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Urologists 'Outraged' Over PSA Test Challenge
The nation's leading urology associations are fuming over a federal panel's report this week that discredits the widely used prostate-specific antigen screening test for prostate cancer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force said in a report that the PSA test is too inaccurate, creates needless anxiety for patients, and can lead to costly and potentially harmful follow-up procedures.
"The USPSTF concludes that there is moderate certainty that the benefits of PSA-based screening for prostate cancer do not outweigh the harm," the report stated.
Major urology associations knew in advance about the USPSTF recommendation and urologists launched a counterattack when the report was made public this week.
"It's an absurd recommendation. It is ill-researched and ill-conceived," Sanford J. Siegel, MD, a board member with the Large Urology Group Practice Association, told HealthLeaders Media. "This will only do damage to all the great work that has been done for prostate cancer awareness and to control the deaths from prostate cancer."
- Primary Care Docs Average More Hospital Revenue Than Specialists
- 69% of Employers Plan to Offer Healthcare Coverage After 2014
- How Chargemaster Data May Affect Hospital Revenue
- House Lawmakers Grill CMS Over Health Exchange Navigators
- ED Physicians Key to Half of Hospital Admissions
- Insurer's App Aims to Lower Healthcare Costs, Securely
- Don't Let Nurses Sink Your Bottom Line
- Q&A: Catholic Health Initiatives' New Senior VP for Capital Finance
- Building a Better Healthcare Board
- Fortunately, Angelina Jolie Isn't On Medicare | <urn:uuid:ab890dbc-d4df-42a2-94f7-1fc8bf0860d4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.healthleadersmedia.com/page-1/PHY-280505/Urologists-Outraged-Over-PSA-Test-Challenge | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.934138 | 357 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Walk With Justin!
The Story of Justin
Last April, Justin Vézina, a 13-year-old with Type 1 diabetes, traveled the long and difficult road to Machu Picchu as a personal challenge and to raise funds for The Diabetic Children’s Foundation.
Thanks to his determination, Justin was able to donate $20,000 to the Diabetic Children’s Foundation to help children and adolescents who, like him, must live with the daily challenges of Type 1 diabetes.
This is a wonderful gesture of courage and generosity that leaves no one indifferent.
The Road to Machu Picchu
The Machu Picchu is an archaeological treasure built in the fifteenth century in the Andes, by the Incas. Because Peruvians wanted to keep the site and its geographic location secret, it was discovered only in 1911 by the American explorer Hiram Bingham. Today, the Machu Picchu is part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List and attracts many tourists.
Some people visit out of curiosity, for the pleasure of enjoying archaeology. For others, it is a pilgrimage. I decided to go there on foot as a personal challenge.I wanted to create an event that would allow me to raise people’s awareness and at the same time, raise funds for The Diabetic Children’s Foundation.school nurses.
Before leaving, I prepared myself physically by running, body building and playing hockey. I organized information evenings; I went door-to-door, asked people around me and spoke at the UHC Ste-Justine in a training session for
On March 31st, I flew with my parents to Cusco, Peru. We took advantage of the first three days to visit the city and to take short hikes to allow our bodies to adjust to the altitude. On Day 4, we were ready for the expedition. We were heading towards Patacancha and ready to hike in the Urubamba Valley. I chose this route because it is longer and more picturesque. We had to go through small villages, valleys and mountain passes. We walked for five days and camped for four nights. During this trip, we encountered lamas, alpacas, sheep, mules, shepherds and children.
On the fourth day of walking, we climbed towards an impressive pass with an elevation of 600 metres. Since we slept at an altitude of 4100 metres, my dad had to fight the symptoms associated with high altitudes: He was really determined and wanted to finish the trek! After the pass, we took a break and Lissandro, our local guide, wanted us to enjoy an Andean ritual to thank the God of the mountains for our great trip. In the morning, we reached 4,650 metres (15,256 feet) of altitude. Wow! The landscape was fantastic and we were very proud of ourselves. A few pictures and we were off!
We encountered bad weather and walked through hail. The road became more difficult. We walked in the water, the ground was slippery and the steep terrain became muddy. Once at the camp for dinner, we really enjoyed the hot soup. By late afternoon, the sun finally came out! It dried and warmed us.Our last camp was located in Cancha Cancha. It was beautiful. We fell asleep to the sound of a stream flowing at high speed. At dawn, a flock of sheep passing in front of our tent woke us up. We took this opportunity to give our last snacks to the two young shepherds.
At the end of the trek we arrived at the Ollantaytambo Village. We visited the archaeological site and in the afternoon, we took the train to Aguas Calientes, a village at the foot of the Machu Picchu. The next day, we went to the site to finish our journey.
Sometimes, the trek required long hours of walking. The road was occasionally steep and required more energy because of the altitude. Even after difficult days, I always felt great. Diabetes was not a hindrance and contrary to my expectations, I had mostly hyperglycaemic episodes despite a controlled diet, physical exercise and tiredness.
Ultimately, I achieved all my goals: educate people, raise $20,000 and prove that a 13 year-old with Type 1 diabetes can do it just as well as anyone.I have been living with Type 1 diabetes for 4 years. Today it is a part of me and the lives of people around me. I just accomplished a project and I am already planning the next one… | <urn:uuid:32dd9a00-7516-4750-82de-499e802dfae2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://diabetes-children.ca/en/index.php?/help/C105 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973777 | 940 | 2.046875 | 2 |
Norwegian Lutheran Mission
Henan; Shandong, China
Norwegian missionary in China.
Marie Monsen was a catalyst for the Shantung revival of the early 1930s. She had had an apparently disastrous first trip to China soon after 1900; then, in 1911, she came to Nanyanfu, Honan (Henan) Province, with the Norwegian Lutheran Mission. When missionaries fled the interior of China in late 1926 and early 1927, she visited missions in Manchuria, then went to Chefoo (Yantai) Shantung (Shandong) Province. There she met U.S Southern Baptist missionaries and participated in some dramatic prayer and healing sessions. She returned to Shantung in late 1929 or 1930, and this visit helped to spark a province-wide revival that soon included the U.S. Southern Baptists, Presbyterians, and others. It also influenced a more openly Pentecostal native Chinese "spiritual gifts" revival movement.
Monsen seems to have been a quasi-Pentecostal, stressing the baptism or fullness of the Holy Spirit in addition to an initial conversion experience, and her meetings were emotional if not disorderly. She was by all accounts soft-spoken, and it is not altogether clear why she prompted such strong response. An interesting feature of the Shantung revival was its clearly Pentecostal features occurring in anti-Pentecostal mission bodies.
Well known after the Shantung events, Monsen visited many other missions in the early 1930s. She dropped out it a sight after 1933 and presumably returned to Norway. Her book, The Awakening: Revival in China, A Work of the Holy Spirit, was published (in Norwegian) in 1959 (English translation by Joy Guinness, 1961).
Daniel H. Bays
Marie Monsen, A Present Help, Joy Guinness, trans. (1960; later published under the title Wall of Fire, 1967). Gustav Carlberg, China in Revival (1936), pp. 67-83; Mary K. Crawford, The Shantung Revival (1933); C. L. Culpepper, The Shantung Revival (1968).
This article is reprinted from Biographical Dictionary of Christian Missions, Macmillan Reference USA, copyright (c) 1998 Gerald H. Anderson, by permission of The Gale Group; Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., Grand Rapids, Michigan. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:95cc0518-38b0-4069-a9e7-aecbae9fa307> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://holytrinitynewrochelle.org/marie_monsen.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.936526 | 497 | 1.953125 | 2 |
Under the dome of a former synagogue yesterday, God's eye was on the sparrow and on the St. James' Episcopal congregation, whose West Baltimore landmark church was struck by lightning two weeks ago.
Singing a spirited "His Eye is on the Sparrow," about 300 of the church's members worshiped in unfamiliar surroundings, the Prince Hall Masons' Grand Lodge. From 1892 to 1960, this lofty structure on Eutaw Place had been Temple Oheb Shalom.
Led by the Rev. Michael B. Curry, St. James' strong-voiced rector, the Episcopalians soon trans formed their borrowed space with reassuring words and music -- "We're marching to Zion," "What a friend we have in Jesus," "On Christ the solid rock I stand," "O Master, let me walk with thee."
And if any pessimism remained in the air over the Lafayette Square fire -- caused by what the insurance adjusters call an act of God -- it seemed to take flight as they sang:
Why should I be discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heav'n and home
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He.
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.
But reminders of the June 20 disaster could not be avoided.
The congregation's prayer books and hymnals, ruined by the water that put out the fire after lightning struck the rooftop cross, have been replaced temporarily by typed excerpts, the spoken word on white paper, the sung on green.
Precisely how long the congregation must deal with such makeshift solutions was an open question yesterday.
"We've got a long-distance race ahead of us," Father Curry told his parishioners. "We don't know how long we will be out of our beloved church. It may be a year, it may be a year and a half. . . .
"We will take our time, learn from our architects. We are not in a hurry. Stone by stone, brick by brick, we'll do it right."
He said before the service that, although initial estimates put the cost of restoring the Gothic Revival edifice at Lafayette and Arlington avenues as high as $500,000, the nature and extent of the damage is still being assessed.
Mosaic floor tiles are being pulled up and scaffolding erected inside the sanctuary so that the church's celebrated timber arches and the beams and trusses of its roof -- "a massive thing," he called it -- can be examined.
The ornamental wooden pews have been removed and stored. It will be at least several weeks before the extent of the water damage to them is known, the priest said.
"We believe the insurance should pretty much take care of the major stuff," Father Curry said. "We believe everything of historical value can be salvaged."
The congregation was established in 1824 as St. James' First African Protestant Episcopal Church. With nearly 800 members, it is now a strong parish of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland -- a fact that Bishop A. Theodore Eastman underscored by his participation June 27 in its first Sunday worship at the temporary Eutaw Place location after the fire.
Father Curry said insurance covers "alternative worship space -- this is very helpful."
In the rector's sermon yesterday, the first of a four-part series entitled "The Secrets of the Slaves," he told the members of the black congregation they had much to learn from their pre-Civil War ancestors.
"They knew how to survive with pride. . . . Let us not complain or grumble, and when we criticize, let us do it constructively," he said.
Noting that it was not President Harry S. Truman but African slaves who first warned, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen," Father Curry declared at the top of his preaching voice, "Let us stand up and do the work that God intended us to do. If you can't stand the heat --" His voice was drowned out by applause.
A parishioner said afterward, "We had a fire, but we didn't put the light out in the preacher, did we?" | <urn:uuid:bcf6f3e9-6579-4d0c-8b5f-296496189172> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://articles.baltimoresun.com/1993-07-05/news/1993186073_1_protestant-episcopal-church-congregation-sparrow | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974634 | 878 | 1.875 | 2 |
MicroGen Systems Wins NYSERDA Contract; to Partner With the Infotonics Technology Center (ITC) in Developing Micro-Energy Harvesting Technology
“The wireless sensor network (WSN) market is growing quickly yet is limited by existing short lifetime batteries. Providing a green, virtually infinite alternative power source to traditional energy sources will significantly expand applications for WSNs and other technologies,” said
“ITC is working with MicroGen to quickly turn their concept into a working prototype, which will help them raise capital needed to bring this technology to market. The MEMS-based energy harvester has myriad application possibilities, and MicroGen, partnered with ITC, will be at the forefront in serving emerging markets. We expect MicroGen will have a fully functional prototype by the end of the first quarter, 2009,” said ITC CEO
The 2007 Federal Tread Act mandates that all new vehicles less than 10,000 lbs must have tire-pressure measurement system (TPMS) units on all tires. Currently TPMSs are battery-powered, sending about 64 million batteries to U.S. landfills annually. A green power source like MicroGen’s product can dramatically reduce the need for these batteries. This is one of many WSN applications that could benefit from MicroGen’s new micro power source.
This release was issued on behalf of the above organization by Send2Press(R), a unit of Neotrope(R). http://www.Send2Press.com
SOURCE Infotonics Technology Center | <urn:uuid:08d18a40-0377-4709-9599-cc28b17a5919> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1639284/microgen_systems_wins_nyserda_contract_to_partner_with_the_infotonics/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00075-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940214 | 321 | 1.8125 | 2 |
Are you a hardcore iPhone modder? That is, are you willing to disassemble your treasured device, put it under a microscope, and attack its tiny circuit board traces with a soldering iron? If so, then this new video from MAKE alum Becky Stern, over at adafruit, is for you.
She starts with one of the Chinese light-up logo modkits that are floating around. These kits are a bit hard to find. US merchants, adafruit included, aren’t selling them because they include a replacement back panel with a bootleg transparent Apple logo. kogadget.com has sold this kit, or a similar one, in the past, though they don’t seem to be available at the moment.
Along with some tools and other installation accessories, the kit includes a paper-thin LED panel that mounts behind the replacement back. Only two connections are required, one of which (to ground) can be made just by wrapping a stripped lead around one of your iPhone’s internal assembly screws. The other connection is made to screen backlight power (so that the logo lights up whenever the screen is illuminated) and, per the original kit directions, is supposed to be made using a pretty wonky double-sticky-back tape arrangement. If you’re slightly less hardcore, you may want to try that method before melting any metal into your expensive phone.
Becky, however, is having none of that weaksauce, and will show you how to make a proper connection. If you’ve got what it takes. | <urn:uuid:640a464e-96ca-4dde-9493-95717ebfd6d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.makezine.com/2012/10/22/the-iphone-44s-light-up-logo-mod/?like=1&source=post_flair&_wpnonce=0c985fc400 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946001 | 329 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Most Active Stories
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On Air Staff and WPM Interns
Fri April 6, 2012
State Reveals Inflation Numbers And Wyoming's Most Expensive County
Teton County is the most expensive county in the Wyoming to live in, compared to the statewide average. That’s according to the State Economic Analysis Division.
Amy Bittner is a senior economist with the Economic Analysis Division. The statewide average index number is 100, and Bittner says in Teton County, the index number for consumer goods reached 133 in the fourth quarter of last year.
“That essentially means that Teton counties cost of living is estimated 33% higher than the statewide average and the main driver of that are housing costs,” says Bittner. “Consumers spend a large portion of their budget on housing costs so it has a higher weight in a consumers budget, so that’s what’s driving a higher cost of living in Teton county.”
Bittner says, conversely, Platte County had an index value of 86 compared to the state’s average of 100 meaning that the cost of living is lower there.
The state’s economic analysis division also released figures on inflation for 2011 registering a 3.9% increase in consumer goods 4th quarter of 2010. Bittner says they arrive at inflation numbers after pricing a number of consumer goods, then measuring their change from a year prior.
“We divide those items that we price into five categories: food, housing, apparel, transportation, medical, and recreation and personal care,” says Bittner. “Food had the highest annual inflation for the year statewide.”
Bittner says increased transportation costs also helped drive up food prices, and that the Central Region of the state registered the largest increase in inflation at 4.8%. | <urn:uuid:f379d18c-2aa3-4e7b-8eab-802fa4b56a27> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wyomingpublicradio.net/post/state-reveals-inflation-numbers-and-wyomings-most-expensive-county | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940794 | 459 | 1.90625 | 2 |
Walmart's Tireless Cost-Cutting Drives Down Workers' Wages, Report Says
Walmart is often credited with lowering the prices of consumer goods. Now the big-box retailer is being credited -- or more precisely, blamed -- for driving down some workers' wages and benefits.
According to a new report by a pro-labor group, the National Employment Law Project, workers employed by "outsourced Walmart logistics operations" in warehouses around the country are alleging a host of labor violations, from unpaid wages to health and safety issues.
Walmart Stores Inc.'s aggressive strategy of "enforcing ever-lower prices has serious implications" for workers throughout the company's supply chain, the NELP report alleges, because the policy puts pressure on suppliers to cut corners on safety and violate wage-and-hour laws. And it does it in a way that insulates Walmart from responsibility, the group says.
For its report, NELP focused on one of three Walmart warehouse complexes run by third parties in Mira Loma, Calif., part of the Southern California region known as the Inland Empire.
The group says that the practice of contracting-out such labor has spread to other companies and industries, including logistics firms that work for Walmart's competitors -- retailers that are also under pressure to reduce costs. The push has resulted in lower wages for employees of the retail stores' subcontractors, compared to those of the stores' in-house workers who perform the same tasks.
Walmart spokesman Dan Fogelman told the Los Angeles Times that the Bentonville, Ark.-based company expects all its contractors and subcontractors to comply with laws governing worker pay, safety and other areas. He added that most of Walmart's distribution centers are owned and operated by the company and not by third parties.
NELP's report follows recent claims of worker abuse at the same massive Inland Empire warehouse complex. According to a lawsuit filed in October, workers there were underpaid and forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions, including high heat. The three companies accused of the abuses have denied the allegations.
The Times notes that two of the three contractors recently were ordered by state labor officials to pay more than $1 million in fines for failing to properly maintain payroll records for workers at the center, who are chiefly Latino immigrants.
The lawsuit is merely the latest in a slew of labor woes that Walmart has dealt with the last decade, including allegations that the company violated laws related to illegal immigrant workers, overtime, gender bias, and preservation of evidence in pursuit of larger profits.
"Walmart's had a long history of legal conflict because they have a way of doing business that pushes the edges of what the law allows," James Post, a professor at Boston University School of Management, told Bloomberg News. "Sometimes it goes over the line."
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David Schepp has spent more than a dozen years covering business news for the electronic and print media, including Dow Jones Newswires, BBC News, Gannett Co., and most recently at AOL's DailyFinance. Nearly 10 years ago, he started writing a weekly People@Work column, looking in depth at issues facing workers in today's workplace. Follow David on Twitter. Email David at [email protected]. Add David to your Google+ circles.more... | <urn:uuid:8422f85e-385e-4df2-b571-50505bdcf45c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://jobs.aol.com/articles/2012/06/07/report-walmarts-cost-cutting-drives-down-warehouse-workers-wa/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956912 | 765 | 1.507813 | 2 |
The Domestication of Christmas
There is a problem with Christmas. The problem is that it has become domesticated. Its earth shattering, revolutionary character has been covered up by saccharine and Santa Claus. The Christmas stories found in Luke and Matthew have become so familiar that most people no longer hear what the gospel writers are saying. The meaning of the incarnation has been smothered by the sentimentality the church has laid over Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the angels and the infant Jesus.
To see how domesticated this celebration of the incarnation has become consider the following:
• The God of the universe, the creator of all that has been, all that is, and all that will be entered humankind through the flesh, blood and water of Mary’s womb. The fullness of God became a helpless baby.
• The fullness of God became a helpless baby born to a young Jewish girl betrothed to a simple carpenter living in a region known for insurrection. Mary gave birth to Jesus in the equivalent of a barn and laid the infant in a feed trough. Why did God choose Mary of Nazareth rather than a daughter of one of the priests or scribes in Jerusalem, or a member of the emperor’s family? God chose to enter into humankind as a child of the poor and humble.
• The birth was announced first to shepherds in the field. God chose to give the good news of the incarnation to poor laborers who made their living with their hands. Because they worked with animals, the shepherds were often treated as outcasts. Why did God not send the angels to the religious authorities so they would be the first to hear the good news? Why did God not send the angels to the Emperor or Governor of Judea?
• According to the Matthew, soon after Jesus’ birth King Herod sent soldiers to Bethlehem to murder all boys two years old and younger. Those boys were killed for the crime of being like Jesus. They were also killed because the incarnation was rightly perceived by the powers of the world to be a real threat to their order.
We see in these four points that the incarnation is God’s surprising, revolutionary entry into human history. It tells us that God acts in unexpected ways through unlikely, even disreputable, people. It also tells us that the powers and principalities of the world, represented by Herod, rightly see God’s action in and through Mary as a real threat to them and the status quo. The good news and meaning of the incarnation are beautifully expressed in the song of Mary:
“My soul magnifies the Lord.
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever”
(Luke 1:46b-55, NRSV).
Christmas is good news for the poor and all who are poor in spirit. It is not good news for the powerful and wealthy who seek to increase their power and wealth through violence and domination because the one whose birth we celebrate is the crucified and risen Lord who is coming again to set things right, just as Mary said he would. | <urn:uuid:04214f96-7a0f-4a4c-8915-ddf9017ea6dd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://accountablediscipleship.blogspot.jp/2008_12_01_archive.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976897 | 789 | 2.5 | 2 |
an interview with Fr. Meletios Webber
[Photo: Fr. Meletios witnessing the confession of a young member of the parish of St. Nicholas of Myra Russian Orthodox Church in Amsterdam.]
Archimandrite Meletios Webber was born in London and received his Masters degree in theology from Oxford University in England and the Thessalonica School of Theology in Greece. He also holds a doctorate in psychotherapy from the University of Montana. He is the author of Steps of Transformation and Bread and Water, Wine and Oil: an Orthodox Christian Experience of God. He has served as parish priest in England, Greece, and the United States, and for a year was a guest priest at St. Nicholas Church in Amsterdam. He has recently been elected abbot of the Monastery of St. John of Shanghai in California. He is a member of the advisory board of the Orthodox Peace Fellowship.
This is an extract from a longer interview done by a Russian correspondent for the Russian Orthodox web journal, Pravoslavie.ru.
o you have any comment on the decision by the European Union to deny the Christian origin of European culture? And, in contrast, on the recent attempt in the United States Congress to affirm and value this origin, and the essential role Christianity has played in the development of Western civilization? What is the portent of this statement for the European Community?
One of the most important factors in the modern world is that, perhaps for the first time, the Church has become free to criticize any political leader. I think that the Gospel is, and always will be, at odds with the social systems we have developed. And it is the Church’s task to call government to account whenever governments are behaving in ways that are at odds with the Gospel.
It is interesting that America, in which the notion of the separation of Church and state really originated, or partially originated, is now wanting to affirm some Christian roots; whereas, in Europe, where Christianity is so much part of the life blood that it hardly needs to be talked about, such a statement is deemed unnecessary.
The high points in the life of the Church, spiritually speaking, have usually been the times when the Church has been heavily persecuted, and the low points, spiritually speaking, have been times when the Church has been allied with political power. Not always, but sometimes. So, I think it is largely irrelevant as to whether political powers seek to have their roots in Christianity or in other religions, if they use that religion to justify whatever it is they are doing. So, the freer the Church is to comment on political life in the light of the Gospel, the better the situation is, everything else notwithstanding.
The experience of the Byzantine Empire, which remains somewhere in the consciousness of Christian society, has as its symbol the double-headed eagle signifying the harmonious functions of two heads in one body – the Church as the conscience of the government, and the government as the protector of the Church. Does this have any meaning for Europeans today?
Of course, the Byzantine ideal depends upon Christian emperors. That is a great deal more than emperors who happen to be Christian. In the good examples which Byzantium gives us, we see people who are of great spiritual depth, and under those circumstances it is possible for such a thing to exist.
I don’t see that the way modern democracy works is likely to bring people who are more than nominally Christian into positions of leadership. People who are too demonstratively Christian are going to be wiped out in the primaries. That is the nature of the modern political machine. People with strong views about anything are likely to be wiped out. The people you are left with are those who are good at balancing, pleasing all sides.
The Church is not like that. The Church should not be like that. The Church has a mission which hasn’t changed from the day that Jesus was physically amongst us on earth. It is the call to repentance, the call to bring people back to God. Very few states can be seen to have been successful in doing that same thing.
You are speaking of states in the Western world, or states in general?
In general. I know that Byzantium is a beautiful idea for many, many people. Holy Russia is a beautiful idea for many other people. Yet both the Russian political system and the Byzantine political system fell short of the Gospel in many ways, at least during certain periods of history, and sometimes markedly so. Neither one was of the mold of modern democracy.
Unless things change dramatically in the future, I don’t see that the sort of government that existed in Russia, and in Byzantium, is going to be a possibility at all. So I would see the future being where the Church and the state might be amicable, but the Church always needs to reserve the right to criticize. And many governments don’t particularly care for that part of the Church’s mission.
Do you think that this might be the underlying cause for this statement by the European Union?
To be honest, the people who seem to be making the rules in Europe at the moment baffle me entirely. I have no idea why they say anything. Or even who they are.
But you do not see this as setting the stage for more strictures on Church activities?
No, absolutely not.
They have fallen away from the Church, so they assume that all of Europe has fallen away from the Church?
Pretty much. In some ways, that is good for the Church. Wherever, for example, Catholicism has been hand-in-hand with a particular government in a particular country, you haven’t always seen Catholicism at its finest.
Being hand-in-hand with the government did not bring out its finest?
Precisely. On the contrary.
It brings out its worst?
Well, the Spanish Inquisition leaps to one’s mind, but there are other examples.
So, do you think that this decision could also have sprung from the Western European historical consciousness of abuses springing from a unity between Church and state?
The Christian background of Western Europe is so vast, and so omnipresent, that nobody could actually eradicate it. It is an historical fact, there to stay. That is the basis of what’s going on. Given the arrival of Islam into Spain and parts of Eastern Europe, it has always been one variety of Christianity or another which has dominated this area for 1200 years, in some places even longer.
And the new wave of Moslem immigration – are you feeling any pressure from this in Amsterdam?
I am almost certain that there is a solution waiting to be found to what appears to be a problem. Most Moslem people here in Holland are very happy to lead their own lives, doing what they usually do peacefully with what are usually post-Christian neighbors. There will always be layers of fanaticism in every society, but on the whole, the Moslem presence in Holland is something that most people can live with.
However, when people turn to religion to provide themselves with what one might want to call “ego identity,” simply because that identity is not present anywhere else, it transforms the religion into something which is rather distasteful, and also makes their own psychological make-up somewhat suspect.
This isn’t the best way of finding an identity. That is the problem. If people only find some sort of living identity in their religious affiliation, then we’ve got a lot of work to do. Because in the end, religions aren’t made to coexist.
Religions, by definition, tend to be at odds, and this has always been historically true for Christianity as well as Islam. There has always been a tendency for one to want to wipe out the other. They don’t live side by side naturally. Quite how we can get them to live side by side with some sort of friendliness, I am not quite sure, but that is the work that needs to be done.
Finally, do you have any words for our readers? Some wishes for the people of Russia, and her relationship to Europe?
I suppose my view is that the Communists who took over Russian society at the time of the revolution were – and I think this is true – genuinely trying to improve society. But I also believe that the way they went about it, particularly becoming adversarial towards Orthodoxy, meant that their labors were in vain. Russia is Orthodox to the marrow.
I see it in the people who come to Church, who have no real academic or book knowledge of what Orthodoxy is all about, but who have a deep, deep reverence for Orthodoxy, and the life of Christ that Orthodoxy exhibits.
Russia without Orthodoxy is, and has been, impoverished. It might be splendid in some ways, but there is something desperately lacking. And I am fairly certain that in God’s time the roots will be connected with the leaves. Then, what is in the depths of Russian history – what you might want to call the depths of the Russian soul (but perhaps that’s a little more dangerous) – will begin to manifest itself once again in positive ways, through growth, outreach, and commitment to the words of Jesus. That future is very bright indeed.
Links for the complete interview:
Summer 2008 issue of In Communion / IC 50 | <urn:uuid:be4944fa-d2d1-4a7b-aa18-076b8965277e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.incommunion.org/2008/08/02/calling-governments-to-account/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700264179/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516103104-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973209 | 1,944 | 1.820313 | 2 |
A new scientific study concludes that women with bigger breasts are more likely to get cancer than those with a smaller bra size.
The study, which was conducted by a European research agency called 23andMe and recently published in BMC Medical Genetics, is the result of a questionnaire completed by more than 16,000 women of European ancestry.
“Some studies have found that larger chest size as a young woman is associated with a slightly higher risk for cancer,” says lead author Nicholas Eriksson. “The genetic factors we found support this concept that chest size and cancer are related.”
Although suspected for years, the results of this study, conducted recently, may not take into account new factors which may cause cancer of the breasts, such as diet and environmental conditions. so more study and research is likely to continue.
These results seem to be confined to women with a naturally larger chest size. they don’t appear to conclude that women who undergo plastic surgery, such as augmentation, are more likely to get cancer.
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The animals and the animal rights
community have lost a tireless crusader. Regina Atwater, the president
of Rochester's "Animal Advocates of Upstate New York" died yesterday,
after a fatal car accident a few days ago. She suffered massive head
injuries when a car driven by an unlicensed girl slammed into Regina's
car while she sat outside the school where she taught. The driver of the
unlicensed car had a permit but was driving illegally. Suspicions that
this was an intentional act are unconfirmed. The area of the occurrence
is known as a rough neighborhood where activities such as cockfighting
have occurred and Regina was known to protest such activities. Regina
was thought to have never regained consciousness after the incident, and
her family decided to take her off life support yesterday (Saturday).
Besides being the president of Animal Advocates of
Upstate New York, Regina was a very active and adventurous person -- and
among other activities, she loved to go kayaking. She was also a teacher
and a nun. Regina educated a lot of people about animal rights through
talking to students in schools. She frequently used animal rights
information supplied to her by EnglandGal for lectures and the 24 hour
voice mail help line that Regina's group hosts, which in turn supplied
information when people would call in with questions regarding care of
animals, animal issues, and, of course, animal rights issues.
It will be impossible to "replace" such a person -- but
hopefully her death will motivate the Rochester group to move on with
their helping of the animals, stronger than ever, as Regina would have
wanted. Animal Advocates of Upstate New York will be holding an
emergency meeting soon, to decide what to do about their group's
leadership and future. Regina was an extremely dedicated and tireless
fighter for the animals. Funeral arrangements are still pending.
Condolences can be sent to:
Animal Advocates of Upstate New York, Inc.
P O Box 18415,
Rochester, New York 14618
Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled
as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
It is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Go on to Self
Return to 27 December 1998 Issue
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From Our 2010 Archives
Intense Cholesterol, Blood Pressure Therapies Don't Help Type 2 Diabetics
Latest Cholesterol News
SUNDAY, March 14 (HealthDay News) -- Two sets of results from a large U.S. government-sponsored trial find that neither aggressive treatment of cholesterol nor of blood pressure lowers the risk of heart events in people with type 2 diabetes.
"These results could be disappointing to a lot of people -- that this intensive blood pressure control or intensive lipid control didn't reduce fatal or nonfatal events," said Dr. Stephen Kopecky, a cardiologist and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn.
But, Kopecky added, the trial did not look at lifestyle measures which, when added to the mix, might have achieved the sought-after goals of fewer heart attacks, fewer strokes and lower mortality.
The findings come from the huge National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute-funded Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial which, overall, involved more than 10,000 patients with type 2 diabetes at risk for heart disease.
Both sets of results were to be presented Sunday at the annual meeting of the American College of Cardiology in Atlanta and simultaneously published in the March 18 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
People with type 2 diabetes have a considerably higher risk of cardiovascular disease and health experts are constantly searching for new and better ways to lower that risk.
Previous results from ACCORD found, much to everyone's surprise, that intensive lowering of blood sugar levels actually increased the risk of death in this population of people. Other studies have not found that, however, and the jury is still out on what glucose levels are optimal, Kopecky said.
For the ACCORD cholesterol trial, more than 5,500 patients with type 2 diabetes and a high risk for heart disease who were already taking the cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor (simvastatin) were randomly assigned to add fenofibrate or a placebo to their regimen.
Fenofibrate is used to increase HDL ("good") cholesterol levels and reduce triglyceride levels.
The double-strength approach did not result in any notable differences in the rate of fatal cardiovascular events or the incidence of non-fatal first heart attacks, non-fatal stroke or death from cardiovascular problems between the two treatment wings of the trial.
Further analyses did reveal that there might be a benefit for men and also for patients who started out with high triglyceride levels and low HDL cholesterol levels. But, for women, there was a "trend" toward actual harm.
The ACCORD blood pressure trial randomly assigned more than 4,700 men and women with type 2 diabetes to an intensive regimen intended to reduce systolic (the top number) blood pressure to less than 120 mm Hg, or to standard therapy designed to achieve systolic levels of 140 mm Hg.
Although participants in the intensive-therapy arm did achieve lower blood pressure levels, this did not translate into any substantial differences in the incidence of fatal or non-fatal cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and stroke between the two groups, the team report.
There was a suggestion that taking blood pressure to lower levels might prevent the total number of stroke cases, but 89 people would need to be treated for five years to prevent one stroke, the study authors estimated.
And participants receiving intensive blood pressure therapy did experience more serious adverse events.
"Once systolic blood pressure starts to go above the 115 mark, the risk of heart attack and stroke starts to go up," Kopecky said.
However, previous research has shown dramatic reductions in heart problems in type 2 diabetics who combined medication with lifestyle changes such as exercise and eating five fruits and vegetables a day, he said.
"I'm not saying medicines aren't helpful, just that they need to be done in combination with lifestyle measures," Kopecky said. "It's reminding us how important our lifestyle is. You can't just overcome it with pills."
Another trial being presented at the cardiology meeting -- the INVEST trial -- had similar findings: that aggressive blood pressure control to bring systolic blood pressure below 130 mmHg in patients who have both type 2 diabetes and heart disease was no better than standard treatment (pulling the blood pressure under 140).
Copyright © 2010 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
SOURCES: Stephen Kopecky, M.D., professor, medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.; March 13, 2010, presentations, American College of Cardiology annual meeting, Atlanta; March 18, 2010, New England Journal of Medicine
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January 15 - February 27, 2005
From Jan. 15 through Feb. 27, 2005, the Hearst Art Gallery of Saint Mary's College will debut Sandow Birk's Paradiso, the third installment of a remarkable update on Dante Alighieri's early 14th century epic poem about the human condition. Birk, a southern California artist, collaborated with Surfline web editor and Surfing Magazine writer Marcus Sanders to infuse Dante's text with a contemporary urban vernacular.
Saint Mary's College professor Brother Michael Meister, FSC, who has collected and computerized more than 50 different English-language translations of the Divine Comedy over the years, provided scholarly guidance with the re-working of the three canticles.
Birk's paintings, drawings and lithographs are infused with satire, political content, humor, and irony. The Inferno, set in Los Angeles, and the Purgatorio, set in San Francisco, have each been widely acclaimed during exhibitions in San Francisco, New York and Los Angeles. Paradiso is set primarily in New York City.
In addition to rendering the language of the poem into a contemporary American English vernacular, Birk's illustrations pay homage to the work of the venerable 19th century illustrator, Gustave Dore. A first edition of Dore's Divine Comedy from the Saint Mary's College collection will be on view for the first time in the new exhibition.
Birk is a recipient of Fulbright, Getty, and Guggenheim Fellowships and National Endowment for the Arts grants. He is represented by Koplin Del Rio Gallery in Los Angeles, Catherine Clark Gallery in San Francisco, and PPOW in New York; his work is in the permanent collections of the di Rosa Preserve in Napa, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, the San Jose Museum of Art, and the New York Historical Society.
Paradiso contains 3 new paintings and 71 original drawings and lithographs. The third hand-made book, this one bound in white leather with gold stamping, has been printed by master printer David Salgado, and published by Trillium Press in an edition of 100. The book will be available in early 2005, followed by a trade edition, published by Chronicle Books.
A series of closing week events with Birk and Sanders will be held Thursday evening, Feb. 24, Sunday afternoon, Feb. 27, and Monday evening, Feb. 28. Specific information will be announced at a later date.
Sandow Birk and Marcus Sanders adapted Inferno, the first canticle of the Divine Comedy. In addition to rendering the language of the poem into a contemporary American English vernacular, Birk has also re-interpreted 19th century illustrator, Gustave Dore's, drawings. The text is accompanied by 71 of Birk's original lithographic images, which locate hell in contemporary, urban areas, including downtown Los Angeles. The hand-signed, continuous tone, lithographic images are drawn with an ink-filled drafting pen to create intricate cross-hatching and fine lines. The book is bound in dark red leather with gold stamping. It is the first book in the trilogy. All of the images for the book were hand drawn by the Birk who worked with Master Printer, David Salgado, to print and publish Inferno at Trillium Press. The edition is 100 (plus a number of proofs). The book contains introductions by Doug Harvey and Brother Michael Meister, FSC.
Purgatorio, the second canticle, is about the climb out of Inferno toward Paradiso. Purgatorio contains 69 original signed lithographs, a dynamic translation by the artist and co-author Marcus Sanders, and is bound in dark green leather with gold stamping. In Birk's images, Purgatory is largely located in San Francisco with trips by Dante and Virgil to Bali and Tokyo. Birk again collaborated with Master Printer David Salgado of Trillium Press, where the book was published in an edition of 100. The book contains introductions by Marcia Tanner, Brother Michael Meister, FSC, and Ron Murphy.
Paradiso is the third canticle of the Divine Comedy. Birk is again collaborating with author Marcus Sanders to adapt the text into contemporary language. Paradiso, which will situate Paradise in New York, will contain approximately 70 original lithographs and will be bound in white leather with gold stamping. It will be released in January 2005, printed and published by Trillium Press in an edition of 100. The book contains an introduction by Brother Michael Meister, FSC.
Notes on the Lithographic Illustrations
Lithography preserves Sandow Birk's autographic mark, faithfully reproducing his hand. For Birk's drawings it was important to capture the fine line of his drawings and print them with tone inside of each line. To do this, each lithographic plate, which was hand drawn by Birk, is actually a sheet of transparent, textured drafting film.
Using an ink-filled drafting pen with a 000 nib, the drawings for each of the projects were done the year prior to each of the publications in the trilogy being released.
For Inferno, the drawings were completed during 2002, for Purgatorio, 2003, and Birk has just completed the illustrations for Paradiso. Some of Birk's intricate cross-hatching and fine line work is enhanced with black pencil. As a counterpoint to the black pen lines, scratching and scraping the drawing with scalpels and razor blades create white lines and tonal subtleties. The illusion of gray from the cross-hatching becomes real gray tone in lines that have tone. The edges of the line are not mechanical, but have the nuance of drypoint without the indirect feedback of scratching on a plate.
Lithography works on the principle that there is a natural antipathy between water and ink. With quadrupleinking, plus using the nap of the paper picked up on the printing blanket, the elusive continuous tone line is achieved.
Work shown courtesy of Catherine Clark Gallery, San Francisco. Limited editions of first two works in the series, "Inferno" and "Purgatorio" by Trillium Press. This exhibition marks the debut of the third and last in the series.
For more information about the artist, Sandow Birk, please visit www.sandowbirk.com or the Catherine Clark Gallery web site.
Gallery Hours: Wednesday - Sunday, 11 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Admission Donation: $2, free parking
Main Desk: (925) 631-4379
The Hearst Art Gallery, a non-profit museum, is accredited by the American Association of Museums.
Contact: Heidi Donner (925) 631-4069 or [email protected] | <urn:uuid:bb9207df-aa3b-4edc-8ff6-444c7d78ef95> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.stmarys-ca.edu/node/9384 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00028-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931765 | 1,423 | 1.507813 | 2 |
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Down Syndrome Resources
National Down Syndrome Organizations
National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) - established in 1979 to increase public awareness about Down syndrome; to assist families in addressing the needs of children born with this genetic condition; and to sponsor and encourage scientific research.
NDSS maintains a toll-free number (1-800-221-4602) to its professionally staffed information and referral service available to people nationwide. They provide general information about Down syndrome; referral to parent support groups as well as other local and national resources; and information on many topics related to Down syndrome. A free information packet is available for new parents.
National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) - a national advocacy organization for Down syndrome and provides leadership in all areas of concern related to persons with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation (DSRTF) - The mission of DSRTF is to stimulate biomedical research that will accelerate the development of treatments to significantly improve cognition for individuals with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome Research Foundation (DSRF) - The Down Syndrome Research Foundation was formed in 1995 in response to the need, expressed by parents and professionals, for detailed and research-based information for themselves and for the community at large.
The ARC - the country's largest voluntary organization committed to the welfare of all children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families.
Other Down Syndrome Resources
Down's Heart Group - A UK based charity offering support and information relating to heart conditions associated with Down's Syndrome. Their useful links page is one of the best I have found for Down syndrome resources on the web.
AHRC - The mission of AHRC is to provide opportunities and choices for children and adults with developmental disabilities to realize their potential and achieve their goals by providing an array of individual and family supports. In fufilling its mission, AHRC promotes and advocates for personal growth, satisfaction, independence and full participation in society for each individual.
Association for Children with Down Syndrome (ACDS) - Early intervention program services approximately 200 children with Down syndrome from Nassau and Suffolk counties and New York City. Various service models are available to families to meet their individual needs.
National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS) - a not-for-profit organization, was founded in Chicago in 1961 by parents of children with Down syndrome who felt a need to create a better environment and bring about understanding and acceptance of people with Down syndrome.
Down Syndrome Association of Hampton Roads (formerly the Tidewater Down Syndrome Association) - one of the best parent groups in the country. They are located in Norfolk, VA.
Riverbend Down Syndrome Parent Support Group - provides support and information to parents of children with Down syndrome in Southwestern Illinois. This is one of the better information sites we have discovered on the web.
Uno Mas! - Uno Mas! means One More! One more #21 chromosome than most folks, that is. This online support group is a place to exchange advice and information and celebrate the uniqueness of people with Down's. It's also the place to get the coolest Down Syndrome T-shirt you've ever seen!
WebMD - the leading online health destination for consumers, physicians and healthcare professionals
Down Syndrome - Health Issues - a comprehensive site by Len Leshin, M.D., F.A.A.P. which includes a collection of essays about children with Down syndrome
Targeted Nutritional Intervention (TNI)
TNI (vitamin supplementation), a highly controversial subject within the Down syndrome community, has been featured on shows such as 20/20 and 48 Hours. However, there are no scientific studies that support the use of TNI in children with Down syndrome as a method to improve cognitive ability.
Nutritional Supplements for Down Syndrome: A Highly Questionable Approach by Len Leshin, M.D., F.A.C.S. - Dr. Leshin is the father of a child with Down syndrome and is a member of the Down syndrome Medical Interest Group. The owners of this web site highly recommend that parents reads this document before considering the use of vitamin supplementation.
The following are pro-TNI sites. The information that they contain should not be considered unbiased. This information is provided for informational purposes only. The owners of this web site do not endorse any vitamin supplement product.
International Nutrition, Inc - information from the manufacturers of NuTriVene-D, a nutritional supplement for those with Down Syndrome
Nutri-Chem - information from the manufacturers of MSB+, a nutritional supplement for those with Down Syndrome
Targeted Nutritional Intervention (TNI) - contains information related to Trisomy 21 Research Inc. and to TNI as is used in the treatment of children with Down Syndrome
The Cognitive Enhancement Research Institute - includes information about TNI, Piracetem, and anti-oxidants as possible treatments in Down Syndrome | <urn:uuid:76bf5e9c-cf93-4a02-acbf-e5e35df2e75a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.downsyn.com/resources.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925479 | 1,040 | 2.390625 | 2 |
|April 16, 2013||Posted by Maddie under Aging, Caregiving, Dental, Health|
Many elders suffer from all different kinds of dental problems. Many of these problems could easily be fixed or improved through simple dental care, or by just visitinga good dentist. As we age, we often forget the importance of good dental hygiene and we begin to see a lot of changes in our mouths. Some of the most common dental problems we face as we age are:
- Tooth Decay- In older adults, tooth decay appears most frequently around the gums. If untreated, tooth decay can eventually cause teeth to die and an abscess to form.
- Periodontal Disease- This disease causes swollen, sensitive gums that bleed at the slightest irritation. Small pockets develop between the teeth and gums and food gets caught up underneath. If this disease goes untreated it will continue to cause more and more destruction, and eventually result in a loss of teeth.
- Brittleness or Wear of Teeth- As we get older our teeth contain less fluid content and become brittle. Brittle teeth are easily chipped or broken.
Some simple ways to prevent these sorts of dental issues from happening are to:
- See a dentist- It is very common for older people to stop going to regular dental check ups. It’s important to see at dentist every 6 months to keep up with hygiene and be aware of any issues that may be arising in the mouth.
- Brush- Brushing our teeth is so important at any age, but especially for elders! If you or your elderly loved one has trouble with gripping a toothbrush, there are grips and bands that can be found in drug stores that will help keep a firm hold.
- Floss- Flossing is so important because it reaches many areas that the toothbrush can’t. Since elders have a greater chance of developing periodontal disease, flossing is very important to reach those in-between spots!
- Rinse- Rinsing with warm water will help to dislodge any food particles that may be attached to the teeth and/or gums. Rinsing should not be used as a substitute for brushing, but it is especially helpful for those who have a difficult time brushing.
All of these options are instrumental in keeping good dental hygiene. Dental health should not be neglected at any age, and it is important for caregivers to ensure that their elderly loved ones are keeping up with their hygiene.
|April 5, 2013||Posted by Ronni under Health, Top Products|
April is National Foot Health Month, so EasierLiving would be remiss if we let it pass without presenting our most popular foot health product for people with arthritic or diabetic feet: The Silipos® Arthritic/Diabetic Gel Socks*.
The gel socks work against common symptoms that result from major systemic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease or arthritis. They help to reduce friction, abrasion, shear forces and callus formation by adding a small layer of gel between the ground and the skin of the foot. The gel also helps to prevent foot ulcerations. It’s a layer of protection that is not provided with a traditional sock.
Not only does it protect, but it works to support the foot as well. The gel bottom conforms to the shape of the foot to provide added support, cushioning and comfort throughout the day. It features a seamless toe design to also bring relief to sensitive, sore skin on the toes. The cuff of the gel sock is excellent for people who like their socks looser but also like the to stay put! It won’t restrict blood flow to your feet like compression socks, yet it won’t slip out of place!
If you are looking for a sock for you or a loved one that brings them relief from the sores or sensitive skin on the bottom of their feet – this is the sock you want. Wear it like any other sock you own, but experience relief and comfort like never before!
Interested in looking for other great products for your feet? Check out our Foot Care page on EasierLiving.com!
*This product is latex-free and hypoallergenic.
|March 7, 2013||Posted by Ronni under Aging, Health|
As we know, age brings on many changes, one being weaker vision. Our eyes are two of our most valuable organs that we often take for granted and forget to take care of. Through years of ultraviolet sunray damage, dust particles and everyday eyestrain, our eyes are bound to become weaker with age- but we can slow the age-related damage by following a few simple steps:
- Regular eye exams: This is the most important factor in keeping up with eye care. After the age of 40, everyone should see an eye doctor every two years. After age 60 check-ups should be annual. Anyone with a family history of eye problems, or living with diabetes, should see an eye doctor more frequently.
- Eye protection: This goes for people of all ages! As stylish as sunglasses may be, they also serve as protectors from harmful ultraviolet rays that raise our risk of developing cataracts. A wide-brimmed hat is also useful for shielding the sunlight.
- Enjoy your veggies: Dark green veggies such as kale, spinach, collard and mustard greens contain lutein, which studies have shown to reverse symptoms of macular degeneration (loss of vision in the center of the visual field.) Orange and yellow veggies such as corn, squash, and carrots contain zeaxanthin, which has also been shown to reduce symptoms that come with aging eyes.
- Brighten up your workspace: Reading or working for a long period of time in a dimly lit area can cause eyestrain. It will benefit you to take a break from any activity that involves prolonged staring, and also be sure to shed some light on your workspace!
- Pay attention to warning signs: Many vision problems can be treated as long as they are detected early enough. Don’t ignore the warning signs! If you are experiencing blurred or double vision, or anything irregular with your eyesight at all, you should see a doctor.
Having clear vision is possible at any age. You can’t stop yourself from aging, but you can make sure that your eyes stay healthy throughout the process!
|March 5, 2013||Posted by Ronni under Aging, Health|
Having good eye health is crucial to having good vision. Although healthy eyes can often have lower vision, it’s not often that unhealthy eyes do. Your eyes are the gateway to your general health as well. They can often tell a doctor if you are afflicted by a more serious disease before other symptoms occur. Straining your eyes can lead to an unhealthy eye. When your eyes are tired, they are more susceptible to disease. Preventing strain on your eyes can keep your eyes healthy and strong. If you feel that your eyes are being coming tired – they could feel dry, itchy or painful – you should try these tips to prevent eye strain:
- Reduce Glare – Whether you are looking at a TV, computer screen, tablet or out a window, glare could be causing your eyes to work to hard. Change the position of the device or the light you are using to keep glare to a minimum. If the glare is because of day light from a window, close the window curtain to block the light.
- Make it Bigger – Magnification may seem like a no brainer, but often times we forget how easy it is! In this technology driven age, we can increase the size of the text on our e-readers, TV’s and tablets. If you’re kickin’ it old school with an actual book or newspaper, we recommend picking up a magnifying glass or non-prescription spectacles from a pharmacy.
- Increase Your Lighting – Turn on the lights! Although it may decrease glare on your devices, having adequate lighting is super important to keeping your eyes from being strained. If you are on a computer, get a desk lamp. If you are watching TV, turn on a side lamp. If you are reading on a tablet or an e-reader, make sure the backlighting is at the right level for your eyes. You can also change the brightness and color contrast on your TV or computer.
- Take a Break – We may not like to take a break from doing what we love or have to do, but for our eyes it may be necessary. Staring at a computer screen all day can lead to worsened eye sight – especailly if the lighting in the environment isn’t up to par. Also, reading for hours and hours or performing hobbies with small components (like cross-stitching) can make us go cross eyed! Get a glass of water, go for a walk, close your eyes and rest for a bit. No matter what it is – change your focus for a bit.
|February 6, 2013||Posted by Ronni under Health, Wellness|
Heart disease is preventable. But living and eating healthy isn’t always number one on a caregiver’s list of priorities. Good news: It doesn’t have to be. Below are a list of some great drinks that you can fill your “to-go” cup with in the morning and sip your way to better heart health! Although, we recommend waiting until after a stressful day to enjoy a little of the red wine! Drink your way to heart health responsibly!
Cup o’ Joe: The antioxidant activity in your morning cup of coffee is very high. The best part of coffee is – it’s everywhere! Here in New England, they rumor you can find a coffee shop every 200 ft!! In a very wide study of 83,000 women (according to caring.com) women who drank two to four cups of coffee a day saw a 20% drop in the risk of stroke. We recommend putting as little sweetener and creamer into your coffee as possible to keep it as healthy as possible.
Blend it Together: During our search we found a recipe from Dr. Oz for a heart-healthy smoothie! It’d be a great treat during the summer to keep you cool and healthy! It’s chalk full of antioxidants and delicious ingredients! Check it out HERE!
Nectar of the Forbidden Fruit: Pomegranates, rumored to be the forbidden fruit that tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden, has an antioxidant level that is 3 times more than that of red wine or green tea. Once, pomegranate juice was considered hard to find – but now you can pick it up at pretty much every grocery store. Drinking the juice regularly may lower your cholesterol and remove arterial plaque. Stick to the “all-natural” brands with less sugar and additives.
During Tea Time: Both black tea and green tea are extremely good for your heart. During Fermentation of the tea, the leaves change chemical structure bring out the antioxidants hidden in the root of the plant. A few cups of black tea a day can reduce your risk of stroke by removing the bad cholesterol from your body. It can also increase blood flow throughout the day. Green tea also reduces the risk of stroke and coronaries. It can also be used to treat inflammation of the joints!
Daily Night Cap: Although alcohol has several side effects that can lead to bad health habits, a small glass of red wine daily may not be a bad thing for women. Research has shown that red wine is jam packed with cardioprotective compounds – like polyphenol. Polyphenol is found in the skin of the grap and during the wine making process becomes highly concentrated. It keeps the heart pumping. Stick to a small, 5 oz glass once a day. Drink responsibly!
|January 15, 2013||Posted by Ronni under Health, Wellness|
The United States has been shocked by the flu season of 2012-2013. In Boston, Massachusetts alone, 700 people have been reportedly diagnosed with the flu – 18 of those people have passed away. This number of reported cases is ten times the amount from last year. Most techniques to avoiding the influenza virus are common sense and have been told to us over and over. But when you care for a household, especially one with small children and elderly adults, you may need to take flu prevention to a whole new level. Washing hands and covering your mouth while cough is extremely important, but don’t ignore the rest of flu prevention! We’ve put together several products that can get you and your family safely through flu season. These products are excellent for flu prevention even after someone in your home is diagnosed with the flu! Click on the banner below to browse these products and check out our tips to avoiding the flu this season.
Top 5 Tips to Avoiding the Flu this Season
- Disinfect everything! From doorknobs and counter surfaces to your own hands, disinfectants and antibacterial products are now your best friend. Most can kill 99.9% of germs after application – the trick is to wait until the disinfectant is dry. Once it’s dry, it’s done it’s work.
- Wear a mask! If someone in your home comes down with the flu, others are definitely in danger. If you have an elderly loved one that may be challenged by the flu, getting them a N95 mask may be your best bet for protection! These masks can kill several viruses including the flu!
- Keep Hand Sanitizer Everywhere! Keep a small container of hand sanitizer in your car, at the office, in the kitchen and in living areas of your home. If you are sharing or touching items the potentially sick people have also touched or used – sanitize before you touch anything else, especially your eyes or mouth.
- Outfit your Home! Antimicrobial additions to your home is never a bad thing. Switching out normal grab bars for ones that kill germs can only keep germs on hands from spreading from one person to another. Grab bars are great in bathrooms, kitchens and stairwells.
- Care for yourself too! Stress and lack of rest will make you more susceptible to influenza. Be sure to rest as much as you need it, drink your orange juice and practice stress relieving techniques to ward off illness.
|October 17, 2012||Posted by Rachel under Health|
We’ve all been there before—sitting long hours at your desk job working hard (or hardly working) when you start to feel that aching pain in your shoulder or neck. Shoulder and neck pain are common with work involving very low levels of muscle activity, such as office work with computers. But can drinking coffee prior to work relieve the pain? We came across a recent study that took a look at subjects who drank coffee before starting computer office-work and if they showed a different time course in the pain development than those who did not drink coffee. 48 people, 22 with chronic shoulder and neck pain and 26 healthy pain-free subjects, were recruited to perform a computer-based office-work task for 90 min. 40% of them drank coffee prior to working. The study showed that during the work task, the coffee consumers showed significantly lower pain increase than those who did not drink coffee.
So, drinking a cup of coffee before work could be beneficial to preventing pain from occurring while you’re at your desk. Not only can coffee prevent an increase in pain, it can also decrease sleepiness and fatigue. So, if you’re ever sitting at work wondering what you can do to prevent that annoying pain in your shoulder or neck from occurring, try drinking a cup of coffee before going into work the next morning!
|October 3, 2012||Posted by Rachel under Health|
Headaches—we all get them. They’re annoying and inconvenient and occur way too often for many of us. There are nearly 130 different types of headachesand they commonly affect our daily activity. Themost common causes of headaches include lack of sleep and stress, and both these factors along with physical over-exertion and weather can cause migraine and tension headaches. But how do you treat a headache?
Primary headaches can be treated with painkillers such as aspirin. If even stronger pain relief is required, you can get a doctor prescription for NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs)such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and mefenamic acid. To treat headaches that aren’t responsive to any of these pain relievers, doctors can prescribe 5HT1 agonists, such as ergot alkaloids. Aside from medication, you could try resting in a quiet and dark room with an ice pack on your head and apply firm pressure to the scalp to try to relieve the pain.
|October 2, 2012||Posted by Rachel under Aging, Health|
We often associate back problems with aging and getting older, but what do you do when you actually start to feel that discomfort in your back? It’s normal for someone to freak out when they start feeling pain in any part of their body, but here are some ways to help you treat your back pain.
- Being anxious or stressed out will increase your chances of muscle spasm, which is a source of back pain, so do your best to keep the stress to a minimum.
- Listen to your body; if you know it’s going to hurt to try to move that refrigerator right now, don’t do it.
- Taking pain medication such as Advil or Tylenol, resting for a few days, and applying hot/cold packs on your back will alleviate the pain.
- Stretching will also help the pain. The most helpful stretch for back pain is the “90-90″ position: lying on the floor with your calves flat on a chair or other horizontal surface, hips at 90 degrees to your body, knees flopped comfortably apart till you are not using any muscle force to stay there.
- Seeking help from chiropractors or physical therapists can do wonders as well!
|April 4, 2012||Posted by Elizabeth under Caregiving, Health|
When to get further examination and when to leave well enough alone – it’s the ongoing struggle of a caregiver. Of course, you want to cross your t’s and dot your i’s when it comes to making sure that your loved one is receiving the best possible care. But for many carees, going through long examinations can be strenuous, expensive and exhausting. The key is knowing when to seek out additional medical care, and when to just keep an extra eye on your loved one.
Dr. Christine Cassel, the president and CEO of the ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine) Foundation, says that tests like MRI’s, brain scans, back scans and stress tests are necessary, but often overused. Dr. Cassel is one of the Foundation’s leading experts in geriatric medicine, medical ethics, and quality of care. In the featured CNN article, Cassel explains that many doctors say that patients are requesting these exams instead of allowing the doctor to make the decision.
Read this CNN Health piece to be aware of Dr. Cassel’s explanation of overused medical tests, and then speak with your loved one’s healthcare provider to see what is best for the patient.
(As shown on CNN Health) | <urn:uuid:2d22dc3f-ade3-4630-9b7c-d1a3acb1b599> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://easierlivingblog.com/category/health/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00039-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946948 | 4,042 | 2.71875 | 3 |
Audio: Bill Steber
From the album All
Lonnie Pitchford was discovered in his teen years by folklorist Worth Long and was taken to Washington where he performed on the one-string diddley bow. Since then, Lonnie appeared on numerous albums and in documentary films such as "Deep Blues". In 1994, Rooster Records released his first, and so far only, solo CD. Lonnie first learned the music of Robert Johnson form the musician's step-son Robert Jr. Lockwood.
Under Lockwood's tutelage, Pitchford became one of the foremost interpreters of Robert Johnson's music. Lonnie is shown here in the house identified by Honey Boy Edwards as the house he and Robert Johnson were playing in the night Johnson was alleged poisoned by a jealous husband in 1938 at age 26. Tragically, Pitchford himself died in November of 1998 at age 43.
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Index of all Images
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|ISSUE ARCHIVES||COLUMNS||FORUMS||MAILING LIST||E-MAIL US| | <urn:uuid:93886b7e-f630-4948-a525-a244b22c28cd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://digitaljournalist.org/issue9901/blue28.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.922741 | 302 | 1.6875 | 2 |
Direct Democracy Links
Voting for direct democracy outside a general election
It is up to us, the people [not the politicians] to use the power that we have always had, to choose to implement direct democracy as soon as possible.
This is not a protest campaign.
Following the People's Administration Direct Democracy Party [a mainstream registered party since March 2010] on Twitter, gives us your permission [when a majority] to invoke existing laws under UN Articles 21 and 61 [which the UK is signed-up to], so as to take immediate control of all policy decision-making by forming a legitimate UN-sanctioned direct democracy with majority election and without revolution, in the UK.
The People's Administration's constitution for reform to direct democracy and our voting protocols have both been accepted by the UK Electoral Commission and the UN as legitimate. In a general election, the People's Administration does not have to field candidates to secure your vote on the ballot paper. Outside a general election, you can vote for a legitimate reform to direct democracy now! | <urn:uuid:ef56d4de-a343-4dd8-97af-6099756d3f12> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.paparty.co.uk/direct_democracy_links.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00064-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.940041 | 212 | 1.976563 | 2 |
Although the New Year’s resolution lists that proliferate in late December are full of worthy goals, my favorite remains “learn something new.” This time of year, I like the theme of giving in to expansion over contraction, generosity over deprivation, and passion over willpower. The staff, authors, and members here at lynda.com know that our library is a great resource to have if learning is on your life list.
Although many of us on the Content team work in a specific segment of the library, we can’t help but notice the intriguing courses our colleagues are developing in other areas. This year I asked members of the team, acknowledged enthusiasts in their given fields, which areas outside their usual sphere of knowledge are capturing their interest. Here are their answers and some suggestions for where they might want to start (or where you might want to start if you share the same interest).
Morten Rand-Hendriksen, staff author, Web segment
“Over the holidays I want to power through all the photography courses in the archive. Because it’s been a long time since I sat down and really tried to improve my photography skills. I also really want to become a more creative designer/artist, so I’ll be looking into any course that helps me in that respect.”
Recommendation: If you can’t get through the whole Photography segment in one holiday week off, you might try Foundations of Photography: Composition to start. Ben Long teaches principles that definitely go beyond photography into general artistry.
Jess Stratton, staff author, Business segment
“I’d like to learn something for the sake of a hobby this year—getting back into playing the keyboard and recording it somehow, but I don’t know how to start getting it from my keyboard into the computer. I want to check out the course on recording music using an iPad.”
Recommendation: Garrick Chow’s iPad Music Production series is the place for Jess and like-minded musicians. The first course—iPad Music Production: Inputs, Mics, and MIDI—is a great place to start (although if you’re up for playing on an iOS device directly, the GarageBand installment makes making music on your iPad look really fun).
David Franz, content manager, Audio segment
“Social media marketing … I want my music to rock the world! .”
Recommendation: I’ve noticed David isn’t the only musician who knows that thriving in the music business requires a direct relationship with fans via social media. Until David develops that perfect course expressly for musicians, there’s great material for getting started in our Social Media Marketing with Facebook and Twitter course.
Mordy Golding, director of content, Design and Photography segment
“I’ve been teaching myself Processing—the computer language. I’m interested in finding better ways to visualize data.”
Recommendation: A few months ago, our Developer group released Interactive Data Visualization with Processing. Processing is a tool that can literally change data into (beautiful and useful) art.
Elinor Actipis, director of content, Rich Media segment
Doug Winnie, director of content, Web and Developer segment
Both Elinor and Doug mentioned sharpening their advanced Excel skills, particularly with respect to data analysis. (Is it a coincidence that our directors are all about visualization of data?)
Recommendation: Our Excel library is vast and valuable, but for data crunching, one of my favorite courses is Cleaning Up Your Excel Data with Dennis Taylor. Dennis has great tips for efficiently wrangling all those numbers into consistent tables, making analysis both easier and more accurate.
George Maestri, content manager, 3D and Animation segment
Matt Gilbert, associate content manager, Business segment
Jim Heid, content manager, Photography segment
These three content managers from three different segments all mentioned wanting to learn about ebook publishing and iOS apps as content containers.
George notes: “I had a few cartoon pitches that got lost in development when I was at the studios. I figure releasing them as books/apps would be a fun distraction.”
And Jim: “Ebook publishing is hot among photographers. And as someone who grew up with tape recorders, movie cameras, and cameras, I have a lot of “family assets” that I’d like to turn into a little interactive memoir for my family.”
Recommendation: We’ve got excellent courses on iBooks Author, iOS app creation, EPUB with InDesign, and using jQuery in your digital magazine. If you don’t know where to start, Digital Publishing Fundamentals runs down the options you have for turning your words and pictures into electronic works of art.
• iBooks Author Essential Training
• iOS app creation
• EPUB with InDesign
• Digital Publishing Fundamentals
Rob Garrott, content manager, Video segment
“I’m going to try to get into a bit of coding. I should probably start digging into web coding, but that’s too much broccoli, so I might start with Python. That is a core component of truly advanced 3D animation, and I’ve been afraid to touch it.”
Recommendation: (Mental note: Broccoli is the new spinach!) Many members are happy to jump into Bill Weinman’s Python 3 Essential Training course. For those who want to warm up their veggies slowly, you may try Simon Allardice’s Foundations of Programming: Object-Oriented Design course.
• Python 3 Essential Training
• Foundations of Programming: Object-Oriented Design
Cynthia Scott, director of content, Business segment
“Top on my learning wish list is the On Camera series.”
Recommendation: The first of this series, On Camera: Develop Your Video Presence, immediately had me thinking of uses beyond straightforward video (it also had me knocking on Cynthia’s office door to share how valuable I thought it was to Business folk). In the days of Skype-based job interviews and high-stakes video conferencing, many of Rick’s suggestions prepare you for time in front of any camera, not just those destined for edited, produced video.
Ben Long, author, Photography segment
Finally, since so many of my interviewee colleagues mentioned Ben Long’s photography courses, I thought it would be interesting to ask Ben himself what he might be interested in learning from the library in 2013. True to his polymathic nature, he mentioned several things from iPhone development to Maya to WordPress. But perhaps he summed up the width and breadth of the lynda.com library (and the voracious appetite of any lifelong learner) when he asked:
“And where’s that course for adding 12 hours to one’s day?”
When we release “Changing the Laws of the Universe,” Ben, we’ll be sure to let you know. In the meantime, there’s Time Management Fundamentals.
What are your New Year’s learning resolutions? Let us help you find the lynda.com courses to get you on your way. | <urn:uuid:016ca5f5-128c-4412-9494-65183427da06> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://blog.lynda.com/category/3d-animation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00023-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.929335 | 1,523 | 1.523438 | 2 |
It is hard to know which old model is failing fastest: the blue state model of governance, or the legacy media, which might be called the “blue state model of journalism.” We already noted the last few days the declining fortunes of CNN, as well as the news that Newsweek is going to cease print publication in the near future. But a little squib in the Wall Street Journal a couple of days back suggests it’s even worse than we know: the Washington Post has received a $500,000 grant from the Ford Foundation to shore up its shrinking newsroom. The Los Angeles Times already got a $1 million grant from Ford for the same purpose:
The Ford Foundation awarded a $500,000 grant to the Washington Post to expand its government-accountability coverage, the foundation’s second major grant to a for-profit newspaper this year.
The foundation made its first for-profit newspaper grant to the Los Angeles Times this spring—an award of $1 million to enlarge coverage of local immigration and ethnic communities.
The grants come as newspapers continue to struggle with print revenues declining much faster than digital revenues are growing, forcing closures and job cuts throughout the industry. The Washington Post’s newsroom, for instance, has shrunk to around 600 people today from about 1,000 at its peak in 2000.
The one-year grant to the Post, which is owned by Washington Post Co., will fund four reporters to work on “special projects related to money, politics and government,” under the paper’s investigative unit, according to a memo from Post editors.
“The Foundation’s support enables us to build on one of our central missions, and the terms of the grant give us complete independence,” the editors said.
Think this over for a minute: for-profit media companies are becoming charity cases for their core mission. Really? (It is well known that without this highly profitable Kaplan test prep division, the Washington Post company would be losing buckets of money.) That’s not a business model with a future.
Meanwhile, it will be fun to watch Ford and other liberal foundations pour their money down media ratholes. Brings to mind a boozy Washington dinner I was at some years ago, where I was somehow seated next to young lady from the National Center for Responsive Philanthropy—the liberal group that had produced a handwringing report deploring the effectiveness of the relatively tiny conservative foundations, chiefly Bradley, Scaife, and Olin—whose total assets didn’t add up to one month’s worth of Ford Foundation grants. The Left perpetually wonders what secret conspiracy accounts for the superior effectiveness of conservative grantmakers.
I decided to make some mischief. I offered that we conservatives were actually quite delighted with Ted Turner’s $1 billion pledge to the United Nations (since reneged, but never mind). This produced a raised eyebrow of surprise.
Me: “Sure. Because $1 billion spent truly well could do a lot of damage, but giving $1 billion to the U.N. is a pure waste. Might as well just find the nearest rathole for your money.”
Then I added: “Oh, and the Ford Foundation? How many employees do they have on staff? Something like 250? They’d make more effective grants if they fired half the staff. Wouldn’t matter which half.”
So today I’ll add that I’m delighted that the Ford Foundation is stepping in to shore up the nearly bankrupt legacy news media. (I think Dan Rather may be available cheap, by the way.) How long until they start shoring up failing public employee union pension plans? I doubt even Ford and Rockefeller together have enough assets to try that. But I invite them to try. | <urn:uuid:09dfe19b-ec54-4c39-9bfe-e5d557389006> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.powerlineblog.com/archives/2012/08/the-epic-fail-race-blue-media-vs-blue-government.php?tsize=small | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952349 | 794 | 1.507813 | 2 |
There have always been “them” and “us” users of the RF spectrum. “Them” are usually government agencies that work with rulebooks the FCC doesn't seem to want to know about and has absolutely no control over. If you've ever been near a White House communications crew, for example, you will find that whatever spectrum you think you have been allocated has been commandeered for other uses.
The “us” users of the spectrum are the guys with licenses and the whole of 47 C.F.R. to obey, with the FCC at the ready to raise hell at any slipup. The inability to control piracy is more than matched by the fervor that sometimes accompanies a fine for being outside of your licensed power range. But there has, at least, never been a time when the whole idea of free broadcasting might be in doubt — until now.
The Spectrum Policy Task Force — with four working groups — recently reported its findings and recommendations to the FCC. No report is official FCC policy until/unless it passes through the commentary, reply and any rule and order phases, but a lot can be gained by the tenor of these particular reports. Also, the professionals who put the reports together are all employed by, or directly associated with, the Commission.
We all know that terrestrial broadcasting is really not free. Commercial broadcasting is funded by advertisers who build their on-air costs into the prices of the products they sell us. Public, college and religious broadcasting are nearly all paid for by begging money from us on regular occasions. But broadcasters have, at least, not had to pay for the spectrum they are using.
“The Commission has traditionally allocated spectrum specifically for broadcast use, based on statutory public interest considerations and the free over-the-air nature of broadcast services.” In that sentence “public interest considerations” is Commission-speak mostly for “reasonable access” to candidates for federal elective office, but that word “traditionally” put in there really made my brain light up. It is nearly always followed by a “but” somewhere. And it was.
Reporting that some commenters (sic) favored continued access to broadcasters for spectrum on a “command-and-control basis,” the task force also noted that “other commenters (sic) contend that the continued dedication of spectrum for broadcasters, and particularly for commercial broadcasting, is increasingly anachronistic as the public gains access to alternative sources of programming and information from cable television, satellite services, the Internet and other outlets.” Phew!
The task force quickly backs down from that possible viewpoint “for the time being” but later notes that “the Commission should periodically reevaluate its broadcast spectrum policies…in particular such reevaluation should consider the extent to which the public interest benefits provided by dedication of spectrum under a command-and-control regime can be provided through the application of more flexible, market-oriented spectrum policies.” In other words, folks, expect to be paying for your spectrum in the future if you are a commercial broadcaster.
There is an almost implicit threat a little later in the report that commercial terrestrial broadcasting may not be needed at all if there is sufficient multiple source access to the “types of information and programming that commercial broadcasters provide.” That would certainly make the must-carry rules more straightforward!
Does all this apply to radio and TV? The task force doesn't mention radio specifically at all in this section of its report, except in saying that “it is likely that there will be a continued need to set aside some spectrum for non-market-based broadcast uses, such as non-commercial and educational broadcasting.”
Don't call your Congressman yet; this would all have to go through FCC procedures when (did I say “when”? Sorry. I should have said “if,” right?) it comes to pass, and any decisions will be the hands of the government, which may of course feel that “public interest considerations” are still worth a free chunk of bandwidth rather than the money it could rake in. After all, we know very well that the FCC is just there to administer the laws passed by Congress and has never had any political agenda. But broadcasters need to know that the mood out there in the “them” camp is set to be hostile to the “us” camp. The spectrum simply isn't a big enough sandbox for you all to play in together.
Paul McGoldrick is an industry consultant based on the West Coast.
Send questions and comments to: [email protected] | <urn:uuid:49ae52b3-0f5e-460c-bd8c-e075dea591ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://broadcastengineering.com/digital_handbook/broadcasting_end_free_spectrum | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.968104 | 969 | 1.921875 | 2 |
Indian Muslim Leaders Condemn Taliban’s ‘Jizya’ On Sikhs in Pakistan
Joint Statement of Indian Muslim leaders
Pakistani Taliban’s treatment of Sikhs in tribal areas is illegal and barbaric
We, religious, political and community leaders of the Indian Muslims, are alarmed at the reports coming out of Pakistan’s tribal areas about the Pakistani Taliban’s kidnapping, extortion of huge amounts of money from their Sikh compatriots as “Jizya” and demolition of the houses and shops of those who fail to pay the demanded sums.
We would like to say that Jizya is a tax paid in an Islamic state for exemption from military service by healthy non-Muslim adults who are free to follow their vocations without restriction or fear, and that there is no other tax payable by them after paying this tax, unlike Muslims who have to pay various taxes including Zakat and have to perform military service as well.
Jizya was payable by non-Muslims only in lands conquered by Muslims like Egypt, Syria and Iraq but not in unconquered areas like Madina where during the time of the Holy Prophet no Jizya was ever imposed on non-Muslim citizens who enjoyed equal rights and duties under the Constitution of Madina. For many centuries Jizya has not been levied by Muslim states and today even the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Islamic Republic of Iran do not levy Jizya on non-Muslims for the simple reason that non-Muslims in these states pay all taxes payable by others. Prominent Islamic scholars of the modern times like Shaikh Yusuf Al-Qaradawi are of the view that Jizya should not be imposed now as non-Muslims are equal citizens of Muslim states and pay all taxes paid by other citizens and shoulder all the duties.
We wish to make it clear that the imposition of the so-called Jizya is nothing more than extortion by an armed and lawless gang which does not constitute a sovereign government or state or even an organ thereof. Moreover, Pakistan’s tribal areas are not “conquered lands” as their non-Muslim population has been living there for centuries. These areas were part of the British India and became part of the new State of Pakistan as a result of peaceful transfer of power on Partition.
As regards the huge amounts in millions reported to be demanded, these are arbitrary and exorbitant as the amount of annual Jizya paid by non-Muslims in early Islam was merely one to one and a half dinar, which is 4.24 gram to 6.36 grams of gold. Moreover, this tax was payable only at the end of the year and not in advance.
We regard this as an act of injustice incompatible with the letter and spirit of Islam and the international covenants accepted by all Muslim states.
We demand that the Pakistani authorities must take earliest steps to retrieve the extorted sums and pay them back to their affected non-Muslim citizens and facilitate their peaceful return to their homes and properties in their traditional homelands and give them all due protection.
Maulana Mufti Mukarram Ahmad
Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid Fatehpuri, Delhi
Hafiz Muhammad Yahya
President, All India Jamiat Ahl-e Hadees
Maulana Abdul Hameed Nomani
Secretary, Jamiat Ulama-e Hind
Former PM & ex-President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat
Prof Tahir Mahmood
Member Law Commission of India
Secretary, Jamaat-e Islami Hind
Maulana Ataur Rahman Qasmi
President, Shah Waliullah Institute, Delhi
Maulana Waris Mazhari
Editor, Monthly Tarjuman, Delhi
Dr Zafar Mahmood
President, Zakat Foundation of India
Dr SQR Ilyas
Member, Muslim Personal Law Board
Dr Zafarul-Islam Khan
President, All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat
Mirza Yawar Baig
President of Yawar Baig & Associates
Shahnawaz Ali Raihan
Secretary, Students Islamic Organisation
Issued at New Delhi on 2 May 2009
Issued by the All India Muslim Majlis-e Mushawarat, Delhi | <urn:uuid:ec2c5436-ada0-495f-a973-3035f305f1bc> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/indian_muslim_leaders_condemn_talibans_jizya_on_sikhs_in_pakistan | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696383156/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092623-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941053 | 885 | 1.773438 | 2 |
Last week, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released abortion statistics for calendar year 2009. The news was good for pro-lifers as the CDC statistics indicate the number of abortions decreased by approximately 5 percent between 2008 and 2009. Overall, the abortion rate has been declining fairly steadily since the early 1990s, but has leveled off somewhat during the current decade. Furthermore, some research indicates that the incidence of abortion increases when the economy slows down. As such, this reported decline in the abortion rate was somewhat unexpected.
Unsurprisingly, most of the mainstream-media coverage of the abortion decline was quick to credit contraception use. The Associated Press story on the abortion decline cited two professors and a Guttmacher Institute analyst. They each credited contraception use, even though they were unable to provide any actual evidence of increased contraception use in 2009. Perhaps unsurprisingly, no one representing a pro-life group was quoted or cited in the article.
Sarah Kliff, writing for the Washington Post’s Wonkblog offered some more-thoughtful commentary. She combs through some research and argues that the decline is due to the fact that women are more likely to use long-acting contraceptives such as IUDs which tend to be more effective. There is some evidence that women have become more likely to use long-acting contraceptives. However, it is unlikely there was a dramatic increase in long-acting contraceptive use in 2009. Furthermore, data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicate that even though the use of long-acting contraceptives has increased since 1995, the percentage of pregnancies that are unintended has actually increased slightly.
To be honest, there is no obvious reason for the abortion decline. A closer look at the data indicates the decline was fairly consistent as 36 of the 45 states reporting data saw their abortion numbers fall between 2008 and 2009. Additionally, the abortion decline was fairly similar across geographic regions. In, fact, the percentage decrease in “red” states carried by George W. Bush in 2000 and 2004 was similar to the percentage decrease in “blue” states carried by his Democratic counterparts. However, one potential factor is a shift in public opinion. The CDC data indicate that the percentage of pregnancies resulting in abortion fell slightly in 2009. Furthermore, according to Gallup, 2009 was the first year that a majority of Americans self-described as “pro-life.” Unsurprisingly, this fact has been all but ignored by the mainstream media. | <urn:uuid:1aedd1c5-02ac-40c4-b3a8-f734b1032a0c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.lifesitenews.com/blog/media-misleads-on-reasons-behind-abortion-decline | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970942 | 497 | 2.0625 | 2 |
NATO's arrest effort a 'watershed'
Editor's Note: CNN Access is a regular feature on CNN.com providing interviews with newsmakers from around the world.
LONDON, England (CNN) -- NATO's failed attempt to arrest former Bosnian-Serb leader Radovan Karadzic on Thursday was the first time the alliance had tried to seize the International War Tribunal's most wanted man since he went on the run six years ago.
Karadzic is wanted by The Hague to stand trial for genocide
Dana Allin is Balkans policy analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies. On Thursday she told CNN how the operation could have gone wrong, and what signals the effort sends.
CNN How could NATO have botched its attempt to capture Radovan Karadzic?
DA Well, its intelligence is not perfect, or Karadzic may have been tipped off. Karadzic has been at large for six to seven years and during all that time he is believed to have been in Bosnia, which is nominally run by NATO troops.
I do not know if they botched it, but it does signal their intent. In the past they have always called off any action -- I know of one incident in particular involving U.S. troops.
The fact that they went ahead with this is a watershed. It is hardly surprising either. To prevail on the Yugoslav government to hand over Slobodan Milosevic despite the problems it would cause in Belgrade and not to get Karadzic to the Hague to face justice would be a little rich.
CNN It has been suggested that Karadzic would surrender himself to The Hague and testify against Milosevic in exchange for a lighter sentence. Does Thursday's action imply this is unlikely?
DA It is fairly obvious that it does suggest no deal exists for him. The three main men to be tried at The Hague, I believe, are Milosevic, Karadzic and Radko Mladic. It would be difficult for the court to propose and the judge to do such a deal.
CNN What kind of message does NATO's attempt to arrest Karadzic give?
DA It is very clear that speculation has been building up for a while that NATO would have to move against Karadzic. I do not think that Karadzic will not be arrested. This is the first publicised concerted attempt to nab him. They have tried once, they will try again until they get him.
CNN Why has it taken since 1995, when the International War Crimes Tribunal indicted him, for NATO to take action?
DA Probably there were exaggerations about the consequences of carrying out such an action. The initial IFOR philosophy was not to rock the boat. They mounted an almost traditional peace-keeping operation where they would have to seek the consent from Serb authorities to carry out such an action.
This greatly changed after 1997 but still there was some fear that it would be particularly hard to capture him because of imagined resistance.
Major preparations were made by the U.S. to get him but they were called off by the former President Bill Clinton based on pessimistic scenarios from the Pentagon.
The fears were not completely unfounded, but they should not be exaggerated. It is unlikely that a major revolt will rise up to protect him at the barricades, and it is also unlikely that any military conflict would take place between NATO troops and Serbs. Any danger of this happening has subsided over time.
CNN How strong is the support for Karadzic among the Serbs?
DA I think there has been support, which has ebbed and flowed with Serb nationalist sentiment. But specific support for Karadzic reached a high-mark in 1997.
It has not recovered since Bilijana Plavsic (a former political leader in Bosnia-Herzegovina who gave herself up to The Hague in 2001) broke away and denounced him for running a petty thiefdom.
There is a worry that some hardened people, who possess guns, still support him. But one thing that happened when Plavsic went against him was that he lost access to criminal income to pay for bodyguards. He probably still has some armed support, but not a match for NATO. And he cannot summon up popular support.
CNN How difficult is the terrain for NATO to carry out an operation?
DA I do not think it is easy to find him, but it is not impossible. Bosnia-Herzegovina is very mountainous, but it is not an Afghanistan or north-west Pakistan. I do not think he has the same support that for example as Osama bin Laden has.
I do not want to suggest that the job is easy, but for much of the past NATO has not tried to get him. The degree of unwillingness to take any military action has over-ridden any problems so far to capture him.
CNN If Karadzic is jointly indicted with Mladic, shouldn't NATO adopt a joint operation?
DA It has always been suggested that Mladic would be more difficult to capture because he enjoys the support of the Serb army which is still fairly strong. There have been different reports on where Mladic might be, but he is probably in Serbia proper, enjoying the protection of the Serb soldiers.
Karadzic evades NATO arrest
February 28, 2002
Bosnian Serb genocide suspect freed
September 06, 2001
Bosnia urged to hand over Karadzic
March 27, 2001
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President Obama‘s speech on the national debt at George Washington University wasn’t exactly a barn-burner. In fact, I think I’ve heard it before… several times. I’ll give you three guesses as to who he blamed for the debt crisis. There is so much in the speech to tear limb from limb it was hard to pick a topic (“paying” for tax cuts, bipartisanship, his warped idea of America and what makes it great, not to mention his stupid view of personal debt.) But when he lobbied for one of the worst and most wasteful public programs out there, while in the same speech talking about responsibility, I nearly lost my lunch.
If the Republicans are looking for a debt-cutting target, Obama’s favorite pet project, Head Start, is a great place to begin. This program is supposed to take preschool aged children considered “at risk” who are from low-income families and give them a preschool “head start.” Like most social programs, it has become a very expensive federally funded babysitting program with no measurable value to anyone but possibly the tired mommies who need a break.
Taxpayers have put $166 billion into this program over 45 years with dismal results. Much like the government union fight, however, this one is going to be ugly, difficult and fraught with political fall-out. Never let it be said that the Left doesn’t know how to couch an issue, surrounded by adorable, chubby-cheeked cherubs who really need preschool or they’ll be disadvantaged and probably end up homeless. Obama himself has gone to the mat for “Head Start” and is going to go down fighting for it.
I don’t need another tax cut. Warren Buffett doesn’t need another tax cut. Not if we have to pay for it by making seniors pay more for Medicare. Or by cutting kids from Head Start.
Maybe you rich dudes don’t need another tax cut, but I could sure use one. Here in Illinois, everybody’s taxes went up 66% (not just rich folks) and have you seen gas prices lately? At $4.20 a gallon for regular, nobody is getting much of a head start. Maybe if we could get some tax relief, the majority of folks could pay the $100 a month for private preschool. It’s important to note that in a time of economic depression, when some states (Illinois, California) can’t even pay vendors for legitimate work, we don’t have extra funds to throw away on programs that show no difference whatsoever between those who use the program and those who don’t. Just over a year ago, Obama’s Department of Health and Human Services released a study proving the program is a colossal waste of money. The New York Post‘s Andrew Coulsen summed it up perfectly.
[N]ot a single one of the 114 tests administered to first graders — of academics, socio-emotional development, health care/health status and parenting practice — showed a reliable, statistically significant effect from participating in Head Start.
Wow. Not one. | <urn:uuid:3bdfeb33-7006-4e50-95f2-93cbe2dbf8de> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newsrealblog.com/2011/04/13/why-obamas-sacred-cow-head-start-should-be-dead-meat/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00033-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961372 | 665 | 1.507813 | 2 |
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) is developing a 16nm process that Apple may adopt for future iPad and iPhone chips. The process should boost performance and reduce power consumption on new Apple products.
TSMC's 16nm FinFET process could play a key role in a "breakthrough" Apple product at some time between late 2013 and 2014, according to Digitimes Research analyst Nobunaga Chai.
Vice president of R&D at TSMC Cliff Hou told EE Times that the FinFET process will have the same leakage power characteristics as the 20-nm process on which it is based, but it will boost performance boost by up to 35 percent and reduce total power consumption by around 35 percent compared to 20 nm.
TSMC is also said to be likely to secure chip orders from Apple for an integrated AP/GPU solution using its 20nm SoC process technology.
The semiconductor manufacturing company is reported to already be producing samples of Apple's new 28nm A6X which could power the next-generation of iPad and iPad mini devices. According to Taiwan's Commercial Times, TSMC has begun a trial production of the 4th generation iPad's A6X processor. | <urn:uuid:bcae62bb-97e5-4dd9-8667-e1e11782d50c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.macworld.co.uk/ipad-iphone/news/?newsid=3421129&olo=rss | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00050-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942207 | 245 | 2.296875 | 2 |
Stickley, Gustav, 1858-1942. / Craftsman homes
The kind of fabrics and needlework that harmonize with and complete the craftsman decorative scheme, pp. 165-168
THE KIND OF FABRICS AND NEEDLEWORK THAT HARMONIZE WITH AND COMPLETE THE CRAFTS- MAN DECORATIVE SCHEME WE have traced in this book the de- velopment of the Craftsman scheme of building and interior decoration, beginning with the house as a whole and thence working back to an analysis of the different rooms, the wall spaces, struc- POET IEEE iS CEAFTSMAN CANVAS \VITH PINE CONE DESIGN IN APPLIQUE. tural features, furnishings and metal work, all of which must be considered separately as essential parts of the complete structure, in- cluding the decorative scheme. In doing this \ve have reversed the process by which we worked out the idea in the first place, for we began ten years ago with the furniture; the metal work followed as a matter of course because it was the next thing needed; then the dressing of leathers to harmonize with the style of the furniture and the wood of which it was made. Then came the finding of suit- able fabrics and the kind of decoration most in keeping with them, and from all these parts was naturally developed the idea of the Craftsman house as a whole. At first it was very difficult to find just the right kind of fabric to harmonize with the Craftsman furniture and metal work. It was not so much a question of color, although of course a great deal of the effect depended upon perfect color harmony, as it was a ques- tion of the texture and character of the fabric. Silks, plushes and tapestries, in fact delicate and perishable fabrics of all kinds. were utterly out of keeping with Craftsman furniture. What we needed were fabrics that possessed sturdiness and durability; that were made of materials that possessed a certain rugged and straightforward character of fiber. weave and texture,<such a character as PORTIkRE OF CRAFTSMAN CANVAS WITH cHECHF.RBmY DESIGN IN APPLIQUE.
Based on the date of publication, this material is presumed to be in the public domain.| For information on re-use see: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/Copyright | <urn:uuid:dc66e216-60e5-4dc8-93c4-a4cc4a6fd4f2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://digicoll.library.wisc.edu/cgi-bin/DLDecArts/DLDecArts-idx?type=div&did=DLDecArts.CraftHouseStick.i0058&isize=text | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959259 | 511 | 1.890625 | 2 |
Fat or fiction? The skinny on the truth about fats
(ARA) – Fat is the enemy – that's the philosophy of many Americans who are trying to lose excess weight. While plenty of proven health risks can be tied to carrying extra pounds, not all fat is bad, experts say. In fact dietary fat is considered an essential nutrient, and some "good" types of fat actually deliver a myriad of health benefits – including aiding in weight control.
"Fat is necessary for many vital functions," says Susan Berkow, PhD, a spokesperson with the Institute of Food Technologists and an adjunct professor at George Mason University. "Fat aids in maintaining proper function of the nervous system, keeping our internal organs insulated, nourishing hair and nails, and providing the building blocks for many hormones. It is a good source of energy, among other functions."
With the holidays approaching, many people will struggle to sort food facts from fiction as they try to control the amount of fat in their diet. Berkow offers some insight into how you can separate fat from fiction this holiday season:
Know your fats
By now you've probably heard of trans fat, unsaturated fat and saturated fat. But do you know which ones you should avoid and which ones are OK in moderation? "Up to 30 percent of our daily calories should come from fat, with unsaturated fats making up the majority of that percentage," Berkow says. Unsaturated fats are the "good" fats, and you can find them in plant-based oils such as olive or canola oil, salmon, tuna and many nuts such as almonds and walnuts.
Saturated fats are also a natural fat, but can cause health risks if not eaten in moderation. You'll find saturated fats mostly in animal products, such as cheese and meat, but some plant oils, like coconut and palm, also contain saturated fats. Holiday foods, which are often loaded with butter, can be very high in saturated fats.
Trans fat is most often found in processed foods. Manufacturers produce it and place it in foods to provide long shelf life and good flavor. Unless a label states "no trans fats" expect to find them in processed foods like baked goods and crackers. Many state and local governments have passed laws requiring restaurants to eliminate trans fat from menu items. Trans fat has been linked to elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol that can lead to heart attack and stroke.
'Good' vs. 'bad' fats
The right kinds of fats, eaten in moderation, provide a number of health benefits, and can even contribute to weight control by helping you feel full longer. Fat digests more slowly than other types of food and are satisfying, adding texture, taste and mouth feel. , So eating a modest portion of saturated fat at a meal can help you feel full, and avoid unhealthy snacking, until the next meal.
In general, people should look for sources of unsaturated fat that offer other nutritional benefits as such as those that contain omega-3 or omega-6 fattty acids. Minimize your intake of saturated fats and avoid trans fats as much as possible.
Federal dietary guidelines recommend about 65 grams of fat per day in a 2,000 calorie-per-day diet. If a food label says 20 percent daily value for fat, it means you will consume about 13 grams of fat in a single serving. Look for foods that constitute no more than 5 to 15 percent of your daily recommended fat intake. If you do indulge in a higher fat food at one meal, balance it with lower fat choices throughout the day.
"To minimize bad fat in holiday foods, choose low-fat or fat-free dairy products, read labels and keep total per-serving to less than 5 to 15 percent of the daily value," Berkow advises. "Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables with low-fat dips such as low-fat yogurt or humus. Dip your whole-grain bread in olive oil seasoned with garlic or basil, rather than in butter. Try new vegetables such as jicama, which is great for dipping. Bake with margarine rather than butter." | <urn:uuid:d6c872c1-2851-4481-9ef7-6222f497d48d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ift.org/Knowledge-Center/Learn-About-Food-Science/Food-Facts/Fat-or-fiction-The-skinny-on-the-truth-about-fats.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00055-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96044 | 838 | 2.921875 | 3 |
Botanical Society journals
The Network has worked with the regional botanical societies to digitise all the back issues of their journals to provide access to their content. Follow this link to access them:
This does not include the most recent issues of their journals and we recommend you join the societies if you wish to receive copies of their journals. Funding for this project came from the Government's Terrestrial and Freshwater Biodiversity Information Service Programme (TFBIS).
For access to the archive of the NZ Botanical Society Newsletter follow this link:
For more information about the regional botanical societies or to join them go to*:
*The Network is not responsible for the content of external internet sites
This page last updated on 15 Jan 2013 | <urn:uuid:db94a89a-94d6-4088-98db-8041d9b8c011> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://nzpcn.org.nz/page.aspx?publications_Botsoc_journals | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.901683 | 150 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Manufactured Gas Plants
Former Santa Rosa Manufactured Gas Plant
PG&E, under the oversight of the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board, is investigating and remediating the site of a former manufactured gas plant (MGP) that historically operated near the corner of First Street and Santa Rosa Avenue in
Santa Rosa. The site is currently the location of an office building parking lot, and is no longer owned by PG&E.
In 2009, PG&E began a five-year, multi-phase remediation project for the former gas holder area which will be completed this summer. A 10,000 square foot portion of the parking lot at 111 Santa Rosa was closed to allow PG&E crews to safely conduct this work. PG&E crews removed 55,000 gallons of liquid coal tar using electrical resistance heating technology, stabilized soils with a slurry/grout mixture to address significant ground settlement from removal activities, and excavated and disposed of 200 tons of soil containing former gas plant residues. The project will be completed by summer 2013 and the site will continue to be used as a parking lot.
Remediation plans for the remaining portions of the site are being developed under the continued oversight of the Regional Water Board. PG&E prepared a Feasibility Study which the Water Board approved in 2012; however, we are continuing to evaluate other options that are environmentally protective and result in fewer impacts to the surrounding community and local businesses. PG&E anticipates that plans to address the remaining impacts at the site will be finalized in 2013 or 2014.
PG&E acquired and operated the former Santa Rosa MGP from 1908 until 1924, at which time the plant was closed and dismantled. The site later operated as a natural gas distribution center and PG&E sold the property in 1987.
- Press Democrat: PG&E is Committed to Cleanup in Downtown Santa Rosa, April 2013
- Currents Article: Santa Rosa - PG&E Making Progress on Cleanup of Century-Old Gas Plant
- Final Supplemental Feasibility Study, April 2012 (PDF, 12.5 MB)
- Draft Feasibility Study Informational Notice, July 2010 (PDF, 298 KB) (2010.PDF, 298 KB)
- Regional Water Board Resources & Contact Information
- Informational Notice, July 2010 (PDF, 298 KB) | <urn:uuid:d1da6405-4059-4103-82db-8d27d61cbf57> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://pge.com/about/environment/taking-responsibility/mgp/santa-rosa.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949516 | 477 | 1.90625 | 2 |
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International Great Lakes Datum (IGLD) is the reference system by which Great Lakes-St. Lawrence River Basin water levels are measured. It consists of benchmarks at various locations on the lakes and St. Lawrence River that roughly coincides with sea level. All water levels are measured in feet or meters above this point. Movements in the earth's crust necessitate updating this datum every 25-30 years. The first IGLD was based upon measurements and bench marks that centered on the year 1955, and it was called IGLD (1955). The most recently updated datum uses calculations that center on 1985, and it is called IGLD (1985). Measurements recorded in NGVD (1929) or IGLD (1955) need to be converted to IGLD (1985) measurements before they can be used in comparison situations. The table below displays the different readings for the OHWM in Indiana and how to convert NGVD (1929) and IGLD (1955) measurements to IGLD (1985) measurements. Conversion Equations | <urn:uuid:59773736-0732-452d-8a4d-aed63e93c4a2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.in.gov/dnr/water/3659.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702448584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516110728-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.916307 | 254 | 3.4375 | 3 |
I'm using QGIS. I'm new.
I have a CSV file, with the source point (the_geom) and destination point (the_geom).
I have a road network already imported into PostGIS with pgRouting, and I need to have the ability to calculate the distance from a source to a destination, by using the road path as the road. After calculating, it should save the distance back into the DB in a new column.
Is there any quick and easy way to solve this?
Thanks for all the help! :) | <urn:uuid:6ce13acd-2ccf-4f77-b84a-56f3668a4ed1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://gis.stackexchange.com/questions/34067/calculating-from-a-location-to-another-location-calculation-must-be-on-a-line-r?answertab=votes | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00002-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952232 | 118 | 1.5625 | 2 |
In fact, the statement is ironic, in that it is usually the gun-lobby that trots out the Constitution to "prove" the inalienable right to carry a handgun.
So if the Constitution is only recognizing this intrinsic right, it must originate from some other source. I can only conclude that it is intrinsic to the nature of a human being; and if so, humans in countries with reasonable gun-control laws are actually living in repressive states.
- been born without it (or not enough of it), or
- had it taken away from you at some time, or
- had an experience(s) that gave you the feeling that your liberty will never be guaranteed.
In other words, you need a "before/after" basis for comparison.
I'm probably going to get wacked for my opinion, and my defense is, "you had to be there."
^ The irony is that the government we most need to worry about taking our liberty will be one the gun lobby worked to get elected. It'll be a majority government, won't it, and we'll be subject to the tyranny of the majority, which will wholeheartedly support its assault on freedom. Isn't that what happened in the Thirties in Germany? Now that was a popular government.
Didn't we get a little taste of that right here the last six years?
Free access to guns and eroded liberty. It's OK, it was just a little taste, but I can't imagine why anybody thinks having people own guns will preserve liberty when it's the gun aficionados' preferred governments we most need to worry about.
And gun ownership not so much an expression of liberty, but of American individuality, the pioneer spirit, now largely a myth.
Rapunzel: I don't agree.
I was talking about liberties in general...
I, too, don't think that handgun ownership is an expression of liberty.
That embarrassing Second Amendment must be repealed.
You had to be there.
Zippy, you disagreed with my opinion on the conditions one has to have been in (or be in) in order to truly appreciate liberty. But you didn't specify how you disagree. Maybe it was because it was late at night and you were too tired; maybe you never feel like discussing it...
"I disagree" without qualification gets a razz. Nothing personal.
Surely with there being in excess of 200 million guns in circulation in the US, "American individuality", if that is the term we use, is best expressed by NOT having a gun?
Again, as a non-American I always associate guns in America with the right-wing anti-government militia's, (what are they about?), the rabid racists of the KKK etc, the hunting crowd, and the powerful gun lobby.
What are guns for if not to kill? The only decision is what to kill, animals or humans? There ain't much else!
Give peace a chance as John Lennon once said.
I did say that it is now largely a myth.
...that you need this experience. Sometimes it works, but often that experience produces an irrational response that actually blinds the population to the erosion of freedom.Originally Posted by Rapunzel
You had this situation in Germany in 1933 - a humiliating defeat in WWI, postwar economic chaos, a sense that they did not control their own destiny. Burn the Reichstag, blame the Communists, and you have the opportunity for an emergency decree:There are parallels to 09/11. Freedom was lost: the freedom from fear, freedom to get on an airplane, freedom to take a photo anywhere without being questioned.Restrictions on personal liberty, on the right of free expression of opinion, including freedom of the press; on the rights of assembly and association; and violations of the privacy of postal, telegraphic and telephonic communications and warrants for house searches, orders for confiscations as well as restrictions on property, are also permissible beyond the legal limits otherwise prescribed.
As a result, we allowed our own citizens to be imprisoned without the Constitutional right of due process. | <urn:uuid:b4b878a3-c6aa-48b2-85f4-ec485a4a7e87> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://wirednewyork.com/forum/showthread.php?t=14052&page=2 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00038-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970324 | 849 | 1.71875 | 2 |
Sunday 05 June 2011 - 10:48 am.
A recent (April 2011) “letter to the editor” of one of the local “City” papers raised an interesting question about how we (the collective “we”) view the responsibility to follow the rules regarding voting in our nation. This writer made it clear that he considers any move to establish or enforce a few basic rules to ensure the integrity of our electoral process amounts to “disenfranchisement.” I think he, and those who view this issue as he does, are solidly wrong.
The U.S. electoral system is based on the premise of “one man = one vote.” To that end, it makes perfect sense to use the approach of having people register to vote, and do so in a reasonable period prior to the election(s). This enables the compilation of proper lists of registered voters, by precinct and district, so that during early voting, or on Election Day itself, it may be clearly verified that this voter has voted only once, and done so in the district and/or precinct in which they are permitted to vote. That sounds really basic to me, and lends itself to the fewest possible problems with multiple or illicit voting.
Ah, but along come the critics of this highly-effective and time-tested system, like our letter-writer. He claims that our elections are being “manipulated” by official insistence that people follow these few basic rules. He is offended by statutes that compel folks to show ID when wishing to vote (at least 26 states now have such rules). I’m sure he also feels that having to register at some reasonable time ahead of scheduled elections is another form of voter intimidation and curtailment of voting rights. I base this second contention on his words, as written. In his letter, he poses these three questions, and this is a direct quote: “Do you believe in curtailing the right to vote? Do you think elections should be fair, open, and honest? That politicians should be elected based on a tally of all votes cast by everyone who wants to vote?”
Well, I’ll answer. To his “middle” question, I believe that elections should be fair, open, and honest. This is why I feel the present system, using pre-registration and showing both voter ID cards and photo identification, is still the best, at least on the “people side” of elections. On the “voting-machine” side, I’m an even more traditional sort. I’d really like to see the computer-voting systems eliminated, out of consideration that the internal algorithms could be “rigged.” The old lever machines remain the best method for keeping elections honest. These machines could not be rigged, except by pre-loading the tumblers, which would be screamingly obvious and would disqualify every vote from that precinct. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! You’ll not get anyone elected by cancelling every vote in your precinct!
Lever machines also lent themselves to direct access by challengers. “Challengers” are folks who volunteer for local political candidates. The purpose of challengers (often called “watchers” as well) is to correlate the numbers on the machines, when first opened, with the numbers reported by the precincts to the Board of Elections. To this end, we “challengers” (yes, I’ve done this) would be present when the voting machines were unlocked and opened, and could write down the numeric totals on the spot. This is not possible with the computerized voting systems, where we’re simply told to “trust” the authorities. This is, in my view, a genuine weakness of computerized voting, and an area which the dishonest could exploit.
With regard to his other questions, it gets more involved, because these are questions intended to trip people up and goad them into “knee-jerk” responses.
While I don’t believe in “…curtailing the right to vote,” it stands to reason that the exercise of that right requires some ground rules, to ensure the integrity of the entire process. Being willing to take the basic step of registering to vote is indicative of one’s level of responsibility, a demonstration of your ability and desire to “cover the bases,” to use a baseball reference. If you can’t be trusted to sign-up & stand to be counted, how, and why, should we trust you with casting a vote? Are you hiding something by not registering? Are you a felon, illegal alien, or in some other ineligible category? These are legitimate questions.
As to his other question, “That politicians should be elected based on a tally of all votes cast by everyone who wants to vote?” Wow, what a concept! If I take this man at his word, he means that there should be no criteria for establishing voter eligibility aside from standing in line and saying “hey, I want to vote.” The day that becomes permissible, the whole system is lost.
Our writer, as noted, contends that insisting on any established voter qualifications, no matter how sensible and basic these may be, constitutes “disenfranchisement” and “curtailing” of the right to vote. So, it would follow that all the off-the-wall ideas floated over the years, like allowing same-day registration, eliminating the requirement (where currently applicable) of showing ID, would become the new norms. Same-day registration sounds good, but would require faultless computer software to generate voting lists and interconnected data exchange to prevent multiple votes being cast. These advanced computer connections are fairly rare; big-city jurisdictions may have these systems, suburban and rural areas likely do not. Bottom line: a system based on “allowing anyone in line to vote” would leave the whole voting process open to abuses far more flagrant than anything we’ve witnessed, to this point.
While not a young person, I enjoy good health & a strong constitution. Folks like me and those with a similar level of commitment could, with some effort, throw any election, local, state or federal. One could plan out a route, using GPS or just a local road map, taking you to as many polling places as possible on any given day, so you could cast a vote at each place. Over a period of weeks, especially in a large metro area where early-voting is possible, one could tally many hundreds, or even thousands, of votes. Even on a single-day election a person could, with proper planning and an early start, cast 25-50 votes in a day, possibly more, depending on the length of the waiting lines. Using this process, one could cancel the votes of many others, and change the course of numerous elections.
Whatever one’s political views, or which candidate you might support, anyone with the physical energy and the time could multiply their vote many times. With no registration list to get in the way, and no requirement that you even prove who you are, or that you’re legally qualified to vote in the first place, well, talk about a highly-productive election cycle! Allowing such “wide-open” voting would erase the entire concept of “one man = one vote,” replacing it with a new paradigm, i.e., “the views of the strongest & most durable individual will prevail.”
I think those who want to take the current election process which, I’ll concede, does involve a few “hoops,” and turn it into a free-for-all, had better watch what they wish for. Whatever the limitations or perceived inequities in the current system, it could be far worse. | <urn:uuid:6c5eefd0-c22c-4a73-80b1-9311261dd23f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.dofosa.com/?e=5 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964084 | 1,651 | 1.632813 | 2 |
The papers presented at the 1981 SSC Symposium highlight some recent SSC research along with other topics that are of great interest to the SSC. An electronic copy of each paper can be searched similar, to the SSC reports, on the Search Reports page or by clicking on the paper title hyper-links on the 1981 SSC symposium Agenda page.
The Symposium is jointly sponsored by the interagency Ship Structure Committee and the Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers. This is the fourth in a scheduled series of symposia jointly sponsored by these two organizations, following the Ship Structures Symposia in 1975 and 1984, and the Ship Vibration Symposium in 1978.
The Ship Structure Committee is an interagency committee constituted to prosecute a research program to improve the hull structure of ships and other marine structures by an extension of knowledge pretaining to design, materials and methods of construction. In pursuit of that mission and in conjunction with efforts of the Hull Structures Committee of The Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers symposia have been sponsored in 1975, 1978 and 1981 treat topics of concern. The purpose of the symposia has been to bring together representatives of ship owners, operators, builders, designers, researchers, government and classification bodies to discuss all aspects of the topic, which in this case is the response of ship structure to extreme loads.
In recent years the statistical nature of ship structural loadings and responses has become better understood and means for their consideration developed. The high cost of shipbuilding and repair require that fullest advantage be taken of this new knowledge and related technology in future ship systems designs. It is timely, therefore, that the problem of extremes and available technology for their treatment be exposed and discussed in an open forum by all those engaged in ship design, construction and operation.
While it was intended that the symposium concentrate on structural response as against loads generation, this is not generally possible and it is hoped that those who participate in the discussions and further development of the ideas presented will keep in mind the integrated nature of this topic. By so doing it is believed that a fuller appreciation of the state of the art will be gained by all and the significant technical advances being discussed will most effectively be implemented to the benefit of future ship design, construction and operation.
Technical Program Committee (1981)
John B. O'Brien
Extreme Loads Response Symposium (1981) | <urn:uuid:ead42827-b032-4fd6-83d8-2df1a00323e1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.shipstructure.org/1981sscsymposium.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.945515 | 485 | 1.929688 | 2 |
Despite having a body like a small bear and a face similar to a cat, the secretive Bearcat is actually a member of the civet family, more closely related to Mongooses and Meerkats (and true civets of course). These baby Bearcats, also known as Binturongs, were born at the Wildlife Reserves Singapore's Night Safari on January 26.
Found primarily in the rainforest treetops of South and Southeast Asia, Bearcats have a mixed diet of fruits, leaves, birds, fish and eggs. Extremely rare among carnivores, this speices has a fully prehensile tail. The meaning of their other name, Binturong, is unknown as the native language it was derived from is now extinct. | <urn:uuid:cc57b4e5-9d7f-4f7d-9e6e-ba2cadba2e93> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zooborns.com/zooborns/2012/04/its-a-bear-its-a-cat-its-neither.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00029-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.977548 | 155 | 2.5625 | 3 |
Just you wait, 'enry 'iggins! Just you wait!
Today is Eliza Doolittle Day, which is most likely a meaningless event for anyone but film buffs and Audrey Hepburn fans. For the uninitiated of the musical and film adaption of George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion, this holiday is derived the scene in which Eliza, angered at her teacher, fantasized about the day she'll have her revenge:
One day I'll be famous, I'll be proper and prim,
Gone to St. James so often I will call it St. Jim.
One evening the King will say, "Oh, Liza, old thing,*
I want all of England your praises to sing.
Next week on the twentieth of May, da-da-da-da-da-da-DA,
I proclaim Eliza Doolittle Day!
All the people will celebrate the glory of you,
And whatever you wish or want I gladly shall do."
"Thanks a lot, King," says I in a manner well-bred,
"But all I want is 'enry 'iggins 'ead!" dum-da-dum
(Watch the entire scene here)
If cutting off the head of your elocution teacher is not your cup-a-tay, perhaps you can celebrate by eating a lot of chocolates or impersonating a duchess. I wouldn't recommend the whole mouthful of marbles thing though, choking hazard and all that ;) | <urn:uuid:d412489e-e112-44e5-92fb-1a20123ecb2d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.zanyholidays.com/2008/05/eliza-doolittle-day.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00004-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94402 | 318 | 1.546875 | 2 |
These days, low volume and volatility are creating a degree of fear in the market. As we enter into the infamous worst month for the stock market, and near the four-year anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers, it's worth pointing out that just a few years ago these low vol conditions would've been welcomed with open arms. 300, 400, and 500 point swings on the Dow Jones Industrial Average were common, and sometimes the only warning that another financial institution was on the brink.
It started slowly with Countrywide, New Century Financial and Bear Stearns, but erupted with Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, AIG, and Lehman Brothers. In September 2008, Wall Street was sinking and taking Main Street with it. Nobody knew what was going to unfold, how far the subprime mortgage contagion had spread, or when the subsequent global sell-off would abate.
The financial crisis changed us. It left our sentiment scarred, our nerves on edge, but also increased our awareness of the financial and economic climate. It turned financial news into front page news.
Last year Bespoke Investment Group began tracking the occasions when financial stories "cross over" to become mainstream news. Using one of the most widely visited general news/political websites, DrudgeReport.com as the barometer, Bespoke found a strong correlation between the number of financial stories that ran as the top headline and the condition of the stock market. Co-Founder Paul Hickey explains the Drudge Headline Indicator in the above video clip.
Bespoke monitors the Drudge Report everyday to calculate how many days the site runs a financial-related top headline on a 50-day rolling period. The chart below illustrates how it stacks up against the S&P 500.
Hickey points out that the first significant peak, 21 days out of 50, was hit on February 27, 2009; just ten days before the S&P 500's bear market bottom on March 9. Last August during the debt ceiling debate and U.S. credit rating downgrade, the indicator broke to a new high — 22 of 50 days. Following that peak, the market bottomed.
So where do we stand today? Bespoke's Drudge indicator hit an all-time high in June with 24 of 50 days running financial stories as leading headlines. This is when Europe re-emerged and the market hit summer lows. Since then the S&P has rallied 11%.
"What the takeaway is, is that once Drudge is talking about it [a financial story], and everyone is talking about it, then the market has digested it," says Hickey. So what we have is a classic contrary indicator. When Drudge financial headlines rise, the market is at or near bottom.
"Interestingly, the highs it's made each of the last couple of years has been even higher than what we saw during the financial crisis," he notes. "I think the reasoning behind that is the fact that once we had the financial crisis, finance became a much bigger part of everybody's world."
Take it for what it's worth, but never let a good indicator go unnoticed. The next time you see a string of financial news headlines topping the Drudge Report, it could just be your next great buying opportunity.
Let us know your thoughts on Breakout's Facebook page. | <urn:uuid:f20f97f2-4bde-437f-88a1-6204365fbe04> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/breakout/drudge-report-tell-stock-market-132701338.html?l=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965687 | 686 | 1.921875 | 2 |
"On this episode of Breaking the Set, Abby Martin talks to Peter Joseph, social activist and director of the Zeitgeist film series, about the war as a symptom of military empire, and the need for a revolution of values."
"Cenk Uygur sits down with Peter Joseph, founder of the Zeitgeist movement and creator of Zeitgeist, The Movie. The Zeitgeist movement's goal is to create global sustainability by changing established social systems. Can people save the world by changing socially? Is the market economy responsible for corruption, and is it serving its original purpose? Does the market economy leave room for true freewill, and is it truly possible to shed ourselves of material goods? Is Wall Street and its influence creating a sickness among mankind?"
"Ana Kasparian (Host, The Point and Co-host of The Young Turks) lead this weeks panel to discuss these issues and more with Ramesh Srinivasan (Professor, Information Studies at UCLA), Sikivu Hutchinson (Activist, Author of Moral Combat) and Tom Shadyac (Film Maker, Director of Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Liar Liar, and more). Special thanks to Peter Joseph of the Zeitgeist Movement and Christopher Ryan, author of Sex at Dawn for sending in points. "
" Abby Martin talks to Independent Filmmaker Peter Joseph, about the Zeitgeist movement and humanity's capacity to evolve beyond current social structures."
In "A World that Works for Everyone," Work and Jobs As We Know Them Are Obsolete: The Buckminster Fuller View
"Critical Path was published in 1981 less than two years before his death. Interestingly, The Zeitgeist Movement has just made Critical Path its October Book of the Month. So, three plus decades after it was published, many more people will finally become aware of the actions we need to take in order to create Bucky's vision "a world that works for everyone" and perhaps take one step away from their traditional vision of work and jobs."
"The Zeitgeist Movement, galvanized by the penetrating constellation of observations of Peter Joseph, has developed an acute sensitivity to the consequences of this decoupling process at the same time that prominent leaders around the world – including political and corporate America – appear to exhibit a conscious scorn for our planet’s health, even as human afflictions increase in both scope and variety."
"The Zeitgeist Movement – and hence a conversation with Peter Joseph – touches everything and becomes a flowing mobius strip of factors that inform our existence and cannot escape us, because everything is connected to everything else and everything interacts with everything else, whether directly or indirectly – no matter how difficult it is to actually make secure the truth – let alone a jointly held consensus of truth that would make our world a better place to call home."
"It was a Festival of full-spectrum conviction, overflowing with compelling emotions that reflect the real conundrums pressing in upon our emerging global society with accelerating force. In this sense this now-annual Festival is a natural outgrowth of a growing, terrestrial upheaval that is going to leave no part of man’s collective being untouched."
"Ben shares how he got started with the Zeitgeist Movement, what the Movement is all about, what is a resource based economy, and how it can help..."
"Joseph came to speak at the event Z-Fest Tel Aviv in 2012, to be held at the ZOA House and organized by the Zeitgeist Movement Israel Branch..."
"But in the West's efforts to isolate Iran, India has announced it will send a delegation into Iran and has now emerged as the number one customer of the Iranian oil. There are new indications showing China will send in its officials. This global chess match looks like it maybe a long and messy one. Peter Joseph, of the Zeitgeist movement talks to RT's Kristine Frazao. His group is dealing with the global economic crisis and has just returned from a week in Israel."
"So, with all of the problems in the world today, how do people begin to think about, let alone implement solutions that can improve their lives and those of others in society? Economists like Steve Keen support debt jubilees, others like Lew Rockwell and Ron Paul support sound money as the solution, but what about something more radical? What about getting grid of money, profit and competition all together? Well, Peter Joseph, author of the Zeitgeist series, believes that society can evolve to do just that..."
"March 13th, 2010 was the second annual celebration of ZDay. Coordinated by The Zeitgeist Movement, ZDay is an educational event geared toward raising awareness of the movement. While 337 sympathetic events occurred in over 70 countries worldwide, NYC was home to the main event, a 6-hour live web cast presentation with lectures from the movement's key figures, and 30 different countries represented in the audience…"
"If the election of Barack Obama was supposed to denote the gradual demise of churlish, corporate governance and usher in a new, sustainable era of visionary change, there was little sign of it at the second annual meeting of the Worldwide Zeitgeist Movement, which, its organizers said, held 450 sister events in 70 countries around the globe…"
"Occupy Wall Street is just one of many social movements that have sprung into action over the last months inspired by the Arab Spring. Some of the movements display the same characteristics as protest movements of the 70s - disorganized, alternative, anti-capitalist and attracting people from all ages and all walks of life. A member of The Zeitgeist Movement, which is making waves thanks to the use of suggestive political videos posted on the internet, presents the movement."
"In his latest film, Zeitgeist: Moving Forward, director Peter Joseph presents a case for a transition out of the current socioeconomic monetary paradigm which runs modern global society to a new sustainable resource based economy. "A resource based economy explicitly wants to remove the actual mechanics of exchange and the market system itself," Joseph explained…"
"The zeitgeist movement is one of the biggest lyrical influences for us. This album really takes on the ways of thinking that they promote; thinking with scientific method and thinking outside of normality. The sheer possibility that we have with human ingenuity and how much capitalism and the current system is holding us back, really..."
"He calls it the Zeitgeist Movement, but Joseph says it’s simply a resource-based economy. "What is the foundation of human society?" he asked. "It’s resources." If society is restructured in a way to make the most of those resources, our lives could be changed drastically. Scientists are off on military operations instead of helping the world, said Joseph. He says starvation could be stopped if we just change the way we manipulate and manage our resourced, but first the world needs to adapt to a resource-based economic model…"
"Tomorrow in LA the Innagural Zeitgeist Media Festival (ZMF) launches on the 10 year anniversary of 9/11; the main event out of approximately 70 happening concurrently worldwide, all thanks to the son of a mailman and a social worker from North Carolina, Peter Joseph. Joseph, who was forced to drop out of his conservatory school when he was unable to afford the tuition, is the founder of the controversial "Zeitgeist Movement," which seeks to shift our social system into a more sustainable paradigm. The man behind the movement continues to focus on media-related expressions…"
"Who can argue with such a movement? What we have never has worked for the benefit of society as a whole. How much longer can we really expect it to last? Isn't keeping our current system and expecting something different from what it's always given us insanity?
I'll admit it's hard to wrap my mind around the concept of a world where success is not determined by the digits in our bank accounts. A society that replaces working hard with hardly working. Where we pursue knowledge for knowledge's sake and competition is not a driving force. But the benefits - no hunger, poverty, crime or war - sure sound good…"
"He believes that if nothing is done to reverse the course taken by humankind with its insatiable thirst for oil, and luxuries, at the cost of the poor and nature, we will all face the threat of extinction. Even though he believes humanity will change its path sooner or later. Yet, for him the Zeitgeist movement is part of an awareness process, which can drive and divert humanity away from its self-destructive path towards a better and more sustainable future…"
"LONDON (Herald de Paris) – The 15th of March has been celebrated again as Zeitgeist Day, with a series of events referring to the Zeitgeist Movement. The biggest meeting was held in New York, where both Jacque Fresco and Peter [Joseph] spoke to a huge crowd of people from all walks of life..."
"To the movement – the final goal of which is to reshape and re-order a society from its current embedding in a monetary system (which developed out of existing environmental scarcity, helping to stabilize various civilizations which faced shortages in many if not all resources) to one of a "resource-based economy" where all are truly equal and where humans have the chance to live real, creative lives rather than persist on the hamster wheel lives that rotate around the much-cliched "Nine to Five"…"
"Global debt and economic crises, rampant international human rights violations, disgusting levels of inequality, ecological destruction on all levels- this and more culminate into our world’s current state of affairs. It is truly a wonder how our grandchildren’s grandchildren will look back and think of us. The ultimate answer is how we work to resolve these conflicts; that will be the deciding factor for this generation. The rest of the world is waking up; it’s time for the US to do the same…"
Peter Joseph of The Zeitgeist Movement appears on RT, Oct 27th 2011 | <urn:uuid:64615d2d-fc1e-416d-b57e-8b77881d19e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thezeitgeistmovement.com/press | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953458 | 2,049 | 1.625 | 2 |
October 1, 2012
BERLIN (Deutsche Presse-Agentur (dpa)) -- Losing keys, forgetting the name of a distant relative -- these are not necessarily signs of dementia or another illness in elderly people.
"But if relatives no longer participate in conversations, don't keep arrangements or have difficulty in finding the right words, this could be the first signs of dementia or Alzheimer's," says Joerg Schulz, a professor of neurology in the German city of Aachen.
A doctor is needed to come to an accurate diagnosis on the basis of the various factors, Schulz says. It is important to distinguish dementia from other illnesses, as one of the factors behind a loss of interest in life could be depression.
While the first port of call is the general practitioner, patients tend to be referred on to neurologists or psychiatrists.
Once Alzheimer's has been diagnosed, this information is initially for the patient and the immediate family, and the patient should be allowed to decide whom to inform, at least in the early stages of the illness.
"Best of all is if the patient does it themselves, as talking about it helps them to understand the illness," Schulz says, but relatives should be understanding if the wish is to keep the information confidential.
Once the disease has taken hold, relatives need to take the issue in hand, playing the role of go-between. It often makes things easier for the immediate family to inform the wider circle of the condition, thus perhaps creating an assistance network.
And in any case, rumours will soon start to fly, as dementia in its more advanced stages is all but impossible to conceal.
Relatives have to make adjustments in dealing with an Alzheimer's sufferer. There is no need to correct blatantly erroneous statements or behaviour, as this simply leads the patient to feel worse about the situation.
"Make use of those resources that are still available," Schulz says, pointing in the first instance to skills learned at an early age that could be picked up again. Conversation could also refer to the same skills.
It is best to avoid questions on recent events, such as asking what the sufferer ate last night, as the short-term memory is the first to go.
Copyright 2012 dpa Deutsche Presse-Agentur GmbH | <urn:uuid:259e0dd8-28d5-4ba6-94fb-72fc2a486dae> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.intelihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/333/21344/1456405.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.960238 | 470 | 2.34375 | 2 |
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security works in coordination with the Virginia Department of Emergency Management to administer preparedness grant funding to Virginia localities and state agencies. These grants are released annually by the Department of Homeland Security through the Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP).
Virginia has developed a competitive process by which localities and state agencies submit project ideas for review and evaluation. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs & Homeland Security and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM) hold regional meetings following the release of grant guidance from the Department of Homeland Security to explain the competitive process each year, including any changes in the federal guidelines and which of the federal and state strategic goals and objectives should be taken into consideration with project planning.
All projects should also take risk and threat into consideration as the intent behind the Homeland Security Grant Program is to prepare for, prevent and respond to terrorist attacks.
Grant Funding from the Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment
Due to the disestablishment of US Joint Forces Command, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs and Homeland Security applied for grant funding from the Department of Defense, Office of Economic Adjustment to assist in minimizing the impact to the Hampton Roads region. Working closely with the Secretaries of Technology, Education and Commerce and Trade, the Commonwealth reached out to the Hampton Roads Region to ask for ideas on ways to diversify the region to be less dependent on the Defense industry. A common theme developed, to create a comprehensive analysis of the Modeling and Simulation sector in Hampton Roads.
Key regional stakeholders who assisted on this project include: Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance, Hampton Roads Partnership, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and the City of Suffolk.
In April of 2012, the Commonwealth of Virginia contracted with Chmura Economics & Analytics to create a comprehensive analysis of the modeling and simulation sector in Hampton Roads. Read the final documents (report and strategic plan) here Report , Appendix and Strategic Report.
Point of Contact
Links of Interest | <urn:uuid:bb165260-8acd-45a7-a511-792f5b1960fe> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.vahs.virginia.gov/Initiatives/Grants/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907613 | 393 | 1.765625 | 2 |
The rise of these emerging powers and new issues in foreign policy have given rise to new forms of international pressures and stresses and potentially, the decomposition of established powers of the North with the creation and proliferation of new forms of diplomacy. These new forms of global diplomacy include the creation of the G20, the G77 and importantly, the BRICs (Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa). These have in part been facilitated by the global financial crisis which started in 2007, in the process depressing the North economically. Concomitantly, these economic challenges facing the countries of the North have potentially displaced Africa’s developmental challenges from the agenda of multilateral institutions and formal international organisations. Even if emerging markets, including Africa, had witnessed a sustained period of economic growth, many African countries are not expected to meet the basic developmental objectives embodied in the Millennium Development Goals by 2015. In light of the changing geopolitical context, how can Africa best negotiate the fast-changing political environment? Two overarching perspectives deserve to be fleshed-out in African capitals.
First, in order to address the major challenges facing Africa, the need for enhanced intra-Africa issue-based foreign policy coordination and cooperation has never been greater. The African Union (AU), an essential pivot in this process,is less likely to achieve the mandate of economic and social development in the absence of well-calibrated foreign policy symmetries and defined priorities across Africa and its sub-regions. Therefore, the need for a coherent African policy systems today more crucial than everbefore a means to give Africa a voice in international affairs. Such a process is only possible when the foreign policies of leading African states and crucially those of small states,are strengthened. If foreign policy has been constant in terms of the key priority (state survival and well-being), the practice of has been transformed through the multiplication of new actors, including business and civil society. These new actors have as a consequence,imposed the twin necessities of change and adaptation in the conduct of the foreign policies of African states. How Africa responds and deals with these could determine the continent’s ability to engage meaningfully in international affairs.
Secondly, Africa is negotiating its entry into international affairs at a time when there is widespread acceptance of global norms such as human rights and democracy. Therefore, Africa’s insertion in globalisation and international relations is only possible when normative coherence and complementaries the various foreign policies and instruments are interfaced around clearly defined strategic objectives. The nexus between democratic norms and development has been accepted widely as the sine qua non condition for a virtuous African future. The key challenge for Africa is how to initiate a process intertwines the ambitious normative commitments of the African Union with the foreign policies of African countries. Such a process would ordinarily imply the diffusion of norms, including human rights and democracy,through institutional learning and contagion within continental and regional processes. At a basic level, this process should be pursued as a necessary end by stable democratic states with respect for democracy and human rights. A loose alliance of democratic states with South Africa at the centre can take leadership in the pursuit of these ends. South Africa,by virtue of its domestic political capital and continental leadership role,can pursue such an agenda through an informal coalition of big and small states. These could be states that play an essential role in their regions as carriers of norms on specific issues. Botswana and Malawi in Southern Africa have adopted the right normative political role in matters of human rights and democracy, which in some instances have gone against the interests of key African states. Such examples should be nurtured and replicated across Africa as a means to promote democratic governance.
To conclude, Africa’s contribution and integration into global processes as an effective player cannot take root without sound foreign policy coordination and cooperation among states on global norms and the issues that mattermost to the continent. An African policy system could become a reality when African states agree on the necessity of integrating the normative commitments of the African Union as crucial pillars in their foreign policy identities.
Alfredo Tjiurimo Hengari is Head of the South African Foreign Policy and African Drivers Programme at the South African Institute of International Affairs, based at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. | <urn:uuid:dce15709-7190-43a6-991e-df52ed3ef6b1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.namibian.com.na/columns/full-story/archive/2012/august/article/towards-an-african-foreign-policy-system-with-a-global-perspective/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00062-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.943643 | 862 | 2.5625 | 3 |
The jobs market has not been what it used to be for a number of years now. This means that people often are more likely to take jobs that they in better times would never consider. So, if you are hard up for employment and cash, you might be thinking about taking a job that is not exactly on your Dream Job List.
However, you might want to think twice about taking a job in one of the fields below. Note that all of these jobs rate very low on desirability, according to JobsRated.com, and many of them are dangerous and dirty. Pay tends to suck as well.
10. Iron Worker
This field requires you to work a great deal with hot metals, high up in the sky and not for much money. It is a very tough career and most people who get into this sort of job do not last more than a few years. The Bureau of Labor Statistics states that the median income for iron workers is in the area of $20 per hour. Other things that stink about this line of work are that the work is sporadic; it depends entirely on the health of the construction business. Also, these jobs tend to disappear in recessions, and bad weather tends to cancel a good deal of work as well. Bonus: This field has the 4th highest fatality rate in the US: 61 per 100,000.
So, you’re wondering, how do I avoid this career if I don’t know what it is? Don’t worry, you are not alone. A roustabout does maintenance on pipelines and oil rigs. They use a lot of power and hand tools to do this dirty work. This is tough, physical work, and demand in the field is decreasing. The median pay is a mere $29,000 per year. There are not as many fatalities in this field as in iron working, but it is dangerous and workers tend to lose fingers and toes quite often.
Welding is thought by some people to be a possible field for folks who don’t go to college. You spend your days welding metal joints together by melting the steel. You will do this behind a mask and a visor to protect you from getting hurt. Still, welders do suffer a high number of injuries each year. Welding also depends a lot on the health of the American economy. These jobs also tend to go away in bad economic times. Right now, there is not as much construction in the US due to the poor economy, so you may have trouble finding a job in this field. And, the top 10% of workers earn a mere $22 an hour. You can find easier work for that money.
7. Garbage Collector
This probably is not a surprise to be on this list. Working with trash is never fun, and the pay really sucks: just $14 per hour. You probably don’t know this, but garbage collecting actually is quite dangerous, and about 42 per 100,000 workers die each year. Also, many workers suffer back injuries, and many do not last very long in this career. Another issue with garbage collecting today is that more of this work is being automated; many cities now use trucks with those big clamps on the side of the vehicle that grab the can automatically. Many trucks now just have a single driver and no actual workers.
If you ever see a bunch of roofers at a coffee shop or at a hardware store, note how they look. Dirty, tired, unhappy, and sometimes missing fingers. Most of them also limp if they have been doing this for long; it’s tough on the knees. Roofing overall is tough on the body. It is hot, very strenuous, dirty, and people drop out of the field like flies. A median hourly wage of just $15.50 makes this a sucky job that you do not want for long.
5. Emergency Medical Technician
You might not think this is a bad job, and it is a good way to get into the health, medical and law enforcement fields. But keep in mind that this is a 24/7 job, and your hours are going to vary wildly. This makes having a decent home life tough. The median pay also is quite poor: just $27,000.
This is a rather broad category of US worker, and it includes both fishermen and boat workers. Whatever you do as a seaman, we can assure you that it will be cramped, unpleasant, dirty and in bad weather. If you are prone to sea sickness, find another job. Also, note that fishermen have by far the most deadly job in the US: 142 fatalities per 100,000. That is sky high! And then, there is the pay – a crappy $34,000 per year.
3. Taxi Driver
You might believe that driving in a car all day gives you freedom and a flexible schedule, no annoying boss hanging on your shoulder….don’t be fooled. This job stinks. You work very long hours for very little money. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says about 229,000 in the US are unfortunate enough to hold this job, but the median wage is a terrible $10.60.
2. Dairy Farmer
Don’t romanticize dairy farming. It sucks. Bringing up cattle to produce milk involves a lot of backbreaking labor, very long hours and bad working environments. Some government studies have found that most low end workers in this field are lucky to net $15,000 a year! Seriously? For work this hard? Working a cash register never sounded so good!
It’s true. Being a lumberjack is the worst job in America, at least if you believe JobsRated.com. This is definitely one of those jobs that is much much worse than it sounds.
You will be outside all the time, in heat, cold, snow and rain. You will be in remote areas with nothing whatsoever to do when you have a few hours off. It is very dangerous; the fatality rate is 82 per 100,000. The work is very difficult, injuries are constant, and the pay is terrible. Many lumberjacks start out at minimum wage. The median wage is a mere $13 per hour. There are much easier jobs in the US than this for the same or better money. | <urn:uuid:98f73705-950a-48ec-921b-0477566b8240> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.totallytop10.com/lifestyle/work/top-10-worst-jobs-in-the-us | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965067 | 1,299 | 1.976563 | 2 |
Argentina, Uruguay Recognize PA as a State
Argentina announced on Monday that it recognizes a Palestinian state, calling Palestine “a free and independent state within its 1967 borders,” The Associated Press reported. According to the report, Argentina said the announcement reflects its frustration at the slow progress of peace talks with Israel.
Argentinean President Cristina Kirchner informed Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas of the decision, Argentine Foreign Minister Hector Timerman said. He said that Argentina is “deeply frustrated” that the goals of the 1991 peace talks in Madrid and the Oslo Accords of 1993 still have not been reached. “The time has come to recognize Palestine as a free and independent state,” he was quoted in AP as saying.
Timerman added that Argentina also “ratifies its irrevocable position in favor of the right of Israel to be recognized by everyone and to live in peace and security within its borders. Argentina's decision to recognize the Palestine state is based in the desire of its authorities to favor the process of negotiation aimed at ending the conflict.”
Argentina’s announcement comes only several days after Brazil announced that it recognizes the Palestinian Authority as a new independent Arab country. Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva sent a letter to PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, in which he wrote that Brazil recognizes “Palestine” and hopes that the recognition will help lead to two states, Israel and Palestine, “that will co-exist peacefully and in security.”
Brazil’s announcement was criticized by both Israel and the United States, with Israel expressing “regret and disappointment” with the decision and pointing out that “recognition of a Palestinian state is a violation of the Interim Agreement signed between Israel and the PA in 1995,” a reference to the amended Oslo Accords.
The PA’s Foreign Minister, Riad Malki, praised Argentina's decision on Monday, telling The Associated Press: “It is really symbolic but it is important because the more countries that recognize the Palestinian state, the more pressure this will put on countries that are hesitant and on the peace process. If Israel keeps refusing to recognize the Palestinian state when other countries do, this will make a difference.”
Earlier on Monday AFP reported that Uruguay would also recognize the state of Palestine, and Malki told AP that he also expects Bolivia and Ecuador to follow.
Israel called Argentina’s announcement “regrettable”, echoing its criticism of Brazil. Abbas, on the other hand, said during his visit to Turkey, that he is “proud” of the decision.
“Uruguay will surely follow the same path as Argentina in 2011,” deputy foreign minister Roberto Conde told AFP. “We are working towards opening a diplomatic representation in Palestine, most likely in Ramallah.” | <urn:uuid:f15c2fc4-b22d-4877-a999-7c14990aaa5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/141023 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00058-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965489 | 604 | 1.953125 | 2 |
UNITED NATIONS - The UN Security Council on Thursday passed a resolution calling for sanctions against Al-Qaeda-linked fighters in Mali blamed for the desecration of the tombs of Muslim saints.
But the council held back from giving a UN mandate to a proposed West African force to help the interim government to take back territory from Islamist rebels in the north of the country.
The 15-nation council unanimously passed Resolution 2056 which called on UN states to submit names of individuals and groups linked to Al-Qaeda "notably in the north of Mali" for sanctions.
The UN has an Al-Qaeda sanctions committee that imposes an assets freeze and travel ban on targets. Most of the names on the list now are linked to the Afghanistan war.
Islamist fighters, linked to Al-Qaeda, have destroyed the tombs of several Muslim saints in the northern city of Timbuktu. The resolution warned that the desecration could lead to International Criminal Court charges.
The council expressed "deep concern" at the increased terrorist threat in northern Mali due to the presence of Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) fighters. The group has been blamed for kidnappings and attacks in several west and North African countries.
West African nations have been pressing for UN backing for a proposed intervention force they want to send to Mali, where a military coup on March 22 was followed by the rebel breakthrough in the north of the country.
The hardline Ansar Dine (Defenders of Faith), which is allied to AQIM has taken over much of northern Mali and carried out the destruction in Timbuktu.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it has a 3,300-strong force on standby ready to go to Mali to help the interim government and eventually in an operation to retake territory in the north.
ECOWAS and the African Union have asked for an official UN mandate for the force. But the resolution called on West African states to provide more information about the objectives and means of the force before it could act.
The council said it was ready "to further examine the request of ECOWAS once additional information has been provided regarding the objectives, means and modalities of the envisaged deployment."
The resolution was proposed by France, whose UN ambassador Gerard Araud said it was a "first stage" in showing international support for the West African force.
"We are not going give carte blanche to the ECOWAS. First we have to get the concept of operation" for the intervention force, Araud told reporters.
Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, chairman of the ECOWAS commission, said there is "urgency" to start action in Mali because of the deteriorating security.
He said detailed plans for the military force would be drawn up over the next 10 days and sent to the UN Security Council.
Ouedraogo indicated that ECOWAS would be seeking international financial support for the force. | <urn:uuid:76e30f9c-fad7-460c-bd07-ae20b9f15395> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://middle-east-online.com/english/?id=53224 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00072-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.949578 | 612 | 1.578125 | 2 |
Without the right balance of micro-organisms in the digestive tract, gas, bloating and constipation are common. The so-called “friendly” bacteria help keep the colon healthy. They play a role in digestion and elimination and enhance nutrient absorption. Florafiber combines fibre with lactobacillus acidophilus for improved intestinal health.
- Encourages the growth of “friendly” bacteria for healthy intestinal flora.
- A blend of fibres assists healthy elimination.
Florafibre contains a gluten free form of fibre called Psyillium Husks.
Psyllium is the husk of the seed of the Plantain and is a top herb used to support weight control and for general intestinal health. It contains a spongy fibre that reduces appetite, improves digestion and cleanses the system, making it an excellent choice for healthy dieting. It’s tasteless and does not have a smell.
Psyllium also has the additional advantages over other sources of fiber of reducing flatulence and bloating. It may be recommended by a physician to help soften stool and reduce the pain associated with hemorrhoids.
In a study of people with ulcerative colitis (a type of inflammatory bowel disorder), psyllium seeds were as shown to be as effective as the prescription drug mesalamine in decreasing recurrences of the disease. In addition, a physician may recommend the use of psyllium as a bulking agent for mild to moderate cases of diarrhea from either ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease (another type of inflammatory bowel disorder).
Soluble fibers such as those in psyllium husk, guar gum, and oat bran have a cholesterol-lowering effect when added to a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Studies reported in The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition have shown psyllium to be quite effective in lowering total as well as LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, which can be helpful to those with high cholesterol and those at increased risk for developing hypercholesterolemia, such as people with type 2 diabetes.
Studies and clinical reports suggest that psyllium may enhance the sensation of fullness and reduce hunger cravings. For these reasons, incorporating psyllium and other sources of fiber into the diet may aid weight loss.
Vitamins can only be of assistance if the dietary vitamin intake is inadequate; Always read the label – use only as directed. If symptoms persist. seek medical advice. | <urn:uuid:d42360cd-2d98-48d5-a747-973b9c281279> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.livehealthynz.co.nz/shop/flora-fibre/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.920867 | 516 | 2.6875 | 3 |
The fix for bug 239977 gave Mozilla support for tlhIngan Hol, the Klingon language. Although I’d vaguely known that some Star Trek fans spoke Klingon, I was somewhat surprised to learn that the warriors’ tongue is a well-developed language.
Klingon was invented by Dr. Marc Okrand, a linguist originally hired to create a language for those bumpy headed aliens in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Instead of just creating a few words and phrases, he developed grammar, vocabulary, and usage rules. Twenty years later, the language is spoken and studied by a diverse group including Trek fans, linguists, philologists, computer scientists, and psychologists. A number of works have been translated into Klingon, including some of Aesop’s Fables, Hamlet and other works by Shakespeare, and the New Testament.
The Klingon Language Institute, a nonprofit corporation, has much more information about the language. To learn more, you might start with its FAQ. I also enjoyed reading about the written Klingon alphabet. | <urn:uuid:d2826736-addb-407e-a5e3-50cffba89c9d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.worldtimzone.com/blog/date/2004/10/14/mozilla-speaks-klingon/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00007-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953455 | 218 | 2.625 | 3 |
You probably wish to develop and maintain a successful intimate relationship. Unfortunately you, like many others, might find yourself failing time and again, without knowing why. The seven tips listed in this article explain the ways in which you might be harming your relationships, show you how to stop this from happening and how to develop and maintain a successful intimacy.
1. Get in touch with and understand the needs which affect your reactions and behaviors in a relationship.
Needs you are not aware of might be driving your reactions and behaviors. Are you, for example, driven by the need for love (which might drive you to be too submissive within a relationship?); the need for independence (which might drive you always to keep distance from your partner?), and so on. These needs often affect the way we react and behave in our relationships.
When you become aware of your needs and become able to free yourself from the impact they have over your reactions and behaviors, you will be able to behave with your partner in a healthy and mature way.
2. Understand the fears that drive your reactions and behaviors.
It is certain that you – like almost everybody else – have fears you are unaware of which harm your relationships, such as: the fear of commitment (which might drive you to escape from each and every relationship you begin to develop); the fear of being alone (which might drive you to jump into a relationship with whoever blinks at you); the fear of losing your independence (which drives you to be controlling with your partners); the fear of being hurt (which might drive you to be cautious with your partners, causing you never to dare to open up), and so on. Becoming aware of the fears that control you enables you to combat them and not let them interfere with your relationships.
3. Check whether your expectations are realistic.
It is great to have expectations! It is also natural to expect your partner to be there for you all the time; to love you unconditionally; to always understand you; to always remember your birthday. It is great to expect that you and your partner will always be in a good mood; will always be sexually attracted to one another, and so on.
If you find out that your expectations are not fulfilled, rather than getting angry at your partner, ask yourself whether your expectations are realistic and attainable. Often we set unrealistic expectations which cause us to become frustrated, disillusioned, angry and disappointed.
4. Ensure that your fantasies are realistic.
Fantasies are part of life. They give you something to dream about, something to look forward to. You might fantasize that your love will be just like in the movies; that your partner will supply all your needs; that the two of you will do everything together and never fight; that you will always agree on everything.
But if your fantasies are unrealistic and you hang on to them you are likely to harm your relationship. Therefore, think over your fantasies and determine whether they are realistic and attainable, or tend to verge on dream-like reality. The last thing you want is to ruin your relationship due to unrealistic fantasies. At the same time, for the sake of the relationship, you want to entertain fantasies which can materialize. The result is an important and attainable one.
5. Understand the messages which drive your interactions with your partner.
Messages you internalized while growing up affect your attitudes, reactions and behaviors without your being aware of it. For example, you might have been exposed in your family or the society in which you grew up to messages such as: “A woman should do everything for her partner” (driving you, as a woman, not to demand a mutual give and take with your partner); “Men don’t do housework” (driving you, as a man, never to participate in household chores); “Compromises are most important in life” (driving you never to insist on what’s important to you); “Self-fulfilment comes before relationships and family” (driving you always to take care of what’s good for you first), and so on.
Becoming aware of the messages that drive you and realizing how they affect your relationships enables you to consciously decide how to react and behave with your partner in ways vital to a healthy and satisfying bond.
6. Be willing to take responsibility for your part in the problems and difficulties which arise between you and your partner.
There are many who never admit they might be wrong. They fight with their partner to prove they’re right. This only escalates the problems. However, wherever there are two people there are often two opinions and two perceptions of “how things should be.”
When you become aware of what drives you to react and behave in your relationship the way you do, and of the ways in which you might harm your relationship, you become more willing to take responsibility for your part in the problems and difficulties which arise between you and your partner. Taking responsibility shows that you too might be wrong. Place the relationship in front of “justice,” and be willing to compromise.
7. Develop Self-Awareness.
Developing self-awareness means getting to know and understand what drives you to react and behave the ways you do in your relationship. It means understanding the needs and fears, messages, unrealistic expectations and fantasies which drive you to react and behave the way you do and the price you pay for it. It means realizing the ways in which you might harm your relationship, learning how to stop it from happening and becoming empowered to cultivate a successful intimacy.
Those who have developed self-awareness will tell you that:
- Developing self-awareness is a worthwhile experience which enabled them to get to know and understand themselves better;
- They are amazed by the personal and professional growth they’ve attained;
- By developing their Self-Awareness they have gained a sense of empowerment which helps them to be authentic and true to themselves;
- They are now capable of freeing themselves from needs and fears, messages, unrealistic expectations and fantasies which exerted power over them and are able to make conscious choices about the ways they react and behave in their relationships;
- They feel empowered to develop a successful intimacy.
Give Self-Awareness a chance – it really can make a difference in your relationship!
Gil, D. (2011). 7 Tips on Developing and Maintaining a Successful Intimate Relationship. Psych Central. Retrieved on May 23, 2013, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/2011/7-tips-on-developing-and-maintaining-a-successful-intimate-relationship/
Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 30 Jan 2013
Published on PsychCentral.com. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:051694f0-f330-4039-80a3-8ebaa1eeee9f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://psychcentral.com/lib/2011/7-tips-on-developing-and-maintaining-a-successful-intimate-relationship/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00021-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96075 | 1,409 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Former Greenland Police Chief Michael Maloney was remembered Friday for his love of the community and the police department he served.
Maloney was shot and killed in the line of duty six months ago. On Friday, the police department's patrol room was named the Michael P. Maloney Memorial Patrol Room in his honor.
About 100 friends, family and law enforcement officials were on hand for the ceremony.
Maloney was killed while serving a warrant on Cullen Mutrie on April 12 in Greenland. Four other police officers were also wounded in the exchange of gunfire before Mutrie killed his girlfriend and then turned the gun on himself.
Gov. John Lynch spoke of Maloney's love for the Greenland Police Department and the community he served.
Maloney was instrumental in building Greenland's police station back in 2003, but the patrol room was under-furnished and difficult to work in, police officers said.
After Maloney was killed, several local businesses and service organizations pitched in to renovate the patrol room. All of the supplies and work were donated at a cost of about $15,000. It took several weeks to complete the work.
A portrait of Maloney hangs on the wall, as well as the state Medal of Honor that was awarded to him posthumously.
Maloney's wife, Peg Maloney, said it has been a difficult six months, but she and her family have been able to get through their grief with the help of friends and members of law enforcement.
She said her husband would be proud of the patrol room and pleased that his department can now better serve the community. | <urn:uuid:1171e33b-8eed-499c-8449-02bf64451e44> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wmur.com/news/nh-news/Fallen-Greenland-police-chief-remembered-for-his-sacrifice/-/9857858/16963504/-/yoih99/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706890813/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516122130-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.992617 | 326 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Gardening Articles: Landscaping :: Lawns, Ground Cover, & Wildflowers
New Water-Saving Sprinkler System
by Charlie Nardozzi
With summer droughts hitting many areas and the price of water rising, many homeowners are looking for ways to save water. One of the biggest summer users of water is the automated lawn sprinkler system. Normally these systems are manually operated and dont take into account the daily weather patterns. For example, its not uncommon to see lawn sprinklers turned on during a rainstorm.
Now a new automated lawn sprinkler control system is available that adjusts your sprinklers to the local weather conditions. The Cyber-Rain Wireless Sprinkler Control program analyzes the local weather and seasonal conditions and adjusts your sprinkler system accordingly. It saves time, water, and plant replacement costs by stopping the sprinkler system on rainy days, automatically decreasing the watering schedule on cold or humid days, and increasing it on hot and dry days. Overall, its estimated to save 30 to 70 percent on your landscape water bills.
For more information on this new sprinkler control system, go to: Cyber-Rain. | <urn:uuid:5047f3b6-4d7b-4a6e-88ca-d2a9515b306b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.garden.org/subchannels/landscaping/ground?q=show&id=3042 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703298047/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112138-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906485 | 235 | 2.078125 | 2 |
Well as much as everyone is crazy about tiles, it is not everyone who knows how to clean them. You should never complain about a poor quality mosaic tile yet you did not do well in terms of maintenance.
So how does one go about cleaning a mosaic tile and what do they need to do so effectively. Cleaning a mosaic tile is not only about aesthetic value but it is also about your health. Mosaic tiles that are found in the kitchen, bathroom or basically on the floor have the capability of storing a lot of germs. One should therefore clean a mosaic tile well so that their home is not only beautiful but also safe.
Speaking of the cleaning materials to be used on a mosaic tile the following will be necessary;
1. Baking soda
3. A toothbrush
Most mosaics are ceramic thus they contain elements of calcium so do not worry about the toothbrush simply because the marble or ceramic tiles in your home share the same elements with your teeth.
Now the next thing that you need to do when cleaning a mosaic tile is to make a paste using water and the baking soda. The next thing is to place the paste in the mosaic tile grout and allow the tiles to soak in the paste for some fifteen minutes. Now take out the toothbrush and scrub the grout taking care to follow the mosaic pattern.
After doing a good scrubbing on your mosaic tile or mosaic tiles rinse them properly with clean water. You will then need to wipe the mosaic tile surface with a sponge that has been dipped in soapy water. It is advised that if the soap and water do not get rid of the grime in your mosaic tile then spray your tiles with vinegar and then wipe them. Speaking of wiping one should ensure that they wipe the surface of a mosaic tile well and ensure that it is totally dry. This is necessary to prevent accidental falling that maybe very injurious.
If your tiles are made of glass you can use all the above materials but not the tooth brush. You will need a lot of water cleaning a glass mosaic tile so that no ugly marks are left behind. It is said that cleanliness is next to godliness and when it comes to a mosaic tile, cleanliness is beauty in a hygienic way.
Do you love mosaic tile art? Are you one who cannot resist admiring how some people have magically transformed their homes with mosaic tile art? Well, you can also do the same with your home. Do not worry about the amount of money in your bank account because mosaic tile art is unique and cheap.
So, how does one get to have mosaic tile art in their home? You simply need the following;
4-An old towel
There is nothing as bad as having gold and not knowing how to use it, the same way some people have great tiles in their homes but the patterns do not display proper mosaic tile art. That is why you should look for interesting patterns and colors. After getting good patterns and colors it is time to get the tiles.
You can go to the local home improvement store and get some broken tiles at a discounted price. One thing that people should stop doing is limiting the use of mosaic tiles to the floor. Mosaic tile art is very wide. That is why it is important that you decide what kind of project you want to undertake using mosaic tile art.
Find a flat place to place your broken tiles as such a surface will enable you to crack them well. A concrete surface like the one in your garage would serve the purpose quite well. Now take the old towel and ensure that it is large enough then place your tiles in it with the colored side facing down. Put on your goggles and hold the hammer then start cracking. After cracking the tiles open the towel and sort them out in terms of color, size and shape.
One should note down the following;
1-Go to the local library and find out if they have stocks of books on mosaic tile art by artists.
2-Choose tiles that complement your home decor.
3-The finger bandages should be worn just in case you get any cuts.
4-Do not leave broken tiles lying around carelessly since they are sharp and can cause serious cuts.
5-Always break tiles on a concrete surface because doing so on a non-concrete surface will cause damage.
You can make wonderful things like vases through mosaic tile art which in turn you can even sell on eBay. So, learn all you can about mosaic tile art, the materials and items that you will need to have more mosaic tile art products so that you continue to make mosaic tile art items that warm the heart. | <urn:uuid:aea2dff5-8082-4455-8f58-a7cc54fffbfa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://mosiactile.net/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368710006682/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516131326-00067-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951308 | 947 | 2.03125 | 2 |
What Do You Do to Help Abilene’s Homeless? [POLL]
I was driving on South 1st Street in Abilene recently, and saw a familiar scene: A panhandler, holding a cardboard sign asking for help. Every time I see this, I ask myself, “What can be done to help?”. And I often ask myself the moral question “What am I willing to do to help?”.
On that particular trip down South 1st, the van in front of me at the stoplight remained stopped into the green light. As I watched through my windshield, I saw an arm extend out through the driver’s side window, with the hand at the end holding a gallon-size freezer bag. I could see that it contained a bottle of water, and what appeared to be a packaged snack, and a few other small items I couldn’t make out. I could see a few words were exchanged, and the panhandler reached out to accept the gift.
It dawned on me that this wasn’t an impulse decision made by somebody driving by. This van left the house prepared to hand out these care packages to the people who regularly populate busy intersections of Abilene. I thought that was pretty cool that someone took the time and consideration to intentionally help a brother out, by giving relief aids on a hot day in west Texas. I’d never thought to do this before.
Seeing this van handing out care packages made me wonder just how many people help the panhandlers of Abilene, and how they choose to help.
I’ve talked to coworkers about this, and one told me he once gave away a free meal card to a nearby restaurant, only to have it thrown back in his face, and was told “I need cash!”. Another coworker gave a man $5, and saw him a couple minutes later buying lottery scratch-offs. I have another coworker who occasionally gives cash to a particular couple of panhandlers, knowing they will spend it on alcohol.
What about you? Take a second to answer this poll, and let me know if you do anything to help. Maybe you have a different opinion or idea that you can share. | <urn:uuid:53db91d6-8e9f-439d-ba44-2d419ca3f309> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://1280ksli.com/what-do-you-do-to-help-abilenes-homeless-poll/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705953421/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120553-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976611 | 468 | 1.695313 | 2 |
Caring or Curing? On the Nature of Health Care in Modern Societies
Is health care a luxury or a necessity? Ever since the publication of Newhouse paper in 1977, this question has put forth a multitude of studies but still the substantive question is open. The empirical research on the nature of health care is mostly based on macro respectively micro level relationships among measures of wealth and expenditure for health care. Depending on the elasticity estimated, health care is classified by a study as a luxury, a necessity or both.
Based on a micro level explanation of why wealth may change the preferences of citizens with regard to health care, this paper supplements these studies by making an inference from the satisfaction of the citizens with a health care system in combination with information on what the health care system is actually delivering on the preferences and expectations citizens hold with regard to health care and the health care system.
Combining micro and macro level data, the evidence shows that wealth has indeed an effect on what citizens expect from a health care system. However, this change cannot be interpreted in the classical caring or curing distinction of medical services as proposed by Newhouse: even though curing, i.e. a health care system delivering what is necessary and performing well in restoring physiological health, surely no longer is enough to satisfy the citizens, the information available is insufficient to tell what the citizens actually want. | <urn:uuid:7d947d1d-7dac-4038-9486-99bb6fbd31f5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.mzes.uni-mannheim.de/d7/de/publications/report/caring-or-curing-on-the-nature-of-health-care-in-modern-societies | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948951 | 276 | 2.1875 | 2 |
Paul Wilson at the Media Research Center reports:
A Culture and Media Institute analysis of 239 programs aired on CNN from the period June 15 to July 15 revealed that CNN quoted or interviewed nearly four times the number of gay-agenda supporters as critics.
... in addition to that 4-to-1 ratio of guests, CNN aired 41 stories in that month that featured only gay advocated, leaving out critics altogether. Just nine stories featured only critics to the exclusion of gay advocates.
... Two CNN correspondents were honest enough to admit that the networks were biased in favor of gay rights.
Howard Kurtz on his "Reliable Sources" show on July 3, acknowledged "the media's celebration - there really is no other word - of the gay marriage debate in New York."
On June 26, Kurtz asked CNN reporter Carl Crawford whether or not the "coverage has paid equal attention to both sides of the debate." Crawford replied that "I think the media has been kind of rallying behind the marriage equality movement. I think we're always prone to any civil rights movement. We like it. It's democratic to us, and that's just one of our soft spots." | <urn:uuid:9bb83219-31ca-469b-9925-3077afad1c05> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.nomblog.com/11888 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00010-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975805 | 238 | 1.523438 | 2 |
Jacques Derrida on American Attitude
|January 28, 2013|
Jacques Derrida speaks about the attitude of American journalists and university students.
How Western Europe Developed a Full Scientific Method
The lone survivor of traditional Western European ‘scientific’ culture is science. It has survived because it is now the handmaid of technology, without which contemporary civilization would collapse utterly. Anyone who doubts this should try to get a research grant for genuinely “pure” research.
William Kentridge and The Benefits of Doubt
He had started the series from inside Plato’s cave, so when William Kentridge launched his sixth and final Charles Eliot Norton Lecture with a retelling of the story of Perseus, he gave familiar things back to his audience — the myth itself, and art’s gesture of circling toward origin at closure.
Where Rivers Meet
What is a map, and which maps are memory’s or imagination’s to invoke, and then how? What lies in the incantatory power of names, or in the pull North or South, West or East? What is time, what is memory, and what’s imagined about these plain facts here, or about writing as close to them – those descriptions and settings – as possible? | <urn:uuid:7c038d0e-0284-453e-8120-1e2f3c001bba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.berfrois.com/2013/01/american-action/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708142388/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516124222-00001-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930521 | 266 | 2.53125 | 3 |
Turkey and press freedom
Publish and be damned
The annual European Union report on Turkey hits at restrictions on the press
IT WAS a coincidence that Turkey's president, Abdullah Gul, received this year's Chatham House prize from Britain's queen in London on November 9th only hours after the European Commission released its annual report on Turkey's progress towards the European Union. The timing threw a harsh light on Brussels's criticisms, but Mr Gul batted them off. As usual, the EU demanded that Turkey open its ports and airports to Greek-Cypriots. But Mr Gul rejected any idea of a unilateral Turkish concession. The EU has not lifted the isolation of Turkish-Cypriots, despite its promised to do so in 2004, he said. Quietly, his British hosts agreed that more concessions should come from the Greek-Cypriots.
The EU talks are barely moving, because so many chapters are blocked by Cyprus or by other EU countries. Mr Gul told The Economist that Turkey would pursue the reforms to join even if most of the chapters remained closed, and added that it was possible Turks might end up rejecting membership anyway. Yet he disputed claims that Turkey was turning away from the West, observing that these were often designed merely to exert “psychological pressure”. Turkey is confident that, if it goes along with America's missile-defence system, it will be back in the West's good books despite its harsh criticisms of Israel and soft treatment of Iran.
There were some more positive passages in the commission's report. It cited somewhat better treatment of religious minorities, the easing of restrictions on Kurdish-language broadcasting, improvements to the penal code, new constitutional measures to increase civilian control over the army and an acceptance of Armenian-language textbooks in schools.
But the commission was highly critical of the way Turkey treats its press. As many as 40 journalists are in jail awaiting trial or having been convicted. Several newspapers have sacked columnists who have been too critical of the ruling Justice and Development (AK) party of the prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The commission repeats its worries about assaults by the tax authorities on Turkey's biggest media conglomerate, the Dogan group, which began only after its reporters started digging into corruption among AK members. Many prominent journalists confess that they now practise self-censorship for fear of offending Mr Erdogan.
Yet Mr Gul largely rejects these concerns. He insists that freedom of the press is a cornerstone of Turkish democracy and declares that “everybody is free to write what they want.” He has promised to look at legal or even constitutional amendments that might improve the protection of journalists but he says that most cases concerned leaks or the abuse of court-privileged information.
Others are not convinced. Reporters without Borders, a lobby group, ranks Turkey 138th of 178 countries for press freedom in 2010, the lowest in a decade. William Horsley of the Association of European Journalists frets about an increasingly restrictive climate. A group of journalists demonstrated in Ankara recently and sent a letter of protest to Mr Erdogan demanding reforms. At a conference in early October Ercan Ipekci, a Turkish editor, listed 27 articles in the penal code that are used to harass reporters and said Turkey risked becoming a dictatorship.
The AK party's opponents share these criticisms. Karen Fogg, a former EU ambassador in Turkey, says the commission report “provides an interesting political agenda for the opposition.” Kemal Kilicdaroglu, leader of the centre-left Republican People's Party (CHP), has consolidated his control over his party. He may yet stop the AK party winning next June's election outright. In any case Turkey needs to do more to get a better report next time. | <urn:uuid:b4f8f40d-aa49-4b9e-8874-9b1b5b743e7a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.economist.com/node/17472834 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.969152 | 756 | 1.617188 | 2 |
How ready are the counties in Texas for the new IPv6 Internet protocol? Not so much. Only two counties are using IPv6 for their Web and Mail system. The picture looks somewhat better for DNS servers but there is a long way to go.
Kudos to Angelina and Kerr county. Those two counties have given their residents the possibility to reach critical information over both the old IPv4 protocol as well as over the new IPv6. They are ready for the new Internet.
The site below tracks the progress of counties Ipv6 readiness in Texas. We still have some time before the lack of Ipv6 is getting critical, but we are getting closer to the depletion point each day.
The map is updated daily and tracks both IPv6 as well as DNSSEC readiness. Thanks to my friend in Sweden, Torbjorn Eklov that put the map together. | <urn:uuid:8acff8a4-6614-4817-8982-fab1caf96d9c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ipv4depletion.com/?p=680 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00003-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952019 | 180 | 1.84375 | 2 |
I am sure it has happened to me many times, though my traps look like this:
So the bait stays put. I pretty much assume that there are going to be people out there who will steal from others' traps. Unfortunately here in Texas so many people leave their traps so long unattended, and people know that, that it encourages poaching. Frankly, with unattended traps poachers can provide a service, because a lot of times crabs and even game fish languish and die in them because they are unattended so long. I volunteer every February with TPWD, during a 10 day closure period where all traps must be out of the water, and any traps found can be kept. I don't usually keep the ones I find, as I have enough and mine are in much better shape as I only leave mine in the water for 1 to 2 nights at a time. These abandoned traps tend to be corroding and covered with barnacles and oyster shells. | <urn:uuid:004c5cb7-c65d-432f-ac21-623ef398dc4d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.paddling.net/message/showThread.html?fid=fishing&tid=1575221 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00031-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.980228 | 197 | 1.617188 | 2 |
Regulatory Impact Statement: Proposed Heritage Regulation 2012
The Heritage Regulation 2005 is due to be repealed on 1 September 2012. It is proposed to remake the regulation as the issues it addresses remain relevant.
In line with the requirements of the Subordinate Legislation Act 1989, this Regulatory Impact Statement (RIS) has been prepared as a prelude to the remaking of the Regulation. It assesses the social and economic costs and benefits associated with a proposed replacement Regulation and examines other possible options to ensure the final approved legal instrument will meet stated policy objectives.
The Office of Environment and Heritage welcomes written comments on the RIS and the draft replacement Regulation.
- Regulatory Impact Statement: Proposed Heritage Regulation 2012 (20120282herregris.pdf, 222KB)
- Draft Heritage Regulation 2012 (DraftHeritageRegulation2012.pdf, 311KB)
Public exhibition for this document from 19 April 2012 to 18 May 2012.
Public consultation for this document has ended.
Page last updated: 19 April 2012 | <urn:uuid:c067f367-ece0-4f53-8fd8-13ef825b86c9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/publications/20120282herregris.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00037-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91055 | 206 | 1.507813 | 2 |
By Mila Besich-Lira
Originally known as Armistice day to remember those who fought in World War One the day eventually became commemorated as Veterans Day to remember all veterans and armed forces.
The ceremony began with the greeting by post commander Mike Urquijo he was followed by post Chaplain Art Reyna who gave a brief invocation. The post members and ladies’ auxiliary members presented the remembrance wreaths at the foot of the the table for the missing in action and prisoners of war.
Commander Urquijo explained the significance of each item on the MIA/POW table. The white table cloth symbolizes the purity of their intention and to respond to their country’s call to arms, so that their children can remain free.
The lone candle symbolizes the frailty of a prisoner alone, trying to stand up against his oppressors. The black ribbon on the candle reminds of the comrades who will not return. The single rose reminds us of the loved ones and families that were left behind.
The empty chair is reminder of the service member and the Bible is to remind them of their faith. A slice of lemon is on the bread plate to remind us of their bitter fate, salt is on the table which is symbolic of the family’s tears as they wait.
The inverted glasses on the table remind us that they cannot toast with us but maybe one day they will.
The event was attended by two local active duty service members Jose Lira a chief in the US Navy and Nicholas Conrad who just completed Army boot camp and was home celebrating his first official Veterans Day. Many veterans and post members also attended.
Thisyear the VFW selectedguest speakers from the community to accompany their annual ceremony. Hank Gutierrez and former Mayor Michael Hing each spoke about the importance of Veterans Day.
Hing read through a series of presidential speeches. Gutierrez spoke about the importance of the role of the VFW in the community. He encouraged the public to join the VFW and support the auxiliary he stressed that the VFW is an icon for the community and it would be a shame if it were to ever have to close.
After the speeches members of the post and auxiliary read the names of veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice a bell was rung after each name was read.
Following the ceremony, everyone in attendance enjoyed a lunch prepared by the ladies’ auxiliary.
To comment on this article and others visit the Copper Area News Facebook or send us an email at [email protected] | <urn:uuid:b7d1768f-c6bf-409f-aab8-356e2bb5542b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://copperarea.com/pages/vfw-hosts-annual-veterans-day-ceremony/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698207393/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516095647-00017-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971999 | 523 | 2.34375 | 2 |
Hackers have swiped personal data of nearly 1.3 million Sega video game players, the Japanese company has revealed. The information included names, birth dates, email addresses and encrypted passwords, reports AP. Service was "illegally accessed from outside and personal information of all" customers of the online Sega Pass, operated by Sega Europe, was hacked, said a statement from the firm. Sega assured customers that no credit card information was accessed, but the data could conceivably be used to access or utilize such information elsewhere.
"Please note that no personal payment information was stored by Sega as we use external payment providers," said the company. News of the hack was initially only explained online in Japanese as the service was shut down, notes CNN. English language users were merely told the service was closed for "maintenance work." Sega is investigating the breach and has changed all user passwords. Earlier this year, hackers stole personal user data from Sony's PlayStation Network, which had some 70 million subscribers at the time. Sony was hit again by hackers early this month. | <urn:uuid:56ae4617-8190-4fcb-9a71-fc1eb64ba47b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.newser.com/story/121431/hackers-grab-data-of-13m-sega-players.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982509 | 213 | 1.789063 | 2 |
What is carbon monoxide poisoning?
poisoning happens when you breathe too much carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide is
a gas produced by burning any type of fuel-gas, oil, kerosene, wood, or
charcoal. What makes this gas so dangerous is that when you breathe it,
it replaces the oxygen in your blood . Without oxygen, cells throughout the
body die, and the organs stop working.
You can't see, smell, or
taste carbon monoxide. But if you breathe too much of it, it can become deadly
within minutes. So be sure you know the signs of carbon monoxide
poisoning, what to do if you have the symptoms, and how to keep it from
What causes carbon monoxide poisoning?
monoxide can come from any source that burns fuel. Common sources are cars, fireplaces,
powerboats, woodstoves, kerosene space heaters, charcoal grills, and gas
appliances such as water heaters, ovens, and dryers. Usually they cause no problems. Trouble comes when:
- Cars, trucks, or other engines are left running in enclosed
spaces, such as garages. Carbon monoxide can build up in a garage and leak back
into the house. Even sitting in an idling car in an open garage or swimming
behind an idling boat can be dangerous.
- Fuel-burning appliances are not installed or used properly.
Dangerous levels of carbon monoxide can build up inside houses and other
- Fuel-burning heating systems and appliances are used during
cold weather, when doors and windows are closed. Chimneys in older buildings
become blocked and release fumes into the homes or offices. Newer houses that
are well insulated and tightly sealed can trap carbon monoxide inside.
What are the symptoms?
Early symptoms of carbon
monoxide poisoning include:
As carbon monoxide builds up in your blood , symptoms get worse and may include:
- Confusion and drowsiness.
- Fast breathing, fast heartbeat, or chest pain.
If you have symptoms that you think could be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, leave the area right away, and call 911 or go to the emergency room. If you keep breathing the fumes,
you may pass out and die.
Carbon monoxide poisoning can occur
suddenly or over a long period of time. Breathing low levels of carbon monoxide
over a long period can cause severe heart problems and brain damage. See a
- You often are short of breath and have mild nausea and
headaches when you are indoors.
- You feel better when you leave the building and worse when you
- Other people you work or live with have the same symptoms you
How is carbon monoxide poisoning diagnosed?
It can be hard to know if you have
carbon monoxide poisoning. The same symptoms can be caused by flu or other
problems. In the winter months, doctors may suspect carbon monoxide poisoning
in people who complain of severe headache, nausea, or dizziness. This is
especially true if other household members or coworkers have the same symptoms. Even pets in the home may get sick. | <urn:uuid:83c1229f-4ccd-4587-8cf0-9e4266760c8d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://firstaid.webmd.com/tc/carbon-monoxide-poisoning-topic-overview | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368708766848/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125246-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906456 | 667 | 3.390625 | 3 |
“To command the professors of astronomy to confute their own observations is to enjoin an impossibility, for it is to command them to not see what they do see, and not to understand what they do understand, and to find what they do not discover.”
– Galileo Galile
Almost all astronomers do research. Some are theoreticians who work on the laws governing the structure and evolution of astronomical objects. Others analyze large quantities of data gathered by observatories and satellites, and write scientific papers on their findings.
Some astronomers operate large space- or ground-based
telescopes, usually as part of a team. A small number of astronomers work in
planetariums. Most students who are serious about becoming research astronomers
go on to earn doctoral degrees.
There is no major or minor in Astronomy at UIS. Independent study in astronomy is available to upper-classmen who excell in science and mathematics. Applied study and independent research are also available. Chemistry majors can earn credit toward their major for independent astronomy research. | <urn:uuid:8894ea35-ce0e-49a8-afa9-feef2e45d91c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.uis.edu/astronomy/about/concentration/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944873 | 212 | 2.65625 | 3 |
Born in North Africa to Roman and Berber parents, Augustine (354-430 CE) was a man of brilliant mind and passionate heart. As a fiery student at Carthage, and as a restless teacher in Africa and then Rome, he searched for understanding of life’s meaning.
Appointed professor of rhetoric at the imperial court at Milan, he finally found in the sermons of Bishop Ambrose a compelling call to grace and truth. After his baptism in 387 he returned to Africa to live a quiet life of study with like-minded friends. The city of Hippo, however, called him to be bishop.
Augustine’s service as bishop, pastor and scholar greatly influenced subsequent Christian life and thought. His emphasis on grace and the primacy of love in all things, on the reliability of faith and reason in the search for truth, and on our vocation to transform society have had a profound influence on hundreds of seminal thinkers, Catholic and Protestant, medieval and modern, religious and secular. His voluminous writings, especially Confessions , The Trinity, and City of God, have set the standards for Christian intellectual and spiritual life. They continue to be read as classics in world literature.
Augustine’s life, thought and work have been the inspiration for the Order of St. Augustine (www.augustinian.org or www.aug.org). From their teaching and study at the great medieval universities to their contemporary educational and pastoral ministries, the Augustinian Friars promote learning, charity and community life in the spirit of the African bishop. | <urn:uuid:2f0529f3-5613-4160-a995-9df9bb7cda90> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://[email protected]/academics/center_augustinian_study_legacy/about_augustinians.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00019-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952527 | 319 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Ramadan If-tar - Breaking fast
The Imam of the Swansea University Mosque and the Swansea University Islamic Society are hosting a Ramadan fast breaking dinner for staff, students and members of the public. The event will be held at the Mosque between 7.30 pm and 8.15 pm on Friday 3 September 2010.
The fast, from dawn to dusk, allows each individual to empathise with those who are less fortunate themselves and to concentrate their mind on their spiritual selves. After the breaking of the fast with dates, milk and fruit juice, the group will share evening prayers before enjoying a meal together. The social eating allows the group to appreciate what they have and to build better relationships with one another.
The event will be an opportunity to make friends with people from many countries, to learn about different customs and traditions and to experience one of the world’s major faiths.
If you would like to attend, please contact: Mahaboob Basha, Treasurer of the Islamic Student Society (ISOC) and Mature Student Officer, on Mobile: 07833943024 or Email: [email protected] | <urn:uuid:f10c9fe4-4290-4134-82c4-b19632c259e3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.swansea.ac.uk/media-centre/news-archive/2010-2011/ramadanif-tar-breakingfast.php | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00073-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938479 | 229 | 1.554688 | 2 |
GASTRONOMY IN CANADA
During the last two decades, Toronto and Vancouver saw the opening of many first class restaurants owned and/or managed by young, well-trained and talented chefs.
Quebec, particularly Montreal, has always enjoyed fine food with a French bend, but always avant-garde and imaginatively presented.
In Quebec, the population spends more money on food, particularly delicacies, than elsewhere in the country.
Toronto is a multi-cultural city, and with every wave of immigration, new cuisines were introduced upon layers of old, well-established cooking techniques.
A few years ago, one would have been hard pressed to find a properly made sushi or a fresh sashimi. Today, there are many Japanese restaurants serving first-rate food.
Korean and Chinese restaurants have been operation for much longer and very successfully.
When Susur Lee, a Hong Kong native trained there and in France came to Toronto, there were only a few fine restaurants. Hotel dining rooms were the purveyors of fine (read French) food and wines. He thought he could be successful by serving excellent food in a free standing restaurant and did it for a number of years in small restaurant with limited capacity both in the kitchen and dining area. Regardless his imaginative and well-prepared dishes caught the imagination of the dining-out public. Reservations had to be made weeks in advance to secure a table.
Now well established in his new restaurant he excels in fine, fusion cuisine but not in service.
Michael Stadlander, an equally talented German chef, decided to open his ‘farm” cum restaurant a few hundred kilometres from Toronto serving farm-fresh food from his operation and others nearby. Earlier he worked in Toronto restaurants for a few years. His food is equally as imaginative, but more rooted in fresh food and conventional ingredients.
There are others like Jamie Kennedy in his new restaurant serving small portions well prepared dishes. This seems to be the new trend in the industry; small portions to share with friends at the table. The idea being to experience many taste sensations.
Mark Mc Ewan’s North 44 on Yonge street has been catering to the connoisseur for many years now successfully. Mark, a native of Buffalo, New York State, believes in serving well-prepared modern dishes imaginatively presented.
Toronto’s population is over two-and-a-half million composed of a variety of cultures interested in tasty food and who can afford to splurge. Tourists and travelling business executives help high end restaurants do well.
Gastronomy cannot exist without the support of a wealthy public and interest in food.
Toronto’s proximity to New York, a virtual gastronomic Mecca, helps local chefs to travel there frequently to see what their fellow chefs de cuisines are serving in their fine restaurants.
Some Toronto chefs and their immediate collaborators travel farther a field to Los Angles, Hong Kong, other European countries in an attempt to find new and exciting recipes and/or ingredients.
Only Susur Lee seems to be able to combine oxtail, truffles, and oysters, and can make the combination work, or roast venison loin with uni (mountain potato) and top it with pink plum sabayon to have diners swoon.
True to European chef’s tradition, Susur Lee never divulges his sauce making techniques, nor all the ingredients.
Vancouver, another cosmopolitan city, on the Pacific coast enjoys an excellent culinary reputation acquired only in the last decade.
This city has truly fresh, first class fish and other seafood, unique vegetables, and fruits. The population is, on the average, younger than in Toronto, but no less interested in good food and wine. More importantly, however, they like to spend their money on imaginative foods. In Vancouver you can get first class sushi and sashimi, or visit C-Restaurant to enjoy superbly prepared seafood, Rain Tree City Grill is obsessed with regional and fresh food, Lumiere, owned and managed by Ron Feenie is world famous, Vij arguably the best North American fine Indian cuisine restaurant, and West with David Hawksworth at the helm.
David Hawksworth, a young imaginative and experiment-loving chef, has a solid technical background with stints in continental Europe and the United Kingdom’s best restaurants. He came op with the recipe roasted squab, in Savoy cabbage and foie gras, and pan-seared Alaska Strait scallop on tomato jam and pork belly with a hint of clove and cardamom.
Calgary is also starting to attract young, ambitious and eager chefs, offering fine food to an appreciative clientele willing to pay reasonable prices for fine food.
Gastronomy evolves in cities and regions with an abundance of fresh ingredients, and population willing to eat in restaurants offering well-prepared authentic food.
Talent can be attracted as we see in Toronto, New York, or Los Angles, and even in Paris. Who knew about superb food before the Revolution of 1789 when all fine chefs were employed only by the aristocracy?
Article contributed by Hrayr Berberoglu, a Professor Emeritus of Hospitality and Tourism Management specializing in Food and Beverage. Books by H. Berberoglu | <urn:uuid:5fe0d2a5-5b47-40ae-8f2e-d7fa87b9751b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://foodreference.com/html/artcanadiangastronomy.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368703682988/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516112802-00034-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957088 | 1,104 | 1.609375 | 2 |
Asperger syndrome (AS) is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), one of a distinct group of complex neurodevelopment disorders characterized by social impairment, communication difficulties, and restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped patterns of behavior. Other ASDs include autistic disorder, childhood disintegrative disorder, and pervasive developmental disorder not otherwise specified (usually referred to as PDD-NOS). ASDs are considered neurodevelopmental disorders and are present from infancy or early childhood. Although early diagnosis using standardized screening by age 2 is the goal, many with ASD are not detected until later because of limited social demands and support from parents and caregivers in early life.
The severity of communication and behavioral deficits, and the degree of disability, is variable in those affected by ASD. Some individuals with ASD are severely disabled and require very substantial support for basic activities of daily living. Asperger syndrome is considered by many to be the mildest form of ASD and is synonymous with the most highly functioning individuals with ASD.
Two core features of autism are: a) social and communication deficits and b) fixated interests and repetitive behaviors. The social communication deficits in highly functioning persons with Asperger syndrome include lack of the normal back and forth conversation; lack of typical eye contact, body language, and facial expression; and trouble maintaining relationships. Fixated interests and repetitive behaviors include repetitive use of objects or phrases, stereotyped movements, and excessive attachment to routines, objects, or interests. Persons with ASD may also respond to sensory aspects of their environment with unusual indifference or excessive interest.
The prevalence of AS is not well established. It is often not recognized before age 5 or 6 because language development is normal. Although ASD varies significantly in character and severity, it occurs in all ethnic and socioeconomic groups and affects every age group. Experts estimate that as many as 1 in 88 children age 8 will have an autism spectrum disorder1 No studies have yet been conducted to determine the incidence of Asperger syndrome in adult populations, but studies of children with the disorder suggest that their problems with socialization and communication continue into adulthood. Some of these children develop additional psychiatric symptoms and disorders in adolescence and adulthood. Males are four times more likely than girls to have ASD.
Studies of children with Asperger syndrome suggest that their problems with socialization and communication continue into adulthood. Some of these children develop additional psychiatric symptoms and disorders in adolescence and adulthood.
In 1944, an Austrian pediatrician named Hans Asperger observed four children in his practice who had difficulty integrating socially. Although their intelligence appeared normal, the children lacked nonverbal communication skills, failed to demonstrate empathy with their peers, and were physically awkward. Their speech was either disjointed or overly formal, and their all-absorbing interest in a single topic dominated their conversations. Dr. Asperger called the condition “autistic psychopathy” and described it as a personality disorder primarily marked by social isolation.
Asperger’s observations, published in German, were not widely known until 1981, when an English doctor named Lorna Wing published a series of case studies of children showing similar symptoms, which she called “Asperger’s” syndrome. Wing’s writings were widely published and popularized. AS became a distinct disease and diagnosis in 1992, when it was included in the tenth published edition of the World Health Organization’s diagnostic manual, International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10), and in 1994 it was added to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), the American Psychiatric Association’s diagnostic reference book. However, scientific studies have not been able to definitively differentiate Asperger syndrome from highly functioning autism. Because autism is defined by a common set of behaviors. Proposed changes to be announced in DSM-V, which are expected to take effect in mid-2013, will represent the various forms under a single diagnostic category, ASD.
Children with Asperger syndrome may have speech marked by a lack of rhythm, an odd inflection, or a monotone pitch. They often lack the ability to modulate the volume of their voice to match their surroundings. For example, they may have to be reminded to talk softly every time they enter a library or a movie theatre.
Unlike the severe withdrawal from the rest of the world that is characteristic of autism, children with Asperger syndrome are isolated because of their poor social skills and narrow interests. Children with the disorder will gather enormous amounts of factual information about their favorite subject and will talk incessantly about it, but the conversation may seem like a random collection of facts or statistics, with no point or conclusion. They may approach other people, but make normal conversation difficult by eccentric behaviors or by wanting only to talk about their singular interest.
Many children with AS are highly active in early childhood, but some may not reach milestones as early as other children regarding motor skills such as pedaling a bike, catching a ball, or climbing outdoor play equipment. They are often awkward and poorly coordinated with a walk that can appear either stilted or bouncy.
Some children with AS may develop anxiety or depression in young adulthood. Other conditions that often co-exist with Asperger syndrome are Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), tic disorders (such as Tourette syndrome), depression, anxiety disorders, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).
The cause of ASD, including Asperger syndrome, is not known. Current research points to brain abnormalities in Asperger syndrome. Using advanced brain imaging techniques, scientists have revealed structural and functional differences in specific regions of the brains of children who have Asperger syndrome versus those who do not have the disorder. These differences may be caused by the abnormal migration of embryonic cells during fetal development that affects brain structure and “wiring” in early childhood and then goes on to affect the neural circuits that control thought and behavior.
For example, one study found a reduction of brain activity in the frontal lobe of children with Asperger syndrome when they were asked to respond to tasks that required them to use their judgment. Another study found differences in activity when children were asked to respond to facial expressions. A different study investigating brain function in adults with AS revealed abnormal levels of specific proteins that correlate with obsessive and repetitive behaviors.
Scientists have long suspected that there are genetic and environmental components to Asperger syndrome and the other ASDs because of their tendency to run in families and their high concordance in twins. Additional evidence for the link between inherited genetic mutations and AS was observed in the higher incidence of family members who have behavioral symptoms similar to AS but in a more limited form, including slight difficulties with social interaction, language, or reading.
A specific gene for Asperger syndrome, however, has never been identified. Instead, the most recent research indicates that there are most likely a common group of genes whose variations or deletions make an individual vulnerable to developing ASD. This combination of genetic variations or deletions, in combination with yet unidentified environmental insults, probably determines the severity and symptoms for each individual with Asperger syndrome.
The diagnosis of Asperger syndrome is complicated by the lack of a standardized diagnostic test. In fact, because there are several screening instruments in current use, each with different criteria, the same child could receive different diagnoses, depending on the screening tool the doctor uses.
Asperger syndrome, also sometimes called high-functioning autism (HFA), is viewed as being on the mild end of the ASD spectrum with symptoms that differ in degree from autistic disorder.
Some of the autistic behaviors may be apparent in the first few months of a child’s life, or they may not become evident until later.
The diagnosis of Asperger syndrome and all other autism spectrum disorders is done as part of a two-stage process. The first stage begins with developmental screening during a “well-child” check-up with a family doctor or pediatrician. The second stage is a comprehensive team evaluation to either rule in or rule out AS. This team generally includes a psychologist, neurologist, psychiatrist, speech therapist, and additional professionals who have expertise in diagnosing children with AS.
The comprehensive evaluation includes neurologic and genetic assessment, with in-depth cognitive and language testing to establish IQ and evaluate psychomotor function, verbal and non-verbal strengths and weaknesses, style of learning, and independent living skills. An assessment of communication strengths and weaknesses includes evaluating non-verbal forms of communication (gaze and gestures); the use of non-literal language (metaphor, irony, absurdities, and humor); patterns of inflection, stress and volume modulation; pragmatics (turn-taking and sensitivity to verbal cues); and the content, clarity, and coherence of conversation. The physician will look at the testing results and combine them with the child’s developmental history and current symptoms to make a diagnosis.
There is no cure for Asperger syndrome and the autism spectrum disorders. The ideal treatment plan coordinates therapies and interventions that meet the specific needs of individual children. There is no single best treatment package for all children with AS, but most health care professionals agree that early intervention is best.
An effective treatment program builds on the child’s interests, offers a predictable schedule, teaches tasks as a series of simple steps, actively engages the child’s attention in highly structured activities, and provides regular reinforcement of behavior. This kind of program generally includes:
social skills training, a form of group therapy that teaches children with AS the skills they need to interact more successfully with other children
cognitive behavioral therapy, a type of “talk” therapy that can help the more explosive or anxious children to manage their emotions better and cut back on obsessive interests and repetitive routines
medication, if necessary, for co-existing conditions such as depression and anxiety
occupational or physical therapy, for children with sensory integration problems or poor motor coordination
specialized speech/language therapy, to help children who have trouble with the pragmatics of speech –the give and take of normal conversation, and
parent training and support, to teach parents behavioral techniques to use at home.
With effective treatment, children with AS can learn to overcome their disabilities, but they may still find social situations and personal relationships challenging. Many adults with Asperger syndrome work successfully in mainstream jobs, although they may continue to need encouragement and moral support to maintain an independent life.
Within the Federal government, the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), supports and conducts research on the brain and nervous system. The NINDS and other NIH components support research on autism spectrum disorders, either at NIH laboratories or through grants to major research institutions across the country.
In 1997, at the request of Congress, the NIH formed its Autism Coordinating Committee (NIH/ACC) to enhance the quality, pace, and coordination of efforts at the NIH to find a cure for autism (http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/autism-spectrum-disorders-pervasive-developmental-disorders/nih-initiatives/nih-autism-coordinating-committee.shtml). The NIH/ACC involves the participation of seven NIH Institutes and Centers: the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the National Institute of Mental Health, the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the National Institute of Nursing Research, and the National Center on Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The NIH/ACC has been instrumental in the understanding of and advances in ASD research. The NIH/ACC also participates in the broader Federal Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee (IACC) that is composed of representatives from various component agencies of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, as well as the U.S. Department of Education and other government organizations.
In fiscal years 2007 and 2008, NIH began funding the 11 Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE), coordinated by the NIH/ACC. The ACEs are investigating early brain development and functioning, social interactions in infants, rare genetic variants and mutations, associations between autism-related genes and physical traits, possible environmental risk factors and biomarkers, and a potential new medication treatment.
For more information on neurological disorders or research programs funded by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, contact the Institute's Brain Resources and Information Network (BRAIN) at:
P.O. Box 5801
Bethesda, MD 20824
Information also is available from the following organizations:
|MAAP Services for Autism, Asperger Syndrome, and PDD
P.O. Box 524
Crown Point, IN 46308
|Autism Science Foundation
419 Lafayette Street
New York, NY 10003
|Autism Society of America
4340 East-West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814
Tel: 301-657-0881 800-3AUTISM (328-8476)
|Autism Speaks, Inc.
1 East 33rd Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: 212-252-8584 (888) 288-4762
|Centers for Disease Control and
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1600 Clifton Road, N.E.
Atlanta, GA 30333
Tel: 800-311-3435 404-639-3311/404-639-3543
|National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
U.S. Dept. of Education, Office of Special Education Programs
1825 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20009
Tel: 800-695-0285 202-884-8200
|National Institute of Child Health and Human
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
31 Center Drive, Rm. 2A32 MSC 2425
Bethesda, MD 20892-2425
|National Institute of Environmental
Health Sciences (NIEHS)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
111 T.W. Alexander Drive
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
|National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
6001 Executive Blvd. Rm. 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
Tel: 301-443-4513/866-415-8051 301-443-8431 (TTY)
NIH Publication No. 13-5624
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892
NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.
All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.
Last updated May 7, 2013 | <urn:uuid:2954b8a6-3241-4c4c-902e-27c7869861d2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/asperger/detail_asperger.htm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00042-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.927696 | 3,162 | 4.21875 | 4 |
§ 3490.223. Definitions.
In addition to the definitions in § 3490.4 (relating to definitions), the following words and terms, when used in this subchapter, have the following meanings, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
AssessmentAn evaluation by the county agency to determine whether or not a child is in need of general protective services.
Custodial parentThe parent responsible for the day-to-day care and supervision of the child.
General protective servicesServices to prevent the potential for harm to a child who meets one of the following conditions:
(i) Is without proper parental care or control, subsistence, education as required by law, or other care or control necessary for his physical, mental, or emotional health, or morals.
(ii) Has been placed for care or adoption in violation of law.
(iii) Has been abandoned by his parents, guardian or other custodian.
(iv) Is without a parent, guardian or legal custodian.
(v) Is habitually and without justification truant from school while subject to compulsory school attendance.
(vi) Has committed a specific act of habitual disobedience of the reasonable and lawful commands of his parent, guardian or other custodian and who is ungovernable and found to be in need of care, treatment or supervision.
(vii) Is under 10 years of age and has committed a delinquent act.
(viii) Has been formerly adjudicated dependent under section 6341 of the Juvenile Act (relating to adjudication), and is under the jurisdiction of the court, subject to its conditions or placements and who commits an act which is defined as ungovernable in subparagraph (vi).
(ix) Has been referred under section 6323 of the Juvenile Act (relating to informal adjustment), and who commits an act which is defined as ungovernable in subparagraph (vi).
ParentA biological parent, adoptive parent, legal guardian or primary person responsible for a child.
Potential for harm
(i) Likely, if permitted to continue, to have a detrimental effect on the childs health, development or functioning.
(ii) The term does not include imminent risk as defined in the definition of child abuse in § 3490.4.
Primary person who is responsible for the care of a childA person who provides or arranges ongoing care and supervision to a child in lieu of parental care and supervision.
ReportA verbal or written statement to the county agency from someone alleging that a child is in need of general protective services.
The provisions of this § 3490.223 adopted July 2, 1999, effective July 3, 1999, 29 Pa.B. 3513.
No part of the information on this site may be reproduced for profit or sold for profit.
This material has been drawn directly from the official Pennsylvania Code full text database. Due to the limitations of HTML or differences in display capabilities of different browsers, this version may differ slightly from the official printed version. | <urn:uuid:562426e5-3561-459b-a73e-36bcd6afe27d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/055/chapter3490/s3490.223.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00025-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.920379 | 618 | 1.96875 | 2 |
Since 2000, Music Network has been offering the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Training Programme. The programme provides professional musicians and composers with the opportunity to learn and develop skills in workshop facilitation. Elaine Agnew, composer and leading music faciiltator, is the Artistic Advisor and Lead Facilitator to the programme. The programme focuses on two key areas of musicianship: improvisation and vocal skills and how these key skills can be adapted to deliver a high-quality, interactive, fun musical experiences in a range of community settings including:
- youth groups,
- healthcare settings
- very young children (from 18 months)
The programme also offers insights into best practice approaches and supports and funding available to for this work.
All participating musicians and composers must be supported by a bursary from either their local authority arts office, a professional performing organisation or other suitable body.
More information about the CPD 2012 Programme is available here.
Download application form for CPD 2012 Programme here.
Music Network and The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children present
ATTUNED: A UNIQUE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITY FOR MUSICIANS
Dates: 10 – 13 September 2012 (inclusive)
Venue: The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children, 11a Eustace Street, Temple Bar, Dublin 2
Course fee: €100
Deadline: Friday 20 July 2012
Music Network and The Ark, A Cultural Centre for Children, are seeking applications from professional performing musicians to participate in ATTUNE
ATTUNE is an exciting new professional development opportunity for performing musicians interested in exploring high quality live music performance and child audiences.
Led by musician, composer and musical powerhouse, Brian Irvine, ATTUNE will inspire and participants to investigate approaches to live music performance and children and family audiences in a challenging yet supportive environment. The programme will be delivered over a series of 4 consecutive days culminating in a live performance for an invited audience of children in The Ark’s theatre.
For further information, please call Tel 01 671 9429 | <urn:uuid:29060cc9-6949-47d5-b2fe-07b53f25b6c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.musicnetwork.ie/musicians/courses/facilitation/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.902906 | 430 | 1.59375 | 2 |
Henrietta Lacks (1920-51)
Henrietta Lacks was an African-American woman living in a segregated community in Baltimore. She died aged only 31, but achieved immortality in death. Cells from her cancerous tumour were cultured to form the first immortal cell line, which is still used in medical research worldwide. Her legacy raises questions about informed consent, racism, the ownership of human tissues and the ethics of using them for research.
Lacks was admitted to Baltimore’s Johns Hopkins Hospital shortly after the birth of her fifth child. She was later diagnosed with cervical cancer. A tumour was removed during her unsuccessful treatment and its cells were cultivated in the laboratory. Researchers observed that these cells multiplied as no others had done before: they doubled their numbers each day. They were also far more robust than previous human cell cultures. On 4 October 1951, Johns Hopkins proclaimed a new dawn of medical research. ’HeLa cells’ were seen as a breakthrough in the fight against cancer. Lacks died the same day.
HeLa cells were distributed to other laboratories. They in turn cultured supplies before distributing them. Lacks’s tumour cells have been constantly used since her death. Areas of medical research benefiting include polio, cancer, AIDS and gene mapping. HeLa proved so strong they even infiltrated other cell cultures.
HeLa became a multi-million-dollar commodity. However, Lacks’s surviving family only became aware of her amazing legacy by chance in the 1970s. Her contribution recently received belated recognition, and there is now an annual commemoration called ‘Henrietta Lacks Day’. Her cancer cells live on, but Lacks has lain for nearly 60 years in an unmarked grave.
Related Themes and Topics
R Skloot, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (New York: Crown Publishing Group, 2010)
H Landecker, Culturing Life: How Cells Became Technologies (Harvard University Press, 2007)
An infectious disease affecting the central nervous system. Affected individuals can exhibit a range of symptoms if the polio virus enters the blood stream.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease caused by infections resulting from a weakened immune system due to the HIV virus. It leads to failure of the immune system and is usually fatal. It is spread through direct contact with bodily fluids.
Part of the nucleus of a cell that determines how our bodies function. Genes are passed from parents to children. | <urn:uuid:30041b61-198a-47e4-8d1f-3869bac62c26> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/broughttolife/people/henriettalacks.aspx | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704713110/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516114513-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.974705 | 515 | 3.40625 | 3 |
Untermyer, Samuel, 1858–1940, American lawyer and civic leader, b. Lynchburg, Va., grad. Columbia law school, 1878. He gained fame as a lawyer and took part in some of the country's most important litigation. He served as counsel to the congressional committee headed by Arsène Pujo that investigated (1912) money trusts, and to the Lockwood committee of the New York legislature, which probed (1921–22) statewide housing conditions. As special counsel until 1933 in the famous New York City transit suits, he helped maintain the five-cent subway fare. Untermyer was a staunch advocate of stock-market regulations, government ownership of railroads, and various legal reforms. A leading crusader against anti-Semitism, Untermyer was active in the movement to boycott Germany after Hitler rose to power.
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2012, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Social Reformers | <urn:uuid:954776f4-495c-4a35-aba3-0a253ca65460> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.factmonster.com/encyclopedia/people/untermyer-samuel.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705559639/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115919-00069-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.94782 | 211 | 2.484375 | 2 |
There is something special about bicycles. Any bike enthusiast will tell you that their bicycle is not merely a means of efficient transportation, but practically an extension of their body. But what happens when that once cherished two-wheeled friend has outrun its course? Swedish designer Frida Ottemo Kallstrom resolves this dilemma with unique designs that will keep the cherished memories of your favorite bicycle intact even after its well-worn parts have deteriorated. She debuted her collection of recycled bicycle furniture at the Salone Satellite show in Milan this past April.
An avid collector of old discarded bicycles, Kallstrom had the idea to convert them into furniture by drawing on the idea of the ‘readymade’. Reconstructing sections such as the mainframe and seat post saddle, Kallstrom’s designs contort and abstract the conventional structure of a bicycle, resulting in a playful series of stools and light fixtures. Her Cykelmöbelprojekt will keep you dreaming about Tour de France long after you’ve finished that exhilarating bike ride home. | <urn:uuid:138735bb-7f82-4e70-9c21-c1dc90b64b54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://inhabitat.com/recycled-bicycle-furniture-by-frida-ottemo-kallstrom/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952994 | 217 | 1.679688 | 2 |
A Look At Video Games And Youth Violence
from the not-so-connected... dept
Every few months there seems to be yet another story from some worked up adult about how video games should be blamed for youth violence. There's even a lawyer who has made quite a career out of being the blame the video game lawyer. Any time there's a youth crime committed, and the kid played violent video games, that lawyer is there, trying to take the responsibility off of the kid who committed the crime, and putting it on the video game makers. Never mind that most studies have suggested that there's no real link between violent video gaming and violent acts -- and that, in some ways, violent video games may act as a way for kids to "vent" their frustration, rather than taking actual action. However, it seems to touch a nerve and people automatically seem to react badly to those who suggest that violent video games might not lead to real life violent acts. This is going to get some more attention with all of the bogus hype around Grand Theft Auto, but duke ferris has written in to point out an interesting analysis that, at least in the aggregate, suggests that it would be quite difficult to prove a connection between video gaming and violence as the reports of youth violence have continually dropped as video games have become more popular. Of course, that doesn't necessarily answer the question on an individual basis -- it certainly does give some fodder against those who seem to think that video games are causing a youth violence epidemic. | <urn:uuid:98d54d80-6828-4257-b18d-ce41e6de1e4e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20050721/1915214_F.shtml | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983534 | 306 | 1.539063 | 2 |
"The Sequester" that's all the rage in Washington these days is, simultaneously, one of the most complex and easily-grasped concepts around.
In short: Back in 2011, a deal was struck by Republicans and Democrats to create a looming deadline ("The Sequester") at the beginning of 2013 that would, theoretically, force the two to come to a budgetary agreement in the meantime. The thought-process was that the cuts to public programs from this sequester would get the two groups to stop bickering and finally come to a deal. Problem was, these two groups really do not like each other and the deadline has now passed. What this means is that the government is now slashing a whole bunch of spending, across a wide spectrum of areas. (Numbers-wise, this means cutting $1.2 trillion out of the budget over the next decade, including $85 million to be shorn this year alone.) Everything from defense to national parks is on the "trimming" block.
Where it gets complex is just what programs are being cut and how this is going to legitimately affect the citizens of the country.
On one side are those who believe $85 million a year is simply a drop in the bucket when it comes to the nation's budget. On the other are those are feel the programs being cut are vital enough that the country will be left in shambles. (As you'd expect, partisan bickering comes into play mighty heavily here; the truth is probably somewhere in between.) And while cutting of defense and social programs are sure to effect certain parts of the population, there's one area being de-funded that's definitely going to be felt by us all: the area of food inspection.
According to the White House, the decade-long cuts will remove $56 million from Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, $53 million from Food Safety and Inspection Service, and $2 million from Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration. While spreading those cuts across 10 years may not seem that bad, it gets scarier when Tom Vilsack, the country's Agriculture Secretary, goes on record saying the following:
"Make no mistake about it, there is not enough flexibility in the sequester language for me to move money around to avoid furloughs of food inspectors."
More recently, while testifying before the House Committee on Agriculture about the effect the sequester will have on our food supply, he added this bit of panic:
No matter how you slice it and dice it, there's nothing you can do without impacting front line inspectors," he said. "The inspections are very, very important and we will do everything we can to minimize the disruption, but I have to be truthful to this committee that based on the way the sequester is structured, it will impact food inspection."
Not having inspectors on duty means meat and poultry isn't getting inspected, means they won't be allowed to be sold to consumers, means, ultimately, a meat and poultry shortage (Luckily, this seems to still be a few months away from becoming a reality.) And if the country starts devolving into meat shortages, well, that's when this sequester nonsense will most certainly "be solved." If there's one area of the population that both sides of the aisle want among their constituents, it's the country's meat-eating public.
But we may not even have to worry all that much after all. Not all congressional reps are this scared. For instance, you have Republican Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, who paints a less horrific picture of the sequester. While questioning Vilsack in the aforementioned public hearing, here was his question:
But you will, Mr. Secretary, utilize the maximum flexibility you have. You have substantial inspectors in plants all over the country, plants that work on different hour schedules. The odds that we would furlough every inspector on the same day are rather minuscule, correct?
Suggesting that perhaps Vilsack's doomsday scenario is just a way to scare the Republicans into coming to an agreement? Or perhaps it's Lucas who's under-cutting the legitimate impact the budget cuts are going to have in our food industry? Seeing as it's bipartisan bickering and all, it's tough to determine exactly who's right here. Only time will tell. But in the meantime, maybe feel free to throw a few extra chickens in the freezer.
TrackBack URL: http://www.kcet.org/cgi-bin/mt/mt-tb.cgi/17836 | <urn:uuid:192fc38b-211a-4323-bb15-2794827facff> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.kcet.org/living/food/food-rant/will-the-sequester-lead-to-a-meat-shortage.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00040-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962659 | 934 | 1.75 | 2 |
Older East Africans enjoy running to stay healthy.
When one thinks of Kenya, one usually doesn’t picture master-level runners. But the concept of competitive older-age runners is alive and well in East Africa. According to an article in the Daily Nation, runners like 75-year-old Mzee John Chepkwony Chepsuge are taking part in races throughout the country. At a recent cross-country race, Chepsuge clocked an impressive 45-minute 12K. Finishing four minutes ahead of him was 60-year-old Julius Lagat.
Lagat, who’s been running since the 1970s, stays fit by riding a bicycle throughout neighboring villages as he looks for chicken to buy and resell. “I was running with Kipchoge [Keino] in those years,” he said. Keino was the gold medalist in the 1,500m event at the 1968 Olympics.
Chepsuge keeps up his fitness by farming and tending to his cows . “I have been running for about 10 years now and I am not ready to quit because it is one way of exercising,” he said.
Both runners note that running has helped them stay healthy and avoid illness.
For More: Daily Nation | <urn:uuid:746c93a8-5a45-4e7b-83a8-92b10d5a5bb2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://running.competitor.com/2011/02/news/masters-running-happens-in-kenya-too_21607 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00024-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982651 | 265 | 1.953125 | 2 |
STILL HANGING ON
A definitely better and more flexible arrangement of course requirements is expressed in the adoption of a new nomenclature and altered demands by the English Department. Like the History Department, it has renumbered its basic courses upon a somewhat more sane system than the usual football-signal confusion, an advantage so evident that it is strange not to find it carried through in other departments, especially those of literature.
In matters related to the English Department alone there is likewise improvement, from the student's viewpoint. The successor of English D will no longer be a requirement for those falling in the successor of English A, and I will count, as it should, for a degree. But it is unfortunate that the authorities find it still necessary to continue the first half of English A under any name as a requirement. Only men coming to college with an extremely poor foundation can get a return out of the labors of the first part of the course at all proportionate to its demands in effort and time. Its presence as an extra course among the other difficulties of the Freshman year makes it doubly burdensome. The changes it has undergone have limited and tried to tighten its sagging structure; but its usefulness, always dubious, has about disappeared: and its improved and specialized second part should offer sufficient elementary instruction to any man whose other work proves him intelligent enough to enter Harvard. | <urn:uuid:9f46f7ac-00c4-4f72-8864-d40059a99c8b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.thecrimson.com/article/1929/2/23/still-hanging-on-pa-definitely-better/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368709037764/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516125717-00035-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961552 | 280 | 1.835938 | 2 |
From the NYT’s BeltLine Provides New Life to Railroad Tracks in Atlanta – NYTimes.com:
The Eastside Trail, as the path is known, is one of the first legs of an ambitious proposal that has been in the works since the early 2000s — to transform 22 miles of vine-covered railroad into parks, housing and public transit around Atlanta.
“We are changing Atlanta into a city that you can enjoy by walking and riding a bike,” Mayor Kasim Reed said. “We have been so car-centric that you didn’t experience the city in an intimate way.”
But the Eastside Trail is only a start. And while some civic boosters, among them Mr. Reed, are calling for the pace to accelerate (he wants to see the entire loop paved and streetcars installed within a decade), the fulfillment of the grand plan, called the Atlanta BeltLine, is not assured.
In part because of suburban resistance to the BeltLine, the Atlanta region last year rejected the T-SPLOST, which would have guaranteed $600 million for the project. The T-SPLOST vote revealed something of a transportation divide between the city of Atlanta and the metro area suburbs. I thought that Atlanta’s project list for the sales tax was appropriately balanced to meet the desires of various areas, but it was primarily the suburban voters — the ones who frankly had the most to gain from passage of the tax — who rejected it. So now Mayor Reed and other BeltLine supporters have little money for the project, but they’ve also been liberated from having to compromise with the suburbs.
Some object to the Beltline on design grounds. Again from the article:
Critics have urged that the project be scaled back. The city’s biggest transit challenge, they argue, is not beautifying in-town neighborhoods but reducing gridlock from the suburbs.
“The BeltLine doesn’t go where people want or need to go,” said Michael Dobbins, an architecture professor at the Georgia Institute of Technology, who has studied the project’s feasibility. “The parks and trails are great, but it makes no sense to add streetcars while traffic elsewhere is so bad, especially in this economy.”
But supporters point to signs of progress: 60 acres of parks have been built and five miles paved for bike baths in the past five years. Thousands of people walk and bike along the Eastside Trail, which runs from the city’s largest park to the historically black and rapidly gentrifying Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, where the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was born and lived.
The BeltLine may not go where some people want and need to go, but it’s clear from development noted along the route that the new connections will change what some want and need. Just a glance at the map suggests so many possibilities for how Atlanta can become a little less car-centric and create more ways to connect the urban residents who have chosen to live in the city:
There’s much more about the BeltLine on its official website. | <urn:uuid:9b74f58a-9fec-4970-8b5c-d1fcbcd3d7a4> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.billdawers.com/2013/02/15/national-spotlight-for-atlantas-proposed-beltline-which-is-converting-old-rail-lines-to-multi-use-paths/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00013-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966638 | 647 | 1.96875 | 2 |
Republicans eye highway bill as vehicle for Keystone
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House of Representatives Republicans looking to force approval of the Canada-to-Texas Keystone XL oil pipeline that was blocked last week by the Obama administration are considering attaching it to a massive highway bill, a key lawmaker said on Tuesday.
"It's not settled," said Representative Lee Terry, a senior Republican on the House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. "But there seems to be some coalescence for an infrastructure bill."
The Republicans, searching for ways to resurrect the $7 billion project, also are not ruling out coupling it to a payroll tax bill that needs to get through Congress in February.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat, said on Tuesday he does not think a provision to speed approval of the pipeline belongs in the next payroll tax cut bill.
"If we want to wean ourselves from foreign oil, why would we allow a pipeline to be built of 1,700 miles to manufacture petroleum products to be shipped overseas? That's the purpose of this," Reid told reporters.
Terry said an infrastructure bill seems like a "marriage" for TransCanada's Keystone, which would sharply boost the flow of crude from Canada's oil sands to U.S. Gulf Coast refineries.
Congressional Republicans have over the past year rejected ambitious Obama administration infrastructure proposals that were intended as job creators, citing cost concerns.
House Speaker John Boehner in November proposed a five-year plan to combine road and bridge spending with measures that would increase royalties from new offshore oil and gas drilling.
Parts of the plan, such has opening part of the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge to oil exploration, stand little chance of passage in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
President Barack Obama said his administration denied TransCanada's application for the oil sands pipeline on January 18 because there was not enough time to review an alternate route that would avoid a sensitive aquifer in Nebraska within a 60-day window set by Congress.
Congressional Republicans had tried to force the administration into a quick decision after Obama delayed the project in November on the grounds that more study was needed.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
Liberals and environmental groups - who Obama does not want to antagonize as he seeks re-election on November 6 - have protested against the project because of the higher greenhouse gas emissions from mining Alberta's massive oils sands.
The administration will likely not reconsider the project until after the presidential election unless Congress can force Obama's hand.
The five-year, $260 billion infrastructure bill eyed by House Republicans is long-delayed legislation to fund highway, bridge and rail construction programs. Relevant committees plan to consider the measure next month.
Republicans feel their hand has been strengthened after a new legal analysis by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service found that Congress has the constitutional right to legislate permits for cross-border oil pipelines like Keystone.
Attaching the bill to payroll tax cut legislation that needs to pass by the end of February has not been ruled out.
But Republican leaders may try to avoid a showdown on that bill after delays in December backfired.
Republicans in both the House and Senate are working on legislative language but getting a Keystone bill passed faces hurdles in the Democratic-controlled Senate, and also ultimately would need to be signed by Obama to become law.
The House has been considering language drafted by Terry, whose home state of Nebraska would host part of the pipeline. The language would shift the Keystone decision to the independent Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which regulates pipelines.
The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on Terry's bill on Wednesday, which will signal further determination by Republicans to press ahead with the project that they say is needed to create jobs secure the country's energy security.
Using a slightly different approach, House Republican Ted Poe of Texas introduced a bill on Tuesday that would see Congress give the project a permit "directly and immediately."
Republican Senator John Hoeven of North Dakota, whose state needs the pipeline to move booming oil production from the Bakken shale reserve, is also working on language to push approval of the project.
(Additional reporting by Roberta Rampton and John Crawley; Editing by Will Dunham)
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- Digg this | <urn:uuid:c7a96205-fc69-4b16-bacf-18c0a5b3c802> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/01/24/us-usa-keystone-republicans-idUSTRE80N23W20120124?feedType=RSS&feedName=politicsNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+Reuters/PoliticsNews+(News+/+US+/+Politics+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701852492/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105732-00065-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964494 | 864 | 1.828125 | 2 |
Every Muslim who is adult and in possession of his faculties must fast Ramadan.
They are exempted, however, in the following cases:
a. Women in menstruation, or in child-birth bleeding.
b. Persons on sick bed, or on a journey.
Women who are Bleeding during Menstruation or of Child-Birth:
Women in menstruation, or bleeding after giving birth, shall not
If Ramadan begins while a woman is in menstruation or childbirth
bleeding, she shall not fast until bleeding ceases in both
cases and she takes the ritual bath.
If bleeding occurs during Ramadan, then a woman shall break
When bleeding ceases, a woman must wash and then fast. If she
does not find water, she must perform the ritual purification with
If bleeding ceases during the night, she can formulate the
intention to fast and lose no time in washing but postpone taking
a bath until after dawn, providing she does so before sunrise.
If a bleeding woman deliberately postpones the bath until after
sunrise, thereby missing the morning prayers, then her fast shall
not be valid.
A bleeding woman shall fast a number of days equal to those she
missed because of bleeding. `Aisha said :"In the Prophet's time
we were ordered to compensate for fasting days missed in
bleeding but were not ordered to perform restitution for our | <urn:uuid:8abc241f-2a01-4821-ba14-3cfcaa4f25bf> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://islam.com/questions/6332/procedure-for-period-during-ramadan?page=1 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00016-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.930539 | 286 | 2.546875 | 3 |
A child needs you as a friend!
The Coweta County School System’s Mentor Program is seeking committed citizens who would like to make a difference in a child’s life and education.
What is a Mentor?
- A mentor is a trusted friend who is committed and dedicated to making a difference in a child's life.
- A mentor creates experiences which will help the child feel valued, supported, and encouraged.
What are a mentor's responsibilities?
- A mentor accepts the child as he/she is.
- A mentor becomes a special friend and builds self-esteem.
- The mentor and the child may spend an hour each week reading a book, playing an educational game, or just talking.
- The student, the mentor, and the teacher set the agenda together!
With what kind of child does a mentor work?
- All children can benefit from their relationship with mentors. However, since we don't have enough mentors, we must be selective about who is paired with a mentor.
- Children who are assigned mentors are those who seem to need a little extra something. Their parents or teachers may ask for someone to assist the child with reading or writing or they may seek someone who can help the child develop hobbies. The chosen students may simply need the extra companionship of a responsible adult.
How much time is involved?
- A mentor is asked to visit a child for only one hour per week in the school setting.
- In order to avoid disappointments to the child, we ask that the mentors make a commitment to participate for a minimum of one school year.
Are there special qualifications/training to become a mentor?
- Mentoring has a place for you even if you don't have a special talent or skill. Your hobby or work may lend excitement or have special appeal as a learning experience for a student.
- Sharing your time and listening to your student can have a powerful impact on both your lives.
- Mentors may not have a criminal background.
- Your involvement will bring you a great deal of personal satisfaction. Mentoring will add to your life. You will make new friends and feel the pleasure of helping others.
- Most of all, the students benefit. They receive more individual attention, and they learn to work with and communicate with caring adults. At the same time they learn about their community and themselves.
How do you become a mentor?
- Attend a one-hour orientation. | <urn:uuid:15d8aade-f07a-48b9-850a-72e9f2cdd92a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.cowetaschools.net/index.php/programs-a-projects/mentoring | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368711005985/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516133005-00059-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954893 | 508 | 3.40625 | 3 |
It seems like every time you open your mailbox or check your email, someone is asking you to donate money to a worthy cause. And maybe you gladly take out your wallet to help.
Maybe you’re more than happy to send in money to support no-kill animal shelters or feed a starving child in Africa. You might participate in the Avon three-day walk to raise money for breast cancer research, or donate to the World Wildlife Fund to help protect the Bengal tiger, the panda or the California condor. You might participate in Coastal Clean-up Day and devote your donation money to organizations focused on the prevention of clear cutting the rainforests of Brazil.
Your cause might be curing Lou Gehrig’s or muscular dystrophy or multiple sclerosis or Alzheimer’s so no one else has to suffer the diseases that have touched the lives of your family and friends. Maybe you feel that poverty and abuse and political oppression in all forms must be snuffed out before anything else can be addressed. Your passion could be protecting the arts—the visual, musical, and dramatic works that might never materialize if artists and art programs aren’t supported and protected.
Perhaps you sponsor efforts to preserve our historical landmarks and national parks for future generations. Or maybe the only time you pull out your checkbook is to support the political candidates you feel have the best chance at affecting positive change.
This is all very noble and admirable and inspiring. But no matter what cause moves you, it is not enough simply to send money to support an organization’s well-intended goals. Yes, the money you generously give will fund what is happening right now. It will support the people in the trenches doing the work that will prevent and aid and feed and sustain and fund and research and cure.
But who will be doing that work 20 years from now? Who will care enough or know enough or have the skills needed to fix the problems and save and protect and fight and reverse and repair?
It is not enough to send money to the causes you feel deeply passionate about. You must also support education. Why? Because the children of today will be the stewards of those causes tomorrow.
If you hope to protect the environment — the polar bears and whales, the rainforests and oceans — you must help instill in our young people an urgent commitment to do so. If you hope to see cures for breast cancer and leukemia and AIDS and lymphoma and Alzheimer’s some day, you must help arm our children with curiosity and skills in the scientific method of investigation. If you hope to preserve our national parks, historical legacies and the arts in America, you must guarantee that our children internalize a sense of pride in our country’s stories and a conviction that without the beauty of nature and of art, music and theater, life is less inspiring, less moving, less wonderful.
It is not enough to pledge to the campaigns of this year’s political hopefuls. If you honestly wish to support positive change in your town, state or country, you must also invest in the future: the children in our schools. By investing in our children today, we insure that our causes — our tigers, symphonies, rainforests, oppressed peoples and uncured diseases — will stand a better chance of being championed and protected and pursued and eradicated tomorrow.
If we are lucky, we might even be alive to see it happen.
Every community in Marin County has a nonprofit dedicated to reinstituting those programs being brutally cut from our public school systems. In Novato that organization is School Fuel, and on May 5 I will be riding my fourth School Fuel Tour of Novato to help preserve the quality of education in the public schools in our town. I invite all of you to walk or ride to support education in Novato.
If you can't participate on the day of the event, pledge a small donation toward our collective future. Our children, and all of the causes they will eventually choose to champion, thank you.
Heather Ophir taught English for 15 years at an independent secondary school in southern Marin, and even though she's moved from the classroom to the group exercise room to teach, her heart will always be with those professionals working each day to prepare our kids for the world. | <urn:uuid:7563673d-bac1-422c-b429-8fcea72fb6db> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://novato.patch.com/groups/opinion/p/op-ed-when-you-donate-to-a-cause-consider-making-it-local | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704392896/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113952-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951926 | 884 | 2.09375 | 2 |
The Cruise Line International Association (a body representing the interests of North American cruise companies) reported in September that the cruise industry is one of the fastest growing areas of tourism. The environmental practices that cruise companies choose to either adopt or neglect will therefore have a serious impact, considering the steady increase in the number of vessels and world destinations on offer.
While walking around the Holland America ship that we were on, we noticed a lot of environmental pledges signed by many of the crew and the Captain as well as talk of ‘stewardship of the environment’. The daily newsletter we received in our cabin also contained info snippets announcing various environmental schemes being put into practice on board. For example, in the first week we were informed that Holland America are:
‘proud to be partnered with Marine Conservation Institute to provide sustainable seafood on all of our ships. Holland America Line [HAL] is committed to healthy oceans, and preserving and protecting ocean resources, for now and for future generations…We have replaced all of our dry cleaning machines that depended on hazardous chemicals, such as perchloroethylene, and replaced them with machines that are able to use fruit extracts as cleaning agents.’
All this points towards the underlying fact that cruise ships have come in for a lot of flack over the last two decades because of the pollution they pour out into the air and oceans through the discharging of various shades of murky waste water as well as the fumes they pump out of their increasingly massive smoke stack exhausts. Friends of the Earth (among other organisations) and even some passengers themselves have repeatedly called on them to clean up their act and it does seem that little by little they are starting to respond. We had heard that there was an Environmental Officer on board and we wanted to find out how much of the environmental concern we’d seen expressed aboard was just PR stuff and how much they were really addressing the serious issues, so we went to reception to see if we could get an interview with him. The lady at the desk said that we could give her a couple of questions which she could email to him and then asked us if we were from Greenpeace, which we found quite amusing.
Later that day we received a phone call saying that the Environmental Officer would like to meet with us and so a time and place was scheduled for later that afternoon. The meeting took place just off the main the lobby and the Officer was a straight talking, honest and interesting man which made for a good conversation. At first he was a little stern, perhaps wary of our motives but he said that our question (to do with how on board waste was disposed of on long voyages such as this) had been a relevant one and he was happy to talk through it with us.
Straight off he told us that the title ‘Environmental Officer’ is misleading because it doesn’t really describe what he does – the carbon footprint of the vessel, for example, is not his concern. Instead he sees himself as more of a Compliance Officer who is there to ensure that the ship’s waste disposal practices etc. are adhering to the legal requirements of each territory the ship sails through. In 2002, Holland America were fined at least USD$2million for illegally dumping waste while in port in Alaska and ever since, the presence of an Environmental Officer such as himself is the norm (although several other ships in the HAL fleet have been fined for waste dumping and air pollution since, mostly offences which took place in Alaska). On board, waste water is filtered through a bioreactor (similar to those found in aquariums) but the disposal itself is controlled by a computer system which tests the purity of the waste before dropping it. Bilge water has to be 15 parts per million of oil or less otherwise the valve won’t physically let it go, and in this instance, it is further filtered until it meets the required level. The Environmental Officer is responsible for monitoring the computer’s output and cross checking the results chart and log.
All territories have their own waste dumping laws and Alaska’s is one of the toughest, determining that no waste lower than category “A” (which contains less bacteria and impurities than the drinking water on board the ships) can be discharged. No bilge (oil related waste), food waste or grey (shower and laundry)/black (sewage) water is allowed to be dumped. Alaska sends ocean officers and rangers aboard all docked boats to double check that all systems and waste disposal logs match up. If not, the cruise company and the boat’s Captain/senior staff can be in serious trouble.
Unfortunately, not all countries have the same strict regulations as Alaska and waste disposal laws can vary from port to port even in the same country. The USA – Alaska in particular – is well known to be the toughest but others, particularly developing countries who need the money from tourism are not so hard line and at best adopt the internationally agreed MARPOL (the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships) standards as their own. In 2010, the Vancouver Sun hit out with a headline that cruise ships were turning BC waters ‘Into a Sewage Bowl’ by being allowed to dump grey water (from the bathrooms and laundry) and sewage into Canadian waters before entering Alaska because of the laxer laws and regulation in Canada.
Alarmingly, even if a country forbids waste dumping in port, this doesn’t mean that the ship won’t dump it into the ocean at all but that they must go at least 12 nautical miles away from shore before disposing of the waste. Processed food (sieved and turned into a ‘mashed potato substance’ described by the Environmental Officer as ‘food for fish’) is commonly disposed of but ships are also legally allowed to dispose of shredded glass and tin if dumped 12 nautical miles from land. The EO said that this is sometimes processed in with the food waste by ‘some companies’, which can’t be at all good for the marine life! Interestingly, the Barcelona Convention prohibits all ships sailing through the Mediterranean from dumping any waste except for food waste – so no tin and glass.
The particular ship that we were on had “MSD-3″ (Marine Sanitation Device) processors on board. Many cruise vessels still use MSD-2 processors or even earlier models and the expense in replacing these mean that many cruise companies are reluctant to replace them until they have to. We were told that Alaska wants to bring in new laws by 2015 which will tighten waste processing even further but cruise lines are contesting this as many of the fleet won’t be up to standards by that time and would be forced into taking alternative routes, denting profit margins in the process (Alaska being one of the most popular cruise destinations). This might be a problem for the Volendam too as they won’t be able to get the next grade of processors until they get a new ship, so I’m interested to see what happens with this…
The EO couldn’t answer our questions relating to fuel as his area of expertise is waste disposal but apparently it is now illegal for cruise ships to burn the highly polluting bunker fuel many of them favour (due its lower cost) within 12 nautical miles of the Californian coast and so a new low-sulfur diesel fuel is being used by most (which is something at least).
Ironically, recycling seems to have taken a backwards turn. In the 80′s and 90′s, most waste (which could be) was recycled and the ships were often incentivised to do so but now that they have to pay most places to take their waste, a lot of ships aren’t bothering (hence the crushing of glass). Holland America do run a recycling scheme though where any money gained from recycling is put into a crew fund which in turn encourages the crew to make the effort to separate napkins/wine bottles and corks etc. from kitchen and stateroom waste. There were recycling bins in our room for putting paper and glass which was a promising sign. Canada will apparently still take the recycling as will Australia and New Zealand but the USA will not. Others will take certain waste products such as cooking oil and sludge oil (Hong Kong) or will take some things but not others (no recycling of toner cartridges in the UK).
On board the ship, the ‘Environmental Officer’ has the power to go over the heads of the whole crew and even the Captain if necessary (but has never needed to as the Captain is ultimately responsible for his/her ship and can be jailed if its found in breach of conduct). We found the conversation very interesting all in all. What it highlighted was that although cruise lines are now taking waste disposal seriously (to avoid fines), it is the laws and the law enforcement of individual ports and countries which ultimately make the difference and so it is these that need to be tightened up if cruise companies as a whole are to really clean up their act. | <urn:uuid:84982bc7-ccd7-4fc9-a3ae-a75cf558898b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://withoutwings.org.uk/2011/11/30/passenger-liners-and-the-environment/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696382584/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092622-00041-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979368 | 1,863 | 2.078125 | 2 |
Tropical Cyclone Giovanna
On February 13, 2012, Tropical Cyclone Giovanna was located about 250 nautical miles (465 kilometers) east of Antananarivo, Madagascar. The U.S. Navy’s Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) reported that the cyclone had maximum sustained winds of 125 knots (230 kilometers per hour) and gusts up to 150 knots (280 kilometers per hour).
Giovanna’s clouds stretch from Mauritius and Réunion in the east to the coast of Madagascar in the west. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this natural-color scene on February 13, 2012. The storm’s central eye roughly matches the size of the island of Réunion, and the whole storm spans hundreds of kilometers.
The JTWC forecast that Giovanna would continue moving west, weakening after making landfall on Madagascar, but regaining strength over the Mozambique Channel. The JTWC anticipated that Giovanna would ultimately come ashore in Mozambique and dissipate after that landfall.
- Joint Typhoon Warning Center. (2012, February 13). Tropical Cyclone 12S (Giovanna) Warning. Accessed February 13, 2012.
This image originally appeared on the Earth Observatory. Click here to view the full, original record. | <urn:uuid:108fea31-774c-49a9-b657-3fd7a2c1489c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/view.php?id=77160 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912939 | 279 | 3.015625 | 3 |
When it comes to food, celebrate - but with control! Taking these few simple steps will help make sure that your nutrition doesn't suffer.
1.) Steer clear of processed carbohydrates
Foods containing enriched flour (pasta, breads, cakes, cookies, crackers, etc.) and processed sugar are the big culprits here, and remember, almost everything in a package contains sugar and/or sodium as a preservative. Also, homemade baked goods can be packed with saturated fats and sugars, so sample if you must, but know when to say "no"!
2.) Go ahead and snack
Keep plenty of easy, healthy snacks at hand; almonds, apples, low-fat string cheese, whole-grain crackers, or a quality protein powder, are easy to pack and keep stocked in strategic places such as your car, briefcase, gym bag, diaper bag, etc. Having good snacks readily available to nosh on every few hours will help keep you from reaching for holiday goodies that haunt your every step!
3.) Have a Treat
Sugar-free Popsicles, sugar-free jello, sugar-free hot chocolate, diet sodas, tea sweetened with Splenda, Crystal Lite, are all good for curbing a sweet tooth, but remember, too much artificial sweetener is not conducive to good health, so practice moderation. Another alternative is extra-dark chocolate, but don't get carried away - a square or two is plenty!
4.) Hydration = Energy
Hydration will not only keep your system flushed but will keep your energy levels on high. Drink at least eight 8-oz. glasses of water a day, and avoid rich, sugary drinks like eggnog, cider, frothy seasonal coffee drinks and, of course, alcohol. | <urn:uuid:431dc185-f6c8-4168-992d-d0310108469b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.muscleandfitness.com/nutrition/lose-fat/holiday-fit-tips-nutrition-0 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706499548/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516121459-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912055 | 367 | 2.34375 | 2 |
By Tim Leeds/Havre Daily [email protected]
Human remains uncovered April 3 by a bulldozer in North Havre appear to be those of an American Indian male, probably buried before the area was settled by homesteaders in the late 1800s, the Hill County Sheriff's Office said today.
Sheriff Greg Szudera said he will turn the remains over to the Montana State Historical Society so they can be given to an American Indian group for burial, as required by state law.
Numerous people had called the sheriff's office with leads about missing people after the remains were discovered, Szudera said. Many people thought it may be the body of Cheryl Lambert, a young Havre woman who disappeared in 1972.
"It's an emotional discovery for the community, with some of the people who are missing from our city, and it just didn't turn out to be the remains of any of those," Szudera said.
"It was very helpful to bring some of the old cases back to light, to see what direction we have to take to pursue those," he added.
The bones were discovered when brothers Rex and Norman Boucher were leveling some ground near their homes on the west end of 15th Street North.
The remains were sent to the state crime lab in Missoula. The state crime lab and the anthropology department at the University of Montana-Missoula identified the remains as those of an American Indian man between the ages of 35 and 60, between 5 foot 6 and 5 foot 11 in height and 115 to 176 pounds, Szudera said.
A lack of evidence of trauma indicates the person died of natural causes, he said.
Szudera said the analysis was unable to pinpoint when the person died but the report said it could have been as long ago as 1384. The lack of dental work indicates it was a person from a historical period, rather than modern times, he added.
Beads found with the body indicate it is from a period after Europeans arrived in North America, the report said.
Randall Skelton of UM's Department of Anthropology said this morning the condition of the bones and artifacts found with them indicate they probably came from a historical American Indian burial site. | <urn:uuid:e4c7005b-5618-4a44-af70-e62263592389> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.havredailynews.com/cms/news/story-120154.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368702810651/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516111330-00070-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.979298 | 467 | 2.25 | 2 |
What does $10 billion mean in the context of a $3.8 trillion federal budget? We spend $10 billion and more on tax giveaways for huge multinational corporations with financial operations overseas, on fossil fuel subsidies for enormously profitable oil companies, and on unnecessary farm subsidies.
What would a $10 billion national commitment to effective mental health services mean to the American people? Millions of lives saved. Millions of healthier and more productive lives.
We ask the questions after each deadly rampage at schools, at theaters, at shopping malls, at temples and workplaces all over the country. Everybody talks about the need for mental health services, but what does that mean? What should we do? What will it cost?
California offers a proven model of preventative and comprehensive mental health care that can be replicated across the nation. And we can pay for it on a national scale for the cost of one corporate tax giveaway. It can be done.
We should all be sensitive to equating mental illness with violence, which increases the stigma upon those who are ill. The vast majority of people living with depression, bipolar disorders or schizophrenia have no propensity to pick up a gun and kill innocent victims.
Yet if a national tragedy can raise mental health treatment to the top tier of public health issues, we must take advantage of that opportunity. Bold action to curb accessibility to guns is critical. But that's simply not enough. Every year across the country, more than one of every four adults suffers from some form of mental illness or substance abuse.
If we're serious about giving more than lip service to truly helping people, we have to do what works and be prepared to fund it. According to the National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, states have collectively cut more than $4 billion in public mental health spending since 2009. While the Affordable Care Act provides enormous potential, millions of Americans will still face barriers to full mental health treatment.
In meetings recently in Washington, D.C., with Congress, representatives of the Biden commission and mental health services advocates, I offered a framework for a $10 billion federal investment in mental health services and programs focusing on three key areas: prevention and early intervention ($1.2 billion), school-based health centers ($800 million) and comprehensive mental health treatment with a "whatever it takes" approach for the most severely ill ($8 billion).
After planting the seeds of this idea, we'll be following up in the weeks and months ahead.
My proposal is based on California's Mental Health Services Act, enacted by Proposition 63 in 2004. As the act has transformed California's mental health system, this federal investment would have an immediate impact in communities around the country; more prevention and early intervention for young people showing early warning signs, and a more comprehensive approach to fostering recovery for the most seriously mentally ill.
A person's initial episode of severe mental illness commonly called "first break" usually occurs in the late teens or early 20s. Intervention at the first sign of symptoms offers the most effective treatment before someone hits rock bottom.
There are 421 prevention and early intervention programs throughout California linking services to those at risk or in the early stages of mental illness.
In Sacramento County, a nationally recognized program identifies, screens and treats teens and young adults who are at high risk or already experiencing the initial onset of psychosis, especially schizophrenia.
At University of California campuses, faculty and staff receive training to recognize and respond to signs of student distress. UC also reaches out to students through online stress and depression questionnaires. Campus psychologists respond within 24 to 48 hours, offering counseling and services.
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention says students engaged in such screening are three times more likely to enter treatment.
While mental health treatment is among the services provided at close to 2,000 school-based health centers nationwide, most lack the resources to help students needing more intensified care. A federal investment can expand such centers, to help children and youths overcome mental and behavioral disorders in the early stages.
California's Full Service Partnerships have provided a "whatever it takes" approach for 60,000 people needing the most intensive care. This not only provides treatment but also can include safe housing, a job, help in school and physical health care. For these clients, a recent UCLA study shows dramatic reduction in psychiatric hospitalization, emergency room visits, incarceration and chronic homelessness.
We know what works. We must be prepared to fund it. We don't need another tax giveaway. We need a $10 billion federal investment that can save untold numbers of lives and help untold numbers of people in every neighborhood, in every state across the nation. The time is now. | <urn:uuid:7facf5c7-9f7c-463e-aab6-eac2766b9bbb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/02/5159542/commitment-needed-to-mental-health.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00047-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944932 | 939 | 2.09375 | 2 |
[Editor's note: Flavorwire is counting down our most popular features of 2010. This post comes in at position number 1. It was originally published November 9, 2010.] The Guardian recently ran an article in which Rick Gekoski remarked on the disappearance of essential cultural books. He argued that a few decades ago, “there was a canon, which wasn’t limited to Shakespeare, Jane Austen and Scott Fitzgerald. You could assume people had read the hot contemporary books; when they hadn’t, it occasioned not merely puzzlement, but disapproval.” Well, Mr. Gekoski, we beg to differ. Here’s a short list of books that have found a place in Generation X’s (and for that matter, Y’s and W’s, too) common culture; books that people know about, relate to, and converge around, all from the last 25 years. Please share any other literary touchstones that are also part of this contemporary canon in the comments section.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy (2006)
Cormac McCarthy dazzled readers with his Border Trilogy, then held them to the fire with The Road. This hypnotic dirge about a father and son trudging through the charred remains of a post-apocalyptic America is complemented by writing that’s as perfectly spare as a zen sand pit. At stake is the essence of what it means to be human as a boy and his father travel grim roads pursued by cannibals while “carrying the fire” (meaning: not bowing in to immediate needs, not mortgaging their futures to support their present, and not sacrificing morals to satisfy their urges). It’s a timeless story, bleakly told, and one that transfixed an over-leveraged and war-mired America. | <urn:uuid:6e43ceb0-7394-4ca6-82f6-82f539857d91> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://flavorwire.com/128930/10-essential-books-from-the-last-25-years | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368704132298/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516113532-00044-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.965955 | 384 | 1.734375 | 2 |
Dorset cliff landslide: Body found in hunt for woman
A body has been found under hundreds of tonnes of rocks which fell in a massive landslip from cliffs above a Dorset beach.
The rocks came down on Tuesday afternoon at Hive Beach near Freshwater Beach Holiday Park at Bridport.
Dorset Police said the body is believed to be a 22-year-old woman who had been reported missing earlier.
The body was found at 21:40 BST within the 10m (33ft) high pile of fallen rocks.
A police spokesperson said: "Next of kin [of the missing woman] have been informed and family liaison officers are with them.
End Quote Liz Rice Eyewitness
We just saw a huge cloud of yellow dust from the cliff”
"At this time there are no further reports of missing people, and the search is now being stood down.
"It is believed the incident was a tragic accident and our thoughts are with the family of the victim at this very difficult time."'Trapped'
The beach forms part of the historic Jurassic Coast - from Swanage in Dorset to Exmouth in Devon - sections of which have been crumbling into the sea for years.
Last week, Dorset Council issued a warning to visitors and walkers of the risk of landslips following persistent heavy rain.
A Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman said: "Portland Coastguard received a report of a landslide between Freshwater and Burton Bradstock at just before 12.30pm.
"The landslide was reported to be 400m from Freshwater caravan park and the caller reported that a person was trapped under the fallen rocks."
Three coastguard teams, helicopters and sniffer dogs were joined by police, firefighters, ambulance and lifeboat crews in the search and rescue effort.
Eyewitness Liz Rice said: "We just saw a huge cloud of yellow dust from the cliff.
"Clearly the some of the cliff had fallen on to the beach and within 20 minutes the emergency services had arrived."
The incident comes two weeks after Somerset couple Rosemary Snell and Michael Rolfe were killed in a landslide, nine miles away at the Beaminster Tunnel. | <urn:uuid:2dca55e2-8eee-4e9f-9f28-ac2dc947d107> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-18978561 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00054-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.970674 | 445 | 1.640625 | 2 |
“In its dissected form, the Belles Heures is an immersive look at life, death and devotion in 15th-century France. Its seven picture-book insertions distinguish it from other books of hours and amount to a remarkable cache of well-preserved medieval painting. They look back to Giotto’s 13th-century frescoes and ahead to the Northern Renaissance.”
The “Belles Heures” , a prayer book commissioned in the early years of the fifteenth century, is now receiving its due as a radiant masterpiece of the late Middle Ages.Think of it as religion in the form of the graphic novel. If art can be said to reveal the spirit of an age, then the decorated pages of the “Belles Heures” of the Duc du Berry are proof only that the fifteenth century in France was a period of extraordinary contrasts. Certainly, the sparkling minatures of saints and angels seem to have little or nothing to do with the mundane horrors that people faced.
By all accounts, the dawn of the fifteenth century was a time of chronic war, injustice, misery, and pestilence.¨Poets like Eustache Deschamps wrote melancholy lyrics of a world in decline: ” Time of mourning and temptation,/ Age of tears, of envy and torment,/ Time of languor and damnation,/ A declining age near its end,/ Time full of horror…
Even the church was in trouble. It was rumored that not one soul had entered paradise since the Great Schism began. Outbreaks of the plague were common, taxes were high, and political stability…whats that? In such a world, a beautiful Book of Hours provided welcome escape, at least for the few who could afford one.
The “Belles Heures” is the first of two Books of Hours with miniatures by the Limbourg brothers, artists in the service of the Duc de Berry. The later work: the “Tres Belles Heures” in the Musée Condé, Chantilly, has been widely reproduced, but it took longer for The “Belles Heures” to attain the same recognition. The prince commissioned the “Belles Heures” some time around 1405, toward the end of a long life as the powerful ruler of the duchy of Berry in central France. Son of the Valois king John II, the Duc de Berry and his brothers; King Charles V, Philip the Bold of Burgundy, and Louis of Anjou; were the great collectors and art patrons of their time.
“All the 172 miniatures of the Limbourg brothers have a vivacity and colourfulness that secure for them a place in the history of illumination. Every miniature and every page of the text of the Belles Heures of Jean Duke of Berry is surrounded by decorative filigree scrollwork with up to 500 gold glowing ivy leaves. But even this sumptuous decoration is excelled by the playfully arranged luminous elements on the prime pages introducing the Office of the Virgin and the Office of the Dead. This luxurious decoration, which is extraordinarily exuberant even for a Book of Hours from the ducal library, achieves perfection in the use of countless ornamented initials that extend over one or several lines and are painted in red, blue and glowing gold – the colours of the ducal crest. The combination of gold leaf and shell gold in the miniatures creates permanently glowing and glittering effects. The fruitful combination of his generous patronage and their unique talent brought about a working atmosphere of unmatched creativity without which a masterpiece such as the Belles Heures would never have been possible.”
Of them all, the Duc de berry seems to have had the greatest love for his collection, and the closest relationship with the artists he employed. Much of the duke’s enormous collection has disappeared. During his lifetime, he was occasionally forced to sell gems and melt down precious gold jewels to pay his soldiers. Over the centuries the tapestries that brought warmth and color to drab castle walls have almost all disappeared; most of the castles the duke built have crumbled. But, of the nearly three hundred manuscripts known to have been in his library, about a third remain today. Portable and relatively easy to protect, the books are his enduring legacy.
aption-text">"Diocrès, Bruno, and Carthusians Diocrès Cries out from his Coffin, Folio 94v When the deceased scholar lifts his coffin lid to cry out during his funeral, the attendant monks react with expressions ranging from dismay to wonderment to horror. The scene takes place in a deep space in a cathedral, seen behind a framing double arcade." | <urn:uuid:25d18be6-db95-4429-8cc1-02c185258d98> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://madamepickwickartblog.com/2010/09/looking-at-the-pictures-in-the-pews/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368706153698/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516120913-00026-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964598 | 983 | 2.96875 | 3 |
Your vet bills could be going up
Some veterinarians blaming the Affordable Care Act for rising costs
Politics and pets are not something you would expect to discuss in the same conversation, but some vets say they're having to raise their prices because of recent changes in health care.
Dog owner Lori Heiselman was surprised when her veterinarian posted a warning on Facebook which said because medical equipment and supplies will be going up in cost, that extra expense will have to be passed on to the customers.
So Heiselman is already tightening her belt to pay for the increase in her dog's care.
They're very important. They're members of the family," she explained.
Why the price increase? It's part of a new 2.3 percent federal excise tax on certain medical devices that just went into effect. The tax will help fund The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, intended for people not pets.
Manufacturers pay the tax, but a recent survey found more than half plan to pass it along. Some vets say they can't afford it.
“I'm extremely concerned how this is going to be a hidden tax to our consumers that is, that is going to be passed on,” said Dr. Mike Hatcher, a veterinarian.
Medical devices used only on animals are exempt, but items like IV pumps, sterile scalpels and anesthesia equipment, which are medical devices which have a "dual use," meaning they can be used on people and animals, will be taxed. (See the explanation of "Dual Use Medical Devices" from the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service at the bottom of this article.)
Hatcher says higher prices could have animal owners holding off on medical care and vets postponing the purchase of new devices.
Putting off an equipment purchase is something that can terribly affect our clients ability to have quality care,” warned Hatcher.
The American Veterinary Medical Association represents 82,000 veterinarians. At this point, they don't know how much this new tax will indirectly cost them. They're waiting to hear from more device makers.
“Congress never intended for this tax to impact veterinarian medicine and unfortunately it has, and I think that's very unfortunate that veterinarian medicine now is subsidizing human health care,” said Dr. Mark Lutschaunig with the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Congressional sources who worked on the Affordable Care Act said lawmakers tried to exclude vets from being impacted by the "dual use" medical devices tax, but it was too complicated.
Carol Smock founded a charity that helps struggling pet owners pay for veterinary care. She's afraid her organization is going to be overwhelmed with requests.
"The impact this price increase is going to have on any of those families I think will be pretty devastating," said Smock, founder of Brown Dog Foundation.
Veterinarians say if your pet is sick or acting strangely, don't delay care. That could just cause medical problems to get worse.
Channel 4 called around, and a few veterinarians in the Jacksonville area were unaware of any major pending price changes. Others told Channel 4 they do expect to see some increases, but won't consider raising prices until they see just how much it impacts their costs.
If you're concerned with the cost of vet care, be sure and talk to your pet's doctor about payment plans or other financial options. You can also look into facilities that offer low cost pet care. Here are nine from our area recommended by the Jacksonville Humane Society:
- Jacksonville Humane Society Community Animal Hospital 904-725-8766 www.jaxhumane.org/cah
- River City Community Animal Hospital (Mobile Unit) 904-733-8123 www.rccah.org
- First Coast No More Homeless Pets 904-425-0005 www.fcnmhp.org
- Clay County Animal Hospital 904-276-7729 www.clayhumane.org
- St. Francis Animal Hospital 904-674-7223 www.saintfrancisanimalhospital.org
- Herschel Animal Clinic 904-389-0364
- Maverick Animal Hospital 904-276-8101
- Wells Road Vet Clinic 904-276-0600 www.wellsroadvet.com
- Putnam County Humane Society 386-325-1587
Explanation of the "Dual Use Medical Devices" from the Department of Treasury, Internal Revenue Service from this document on Taxable Medical Devices:
IV. Dual Use Devices
Devices That Have Medical and Non-Medical Uses
Many commentators expressed concern over the potential taxation of devices that have both medical and non-medical uses, such as latex gloves, and requested that the excise tax not be imposed on the sale of devices for non-medical uses.
Section 4191 imposes a tax upon the sale of a taxable medical device by the manufacturer, unless the sale is for export or further manufacture. In most instances, the manufacturer does not sell directly to the end user of the device. Therefore, the manufacturer does not typically know the identity of the end user at the time of sale. Further, commentators suggest that manufacturers would have difficulty tracking their products through the supply chain and determining the ultimate destination of their products once they are sold to a distributor. Commentators also stated that, in some cases, after the manufacturer sells a device to a distributor, the distributor may package and label the device for sale for non-medical uses.
Under the proposed regulations, the definition of “taxable medical device” is tied to the FDA’s listing requirements for devices. Therefore, a device that is listed with the FDA pursuant to FDA requirements is a “taxable medical device,” unless it falls within an exemption under section 4191(b)(2), such as the retail exemption.
Copyright 2013 by News4Jax.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | <urn:uuid:f26446cc-4f1d-4bbc-ac3b-a3261e6b873a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.news4jax.com/news/Your-vet-bills-could-be-going-up/-/475880/18974056/-/view/print/-/tumet1z/-/index.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368697380733/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516094300-00020-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95383 | 1,224 | 1.945313 | 2 |
Last modified: 2011-02-18 by editor unassigned
Keywords: roermond |
Links: FOTW homepage | search | disclaimer and copyright | write us | mirrors
image by Stefan Lambregts, 17 Feb 2010
adopted 11 Feb 2010
The municipal council resolved on 11 February 2010 on a new flag with the following description: "Two equally high stripes of white and blue, charged with a red fleur-de-lis on the white stripe at 1/3 of flaglength, with a height of 3/8 flagheight. The flagmast is white with a meandering blue ribben with a silver knob".
Three reasons are given:
- The addition of the red lily to the flag can contribute to the togetherness and consciousness of unity amongst the citizens of the new municipality. For the lily was not only used on the arms of Roermond, but also on the arms of the old municipalities of Herten and Maasniel.
Swalmen is represented by the colors white, blue and red, used in the old municipal arms.
- By the addition of the lily the Roermond flag has been made different from those in Kampen, Assen and Hoogeveen.
- By the addition of the lily it is thought that the flag won't be hoisted upsidedown (which, unafortunately has been happening all too often up till now).
Jarig Bakker, 18 Feb 2010
Flagdescription: two equally wide horizontal stripes of white and blue.
This flag was adopted 15 Nov 1957 by municipal resolution. The colors are derived from the municipal arms. On 27 Mar 1857 the provincial governor (commissaris der koning) wrote to the Minister of Home Affairs that this flag of Roermond in Limburg was known as municipal flag, but "that no provincial or other municipal flag are known in this duchy". The flag was first used during a festivity in 1855. In 1938 the municipality wrote to the Gedeputeerde Staten of Limburg that the colors were: a stripe of silever (white) on top and a stripe of azure (blue) bottom. The Roermondenaars often commit the grave error of hoisting the flag upsidedown; when one asks someone on the street what the Roermondse vlag is, you will unvariably hear: blue-white!
Herten is a former municipality in Limburg province, since 1991 part
of the city of Roermond.
Flag: swallowtailed yellow with a red cross at 1/3 flaglength, at top and bottom bordered blue.
Adopted c. 1974
This flag is designed as a burgee to emphasize Herten's position along the Maas river (port, recreation); the colors are derived from the municipal arms.
Arms: per pale I. the Archangel Michael, with face, arms and legs of
natural color and wings argent, dressed in a tunic or and legprotectors
argent bordered or, armed with asword argent fixed to a belt or, standing
on a dragon vert armed of natural color, holding in his right hand a cross-standard
or, from which flashes of lightning shoot down; II. quartered: a and d
argent a fleur-de-lis gules; b and c argent three fesses azure.
Granted 3 Aug 1896
St. Michael is the patron saint of the church of Herten; the (heraldic)
left half is the arms of the Van Vlodrop family, lords of Herten for some
Herten was already mentioned in 865. One can still admire the ruins of the castle Oudenborgh.
Source: Vexilla Nostra 20 - 139 - 57.
Jarig Bakker, 25 Apr 2005 | <urn:uuid:890af18d-c53f-42d4-b60d-28ac26feed3f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.fahnenversand.de/fotw/flags/nl-li-rm.html | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906903 | 805 | 2.8125 | 3 |
Free Expression and Freedom of Movement are our Universal Right. Share it.
” …But any show curated without respect for the people’s struggle, without concern for an artist’s need for honest self-expression, will inevitably lead to the wrong conclusion.” Ai Weiwei
THE ARTIST IS AN INSPIRED HUMAN BEING
In the experience of awareness, you do not just get hold of one chunk of mindfulness and stick with it, but you experience the mindfulness and its shadow, the environment around it. There is a tremendous appreciation of life and of how to conduct one’s life. So awareness practice is not just formal sitting practice or meditation-in-action alone. It is a unique training practice in how to behave as an inspired human being, or an inspired sentient being. That is what is meant by being an artist.
Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche
From “Art in Everyday Life,” in True Perception: The Path of Dharma Art, page 28.
Visitors of the dOCUMENTA (13) contemporary art festival in Kassel, Germany, pose with portraits of Chinese artist Ai Weiwei in front of “The Importance of Telepathy,” a sculpture by Thai artist Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Friday’s demonstration was part of the project “All for Ai Weiwei,” which aims to draw attention to the dissident artist. Photo by Uwe Zucchi/AFP/Getty Images. | <urn:uuid:718f2913-01de-4d82-b8ae-c7d221fa2e62> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://konchok.tumblr.com/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368705195219/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516115315-00036-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.924861 | 318 | 2.390625 | 2 |
MDC Holdings engages in the acquisition and development of land in the United States for the purpose of residential construction, also known as homebuilding. In 2006, the company sold 13,123 homes across 13 states in several regions of the country. At an average home selling price of $354,000, the company offers homes that are more expensive than the national median home price of around $210,000. MDC's houses range anywhere from $200,000 to $800,000, with a limited number over $1 million. The company targets first-time and first-time move up buyers, and through its financing arm offers customers mortgages for their purchases
The company operates in a highly cyclical industry. New home construction, home prices and new home sales volume are heavily dependent upon job growth, interest rates, and the business cycle at large. Low interest rates and high job growth bode well for homebuilding, but as the recent subprime lending crisis and depressed housing market has illustrated, things can sour quickly and the business can be difficult to predict. Key homebuilding numbers, such as housing starts and existing home sales have continued to come in weak of late. Homebuilding is highly competitive and marked by few barriers to entry, low profit margins, and high financial leverage.
Below is a breakdown of company revenue by region, along with a chart depicting the company's revenue and operating profit. Recently, the company's operating profit has been hit largely by falling home prices. As discussed below, when home prices in the company's geographic operating areas fall, the company must either write down the value of its unsold home inventory or, when it does sell the inventory, take a substantial hit to its margins. This is largely because of the lag time between constructing and then selling a new home -- if the company builds a home at $150,000 and expects to sell it at $200,000 given market prices, any change in the market value of the home erodes the originally anticipated $50,000 profit because the construction expense is largely fixed.
The following is a table of relevant operating metrics, including the number of homes sold, average price per home and the company's stated housing inventory at year end. Note that the company's total homes sold last year fell as the average price increased. Overall, the effect was negative on the company as operating profit fell.
|Inventory year end||$1,962||$2,998||$2,754|
The accepted accounting principles for homebuilders can be a bit convoluted, and it is important that investors understand certain non-intuitive accounting methodologies. Here are a few notable accounting conventions for builders that may not be immediately clear to investors:
The company competes against a highly fragmented base of other homebuilders. These companies may be national or local players and given the highly competitive nature of the industry, competition is stiff and often marked by low margins and low returns on capital. The company also competes for buyers with existing homes that have hit the market, and competes more broadly with other housing alternatives such as apartments, condominiums, and mobile homes.
Below is a table comparing metrics from several competing publicly traded homebuilders. Note that no company has anything close to a dominant national market share, and the industry generally is marked by low operating margins (and high debt to finance construction expenses).
|Company||Revenue (TTM)||Operating Margin||2006 Closings||Debt/Equity||Market Share|
|D.R. Horton (DHI)||$11,300||8%||53410||0.783||4.65%|
|Pulte Homes (PHM)||$10,750||0%||41487||0.771||3.61%|
|KB Home (KBH)||$8,980||3%||32124||0.812||2.80%|
|Beazer Homes USA (BZH)||$4,270||4%||17500||1.194||1.52%|
|Ryland Group (RYL)||$3,530||9%||15392||0.74||1.34%|
|M.D.C. Holdings (MDC)||$3,470||1%||13123||0.576||1.14%|
|Standard Pacific Lp (SPF)||$3,310||7%||10763||1.473||0.94%|
|Toll Brothers (TOL)||$4,650||16%||8601||0.642||0.75%| | <urn:uuid:aee2a023-a31f-4fa5-87e6-407774186e87> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.wikinvest.com/stock/M.D.C._Holdings_(MDC) | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00008-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.928996 | 962 | 1.625 | 2 |
A movement among Washington education leaders proposes high school students complete 24 credits for a diploma.
But the plan, not yet required by state law and with no funding, has local school leaders wondering how it's going to work and who will pay for it.
Core 24, also called the "Meaningful Diploma" proposal, would require each high school student in the state to complete 24 credits in one of three tracks: a "college emphasis" track, a "college and career ready" track and a "career emphasis" track.
Proponents of the plan say Core 24 ups the rigor of high school coursework for university-minded youths while still maintaining some flexibility for students interested in vocational trades.
Bill Bentley, Sequim schools superintendent, said the plan is a misguided attempt at education reform. Core 24, he says, is shaped much more for college-bound students and actually limits the options students have.
"I don't think we want to limit the number of pathways (for students)," Bentley says. "We need people with all sets of skills. (This may) push more students away from us than to us."
Core 24 also would create scheduling and staffing problems across the board, Bentley says.
A four- or seven-period day?
When Bentley was in school, he and classmates took seven classes each day. Washington and other states' education leaders pushed for more six-period days in order to get more time in each class.
With a 24-credit requirement, most schools would likely revert back to the old seven-period system, creating massive scheduling changes and - with the new Core 24 requirements - necessitate additional staff.
Another option, Bentley said, is to go to a four-period day with each class in a semester counting as a full credit, for a total of 32 credits by the end of high school.
Either way, he says, there's no way to pay for those changes now.
"Right now the state's not funding what we have," Bentley said. "I'd love to see additional courses. We're just going to need some help paying for those."
Core 24 would require each student to take career concentration courses at the high school, something Sequim students can do now if they choose through some vocation classes at the main campus and at the Skills Center in Port Angeles.
More stringent graduation requirements
Core 24 was developed after two years of research and discussion among the Washington State Board of Education, educators and the public.
The last time the state board formally reviewed graduation requirements was 25 years ago, but plenty has changed for high school students since then. In recent years the state has demanded more math classes from its pupils and the Washington Assessment of Student Learning in addition to its 19-credit requirement.
"It seems like every year we're doing something to tweak our graduation requirements," Bentley said.
Sequim, like many other school districts in the state, already has tougher graduation requirements, from a 22-credit minimum to a full four credits of English, a senior project and more.
"If you graduate from Sequim High School, you've worked hard," said Shawn Langston, Sequim High School principal.
Langston says some of the state educator's plans - such as the one mandating students follow a math sequence of algebra I, algebra II and geometry - doesn't work for all students.
With Core 24 and a standard six-period day, a student would have to pass all six classes all four years to graduate.
All others would have to make up classes in summer school or in a zero-hour class.
"We've got to think about our entire student population," Bentley said.
Added Langston: "Philosophically I like the idea of rigor in a high school, but I feel like we do (have that already)."
Langston said he doesn't think Core 24 will pass anyway, without any funding behind it.
Core 24's core ideas
According to the state board of education, 77 percent of all family-wage jobs will require some college or technical training by 2014.
Core 24 supporters point to this statistic and others in pushing for high school graduation requirement reform.
"We have to answer the question, 'Is the state requiring the right credits for a graduation diploma in the 21st century?'" said Steve Dal Porto, state board of education member, vice chairman and one of the leaders of the Core 24 Implementation Task Force.
At the earliest, and only with necessary funding, the new graduation requirements would go into effect for the graduating class of 2017.
Core 24 requirements bring high school graduation requirements into closer (but not exact) alignment with the Washington Higher Education Coordinating Board's recently revised minimum college admission standards.
Both sets of requirements call for two years of a lab science and one algebra-based science course.
Reach Michael Dashiell at [email protected].
The Sequim Gazette is located at 147 W. Washington Street in Sequim.
Business hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Phone 360-683-3311, or toll free at 800-829-5810. FAX 360-683-6670.
For a complete company directory with contact information please click HERE. | <urn:uuid:83a96b29-6e5e-4b52-8173-0a2700e06c54> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2010-06-02_state_pushes_school_24-credit_minimum | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699881956/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516102441-00006-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95856 | 1,096 | 1.898438 | 2 |
Bill passed by state legislature encourages solar growth
March 26, 2008
Filed under The Plug
Solar energy and Kern County have always gone hand in hand with each other, but lately, with the governor’s push to become a more energy efficient state, solar energy has become more than just a bright idea.
Nearly two years ago, on August 21, 2006, Gov.Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a document called Senate Bill 1. In this bill was the layout for establishing the California Solar Initiative.
The overall goal of the California Solar Initiative, according to the Web site gosolarcalifornia.ca.gov, is to “help build a self-sustaining photovoltaic, solar electricity market.”
The California Solar Initiative manages to accomplish this by establishing a goal, to have generated 3,000 new megawatts of solar energy by 2017. The California Solar Initiative also sets aside large amounts of funds to be used as incentives for people who decide to switch their house or business over to solar energy.
Incentives are given away for installing solar by both the state government and PG&E, and depending on the size of the system in question, incentives are given away in two different ways.
For solar energy systems under 100 kilowatts, like residential units, the incentive is a one-shot deal, and the amount distributed is based upon a prediction of how much energy the system is expected to make, judged upon location, tilt, and shading of the panels.
For systems over 100 kilowatts, incentives are awarded monthly based upon the performance records the system has given over the last 5 years. However, starting in 2010, all solar energy systems over 30 kilowatts will be given incentives based on the energy produced.
To add to the normal state issued incentives, PG&E also awards money for any excess energy produced by residential or commercial owned solar energy systems.
The California Solar Initiative also set another goal for solar energy production. The CSI allotted 3.3 billion dollars to ensure that by 2017 a million houses in California had solar panels atop their roofs.
The Kern County College District is doing its part to help as well. The Cerro Coso Community College campus, in June 2004, finished their 6 1/2 acre, 1 megawatt solar photovoltaic field. The field itself cost $8.9 million and received a $4.5 million rebate from the California Public Utilities Commission.
Many new housing developments will begin to have solar modules installed from the initial construction due to the establishment of the New Solar Homes Partnership by the Governor. The NSHP was also created under the California Solar Initiative and was given $400 million to allocate as incentives.
Many of the new houses being built under the NSHP guidelines will have solar systems ranging to the one hundred square foot, 1 kilowatt model. While installing the 1 kilowatt model usually costs from 9,000 to 15,000 dollars, having it preset in the housing would significantly lower the price. | <urn:uuid:3965a08a-6831-4c49-9236-951fd466700d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.therip.com/the-plug/2008/03/26/bill-passed-by-state-legislature-encourages-solar-growth/ | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368707435344/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516123035-00053-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952761 | 620 | 2.140625 | 2 |
AL East action, at 7 PM:
1909 - New York outfielder Red Murray makes one of the most amazing catches ever seen at Forbes Field. With two men on base in a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the eighth inning, Pittsburgh's Dots Miller hits a long line drive to right center. With everyone straining to follow the ball in the growing darkness and pouring rain, a bolt of lightning flashes and Murray is seen making a bare-handed grab on the dead run to end the inning. Umpire Bill Klem immediately calls the game. Giants manager John McGraw calls it the "greatest and most dramatic" catch he ever saw. Five years later, on July 17, 1914, Murray will be knocked unconscious by a bolt of lightning after catching a fly ball for the final out in a 21-inning game. (Players getting struck by lightning happened a lot back in the Deadball Era.)
1920 - Cleveland's Ray Chapman is beaned by a pitch from the Yankees' Carl Mays. Chapman is conscious and is helped off the field, but he dies after surgery early the next day. Some teams initially refuse to play against Mays and a move to ban him from the game fails.
1948 - Babe Ruth dies at age 53.
1986 - Dale Holman becomes the first professional player to play for two teams in one game. He hit a two-run double for the Syracuse Chiefs (International League) on June 30 when the game against the Richmond Braves was begun and suspended. Holman was released and signed by Richmond and when the game is resumed today, he doubles and singles.
1990 - The visiting Twins trail Cleveland by four runs when Kirby Puckett moves from RF to SS for the bottom of the eighth. After Felix Fermin singles, Puckett moves from SS to 3B and Al Newman moves from 3B to SS. Alex Cole grounds out to shortstop and Fermin advances to second base. Now Puckett moves from 3B to 2B, Newman moves from SS to 3B, and Nelson Liriano moves from 2B to SS. Jerry Browne lines out to shortstop. Everyone stays where they are and John Manto flies out to center. The Twins score twice in the top of the ninth, but lose 7-5. | <urn:uuid:3a35c9ee-978d-489e-97cc-806777597692> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://joyofsox.blogspot.com/2010/08/big-day.html?showComment=1282013864159 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00063-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95089 | 465 | 1.765625 | 2 |
Long Beach, California—Vijay Kumar's videos have already been a hit on YouTube, as people have been fascinated to watch swarms of robotic quadrotors perform various feats, like flying through narrow windows and coasting across a room in formation. But Kumar still had a few tricks up his sleeve when he took the stage at TED, and he seized the opportunity to show some serious ways in which aerial robots will change our world.
Some could say that aerial robots are already making a huge impact, primarily in military applications where (very) remote humans often pilot drones in hostile territories.
Kumar, however, envisions aerial robots that can fly themselves and carry out their tasks, on their own, or with minimal human input beyond initial design and programming. His drones offload even more of the job of stabilizing their flight to computers that aren't even on-board the copter (a weight and complexity advantage). Once airborne, the entire flight is computer-controlled.
The copters themselves are very stripped down. In most of the versions shown so far, they simply carry a sensor that lets them know where they are and how they are oriented in space, and remote-controlled hardware for adjusting their four rotors. All the heavy lifting—figuring out where to go and how to maintain a stable flight around obstacles—is done by computers that communicate with them wirelessly.
That's enough to get the robots to do things like right themselves when thrown, but Kumar's team has recently added a higher level of control that lets the robots swarm. In this case, there are added rules that are a bit like the ones that appear to govern bird flocks and fish schools—stay a fixed distance from your neighbors, split from the one on the left under a specific set of conditions, etc. This level of control enabled a swarm of robots to execute a hypnotic figure-eight without any collisions. More practically, Kumar showed teams of robots lifting items that an individual copter couldn't handle, and a swarm constructing a simple structure from parts left sitting on a nearby table.
But the ultimate goal of this work only became obvious when Kumar showed how he had built a quadrotor that carried a stripped-down version of Microsoft's Kinect hardware. Instead of being limited to a carefully controlled environment, these robots could enter an unknown building and gradually map their surroundings. Feedback from the control computer would have the robot move and orient itself to fill in blank spaces on the map, maneuvering into new rooms and heading through the structure vertically as needed.
The utility of something like this—mapping a potentially hazardous environment without risking a human (or even very expensive hardware) was pretty obvious, even if Kumar didn't spend time on it. He didn't even mention the other obvious step, which was having a swarm of these robots cooperate to map a building that much faster.
The talk wrapped up with Kumar suggesting that the robots could help lure kids into science/technology careers, and showed off a swarm of quadrotors playing the James Bond theme on a set of instruments that looked like they were borrowed from the latest OK Go video. It was a fun touch (and great that he brought the grad students who programmed it out on stage). But I'd suspect that kids would be just as excited about the demo of the robot mapping the building, and it's one that has a lot more in the way of potential applications. | <urn:uuid:e3b7513b-4422-401e-91f0-354d1c81047d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://arstechnica.com/science/2012/03/robots-swarm-the-stage-at-ted/?comments=1&post=22615294 | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368698924319/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516100844-00048-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.973915 | 693 | 2.484375 | 2 |
Manufacturers hiring but training in house
Published: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 4:44 p.m.
Last Modified: Tuesday, February 26, 2013 at 7:20 p.m.
Unable to satisfy their need for highly skilled employees, area manufacturers are still hiring, but are more often turning to entry-level workers and providing in-house training.
Hudson Technologies of Ormond Beach and AO Precision Manufacturing of Daytona Beach have each added at least 30 employees since the beginning of the year. However, a majority of them have little or no manufacturing experience, according to company officials.
"We have a big demand for these people," said Mark Andrews, president of Hudson Technologies, speaking about the company's specific need for tool and die makers, a class of machinists.
Because experienced tool and die makers are harder and harder to find, the best alternative to the problem is to hire unskilled people to train them in-house, Andrews said.
Hudson Technologies, a maker of metal enclosures, cases, stampings and metal diaphragms added only about seven or eight experienced people out of their 31 hires this year, according to Andrews. The company on North U.S. 1 in Ormond Beach currently has 240 total employees.
"That's the nature of this beast," said Stephen Koch, president of AO Precision Manufacturing. "We prefer experienced workers, but we can't rule out untrained people who are able to fill these positions.
AO Precision Manufacturing has an immediate need for workers to fill its $2.3 million, 60,000-square-foot building expansion that opened for business last week on Mason Avenue.
The manufacturer of parts and components for small firearms hired 32 people this year, also mostly inexperienced computer numerical control machinists, according to Koch.
The company employs 245 people currently, he said.
Citing the lack of skilled workers as a national problem, Koch said AO Precision Manufacturing is taking an initiative by primarily training their own entry-level hires. The company also works with Daytona State College's Advanced Technology College in Daytona Beach in offering a two-week training program for machinists.
Hudson Technologies also works with the ATC and is developing its own tool and die apprenticeship program.
The national median hourly wage of machinists is $17.12, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Officials with Hudson Technologies and AO Precision Manufacturing declined to say how much its new hires are being paid.
Koch said his company will ultimately spend more time and money in training their own workforce, but the costs are necessary to compete in the growing manufacturing industry.
According to the Manufacturing Institute, 600,000 manufacturing jobs went unfilled in 2011.
Sean Snaith, director of the University of Central Florida's Institute for Economic Competitiveness, said, manufacturers beginning to hire entry-level employees shows that they are starting to adapt to the changing labor environment.
"The reality is that training in-house is a better option," said Snaith. "Even though they will take time to train, the manufacturer will create the employees they were looking for all along," he said.
Snaith said if manufacturers continue to hold out for experienced workers, they may lose out on profits and it will take longer for them to catch up with other companies who are beginning to adapt to the changing labor environment.
Both manufacturers intend to keep hiring, the presidents of both companies said.
The need for additional employees at Hudson Technologies is based upon projected increase in company growth, particularly its two fastest-growing segments, medical products and homeland security, Andrews said.
"These are two segments of our business that are growing extremely well," Andrews said, explaining that the medical products business is expected to grow by 25 percent this year.
Koch said his company is still looking to hire people to fill open CNC machinist positions.
"This year, we needed in excess of 100 people, and right now we're looking for about 20 CNC positions," Koch said.
"I think there will be another eight to 10 people that will be added," Andrews said.
Hudson Technologies will be hiring quality engineers, customer care specialists, tool and die workers and at least five more machine operators, said Andrews.
"Manufacturers hiring unskilled labor to train is becoming a trend in the labor market," Snaith said. "If it's successful, it may be something we see a lot more of."
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged. | <urn:uuid:9d9f038d-f306-4573-a0b3-c22b51e69908> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20130226/BUSINESS/302269993/0/dndev.ny.atl.publicus.com | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368701459211/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516105059-00005-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967601 | 966 | 1.617188 | 2 |
The Tulane University School of Medicine, in conjunction with the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, offers combined, or dual, degree programs. Medical students may earn either the MPH, MSPH, MPH&TM or PHD degree while studying for their medical degree.
The masters degree in public health or in tropical medicine requires a student to be enrolled in both the School of Medicine and the School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. These combined degree programs are designed as four year programs, thus allowing medical students to complete both the public health and medical degrees in the same four years. While not required, students interested in studying in either of these combined degree programs are encouraged to begin their public health studies during the summer prior to entry into medical school. Additional information can be obtained from the MD/MPH program office.
Students interested in earning the PhD and MD degrees must enroll in both the Graduate Program in Biomedical Science and the School of Medicine. There are two programs leading towards the PhD degree: MD/PhD Dual Degree Program and the Physician/Scientist Program (PSP).
Entry into the PSP requires students to be accepted in both doctoral programs prior to beginning their medical studies. Two students, with exceptional academic credentials and prior research experience, will be accepted into this program each year. Accepted students receive a fellowship that covers medical and graduate school tuition costs. In addition, during the Graduate School portion of their studies, the students will receive a stipend. Accepted students should be prepared to begin their graduate studies during the summer prior to entry into medical school. It is mandatory that accepted students complete both the PhD and MD degree.
The MD/PhD Dual Degree Program can be entered into anytime after beginning medical school studies, but it is suggested that interested students apply for entry into the Graduate Program no later than prior to the beginning of their third year of medical studies.
Applicants who hold a PhD degree in one of the biomedical sciences are invited to apply to Tulane School of Medicine for the new PhD to MD program. Learn more »
In 2004, Tulane initiated a 5-year combined MD/MBA program with cooperation from the School of Medicine and the Freeman School of Business. Students in the combined program save a year of training when compared to getting both degrees separately. Scholarship Aid is available for qualified MD students pursuing the additional MBA degree. The goals of the program are to train physicians with expertise in management practice and principles, expertise in marketing practice and principles, and expertise in financial management. Students typically apply to the combined program during their 3rd year of medical school after taking the GMAT exam. Accepted students spend the fourth year of the program in the Freeman School. The 5th year of the program is divided between the medical school and the Freeman School. Although not specific to the health care sector, students in the combined program are able to use their clinical experiences gained from their third year of medical school to effectively participate in teams formed as part of the business curriculum.
Students in the combined program complete 45 credit hours at the Freeman School. This includes required core classes including 9 credit hours focusing on the basic practice of management including Strategic Management, Enterprise Valuation, Marketing Planning and Implementation and New Venture Planning. Students also complete a Global Leadership Module including 9 credit hours covering markets in the US, Europe, Latin America and Asia. An included component of the Global Leadership Modules are international trips where students get first hand experiences abroad.
Students also have the opportunity to take elective courses in the Freeman School to further their education in areas of finance, strategic management and leadership.
Students completing the MD/MBA program are expected to have the skills and experiences to function as physician leaders in healthcare with particular expertise in management, marketing and finance.
1430 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112 504-988-5187 [email protected] | <urn:uuid:c65d1228-396a-432c-826d-8eccd4eed38b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://tulane.edu/som/admissions/programs/combined-degrees.cfm | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368700958435/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516104238-00061-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964707 | 790 | 1.664063 | 2 |
This text is part of:
Table of Contents:
who blessed our young emprise, due gifts were paid;
and unto the supreme celestial King
I slew a fair white bull beside the sea.
But haply near my place of sacrifice
a mound was seen, and on the summit grew
a copse of corner and a myrtle tree,
with spear-like limbs outbranched on every side.
This I approached, and tried to rend away
from its deep roots that grove of gloomy green,
and dress my altars in its leafy boughs.
But, horrible to tell, a prodigy
smote my astonished eyes: for the first tree,
which from the earth with broken roots I drew,
dripped black with bloody drops, and gave the ground
dark stains of gore. Cold horror shook my frame,
and every vein within me froze for fear.
Once more I tried from yet another stock
the pliant stem to tear, and to explore
the mystery within,—but yet again
the foul bark oozed with clots of blackest gore!
From my deep-shaken soul I made a prayer
to all the woodland nymphs and to divine
Gradivus, patron of the Thracian plain,
to bless this sight, to lift its curse away.
But when at a third sheaf of myrtle spears
I fell upon my knees, and tugged amain
against the adverse ground (I dread to tell!),
a moaning and a wail from that deep grave
burst forth and murmured in my listening ear:
“Why wound me, great Aeneas, in my woe?
O, spare the dead, nor let thy holy hands
do sacrilege and sin! I, Trojan-born,
was kin of thine. This blood is not of trees.
Haste from this murderous shore, this land of greed.
O, I am Polydorus! Haste away!
Here was I pierced; a crop of iron spears
has grown up o'er my breast, and multiplied
to all these deadly javelins, keen and strong.”
Then stood I, burdened with dark doubt and fear
I quailed, my hair rose and my utterance choked.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 United States License.
An XML version of this text is available for download, with the additional restriction that you offer Perseus any modifications you make. Perseus provides credit for all accepted changes, storing new additions in a versioning system. | <urn:uuid:a832441c-ed7d-409b-8eb4-b72b9cf615c3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Verg.%20A.%203.30&lang=original | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368699273641/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516101433-00015-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.905493 | 551 | 1.820313 | 2 |
Subsets and Splits