text:
THE FACTS ABOUT THE WAR RELOCATION AUTHORITY
An address by D. S. Myer, Director of the War Relocation Authority, before a luncheon meeting of the Los Angeles Town Hall, Los Angeles, California, January 21, 1944.
It is often said in this section of the country that we people from the Middle West and the East do not really understand the Japanese-American problem. After living with a big part of that problem day in and day out for about a year and a half, I am perfectly willing to admit that it is tough and complicated. But I still feel that it can be solved. And I believe that under the War Relocation Authority program we have already made encouraging progress toward an ultimate solution.
Looking back over the past year and a half, I find that our operations to date have included four major accomplishments. One was the establishment and development of relocation centers where the people of Japanese descent could be quartered following the evacuation. Second was a large-scale screening process which we carried out at these centers in order to identify those people whose records indicated that they might endanger the national security. Third was the segregation program under which we concentrated the potentially dangerous individuals and those who prefer to be Japanese rather that American in one center at Tule Lake. Fourth has been the relocation in normal American communities of about 17,000 of the many thousands of evacuees who proved eligible to relocate under our regulations.
This last accomplishment is the one in which I take the greatest satisfaction and the one which is likely to prove most important from the long-range point of view. Under our relocation program, the people of Japanese descent who formerly lived in a comparative narrow area along the West Coast are now being gradually dispersed across the remainder of the country. They are taking jobs on farms and in shops all the way from Salt Lake City to Boston, Massachusetts. They are playing a valuable role in our war production effort and many are already sinking roots in their new locations. As this process goes forward, I feel confidant we are moving toward the liquidation of a most difficult minority problem.
Relocation is and always has been our major objective in WRA. It is set forth as our primary function in the Executive Order under which we operate and is reflected in the name of the agency. But it has not been our only concern by any means. Despite reports you may have heard to the contrary, we have also been deeply concerned about the national security. We have recognized all along that there is in the evacuee population a considerable minority of people who have stronger ties with Japan than with this country and who might conceivably interfere with the war effort. And in conducting our relocation program we have taken every precaution to prevent such people from doing any harm.
When we first received the evacuees at relocation centers during the summer and early fall of 1942, we had no records by which we could identify the potentially dangerous or strongly pro-Japanese individuals in the population. We knew that in the months immediately following Pearl Harbor several hundred alien Japanese of this type has been picked up on the West Coast by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and sent to internment camps. But during the period while the evacuated people were in Army assembly centers, we were not able to carry this screening process any further. So we were faced with the problem of developing records and carrying out a screening program at the relocation centers.
The most important step in this process was a large-scale registration program which we carried out in collaboration with the Army at the relocation centers about a year ago. All adult residents of the centers were required to fill out questionnaires which provided information on topics such as education, previous employment, relatives in Japan, knowledge of the Japanese language, investments in Japan, organizational and religious affiliations, and even sports and hobbies. In addition, the citizen evacuees were asked whether they would pledge allegiance to the United States, while alien residents of the centers were called upon to promise that they would abide by the nation's laws and not interfere with the war effort.
All of this information has proved extremely useful in identifying those with pro-Japanese sympathies and those who might constitute a menace to the national safety. In addition, we have made effective use, in hundreds of cases, of information of the evacuees which we obtained from the evacuated area -- from former employers, neighbors, municipal officials and others. We have consulted the files of federal intelligence agencies and have used any material that was available in those files on adult residents of the centers. We have built up our own records on the evacuees through our local police or internal security system and from other sources at the centers.
In this way we have accumulated over a period of many months a large amount of detailed information in the background and attitudes of practically all evacuees beyond the age of 17 at the relocation centers. Through the use of techniques similar to, those which have been employed by the intelligence agencies over a period of years, we have been singling out those members of the evacuee population whose basic loyalties lie with Japan. We have made this comprehensive kind of check directly in connection with our relocation program. We have been granting leave permits only after consulting all available data on the individuals concerned. And we have consistently denied the privilege of leave to those whose records indicated that they were strongly pro-Japanese or might endanger the security of the Nation.
Within the past several months we have been carrying out a segregation program to separate the evacuees who are ineligible for leave in a center by themselves. We have segregated three major groups of people: (1) those who have applied for repatriation or expatriation to Japan, (2) citizen evacuees who failed to pledge allegiance to the United States during registration, and, (3) those with intelligence records or other records indicating that they might endanger the national security. In addition, we determined that immediate family relatives of people in all three groups should be accorded the privilege of living at the segregation center in order to avoid disrupting family ties.
The segregation process is now virtually completed. We still have a few hundred people at Manzanar and some of the other centers who are awaiting transfer to Tule Lake, and who will be moved in the immediate future. But the main movements were carried out in September and October of last year. They involved the transfer of about 9,000 people -- including segregants and their families -- into Tule Lake from nine other centers and the removal of about an equal number of non-segregants from Tule Lake to the other centers. Approximately 6,000 people remained at Tule Lake under the segregation process.
Since November 1, the Tule Lake center has attracted a tremendous amount of public attention -- more attention, perhaps, than all other WRA activities during all the months that we have been in operation. Since Tule Lake has become such a focal point in our program -- at least in the public mind -- I want to spend some time telling you about the center, the type of people who live there, and the events which took place there during the first few days of November.
First, let me say a few words about the population. Tule Lake is, of course, the center for disloyal evacuees. Most of the adult people there have indicated either by word or action that they prefer to be Japanese rather than American. But it is a mistake to think of the population at Tule as composed exclusively of agitators and potential saboteurs. Many of the residents are aliens of advanced years who have simply given up the struggle to become adjusted in this country and who want only to live out the rest of their days in the land of their birth. Despite their pro-Japanese leanings, very few of them, in my opinion, are actually troublesome or dangerous. Then there is also another group at the center -- perhaps the largest single element in the whole population -- which is made up of children and others whose records contain no evidence of disloyalty but who are living at Tule Lake merely because of family ties. These people, along with the aliens, probably constitute a majority of the total population.
At the same time, however, it is true that we now have at Tule Lake some of the most troublesome elements that were previously scattered among ten relocation centers. There are, for example, a considerable number of young American-born evacuees who have received the major part of their education in Japan and who seem to have been thoroughly indoctrinated with Japanese militaristic ideas. This group has always been particularly maladjusted at the relocation centers and is plainly out of sympathy with the United States. In addition, there are a number of young people, born and educated in this country, who have become embittered by the experiences of the past two years and have decided to cast their lot with Japan.
Shortly after the major segregation movement was completed, it became apparent that there were at Tule Lake a considerable minority of actively disloyal evacuees who were mainly interested in hindering the American war effort by interfering with the orderly processes of administration. It was further clear, as time went on, that the evacuees of this type had banded together in a tight, well-knit organization for the purpose of gaining a dominant position in the community. The tactics employed by this group were similar to those used by big city gangsters. There were threats of violence, terrorism, and the other familiar techniques.
On October 15 a truck accident occurred at the center in which 28 farm workers were injured and one subsequently died. The dissident group immediately seized upon this incident and precipitated a complete stoppage of work on the harvesting of vegetables. Since we had a crop worth roughly half a million dollars, facing imminent destruction by frost, we decided to recruit a number of evacuee farm workers from the other centers to complete the harvest work at Tule Lake.
This was the situation that prevailed at the center on November 1 when the incident occurred. The events that took place in the afternoon of that day have given rise to so many wild rumors and exaggerated statements that we have spent considerable time and effort in checking on the accuracy of all the major allegations. We have interviewed 69 eye-witnesses who were present in various parts of the center on that afternoon. We have analyzed the statements made by these witnesses, along with other evidence, and are now in position to piece together a reasonably complete story on the events that actually occurred. Several points deserve specific comments.
In the first place, the crowd which gathered around the administration building on the afternoon of November 1 was not an angry mob. It was composed of whole family groups -- men, women, and even little children -- and had been summoned out by an unauthorized announcement that I was going to make a speech. It is now clear that this announcement was made by members of the dissident group for the purpose of bringing a show of pressure to bear on the administration. But there is no evidence to indicate that the crowd as a whole was aware of these plans or party to them. Essentially, the crowd was an unsuspecting tool which the organized group used in making a rather dramatic bid for power.
Another point which emerges rather clearly from the results of our investigation is that the stories about evacuees carrying knives and clubs have been, to put it mildly, greatly exaggerated. Of the 69 people we interviewed, 34 made no comment regarding weapons and 30 specifically denied seeing weapons of any kind. Of the remaining five persons interviewed, two testified that they each saw one evacuee with a knife of the whittling type; two testified that they saw evacuees with short pieces of pipe; and one testified that she "thought" she saw evacuees with butcher knives.
The stories about incendiarism have even less factual basis. We have discovered no tangible evidence of such an attempt and have received no conclusive testimony that would tend to bear out the many wild allegations. Of the 69 witnesses interviewed, only 20 commented on this question and 15 of these specifically denied seeing incendiary material. Three people testified that they had seen evacuees carrying boxes, but were not able to identify the contents. Two testified that "friends had told them" about seeing evacuees carrying straw.
Admittedly the situation was tense at Tule Lake on the afternoon of November 1, and we have never had any illusions that it was not. But I do not believe any fair-minded person, after examining the evidence we have collected, would call this particular incident a riot.
The events which took place on the evening of November 4, however, were of quite a different character. On that occasion, a group of several hundred evacuees, armed with clubs, entered the administration area in violation of an order from the Project Director and with obvious intentions of violence. In accordance with previous arrangements, we immediately called in the troops stationed outside the center and asked the Army to take over responsibility for internal administration until the community could be restored to a normal basis of operations.
This transfer of responsibility was carried out under the terms of a long-standing agreement we have had with the War Department covering the administration of relocation centers. Essentially, that agreement provides for a division of labor between WRA and the Army. Under normal circumstances, we are responsible for all phases of internal administration, while the Army guards the exterior boundaries and checks the passes of people moving in and out. However, when a situation arises -- like the incident of November 4 at Tule Lake -- where a show of force is needed, the agreement provides that we can call in the troops and turn the responsibility for internal administration temporarily over to the Army authorities.
There have been three incidents in evacuee centers over the past year and a half which have been termed riots. As it happens, all of them have occurred here in the State of California. The first one took place during the summer of 1942 at the Santa Anita Assembly Center under the Army jurisdiction. The second one occurred at Manzanar a year ago last December. And the third one was the incident of November 4 at Tule Lake.
The Manzanar incident of December, 1942 was similar in many ways to the recent Tule Lake disturbance. It was caused primarily by a comparatively small group of agitators and was culminated by the summoning of the troops. On that occasion we started immediately after the troops had moved in trying to get the community back on a normal basis. We rounded up the troublemakers, isolated them from the rest of the population, and eventually moved them to a special isolation center which was established first near Moab, Utah and later at Leupp, Arizona. Following the removal of these troublesome elements, Manzanar quickly became one of the most peaceful of all the relocation centers and has remained ever since. I believe you will find that the people of Owens Valley have no particular apprehensions about the center today even though there are several hundred segregants there awaiting transfer to Tule Lake.
At Tule we plan to follow roughly the same pattern which was used at Manzanar in restoring the community to an orderly basis. In this case, we are not moving the troublemakers outside the center because of transportation and other difficulties. But we are isolating the troublemakers as rapidly as they can be identified in one section of the center which has been fenced off from the rest of the community and will be guarded at all times. With these additional precautions, I feel confident that an orderly community can be developed at Tule Lake. I believe, as I have all along, that the majority of the people, regardless of their national sympathies, are interested in living peaceably together and that they will cooperate toward that and with the administration.
Now that the segregation process has been virtually completed, we are redoubling our efforts to speed up the relocation of the people at the nine other centers. We are hoping that in the near future we will be able to carry this job far enough along so that it will be possible to close one and perhaps two of the relocation centers. And we also have hopes that additional closings can be made later as the relocation program moves forward.
There has been a great deal of public misunderstanding about our relocation program -- about its origin, its purposes, and the reasons why we are placing so much stress upon it. Much of the adverse comment that has been made is undoubtedly motivated by patriotic intentions. But it is based, I believe, largely on fundamental misconceptions. And it is producing results which may be most unfortunate for the democratic future of the nation.
The idea of confining all people of Japanese descent in government centers has been strongly advocated by a considerable number of individuals and influential organizations on the West Coast and elsewhere. The reason most frequently advanced for such a course is that all people of Japanese ancestry, regardless of where they were born and raised, and basically disloyal to the United States and sympathetic with the aims of militaristic Japan. I heartily disagree with that contention. A great deal is being said about loyalty in connection with Japanese-Americans these days and much of the comment, in my opinion, represents the loosest and most dangerous kind of talk. Of course, there is no way of guaranteeing the loyalty of a person of Japanese descent, or, for that matter, of anyone else. There is no way of entering into the innermost recesses of a person's mind and fathoming his most fundamental attachments and convictions. The most that you can do is to judge a person's loyalty on the basis of the attitudes which he expresses by word or notion.
On such a basis, I believe there is ample evidence to disprove once and for all the notion that no person of Japanese ancestry can be loyal to the United States. There are in the Army of the United States today about 9,000 soldiers of Japanese descent, nearly half of whom volunteered for service. One unit, known as the 100th Infantry Battalion and made up exclusively of second generation Japanese-Americans, is now in action on the Italian front and has already won the highest praise for its bravery in combat and its skill in the handling of weapons. Another unit, which includes several hundred men who volunteered for service from relocation centers, is in training at Camp Shelby, Mississippi in preparation for active duty overseas.
The behavior of these men both in volunteering and in actual combat provides striking evidence, it seems to me, where their real loyalty lies. But if further proof is needed, let me read a few excerpts from letters recently written by some of these men who are in the armed forces upholding and defending our democratic form of government. This first one was written from Camp Shelby by a young man who volunteered for service from the Heart Mountain Relocation Center in Wyoming. Writing to his parents who are still at the center, he says:
The future welfare of you and all of us who hope to remain in this land rests almost entirely on how the 100th, now in action as the vanguard for the American 5th Army in Italy, and the 442nd do in battle. We have got everything to gain by doing our utmost in battle, nothing to lose. We have a chance to prove to all who doubt our loyalty and sincerity to this nation that we too are Americans and therefore entitled to live as Americans in the truest sense of the word."
This next one was written by a sergeant at the front to the commandant of his training camp at home. He says:
"I am now waiting for the zero hour. This is the opportunity I have been waiting for ever since that fateful day of December 7, 1941. How can any red-blooded American forget that day! We must and will, under the protection of Almighty God... win over the enemy and once more bring peace to this troubled world, so that those who gave their lives shall not have died in vain. I hope I can live up to the expectations of you and my friends. And believe me I will!"
Much the same attitude is expressed in the statement made by a young doctor of Japanese ancestry who is a Captain with the 100th Battalion in Italy. Talking to a war correspondent at an advanced field dressing station, he said:
"The Japanese in the Pearl Harbor attack hurt us worse than anyone. They did really a dirty job on all the Japanese people living in the United States. We pay and will go on paying a terrible price for the sins of those Japanese. They made us lose the faith and trust of the American people. Now we men of Japanese blood in the United States Army are trying to win back that faith and confidence of America. We are more than willing, we are eager to fight the Germans, too. But it is not against the Germans that we hold our primary grudge. It is against the Japanese Imperial Army, Navy, and Air Force."
In the face of evidence like this, it is extremely difficult for me to understand how any reasonable person can advocate the mass confinement of all persons of Japanese descent simply on the grounds of race.
Within the last few hours a specific announcement has been made by the Secretary of War concerning military service for Americans of Japanese descent. As you may know, Japanese-American boys have not been inducted into the armed forces through the usual Selective Service procedure since February, 1942. Volunteers have been accepted during the past year, but there has been no involuntary induction. The Secretary of War has just announced that, effective immediately, Americans of Japanese ancestry will be inducted into the United States Army through the Selective Service system. A list of those acceptable for service has been prepared and the men on the list will have their cases reviewed by their local boards; they will be reclassified and called up for induction as their individual turns come. It is expected that the men inducted in this way will be added to the 100th Battalion or the 442nd Combat Team and it is possible that other Nisei units will be formed.
In determining to accept involuntary inductees, the Army gives recognition to the excellent record of the Nisei already in service. But even more significant is the fact that a minority group of Americans have had restored to them individually the opportunity of fulfilling one of the highest obligations of their citizenship. It means much to the Nisei. It means even more to American democracy.
I spoke earlier of fundamental misconceptions. One of them which seems to persist, particularly in this section of the country, is the notion that the government originally planned a mass detention of the evacuees and that the WRA relocation program represents a sharp reversal of previous government policy. I want to deny this emphatically. As evidence to the contrary, let me remind you that for nearly one month after the original evacuation order was first announced, the people of Japanese ancestry were freely permitted by the Western Defense Command to leave the coastal area and resettle inland on their own initiative. It was only after this voluntary movement had given rise to difficulties that the controlled plan of evacuation and movement into government centers was put into effect. As the War Department has frequently pointed out, the sole aim of the evacuation was to move the people of Japanese descent from a sensitive military area and not to put them under lock and key.
Another highly important aspect of this question which is being overlooked by many of those who urge mass detention is the repercussions that such a step would have from a legal and constitutional standpoint. So far, the Supreme Court of the United States has not ruled on the constitutional validity either of evacuation or of detention in government centers. The Hirabayashi case which was decided last June merely upheld the constitutional validity of the curfew orders imposed by the Western Defense Command at the time of evacuation. The decision in that case was unanimous, but it is significant that Mr. Justice Murphy remarked, "This goes to the very brink of constitutional power." Moreover, practically all lawyers are agreed that the Constitution provides no basis for a mass detention program involving American citizens. This point was strongly emphasized recently by Attorney General Biddle when he testified before congressional committees regarding the implications of the Tule Lake incident. It was also brought out in a recent Circuit Court decision on the case of Miss Mitsuye Endo. Miss Endo, who was an evacuee resident of Tule Lake in the period before it became a segregation center, had applied for a writ of habeas corpus under the provisions of the Constitution for release from the relocation center. The court denied Miss Endo's application but did so solely on the grounds that WRA has a relocation program under which Miss Endo might have applied for leave from the center without going through the courts. If we had no such procedures and were engaged in a mass internment program, the decision might well have been different.
I do not mean to imply merely that mass confinement of the evacuees would present some rather complicated legal problems. It would do that, but its ultimate significance is much greater. It would mean striking at the very heart of the constitutional safeguards which now protect every last one of us against arbitrary governmental action. And it would mean a serious retreat from the principles of freedom and justice on which this nation was founded and which it is now fighting to defend. If we single out one minority element of our population and confine all its members purely on the grounds of race, we will be forfeiting our right to be regarded and even to regard ourselves as a truly democratic nation.
During the year and a half I have spent in my present job, I have learned a great deal about the Japanese-American problem in this country. And most of my knowledge, I assure you, has been gained the hard way. I have learned, among other things, that there are in this section of the country and elsewhere, many influential people and organizations who will go to almost any length to reduce people born in the United States of Japanese ancestry to the status of second-class citizens. In recent weeks and months, these individuals and organizations have been carrying on a persistent and vigorous campaign of race hatred. One prominent newspaper chain which has played a central role in this effort has been especially guilty of bad faith and un-American tactics. The writers and editors of this organization have seized upon every opportunity to distort the facts and create widespread public fears and animosities toward the people in relocation centers. They have succeeded in creating the impression that WRA is deliberately turning spies and saboteurs loose upon the nation, that armed evacuees are pouring into California in defiance of military regulations, and that people at the relocation centers are being better fed than the average American family. There is not one shred of truth in any of these allegations.
Regardless of the stories which you may have read, we in the War Relocation Authority are just as anxious as any Americans to see the militarism of Japan crushed and wiped from the face of the earth. And so, I might add, are many thousands of the people in the relocation centers. But we do feel that the war should not be waged on American soil and that manifestations of unreasoning hatred toward the Japanese-Americans are not a necessary part of our efforts to defeat the empire of Japan. In fact, it seems entirely plain to me that those who are deliberately stirring up feeling against the evacuees are doing a serious disservice to the national war effort. They are providing the enemy with propaganda material to be used in convincing other Oriental nations that the United States is conducting a racial war. They are fomenting hatreds and fears at a time when united action and cool concentration on the immediate job are more vitally needed than ever before in our history. They are creating an impression of national dissension and disunity that must be a stimulating tonic to the morale of the Axis nations. If the same amount of energy and ingenuity that have been expended on these campaigns of racial hatred had been channelized against the real enemy, I feel sure we would be much nearer than we are now to the day of final victory.
I am generally optimistic about ultimate solution of the Japanese-American problem. In the heat of current emotions on this issue, it may help to restore perspective if we remember that the people of Japanese ancestry in this country represent, after all, only a tiny fragment of our total population -- about one-tenth of one percent. Most of the ties which this group now has with the culture of Japan are through the older generation of aliens. As these people gradually die off and as the younger generation born and educated in this country grows to maturity, the situation will change rapidly. I also feel that the relocation program is a most important step toward ultimate solution. As the people of Japanese descent who formerly lived in this section are dispersed throughout hundreds of communities in the Middle West and the East, settling as individual families or in small groups here and there, I feel certain that they can and will be integrated into the economy of the nation.
But I am deeply disturbed about the growing trend toward racial thinking and discrimination toward minority groups which seems to be developing under the stresses and strains of the war. Democracy is never an easy form of government. Even in peace time, it can be made to operate successfully only if the people have the necessary energy, ingenuity and especially courage to make it work. It took courage to establish this democratic nation of ours and it has taken courage to build it up to its present high status. Now more than ever before, courage is needed, not only in our national leaders, but among our total population, if we are to emerge from this conflict without impairing and sacrificing some of our most cherished traditions and principles.
This is particularly true in connection with the Japanese-American problem. Because of the nature of the enemy in Japan, there is a natural tendency to substitute emotion for clear thinking and hatred for understanding in our efforts to deal with our own people of Japanese descent. Persecution of minority groups, I have always felt, stems largely from fear. And fear unquestionably is the underlying cause for much of the current agitation on this issue -- fear of economic competition and fear of a group that is not fully understood.
In this connection, I would like to read a few excerpts from a magazine article recently written by a resident of this State.
"What frightens me most today is not the recurring race riots, the economic pressures on 'minorities', the internment of Americans of darker-skinned ancestry whose loyalty to the ideology of white supremacy is doubted, nor even the whole scope and viciousness of the recent growth of race hatreds and the insidious beginning of propagandism for a white alliance for 'self-protection' -- not those so much as the white man's sudden consciousness of his own fear of other races of which these are but manifestations. I can see no hope for any 'minority' group, nor even for democracy itself, in the existence of this fear.
"People who are afraid are cruel, vicious, furtive, dangerous; they are dishonest, malicious, vindictive; they destroy the things of which they are afraid, or are destroyed by them. The host who is afraid, hearing a noise in his kitchen, tiptoes down the back stairs and blows out the brains of an ice-box raiding guest whom he thinks is a burglar; the policeman who is afraid shoots the manacled prisoner who bends to tie his shoe lace; the industrialist who is afraid hires thugs and murderers to fight unionists; the capitalist who is afraid sabotages public welfare; the politician who is afraid attacks leaders of weakly supported causes to hide his own compromises; the statesman who is afraid endeavors to isolate his nation; and the government head who is afraid fails in the execution of laws, both national and international.
".... Fear may easily become the greatest tragedy of this historic period. For the eventual peace of the world and the continuation of progress depend upon the white man's ability to live in equality, integrity, and courage in a civilization where he is outnumbered by peoples of other races. It is imperative that he be unafraid. For if, because of his fear, he finds himself unable to live as a neighbor and equal competitor with other races, there will be no peace and little progress."
Whether we like it or not, our handling of racial minority problems is not strictly a domestic issue. The actions we take and the attitudes we express will have and are having repercussions all around the globe. In our program, for example, we have had to keep constantly in mind the fact that we are dealing with Japanese nationals, in part, and that our treatment of these people might well affect the reciprocal treatment accorded to American soldiers and civilians in the hands of the Japanese. Shortly after the outbreak of war, the government of the United States and the government of Japan agreed through neutral diplomatic channels to meet certain specified standards in the treatment of each other's nationals who are interned or temporarily detained in government camps. These standards are set forth in the International Convention which was signed at Geneva, Switzerland by a number of governments in 1929. They originally intended to apply to prisoners of war. But, by mutual agreement, the governments of this country and of Japan have extended the applicable provisions to civilian nationals. Shortly after the Tule Lake incident the Japanese government broke off negotiations looking toward an exchange of nationals until the Spanish consular representatives could investigate the conditions in relocation centers. I am confident that the Spanish will find conditions in the centers generally satisfactory and that they will eventually report this fact to Tokyo. But this development does point up the very grave international implications of our program.
The War Relocation Authority has been accused of conducting a "social experiment" in its relocation program. On behalf of my own staff, I want to say that we are not quite sure what our critics mean when they use that phrase. We have always felt that we are merely trying to do a complex and rather thankless job in the most practical way we can and at the same time in harmony with the best principles of our democratic past. We have had to consider at all times that we are dealing with about 70,000 American citizens who cannot be deprived of their rights and privileges without due process of law. We have had to keep in mind the provisions of the Geneva Convention and the possibilities of retaliatory action against our people in Japanese hands. But the one principle, above all other, which has guided our actions and molded our thinking is the belief that there is a place in this melting pot nation of ours for all the people of good will and democratic faith who are now within our borders regardless of their racial antecedents. That is the bedrock principle on which we are conducting our program in the War Relocation Authority and which, as Director of WRA I will fight to defend.


where is thomasville furniture made large vintage coffee table made by in gorgeous rich wood grain in an oversized diamond pattern on top structurally sound very sturdy thomasville furniture outlet nj.
where to get a gymnastics mat the premier school oh now enrolling premier tumbling the premier school oh.
discount pots and pans how to choose and buy cookware pots and pans.
windshield washer fluid 55 gal drum well three is better than none it will add more capacity to my system by adding gallons of additional capacity total of gallons now home decor ideas for living room.
how many watts does a chest freezer use this wiring diagram.
separated combustion garage heater best heater for a garage best garage heaters avoid gas heaters wall mount garage heater garage heaters propane best garage heaters heater garage propane.
top rated hardwood floor vacuum best small vacuum for hardwood floors hardwood floor cleaning top vacuum cleaners handheld vacuum within top.
what size is twin mattress mattress twin size.
bliss window and screen balloon bliss windows title screen and main menu.
vintage foosball table for sale table vintage mini table portable folding table owners manual vintage harvard foosball table for sale vintage foosball table for sale.


text:
{-# LANGUAGE OverloadedStrings #-}
module Main
( main
) where

import qualified Crypto.Hash.MD5 as MD5
import qualified Crypto.Hash.SHA1 as SHA1
import qualified Crypto.Hash.SHA256 as SHA2
import qualified Crypto.Hash.SHA3 as SHA3
import qualified Crypto.Hash.Skein256 as Skein
import qualified Crypto.Hash.Tiger as Tiger
import Data.ByteString ( hGetSome )
import System.IO
import Criterion.Main

import qualified Crypto.Hash.Tsuraan.Blake2.Parallel as ParBlake2
import qualified Crypto.Hash.Tsuraan.Blake2.Serial as SerBlake2
import qualified Crypto.Hash.Tsuraan.Blake2 as Blake2

main :: IO ()
main = do
  strings <- withFile "/dev/urandom" ReadMode $ \handle -> do
    -- let lens = [1000,2000,3000,4000,5000,6000,7000,8000,9000,10000]
    let lens = [1,10,100,1000,3000,6000,10000,30000,60000,100000]
    ss <- mapM (hGetSome handle) lens
    return $ zip lens ss
  defaultMain $
    [ bgroup (show sz)
             [ bench "Parallel" $ nf (ParBlake2.hash 32) st
             , bench "Sequential" $ nf (SerBlake2.hash 32) st
             , bench "Auto" $ nf (Blake2.hash 32) st
             , bench "MD5" $ nf MD5.hash st
             , bench "SHA1" $ nf SHA1.hash st
             , bench "SHA2" $ nf SHA2.hash st
             , bench "SHA3" $ nf (SHA3.hash 32) st
             , bench "Skein" $ nf (Skein.hash 32) st
             , bench "Tiger" $ nf Tiger.hash st
             ]
    | (sz, st) <- strings ]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Before you've had a chance to say a word, your eyewear has already made your first introductions. In the age of rapid fashion trends and ready-to-wear frames, glasses that are yours and yours alone can make all the difference.
French bespoke eyewear label Ateliers Baudin knows the value of frames that are made to suit one's unique lifestyle and personality. Now one of the last remaining workshops of its kind, it breathes new life into the age-old craft traditions of Jura, the birthplace of the French eyewear trade. They are masters of a meticulously controlled, end-to-end process, one that involves over 25 facial measurements, hand-done production, and multiple consultations across at least three months.
At their Philippine trunk show held last August 25 and 26 in the menswear shop Signet, partners Guillaume Clerc and Brice Maitre walk The Edition through the finer points of their craft, and what it takes for frames to make the grade.
You have an incredible A-Z process for making your frames. Can you walk us through it?
Brice Maitre: We all have different face shapes. We must take some measurements, about between 20 and 30 measurements, to put the frames perfectly on your face. I measure over your earlobes. I have to take the measure of the temple also. I have to take a measure of the eyes, and the eyebrows. Also [the apples of the cheeks], because the frames don't touch the spot here.
Guillaume Clerc: You also pick the material, the color, and the thickness. Each piece [of material] is very unique. You try to make a mix between your inspiration, the inspiration and [lifestyle needs] of the clients, and the morphology. At the end, it has to be aesthetically pleasing and comfortable.
Maitre: After, I make a drawing, and then I make the frames by hand for the first prototype. The client receives the prototype one month later. Then the client might have something to change. All in all the process takes about three to four months.
Your frames are obviously made to last. How do you strike a balance between creative trends and timelessness?
Maitre: In the shop, we have maybe maximum 50 models to show, but we never sell them. These are just for seeing the shape on your face. We [let clients try] two or three frames maximum. It's not like an optical shop with 10, 20, 30 frames.
We know what can we do on a face. We are very picky with the choice. Sometimes we are pushing them from [what we think is] a bad choice… A lot of people have seen advertising with a brand, you know, and they say, "I would like this for myself." They want to have the same look. But with some faces, it's not possible to do so. You are taking the frame in the photo, but putting it on a different face.
Some people, sometimes, they don't want to change. They say, "I want to have this." But we try to push them to change.. We have to speak a lot with our clients. It's not a simple relationship, it's not just for business. And so a lot of our clients are our friends now, because they are confident in our choices.
Do you think your business will continue to thrive given the ready availability of affordable frames?
Maitre: Yes. Now we are teaching two people to do frames by hand–there's no school for that. It's run by us old people, and now we have to transmit some of the craft to other people. But it takes two or three years to learn.
Clerc: Nowadays, people do not want to have the same frame or pair of glasses. Everybody has the same Ray-Ban. Everybody's the same. It's boring! People who are coming into the shop, they know they will have something completely different. Each pair of our glasses are unique.
And nowadays, maybe people prefer to have one beautiful pair of glasses. If they break it, we repair it. We charge only [for the broken area]. Why change the frame every time? With the evolution of the world population, with the ecological problems, why?
You are known to use horn and tortoise shell for your frames. Can you tell us a little about each?
Maitre: We are making each year 500 frames, and just maybe 60 in total are tortoise shells. All the other frames are made in buffalo horn. And that's it–it's a very small production.
The horn material comes from India, Indonesia, or South America. For the tortoiseshell, we are working with a very small, regulated amount.
Clerc: The shell stock comes from only before the Washington Convention [a law that imposes restrictions on international trade in animal and plant species, ratified by France in the late 1970s]. So the shell is reserved to a small quantities of people. We only sell shell frames to people who appreciate the material. If you don't appreciate it, don't buy it.
The light-colored shell is the most rare. If someone is coming to the shop, and they say, I want that one, we say no. We must walk them through the whole process first so that they understand it. If after you want the light brown one, maybe we can give it to you.
Maitre: You can keep your frames very special. In horn, you can keep it 3 or 4 years. If you come into our shop, we'll put in a special oil to polish it, and it will seem to be new.
Sometimes you have frames in tortoiseshell lasting 20, 30 years. There is no problem with the tortoiseshells because, if they break, you can put them back together. Because tortoiseshell is made with many little, different parts, you can put it in hot water, press it together, and it will be one piece again. It's incredible.
Signet is at the ground floor of the retail area of Shangri-La at The Fort, 30th Street corner 5th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.


text:
Goodbye Chad
Kevin October 8, 2003 Politics No Comments
Looking for trends from the recall election in California? The best news from the election is that the days of the "hanging chad" are numbered. Voters clearly understand now that the onus is on them to inspect their ballot and make sure their punch was clean, and that no chad is left attached to the ballot. From this MSNBC article:
Reyes said there had been no reported problems with the ballot, despite the fact that people were casting their votes on punch-card machines. "We encourage everyone to punch it hard so there won't be any chads," he said. "We also tell them to check for chads."
Edana Tisherman said she had no trouble with the ballot today. "There's been so much coverage of this, it's very simple," she said. "I said, 'Four holes, no chads, we're gone.' "And this:
"It's very easy if you study the ballot beforehand and you know what page to go to and where your candidate is," she said. "We've heard so much about chads since the Florida election that it's pretty much automatic that you flip it over and check for them so you don't have any problems."
And election officials are on the lookout as well:
At midday yesterday, Yolo County Clerk Freddie Oakley said that she had not received any complaints about her impromptu system of having voters separate their own ballot cards but realized there was some risk in the system. "If three little old ladies say they were confused, I'll be pilloried," she said.
Goodbye Chad!
Carnival Of The Vanities - Week 55
L Is For LinkDump
Breaking: John Kerry Will Announce that He Will Not Seek the Presidency
Heinz Seeks to Disavow Kerry Connection
Jewish Democratic Council Celebrate Beheadings

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Scott Coker Refuses to Promote Strikeforce the Way Dana White Hypes the UFC
Written by Tim Ngo
To most casual fans, "UFC fighting" is synonymous with the sport of MMA. While the Octagon monopolizes nearly the entire mixed martial arts market, Strikeforce CEO Scott Coker believes there's enough room for more than just one player.
"There's plenty of room for everybody. We are going to continue going down our path," Coker told BloodyElbow.com. "I'm worried about what we're doing. That's what I'm focused on. I'm not worried about somebody else worrying about me."
Although his San Jose, California based promotion faces a steep uphill battle, Coker claims Strikeforce has carved out a nice little niche for itself. Furthermore, the soft-spoken promoter claims he's put all of his fighters in positions to be successful.
"Here's the thing – we have our sponsors too. Believe me, we did really well on sponsorships last year," Coker matter-of-factly said. "Rockstar, our title sponsor, has been fantastic. We have Full Tilt Poker too. And we encourage Rockstar and Full Tilt to sponsor our guys. EA Sports. Anybody that comes on board with us, like Clinch Gear, we encourage them to sponsor our guys as well.
"Think about this – this industry provides an 18-34 year old demographic that is very sponsor elusive. We can deliver. As many people as [there are that] want to work with the UFC, there's just as many who want to come work with us."
Coker then went on to compare himself and UFC president Dana White, as he likened their personalities to boxing promoters Don King and Bob Arum, respectively.
"Dana is kind of like the Don King. He's out there and he's out promoting his brand, as well as the company brand and the fighter brand," explained Coker. "I'm more of a very direct business man.
"The guy I really liked wasn't Don King. To me, it's okay being the Bob Arum. In a lot of Bob's early fights, you didn't even know who promoted the fights. The fights were amazing, they were great, and they were focused on the athlete. That's been my philosophy too. The stars of the show are in the cage."


ALBERTVILLE, France -- They jumped up in their purple Bonnie Blair windbreakers and shouted to the clear sky when she skated around the first turn on the icy oval, coming toward them in the gathering dusk. Forty-four people in all.
There was Bonnie's 73-year-old mother, Eleanor, wearing a mink coat and a gold baseball cap with "Go Bonnie Gold" in black letters. There was Bonnie's brother Rob, the one from Texas with a brain tumor in remission. There was Mary, the sister from Colorado with the loud voice everyone jokes about, wearing this crazy white fur with the Olympic rings on the back.
There was Suzy, the flight attendant sister from Utah, and Angela, the sister Bonnie lives with in Milwaukee. There were Angela's neighbors, the Kents, just friends who got all excited and showed up, and the Marshalls from Maine and the Allens from Minnesota and, oh, yeah, Dave Silk from Montana.
There was 79-year-old Uncle Lenny from Long Island, who is still hearing about forgetting to take off his cap during the gold-medal ceremony in Calgary four years ago. There was 3-month-old Lily Marshall, Bonnie's niece from Napa Valley, Calif., wearing the snazziest pink sunglasses in town.
There were other Bonniemaniacs from Illinois and Pennsylvania and New Jersey and New Hampshire, from Ohio and Washington and Alaska and Calgary. Sisters and brothers and cousins and friends -- and somewhere in there, one more baby on the way. From 17 states and one Canadian province.
All of them except Bonnie's father.
They were sitting on the far side of the small Olympic skating stadium yesterday, the electric moment finally at hand for which they had waited for more than a year, after someone -- no one could remember who -- came up with this wild idea of "Operation Bonnie 1992," which was everyone going to France -- France! -- to watch Bonnie skate for another gold medal.
When she went past them yesterday wearing her red-white-and-blue silks in the 500 meters, Rob waved an American flag and put his arm around his mother. They screamed Bonnie's name, but their voices were lost in the avalanche of noise. Everyone in Section O was blowing out their throats.
They had met for lunch near the stadium hours earlier, coming together from their hotels and guest houses spread across the mountain. They got the windbreakers there -- just in. Then they went to the stadium and sat up in the empty stands for hours, a warm sun beating down and the Blues Brothers on the public address system, and they talked on and on about Bonnie and their family and this whole crazy stunt. But mostly about Bonnie.
About this woman with a thin nose and a Midwest twang and a way of collecting people. Such as the Illinois firefighters who gave her money before the Calgary Olympics. And the grade schoolers from New York who made up the posters on the wall yesterday.
Talking about a sweet, happy, tough person from a working family, who talks to everyone and doesn't put on airs because they just aren't in her gene pool. "One of those people who can't help making friends," her mother said. "The phone is always ringing off the hook five minutes after she's home."
Said Ruth Kent, of Milwaukee: "We're all here because she's just such a super girl, a real person. She lives next door to me. I tell her I need her to take my daughter to get a haircut, she just says, 'When?' When we heard all this was happening, we wouldn't have missed being here for anything."
In the beginning there were 22 planning to come, but Bonnie's cousin Kathy Murphy, a stockbroker from New Jersey, kept wheedling cheap fares out of the airlines and uncovering obscure hotels up in the mountains.
"In the end everyone just wanted to ride the wave," Kent said.
There was only one problem. Chile wasn't there.
Bonnie's father's name was Charles, but he got the nickname Chile as a boy -- it was the name of a popular bicycle -- and never lost it. He was a big man who filled up a room, and he worked in the concrete business and was 50 when his wife delivered Bonnie, the last of their six kids.
All but one became a champion speed skater. It started with Mary, the oldest girl, who came home one day in 1956 and said some man at the rink had told her she should skate.
"I wanted white skates. They got me black," she said.
It kept going from there. But all the kids topped out at the sameplace: just shy of the Olympics.
"Chile wanted so badly for one of his kids to make the Olympics," said Uncle Lenny, the unofficial family historian. "He never pushed them an inch, but you could just see it in his face."
So his baby girl wound up being the one, the best of all, and fat tears rolled down his face when she won the gold medal in the 500 in Calgary. There were 20 Bonniemaniacs there that day, but was the only father of the gold medalist. He was 77.
But then his lung cancer started getting to him and he slowed way down. The family gathered in Milwaukee for Christmas two years ago, and it was a big day when Bonnie skated in a race on Christmas Eve and Chile got to leave the house to watch.
He died the next day. "I think he got pneumonia in the stands," Mary said. "It was like 50 below. Bonnie was just coming back from the race and the others were leaving, carrying him in their arms to get him to the hospital."
He was the only one missing yesterday. The only Blair not there.
"I sit here and think about him," said Bonnie's mother, in the stands before the race. "He left me with a wonderful group of kids, this rowdy family of mine. Look at all this commotion. He would have loved this. I wish he was here. I guess he is in a way."
And then it was time for the race and Bonnie was skating past them and down the back straightaway into the far turn, the noise in Section O going up and up until there was no up left. Then she was around the last turn and kicking to the finish, all fury and grace, and the result was on the scoreboard: first place.
Up in Section O, Rob thrust his arms in the air and Eleanor covered her mouth, and everyone started jumping up and down. There were 22 skaters still waiting their turns, but none had the talent to beat Bonnie's time.
When the last of the 22 was done and "Operation Bonnie 1992" had officially gone gold, Bonnie's mother and the 43 others stood in the emptying stands with their purple windbreakers hunched against the evening chill. The mood was laughs and bubbles.
"Just wait until the party tonight," Eleanor said.
Oh, bring back my Bonnie to me."
And then there was Bonnie in the press center a few minutes later, talking about what every one of those 44 people was thinking.
"My dad had more of the Olympic drive than I did," she said, the rims of her blue eyes reddening. "He was always telling me that I was going to skate in the Olympics, and I'd laugh, 'No way, no way.' He saw me win in Calgary, which was great. But this is his medal. Yes. This one goes to him."


text:
Redskins-Bengals London duel ends in 27-27 tie
Published: Oct 30, 2016 at 06:55 AM
*For the first time in NFL history, an International Series game went to overtime. And for the first time since 1997, we've had two ties in a single NFL season. The Washington Redskins and Cincinnati Bengals will head back across the pond contemplating the complex emotions that come with a game in which there was no winner. *
Here's what we learned from their 27-27 showdown on Sunday...
Now we see why teams aren't afraid to dole out good money to consistent kickers. The Bengals-Redskins game could have been over several times if it weren't for a missed extra point by Cincinnati kicker Mike Nugent earlier in the game or a hooked game-winning attempt in overtime by Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins. It will be interesting to see if there were any hot takes about field conditions at Wembley Stadium. Otherwise, an eight-hour flight home is a long time to contemplate a missed kick from 33 or 34 yards out.
Cincinnati tried not to linger on the unfortunate offseason injury to Tyler Eifert's ankle and did its best to construct an offense during his absence. But in his true season debut -- Eifert played sparingly last week in an attempt to warm himself back up -- we saw glimpses of the oft-dominant offense that helped the Bengals win the division a year ago. Eifert finished with nine catches for 102 yards and a beautiful, leaping 15-yard grab in the red zone. Cincinnati was bottoming out near the goal line this season but now has a massive target for opposing defenses to consider. Arrivals like this also sometimes break up the coordinator equivalent to writer's block, as evidenced by a slick QB bootleg drawn up by Ken Zampese in the third quarter.
Josh Norman was a definite upgrade at cornerback for this defense, and while A.J. Green's numbers suggest otherwise -- nine catches for 121 yards -- it was stunning to see how hard Cincinnati had to work to get Green the ball when Norman was in coverage. The Redskins corner was on and off the field Sunday with a few minor injury scares and in those brief moments, Andy Dalton would not look anywhere else. Norman was over-aggressive at times -- three of the five penalties called on him were accepted -- but his positioning and instincts were phenomenal. The Fox broadcasting team called it a poor game because he "dropped" a pair of interceptions, but the truth was that only a few corners could have gotten to those balls in the first place.
Jamison Crowder is finally getting an opportunity in Washington's offense -- so look out. His progress and development seems to mirror the way the Giants utilized a young Victor Cruz five years ago. Crowder led all Redskins receivers with eight catches for 106 yards and a touchdown -- his second straight week over the century mark. He is so much more than a burner, with a quick snap to his routes that makes him very difficult to cover on outs and come-backs.
Before the start of the season, I said Vernon Davis on a one-year, $1.9 million deal was going to be one of the best values in free agency and for the second week in a row, we've seen why. Even with an electric Jordan Reed back in the lineup, Davis topped 90 yards for the first time in three years by doing what he's always done well -- match up against linebackers. The wheel routes, drag routes and go routes against slower defenders have always been a bread-and-butter for Davis but somewhere along the line offensive coordinators just seemed to forget. Davis is still fast, and is still winning matchups. Even if it's not as the primary tight end, what does it matter?
As an avid football fan in just about any form, I'm not one to stand on the soapbox and argue the quality of play in the NFL. It is not my place to do so. However, I don't think there are many people who can complain about this one. By far the best international game we've ever seen and the first time a London matchup has gone to overtime, Sunday featured all the sweet and savory notes that we've come to appreciate about the game. We had a dominant receiver-corner matchup play out like a title fight. We had an emerging star quarterback topple 400 passing yards (Kirk Cousins) and a fun-to-watch offense (Cincinnati) come back to life with the addition of its second best receiver. And we got it all before 1 p.m. ET. No game is perfect, hence the late fumble by the Bengals and the botched kick that preceded it, but it was definitely fun to watch -- tie or no tie.
Cowboys EVP Stephen Jones 'absolutely' expects Mike McCarthy to remain head coach
Cowboys fans calling for coach Mike McCarthy to be fired likely aren't going to get their wish. EVP Stephen Jones said Monday that he's "very confident" the coach would remain in charge of the team in 2022.
Bengals DT Larry Ogunjobi was placed on injured reserve, ending his 2021 season. Also, the latest NFL roster and injury news from Monday.
The NFL community took to social media on Monday to honor the life and legacy of civil rights activist Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on MLK Day.
Buccaneers defense gets 'swag back' in beatdown of Eagles
The championship defense is back in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers battled through injuries during the regular season but got key defenders back for the postseason. Todd Bowles' unit showed it's still dominant in Sunday's 31-15 win over the Eagles.
JuJu Smith-Schuster: 'It would be a blessing' to return to Steelers next season
JuJu Smith-Schuster battled back from shoulder surgery to make an unexpected start in the Steelers' 42-21 playoff loss to the Chiefs. After the game, the receiver said he hopes it's not his final game with the Steelers.
The Kansas City Chiefs and Buffalo Bills are headed for a showdown in the Divisional Round after both clubs shellacked their opponents in wild-card matchups.
49ers WR Deebo Samuel to Shanahan before TD run: 'Just give me the ball. I got you'
49ers WR Deebo Samuel demanded the ball in a pivotal spot and went on to score what ended up being the difference in San Francisco's win over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card Round.
Cowboys QB Dak Prescott: Final sequence in loss to 49ers 'tough to accept'
Dak Prescott and coach Mike McCarthy expressed their dismay over how they were unable to get off a spike before time expired and at the game's officiating overall in the Cowboys loss to the 49ers in the Wild Card Round.
Big Ben looks back after playoff loss to Chiefs: 'It was meant to be that I was going to wear black and gold'
Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger likely played his last game on Sunday night in a playoff loss to the Chiefs. Afterward, he had nothing but gratitude for the opportunity to play in Pittsburgh across the autumns.
2021 NFL playoffs: What we learned from Chiefs' win over Steelers on Super Wild Card Weekend
The Kansas City Chiefs punched their ticket to the AFC Divisional Round with a lopsided victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday night.
NFL announces Divisional Round schedule
The NFL announced Sunday the schedule of sites, dates and times for the Divisional Round of the playoffs on Jan. 22-23.
Jerry Jones 'extraordinarily disappointed' after Cowboys' playoff loss to 49ers
Jerry Jones' quest for another Super Bowl will have to wait at least one more year and the Cowboys' loss to the 49ers on Sunday left the owner "extraordinarily disappointed."


Thought you might be interested in discussing natural IVF option with your FS.
After 4 goes of stimulated IVF over 3yrs, in July my FS informed me that any prospect of having a child NOW depended on finding an egg donor. I took the need to find a donor as the opportunity to also change doctor to one more conveniently located. My first FS was the one with the first available appointment. This time I read the doctor biographies on the clinic website to match my specific need with the doctors' interest. I came across a doctor that matched my need & he has one of his practices perfectly located on my way to work. My first appointment with the new FS had the nurse co-ordinator present during the consultation. The doctor is alert, eager to share his knosledge. Gives lots of information. States that from his experience working both in UK & Aust, Australian's aren't as altruistic as the English with egg donation. A coule of yrs ago the clinic abolished the egg donor waiting list as the list was too long. He advised me to give mini IVF cycle a try as it is proving to be successful with older women. In Aust the oldest women to give birth using her won egg was 47, and he was part of the team. He would like to try me on mini IVF with clomid tablest using my own eggs. He informs me that if I was to give birth I would become the oldest woman in Aust using her own egg. The minimal use of drugs is perfect for me. The difference between the first clinic nurses & doctors, & the second is conspicuous & fills me with renewed hope.
I had my first mini cycle in early Oct. It was exciting seeing a follicle on each ovary especially since I didn't get a response during the last 3 regualr IVF cycles on elephant doses of FSH. The new FS tells me that the high dose of FSH isn't an ideal environment for an embryo.
A couple of weeks ago had my first OPU whicle conscious. Information & photos from another clinic prompted me to request not to be anaesthetised nor sedated for the procedure. The phots I saw did not prepare me for the ambush. Unespectedly my gown was pulled up, my pelvis thrust skyward with nurses trying to strap my legs wide apart. The doctor noticed the trouble the nurses were having in priering my legs apart, & asked me to relax. It was a learning process from both sides. The nurses had no experience of a patient being conscious thru the procedure before. Once I did relax & the shock subsided I took in the environmnet. Music was playing. The doctor talked me thru the procedure. All went well for the first follicle, the second was further in & I was informed that it would be painful. The pain was just short of me screaming. Everyone clapped when the sceintist said there was an egg.
The possibilty the egg held stirred my imagination, I was bursting with joy for a couple of hours, till I received the phone call around lunchtime. I didn't need to hear the specifics, I could tell from the tone in the nurse's voice. The egg was immature & the scientist could not proceed any further. Managed to get thru the need-a-bottle-of-sothern-comfort without a drink. Trying to remain positive. At least there was an egg collected without any injections. I didn't even make it to collection the last 3 goes on standard IVF.
Been working on a scale for the various levels of pain. Will get round to posting it soon. Have noted to ask doctor during next appointment if Aust allows immature eggs to be exposed to hormones in petra dish to mature. Will be on second cycle in the next few days. FS suggested no clomid this time round.
Researching I came across an interesting comment on an American social networking site. It stated that if your chances of conceiving was >25% then you are better off with regular IVF. The rate of conceiving by natural IVF is 25% (for everyone who is menstruating regularly?).
I'm hanging out for another glimpse at the beginnings of life, ie an embryo of my fertilised egg.
Nim - i think i'll have to read your post 20 times just to digest it all - what a read!!!
Just a quick me post.
Finally made it to a TWW list. Had one 3day 8 cell embie transferred. Our other embie was only 4 cells so we've left it to see if it keeps growing and will make it to freeze. I don't think it will but you never know.
Better get to work before it's time to come home again.
Have a great one everyone and I'll catch up on past posts soon.
Sorry I wasn't very clear. This is actually first time I've done natural cycle so by no means an expert. I've had 3 BTs now on consecutive mornings, after the first one they knew I wasn't surging. Day 2 it got higher, and today it's higher again. However, I can't go in tomorrow so they have issued me with POAS at home, so will do that. If I have two lines I have to call them but think I will go back for BT on Sat to be sure (depends what POAS says).
Well, I don't know how you all do it. Read the posts and reply to everyone individually. I will try to do that as well when I get proficient at using this forum. Just reading through some of the posts I thought I would share my experience when I got pregnant with my little boy (own eggs) at 43. I went to Sydney to see a chinese doctor before the cycle started. He recommends that you have his medicine for at least 3 months before you go through a cycle. Anyway, he gave me natural chinese medicine, in the form of tablets that I had to take 3 times a day. There were 4 different ones and I had to take 11 of each 3 times each day. I lost weight because I was so full of these pills. I will never forget his words to me. Yes, I can definately make you pregnant. What I can't do is change the quality of your eggs. As it turned out I was only on these pills for 4 weeks before starting and thats when I fell pregnant. However, as already stated my little boy had lots of things wrong and he only made it to 17 weeks into the pregnancy. Anyway, just wondered if those of you who are having trouble a) getting eggs during pickup and b) fertilising and all that have tried this avenue of treatment. My FS tells all his "oldies" about me and the success which he was shocked at.
AFM - (see I am learning ) I went for a scan on Tuesday to check my lining and it was only 5mm. He was not happy but last time, when I fell pregnant with Billie, it was only 6.3 when he put the embies back in. So, another scan in the morning to see if it has improved. Started clexane, low dose asprin, and on 7 prognova tablets per day since then.
I also go to acupuncture twice a week.
AndyGee - I just PM'd you with my recent Hyst and Lap experience.
Nim - Thanks for the info.....with knowledge comes power!!!
Billiesmum - Good luck with tomorrows scan.
Wannabb - what a great idea, vouchers to an FS as gifts!!!!
AndyGee - I had a lap/hyst last year before my IVF. Prior to the procedures, I had no idea there was anything wrong with me. My FS found mild endo, plus polyps and fibroids, all of which he removed. He tried to put dye through my tubes but could not because my uterus was so blocked up. No wonder I couldn't get pregnant. My FS does these procedures as a matter of course before starting any fertility treatment. Sorry for TMI, but afterwards there was quite a bit of heavy bleeding, some shoulder discomfort from the gas but I have to say that the next day I was almost back to normal. The worst part for me was the stress of it all as I hadn't had a general anasthetic before and was terrified. Seems these procedures are a great step in cleaning out stuff and ruling out problems.
LILLY40 - Im sorry I didnt notice your happy news! just came in to say CONGRATULATIONS on your BFP! and I know the worry but ive got a good feeling all will be ok.
AFM - The counsellor is ringnig me today thank goodness as im not coping so well. Ive explained to hubby last night im not coping with the idea of it all being over. We discussed going again but we both dont know how much more we can take and are losing hope. I have a script for DHEA I can start once HCG goes to zero but not sure about it and side effects etc. Hubby cant help stressing during ivf he has admitted that to me and that makes it harder for us.
Hi Gardenia2. It is hard with all the BFN I have had without having positives turning into negatives. i wish it was easier for us all but especially for what must be your constant ups and downs. It is no wonder you are feeling depressed. I have started dhea this week and so far have no side effects. You can always start it and make decision about whether to continue ivf later as it supposedly takes 3 months to be effective. The info I got says it also helps with depression so that may be added bonus. it does not seem you cant get pregnant so is there any tests that have not been done yet or could you try the colorado protocol without testing to cover that base? Big hugs to you and good luck with counsellor.


Connor Caporicci can't buy a lighter or pipe to smoke his medical-grade cannabis. Caporicci, a 19-year-old business management major, is a medical cannabis user with a legal prescription for the drug.
This is the dilemma some 18 to 20-year-old legal card holders are facing now that California has begun enforcing its new Tobacco 21 Law. Passed in May, SBX2-7 has made it illegal for anyone to provide or sell tobacco products to someone under the age of 21. The law makes an exemption for military personnel, but leaves the state's younger medical cannabis patients struggling to get the resources they need.
Retailers of pipes, bongs, vaporizers, rolling papers and other products traditionally used to smoke tobacco and marijuana have stayed under the legal radar by selling such items as tobacco products only, unless they operate as medical cannabis dispensaries. But not all dispensaries carry paraphernalia and some patients may not be close enough to one when they accidentally shatter their glass. Even smoking out of an apple requires fire.
Although Caporicci doesn't smoke cigarettes, he finds it "annoying" that the right has been taken away from 18-year-old adults.
Under the California Compassionate Use Act, adults 18 years and older can obtain prescriptions for medical cannabis to treat a myriad of health issues, including ailments like old injuries, anxiety and relief from cancer symptoms. Caporicci often relies on friends over the age of 21 to buy him a lighter when needed, but those friends could face penalties under SBX2-7 as well. Patients like Connor find themselves legally able to get their medicine but having to break laws to obtain a means to consume the medication.
According to the law, people under 21 can't be cited for using or simple possession of tobacco products, but both retailers and the general public can be penalized for selling or giving anything deemed a tobacco product to anyone underage. The law is enforced by the California Department of Public Health, which works with investigators and local authorities and is given license in the bill's language to conduct sting operations.
That information suggests that retailers may not be in violation if selling specific tobacco products to underage customers with valid cards being tracked by their registry, although confirmation had not yet been received by the time this article was published.
The tobacco age law passed by the legislature and signed by the governor, which doesn't require voter approval. But Californians will likely have an opportunity to vote on marijuana legalization for recreational use under Proposition 64 during the November election. However, that measure is aimed to legalize recreational usage for adults over 21. For now, it seems as though an amendment to SBX2-7 is the only solution for underage cannabis patients, but no such initiatives have been publicly discussed.
The author of the bill, Senator Ed Hernandez, was unavailable for comment at the time this article was written, although his webpage explaining the bill states that "medical marijuana is regulated separately from tobacco, so it does not fall under this law." However, SBX2-7 doesn't explicitly mention the words medical, medicinal, marijuana or cannabis.
An employee at Sunshine Coast, a popular tobacco/smoke shop on Haight Street, confirmed that they will not allow anyone under the age of 21 to enter the store, even if they present a valid medical cannabis card.
"It's just a grey area that hasn't been defined," said the employee, who preferred not to provide their name.


text:
Wales boss Gemma Grainger hopes women's game capitalises on heightened interest after Euro 2022
Wales head coach Gemma Grainge. Photo Bradley Collyer PA Images
Gemma Grainger has said that Wales will benefit from more attention for women's international football in the UK as a result of Euro 2022 being hosted and won by England, but said that they are very much focused on their own journey.
Wales, who have not yet qualified for a major women's tournament, will secure a 2023 World Cup play-off spot by taking four points from their final two qualifiers next month.
A record crowd – over 8,500 tickets have already been sold – is already guaranteed for the final fixture with Slovenia at Cardiff City Stadium, with interest in the women's game in Wales reaching new heights.
"Without doubt the Euros has massively transformed the visibility of women's football in the UK," head coach Grainger told the PA news agency while speaking on behalf of M&S Food's Eat Well, Play Well campaign at a grassroots session in Barry.
"Look at the television figures and the crowds, it's huge for women's football.
"But England are on their journey, and we are very much on our journey with the investment we have made as an association to the national team.
"We want to be a team that qualifies and competes in tournaments, and it's important we do what's right for our country.
"The legacy of the Euros has to be the visibility of the women's game and how we capitalise on that interest.
"We have to make sure we use that opportunity to grow the game."
'Differences'
Middlesbrough-born Grainger said that she felt huge pride at England's Euros triumph having coached so many of Sarina Wiegman's players during her 11 years at the Football Association.
And she is excited by what the Lionesses' success means for the development of the Women's Super League and how Wales can tap into that future.
"The WSL and the Championship are arguably two of the best domestic leagues in the world," Grainger said.
"To have that on our doorstep is a competitive advantage, and I think the league will get better because the investment will get better off the back of the Euros.
"The biggest thing we saw from Euros was the commercialism and marketability of the game.
"The sponsors invested into the game seeing how strong it is.
"Having 87.000 people there with no segregation of fans shows the differences in the game (to the men's game).
"The women's game has got some unique differences, a real difference to the target audience.
"When people see their teams playing in the WSL this season we'll see that diversity in the crowd."
George Atkinson
Why are the Welsh press trying to tie interest in womens football in Wales to a foreign country? As far as I am aware, only England care that they won the tournament, not everyone else.


Bruce Bay Cottages & Lighthouse offers a Lighthouse Package for lighthouse enthusiasts. Sleep where the Lighthouse Keeper slept in the 1907 McKay Island Lighthouse. Historical tour upon arrival includes climbing to the widow walk for a panoramic view of Lake Huron's North Channel. View the original journals and photographs of the five "Keepers of the Light". The Lighthouse was built to serve the timber industry in Bruce Mines and today it guides the freighters into Trap Rock and the recreational boats into the marina in Bruce Mines. Today the lighthouse is a modernized housekeeping lighthouse for guests to enjoy with a panoramic view of Lake Huron.


The hotel's Italian restaurant is top notch, and serves authentic Mediterranean cuisine. The hotel also have a Dine by Design programme, whereby guests can choose what they want to eat and where, be it on a sunset wildlife drive or on the beach. Alternatively, guests can also eat at any of the hotel's nearby sister properties, comprising of a further five choices.
Isabel is our 'Al Yamm Villas By Anantara' expert and as a seasoned traveller has the inside track on the most memorable adventures.


Belbal balloons are manufactured in Europe from natural latex. They are 100% biodegradeable and are the best selling balloons in the world.
The 10″ size refers to the diameter of the balloons, measured across the middle of the balloons when fully inflated, which in this case is between 9.5″ & 10″.
These balloons are suitable for filling with air or helium however we wouldn't recommend blowing them up with your mouth, there are balloon pumps available that will make this much easier for you, and better for both you and the balloon. When inflating with helium they need approx 0.01 cubic metres of helium (just over .35 cubic ft) so you will get between 35 & 40 of these balloons out of a larger disposable helium tank. When inflated fully with helium they should float for over 12 hours although float time for helium balloons does depend on the conditions, especially temperature.
Belbal 10″ balloons come in a wide range of colours in a standard matt finish. You can see the huge colour range available here.
While we are adding new products to our new store (which is completely mobile friendly) we still have our full range of products listed in our old store. You can find the 10″ latex balloons here.
We have a strong affiliation with Belbal. They not only have a large warehouse in the UK but their latex balloons are manufactured in Europe. They are also ideal for custom printing and these are the balloons that Best Balloons uses for their personalised and branded balloons.
Belbal only make latex balloons, the majority of their range is plain colours, these balloons are very popular and they make them in a range of finishes and sizes although not all colours are available in all sizes.
Their 3 finishes are a standard, matt, opaque finish which they call their pastel range and is available in 27 colours. A transparent finish called crystals in a range of 10 colours and a metallic (pearl) finish in 28 different colours.
We don't stock all the colours all of the time but we can order them for you in full bags (quantity per bag depends on size) and even get then dispatched to you on a next day delivery if you need them in a hurry and order them before midday.
The Belbal range starts with a small 5″ balloon which is only available in the metallics range. These balloons aren't suitable for helium because they are just too small to hold enough helium to enable them to float.
The 2ft & 3ft naturally round balloons are available in 19 pastel colours, 2 crystals & 21 metallics. There are some additional colours that are available in large quantities (500 balloons – all the same colour) – 8 pastels, 8 crystals & 6 metallics.
I'm not going to say that we never have stock issues with Belbal balloons (although it is rare) but we are not restricted by the long delivery times that can occur with balloons manufactured in the States and Canada that can sometimes occur when something sells quicker than normally expected – which happened quite recently with 2ft balloons when they appeared in an article in a popular magazine and a lot more people got to know about the terrific look you can achieve with these naturally round balloons. However because they are manufactured in Europe it was just a case of the UK warehouse team sending a van over to Belgium to pick up more stock however if this had been a Qualatex product we would have been reliant on the American warehouse flying them over instead of sending them by sea – and to be honest they don't like to do that if they can help it because of the prohibitive cost.


text:
High School Trips
Individual Trips
University Trips
Rabat, Morocco
Yelagiri, India
Back to Volunteer Abroad Blog
"Yes, I made mistakes, but they didn't prevent me from holding an actual conversation, and I cannot convey how satisfying communicating successfully in a foreign language was for me."
August 28, 2012 UBELONG
Radhika Rani is a junior in biochemistry at Muhlenberg College. She recently served for four weeks at the "medical assistance" Volunteer Abroad in Cusco. Radhika is a Certified Medical Technician (EMT) and the president of the Neuroscience Club at her university. Originally from India, Radhika moved with her family to the United States when she was three. She has volunteered as an EMT at an ambulance serving a hospital near her home in New Jersey, but this was Radhika's first experience volunteering abroad. Radhika has traveled many times back to India but this was her first time in Latin America. Here is her interview.
What motivated you to seek this volunteer opportunity in Cusco?
Prior to my experience in Cusco, I had participated in various types of volunteering in the US all through middle school, high school, and now college, for it was something that just became a part of my life. My volunteer experience ranged from performing clerical tasks for the American Cancer Society to volunteering as an EMT for my hometown ambulance and rescue squad.
I had been searching for a new type of volunteer experience and I thought volunteering abroad might be the best option. I knew I wanted to go to a Latin American country because I had an intermediate level of Spanish and I thought it would be a great experience to gain somewhat of a degree of fluency. Cusco appealed to me in particular because I recognized it as a subject of my high school Spanish classes, as well as the fact that it offered opportunities to volunteer in the medical field. Lastly, Cusco's scenery is to die for, and not to mention that it's located relatively close to Machu Picchu!
What are the three most important characteristics of a successful international volunteer in Cusco?
In my opinion, individuals who are interested in volunteering abroad must be open-minded, adaptable, and proactive. You can't exactly anticipate what you will encounter when you first arrive in a foreign country, but what matters is that you clear your mind of all judgment and expectations in order to make the most out of your experience.
What did you learn about yourself in Cusco?
After my experience in Cusco, I truly can say that I thrive on basic human interactions with others. I'm a conversationalist. When I first arrived at the Lima airport and was required to speak Spanish with an airline employee, I immediately became overwhelmed. I was able to understand what he was saying, but I couldn't find the right words thus making it impossible for me to continue the dialogue.
At first, I couldn't let go of my personal discomfort during conversation, but as my days in Cusco progressed I gradually was able to let go of my reservations and stopped getting caught in the diction of my sentences. Rather, whether I was talking to my peers, the local staff, the hospital staff who I worked with, patients, or complete strangers in the Plaza de Armas, I just spoke whatever words came to mind. Yes, I made several mistakes, but they didn't prevent me from holding an actual conversation, and I cannot convey how satisfying communicating successfully in a foreign language was for me. I anticipate continuing volunteering abroad in different countries, as well as learning other languages and interacting with people from cultures different from my own.
Your turn to join the best: apply now
Tips, opinions and updates
Trips that are customized
UBELONG in the press
Volunteer with a company group
Volunteer with a high school group
Volunteer with a university group
Volunteers 50 years old & up
Volunteers from Australia
Volunteers from Canada
Volunteers from France
Volunteers from Germany
Volunteers from Hong Kong
Volunteers from Italy
Volunteers from Portugal
Volunteers from Singapore
Volunteers from Spain
Volunteers from the UK
Volunteers from the US
"I wanted a deeper more meaningful experience in my travel."
"Everyone was very welcoming and happy to see us."
"They showed me the importance of hard work and another insight into life."
"I very quickly felt as a part of the team."
"We all have the capacity to choose to act with compassion and respect."
Be the first to hear about news
Copyright © 2020 UBELONG. All rights reserved.
Apply How to Apply Reviews