text:
Digital Concierge
Dublin, Ireland +353 1 908 1404 [email protected]
Affiliate means an entity that controls, is controlled by or is under common control with a party, where "control" means ownership of 50% or more of the shares, equity interest or other securities entitled to vote for election of directors or other managing authority.
Company (referred to as either "the Company", "We", "Us" or "Our" in this Agreement) refers to Swan Technology Consulting Ltd, 30 Trimleston Gardens, Dublin, A94 DW77.
Content means any content on this website whether text, images, logo, trademarks, visual design, etc.
Country refers to: Ireland
Terms and Conditions (also referred as "Terms") mean these Terms and Conditions that form the entire agreement between You and the Company regarding the use of the Service.
Third-party Social Media Service means any services or content (including data, information, products or services) provided by a third-party that may be displayed, included or made available by the Service.
Website refers to Swan Consulting, accessible from https://swan.consulting/
By accessing or using the Service You agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. If You disagree with any part of these Terms and Conditions then You may not access the Service.
You acknowledge that the Content is our exclusive property and You do not have the right to copy any part or all of it for any reason whatsoever, except by express written permission granted by the Company.
Upon termination, Your right to use the Service will cease immediately.
Notwithstanding any damages that You might incur, the entire liability of the Company and any of its suppliers under any provision of this Terms and Your exclusive remedy for all of the foregoing shall be limited to the amount actually paid by You through the Service or 100 EUR if You haven't purchased anything through the Service.
Some states do not allow the exclusion of implied warranties or limitation of liability for incidental or consequential damages, which means that some of the above limitations may not apply. In these states, each party's liability will be limited to the greatest extent permitted by law.
"AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" Disclaimer
The Service is provided to You "AS IS" and "AS AVAILABLE" and with all faults and defects without warranty of any kind. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, the Company, on its own behalf and on behalf of its Affiliates and its and their respective licensors and service providers, expressly disclaims all warranties, whether express, implied, statutory or otherwise, with respect to the Service, including all implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title and non-infringement, and warranties that may arise out of course of dealing, course of performance, usage or trade practice. Without limitation to the foregoing, the Company provides no warranty or undertaking, and makes no representation of any kind that the Service will meet Your requirements, achieve any intended results, be compatible or work with any other software, applications, systems or services, operate without interruption, meet any performance or reliability standards or be error free or that any errors or defects can or will be corrected.
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You represent and warrant that (i) You are not located in a country that is subject to the United States government embargo, or that has been designated by the United States government as a "terrorist supporting" country, and (ii) You are not listed on any United States government list of prohibited or restricted parties.
Except as provided herein, the failure to exercise a right or to require performance of an obligation under this Terms shall not effect a party's ability to exercise such right or require such performance at any time thereafter nor shall be the waiver of a breach constitute a waiver of any subsequent breach.
We reserve the right, at Our sole discretion, to modify or replace these Terms at any time. If a revision is material We will make reasonable efforts to provide at least 30 days' notice prior to any new terms taking effect. What constitutes a material change will be determined at Our sole discretion.
By continuing to access or use Our Service after those revisions become effective, You agree to be bound by the revised terms. If You do not agree to the new terms, in whole or in part, please stop using the website and the Service.
If you have any questions about these Terms and Conditions, You can contact us by email: [email protected]
© 2020 Swan Technology Consulting Ltd | All Rights Reserved | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions


This text summary is provided courtesy of the BioSharing project.
The ImmPort system serves as a long-term, sustainable archive of immunology research data generated by investigators mainly funded through the NIAID/DAIT. The core component of the ImmPort system is an extensive data warehouse containing an integration of experimental data and clinical trial data. The ImmPort system also provides data analysis tools and an immunology-focused ontology. The analytical tools created and integrated as part of the ImmPort system are available to any researcher within ImmPort after registration and approval by DAIT. Additionally, the data provided mainly by NIAID/DAIT funded researchers in ImmPort will be available to all registered users after the appropriate embargo time.


text:
<?php

namespace Gelf\Transport;

use Gelf\MessageInterface;
use Gelf\Encoder\CompressedJsonEncoder;
use Gelf\Encoder\JsonEncoder as DefaultEncoder;
use RuntimeException;

/**
 * HttpTransport allows the transfer of GELF-messages to an compatible
 * GELF-HTTP-backend as described in
 * http://www.graylog2.org/resources/documentation/sending/gelfhttp
 *
 * It can also act as a direct publisher
 *
 * @author Benjamin Zikarsky <benjamin@zikarsky.de>
 */
class HttpTransport extends AbstractTransport
{
    /**
     * @var string
     */
    protected $host = "127.0.0.1";

    /**
     * @var int
     */
    protected $port = 12202;

    /**
     * @var string
     */
    protected $path = "/gelf";

    /**
     * @var StreamSocketClient
     */
    protected $socketClient;

    /**
     * Class constructor
     *
     * @param string $host when NULL or empty default-host is used
     * @param int    $port when NULL or empty default-port is used
     * @param string $path when NULL or empty default-path is used
     */
    public function __construct($host = null, $port = null, $path = null)
    {
        $this->host = $host ?: $this->host;
        $this->port = $port ?: $this->port;
        $this->path = $path ?: $this->path;

        $this->socketClient = new StreamSocketClient("tcp", $this->host, $this->port);
        $this->messageEncoder = new DefaultEncoder();
    }

    /**
     * Sends a Message over this transport
     *
     * @param MessageInterface $message
     *
     * @return int the number of bytes sent
     */
    public function send(MessageInterface $message)
    {
        $messageEncoder = $this->getMessageEncoder();
        $rawMessage = $messageEncoder->encode($message);

        $request = array(
            sprintf("POST %s HTTP/1.1", $this->path),
            sprintf("Host: %s:%d", $this->host, $this->port),
            sprintf("Content-Length: %d", strlen($rawMessage)),
            "Content-Type: application/json",
            "Connection: Keep-Alive",
            "Accept: */*"
        );

        if ($messageEncoder instanceof CompressedJsonEncoder) {
            $request[] = "Content-Encoding: gzip";
        }

        $request[] = ""; // blank line to separate headers from body
        $request[] = $rawMessage;

        $request = implode($request, "\r\n");

        $byteCount = $this->socketClient->write($request);
        $headers = $this->readResponseHeaders();

        // if we don't have a HTTP/1.1 connection, or the server decided to close the connection
        // we should do so as well. next read/write-attempt will open a new socket in this case.
        if (strpos($headers, "HTTP/1.1") !== 0 || preg_match("!Connection:\s*Close!i", $headers)) {
            $this->socketClient->close();
        }

        if (!preg_match("!^HTTP/1.\d 202 Accepted!i", $headers)) {
            throw new RuntimeException(
                sprintf(
                    "Graylog-Server didn't answer properly, expected 'HTTP/1.x 202 Accepted', response is '%s'",
                    trim($headers)
                )
            );
        }

        return $byteCount;
    }

    private function readResponseHeaders()
    {
        $chunkSize = 1024; // number of bytes to read at once
        $delimiter = "\r\n\r\n"; // delimiter between headers and rsponse
        $response = "";

        do {
            $chunk = $this->socketClient->read($chunkSize);
            $response .= $chunk;
        } while (false === strpos($chunk, $delimiter) && strlen($chunk) > 0);

        $elements = explode($delimiter, $response, 2);
        return $elements[0];
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Anyway, I had to improvise. So I wrapped tape around and around the thread until the tape created a flexible little needle to sew with.
who else?! The dog, Annie!
I'm not sure Annie loved it, but she did look elegant.
How have you solved problems creatively this week?
Flannery filled the tiny purse with special sea shells from her Grammie's collection, and she pulled out one shell at a time to look at during church. She just loves to collect tiny natural things--acorns, sticks, leaves, flowers--she is a collector of "nature," as she says.
So, thanks goes to my mom for saving a few of my favorite clothes. I think Flannery felt fancy and special wearing a "mom" hand-me-down.
This is her on the porch before church. What a cutie.
What tiny things did you love as a child?
Last week, Flanna and her sweet cousins participated in vacation bible school at my sister's church. The girls really seemed to enjoy themselves. They did a show for all the parents at the end of the week, and it was really adorable. It had been a busy day for me, a busy day for my sister, a busy day for my husband, a busy day for my cousin and her kiddos, and just a generally crazy week for lots of us, but I really tried to check all my thoughts and worries at the door and just focus on the performance. And what a performance it was!
The girls (almost all of the cousins around here are girls!) sang songs that my sister and her friends at VBS had taught all the children, along with sign language and hand movements for most of them. It was amazing to see all they'd learned in just a week. After living far from our family for the past two years, it kind of got me teary eyed sitting there in the crowd next to my cousin, watching our girls up there on the stage together with my sister while Robi ran around the sanctuary snapping photos of each of them. It was really a moment of family for me, which I've missed.
And the best part was that, when the kids sang "God loves YOU!" and pointed, Flanna pointed at my sister every time and just grinned at her.
So many sweet moments, and I'm trying to take note of them as this busy life flies by.
How do you prompt yourself to be in the moment more often?
How we love our friends in Athens!
We visited some friends in Athens this weekend, and were just so blessed to see so many friends who we love dearly! We gathered at a party, and then spent a bit of time downtown at the Athfest Music Festival, too. At the party, we saw several friends from out of town that we didn't know would be there. And at Athfest, we ran into several old friends we didn't expect to see. It was like an impromptu reunion!
It was just so good to see our friends growing in their lives. Friends who've adopted now happily settling into their new roles as parents. Friends who've gotten married and are so sweetly in love. Friends who've finished grad school moving on to exciting new phases of their lives. Friends whose kids who've grown into high schoolers, and college students even! Friends who've been accepted to neat grad school programs moving all over the world. Friends who just got their first pet together as a married couple. It was sweet to see the life stories of our friends continuing in such beautiful ways all around the globe.
And our story is continuing, too!
My new job is really rather exciting! I haven't blogged much this past week, because I just had my very first full week of work at the Atlanta Speech School! I'm working with their professional development team to create an institute for training birth to three daycare teachers on language and literacy. I'll be doing follow-up coaching for the teachers throughout the school year, too, and will take data on student and teacher progress to see whether the professional development is making a positive difference. It's exciting work that I'm really passionate about, and I feel very lucky to be a part of it.
Here are some cute photos of our Athens friend-o-rama-reunion experience. Fun stuff!
Lauren & Jason, moving to England!
These girls are so grown up now! They entertained Flanna at the party.
The newlyweds, Constantine & Sarah!
Alex, the new dad!, and Dan, moving to Boston soon!
Who did you connect with this weekend?
On Friday, Robi took Flannery to explore the city and see a puppet show at the Center for Puppetry Arts. They had a great time together. I'm so glad Flanna will have these sweet memories of special times with her daddy. He's such a good example for the kiddos in our life.
Today, Flanna was telling her aunt Anne that "R-O-B-E-R-T" spells Robert. Anne said, "Oh, so that's your dad's name? But what do you call him?" And Flanna said, "I just call him Daddy-O."
What special times have you created for the children in your life?
We celebrated Fathers' Day for Robi with our annual family fishing trip. Our friend Clark let us fish at his beautiful pond, and we caught so many fish that we lost count! Now that's a good day!
About to weigh the big one!
Flanna cooing to her little wormies.
How did you celebrate Fathers' Day?
This morning, Flannery and her Poppa found a turtle out in the yard. Flanna made it a nice little habitat for the day (we'll release it this evening) and has been watching its every move. After it sat hiding in its shell for about 45 minutes, we finally got smart and offered it some fruit and lettuce, and it started to explore. Flannery named the turtle Fuschia, and Fuschia has seemed to most enjoy laying in her water bowl.
It pokes its head out.
And that is about all Fuschia seems to want to do. Sounds like a pretty good life to me.
What did you love to study/observe when you were a kid? I used to love to watch my dogs, and to follow them wherever they'd go in the woods. They found the neatest cool mossy places, creeks, and cool rocks to lie on.
Moving is such hard work! But we did it--we made it to Georgia, and we unloaded our stuff! We're storing our furniture at a friends's house and are staying with family for the summer while we house-hunt. So, at least for a few weeks, we're done with lugging heavy boxes around, yay!
This morning, I got up early and took the dogs outside for a bit, and listening to the birds chattering in the woods, I was just transported right back to my childhood here in Georgia--how I'd wake up with windows open to a slight breeze, sun streaming through, and the busy sounds of the forest floating in.
It's so nice to be back home. And the best part is all the time we're getting to spend with family and good friends. I know we'll look back on this transition summer--living with family, looking for a home of our own-- one day and will treasure the closeness we got to have with our family. Once we have our own place, we'll have to plan times to see them once more, and the little everyday moments of shared experience won't be so common.
"I want to be champion of evening, to forget not the beauty of the in-between."
I often try to rush things, to get to the next step, to keep growing and accomplishing and getting things settled and determined and decided. But sometimes, there is also beauty in the in-between.
What transition are you appreciating (or maybe not so much appreciating yet?) right now? A new baby, recovery from surgery, moving, traveling, a new job? Let the in-between be just that, and enjoy it!
Everything is cuter when you're four. Your tiny socks. Your sparkly shoes. Your skirt that can double as a tutu when you dress up.
And yes, even your moving boxes. I mean, how cute is that?
Tomorrow's the big day that we load everything up! The movers are coming to help us load at 9:30. I hope we'll be ready! Wish us luck!
Our school garden has done so well! It's still a work in progress, but our herbs and flowers are flourishing, and the pond is looking beautiful!
Last week, the students and I made bruschetta with some fresh basil from the garden. They had planted the basil, then picked it, washed it, plucked leaves from the stems, and ate it up! It was so neat to see little picky eaters eating whole leaves of fresh basil at a time! During our snack, I kept reiterating--"Guys, we GREW this basil ourselves!" I think they thought it was pretty cool. Almost all of them went back for seconds, thirds, even fourths!
Today was the 5th grade "moving up" ceremony at my school. I have to admit I got a little teary-eyed watching some of my sweet students singing songs and walking across the stage to accept awards. I'm so proud of them, and have been honored to get to be a part of their school experience.
Enjoy the fruits of your labor. Be it plants growing in a garden, or kids who now know how to write an essay as they move on to middle school. Take time to revel in the little successes, the tiny accomplishments of your sphere of influence. And then plant another seed, and start again.
What little success have you had recently?
As I was sorting through the zillions of boxes of memorabilia I've lugged from state to state all these years, I found this neat little book I had made when I was 8 or 9, called "A Little Book of Happyness." Inside were pictures I had drawn of my whole family, lists of my cousins and friends, and little stories or poems I had written.
It was pretty much my current blog! Cute little whimsies about happiness and my life.
Perhaps this interest I have in happiness is deep-rooted, just part of who I am. Pretty neat, huh?
What parts of your personality have remained the same throughout your lifetime so far?
AND, to top it all off, there was wonderful food! I brought these cute tomato/basil kabobs (with basil from the garden!) that my friend Rachel introduced me to years ago. They were a hit!
So, there's another thing I'm going to miss. My wonderful coworkers (and their wonderful potluck food!). My next job has a lot to live up to!
My New Favorite Thing in the World, and Stress!
My Life in Pictures: Party Time!


Everybody knows Jackie Chan. He's a martial artist, an actor, a filmmaker, a singer, and more. What he is not is a bus stop in Sichuan, China.
As noted by Austin Ramzy (via Eric Jou) on Twitter, the bus stop named "The University Jackie Chan Campus Station" is apparently a computerized translation fail.
The institution is Sichuan Normal University, which is the oldest teacher college (aka normal university) in the region.
While you might think the sign looks Photoshopped, Chengdu Daily confirmed that it's a real mistake and reports that the goof will be replaced.
I hope the new sign reads "The University Sammo Hung Campus Station." As it should.


Meliá Hotels International, the leading Spanish hotel company with more than 380 hotels worldwide, announced last month the grand opening of its two new hotels: Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort, an adults-only resort, and Meliá Caribe Beach Resort, a resort for everyone. After splitting into two different resorts, both hotels have now opened their doors and offer a wide variety of delicious dining options and specialized activities, created to enhance the guest experience and give this destination a new level of luxury.
Álvaro Tejeda Schroeder, Regional Vice President for America, explains: "By offering two different resorts, with specialized services, we can meet the needs of all guests and improve their experience. Our guests demand more and more adult-only options as well as services specially designed for families, so we are delighted to be able to offer tailor-made stays ".
The Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort, an adults-only hotel, offers luxury services such as THE LEVEL, the most exclusive service concept of Meliá Hotels & Resorts, and magnificent views of its tropical gardens and Playa Bávaro. The resort has 544 rooms that include both standard junior suites and 136 THE LEVEL category suites, and also offers superior dining experiences, endless activities for adults and access to the hotel's YHI Spa, designed to achieve maximum relaxation. THE LEVEL includes preferential services, such as an exclusive VIP lounge for the registration and departure of guests, an exclusive pool, access to the exclusive Quimera Restaurant & Rooftop restaurant, free internet access, as well as premium drinks, snacks and coffee and tea service for the whole day. The LEVEL concierge can also make preferential reservations for a la carte restaurants, treatments at the spa, use of the golf course and much more.
The gastronomic options at the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort include seven different restaurant concepts, ranging from Mediterranean to Italian cuisine: Casa Nostra, an elegant restaurant with Italian specialties and grilled dishes; Muoi, an oriental restaurant that offers Dim Sum, Vietnamese, sushi and Robatta cuisine; Mosaic, epicenter of the hotel's gastronomic experience, where Mediterranean cuisine is served in an informal setting decorated with local and art deco elements; Rumba, an open-air restaurant with an impressive view of the sea that offers breakfast and international buffet lunch; and Replay, a sports bar with a wide variety of cocktails.
The Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort hotel offers a wide range of activities for guests to exercise their body and mind. These activities include relaxing in the sun, either on the beach or in one of the hotel's large pools, water activities such as Latin dance lessons in the water, cultural workshops, team sports and gymnastics sessions. The hotel's luxury services also include access to the 18-hole Cocotal golf course, designed by the famous golf course architect, José Gancedo.
Specializing in activities, services and amenities for the whole family, the Meliá Caribe Beach Resort offers a wide range of rooms designed to adapt to the needs of different generations. With 611 rooms including 154 THE LEVEL suites, 125 Family Room Beachside rooms and 332 Premium Beachside and Deluxe rooms, the hotel distinguishes itself by combining the essence of the Caribbean with modern spaces of a luxury all-inclusive hotel. With the aim of providing greater comfort and well-being, the rooms are decorated in light colors, with touches of wood and a general air of elegance. In keeping with the environment of the destination, the design of the hotel includes amazing gardens with native flowers and wildlife like turtles, for the enjoyment of the whole family.
The Meliá Caribe Beach Resort hotel opens with eight restaurant options and also presents a new experience that allows families to take advantage of the proximity to the Meliá Punta Cana Beach Resort, offering 13 different restaurant options for guests in general and 15 options for THE LEVEL guests. Among these options is the restaurant Riviera, exclusive access for guests THE LEVEL and open all day, which offers international cuisine combined with local flavors. Other establishments open to all guests are the Alma restaurant, which combines traditional Spanish recipes with more innovative techniques; Barefoot, grill and informal bar in front of the beach; Merkado, overlooking the beach and family atmosphere, tables for large groups, children's area and ice cream shop. Throughout this year other additional options will be added, such as the Tartufo restaurant, with Italian and Mediterranean proposals; Bazaar, an a la carte restaurant with "food trucks" and "stalls" of grilled dishes typical of American cuisine; and the O Grille restaurant, with grilled specialties and finger food, as well as picnic-style seating.
Designed for family vacations, the resort offers a variety of activities for all ages, access to Playa Bavaro and several large pools, an area with popular games and virtual reality consoles, as well as the interactive water park "Splash Island" ", recently opened. The Splash Water Park of the Meliá Caribe Beach has slides, SplashPad, waterfalls, an interactive pool and several play areas that will guarantee maximum fun for the whole family. As in all hotels of Meliá Hotels & Resorts, the services include a children's area called "Kids Zone", which allows the little ones to enjoy fun slides and participate in activities such as the "Mini Olympics", or use their imagination to Become brave explorers of this new environment immersed in nature.
With the inauguration of these two new hotels, the Company continues its investment and commitment in the Dominican Republic, expanding its international luxury sector and making available to its customers a wide range of personalized options and experiences. The different brands of Meliá Hotels International, with the different values, legacies and personalities that characterize them, are located in the most emblematic destinations and the most remote paradises in the world.


A general optimism prevails in the United States and Europe that the economies have finally turned the corner and growth is resuming. In the U.S., automobile sales are up and the housing industry has been improving, but there are many negatives which show overall optimism is unwarranted. In Europe, too, there have been modest improvements—some negative growth factors have become less negative—and there is a general feeling that the bailouts of Greece and other countries are working well. Below we explain some less favorable facts about the U.S. and Europe which cannot be ignored. They pose continuing problems.
The rate of economic growth declined over the past year to 1.6% from 2.8%. The employment figures released on September 6 showed August added 169,000 jobs, not enough to keep up with the growth in population. Moreover, the figures for June and July were revised downward by 74,000 jobs. June figures were also revised downward a month ago as were those for May. At the recent rate of hiring, employment won't get back to pre-recession levels for more than eight years. Of the new jobs created in August, a disproportionate number were low-paying ones in retail sales and restaurants.
Unemployment declined in August from 7.4% to 7.3%, but this was mostly due to the increase in the number of people who had stopped looking for work because they don't believe they can find a job. If they were counted as unemployed, the unemployment rate would be near 10%. There were also 7.9 million Americans who wanted full-time work but could only obtain part-time work. If these were included with those who have stopped looking for work, the rate would be 13.7%.
August was the 40th consecutive month in which more unemployed workers left the labor market than found jobs. Should we be asking "Is the economy going up or down?" In August the number of people reporting they had jobs—a separate survey from the payroll calculations of employment—fell by 115,000. Four years after the official end of the recession, in 2009, there are still 1.9 million fewer jobs than at the peak in 2008. And even though price inflation is now very low, workers' pay still isn't keeping up with it. According to Labor Department data, the average hourly pay for a non-government, non-supervisory worker, adjusted for price increases, declined to $8.77 from $8.85 at the end of the recession in 2009.
The labor participation rate includes those working plus those looking for work. In August this measurement was the lowest since 1978. This number has continued to decline throughout the so-called recovery from the recession. This recovery has been the slowest and longest from any recession in our history—in spite of the $831 billion stimulus program which was supposed to create economic growth.
One must question whether that stimulus program aided growth or retarded it. According to the Congressional Budget Office, every job created by the stimulus program cost the taxpayers between $500,000 and $4 million. Not only was the stimulus program ineffective, it added to the national debt, which retards future economic growth.
The euro-zone economy is still 3% smaller than in early 2008 when the economic crisis hit. In many countries far more businesses are failing than are being founded, and there is more firing than hiring. And countries who received bailouts are not doing as well as anticipated and may require further aid, adding to their debts, as we explain below.
In August, Greece reported budget data showing a surplus compared to last year's steep budget deficit. But the economy contracted by 4.6% in the second quarter, and unemployment was still over 27%. The country's GPD has declined for 20 straight quarters as the nation's recession drags on for six years.
German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble said Greece will need a third bailout in order to avert bankruptcy. Der Spiegel reported the German central bank expects new outside financial aid will be necessary for Greece by the beginning of 2014 at the latest.
Greece's debt-to-GDP ratio is expected to reach 176% this year, far above the 120% the International Monetary Fund accepted as "sustainable." But even the 120% level is double that of the European Union's monetary pact, which states member nations must limit their debt-to-GDP ratios to 60%.
The 120% level is highly suspect. As we pointed out in our book The Impending Monetary Revolution, the Dollar and Gold an IMF report in December 2011 said that a small shock to this "accident prone" program could send "debt on an ever increasing trajectory." A lower growth rate, smaller privatization receipts, higher interest rates than assumed, or a worse budget performance could leave Greece's debt-to-GDP at 159% in 2020, said the IMF. A report in 2011 by three economist at the Bank for International Settlements concluded that the threshold for sustainable debt was a debt-to-GDP ratio of 85%—not 120%—based on studies of 18 countries from 1980 to 2010. Remember, too, that it was the revelation that the Greek ratio had gone to 113.4% in 2009 that triggered the Greek crisis.
The IMF worries that without another bailout, Greece will be unable to repay what it owes the IMF from the previous bailout. The IMF now says Greece's longer-term debt targets cannot be met without forgiveness of some of the nation's debts. It insists it will not forgive any repayment of its loans to Greece but is pushing for the European countries who were partners in the bailout to do so—so that Greece will have enough money to repay the IMF's portion of the bailout! You can imagine how that has gone over with those countries! Germany, Finland, Austria and others have stated the IMF should take its share of any losses along with the euro-zone governments.
After declaring the need for additional debt relief for Greece, the recent IMF report noted: "Risks remain to the downside, mainly from lower growth and potential fiscal and privatization slippages." It emphasizes that the Greek government has failed in almost every instance to hold up its end of the bailout bargain. For example, privatization of state assets is now expected to yield €22 billion through 2020, less than half what was predicted in March 2012.
While Greece and other troubled countries have undertaken austerity measures that cut spending and reduce social benefits in order to salvage their economies, France's socialist President Hollande has done just the opposite. He increased the government budget deficit, raised the minimum wage, and lowered the minimum retirement age from 62 to 60, reversing the raise by former president Nicolas Sarkozy.
Hollande's government increased taxes by over €7 billion euros ($9.3 billion) and added €20 billion to the budget while cutting spending by only half that amount. Next year's budget proposes €6 billion in new taxes. Business investment has fallen every month since Hollande took office 15 months ago. A Markit Purchasing Managers Index over 50 shows economic growth, below 50 shows contraction. France's PMI dropped further, to 47.9 from 49.1. French unemployment, now above 10%, has increased for the 23rd month in a row. France's debt-to-GDP ratio, which was 31% in 1980, 57% in 1994 is now over 90%, the highest of any European country not receiving a bailout.
The IMF in August urged Hollande to scrap the new taxes, saying France's failure to grow the economy will have "significant outward spillovers" into other euro-zone economies.
Spain's GDP declined 0.1% in the second quarter. Though modest, this was the eighth consecutive quarterly contraction.
Spain's unemployment rate fell for the first time in two years. But the drop of almost a percentage point still leaves the rate above 26%—well over twice the euro-zone average. Furthermore, the decline doesn't really indicate an upturn in the economy because more people stopped looking for work than found jobs. Almost all the jobs created came from coastal areas where summer vacation jobs are concentrated. Jobs continued to be lost in sectors like manufacturing and construction.
Spain's debt-to-GDP ratio—which was only 36% in 2007 and Spain had a triple-A credit rating—is expected to be over 100% by 2015, according to the IMF.
Italy's debt-to-GDP ratio is on course to be over 130% for 2013. The nation would need an annual average economic growth of around 3% over the next 20 years just to reduce its debt-to-GDP ratio to 90%. How can this be done in a nation that since 1999 has averaged only 0.5% growth annually?
The number of Italians living below the poverty level has increased by 14% in the last two years.
Portugal would have to increase its average economic growth to as much as 6%—nine times its average since 1999—in order to cut its debt ratio to 90%.
Portugal needs €14 billion in 2013 and €15 billion in 2014 to repay creditors, according to the "troika" managing the bailout (the European Central Bank, the European Commission and the IMF). Portugal will need a second bailout on top of the original €78 billion of the first bailout.
Cyprus is widely expected to need more money. It's economy is in a free fall despite its €10 billion bailout. Analysts say the bailout forecast of an economic contraction of 8.7% this year is far too optimistic. Unemployment is already at 17.3%, well above the bailout forecast of 15.5%. While people are allowed to make limited cash withdrawals, 90% of the deposits at the nation's largest bank are frozen during restructuring. Capital controls isolate the country from the rest of the euro zone. Most small businesses are operating on a cash-only basis.
Nobody can ever get out of debt by borrowing successively larger sums to cover successively larger debts. Neither can governments. Eventually debts are repaid or the borrower goes bankrupt. In the U.S. the Federal Reserve prints money enabling the federal government to spend it today by borrowing from our children and grandchildren. They will be obligated to pay it, but they will never be able to do so. The federal gross national debt is now approaching $17 trillion. (It is projected to be $17.2 trillion by the end of 2013.) At $17 trillion, the U.S. debt-to-GDP ratio is 106%. According to the IMF, meeting America's obligations will require an immediate and permanent 35% increase in all taxes and a 35% cut in all government benefits. That's not going to happen. It can't happen. Instead America will be bankrupt. By 2025, entitlement spending and debt payments are projected to consume all federal revenue. And having the Fed print vastly more money to pay our obligations will not solve the problem; it will merely bring inflation that destroys the value of the dollar.
Harvard Professor Robert Barro, who has done extensive research on Keynesian multipliers, has written, "What few know is that there is no meaningful theoretical or empirical support for the Keynesian position." Obama's stimulus bill was based on a Keynesian multiplier of 1.5, meaning the GDP will increase by $1.5 for every dollar of additional government spending. This multiplier was stated by administration officials trying to sell the stimulus bill to Congress and the public, and it is stated specifically in the First Quarterly Report by the Council of Economic Advisors on the subject; but there is no evidence that multiplier is valid. Among other research on this subject, my book cites the work of Barro and Redlick, who found a multiplier effect of 0.4 to 0.7, and of Professor Gerald Scully, who found a multiplier of 0.46 in his analysis of 60 years of federal outlays. If the multiplier really were larger than 1.0, the GDP would rise even more than the rise in government spending! The U.S., Greece and other spendthrift countries wouldn't be going broke, they'd be getting richer the more they spent! The reality is that the multiplier is always less than 1.0. The money that is spent over and over again in the private sector from government programs always adds less to the GDP than the cost of the programs. If that money were not preempted by government stimulus spending, it would be spent (or saved/invested) multiple times in the private sector, too—and more effectively.
Hunter Lewis says, "Keynes completely ignores the issue of how you are investing. For him, not only is any investment equivalent to any other investment, but spending is equivalent to investment." You can see why this is appealing to Barrack Obama as it was to Franklin Roosevelt, who popularized Keynes' ideas.
All the world's central banks now operate on Keynesian principles. The Fed, the European Central Bank, and the central banks of Japan, Switzerland and China have printed an astounding $10 trillion since 2007, tripling the size of their combined balance sheets.
With uncertainty plaguing national economies and the future value of their money, people are continuing to turn to gold as a way for safeguarding their future. Two important trends in this are evident in the second quarter. The first, which is a continuation of a trend evident for some time, is a desire for the buyers of gold to take physical possession of it. This means a preference for physical possession of jewelry, coins and bars rather than holding gold ETFs, shares in gold mining companies, or coins or bars held in financial accounts. The second is the way increased private buying has more than made up for a decline in central bank buying.
After the sharp decline in April, gold prices seem to have bottomed. On balance, the second quarter showed very positive signs. Jewelry showed a multi-year high as lower prices generated a surge of demand from consumers, particularly in China and India. In China, demand hit a record 385.5 metric tons in the second quarter. That was double the figure from a year earlier and well above the 294.3 metric tons of the first quarter, which occurred before the big price drop in April. Overall, world gold jewelry demand increased 37% and reached 575.5t, the highest volume in five years and in value terms 20% higher than the second quarter 2012.
Gold demand in India in the second quarter was up 70% year on year to 310t despite continued government efforts to curb enthusiasm for the metal. Jewelry was up 52% to 188t, and retail bar and coin sales set a record at 122t, up 116%.
Worldwide, the second quarter showed record demand for coins and bars to 508t, up 56% in value terms. Counter to this, there were outflows from ETFs; however, SPDR Gold Trust, the largest gold ETF, in August reported the first net increase in purchases in two months.
The world's central banks' purchases of gold slowed to 71.1t, down 56% on the previous year but nevertheless marking the tenth consecutive quarter of purchases. I would have expected more central bank buying; however, it must be noted that China has not reported its central bank purchases of gold since 2009. Despite its silence, China is known to have added gold to its central bank holdings from mines it owns within the country as well as from foreign countries allowed to operate gold mines in China.


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Tag Archives: Feminist
Abortion debate: a secular case against legalized abortion
10/21/2020 Wintery Knight	2 Comments
Unborn baby scheming about being only two months old
Note: this post has a twin! Its companion post on a secular case against gay marriage is here.
Now, you may think that the view that the unborn deserve protection during pregnancy is something that you either take on faith or not. But I want to explain how you can make a case for the right to life of the unborn, just by using reason and evidence.
To defend the pro-life position, I think you need to sustain 3 arguments:
The unborn is a living being with human DNA, and is therefore human.
There is no morally-relevant difference between an unborn baby, and one already born.
None of the justifications given for terminating an unborn baby are morally adequate.
Now, the pro-abortion debater may object to point 1, perhaps by claiming that the unborn baby is either not living, or not human, or not distinct from the mother.
Defending point 1: Well, it is pretty obvious that the unborn child is not inanimate matter. It is definitely living and growing through all 9 months of pregnancy. (Click here for a video that shows what a baby looks like through all 9 months of pregnancy). Since it has human DNA, that makes it a human. And its DNA is different from either its mother or father, so it clearly not just a tissue growth of the father or the mother. More on this point at Christian Cadre, here. An unborn child cannot be the woman's own body, because then the woman would have four arms, four legs, two heads, four eyes and two different DNA signatures. When you have two different human DNA signatures, you have two different humans.
Secondly, the pro-abortion debater may try to identify a characteristic of the unborn that is not yet present or developed while it is still in the womb, and then argue that because the unborn does not have that characteristic, it does not deserve the protection of the law.
Defending point 2: You need to show that the unborn are not different from the already-born in any meaningful way. The main differences between them are: size, level of development, environment and degree of dependence. Once these characteristics are identified, you can explain that none of these differences provide moral justification for terminating a life. For example, babies inside and outside the womb have the same value, because location does not change a human's intrinsic value.
Additionally, the pro-abortion debater may try to identify a characteristic of the already-born that is not yet present or developed in the unborn, and then argue that because the unborn does not have that characteristic, that it does not deserve protection, (e.g. – sentience). Most of the these objections that you may encounter are refuted in this essay by Francis Beckwith. Usually these objections fall apart because they assume the thing they are trying to prove, namely, that the unborn deserves less protection than the already born.
Finally, the pro-abortion debater may conceded your points 1 and 2, and admit that the unborn is fully human. But they may then try to provide a moral justification for terminating the life of the unborn, regardless.
Defending point 3: I fully grant that it is sometimes justifiable to terminate an innocent human life, if there is a moral justification. Is there such a justification for abortion? One of the best known attempts to justify abortion is Judith Jarvis Thomson's "violinist" argument. This argument is summarized by Paul Manata, one of the experts over at Triablogue:
Briefly, this argument goes like this: Say a world-famous violinist developed a fatal kidney ailment and the Society of Music Lovers found that only you had the right blood-type to help. So, they therefore have you kidnapped and then attach you to the violinist's circulatory system so that your kidneys can be used to extract the poison from his. To unplug yourself from the violinist would be to kill him; therefore, pro-lifers would say a person has to stay attached against her will to the violinist for 9 months. Thompson says that it would be morally virtuous to stay plugged-in. But she asks, "Do you have to?" She appeals to our intuitions and answers, "No."
Manata then goes on to defeat Thomson's proposal here, with a short, memorable illustration, which I highly recommend that you check out. More info on how to respond to similar arguments is here.
Here is the best book for beginners on the pro-life view.
For those looking for advanced resources, Francis Beckwith, a professor at Baylor University, published the book Defending Life, with Cambridge University Press, 2007.
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What the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett communicates to secular left feminists
09/29/2020 Wintery Knight	14 Comments
Amy Coney Barrett, her husband and her 7 children in the Oval Office
Here's an article from The Federalist by my favorite Federalist writer, Joy Pullmann, where she lists 9 feminist lies that were smashed by the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett:
Women Need Abortion to Succeed
Children Make You Unhappy
Women Must Repress Their Fertility to Succeed
Religious People and Conservatives Are Anti-Sex
Women Don't Need Men
Christianity Oppresses Women
Conservatives Hate Women
Women Should Prioritize Career Over Family
Women Are Oppressed
The article is excellent. I will just focus on the one part that I thought was the most interesting:
Marriage is the epitome of the cooperation of the sexes, yet the left treats it as unnecessary at best and harmful at worst. The Black Lives Matter organization, for example, which has been supported by millions in donations and thousands of endorsements from CEOs and Democrat politicians, in its policy platform openly attacked "heteronormative" "nuclear families."
Gloria Steinem, the apostle of feminism, popularized the phrase "A woman needs a man like a fish needs a bicycle." Leftism and feminism pit the sexes against each other, while conservatism and Christianity recognize that the sexes are interdependent. This recognition brings humankind joy instead of hatred.
Fathers are crucial to the happiness and well-being of every child, a need that only intensifies with the addition of each child. Barrett's husband Jesse is a full partner in their marriage with his own significant career. Barrett recognized her husband's major contributions to their family and her happiness in her nomination acceptance speech Saturday night.
I couldn't manage this very full life without the unwavering support of my husband Jesse. At the start of our marriage, I imagined that we would run our household as partners. As it has turned out, Jesse does far more than his share of the work. To my chagrin, I learned at dinner recently that my children consider him to be the better cook. For 21 years, Jesse has asked me every single morning what he can do for me that day. And though I almost always say 'Nothing,' he still finds ways to take things off my plate. And that's not because he has a lot of free time—he has a busy law practice. It's because he has a superb and generous husband, and I am very fortunate.
Given her description, I think it's accurate to guess Barrett and her husband's interdependence is a source of strength and joy to them both, as well as to their children and community. They have undoubtedly achieved much more together than they could have separately, as many highly successful women will also tell you of their marriages. Our husbands are our sometimes-secret weapon.
Feminists don't like any of Joy's 9 points, though.
Feminism is what a woman believes after she has smashed herself up by having sex with bad boys. Bad boy failures makes her think that all men are unreliable. She likes abortion because it allows her to chase the bad boys she is attracted to. When she learns how bad boys are unreliable, she intentionally delays marriage to focus on her career and pay off all her student loans. But, if a woman avoids bad boys, and instead chooses a good husband who supports her, she can have 5 kids and adopt 2 more and not have all that bitterness. With a good husband, and a network of supportive relatives, she can even get on the Supreme Court.
I prefer that young women study for a STEM degree, and try to avoid student loans with community college, scholarships, living at home, summer jobs, etc. I recommend they work until their first child arrives. After that, they should stay home with the children, at least for the first 3 years of each child's life. And obviously, having more children leads to a bigger legacy than fewer children. I'm also a strong supporter of homeschooling. I don't have much confidence in Christian schools, private schools and especially public schools.
However, in the special case of women like Amy Coney Barrett, who can make a huge difference in the world for the good of conservatives and Christians, then it may be possible, with an excellent husband and many willing relatives, to have a safety net for the children that allows her to do something that will protect us all from the secular left. This is not the ordinary case, of course. This is 1% of the 1% of the 1%. There is no doubt that her children will suffer from her decision to have a career. But if she makes a Supreme Court decision that protects the unborn, or safeguards self-defense rights, or preserves religious liberty, it will be worth it. I don't think this is the ordinary case. I don't support mothers of young children having ordinary careers just to make money, because usually the young children have to be placed with strangers.
My goal for my wife was that she be a stay at home wife and mother, at least while we have any children under 3, and preferably under 5. I wouldn't have liked to have a wife who served on the Supreme Court. I wouldn't want to share my wife with co-workers, because of the way I was raised. But I can understand why it is a good thing for me (and for conservatives and Christians) that she is the nominee.
Amy Coney BarrettCareerChildrenFeminismFeministMarriageSCOTUSSupreme Court
Judge: man must pay support to girlfriend despite living in separate homes
A friend of mine was asking me last night whether I had any regrets about never marrying, especially since I had such awesome Christian female friends like her. I thought about it, and I thought that maybe it is better to not have married, especially when I read stories about how family courts trample over the rights of men to favor women, regardless of what the law says.
The story is from one of Canada's national newspapers, the National Post:
Under Ontario law, an unmarried couple are considered common-law spouses if they have cohabited — lived together in a conjugal relationship — continuously for at least three years. But that doesn't necessarily mean living in the same home, the court found.
[…]When their 14-year relationship finally broke down in May 2015, Climans asked the courts to recognize her as Latner's spouse and order him to pay her support. He argued she had been a travel companion and girlfriend, nothing more. As such, he said, they were never legally spouses and he owed no support. An eight-day trial ensued.
In her decision in February 2019, Superior Court Justice Sharon Shore sided with Climans. She ruled they were in fact long-time spouses, finding that despite their separate home, they lived under one roof at Latner's cottage for part of the summer, and during winter vacations in Florida. Shore ordered him to pay her $53,077 monthly indefinitely.
The judge ordered him to pay her $53,077 per moth, indefinitely. Elsewhere in the article, we learn that he had asked her to sign a pre-nuptial agreement many times, and each time she refused. (Those are not even enforced fairly by the way) She wanted his money, and the judge made sure she got it. Because the law doesn't matter in a family court.
So, what I wanted to point out about this is the fact that a female judge decided to bend the law in order to favor a woman. And this sort of thing happens A LOT in Canada – where their female judges are notorious for progressive judicial activism, e.g. Beverley Mclachlin, Bertha Wilson, Claire L'Heureux-Dubé, etc. Ontario family courts are notoriously anti-male, and men know this.
But it's not just Ontario. I have two Christian friends who married their Christian wives as virgins, and then their wives divorced them. I heard what happened to them in divorce court. Again, female lawyers and female judges disregarded the law in order to punish the man and favor the woman. And I think most men growing up today have a father or a brother or an uncle or someone who has been a victim of this.
When I talk to women about this, they all say things like this to me: "oh, you worry too much" or "you read too many books about divorce" or especially "when you meet the right girl, you'll fall in love, and all this concern about atheistic feminist judges in the courts won't stop you". That last one is the most popular. And it's always made me think that if this is how women see commitment – feelings-based – it's no wonder that women initiate 70% of divorces.
I always thought it was a curse that I grew up poor and could not afford to show off my wealth in order to attract attention from women. Now I see that God actually gave me a great blessing. In order for a man to get married, it takes a lot more than finding the right girl. He needs to live in the right culture – a culture that tries to equip women to be content in committed relationships and treat men fairly.
I don't think even women who claim to be pro-male and/or pro-marriage know or care how stories like this affect men. I'm very wealthy. I certainly do look at what is likely to happen if a woman goes to the courts expecting me to give her money. In fact, whenever I post stories on my wall about how the judges legislate from the bench to transfer money from men to women, there's just silence or sometimes deflection by attacking men (except for my friend Dina who agrees with me). No one dares to speak up for men, it's just expected that we be robbed by the government in order to make women happy. Because "marriage is for women".
And as long as the message keeps being sent by judicial activists in the family courts, men will keep adjusting how they treat women. Women appear very unsafe to us, and nothing that's going on in the courts is changing the trend towards avoidance. Men are very good at calculating risks vs rewards.
DivorceDivorce CourtEmotionsFascismFeelingsFeminismFeministIrresponsibilityMarriageMisandryRadical FeminismRecklessnessRomanceSocialismUnaccountatibility
The surprising pro-masculinity message in the "Far From the Madding Crowd" film
Man helping a woman with proper handgun marksmanship
So, I have about a half-dozen older and/or experienced Christian women who advise me and assist me in various ways. The wisest and most experienced is calm and thoughtful Dina. She has a very stressful job dealing with demanding women, and what she admires most in men is "masculinity", which she defines as a man's ability to tell a woman what is right and wrong, what God expects from her, what she should be doing with her life, and guiding her and providing for her through the steps to get there.
What makes Dina angry is when a man makes a fool of himself for youth and beauty, abdicating his role as moral and spiritual leader because of attraction / lust. According to Dina, men who have self-control think about what a woman should do that is morally right, with the goal of her producing a return for God. Men who are swayed by youth and beauty are willing to give up that leadership role in exchange for attention and/or sex.
So, with that said, Dina asked me to watch a recently-made movie called "Far From the Madding Crowd", based on a novel by Thomas Hardy. I immediately said "no" because I know about Thomas Hardy from Tess of the D'Urbervilles, where he presents Tess as the helpless victim of Providence. I really hate that view of women, where they can do reckless, selfish things and then blame everyone but themselves for the destructive consequences of their own free-will decisions. But Dina said "wasn't I right about the debate between David Robertson and Matt Dillahunty?" I said yes, and watched the movie. And of course, she was right, as she almost always is. This movie is a punch in the face to the radical feminism that seems to have infected so many young women, even in the church.
Here is a review of the movie by Rebekah, posted at her blog. Unfotunately, the post has been deleted, but here is an excerpt.
Rebekah writes:
What does this 19th century tale offer to modern audiences? This latest rendering emphasizes something actually surprising and unexpected given that it is made in our age of radical feminism. It is Gabriel Oak's character that shines the most, not the proto-feminist Bathsheba. […]In Bathsheba and Gabriel we see how men and women support one another in such a way as to ensure a flourishing in any role that fate might thrust on them.
[…]The relationship between Gabriel and Bathsheba, though unequal in earthly terms of authority and wealth, is one of mutual dependence. We see Oak taking on a role of both counselor and conscience with Bathsheba – roles that in her striving towards independence she struggles to admit her need for. She is not unlike the modern feminist in this regard, nor is she unlike all of us in our relationship with the Lord. Her struggle is best seen in the various times she repels Gabriel only to find herself in desperate situations in which only he can help. The filmmakers' clever use of a recurring theme of Bathsheba galloping after Gabriel on a horse when he is needed is particularly moving (and surprising) here. In the end, the film resists the urge to pander to our more extreme modern views on what women require to thrive.
Gabriel Oak also seems to be an embodiment of the biblical virtue of selflessness. We see in his actions towards Bathsheba the Philippians admonition to refrain from "being motivated by selfish ambition or vanity," but rather "in humility, be moved to treat one another as more important than yourself." Indeed, vanity itself can be seen as a fateful character flaw of every major character apart from Gabriel. He alone is able to move past rejection and carry on. In fact, he is required to go so far as to be under the authority of the very woman who rejected his offer of marriage and, despite his continuing affections for her, witness her being courted and then married by another far less worthy man, Frank Troy. No other major character is able to accomplish this challenge to their pride. Though Bathsheba does eventually overcome the rejection of her husband, she only does so after tremendous tragedy and with the selfless and steady support of Gabriel.
Gabriel respects her independence, but, like a good shepherd, stays close by to protect and guide her. Though he cannot protect her from her free-will choices, he does warn her. He then remains faithful to her in the midst of the trouble she brings upon herself. In this, he is not unlike our God, for he allows her to stray, all the while letting her know of a better course when asked. And, she does ask.
In an important scene at a party, where Bathsheba must decide whether or not to marry a particularly obsessive suitor, when she asks, "Tell me what to do, Gabriel," he simply tells her to "Do what is right." Is that not like our Lord? Gentle shepherd, indeed, for our wild, independent hearts. In this, I see Gabriel as most suitable for the role as the husband written of in the epistle to the Ephesians. He loves Bathsheba "just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her…"
Men and women both struggle with self-centeredness, but men usually work themselves out of it by studying hard things in school, and doing hard work that pays. Men have a natural desire to provide for others, and it is actually a duty laid out for them in the Bible. As a result of studying and working at things they don't like, men typically are better at resisting their feelings and desires. In fact, if you ever want to make a woman less self-centered and emotional, leading her to study STEM and work a demanding job is a good plan. Dina has multiple STEM degrees, and a very difficult, challenging work history.
I would be suspicious of men who don't prioritize providing, (as in 1 Tim 5:8), because working and saving gives a man practical experience at self-denial. When a man gets accustomed to working to share with others, it helps helps him to lead a woman to do the same: deny her feelings and desires, and make prudent decisions that will allow her to love and serve others – including God – in a sustainable way. Over the long-term, this practice of effective, self-sacrificial love will be worth more to the woman than the short-term pursuit of fun and thrills. To provide for a woman means to look into her future, and make a decision today to set aside something that will help her to deal with what the future has in store for her.
Dina's advice to young women
I asked Dina to take a look at the draft of this post before I hit "Schedule" and Dina said:
What I would advise to all young women is not to expect a Gabriel Oak to be waiting for you at the end of your reckless years of hooking up, partying and wasting your youth on fun and men who have no desire to lead you to God or guide you to goodness. Don't expect the hot stud that your friends approve of to turn into someone with the character of Oak with the magic powers of your premarital sex life. Find a man who doesn't give in to your every whim, because if he does, you will only resent him for it, and blame him, for being what you thought you wanted him to be. Find a man who leads, one who demonstrates self control, self denial, who can provide and protect. And most importantly, respect him for doing it.
Sound advice from the Dina, young ladies. By the way, Dina's favorite drama is the BBC production of "North and South" from 2004. I also give it a 10/10.
ChastityChivalryComplementarianComplementarianismEphesiansFar From the Madding CrowdFeminismFeministGabriel OakHusbandMasculineMasculinityMoral LeaderProtectorProviderSelf-ControlSelf-DenialSpiritual LeaderWifeWisdom
Why would a woman want to participate in the hook-up culture?
Do young women understand how to get to a stable marriage?
Note: in this article, when I refer to women, I mean young, unmarried women who have been influenced by feminism. I do not mean all women, and especially not married women.
My good friend Tom sent me this article from the ultra left-wing Vanity Fair. Tom is a veteran of the brutal New York City dating scene.
The article is contains sex and bad language. Reader discretion is advised.
It's a balmy night in Manhattan's financial district, and at a sports bar called Stout, everyone is Tindering. The tables are filled with young women and men who've been chasing money and deals on Wall Street all day, and now they're out looking for hookups. Everyone is drinking, peering into their screens and swiping on the faces of strangers they may have sex with later that evening.
Tinder is a hook-up app that people use to find people to have sex with, based solely on their photograph.
The article says this:
"Romance is completely dead, and it's the girls' fault," says Alex, 25, a New Yorker who works in the film industry. "They act like all they want is to have sex with you and then they yell at you for not wanting to have a relationship. How are you gonna feel romantic about a girl like that? Oh, and by the way? I met you on Tinder."
"Women do exactly the same things guys do," said Matt, 26, who works in a New York art gallery. "I've had girls sleep with me off OkCupid and then just ghost me"—that is, disappear, in a digital sense, not returning texts. "They play the game the exact same way. They have a bunch of people going at the same time—they're fielding their options. They're always looking for somebody better, who has a better job or more money." A few young women admitted to me that they use dating apps as a way to get free meals. "I call it Tinder food stamps," one said.
Even the emphasis on looks inherent in a dating game based on swiping on photos is something men complain women are just as guilty of buying into. "They say in their profiles, 'No shirtless pictures,' but that's bulls**t," says Nick, the same as above. "The day I switched to a shirtless picture with my tattoos, immediately, within a few minutes, I had, like, 15 matches."
And if women aren't interested in being treated as sexual objects, why do they self-objectify in their profile pictures? some men ask. "There's a lot of girls who are just like, Check me out, I'm hot, I'm wearing a bikini," says Jason…
Men talk about the nudes they receive from women. They show off the nudes. "T*t pics and booty pics," said Austin, 22, a college student in Indiana. "My phone is full of 'em."
Although the article, and the women who are interviewed, try to pass themselves off as victims, it's very clear that they are full participants in this hook-up culture. It's "fun" for them to be free and independent – no responsibilities, expectations or obligations from a relationship. They want fun right now, without the leadership of a husband, or the demands of small children.
Feminist writer Hanna Rosin says that this hook-up culture is great:
Some, like Atlantic writer Hanna Rosin, see hookup culture as a boon: "The hookup culture is … bound up with everything that's fabulous about being a young woman in 2012—the freedom, the confidence."
The Vanity Fair author comments:
"Short-term mating strategies" seem to work for plenty of women too; some don't want to be in committed relationships, either, particularly those in their 20s who are focusing on their education and launching careers.
Previously, I quoted a feminist professor writing in the New York Times. She also thought that it was great that women were hooking up with hot guys for fun, but staying focused on their educations and careers.
Here's Amanda to explain it:
"There is no dating. There's no relationships," says Amanda… "They're rare. You can have a fling that could last like seven, eight months and you could never actually call someone your 'boyfriend.' [Hooking up] is a lot easier. No one gets hurt—well, not on the surface."
Who doesn't want to have sex? Well, me for one. At least, not till I'm married.
Amanda later explains that she doesn't want to care, because caring would mean that she "somehow missed the whole memo about third-wave feminism". She has to be independent – able to dismiss responsibilities, expectations and obligations in order to pursue happiness with education, career, travel and promiscuity.
I know Christian women who think they are fundamentalists who have this exact same attitude. They think that relationships are somehow compatible with doing whatever they want to do – that doing whatever makes them happy each and every moment will somehow turn into life-long married love.
Why don't women reject the men who use them like kleenexes? Why is the man's appearance so much more important than his suitability for the marriage roles of husband and father? Well, feminism tells women that gender distinctions are "sexist", that chivalry is "sexist", that chastity is "repressive" because it blocks having recreational sex, that marriage is boring and must be delayed, and that having lots of sexual experience makes you more attractive. They measure men by how the man makes them feel and whether he will be impressive physically to their peers. They aren't looking for a man who can perform tradional male roles like protector or provider or moral and spiritual leader – because male leadership is "sexist".
As always, should you, as a young Christian man of some means, desire to get married, then I recommend using my checklist to validate your candidate. I know a lot of women who married without any intention of being a wife and mother. Sometimes, they marry just because their friends are all getting married. If you as a man do not check this woman's reasons for marrying, you may find yourself legally bound to someone who "settled" for you. And who has no intention of respecting you or educating your children.
BumbleDatingFeminismFeministGrinderHook-UpHooking UpMarriageRelationshipsTinder

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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María Tost Forrellat   (nacida el  en  Sant Cugat del Vallés, Cataluña) es una jugadora de hockey sobre hierba española.

Carrera internacional
Es medalla de bronce en Campeonato Europeo de Hockey sobre Hierba Femenino de 2019 disputado en Bélgica.

Referencias

Enlaces externos
 Selección española absoluta de Hockey

Jugadores de hockey sobre hierba de España
Nacidos en San Cugat del Vallés

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Part 6: But we need scientific literacy! Don't we?
But it's not global warming (or science generally or any subject specifically) citizens need to know the details about. Whatever argument you can make for the importance to the voter/citizen of understanding global warming I can point to a thousand other subjects that are just as important: statistics, AC electricity generation, thermodynamics, food chemistry, immunology - the list is long. And it's all equally unimportant for most of us most of the time. What we all really need to know together (aside from the stuff we are really interested in) is the knowledge required that allows us to make a decision. Global warming is a significant issue, sure. But there are many significant issues.
The typical person, like me, no more needs to know the details about Global Warming or any other major issue than they need to know the details about how penicillin can cure meningococcal meningitis. In either case, all I need to know, at the appropriate time is what the people who do know are saying. If the expert scientists in global warming give good reasons that it is occurring - I don't need to know all the reasons (though I could check them if I tried) - I will know global warming is a thing to be concerned about because the people who do know the details, tell me. This is not deferring to their authority it is merely using my critical analysis to judge that they know. I know I can always check their reasons if I cared to - because it's science. So if the expert doctor tells me my headache is due to bacterial meningitis, then I don't have to know the mechanism of action of penicillin to take it. I can defer critically looking up the details. The relevant question I am asking myself here is: the person informing me - do they know? And if I have no criticism of the idea that they do, I should believe them.
And all that is an argument to say: trying to force children to learn anything at school - even science - just cannot be as fruitful as allowing them the freedom to choose to learn whatever they want, whenever they want, wherever they want. Having a population that understands science may be desirable. Having a population that believes scientists when they talk about science might be even more desirable. But none of this means that we should be forcing kids into classes to learn things they do not want to learn.
This project should happen now - but I know that culture moves more slowly than an aircraft carrier turns. In a better world, school would not be compulsory. Learning would occur as it always does: by choice. Schools could still exist but things would be almost unrecognisable. Schools would be more like universities (although universities have severe problems too) in the sense students could come and go as they pleased. Students in this somewhat better world would choose to attend lessons that teachers chose to give. And individual teachers could design their own curriculum (not mandated by their department, or school, or government mandated office). Perhaps they could design the content of the curriculum in partnership with their students on topics of mutual interest to them both. Would it be hard? No harder than teaching currently is. Indeed, there would be many ways it would be far easier and far more rewarding for all involved. The words "teacher and student" could become interchanged as people began to work on solutions to problems together.


text:
Carnatic Violin
Kaushik Sivaramakrishnan is a disciple of violin vidushi Kalaimamani Smt. Radha Narayan and son of Kalaimamani Smt. Meera Sivaramakrishnan. He has accomplished the style of innovative playing showing elements of emotion (bhava) and improvisation (manodharma) producing a soul-elevating experience for listeners and appreciators of the music.
Kaushik started learning violin from the age of 6 and has been giving public performances since the age of 11 in different places in India, US and Canada. He has given more than 500 performances till now, including at all major sabhas such as The Music Academy, Krishna Gana Sabha, Narada Gana Sabha, Karthik Fine Arts in Chennai, just to name a few in Chennai and also traveled to Delhi, Mumbai, and parts of south India for Carnatic concerts. He was also a central part of Isai Mazhalai group of young musicians promoted by Sri. Abaswaram Ramjhi in Chennai and accompanied most of the current upcoming next-generation stars of Carnatic music like Sri Bharat Sundar, Sri Ashwath Narayanan, Smt. K. P. Nandini, Smt. Vidya Kalyanaraman, etc.
Kaushik has received many awards for his music in competitions and institutions, the highlight being the Best Violinist award in the junior category from the prestigious Music Academy during the December music season in Chennai in 2007, Best Violinist in the HCL group of concerts at the Music Academy mini hall in 2008, Best Violinist for the Gokulashtami concert series at Krishna Gana Sabha in 2011. He moved out of Chennai in 2009 to pursue undergraduate studies, where he performed in all the inter-hostel and inter-IIT instrumental and vocal competitions, winning 1st place on a number of occasions. Kaushik has diversified his music ventures into fusion music in the Carnatic, Ghazal styles, and different classical dance forms.
Kaushik has performed for a number of major programs such as the Mushtari Begum Festival hosted by Sri Cassius Khan, Carnatic fusion band with the legendary Dr. Trichy Sankaran, Carnatic concerts with ACTS - run by Dr. Ashwin Iyer of Toronto brothers and Ragamala. He is also a regular accompanist for Bharatanatyam and Kathak dance forms performed by Naren Ganesan and Usha Gupta.
Attend a no-obligation Trial
Saratoga South San Jose / Almaden Peninsula / Foster City East Bay / Fremont Online Zoom Video


Work out at Underground and 284 other gyms and studios in Amsterdam!
It can't get more raw or edgy than at Underground. But also not as stylish at the same time thanks to the graffiti and robust look. Or cosy, as in their cafe. Try a full body HIIT, kickboxing training or train by yourself in their soundproof bunker; a room with dim lights, loud music, and no mirrors (thank God!). Here, you really are underground for a little while. You can also go here to train freely in the open gym.
FIGHT: No gloves? You can rent them from us for EUR 2, -. If you use wraps for boxing you can bring your own or buy from us from EUR 11, -.
GENERAL: Always wear shoes, even during FIGHT kickboxing bag training sessions. You can bring a lock for the lockers or buy them for EUR 4, -. Showering? Do not forget your towel! Shampoo and shower gel is present.


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NEET (UG) – 2020
The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India (GOI) has established the National Testing Agency (NTA) as an independent autonomous and self-sustained premier testing organisation for conducting the efficient, transparent, and international standard test to access the competency of candidates for admission to premier higher education institutions.
NATIONAL ELIGIBILITY CUM ENTRANCE TEST (UG) 2020 (NEET (UG) - 2020) will be conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBBS/BDS Courses and other undergraduate medical courses in approved/recognized Medical/Dental & other Colleges/ Institutes in India.
Section 14 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 provides for holding a common and uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to the undergraduate medical courses in all medical institutions including those governed under any other law. Thus, the admission to the MBBS course in AIIMS, New Delhi, JIPMER, and all AIIMS like Institutions will be made through NEET. The eligibility criteria applicable to appear in NEET (UG) shall also apply to the candidates desirous to take admission to INIs like AIIMS.
Similarly, the criteria for minimum qualifying marks to be eligible for admission to the MBBS course shall also apply to INIs. Further, the common counseling for admission to the MBBS course in these INIs shall be conducted by the DGHS as per the Time Schedule specified in the MCI's regulations.
The NEET (UG) - 2020 will be conducted on Sunday, the 13th of September, 2020. The responsibility of the NTA is limited to the conduct of the entrance examination, declaration of result, and for providing an "All India Rank Merit List" to the Directorate General Health Service, Government of India for the conduct of counseling for 15% All India Quota Seats and for providing the result to States/other Counseling Authorities.
What is NEET?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts NEET for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, Veterinary, and other medical/paramedical courses in India. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the sole entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in India. Conducted annually, NEET 2020 will be held across tentatively 154 test centers. With approximately 16 lakh test-takers, NEET is the most important medical entrance examination in India. Both AIIMS and JIPMER MBBS examinations have also been merged with NTA NEET.
NEET 2020 Highlights
Exam Mode
1557 colleges
https://ntaneet.nic.in/Ntaneet/Welcome.aspx
NEET 2020 Important dates and events
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2020
The National Testing Agency has prescribed the eligibility criteria for NEET 2020. All those who wish to apply for the entrance test are advised to check if they fit into the criteria specified by NTA.
Candidates who fulfill the following parameters are eligible for NEET 2020:
Indian Nationals,
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
Persons with Indian Origin (PIO)
The minimum age of a candidate as on December 31, 2020, should be 17 years
The rule specifying the maximum age limit of the candidate was challenged last year in the court of law. Thus, there is no upper age limit as of now and candidates older than 25 years of age applying for NEET 2020 will be provisionally admitted subject to the ruling of the High Court of Delhi.
Minimum qualification:
Candidate must have cleared Class 12 or equivalent from a recognized institute
Candidates who are appearing for Class 12 or equivalent in summer 2020 can also apply for NEET 2020.
Candidates who have completed Class 12 or equivalent from an open school are also eligible
Mandatory subjects:
Candidate must have cleared Class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Candidates who have passed Class 12 or equivalent with Biology as an additional subject are also eligible
Minimum marks required in the qualifying examination:
General category: 50%
PWD category: 45%
SC/ST/OBC: 40%
NEET 2020 Participating Institutes
Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi
King George's Medical University, Lucknow
Christian Medical College, Vellore
Armed Forces Medical College, Pune
Madras Medical College, Chennai
Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
University College of Medical Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi
Institute of Medical Sciences Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi
Lady Hardinge Medical College, Delhi
NEET 2020 application fee
The application fee had to be paid online. It could be paid using a credit card/ debit card/ net banking/ e-challan/ UPI.
Application Fee (in Rs)
Gen EWS/ OBC
SC/ ST/ PWD/
NEET 2020 Syllabus
The syllabus of NEET 2020 was set by the NTA. It mainly comprises three subjects, namely Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. NEET 2020 syllabus overlaps with the CBSE Class 11 and Class 12. However, a few topics that have been included in the NEET syllabus, which are not taught in these classes. Candidates are advised to go through the syllabus of NEET 2020 before they start preparing for the entrance test. Aspirants of NEET 2020 must also note that the syllabus for the current session has not changed. The authorities are considering a reduction in the syllabus of NEET, but this will apply to those appearing next year.
NEET 2020, which was originally scheduled for May 3, will now be held on September 13. Candidates preparing for NEET 2020 must make the most of these four additional months. They must focus on completing their preparation before the exam date. Candidates preparing for NEET 2020 must go through the entire syllabus first. To complete the topics in the NEET 2020 syllabus, they must refer to NCERT books. Candidates must prepare a time table for NEET preparation. This is a must for completing the preparation on time. Another important aspect of NEET 2020 preparation is solving mock tests and sample papers.
NEET 2020 Dress Code
Due to a large number of test-takers, the NTA follows strict policies to maintain the discipline and fairness of NEET. Among the important policies is the dress code for NEET 2020. NTA has prescribed a dress code for the examination day along with a list of items that are barred in the examination hall. Below are a few important pointers about the dress code for NEET 2020:
Light clothes with half sleeves, long sleeves are not permitted
Ornaments, piercings, etc. are not permitted
Candidates wearing a customary dress should report to the examination center at least an hour before the last reporting time
Slippers, sandals with low heels are permitted. Shoes are not permitted
Owing to the COVID-19 situation in India, NTA is expected to announce a new set of rules for NEET 2020. Masks and sanitizers will become an important part of the NEET 2020 dress code. Updates regarding the dress code for NEET 2020 are awaited.
NEET 2020 Exam Day Guidelines
Exam day guidelines for NEET 2020 aim to help the candidates appearing for the examination have a hassle-free day and keep them stress-free and calm on the D-Day. This year, some additional exam day guidelines will be issued by NTA for NEET. These guidelines will be released given the exam being conducted during a pandemic. Details on how the NEET 2020 will be conducted amid the COVID-19 crisis are awaited. Meanwhile, candidates can refer to the general guidelines for NEET 2020 exam day that are given below.
NEET 2020 Application Process
NEET 2020 Application Form was released on December 2, 2019. The application process was online and candidates had to register themselves on the official website to fill the application.
For successful completion of the NEET 2020 application process, a candidate had to go through the four steps. To help understand the process better, the steps have been elaborated below.
Steps to apply for NEET 2020


Congratulations to coach Paul on his Purple Grading!!
Congrations to coach Paul on his grading yesterday! Fantastic display and demo of BJJ.
This shows how dedication and hardworks play off!
Hurstville Martial Arts (HMA) / Roots Hurstville is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu school located in Hurstville CBD. Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) is the fastest growing martial arts in the world as it is an effective martial art against bigger and stronger opponents. At HMA, we teach BJJ to kids, teens and adults while providing a fun and fit way to learn self-defence and keep active.


- Planning Inspectorate to look at controversial plans to fence off Common and introduce cattle to the 800 year-old site.
- The project, expected to cost around £125,000 to complete, has been met with public concern especially regarding future attitudes towards the land.
Hampshire County Council has made an application to the Planning Inspectorate for permission to erect fencing on Yateley Common.
This fencing is required to enable the reintroduction of grazing animals at Yateley – a traditional and sustainable method of conservation management. Because the land is formally registered as a Common, permission for the fencing from the Secretary of State (through the Planning Inspectorate) is required.
The Planning Inspectorate will ensure that the correct balance is struck between the works necessary for the positive management of the common, and maintaining commoners and other users' rights.
Hampshire County Council has worked closely with Natural England to ensure best practice is followed in maintaining and enhancing the biodiversity and recreational value of the Common. Natural England indicated positive support for the introduction of livestock on the Common, and following this support Hampshire County Council undertook community engagement and consultation.
The consultation considered management techniques available for the heath, including grazing, burning, mowing and turf stripping, and grazing was the preferred option. The fencing requirement needed in order to introduce livestock safely and enable their effective management, was then considered.
The County Council's Executive Member gave permission for the application to be made in December 2013 and, since then, much work has gone into its preparation. The application has now been submitted to the Planning Inspectorate and, in accordance with the legal requirements, notices have been placed on site and in the press, and interested parties have been contacted.
Members of the public have until February 27 to make their views known to the Planning Inspectorate.
- I strongly object to any works on Yateley Common and have advised that the unlawful impediments may be removed"
Richard Holland, we spoke about this corrupt action over the last two years, the conclusion was that you stated that no application would be considered that was not correct, ie false representation, so I am back in with the wishes of the local inhabitants that object to the enclosure and I have consented to appear at the hearing and under legislation examine the claims of the applicants.
I do have documentation which will show that the claims of the council are false ( 2006 fraud act) and that the common land was not registered under the lands registration act 1925 law of property act as being demesne lands of a Lordships Manor and that for the 1965 CRA it was registered as waste lands of A manor section 9, now section 45, as the common is rural there will not be any Bye-Laws.
The pre-empted supplementary is just a get out for PINS without understanding what it means because the enactments include breaches of the 2006 fraud act, that of false representation and of mortgage fraud.
May I also remind you of the repeal of the enclosure act? section 219 of the 1285 act was repealed in the 2006 commons act by section 47-1 and 47-2 prohibits any form of enclosure that may subsist alongside of the 1285 act, and as there is no owner with evidence to title Quo Warranto 1189, there will not be anyone to give lawful consent for conveyance, deeds of grant, grants of easement.
In conclusion I strongly object to the any works on Yateley Common and have advised that the unlawful impediments may be removed and will be protected by article 7 human rights act (no punishment with out law) there is no law against removing unlawful works.
At the hearing I will apply for the public liability certificate to show that the works will be covered.