in November, the state's highest court didn't just give the attorney general an embarrassing election-year comeuppance. In a unanimous decision, the seven justices also dealt a blow to a worrisome legal theory — one that entrenched, government-entangled interests of all sort could try to apply in their efforts to thwart legal reforms and market competition.
In attempting to block the referendum, Coakley had ruled that it violated the Massachusetts constitution. From the first, the attorney general's claims had a strained, absurdist quality. In her brief to the justices, Coakley observed that gambling firms had put up money to get their proposals heard before the state's gaming commission. Because of that, she said, there was an "implied contract" that the state might award casino licenses. Since the referendum question would make casino gambling illegal, it undermined that implied contract and so was constitutionally impermissible. In effect, the state would be taking away something of value.
In a nutshell, Coakley's case amounted to this: Having made a decision to allow gambling, the Legislature is not allowed to change its mind. Nor, for that matter, are the people, through the referendum process, able to override the Legislature. So much for democracy. Long live the dead hand of the past.
The Supreme Judicial Court zeroed in on one big, gaping hole in the attorney general's logic: Under the law, the gaming commission has no obligation to award any casino license whatsoever. So even if Coakley were right and there were an implied contract to be heard, what does it matter if there is no subsequent requirement to award a license? Her response was almost laughable. She claimed that, even so, a hearing might give an imprimatur to a gaming firm — kind of like a Good Housekeeping Seal of Approval — that it could then take to other states and, in effect say, "See, Massachusetts thinks we're a decent company."
As the SJC opinion drily noted, "the Legislature established the commission as a licensing authority, not a validation authority." In other words, the law was not set up to be the gaming world's equivalent of Angie's List.
But suppose that Coakley's view of the referendum as a "taking" had held sway, and that the justices had agreed that history rules: Once a law is in place, those with a vested interest in a rule can stop it from being changed. Let's say, for example, a Legislature passes a law asserting marriage is only between a man and a woman and must remain that way forevermore. Ten years later, a more enlightened body tries to reverse the law. Would Coakley side with aggrieved straight couples and say it couldn't?
A century ago, the entire country decided to ban the manufacture and sale of liquor. Could existing breweries and distilleries have successfully stopped Prohibition, arguing that since past laws had allowed booze, it was no longer possible to reverse course?
Or, take an issue now in the news: taxicabs. Having established medallion systems that limit the number of cabs within their borders, are cities and towns now obligated to keep those rules in place and, indeed, required to ban the operation of competitive services such as Uber?
The answer to all of these is, unequivocally, no. A "Legislature cannot curtail the power of its successors to make whatever laws they deem proper," the SJC said. Sure, sometimes the state can enter into long-term agreements — multi-year bonds, for example — that require future legislatures to cough up funds. But that kind of contractual obligation is explicit and far different from what Coakley was urging.
Indeed, the rebuttal to Coakley's arguments was so obvious one has to wonder what the attorney general was thinking. Was her opposition to the referendum just an exercise of power — use any means possible to keep the gaming law alive? Did she really believe that voters shouldn't have a say on the matter? Or did she actually believe that change and reform can be stopped by decisions made years or even decades earlier? These are questions that Coakley — and her rivals — should address.
This column originally appeared in the Boston Sunday Globe on June 29, 2014.
Posted on June 29, 2014 at 06:58 AM | Permalink
Busing wasn't about education
Hurrah! It's time to celebrate Boston's 40th anniversary of forced busing. This month marks four decades from the court decision that kicked off mandatory desegregation. September will be 40 years from when the first yellow buses started rolling. Expect to hear many conversations and reminiscences about Boston's great social experiment: the racism it exposed, the trauma it caused, and how the city has since changed (or not).
What won't get much discussion is how busing was designed to help improve the quality of education in Boston. And for good reason. Busing — no matter which side you were on — was all about social engineering. Education, at best, was tangentially connected.
Busing per se, of course, isn't a bad thing. If you want to go to a school and need a ride, it's a decent way to get there. It became an epithet because it was the means used to comply with the state's 1965 Racial Imbalance Act. The goal was to rid the state of segregation, and after a long series of court decisions a federal court found that the Boston School Committee (back then, a separately elected body) had intentionally discriminated against black students, creating what amounted to two segregated school systems. Schools serving white children were well funded. Schools for black children were short-changed, with crowded facilities, poor teachers, and second-rate materials. White kids were channeled toward the city's college preparatory schools; black kids were pushed toward trade schools.
If the goal had been to bring education for black kids up to snuff — to provide schools in black neighborhoods with the resources needed to do their job — one could imagine a different result. The court might have insisted money be reallocated and policies changed to deliver a decent education to all. But school quality really wasn't on the agenda.
Many opponents to busing had their own agenda too: neighborhood schools. Those, too, had little to do with education itself. In their conception, schools were social and cultural centers, places around which civic life revolved. Busing, they feared, would disrupt that, ripping apart the fabric of the community.
Both social engineering ideals have appeal. Schools ideally should be mixing bowls, where students learn about other kids and other families from far different backgrounds. And folks within tight-knit neighborhoods can support and help one another, creating community norms that pass on values from one generation to the next.
But while both are nice — bonus points, if you will — each is trumped by education itself. Look at what rich people do: They seek out the best possible schools for their kids. They may move to towns where school spending is high and hence the education thought better. Or they may send their children to private schools. I know of more than a few young couples who profess themselves ardent supporters of public schools until their children are born and, suddenly, they find themselves back-peddling. It's perfectly understandable. When it comes to your own kid's future, everything else is secondary.
Busing produced some good, notably in opening up the city and breaking down barriers, but overall it has to be judged as a failure. It was doomed to be so. For one, the real source of segregation is region-wide housing patterns, something busing kids in one relatively small city wouldn't change. And more to the point, the key to wiping out poverty, ending discrimination, and giving all an equal shot at life is education — which busing and its aftermath effectively undermined.
Back in the 1960s and '70s, Boston's school system exacerbated segregation and poverty because it ill-served children from black communities. If things had been different, if those kids had had great teachers and plentiful resources, if they had graduated high school and then successfully gone on to college, where would they be today? Far better off, and undoubtedly so also would be their children and even grandchildren.
The take-away from our remembrances of busing should not be a rehash of the past, but rather a focus on the future: The best social engineering of all would be to give poor and minority kids the same kind of educations as children of the rich.
This column originally appeared in The Boston Globe on June 24, 2014.
Nice try, Ohio, but don't ban political lies
Ohio is an earnest state, and it likes its politics clean and proper: Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. It's the law, in fact. Political campaigners who fib, mislead, or stretch the truth could find themselves in jail. That's right: If you're a politician in Ohio, it's illegal to lie on the stump.
It's intriguing to entertain the idea of the state's aspirations applying to other aspects of our lives: "Does this make me look heavy?" "I'm seeking other opportunities." "It's me, not you."
OK, so maybe we need a few deceptions to sustain ourselves. Still, in this era of mud-slinging, dirty politics, and unsavory money, why not follow Ohio's model when it comes to campaigns? Is it really too much to insist that politicians do such an elementary thing as tell the truth?
Ohio's rules are not unique; a number of other states have in place various truth-telling requirements. But the state is in the news because the law is under challenge. Just last week it lost at the Supreme Court — in a rare unanimous vote — but the decision was procedural, handing the issue back to a lower court. So whether the law ultimately passes constitutional muster is still unknown.
Let me assure you, however: It won't pass constitutional muster.
One of those opposed is satirist P.J. O'Rourke, who submitted a friend of the court brief that, in essence, maintained that lying is a hallowed part of American politics. O'Rourke opened his essay with a series of quotes: "I am not a crook," "Read my lips: no new taxes," "I did not have sexual relations with that woman," "Mission accomplished," and, of course, "If you like your health care plan, you can keep it."
Funny stuff. Yet are these lies we really want to defend? Wouldn't we all be better off if Richard Nixon had admitted Watergate, George H.W. Bush had acknowledged the need to raise revenues, Bill Clinton had confessed infidelity, George W. Bush had said Iraq would be an interminable slog, and Barack Obama had described health care reform's cons as wells as pros? Certainly our cynicism would have dropped a notch.
Ohio's effort to promote honesty is far-reaching. Suppose you call your opponent a "nut"? The state prohibits falsely claiming someone has a "record of treatment or confinement for mental disorder."
How about terming a state official an "ignorant hack"? That violates two sections — one about "formal schooling or training," the other relating to occupations. The normal and glorious give-and-take of politics — insults, caricatures, and exaggerations — would disappear. Campaigns would become dull indeed. But maybe, you think, that's a worthwhile trade-off: lose some rough-and-tumble and gain some civility in return.
The real problems with Ohio's law are these: Who knows what the truth is? And who gets to decide?
Were all of the famous presidential quotes above really lies? Each permits a different interpretation. Nixon was blind to his flaws. H.W. changed his mind. Clinton was drawing the same line between sex/non-sex that teenagers have used for years. W. was referring to one phase of the Iraq adventure. Obama was glossing over details.
Agree or disagree with any of what those politicians said, it's hard to imagine any of them jailed for making these or similarly questionable claims.
The details of the Ohio court case neatly illustrate the problem. The plaintiff, an anti-abortion group, wanted to post a billboard saying a congressman's vote for national health care amounted to support for "taxpayer-funded abortion." The offended pol threatened prosecution. The plaintiff backed off. The proposed billboard wasn't a lie, per se — it was more just a convoluted argument. But the threat of prosecution was enough to shut it up.
Would Ohio also prohibit doubters of climate change from voicing their views? Would it have in the past refused to countenance arguments that marriage could be between those of the same sex?
The thrust of the First Amendment is that no one individual or government agency gets to decide the truth. If you think folks wrong, deceptive, or untruthful, speak up. Rebut them. Ultimately, speech competes against speech. If and when this case finally gets decided by the Supreme Court, Ohio will deservedly lose. The US Constitution protects lying because the alternative is worse.
City Council's transgender vote is a brave move
Last week the Boston City Council voted to require that city health plans cover "gender dysphoria" — the condition of either not knowing what gender you are or knowing with great certainty that you are different from how you grew up. It seems like a minor thing. The new rule covers only those who actually work for the city, and a handful of folks, perhaps, really stand to benefit.
But when it comes to certain issues, it's the principle that counts. And the councilors' vote stands as a sharp rebuke to other state politicians who should have known better but, when it came to a tough case affecting transgendered people, took the politically easy way out.
The subject of transgender identity is evolving, complicated and, for many, probably uncomfortable as well. Most of us have no recollection of becoming male or female; we were pronounced one or the other at birth, and that's simply the way we are. But for some small portion of the population — perhaps 1 percent or less — things aren't that easy, and their torment is intense. Rejected as oddities or freaks, they are often outcast and despairing, suffering high rates of unemployment and poverty, and far more likely to attempt suicide (41 percent versus just 1.6 percent for everyone else).
There are solutions. One is tolerance; it's amazing what a bit of open-mindedness can accomplish. Others include psychological counseling, hormone therapy, and sex reassignment surgery. Some argue that such procedures are elective, as if they were little different from cosmetic surgery. Eventually, I think, they'll be recognized as a basic human right. Why? It's a simple matter of justice.
In his influential 1971 book, "A Theory of Justice," American philosopher John Rawls proposed a thought experiment. Suppose a group of people could get to design the kind of society they want and are then to be born into that world. However, as they work on their plans, they operate under a "veil of ignorance," not knowing how they'll end up: white or black, male or female, rich or poor. The logic of this approach has appeal across the political spectrum. Liberals embrace the notion that such a hypothetical society would prize equality under the law. For conservatives, it would be a society that would also maximize individual freedoms, giving people the opportunity to succeed or fail on their own merits.
And if there was a chance that you could be born into what seemed to you the wrong body, what kind of world would you want? Presumably one where you wouldn't be mocked, where you would be accepted for who you are, and where personal wealth did not dictate access to the treatment needed to become the person you thought you should be.
Which brings us to the controversial case of Michelle Kosilek. Kosilek was born as Robert in 1949 and for years — beginning as a child, according to her telling — was seeking transition to a woman. Denied that, she went underground, trying to live as a man, getting married, fathering a son, and then — in 1990 — killing her wife.
There's no doubt about the crime and no doubt Kosilek should be imprisoned. But since her incarceration, she's been fighting to get sex reassignment surgery. Courts have been sympathetic to her arguments. To their shame, however, the prison system and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts have been going all out to stop her. And left-leaning politicians — including Governor Deval Patrick and Senator Elizabeth Warren — have opposed Kosilek's quest as well.
Granted, it's hard politics. Kosilek's in prison, after all, and doesn't make for a sympathetic character. Voters seem outraged at the idea. Still, the state would pay for other medically necessary treatments.
Boston's city councilors took a different course. Their legislation, proposed by newcomer Michelle Wu and veteran Ayanna Pressley, passed unanimously. Mayor Martin Walsh says he intends to sign what Wu terms "a matter of equity and of fairness." My guess is that someday the liberals who were quick to deny Kosilek her rights will be stumbling over themselves to make amends, much as Hillary Clinton is now trying to explain away her past opposition to same-sex marriage. Boston's politicians won't have to make such apologies. They did the right thing.
Making the wrong leisure tradeoff?
Those silly Europeans. Life on the continent seems a concerted effort to avoid work. In France, the legal workweek is 35 hours.The Netherlands is down to an average of 29.Sweden's pushing for six-hour days. China, India, and other upstart nations have to be loving this. It's a lot easier to beat your competitors when your competitors aren't trying that hard.
And then comes a widely publicized topper: France has passed legislation banning work-related e-mails between 6 p.m. and 9 a.m. Oh, la vache! How lazy are these people?
As it turns out, that story was an Internet version of the telephone game: It began with a germ of truth and then mushroomed into exaggeration. It wasn't a law; it was a labor agreement. Only about 250,000 workers were covered. And there's no mention of hours of the day. Still, wouldn't it be nice?
For an enormous number of workers there's no such thing as quitting time. The line between work and non-work has blurred so much so that the line has essentially disappeared. Leaving the office may be a change of place but not a change of status: You're still on; still expected to respond to e-mails, texts, and posts; still assumed to be available for a discussion or a review. And that's not only true after hours but weekends and vacations too. You go off grid at risk of reproach.
"I wasn't able to reach you Sunday. Is everything OK?"
"I was at the beach."
"The whole time?"
It's easy to blame technology. Computers, tablets, and smartphones: Our devices are always with us, everyone knows it, and there's no compunction about reaching out. As a result, we're working more. White-collar workers with smartphones are now dealing with work-related matters an average of 13.5 hours a day — 72 hours a week — according to a study last August by the Center for Creative Leadership. For many, including blue-collar workers as well, jobs have become a 24/7/365 proposition (with perhaps time off for sleep).
That's why, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the United States ranks 29th out of 36 nations on a measure it calls work-life balance, in line with such not-so-fun places as Turkey and South Korea. Meanwhile, European countries rank far higher, arguably happier and healthier. We in the United States are grinding away, while the Europeans drink wine, discuss philosophy, and do other things that would make ordinary Americans blush. Is it time to follow their lead?
In the past, the United States kept workweeks in check by requiring that anyone working more than 40 hours be paid overtime. But there are broad and growing exceptions to that rule for white-collar employees and those in various professions (doctors and teachers, but also the tech savvy). The self-employed are exempt as well. The Obama administration is making an effort this year to get more covered, on the theory that the white-collar exemptions "have not kept up with our modern economy," but it's an uphill battle.
Why? Many people seem to enjoy structuring their workweeks as they want; offices, daily commutes, and a rigid 9-to-5 schedule seem so last century. Moreover, long workweeks are often a competitive necessity. Lawyers work all sorts of hours in part because their clients expect it. If they didn't, they'd lose business to someone else. Similarly, the United States is all too aware of the global challenges it faces. The French may have a good work-life balance, but they also have an unemployment rate over 10 percent and per capita incomes well below Americans' ($37,567 versus $52,547 in 2012).
Most important, though, work and individual accomplishment are part of our culture. Cadillac's controversial ad for its luxury ELR makes the point and mocks Europeans to boot: "You work hard, create your own luck, and you got to believe anything is possible," the ad says. And as for things money can buy? "That's the upside of only taking two weeks off in August." Perhaps someday Americans will decide to trade off a little wealth for some more free time. Until then, keep checking your smartphone.
Lotteries — Robin Hood in reverse
When Jesus said, "The poor you will always have with you," who knew the Massachusetts Lottery would be around to make sure he was proved right?
Data collected by Globe reporter Catherine Cloutier show the Lottery is often a Robin Hood in reverse, taking from the poor and giving to the rich. Chelsea, for instance, is one of the state's worse-off cities, with a poverty rate of 25 percent. Its residents spend an average $1,178 a year on lottery tickets. Meanwhile, those in ultra-wealthy Weston spend a scant $45 a year.
And who benefits? The whole point of the lottery is to generate money for municipalities. Certainly Weston does well. Its gambling-averse residents contributed just $100,519 in net lottery revenue last year, but received back state aid of $316,391. Meanwhile, Chelsea got back over $1 million less in aid than its citizens spent. A big shout-out from Weston: Thanks, Chelsea!
Shocked? Don't be. These are the dirty secrets not only of the Bay State's lottery, but of all government-sponsored lotteries. In the case of Massachusetts, we'll probably see some minor re-jiggering of distribution formulas to get a little more money to worse-off towns. But the heart of the problem will remain: Lotteries prey on the gullible, desperate, and poor, amounting in essence to a highly regressive tax. True, unlike with taxes, no one is compelled to purchase a lottery ticket. But the distinction is hollow. For all intents and purposes, lotteries are used for the same purposes as taxes.
New Hampshire created the first modern-day state lottery in 1964. Today, 44 states have them, generating annual sales of over $68 billion. Most states use net earnings (that is, after winnings and administrative costs) to support popular programs such as the arts, schools, or aid to cities and towns. They build up strong constituencies: the beneficiaries, naturally, as well small retailers who rely on them as a mainstay for their business.
But, clever ads notwithstanding, they are a lousy deal for those who play. "Someone's gotta win," says the Massachusetts Lottery. "Get in the game!" urges New Hampshire. "Give your dreams a chance," exhorts New Jersey. And, adds New York, "Hey, you never know."
More like, "Hey, you know, never." The chances of winning $1 million in Mega Millions, for example, are 1 in 18,492,204. How unlikely is that? The odds of you someday getting struck by lightning are 6,164 times greater. Unfortunately, that's the way the numbers work; there have to be a lot of losers for there to be one big winner. True, the odds are better for smaller prizes, but even so, over time the average player must lose. The reason is that gambling is a negative-sum game. In the case of the Massachusetts Lottery, 28 percent of gross receipts are kept by the state.
And who plays? Not those with high incomes and good educations; they figure the ladder to success is climbed in other ways. But people stuck in dead-end circumstances or working multiple jobs often see lotteries as their only way out — an idea the state commissions do a good job of promoting. It's the poorest among us who buy the most lottery tickets; indeed, one study found individuals making $13,000 or less spend a shocking 9 percent of their incomes on lotteries.
Don't get me wrong. If people want to gamble, by all means let them. But one can be a libertarian on this while at the same time believing that we cross an uncomfortable ethical line when we go from allowing individuals to gamble to setting up a vast marketing and distribution scheme urging them to do so. And, of course, here in Massachusetts we're about to take that one step further, as the state prepares for casino gambling.
By rights, if we want to fund local aid or otherwise spend on pet projects, we shouldn't do so by picking the pockets of the neediest. Rather, we should either increase conventional taxes or reduce other spending. But politicians lose their jobs when they raise taxes or cut programs. No one gets fired, however, when yet another new lotto game reaps millions more. It feels like free money, even though it comes at great cost.
Bottle bill: End it, don't mend it
Proponents for "updating" the Massachusetts bottle bill are surely right when they mock the distinctions the current law now draws: carbonated beverages are covered, non-carbonated are not. A container is a container, after all, whether it contains Diet Coke or Snapple. Their seemingly sensible solution — likely appearing on the ballot this fall — is to require deposits on some of these containers, too. But that begs the real question: Should we have a bottle bill at all? Three decades ago, deposits might have made sense. Today, there are other, more effective approaches.
The 1983 bottle bill had its origins in the days of public service ads featuring a Native American crying over a littered landscape. The fault supposedly lay with the beverage industry, which had recently abandoned returnable and reusable bottles. Environmentalists saw a mandatory deposit as a way of cutting trash and perhaps even forcing manufacturers to go back to the old reusables. A handful of states, including Massachusetts, latched on to the idea.
As it turned out, reusable containers never made a comeback; consumers liked the convenience of the lighter, one-time-use bottles and cans far too much. But, according to advocates, the new laws did help cut roadside trash. Back then the nickel deposit (worth 12 cents in today's money) was lure enough to persuade many not to toss their containers out car windows. It also was lure enough to persuade others to collect any containers that remained. In retrospect, it's worth wondering whether there might have been more efficient ways to reduce trash — say, by stiffening and enforcing anti-littering laws and paying work crews directly to clean roadsides. In any event, changing mores have also accomplished a lot; random littering is far less socially acceptable.
Another effect of the bottle bill was to increase the proportion of containers that were recycled. At the time, most rubbish simply went into landfills or was incinerated. Returned containers became the exception. They could be segregated, crushed, or melted down, and then re-made into something else.
Over time, though, the recycling movement grew. Many communities, including Boston, now have single-stream recycling. Everything from newspapers to bottles to plastics can be placed in familiar blue bins, where it is picked up and recycled. Other communities have gone further, imposing bag fees on trash but exempting recyclables. In towns with this system (known as "pay as you throw"), recycling rates climb dramatically; communities also save significantly on their waste-disposal costs.
The rise of everyday recycling means we now have two parallel systems. Consumers supposedly take back to stores bottles and cans subject to a deposit. Everything else that's recyclable — paper, containers for non-carbonated drinks, milk cartons, wine bottles, and the like — gets put out in blue bins.
Logically, we should choose one approach or the other. For example, the November referendum question irrationally exempts containers such as wine bottles, milk jugs, and drink boxes. Why not subject them to a deposit, along with everything else we use, from newspapers to plastic yogurt containers? Seem crazy? Don't laugh. A few years ago, a couple of Boston city councilors, upset about litter around convenience and liquor stores, proposed a nickel deposit on Lottery tickets.
That idea got nowhere, for reasons that would apply to any dramatic expansion of deposits: The process would prove nightmarishly complex, expensive, and hard to administer. The alternative is to abandon deposits altogether and simply expand recycling programs. Granted, that's what the beverage industry wants, and as a result some people might reject it out of hand. But keeping two systems in place makes no sense either. Other states have come to this conclusion. Only 10 states now have bottle bills. Delaware, for instance, got rid of its bottle bill in 2010, moving to a system that puts in place near-universal recycling. (Delaware is funding its program with a 4 cent tax on containers, which gets phased out over a period of years).
Of course, voters won't see that choice or other alternatives when they read the November ballot. That's the problem with the up-down nature of ballot questions. But voters may want to vote "no" anyway — not because they oppose recycling, but because there are ways it can be done better.
This column originally appeared in the Boston Sunday Globe on June 8, 2014.
Republican Charlie Baker is stealing a key progressive issue
Republicans don't win in Massachusetts because the state is liberal and they're conservative. The solution? Become progressive. I know, it feels like cheating. The Democratic Party is left-wing and the GOP right, and that's the way things are supposed to be. But on a number of key issues, Charlie Baker — a very safe bet to be the GOP's nominee for governor — is starting to look an awful lot like the very Democrats he might be facing.
Baker is pro-choice. He supports same-sex marriage. He thinks global climate change is real and favors renewable energy — including (in a reversal from four years ago) Cape Wind.
Most striking, however, has been his embrace of what has emerged as the signal lefty issue: income inequality. The concern surged to prominence with the 2011 Occupy Wall Street movement and has since been a national focus by Democrats such as Senator Elizabeth Warren and President Barack Obama. The basic argument is that there has been a "hollowing out" of the middle class, that the country is becoming increasingly divided between rich and poor. Connected to that is the idea that the American Dream — the opportunity to succeed — is ever less available to all.
The issue itself is debatable. Much of the data that underlies it is drawn from the last few years, years marked by the Great Recession. No question, jobs have been lost, wages have been squeezed, and family finances have become more fragile. That's what happens during recessions. As the economic recovery takes hold, we may well find the American Dream restored.
On the other hand, there's a credible argument that something deeper is at play. Rapid changes in technology have made obsolete many jobs that once required only basic skills and education, and that trend seems to be accelerating. Good jobs are available, but only for the highly skilled and highly adaptable. Others are increasingly out of luck, which may be the reason so many have now dropped out of the workforce altogether.
Whether the worrisome plight of the middle class is a function of recession or reflects something more structural, Baker has seized upon it, sounding on occasion like a full-throated populist. His acceptance speech at the Republican convention closed with a litany of those left behind: "single moms," "parents who need good schools," those facing "the sky-high cost of a college education" and people "who live on fixed incomes." At a forum in late May he voiced a "two Americas" message reminiscent of one-time vice-presidential nominee John Edwards: "I think the most important thing we need to realize is that we very much have two economies, we have two educational systems, and we have two kinds of communities." And he supports increasing the minimum wage.
I can hear the Democrats now: Hey, he stole our issue!
Indeed he did.
It's smart stuff. I've written before that Massachusetts seems to be taking a sharp turn toward progressivism, our Scott Brown infatuation long behind us. With only 11 percent of the electorate registered as Republicans, Baker has to figure out how to attract a good number of Democrats and the unenrolled. Middle-class issues make a good lure.
But it's smart in another way too: It boxes Democrats in.
If Democrats care so much about income inequality, Baker might ask, why have things gotten so much worse over the last eight years? The obvious answers: Maybe they really didn't care that much or maybe they don't have the ideas necessary to solve the problem. Either way, he can argue, more of the same is hardly a solution.
The Democratic response will be that Baker is just posturing, cleverly adopting a populist tone even as he holds to old Republican ways. In office, they'll say, he'll quickly shed the campaign rhetoric.
Even so, Baker's progressive clothes give him appeal. Incumbent parties always face a conundrum: If there are still serious problems after they've been in power for a while, they need to find someone at fault. Elsewhere, it's easy to lay the responsibility on your political opponents. Here in Massachusetts, where Democrats have had near-absolute control for eight years, there's no one to blame but yourself. It makes for a powerful argument for change.
This column originally appeared in The Boston Globe on June 3, 2014.
In taxis' battle with Uber, ugly endgame looms
It's easy to mock the taxicab drivers who encircled Uber's Boston offices about a week ago, honking horns and protesting the upstart's presence in their midst. They're like Luddites trying to stop the spread of machine-made textiles, typewriter manufacturers objecting to personal computers, or travel agents outraged by services such as Travelocity. It seems obvious how this story will end: The taxicab industry, eventually, will be no more.
Or perhaps not. Many people have a lot of money invested in the status quo. They will fight to keep what they can. If the taxicab industry is to die, its death will not be pretty.
"People say this is good old-fashioned American competition," a spokeswoman for the protesting cabbies said, "but that's nonsense, because it's not a level playing field." She's right. Right now, and like many other cities around the country, Boston's hackney carriage unit, part of the city's police department, dictates the conditions of service, sets prices, and tightly regulates supply. (The number of cabs in Boston is fixed at 1,825.) In effect, the industry is a government-created monopoly. One consequence of the monopoly is that taxi licenses, or medallions, trade for upwards of $600,000. Up to now, individuals and corporations have eagerly paid that price since, by owning a medallion, they and only they could pick up folks looking for a ride.
Then along came Uber, along with other new competitors such as Lyft. They use technology — a smartphone application that summons a car — to create a service that mimics a traditional taxicab but seemingly doesn't cross the line to being a taxicab itself. You can't legally hail an Uber car from the street. But from a consumer's point of view, the difference is inconsequential.
The result has been a better product. Uber isn't perfect; like any new company, it's learning, making mistakes along the way. But that's the nature of competition. And consumers seem to love it, with the result being that business for traditional cabs is down about 35 to 40 percent. Undoubtedly, that means the value of a medallion is falling too. Indeed, should Uber and its ilk continue to grow and succeed, one can imagine a day in the not-too-distant future when a medallion is worth almost nothing.
Which is why, not surprisingly, the industry is so desperate to put a stop to Uber. In San Francisco, Chicago, and other cities around the world, cabbies are mounting protests, filing lawsuits, and lobbying local politicians.
When politics and business become enmeshed, the results are unpredictable. Many politicians will be sympathetic to the taxi industry's arguments about drivers and dispatchers who might lose their jobs. Moreover, they'll be sensitive to the economic claims of medallion owners, who will argue that they bought their medallions in good faith. If the rules change, they'll say, shouldn't they be compensated?
Using tax dollars to pay off medallion owners is almost certainly a nonstarter, however. Faced with this, the alternative will be to try to defend the taxicab industry: Load up the newcomers with stifling regulations; prohibit Uber cars from picking up passengers; impose mandatory pricing schemes.
Others will reject the industry's argument that it deserves protection, arguing that taxicabs are like any other business, subject to the risks of marketplace changes. Medallions are like any other investment, with no guarantees about their value. There's a precedent: Radio broadcasting licenses were once a kind of monopoly. But today they are worth far less because of competition from the likes of satellite radio and Spotify.
In the end, I suspect, most politicians will prefer to do nothing, letting the taxicab industry wither away amid ever mounting competition. But that outcome, which would ultimately serve the public good, is hardly certain. The industry is battling for its life, and the Luddites might well have their day.
This column originally appeared in The Boston Sunday Globe on June1, 2014.


Carole is a senior associate of IP Asset and has worked with the firm since its establishment in October 2005.
Both European patent attorney and experienced Trade Mark practitioner, she has worked in both private practice and industry and has some twenty five years experience in advising clients on obtaining patents, trade mark and design portfolios and drafting, filing and prosecuting them.
She also advises in relation to the enforcement of IP rights and defence against infringement actions. With a PhD in organic chemistry, Carole works across a range of mechanical and chemical subject matters, including medical instrumentation, roof tile machinery, skis and ice skates; animal health and reproduction devices; automotive parts; pharmaceuticals; consumer and industrial specialty chemicals, such as detergents, sun screens, and inks.
Carole is an associate member of the Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys.
Carole has a passion for horse riding, and is an accomplished skier. She can also turn her hand to bell ringing and bee keeping and takes great interest in many aspects of her daughter's school, including the governing body and teaching children's cookery lessons.


text:
NASA scientist: We're "not ready" to know about extraterrestrial life
Jazz Shaw 4:31 PM on September 30, 2019
Amid all the news about unknown objects flitting around in our military airspace and Elon Musk preparing to take us all to the moon, another story surfaced this week. There are two new rovers heading to the planet Mars in the near future and some of the scientists involved in the projects are predicting that they will almost certainly find life on the red planet when they arrive. Probably not aliens living in cities or anything like that, but at least some extremophiles living in the subsurface regions where we now know water remains.
The disappointing part of the story is the reaction of one of NASA's leading scientists. He's expressing concerns that humanity may not be ready to deal with the knowledge that life exists somewhere off of this planet. (The Independent)
Nasa is close to finding life on Mars but the world is not ready for the "revolutionary" implications of the discovery, the space agency's chief scientist has said.
Dr Jim Green has warned that two rovers from Nasa and the European Space Agency (ESA) could find evidence of life within months of arriving on Mars in March 2021.
The ExoMars Rover, which has been dubbed "Rosalind" in memory of British chemist Rosalind Franklin, will search for extra-terrestrial life by drilling 6.5 feet down into Mars' core to take samples.
Those samples will then be crushed up and examined for organic matter in a mobile laboratory.
Dr Green compared the potential discovery to when the astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus stated that the Earth revolves around the Sun in the 16th century.
First of all, the teams working on these rovers are probably still being a bit more optimistic than scientific when it comes to predictions of finding life on Mars by 2021. To date, all of the signals we've detected that might have indicated the presence of life (such as whiffs of methane or what appear to be fossilized microorganisms buried in Martian rocks) have turned out to be false positives or inconclusive.
But that doesn't mean that we won't find life. It's now obvious that there was once a vast amount of water on the planet which means there was a thicker atmosphere then as well. And some of that water remains underground. If there was ever any type of life on Mars there's probably still some remaining bits lurking under the surface.
But what about this idea that we're not prepared to hear the news? Dr. Green is quoted as saying that such an announcement would "start a whole new line of thinking." And that's something he believes we as a species "aren't prepared for the results."
Sorry, but I have to disagree with that. And it sounds like the same line of reasoning that the government has used to be secretive about such subjects for decades. There may have been a time when that was true… maybe. Consider the chaos that erupted when War of the Worlds first debuted on the radio in New Jersey. But those were people who thought they were listening to a radio broadcast of an actual hostile alien invasion.
The more abstract question of alien life that isn't shooting death rays at us seems to be much less disturbing to the public at large. Recent surveys have shown that half of the population already believes there is intelligent life elsewhere. More than 60% believe there's some sort of life, even if it's not intelligent.
On top of that, consider that 2017 New York Times article when we first learned that the government had been secretly studying UFOs in our airspace and the Navy's recent admission that they have no idea what they are. That's all but an admission that they're extraterrestrial and you don't see people freaking out in the streets.
I just think Dr. Green is off the mark here. I believe that humanity is ready to cope with such a revelation if it turns out to be true. I'm far more concerned about whether or not they turn out to be hostile and if we're prepared for that eventuality. (There's something for you to freak out over.) But the general idea that there's life elsewhere in the galaxy? I think we can handle it.
Tags: NASA SCIENCE ALIENS EXTRATERRESTRIALS
John Sexton 4:00 PM on January 27, 2023

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Pro Tennis Showcase
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New York, USA - September 5, 2009
Editorial by Jane Voigt. Photography by Harvey Rubin.
Jane Voigt
Mighty Melanie Moves On
September 5, 2009 -- In her second-ever match on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court, Melanie Oudin upset the 29th seed Maria Sharapova to advance to her first-ever round of sixteen at a Grand Slam. Oudin had beaten the #4 seed Elena Dementieva two days ago on this the largest tennis stage in the world. Seems like the mighty Melanie has nerves of steel, darn good tennis skills, and a love for the game that stokes her high-octane engine.
After the two women split the first two sets, a battle for control pursued in the third. Both women fought bravely; however, neither one could win the fight on their own serve, after Oudin got off to a quick 3/1 lead.
Sharapova saved six break points to get the match back on serve in the fifth game... one that lasted well over ten minutes.
Then the three-time Grand Slam champion Sharapova called for the trainer, a well-seasoned move by the Russian. Every strategy was on the table for the woman who would wrack up a total of 21 double faults by the end of the match. After the medical time out, Sharapova broke the #70 ranked Oudin and evened the set at three-games all.
From that point until the winning cross-court forehand from Oudin, neither woman held serve except the victor Oudin held in the last game of the match. Final score 36 64 75. The third set went sixty-nine minutes.
Oudin had 26 break point chances and converted eight. Whereas, Sharapova had 14 chances to break. She, too, converted eight.
But this match was not won by shady strategies or missed opportunities, however the insanely high number of double faults from Sharapova didn't make her job any easier. Oudin won this match because, as she says, belief. It's written on her pink and yellow shoes just in case she momentarily forgets -- BELIEVE. She fought when down, steadied herself at the optimal time -- at 6/5 in the third -- and, served out the match.
Melanie Oudin has never lost a match on Arthur Ashe Stadium Court. Something Nadal told the world about Roland Garros, after his second title in Paris.
Ironically, a 17-year-old Maria Sharapova stunned the world when she won her first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 2004. Although Maria towers over the petite Oudin, they have similar spirited competitive natures. They are tenacious to the hilt.
After Oudin's defeat of Dementieva on Thursday, a loss today would have been expected and many predicted Sharapova would stop the Oudin energy from advancing past the third round. However, Oudin proved them wrong. Her victories at this U. S. Open are not flukes. She hasn't won these last two matches because of the full moon or because of cheering fans. Melanie Oudin is an authentic tour tennis player.
She displays great timing on the ball. Her groundstrokes land deep in the court, which pins her opponent to the baseline and allows her to continue to dictate play. Her foot speed makes up for one problem area -- a weak second serve that averaged 79 MPH today. However, her strategic and tactical senses demonstrate an on-court competitive maturity that is well beyond her age and years of competition. She seems to intuitively know when to vary the pace and speed of the ball. When to move her opponent, and when to go for broke. She wasn't successful one hundred percent of the time; however, the risks she took will certainly pay off in the future as she gains more Tour experience. Consistency is her goal. She is more than halfway there.
All But One Qualifier Left in Both Draws
After a brilliant winner from Jesse Witten's racquet sizzled past Novak Djokovic, the Serb turned to his coaches in a nearby box seat. He raised his shoulders and turned his palms heavenward, an incredulous look on his face, like what is going on here... what more can I do?
But just because Novak Djokovic is the #4 seed at this U. S. Open and holds one Grand Slam title from the Australian Open doesn't preclude him from defeat by a virtually unknown Jesse Witten, a player ranked #276 and granted a wildcard into the Qualification Tournament. The difficulty of the match, though, again confirmed to players and fans alike that the thin edge a victory rides on extends out until the very last ball is struck.
Jesse Witten lost his third round match to Djokovic 76 (2) 63 76 (2) 64 in just under four hours. This match was his sixth of the tournament. He was tired toward the end and his movement sluggish. However, he won more points off his second serve than did Djokovic and broke more often than Djokovic broke, too.
Before this U. S. Open Jesse Witten had never won a match at the Tour level. His arena has been the Challenger Circuit, which he returns to in the near future. He also plays World Team Tennis alongside a frequent teammate John McEnroe for the New York Sportimes.
Witten thrilled fans on Louis Armstrong Stadium this afternoon in Flushing Meadows. The atmosphere vibrated with energy and felt similar to a Davis Cup Match. An underdog, like Melanie Oudin was an underdog against Sharapova, is a natural draw for sport fans... especially if the person is an American. Underdogs evoke empathy and fans oblige the sentiment by allowing the players to take risks, go for their shots, and give the big-named stars a tussle.
Another third-round qualifier Marco Chiudinelli saw his run at the Open come to an end today against the eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko 64 75 75 on Court 11. Why Davydenko was assigned this outside court and not the Grandstand Court seems implausible; but, the eighth seeded Russian would probably prefer to advance through the draw without the spotlight spoiling his view into next week.
Anastasia Rodionova, another qualifier who hails from Australia, lost her match today, too, against Katarina Bondarenko 76 (4) 64. Rodionova is a fine doubles player who would like to expand her portfolio in the singles category. She has won two doubles titles on the ITF circuit and was a finalist at Wimbledon in 2003 with partner Rajeev Ram. Katarina Bondarenko defeated Ana Ivanovic (#11 seed) in her first match of the Open. Bondarenko also beat Venus Williams in her first round match at the year's Rogers Cup in Toronto.
[4] Novak Djokovic (SRB)�[orange shirt] d [Q] Jesse Witten (USA) 67(2) 63 76(2) 64
[10] Fernando Verdasco (ESP) [orange shirt] d [20] Tommy Haas (GER) 36 75 76(8) 16 64
[6] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) [white shirt] d. Shahar Peer (ISR) 75 61
Earlier Columns from this Event:
September 4, 2009 US Open Coverage: Two Italians Land in Round of Sixteen
September 3, 2009 US Open Coverage: Dementieva and Jankovic Out -- Other Seeds Fall
September 2, 2009 US Open Coverage: Rising and Falling Stars
September 1, 2009 US Open Coverage: Is Women's Tennis Worth the Watch?
August 31, 2009 US Open Coverage: The Big Grand Slam
Player Profile Index (Men) | Pro Tennis Showcase Archive | Player Profile Index (Women)
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The project is now presented in a book called CHATEAU DESPAIR, published by GOST Books.
The images of Margaret Thatcher are parts of discarded 'snapshots' taken at a conference after she was prime minister. Found within the building during the 'clear out' the photographs had become stuck together and the photographic chemicals had started to 'eat away' at her image. Her aura is still very clearly present despite the repetitive and exhaustive nature of presenting an ideal of oneself to the masses and despite the perceived limitations of the photographic medium.
The eerie surfaces and the echo's of history that reverberates in each blue room, present an individual production and the imagery scene that unfolds, sings to a specific political tune. The objects and ephemera found within each of these spaces represent, in part, the legacy of Thatcherism, a story of her fiscal policy and the encouragement of individualism, materialism and consumerism. From the weights used to hold the curtains in place during the IRA bombings to the deflated 'In Europe not run by Europe' balloon, we are encouraged to look closely and reflect on our current political climate.


What's new in the physiopathology of acne?
Isolated transient aphasia at emergency presentation is associated with a high rate of cardioembolic embolism.
Clinical factors in predicting acute renal failure caused by rhabdomyolysis in the ED.
Urinalysis is an inadequate screen for rhabdomyolysis.
Prevention of kidney injury following rhabdomyolysis: a systematic review.
Management of psychosis and agitation in medical-surgical patients who have or are at risk for prolonged QT interval.


text:
BHS floats through homecoming week
by The Paw
Homecoming: the highly anticipated school-wide event that only comes once a year. Float building, spirit days, parades, homecoming court nominations, and the football game all led up to the Homecoming dance on October 17.
Float building was the first Homecoming activity that began several weeks prior to Homecoming week. Each class built themed floats to be featured in the Homecoming Parade on 1st Street and the Homecoming football game. The freshmen built a 1950's themed float while the sophomores made a 1960's float. The juniors created a back-to-the future float and the seniors made a medieval float. At the Homecoming football game the sophomore's 1960's float was awarded the 1st place float.
The floats paraded down 1st Street and Drolette Stadium one last time, as this was final year for Homecoming parades. Benicia High plans to break ground on the new stadium next year, and floats will not be allowed on the new all weather track.
Spirit week took place from October 12- October 16. This year's spirit week days had unique themes compared to the last several years. On Monday, students dressed up for culture day wearing styles from different cultures. Tuesday was decades day and students wore clothing from decades such as the 60's and 90's. Wacky Wednesday was filled with students wearing tie dye and colorful clothing. Safari day Thursday had students wearing safari gear and animal costumes. The traditional blue and gold was Friday's theme, and students got their faces painted during lunch.
"My favorite spirit day was blue and gold Friday because everyone goes all out and on game day Friday's everyone is pumped and excited," said Isabelle Briseno (12). "It really finished the week on a high note."
Blue and gold Friday was also the Homecoming Rally day. The Senior Homecoming Court practiced and prepared a choreographed dance to perform at the rally. The court danced to songs such as "Crank That" and "Hit the Quan." Court member Connor Hatfield (12) said, "The court dance rehearsals were a lot of fun, and it was cool getting to know the other people on the court."
After the rally, the Homecoming football game was played at night. Students and the Panther Pride spirit club filled the student section to cheer for the Panthers as they hosted the Vallejo High School Red Hawks. The Panthers and Red Hawks stayed close at the start of the game, but the Panthers pulled away and won the game 49-14. Quarterback Riley Pitkin (12), running back Alex Osterholt (12), and wide receiver Jason Shelley (12) made big plays and helped the Panthers win.
At halftime of the football game, the Benicia High Band performed and made a procession for the announcement of the Senior Homecoming King and Queen. Each court member was escorted down the middle of the field by their family. This year's Homecoming King and Queen was Jason Shelley (12) and Brooklyn Price (12).
All the Homecoming activities led up to the Homecoming Dance. From selecting their outfits and taking pictures with friends, students prepared for the dance all day. At the dance, students danced to current hit songs like "Hotline Bling" and classic hits such as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough." Right before the dance ended balloons were dropped from the ceiling to the dance floor as the last song of the night played. "My favorite part of the dance was having fun with all my friends for our last homecoming," said Katie Lovelace (12).
Homecoming 2015 was memorable for many students. From the big activites such as the dance and football game to the little things such as spending quality time with friends and dressing up for spirit days, Homecoming 2015 offered many memorable moments for students to reminisce and look back at.
Written by: Nick Cillo
Posted in NewsTagged Benicia High School, Homecoming, Spirit Week
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text:
package org.apache.druid.server.coordinator.duty;

import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonSubTypes;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonTypeInfo;
import com.fasterxml.jackson.annotation.JsonTypeName;
import org.apache.druid.guice.annotations.ExtensionPoint;
import org.apache.druid.initialization.DruidModule;

/**
 * This {@link ExtensionPoint} allows for coordinator duty to be pluggable
 * so that users can register their own duties without modifying Core Druid classes.
 *
 * Users can write their own custom coordinator duty implemnting this interface and setting the {@link JsonTypeName}.
 * Next, users will need to register their custom coordinator as subtypes in their
 * Module's {@link DruidModule#getJacksonModules()}. Once these steps are done, user will be able to load their
 * custom coordinator duty using the following properties:
 * druid.coordinator.dutyGroups=[<GROUP_NAME>]
 * druid.coordinator.<GROUP_NAME>.duties=[<DUTY_NAME_MATCHING_JSON_TYPE_NAME>]
 * druid.coordinator.<GROUP_NAME>.duty.<DUTY_NAME_MATCHING_JSON_TYPE_NAME>.<SOME_CONFIG_1>=100
 * druid.coordinator.<GROUP_NAME>.duty.<DUTY_NAME_MATCHING_JSON_TYPE_NAME>.<SOME_CONFIG_2>=200
 * druid.coordinator.<GROUP_NAME>.period="P1D"
 *
 * The duties can be grouped into multiple groups as per the elements in list druid.coordinator.dutyGroups.
 * All duties in the same group will have the same run period configured by druid.coordinator.<GROUP_NAME>.period.
 * There will be a single thread running the duties sequentially for each group.
 *
 * Note that custom duty does not implement CoordinatorDuty directly as existing Core Druid Coordinator Duties
 * don't have associated JSON type and should not be manually grouped/enabled/disabled by the users.
 * (The only exception is the metadata cleanup duties which we may refactor to use the custom duty system in the future)
 *
 */
@JsonTypeInfo(use = JsonTypeInfo.Id.NAME, property = "type")
@JsonSubTypes({
    @JsonSubTypes.Type(name = "killSupervisors", value = KillSupervisorsCustomDuty.class),
    @JsonSubTypes.Type(name = "compactSegments", value = CompactSegments.class),
})
@ExtensionPoint
public interface CoordinatorCustomDuty extends CoordinatorDuty
{

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


What is RF (Radio Frequency)?
elastic. That is, to tighten the skin and remove the wrinkle.
Bi-polar /Four-polar refer to a RF device, which has two /four polar or electrodes.
four polar, the energy flows through the tissue from the electrodes on the hand-piece to keep it is safe.
2 in 1 technology, double effect.
Bi-polar/Four-polar RF—Deep heat into skin for 5-15mm.
1) Before the operation, both the customers and the beauticians should remove all the metal decorations.
the static friction between the probe and the hair, which may cause the hair burn.
3) It is advised to use products with higher oil to moist the skin.
the energy. The Energy should be adjusted slowly from low to high level until the customer feels comfortable.
moved around on the face during the whole operation process.
2) The headpiece must touch the face totally, not only small part of it keeps working.
3) For the eye, the operation way is advised to make circles.
I've been using for three weeks I haven see some different results.
I love this little guy! It works great !!!
I had a facial yesterday and my esthetician told me my skin was very smooth this time. It works!!
This is the best facial device I use ever, really good quality with 2 probe.
I love this beauty gadget. I would purchase the same product for my sister.
It is easy to use,like it.
easy to operate love it!
Fabulous!! Use with your favorite facial serum for optimal results.


Excavations around the old castle site have provided evidence for Saxon settlement, a finding supported by the name, 'the farm or settlement (wick) by the sedge'. The remains of the castle include the West curtain and a tower on the West and remains of another on the South, together with parts of the Tudor fireplace in the Great Hall.
Early hunting rights were held by the de Braose family, who sub tenanted to Robert le Sauvage, as an outlying part of Broadwater manor, now part of Worthing. It is very likely that a 'lodge' was built for overnight use. The Castle was licensed to be crenellated in 1258 and in 1262 had a park of 400 acres with wild horses; evidence remains for two concentric moats, an unusual design for an English castle.
About thirty yards from the outer moat is a natural spring, called the Nun's well, which is beautifully constructed of large blocks of hewn stone, alternatively called "St. Mary's Well". The religious connection is uncertain, but may relate to religious activity at nearby Knepp Castle.
The castle passed eventually into the hands of the dukes of Norfolk, as successors to the de Braose estates. As the decades passed the castle eventually fell into a bad state of disrepair. In 1602 Queen Elizabeth I leased Sedgwick to Sir John Caryll for 60 years; he is said to have deserted it, and demolished much of the castle, using the stone and masonry to build a new house called Sedgwick Lodge on the higher site of the present house.
The castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument recorded in The Domesday Book. Currently the site is carefully monitored by English Heritage.


text:
Home Blog reduce-reuse-recycle What Your Need to Know About Farmed Shrimp
What Your Need to Know About Farmed Shrimp
on August 28, 2020 August 28, 2020 Leave a Comment on What Your Need to Know About Farmed Shrimp
Farmed Shrimp Labels
Then there are the certifications meant to indicate better environmental practices. For farmed fish, the most common are the Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), created by the Global Aquaculture Alliance (GAA) and the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC). Unlike the USDA organic certification, these are private companies without government oversight. On paper, the standards do ensure farms with the certification are using some improved practices, like avoiding prohibited antibiotics, but some industry experts question how reliable the certifications are. "The thing that concerns me about farmed fish labels, in particular BAP and ASC, is that they're pay-to-play," said Cufone, "in a way that makes it hard not to provide the label once a company has paid for it." GAA communications manager Steven Hedlund said that "Seafood processing plants, farms, hatcheries and feed mills pay what we call a "program fee," only if certified."
The companies are also run by individuals who have a monetary interest in making farmed seafood look more sustainable. GAA's board includes executives from Red Lobster, Sam's Club, and Thai Union, one of the shrimp companies found by the Associated Press to have slave labor in its supply chain. (The company claimed it was appalled by the revelation and that it made changes to its supply since then.) Hedlund said GAA board members are not involved in the BAP standards development process and that they are instead reviewed by an independent committee comprised of people from the environmental/conservation community, academia, and industry. "I'd also like to add that it's critical that GAA/BAP and other NGOs engage with these big retail and foodservice companies, because they have so much influence," he said. In Consumer Reports' testing, four of the antibiotic-contaminated samples had BAP certification. "Ultimately it ends up being industry labeling industry, which is not that meaningful," Cufone said.
Wild Shrimp Labels
The Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) is the main certifier of sustainable wild fisheries, and 36 shrimp fisheries currently carry the blue fish label. "There's an independent assessment team of scientific experts that are convened by the certifier to assess the fishery against the MSC fishery standards," Averill said, explaining that the label's credibility is in checks and balances built into the system, the fact that the standards are continuously updated, and transparency. Reports on fisheries that are being assessed are released for public review and public comment, and fisheries that end up certified have pages of documents posted in MSC's "track a fishery" database.
Still, Cufone said that MSC often certifies fisheries that are subpar on some of the stated goals, like a recent menhaden fishery in the Gulf of Mexico that was certified despite the lack of a catch limit. And environmental groups have spoken out recently about MSC certifying fisheries despite problems with bycatch, the main environmental issue with shrimp.
The trickiest aspect of MSC's sustainability certification, though, is that it works on a point system you don't see on the label. Fisheries that "pass" are scored between 60 and 100, 60 being the minimum requirements for certification and 100 being a perfectly sustainable operation. A score between 60 to 79 is considered a "conditional pass," and MSC provides the fisheries with a list of improvements it must make. However, that fishery is allowed to use the "certified sustainable" label while it's making (or possibly not making) those improvements, with a follow-up check in five years later.
Finally, there's Whole Foods. Its standards rely heavily on MSC for wild shrimp, and it maintains its own farmed shrimp standards, which ban antibiotics and preservatives and "prohibit conversion of sensitive ecosystems such as mangrove forests into shrimp farms, and we track the shrimp from pond to store to ensure the standards are met." Many consider its standards to be the best in the industry, but, again, the company creates and maintains its own standards, so there is little outside oversight compared to a third-party verification system.
How to Buy (or not Buy) Shrimp
When it comes to buying shrimp, almost everyone in the industry says Monterey Bay's Seafood Watch ranking system is the most reliable tool available, and many people recommend MSC for wild shrimp, despite its limitations. Cufone, Bigelow, and Greenberg also all said they'd eat wild Gulf shrimp over anything imported.
At Greenpoint Fish and Lobster, a restaurant and fish market known for better seafood sourcing in Brooklyn, New York, chef Orion Russell almost exclusively buys wild Gulf shrimp. For him, another benefit over buying farmed shrimp from Asia is the taste. "The flavor is so amazing," he said. "My mind was blown the first time I had a Gulf shrimp." However, bycatch is still a major concern that can't be ignored.
One definite path is to supporting sustainable recirculating shrimp farms as they emerge and struggle to compete. Eco Shrimp Garden, a farm based in Newburgh, NY that sells at the Union Square Greenmarket in New York City, is a great example. (It's worth noting that the farmed shrimp company that recently got a shoutout in the New York Times has been plagued with development delays, and the trailblazing Maryland farm Marvesta is no longer in production.)
At the end of the day, "Most of the world's production is still something we would recommend you not eat," Bigelow said.
"It's like we can't get over the fact that we like it so much," Greenberg added.
But maybe it's time. Instead of shrimp, you could look at what kinds of sustainable seafood are available in your region. Buying directly from local fishermen based on what is most plentiful nearby is the best idea. So is buying locally farmed oysters and clams and mussels, which can have a positive impact on ocean ecosystems. "I would always turn to a sea scallop from Maine, Massachusetts, or Montauk. With East Coast clams and mussels, there's not too much concern there," Russell said. All of those kinds of shellfish also contain more omega-3 fatty acids — which are beneficial for heart and brain health — compared to shrimp.
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Filing for Bankruptcy? Combat Stress With Facts


As someone who routinely takes 20 hour flights with a toddler, I'm here to tell that flying with a toddler is something you can do, too.
No, it won't be like traveling before you had kids. But with a bit of prep, you'll survive the flight and create wonderful memories with your little one.
Need another reason to start travelling with your kid? Research has shown that travelling does wonders for little brains. So take the plunge and book the tickets!
Oh, pick-up some tips for flying with kids, and read this in-depth guide before you go!
When your little one is running around while you're trying to pack for your trip, being able to check items off your list ensures you have what you need for your trip when you're flying with a toddler.
This is a tricky item to pack. It's bulky and a pain to haul around, but essential in many cases when you're flying with a toddler.
A small, collapsible stroller can be very useful, depending on the situation.
I used an Ergo (toddler carrier) and it was great for going through airport security and trudging through a busy airport when you're flying with a toddler.
Going on a trip and worrying about what to feed your little one?
Tickets, Airport and Boarding, Oh My!
How do in-flight bassinets work? Are stopovers a good idea when flying with a toddler? What exactly do you need to do at the airport security checkpoint?
Should you breastfeed or formula feed a child on the plane? Which is easier?
Are you trying to figure out how to handle a potty-trained toddler's toilet needs on the plane? Or the best way to change a diaper during a flight? Don't worry, we've got you covered!
If you accept that flying with a toddler can have its uncomfortable moments, but that millions of parents have done the same and lived to tell the tale, then you'll end up just fine.
I had good luck with plenty of suggestions, but some just did not work out for me.
Hi there! I'm Maureen and I'm so glad you are here! Parenthood is an amazing journey filled with whys and how-tos, and my mission is to help you find answers to these questions.
Buying foundation makeup online? Read these tips first to find your perfect shade.


text:
Kediri | Article about Kediri by The Free Dictionary
https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Kediri
a city in Indonesia, in E Java: commercial centre. Pop.: 244 519 (2000)
a city in Indonesia in eastern Java, in the Brantas valley. Population, 159,000 (1961). It produces textiles, sugar, and vegetable oil. The primary processing of other agricultural products is also carried out in Kediri.
Anthony Herman Gerard Fokker
Fokker, Anthony Herman Gerard
Kelud, Mount
National Party of Indonesia
Dewi Songgo Langit knows when King Kelono Sewandono is his own cousin, he does not want to marry, therefore he proposes bebono (requirements) that are difficult to fulfil, namely; 1) unprecedented performances of the earth, 2) bringing the animals of the forest, and 3) the journey from Bantar Angin to Kediri must be by Nglandak (through a tunnel).
PHILOSOPHY OF THE REYOG PONOROGO EQUIPMENT
For Kediri, the reform of the judicial system requires the implementation of the provisions of Article 115 of the Constitution.
Judicial Year 2017-2018 kicks off under keynote "role of judicial system in encouraging investment"
Banyumulek is situated in the Kediri District, in West Nusa Tenggara about 14 kilometres south of Mataram, the capital city of West Nusa Tenggara.
Lombok: Penny Smith visits the women potters of Banyumulek, Indonesia
Analisis Pendapatan dan Efisiensi Gula Merah (di Desa Dukuh, Kecamatan Ngadiluwih, Kabupaten Kediri), Jawa Timur.
Potency of natural sweetener: brown sugar
Eruption of Mount Kelud in Kediri in February 2014, forced the closure of Juanda airport of Surabaya for several days.
Development of air transport infrastructure in Indonesia
Kediri, Rabi'II 14, 1435, Feb 14, 2014, SPA -- A major volcanic eruption in Indonesia shrouded a large swath of the country's most heavily populated island in ash on Friday, triggering the evacuation of more than 100,000 people and the closure of three international airports after killing two people.
Indonesia Volcano Erupts; 2 Killed, 100K Evacuated
The seeds (endosperms) of melinjo were collected in Indonesia (Desa Bangkok, Kecamatan Gurah Kabupaten Kediri, Kediri, Jawa Timur) in July 2009.
Melinjo (Gnetum gnemon I.) seed extract decreases serum uric acid levels in nonobese Japanese males: a randomized controlled study
Villagers from the Kediri district of East Java plant C.
Essential oil content of the rhizome of Curcuma purpurascens Bl
Choose a fabric that you love and create your own, shown here is Osborne and Little's Kediri Silk, from PS82.50 per metre, www.osborneandlittle.com www.lesleytaylor.co.uk Furniture can also add detail to a neutrally decorated bedroom.
Design therapy
Zaafrane Wajdi, Kediri Jalel And Rehaoulia Habib Unit Signal, Image and Intelligent Control of Industrial Systems (SICISI), University of Tunis, Tunisia.
Sliding mode current control of linear switched reluctance motor
Some boys at the game in Kediri prayed not to get burnt before heading to the pitch.
Er, NOT on me head; HOTSHOTS WHO PLAY FIRE FOOTIE
For example, Nina, who was born in 1977 in Kediri and who worked at a fitness center in Balikpapan at the time of the interview, admitted that in a previous job, her office mates often said to her:
"Malu": Coloring Shame and Shaming the Color of Beauty in Transnational Indonesia
Keel Lighter
Kedron (disambiguation)
Kedron Brook Catchment Network
Kedron Park Teachers' College
Kedron Wavell Services Club


text:
Devlin: Transportation referendum has little opposition
Peter J. Devlin
Advocate correspondent
Having never lusted for power, I fear I don't understand spending millions of dollars campaigning to win election to a post that pays $144,423 — the current salary of Wisconsin's governor — even if it's mostly other people's money.
If it were me — having never made even half that amount in a single year — I'd do it for the money offered.
I was once approached while living in Green Bay, to become a candidate for a seat in the Wisconsin Assembly. After more than 15 years on the air at one radio station, I had "name recognition."
At the time I was approached, I figured I had way too many skeletons in my closet to face public scrutiny — dating from my life before sobriety, only a few years old then.
A lovely lady I'd known socially for quite some time ran for the open seat as a member of the "other party" and won. She was re-elected several times.
My most memorable election moments came back when any radio station with a serious news commitment deployed reporters to the courthouse on election night to await returns hand-carried from each polling place, where paper ballots were tallied.
For the 1976 presidential election, we were still awaiting results from polling places when the sun came up the next morning.
I recall working with a young woman from the clerk's office staff during that election. A week later, I ran into her while she was shopping with her mother, who was rather cold to me upon learning I had spent the night with her daughter. Mom warmed only slightly when told it was election night and there were scores of people around.
Now, with computers in charge, the result are known before the 10 o'clock news.
One item I'll be watching for Nov. 4 is the statewide referendum on highway funding.
Voters are being asked to adopt a state constitutional amendment that would require that every dollar collected through license plate fees and the automotive fuel tax be designated for use only on transportation projects.
While the main focus is on roads, buses and trains would also share transportation funds.
People involved in road building tell you a "yes" vote is needed, pointing to the poor condition of some highways and city streets because there's not enough money to fix them.
Supporters range from labor unions employed in road construction, to paving companies, local government associations representing towns, villages, cities and counties that build and maintain roads, and professional drivers groups that use the roads.
In fact, a search of the Internet didn't turn up any opposition other than those wondering why the constitutional amendment approach is needed.
Probably because the state Legislature has taken an estimated $1.4 billion dollars from the fund over the last 10 years to balance the state budget.
Our representatives in Washington saw money piling up in Social Security over the decades and decided to "borrow" billions to fund other programs.
Many of today's senators and congressmen now claim the benefits we receive are "entitlements" the government can't afford rather than our money.
So, yes, I'd say the idea of keeping politicians fingers out of the transportation pot makes absolute sense.
Any idea what the gas tax is in Wisconsin?
Thirty-two-point-nine cents of what we pay for every gallon of motor fuel goes into the transportation kitty.
Among neighbors, Iowa has the lowest: 22 cents. Minnesota collects 27.75 cents. Illinois gets 39.1 and Michigan 42.01.
Nationwide, New York State has the highest gas tax: 50.5 cents per gallon. California takes 49.78 cents.
The lowest state tax on fuel is Alaska's 12.7 cents per gallon.
Peter J. Devlin is a retired radio newsman who lives in the first house south of the county line. Contact him at (920) 487-3778 or at peterjdevlin@yahoo.com.


text:
Q: Batch blur images using multiple cores I'm trying to blur the bottom section of thousands (>50,000) of images using imagemagick. Image resolution is 800x600. The command line code (below) works, but takes a long time. Is there any way that this can be run in parallel, and hopefully called from within R using system()?
I got this code off the internet, so I'm not sure if it's the best way to even achieve this objective? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!
(OS = OSX El Capitan)
cd /Users/Desktop/test_images
list=$(ls *.jpg)
for img in $list; do
    convert $img \
    \( -size 800x525 xc:black -size 800x75 xc:white -append \) \
    -compose blur -define compose:args=6 -composite \
    cd /Users/Desktop/test_images/results/$img
done
cd

A: I think this command does something very similar to what you are doing but is FAR quicker. See if you like the effect:
convert start.jpg \( +clone -crop +0+525 -blur x4 \) -gravity south -composite result.jpg

If that works, you can use GNU Parallel just as before:
parallel 'convert {} \( +clone -crop +0+525 -blur x4 \) -gravity south -composite results/{}' ::: *.jpg

You can also put that lot in a script called BlurTitle like this:
#!/bin/bash
parallel 'convert {} \( +clone -crop +0+525 -blur x4 \) -gravity south -composite results/{}' ::: *.jpg

and then make it executable with:
chmod +x BlurTitle

and call it from R with:
system("./BlurTitle")

or from the Terminal with:
./BlurTitle

If you get "Argument list too long", you can express it the other way around like this by sending the arguments on stdin rather than after the command:
cd /path/to/images
find . -name \*.jpg -print0 | parallel -0 'convert {} \( +clone -crop +0+525 -blur x4 \) -gravity south -composite results/{}'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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EGUIDE: The trends of software-defined networking have implications for many other areas of a business. In this 15-page buyer's guide, Computer Weekly looks at campus LAN design, the differences between SDN and DevOps, and how to connect to a container-based architecture.
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WHITE PAPER: Learn about the key components of building an IoT-ready network – like updated access points and Bluetooth Low Energy – and find out how you can use location-based IoT technology to drive the IoT value cycle.


text:
Server::Server() :
    owner(nullptr),
    paused(false) {
}

Server::~Server() {
}

bool Server::init() {
    return onInit();
}

void Server::update(UpdateContext& ctx) {
    if(paused) {
        return;
    }
    onUpdate(ctx);
}

bool Server::isPaused() const {
    return paused;
}

ServerOfServers* Server::getOwner() {
    return owner;
}

void Server::pauseUpdate(bool flag) {
    paused = flag;
}


text:
Height 65 m / 213 ft
Completed, 2010
555 Monserate Street
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from steel. Note that a building of steel construction with a floor system of concrete planks or concrete slab on top of steel beams is still considered a "steel" structure as the concrete elements are not acting as the primary structure.
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning systems are constructed from concrete which has been cast in place and utilizes steel reinforcement bars.
Both the main vertical/lateral structural elements and the floor spanning system are constructed from steel reinforced concrete which has been precast as individual components and assembled together on-site.
Mixed-Structure
Utilizes distinct systems (e.g. steel, concrete, timber), one on top of the other. For example, a steel/concrete indicates a steel structural system located on top of a concrete structural system, with the opposite true of concrete/steel.
A combination of materials (e.g. steel, concrete, timber) are used together in the main structural elements. Examples include buildings which utilize: steel columns with a floor system of reinforced concrete beams; a steel frame system with a concrete core; concrete-encased steel columns; concrete-filled steel tubes; etc. Where known, the CTBUH database breaks out the materials used in a composite building's core, columns, and floor spanning separately.
65 m / 213 ft
Floors Above Ground
The number of floors above ground should include the ground floor level and be the number of main floors above ground, including any significant mezzanine floors and major mechanical plant floors. Mechanical mezzanines should not be included if they have a significantly smaller floor area than the major floors below. Similarly, mechanical penthouses or plant rooms protruding above the general roof area should not be counted. Note: CTBUH floor counts may differ from published accounts, as it is common in some regions of the world for certain floor levels not to be included (e.g., the level 4, 14, 24, etc. in Hong Kong).
Interlink Group
RTKL
Other Consultant


. Update relevant information in N4.
. Supervise the activities of contracted guards to ensure they are not in harm's way.
. Ensure that contracted workers are performing empty containers inspection and container sealed after inspection.
. Confirm that container units loaded on truck are same number as released on the system and corresponds with all related documents.
. Monitor road traffic at the gate and yard to ensure safety of all personnel at the area.
. Ensure truck condition conforms with WACT HSE standards.
. Ensure the inspection clerks do thorough checks of the incoming containers before sealing them.
. Must be proficient in desktop computer software programs, such as MS Office 2000, and other software programs for specific operational planning purposes.
. Understands safety regulations, safe working procedures and safe materials handling procedures and follows safety and work instructions.


text:
HomeCapitalsARE CAPS POSSIBLY AS BAD AS THEY LOOKED IN LOSS TO FLYERS?
ARE CAPS POSSIBLY AS BAD AS THEY LOOKED IN LOSS TO FLYERS?
By Sally Fahey
Travis Konecny scored 71 seconds after a questionable video review wiped out a possible goal, and the visiting Flyers beat the Capitals 5-2 to extend their winning streak to seven games.
"We're just coming in every night and we stay humble," Konecny said. "We play with confidence, with speed. We play those guys the same way we play everybody else. You just got to work hard and you know it's going to pay off or you."
Referee Peter MacDougall said video replays showed "no conclusive evidence" to show the puck crossed the goal line underneath goaltender Braden Holtby, Konecny knew it and not long after scored his 24th of the season.
That started a roll of three goals in 10 minutes to flip momentum in a showdown of the top teams in the Metro Division. Additional goals by Kevin Hayes and Tyler Pitlick during that run, one each by Ivan Provorov and Scott Laughton in the third and 25 saves from Brian Elliott helped the Flyers move within one point of first-place Washington.
"Now guys are starting to believe that we're a really good team," Elliott said. "If we can play like we want to on a nightly basis, we'll put ourselves in a good spot."
With 15 games left for each team, the race to the finish could be just as feisty as their final matchup of the regular season. Capitals winger Tom Wilson dished out a few big hits and fought twice – against Flyers newcomer Nate Thompson and then rugged defenseman Robert Hagg.
Penalties handcuffed the Capitals, continuing a season-long trend. They lead the NHL in minor penalties, and a streak of three in under five minutes in the second period allowed the Flyers to take over.
"Those little things add up, especially against a team that's playing really well," said Holtby, who allowed five goals on 29 shots. "It was just one of those games where we got away from what's given us success, and against a team like that you can't do that."
Lars Eller opened the scoring for Washington, and Wilson set up Garnet Hathaway for its second goal of the game. Provorov wired a wrist shot past Holtby with 13:24 left in the third to give the Flyers some breathing room and Laughton banked the puck off a defender to ice it as they improved to 3-0-1 against the Capitals this season.
"Every time we play them, it's a great battle," Provorov said. "We seem to get up for those games and be on top of our game."
The fourth installment of Flyers-Capitals in 2019-20 lived up to some early March hype. Vigneault on Tuesday reached out to Capitals assistant Scott Arniel, who worked on his staff with the Rangers. Vigneault texted Arniel, "Did you hear it was a big game?"
"I think everyone knows that," Konecny said. "If you look at positioning-wise where we're sitting right now and where they're sitting, it's probably one of the biggest games we've played this year."
The result turned out to be the Flyers' 10th victory in 12 games, which began with a 7-2 pasting of the Capitals in the same building on Feb. 8. They went into that game in sixth place and nine points back, but have since vaulted up the standings.
A division title is within sight, but coach Alain Vigneault wants his players first focused on qualifying for the playoffs.
"We still need a check mark by our name, and that's what we're working on to get," Vigneault said. "We haven't done anything yet."
DC SPORTS BETTING SHOULD BE UP AND RUNNING BY NATS OPENER, UNLESS IT ISN'T!
MARCH 5 BRACKETOLOGY: MARYLAND NOW A 3-SEED IN GREENSBORO


Small white tv stands can be an investment for your home and presents a lot about your taste, your individual decor should really be reflected in the piece of furniture and tv cabinet and stand that you purchase. Whether your tastes are modern or classic, there are many new choices on the market. Do not buy tv cabinet and stand and furniture you don't need, no problem others advise. Remember, it's your home so you need to fun with furniture, design and feel.
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The style need to create impact to your tv cabinet and stand. Can it be contemporary, minimalist, or classic? Modern and contemporary interior has minimalist/clear lines and often combine with bright shades and different natural colors. Classic interior is sophisticated, it may be a bit conventional with colors that range between creamy-white to rich shades of red and other colors. When considering the styles and designs of small white tv stands should also useful and practical. Also, go together with your individual design style and that which you select being an personalized. Most of the pieces of tv cabinet and stand must harmonize one another and also be in line with your current style. In cases you have an interior design concepts, the small white tv stands that you include should fit into that ideas.
Do you want small white tv stands to be a relaxed atmosphere that shows your characters? This is why why it's essential to be sure that you have most of the furnishings parts that you want, which they compliment one with another, and that ensure that you get benefits. Furniture and the tv cabinet and stand is concerning and producing a cozy and relaxing space for homeowner and guests. Personal preferences can be wonderful to incorporate to the decoration, and it is the simple personalized touches that provide unique styles in an area. Likewise, the perfect setting of the tv cabinet and stand and existing furniture as well creating the area nuance more gorgeous.
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