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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
versión On-line ISSN 2078-5135
versión impresa ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.101 no.4 Pretoria abr. 2011
Deliberating about race as a variable in biomedical research
Anton A Van Niekerk
MA, BTh, DPhil, Centre for Applied Ethics, Stellenbosch University, W Cape
Race as a variable in research ethics is investigated: to what extent is it morally appropriate to regard the race of research subjects as pivotal for research outcomes? The challenges it poses to deliberation in research ethics committees are considered, and it is concluded that race sometimes must be considered, subject to clearly stated qualifications.
'Race' in research ethics is a thoroughly contested social construct and concept, and how it is understood and applied is not self-evident or clear. Race as a variable in a research protocol needs a rational and democratic deliberation, as its admissibility can seldom be settled by alleged 'hard scientific facts'. Hegel proposes deliberation of the sciences that produces rational beliefs that 'are not a matter of turns of phrase, allusiveness, half utterances and silences, but consist in the unambiguous, determinate and open expression of their meaning and significance'.1
A conceptual analysis of deliberation and the intellectual processes required when encountering race in research ethics is provided, and whether this has constructive implications is investigated.
The literature on deliberation, and deliberative democracy in particular, includes the work of Jürgen Habermas,2-4 John Rawls,5 Jon Elster,6 James Bohman,7 Amy Gutman and Dennis Thompson,8 Diego Gambetta9 and James Fearon.10 Susan Stokes defines deliberation in terms of outcomes: 'the endogenous change of preferences resulting from communication';11 Diego Gambetta's definition is based on aspects of the process: 'a conversation whereby individuals speak and listen sequentially before making a collective decision';12 Joshua Cohen writes of 'free and public reasoning among equals';13 and James Fearon defines deliberation as a discussion with intrinsically good results.14 I prefer Jon Elster's definition that highlights its democratic and deliberative dimensions; it is a form of '... collective decision making with the participation of all who will be affected by the decision or their representatives: this is the democratic part', and refers to '... decision making by means of arguments offered by and to participants who are committed to the values of rationality and impartiality: this is the deliberative part'.15
The democratic character of truly deliberative processes is striking. A deliberation is a conversation in which all participants have an equal say and converse about a contested outcome. Participants are assumed to be free, equal and rational as outlined by Rawls, with his idea of negotiations about justice behind a veil of ignorance,16 and Habermas, with his idea of the ideal speech situation as the regulative idea guiding the accomplishment of all meaningful speech acts.17 Participants are assumed to have comparable levels of education, the same information and a common commitment to the process.
Secondly, a democratic process of deliberation is public. However, this has less to do with its general visibility and accessibility to the general public, and more with incorporating the 'public use of reason' into discourse. 'Deliberation is public to the extent that these [institutional] arrangements permit free and open dialogue among citizens, who make informed and reasoned judgments about ways to resolve problematic situations'.18 It represents a joint social activity and its publicness acknowledges, as claimed by Richard Rorty, the priority of process over substance; the 'priority of democracy over philosophy', i.e. the priority of the 'Socratic commitment to free exchange of views' over the 'Platonic commitment to the possibility of universal agreement'.19 The ongoing process of a free exchange of ideas and insights, and not assuming that every deliberative process can and will yield a definitive and universally agreed upon conclusion, are important. The public deliberative process means the ability and willingness to repeat whatever argument in any form of public, even if that does not need to happen. This is less an empirical than a logical and regulative characteristic of the process.
Thirdly, deliberation occurs in a group that agrees to the procedural assumptions of the process. Therefore the group should be the creation of an institutional mechanism such as a research ethics committee (REC), which significantly contributes to the discipline required to proceed deliberatively. Deliberation is demanding and requires courage and perseverance. It does not come naturally, since people are naturally inclined to promote self-interest and short-term concerns; fortunately, this is diluted by the publicness of the process. For a group deliberative conversation to be successful meticulous procedural rules are not required, but it relies on co-operation implying forfeiting the promotion of own interests and insights. Causes of its failure include showing up late at meetings, not paying attention to what is said, jumping the queue, all speaking at once, and shouting (particularly in the absence of any argument). Fearon states that 'discussion, as a means of revealing private information, can be effective only when the number of the group do not understand themselves to have widely divergent or conflicting interests'.20 This represents a significant challenge when race is the issue.
Elements of the Socratic dialogue (for a comprehensive analysis of Socratic dialogue, as distinguished from Sophist debate, see Van Niekerk21), largely a one-on-one exercise, can enhance the effect in deliberation. The Socratic docta ignorantia represents an attitude, not of initially knowing nothing (we all know something when entering dialogue), but of acknowledging the mutual partiality, fragmentation and fallibility of whatever knowledge we might think to have of a matter. This opens us to other insights and to learn from our interlocutors. When willing to learn from others we realise the limitations of our own views. Gambetta warns against the 'claro' (the Spanish word for 'obvious') culture that easily takes hold of partners in deliberation; the disposition to say 'I knew it all along; nothing you say surprises me!' - which belittles those who express an argument.22 Openness to other views distinguishes dialogue from debate: in debates, we wish to persuade and to win over to our non-negotiable position; in dialogue, we want to learn rather than persuade. It differs from bargaining, in which interests are promoted by threats and promises, or voting, in which views are simply aggregated. Deliberation informed by the ideals of Socratic dialogue unmasks the risks inherent in others' positions, or welcomes that risks be identified in my views. Ideally it leads to an often unforeseen new creative achievement that was not the position of anyone at the beginning. The most important Socratic aspect of deliberation is that decision-making ought to be the outcome of a transformation of views, rather than simply the aggregation (and possible misrepresentation) of preferences. The end or telos reached will differ from the respective initial insights of each individual in the group. It amounts to choosing between available alternatives and creating new alternatives.23 Deliberation should spur and actively promote the imagination. Its outcome should transform opinion, even if that does not transform society, as wished for by Karl Marx.
Deliberation should not necessarily aim at defining a final truth. It is more prudent to acknowledge that, at most, deliberation pursues a series of progressive settlements, achieved in the light of available information and the dialectical engagement of different ideas.
Race and research proposals
Deliberating about race in evaluating research proposals is daunting as the spectre of race, prejudice and discrimination is a haunting and destructive force in South Africa's history, from which it cannot be divorced.24 The emotions and experiences raised by the phenomenon of race should not be underestimated. Antjie Krog25 analyses the difficulties of so intensely identifying with people of another race that one actually can become one of them: 'I want to be part of the country I was born in. I need to know whether it is possible for somebody like me to become like the majority, to become "blacker?" and live as a full and at-ease component of the South African psyche ... How do I "flee" towards black ... if I have never cared to know what black means ... is it possible for a white person like myself, born in Africa, raised in a culture with strong Western roots, drenched in a political dispensation that said black people were different and therefore inferior ... to move towards a "blackness" as black South Africans themselves understand it?' She refers to Njabulo Ndebele, who said that 'white people in South Africa have a unique opportunity to remove themselves from under the umbrella of the international sanctity of the white body and share the vulnerability of the black body'.26 Since that requires a better understanding of the vulnerability of the black body, she realises that race has to do with more than skin colour;27 race is not primarily an appearance but an experience, a resistance, the challenge of 'otherness' that is not comfortably accommodated in the realm of familiar society. Her 'struggle for blackness' is not necessarily positive. 'The strangeness is real, [as is] the fact that I cannot ever really enter the psyche of somebody else, somebody black. The terror and loneliness of that inability is what I [nevertheless] don't want to give up on.'28
Empathy with the dehumanising way in which race was dealt with is not simple. In an REC discussion we cannot suddenly shed our cultural and societal baggage in racial thinking. However, the structured and disciplined context of an REC supports our efforts to overcome prejudice and to engage in a conversation where, in the hope expressed by Habermas, the only force that prevails will be the superior rational argument. Krog refers to John Rawls: 'He says that you don't have to assume a common moral framework in the multicultural and liberal world of today to have stable political community. It is better to find a structure that can carry a variety of moral frameworks. He says ... it is almost impossible for such diverse groupings to find a common moral framework, but it is possible to design a framework that can survive the tension and renegotiations of different frameworks. One can agree through overlapping consensus, even if not for the same reasons.'29 The structured setting of the REC contributes to the attainment of this possibility.
The democratic nature of deliberation and that equal partners participate in it is equally important for considering racial issues in REC meetings. Special efforts must be made to accept people's bona fides, despite the fact that this does not come naturally. Despite Krog's existential ruminations, we must accept that the way people think is not a function or a consequence of their skin colour. Committees should be cautious of discrimination on the basis of skin colour denying somebody the ability and opportunity to contribute meaningfully, e.g. 'You are white/black, therefore you don't know what you are talking about'.
We should insist that the democratic basis of deliberation demands that any issue, including race, must be fully faced and addressed when introduced as a variable in a protocol. Race permeates the social, cultural, political and public debate in South Africa. Although we know that race often is a social construct, this is difficult to undo. To deal with race, an REC should acknowledge its reality and sensitivity, establish as many relevant facts as possible for consideration, suspend judgement as long as possible, and at decision-time construct an argument that one is willing to repeat in any public context.
Several research articles30-33 deny the relevance of race as a marker in biomedical research. Schwartz claims that 'race is a social construct and not a scientific classification' and quotes a position paper of the American Anthropological Association: 'It has become clear that human populations are not unambiguous, clearly demarcated, biologically distinct groups ... Throughout history whenever different groups have come into contact, they have interbred. The continued sharing of genetic materials has maintained humankind as a single species ... Any attempt to establish lines of division among biological populations is both arbitrary and subjective.'33 Bloche asserts that race is an 'ill-defined, indeed undefined' marker in health care research and criticises an African American Heart Failure Trial (A-HeFT) that included patients who were self-identified as 'black'.31
RECs must note this literature, but that does not mean that the matter may be more complicated and that race could be a significant marker in certain studies. A case study 'Modeling the epidemiologic transition: energy expenditure, obesity and diabetes' (METS), that was discussed at a research ethics seminar of the IRENSA (International Research Ethics Network of South Africa) programme at the University of Cape Town, quoted literature that argues for acknowledging the relevance of race in explaining diseases such as obesity and diabetes. Multiple sclerosis seems to be confined to white people living far from the equator, and cancer of the oesophagus in South Africa mostly occurs among black people in the Eastern Cape. Undeniable facts must be faced and dealt with in a rigorous scientific manner. An open mind must be kept in the REC deliberations, where we are to learn and to submit strongly held views to the critical scrutiny of others from whom we should be prepared to learn. Race is not a straightforward social or biological 'fact'. Race will always be a contested concept which demands, for its legitimate acceptance or rejection in health care ethics, an open discussion which is executed and governed by the search for the best argument.
If the only force in democratic deliberation is rational argument, what counts as rational? Habermas writes: 'we call someone rational not only if he is able to put forward an assertion, and, when criticized, to provide grounds for it by pointing to appropriate evidence, but also if he is following an established norm and is able, when criticized, to justify his action by explicating the given situation in the light of legitimate expectations'.34 However, the level of contestation by the notion of race may force an REC to indulge in what Habermas calls the 'discourse' of reconstructive science. Bernstein considers that this discourse is '... the type of elucidation and argumentation in which we suspend immediate action and in which participants seek to redeem the validity claims that have been challenged. "Discourse" is a term of art, a construct, an "ideal type" introduced to highlight the type of speech that is relevant for argumentative redemption of validity claims.'35 Thus it might sometimes be necessary to reflect on our norms and values in deliberations about race to establish that we are on the same wavelength, are talking about the same thing, and are applying the same criteria when we evaluate arguments.
The REC should demand that the protocol provides a careful consideration of race as a factor in the selection of the study group. The central issue is whether, in spite of the 'potential social costs associated with linking race or ethnic background with genetics, ... these potential costs are outweighed by the benefits in terms of diagnosis and research'.36 The REC cannot decide the relevance of race as variable in a study if this is not clear and persuasive.
It must be established how pivotal a factor race is, compared with other factors in the sample or group selection. Is race really an inherent characteristic that sample members should share, or is it of secondary importance? Is race not possibly, as the case study alludes, 'like the side of the city on which people live ... a marker for differential experiences and exposures rather than a factor inherent to the person'?37
Is race identified as a marker, and have all other possible variables been taken in to account? Other possible variables include 'socioeconomic status, social class, personal or family wealth, environmental exposures, insurance status, age, diet and nutrition, health beliefs and practices, education level, language spoken, religion, tribal affiliation and country of birth'.38
Are the names assigned to groups acceptable to the groups themselves?
Finally, deliberation, especially about a controversial notion such as race, is arduous and will probably remain inconclusive. It is too much to expect this process to yield definitive truths. We can expect a series of (hopefully) progressive settlements that represent provisional beacons of insight to draw on in future conversations. Race cannot easily be settled and forgotten about in future; it represents tensions and contestations that will continue to permeate interpersonal contact and social relations in this country. Our challenge is to make it manageable and no longer feared or concealed. If continued deliberation cannot achieve that, nothing short of violence will.
1. Hegel GWF, as quoted by Bohman J. Public Deliberation: Pluralism, Complexity and Democracy. 1996. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1996: 239. [ Links ]
2. Habermas J. Communication and the Evolution of Society. London: Heinemann, 1979. [ Links ]
3. Habermas J. The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere. Cambridge: Polity Press, 1989. [ Links ]
4. Habermas J. Between Facts and Norms: Contributions to a Discourse Theory of Law and Democracy. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1998. [ Links ]
5. Rawls J. A Theory of Justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980. [ Links ]
6. Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. [ Links ]
7. Bohman J. Public Deliberation: Pluralism, Complexity and Democracy. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1996. [ Links ]
8. Gutman A, Thompson D. Democracy and Disagreement. Cambridge, Mass: Harvard University Press, 1996. [ Links ]
9. Gambetta D. 'Claro': an essay on discursive machismo. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 19-43. [ Links ]
10. Fearon JD. Deliberation as discussion. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 44-68. [ Links ]
11. Stokes S. Pathologies of deliberation, In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 123. [ Links ]
12. Gambetta D. 'Claro': an essay on discursive machismo. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 19. [ Links ]
13. Cohen J. Democracy and liberty. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 186. [ Links ]
14. Fearon JD. Deliberation as discussion. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 44-49. [ Links ]
15. Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 8. [ Links ]
16. Rawls J. A Theory of Justice. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980: 136-141. [ Links ]
17. Habermas J. Communication and the Evolution of Society. London: Heinemann, 1979: 1-68. [ Links ]
18. Bohman J. Public Deliberation: Pluralism, Complexity and Democracy. Cambridge, Mass: MIT Press, 1996: 238. [ Links ]
19. Rorty R. Objectivity, Relativism and Truth (Philosophical Papers, Vol. 1). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1991: 191. [ Links ]
20. Fearon JD. Deliberation as discussion. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 47. [ Links ]
21. Van Niekerk AA. 'The unexamined life is not worth living': Socratic dialogue versus Sophist debate at the birth of philosophy. Journal for Christian Scholarship 42, Special Edition 1: 189-200. [ Links ]
22. Gambetta D. 'Claro': an essay on discursive machismo. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 20-21. [ Links ]
23. Fearon JD. Deliberation as discussion. In: Elster J, ed. Deliberative Democracy. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998: 44-48. [ Links ]
24. Ncayiyana DJ. Racial profiling in medical research: what are we measuring? S Afr Med J 2007;97(12):1225-1226. [ Links ]
25. Krog A. Begging to be Black. Cape Town: Random House Struik, 2009: 93-94. [ Links ]
26. Krog A. Begging to be Black. Cape Town: Random House Struik, 2009: 100 [ Links ]
27. Krog A. Begging to be Black. Cape Town: Random House Struik, 2009: 122. [ Links ]
28. Krog A. Begging to be Black. Cape Town: Random House Struik, 2009: 267. [ Links ]
29. Krog A. Begging to be Black. Cape Town: Random House Struik, 2009: 238. [ Links ]
30. Bhopal R. Is research into ethnicity and health racist, unsound, or important science? BMJ 1997;314:1751-1756. [ Links ]
31. Bloche MG. Race based therapeutics. N Engl J Med 2004;351:2035-2037. [ Links ]
32. Hoover EL. There is no scientific rationale for race based research. J Natl Med Assoc 2007;99(6):690-692. [ Links ]
33. Schwartz RS. Racial profiling in medical research. N Engl J Med 2001;344:1392-1393. [ Links ]
34. Habermas J. The Theory of Communicative Action: Reason and the Rationalization of Society. 1984. London: Heinemann, 15. [ Links ]
35. Bernstein RJ. Beyond objectivism and relativism. 1983. Oxford: Blackwell: 186. [ Links ]
36. Burchard EG, Ziv E, Coyle N. The importance of race and ethnic background in biomedical research and clinical practice. N Engl J Med 2003;348:1170-1175. [ Links ]
37. Jones CP. Invited Commentary: 'Race', racism and the practice of epidemiology. Am J Epidemiol 2001;154(4):299-304. [ Links ]
39. Caulfield T, Fullerton SM, Ali-Khan SE, et al. Race and ancestry in biomedical research: exploring the challenges. Genome Medicine 2009;1(21 January 2009):8.1-8.8. [ Links ]
Accepted 12 January 2011.
Corresponding author: A A van Niekerk (firstname.lastname@example.com)


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EVGA updated its GTX 680 Superclocked card with Signatre 2 cooler and jacked up the GPU clock, resulting in a new card, the GTX 680 Superclocked Signature 2. EVGA currently offers a total of 12 different GTX 680 cards, catering to a wide range of needs. The Signature 2 aims to address the need for a very quiet card.
The cooler is practically inaudible in idle, but even when the card is operating under heavy load, it tends to stay on the quiet side of things.
The only downside is the lack of additional overlocking potential. With a 30MHz GPU overclock and a 150MHz memory boost, we didn't break any records, but the real world results are already good enough. Bear in mind that the GPU is factory overclocked by 92MHz, while the memory clock was upped by 50MHz. Memory overclocking is not very popular among Nvidia AIBs nowadays, so we applaud EVGA's decision to go for a slight factory overclock.
The Signature 2 cooler can deliver lower noise emissions even on a demanding card such as the GTX 680. The card is widely available and in case if you want an overclocked and quiet GTX 680 we can recommend it. Currently the GTX 680 SC SIG 2 card is listed for about €443 and that is some €30 more that EVGA asks for the GTX 680 SC. It's not a huge premium, but we still feel that it could have been somewhat cheaper.

subset: commoncrawl


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There isn't much here that we didn't already know, but Moxie pictures ( which is one of the groups producing the film ) issued the following press release:
"Seven weeks of principal photography recently commenced on location in the UK on romantic comedy "AUSTENLAND," the big screen adaptation of award-winning author SHANNON HALE's novel about Jane Austen-obsessed contemporary heroine, "Jane," played by Golden Globe award-winner KERI RUSSELL ("Felicity", "Mission Impossible II","Waitress"). JJ FEILD ("Captain America: The First Avenger) and BRET MCKENZIE (the Emmy award-winning "Flight of the Conchords") join Russell in the directorial debut of JERUSHA HESS ("Napoleon Dynamite"), who adapted "AUSTENLAND" for the screen with Shannon Hale. LA-based UTA will handle international sales.
JERUSHA HESS previously co-scripted the indie hit and Sundance favourite "Napoleon Dynamite" with her husband and writing/producing partner, director JARED HESS. She also co-wrote "Nacho Libre" and "Gentleman Broncos" and is executive producer on Fox's animated TV series "Napoleon Dynamite".
The colourful international supporting cast on "AUSTENLAND" includes US actress and comedienne JENNIFER COOLIDGE ("American Pie", "Legally Blonde"), JANE SEYMOUR ("Wedding Crashers"), RUPERT VANSITTART ("Braveheart") and JAMES CALLIS ("Battlestar Gallactica", "Bridget Jones' Diary").
"AUSTENLAND" is a romantic comedy about 30-something, single Jane Hayes, a seemingly normal young woman with a secret: her obsession with Mr. Darcy—as played by Colin Firth in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice—is ruining her love life; no real man can compare. But when she decides to spend her life savings on a trip to an English resort catering to Austen-crazed women, Jane's fantasies of meeting the perfect Regency-era gentleman suddenly become more real than she ever could have imagined.
"AUSTENLAND" is produced by Stephenie Meyer ("The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn Part 1," "Breaking Dawn Part 2," "The Host") through Fickle Fish Films, the production company of Meyer and Meghan Hibbett, and Moxie Pictures' Gina Mingacci. Executive Producers are Robert Fernandez and Dan Levinson of Moxie Pictures and co-producer is Jane Hooks ("Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll, "Bronson"). Jared Hess ("Napoleon Dynamite," "Nacho Libre," "Gentleman Broncos"), Meghan Hibbett, and author Shannon Hale are associate producers.
Creative talent on board includes cinematographer Larry Smith, BSC ("Eyes Wide Shut", "Bronson") and Emmy award-winner and BAFTA-nominated production designer James Merifield ("Little Dorrit","Brighton Rock").
The film is financed by Fickle Fish Films."
You can find Moxie pictures on:
On Shannon Hale's blog, she states which actors are playing which characters:
Jane – Keri Russell
Nobley – JJ Feild
Martin – Bret Mckenzie
Miss Charming – Jennifer Coolidge
Colonel Andrews – James Callis
Mrs. Wattlesbrook – Jane Seymour
Mr. Wattlesbrook – Rupert Vansittart
Georgia King – Lady Heartwright
Ricky Whittle – George East
Shannon Hale also made the following clarification on her blog:
"There is no Sir John and Aunt Saffronia, Mr & Mrs. Wattlesbrook merging those roles. It was the right choice for the adaptation to screen. Isn't that a gorgeous cast? I'm so thrilled! If there is anyone you aren't familiar with and you read my blog, then you shortly will be. I'll devote a post to each of them over the next few weeks. The actors playing George East and Lady Heartwright (she got bumped up to "lady" in the screenplay) weren't mentioned in the official announcement, so I'll wait to drop their names."
You can follow Shannon Hale on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/haleshannon


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In a post nearly a year ago, I sounded this warning:
The governments of five European countries — Hungary, Poland, Bulgaria, Ireland and France – have taken over their citizens' private pension money to make up deficits and budget shortfalls. Given the American Left's oft-stated admiration for Europeans, who are further down the ruinous road of socialism than the United States, this should sound the alarm for all Americans who want to hang onto our private pensions and savings.
That was not paranoia speaking because a year before, in January 2010, Bloomberg's Business Week had reported that the Obama administration wanted to convert all 401(k) savings and Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) into annuities or other steady payment streams.
Business Week also reported that the Treasury and Labor Departments was planning to solicit the public's reaction, although a report by the Investment Company Institute had already found that Americans oppose any government initiatives that would force us to give up control over our 401(k) accounts. Seven in 10 U.S. households indicated they wanted to preserve their present retirement account features and flexibility, and objected to the idea of the government requiring retirees to convert part of their savings into annuities that supposedly guarantee a steady payment for life.
Now, it appears the Obama administration and America's various state governments indeed are moving to get rid of private pensions and retirement plans.
Linda Stern reports for Reuters, Feb. 29, 2012, that baby boomers may be the last generation to retire with 401(k) plans. A week before, a hearing on the future of pensions and retirement was held in the U.S. Senate, attended by representatives of unions, employers, financial services providers, government agencies and consumer groups. The only thing they all seemed to agree on was that the 401(k) plan has been sort of a failure, which is a most curious consensus, given the fact that current and future retirees have successfully amassed some $4.3 trillion in 401(k) and other defined contribution accounts.
Stern reports that "policymakers are now looking beyond the once-vaunted 401(k) because it has two significant shortcomings: (1) It's not powerful enough to secure the retirements of low-income workers who can't afford to stash away enough money; and (2) It leaves each accountholder alone to manage risks." Without being able to pool risk, participants have to settle for lower returns and lower withdrawals. That, in turn, reduces the amount that they can spend in retirement, and reduces the likelihood that their money will last until they die.
Blah, blah, blah.
In other words, there is a rising crescendo of voices calling for the conversion of privately-managed 401(k) and IRAs in favor of Government Retirement Accounts (GRAs) — government-managed retirement instruments like annuities that "promise" to "guarantee" retirees a "steady stream of retirement income" that'll last until they die.
Sounds just like Social Security, doesn't it? The government takes money out of our monthly paychecks and puts it into our separate Social Security accounts. In return, when we retire, we'll get a Social Security check every month until we die.
And we all know how well that turns out.
Stern concludes her report for Reuters by warning that policy changes down the road could change the shape of our retirement savings significantly because "everything from a curtailing of 401(k) tax breaks to new state-run programs is under consideration somewhere, by somebody."
A NewsMax report describes the latest move towards replacing private pensions and retirement plans with Government-run Retirement Accounts (GRAs):
The Latest move can be found in the Obama Administration`s, 256 page- FY 2013 Budget Proposal. The revival of his 2008 presidential run, the "Automatic IRA" which has now "Evolved" into two proposals:
Secure Choice Pension & Government Retirement Accounts (GRA's), both of which automatically "Mandate" 5%-6% contributions into Government Run Pension funds.
One feature of GRAs is once a participant dies, the uncollected equity belongs to the government. It's no wonder the Retirement age for GRAs will be 67, and one proposal calls for 69 years of age. They're "off the hook" as soon as you're dead.
Another change to the retirement account laws, the Tax Benefit. The current Tax Deduction will be replaced with a "Credit", which is only redeemable after retirement. To be Eligible for the Tax Credit, you will be given the "Option" to place Your Equity into Annuities composed of U.S Treasury Bonds, that will payout an estimated 3% annually.
Yes, you`ll be Investing/Buying what China No longer wants, U.S. Debt (Treasury-Bonds). [...]
No matter who wins [the 2012 presidential eleciton], our government is Neck-Deep in Debt. When faced with the Reality of a Complete government Collapse… a Politician will do, what a Politician, needs to do! The $4.6 Trillion in IRA's and the $4.3 Trillion in 401(k)s … are all too tempting!
Some legislators already have introduced bills toward transforming Americans' private pensions and retirement accounts into Government Retirement Accounts (GRAs):
- S. 1020: Saving Enhancement by Alleviating Leakage in 401k Savings Act of 2011 – A U.S. Senate bill introduced on May 18, 2011, by senators Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Mike Enzi (R-WY). If approved, S. 1020 would "amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to modify the rules relating to loans made from a qualified employer plan, and for other purposes." In other words, S. 1020 (or the federal government) would impose restrictions on how 401(k) owners can access the money accumulated in their accounts. You wouldn't even be able to borrow from your own 401(k) account!
- California state bill, SB 1234: Golden State Retirement Trust – A bill introduced on February 23, 2012, by California congressman Kevin De Leon, to replace private pensions and retirement accounts with GRAs. Here's a quote from SB 1234: "Existing federal law provides for tax-qualified retirement plans and individual retirement accounts or individual retirement annuities by which private citizens may save money for retirement. This bill would establish the Golden State Retirement Savings Trust Act, which would create the Golden State Retirement Savings Trust that would be administered by the Golden State Retirement Savings Investment Board, which would also be established by the bill. The bill would require eligible employers, as defined, and would authorize other employers to enroll eligible employees, as defined, into an employer-sponsored retirement plan or pension plan, as specified, offered by the trust, or a personal pension in the case of a nonparticipating employer, as specified. The bill would require a specified percentage of the annual salary of an eligible employee participating in the retirement or pension plan to be deposited in the Golden State Retirement Savings Trust, which would be segregated into a program fund and an administrative fund, both of which would be continuously appropriated to the board for purposes of the act. The bill would limit expenditures from the administrative fund, as specified."
- Connecticut state bill HB 5337: An act "to create a task force to study the need for a public retirement plan," introduced on May 6, 2012, by Lauren Schmitz, a research analyst at the Bernard L Schwartz Center for Economic Analysis, the very same institution that had originated the GRA concept.
- Other states such as, Massachusetts, Florida and Ohio have made or are actively conducting moves such as GRAs.


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Proponents of electric vehicles struggle with the same chicken-and-egg dilemma that has held back many promising technologies over the years.
It's easy enough selling the virtues of vehicles that plug into a wall socket and run on low-emission electricity. They're generally clean, quiet, cheap to maintain, inexpensive fuel-wise and quick off the mark when it comes to performance.
But range anxiety continues to be a deal breaker for many. Battery technologies are getting better, charging times are getting faster, but the fact is there aren't many places to charge an electric vehicle when it's not parked in your own driveway.
In other words, we need more charging stations — namely, the 240-volt "Level 2" variety, which can cut charging times in half — but there are too few electric vehicles driving the roads to justify the very investment that will boost confidence in and sales of electric vehicles.
This conundrum explains why the Ontario government announced this week the creation of a rebate program for homeowners and businesses looking to purchase Level 2 charging equipment, on top of the $5,000 to $8,500 rebate already offered on electric vehicle purchases.
Starting Jan. 1, a buyer of a charging station can get a rebate of up to 50 per cent of the total purchase and installation cost, capped at $1,000. It could help spur installation of the equipment at gas stations, shopping malls and in company parking lots.
Shopping malls alone are a tremendous opportunity, as most people who go to them stick around for two or three hours — enough time to recharge a good portion of an electric vehicle's battery system. And landlords of major shopping malls, I'm told, are keen to go "green" while offering an enhanced experience to visitors.
Still, they have a legitimate concern: What if they build it and nobody comes? What if spots dedicated to EV charging are left empty much of the time, while drivers of gas-powered vehicles — the vast majority of shoppers — have to cruise around for an open spot elsewhere?
One innovative answer has been proposed by Toronto-based CleanPark Investments, a minority-owned spin-off of solar project developer Carbonfree Technology. Joel Donen, chief executive of CleanPark, told me that one compromise is to create a premium parking area for EV charging that can also be used for drivers of gas-fuelled cars.
CleanPark's idea is to build parking canopies near the main entrances of major retail shopping malls, with each canopy housing six parking spaces that would double as solar-assisted charging stations for electric vehicles.
Plug-in vehicles could park and charge there for a modest fee of, say, $2 every hour. Part of this fee would cover the cost of the solar panels and grid-sourced electricity, likely from a green energy retailer like Bullfrog Power, which would supplement the system when the sun isn't shining.
A bonus is that the spots, based on where they're located, offer greater convenience for the shopper. The nine kilowatts of solar panels that create the canopy would also keep snow and rain off the cars.
But here's the kicker: gas-powered cars would also be permitted to use the spots, as long as drivers still paid the per-hour fee. Donen said a part of that fee would go toward either a carbon offset or an environmental charity.
"The challenge is shifting the model away from reserving parking spaces just for EVs," explained Donen. "By allowing all cars to park in the spaces, we can likely generate sufficient revenue to make the economics work. And an 'all cars welcome' policy avoids problems such as empty parking spaces due to a (current) lack of EVs on the road."
CleanPark is designing this to be economical without relying on incentives such as Ontario's feed-in-tariff program, which pays a premium to generators of solar power. Revenues would instead come from a portion of the hourly parking fees, third-party advertising on the car ports, and net-metering that would offset the mall's own electricity use when the sun is shining but no vehicles are plugged in.
With those three sources, "we can likely achieve returns that will satisfy investors without the need for government subsidies," said Donen. "This would allow us to roll out the program across the country."
Major shopping mall landlords — those who each have more than 100 malls in their national portfolio — so far appear to be cautiously keen on the idea. CleanPark is eyeing Ontario and B.C. properties initially, but after proving the concept through a few pilot sites, it envisions a network of these car-charging ports emerging across Canada and into the United States.
The mall landlords themselves don't stand to make much money, if any, by going this route. For them it's more about better customer experience and service, and that means providing more choice and anticipating the future needs of consumers.
For Donen, it's about addressing the range anxiety that keeps some car buyers away from plug-in models. "If we're going to get adoption of more plug-in vehicles, we need that chicken and egg dilemma to start unwinding itself."
And that's not going to happen with technological innovation alone. Creative business models, such as this one, are more often needed to turn promising technologies into commercial successes.
Tyler Hamilton, author of Mad Like Tesla, writes weekly about green energy and clean technologies.


text:
Two coordination meetings for the preparation of the 5th Forum have been already organised for this Region:
The First Coordination meeting was held on 13-15 March 2008. The outcomes of this meeting resulted in a list of 12 proposed thematic sessions expressing the regional priorities as related to the Forum's themes and topics; the definition of issues to be addressed in the regional report, and the invitation to the Arab League to coordinate the political process.
The Second Coordination meeting, held on 20-21 June in Porto Marina by the Arab Water Council (AWC), invited more regional stakeholders to participate in the preparation of the Regional Report and started to prepare inputs to the Regional Report.
The League of Arab States hosted a regional meeting on 14-15 July to review the preparations for the regional, thematic and political processes of the Forum. .
A special session on the Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources in the Arab Countries was organized by the Arab Water Council during the IWRA Congress, in Montpellier, France, on 1 September, 2008. It was attended by large audience and led to rich discussions. The World Bank contributed with a keynote and the session was moderated by Dr. Daniel Zimmer, Associate Director of the WWC. A regional meeting will be organized to review the advanced preparation for the forum during the Arab Water Forum, tol be held in Riyadh, KSA, on 17-19 November 2008.
AWC has decided to hold an Arab Water Forum every three year a few months before the World Water Forum. The programme of this Forum is in preparation. The selected name means that this Forum would have a thematic and a political process. It has been stressed that the political recommendations of this Forum should be available for the 2nd Prep-com meeting of the Ministerial process by the end of November.
Mervat Hassan
In/around Turkey: Turkey - Jordan- Sarajevo - Skopje - Bishkek
MENA/Arab countries


text:
Striped Wool Cashmere Sweater
All orders will be fulfilled by Burberry Limited and shipped from the UK. When you place your order, you accept Burberry's Terms and Conditions and confirm that you have read our Privacy Policy.
Size Guide
Use the Size Guide to choose the best fit for your measurements.
In this window, you can find out the shipping and returns options for the selected item.
In this window, you can contact customer service for further assistance.
- A relaxed-fit sweater knitted in wool cashmere, animated with graphic stripes.
- Sweater length: 70cm/27.6in. This is based on a size UK M as proportions change slightly according to size.
- Model's height: 190cm/6ft 3in. Model wears size UK M.
- 92% wool, 8% cashmere
- Trim: 90% wool, 8% cashmere, 1% elastane, 1% polyamide
- Specialist dry clean
- Imported
Item 80359221


text:
ALBANY -- The difference between a comedian and a humorist is that one tells jokes, the other shares wisdom about life in a humorous way. To be a humorist, one must understand life and human nature. Bill Cosby, who is appearing at the Palace Theatre on Saturday, is a humorist. Actually my personal experience with Bill Cosby proves he is more than a humorist, he is also a humanist. The last time Cosby was in town was at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady on March 6, 2010. A week before his appearance, I did a memorable telephone interview with him to promote the show. It started with us exchanging pleasantries. We soon discovered we were of the same generation and had a shared background. He grew up in a tough section of Philadelphia and I did the same in Brooklyn, and our educational paths were similar. We each had stayed married to one woman for a very long time and each was a grandparent. The interview was fun. I'd ask a question and he would answer the same way he entertains an audience. He'd take a circuitous path filled with quiet humor and wise opinions and just when you think he was rambling he returned to make his point with outstanding clarity. During the interview, I got another call. It's really bad form to interrupt an interview with anyone, let alone a big-time star who is giving you his time and undivided attention. However, this call was from a hospice worker coming to tend to my wife. I explained to Cosby that my wife's "health-care worker" was on the line and I had to take the call. He graciously understood. When I returned, he asked again how long I had been married. I replied "44 years." He exclaimed, "I have to talk to that woman. Put her on the phone," he commanded. I dutifully brought the phone to Carole's bed and put it on speaker next to her ear. Cosby told her that after speaking with me for about an hour, he realized she must be a saint to have stayed married to me for such a long time. He joked with her saying nice comforting things. He ended by politely asking if she would be able to come see his show the following week. She expressed her disappointment and said no. He, too, seemed disappointed. I took the phone back to my office and thanked him for his kindness and explained Carole has ALS (commonly known as Lou Gehrig's disease) and that the health-care worker was hospice and Carole did not have long to live. With genuine concern, he suggested that during his show he would call Carole and leave the cell phone next to him so she could hear his performance. He then said at the end of his act, he'd ask the audience to shout "Get well, Carole." With the utmost sincerity, he gently asked, "Do you think she'd like that?" I almost had tears in my eyes when I answered, "Yes." About an hour later, I called Cosby's agent and told of the offer and said not to worry if it was an impulsive gesture. I said the thought and his kindness was enough. She replied Bill had already called to set the plan in action. The people at Proctors were equally as generous in their efforts to make it happen. Indeed, they said they were going to check with Cosby to see if there was a way to send a live stream of the show to our personal computer so Carole could enjoy the show even more. I wish the story had a happy ending. It doesn't. Carole passed away the day before the concert. It really doesn't matter if it happened or not. The fact that so many people worked hard to make Carole's final week a little more pleasant is what I remember and will always be grateful for. The gesture by a famous man to help somebody he never met is one that makes me simultaneously sad and happy every time I think of it. If you attend Cosby's concert on Saturday, remember this story and applaud, not only for his talent but also for the private goodness of a good man and a great humorist. Bill Cosby Where: Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton St., Albany When: 8 p.m. Saturday Tickets: $48 to $78; call 800-745-3000.
Bill Cosby brings humor/humanity to the Palace
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Saving Grace
Item #: EE5091
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(6 Total)
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Getting , please wait.
|Widowed Blethyn finds out her late hubby has left her deeply in debt and in order to maintain her comfortable lifestyle, her gardener (Ferguson) suggests that she grow pot and sell it. Quaint comedy has the trademark quirky characters and gently bawdy humor you'd expect. Blethyn and Ferguson are fine, and it's all veddy cheerful. Low-key approach lends itself well to the small screen.
|Directed by:
|Nigel Cole
|Brenda Blethyn, Craig Ferguson, Martin Clunes, Tcheky Karyo, Jamie Foreman, Valerie Edmond, Tristan Sturrock


text:
Story highlights
- Wrigley introduced Alert Energy Caffeine Gum earlier this month
- The FDA met with Wrigley to discuss concerns about the product's caffeine content
- A number of caffeinated gums are still on the market
Wrigley has decided to stop production, sales and marketing of their new caffeinated gum, the Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday.
The company's decision follows meetings with the FDA to discuss the government agency's concerns about the effect the gum has on children and adolescents.
Alert Energy Caffeine Gum was introduced earlier this month by Wrigley, a division of Mars Inc. One piece contains 40 mg of caffeine, the same amount found in a half cup of coffee.
The gum comes in two flavors: mint and fruit. When it's chewed, the caffeine is released into your saliva. Some some gets swallowed as if you were drinking coffee or a soda; some is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the cheeks and under the tongue.
"The FDA applauds Wrigley's decision and its recognition that we need to improve understanding and, as needed, strengthen the regulatory framework governing the appropriate levels and uses of caffeine in foods and beverages," said Michael Taylor, deputy commissioner for foods and veterinary medicine. "The company's action demonstrates real leadership and commitment to the public health. We hope others in the food industry will exercise similar restraint."
Wrigley was only the latest company to introduce caffeinated chewing gum; a number are already on the market. The company released a statement about their decision to stop production.
"When Wrigley launched Alert Energy Caffeine Gum, we took great strides to ensure that the product was formulated, distributed and marketed in a safe and responsible way to consumers 25 years old and over," Wrigley President Casey Keller said. "After discussions with the FDA, we have a greater appreciation for its concern about the proliferation of caffeine in the nation's food supply. There is a need for changes in the regulatory framework to better guide the consumers and the industry about the appropriate level and use of caffeinated products."
In recent years, controversy has also swirled around energy drinks, which also contain caffeine. In November, the FDA began investigating 13 deaths preliminarily linked to the dietary supplement 5-Hour Energy.
The deaths had been reported to the FDA as "adverse events," which does not mean that the product is responsible for or that it contributed to any health issue.
The manufacturer, packer or distributor of a dietary supplement is required to notify the FDA of any adverse events linked to its product, according to agency spokeswoman Tamara Ward. That requirement does not apply to products sold as beverages or food.
Taylor said the agency looks forward to working with industry leaders "to address the issues posed by added caffeine in foods and beverages."


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Koufax taking more casual role at Dodgers camp
GLENDALE, Ariz -- Donning a comfortable outfit made up of a blue Dodgers pullover, ballcap and wrinkled cargo shorts, legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax outlined the more informal role he will take with the club this spring and touched on a number of other topics after watching the team work out Monday at Camelback Ranch.
In his second season as special adviser to chairman Mark Walter, Koufax said he isn't sure how long he'll be in camp this year, but he knows he won't be in uniform with the rest of the Dodgers.
"That's not my job," he said. "A lot of times, I'll just talk to [pitching coach] Rick Honeycutt about what's happening. If Rick wants me to talk to somebody, I will. If somebody asks me to, I will. But basically, I'm just watching."
Added Dodgers manager Don Mattingly, "It sounds like he'll be in and out. He's doing what he wants, as he should be. Sandy doesn't want to be a distraction in any way. We're just really happy to have him around."
A celebrity who drew hundreds of autograph-hungry fans to his side Monday, Koufax also talked about the Dodgers' newest star in Yasiel Puig and the Cuban's much-discussed theatrics.
"If the showmanship doesn't involve bad decisions, it's fine," Koufax said. "I think people love it."
One thing Koufax would like to see Puig improve upon is his decision-making in the outfield and how to harness the rocket attached to his shoulder.
"You've got a great arm, you want to show it off, but you'd like to see it go to the right place all the time," Koufax said. "He's young, he hasn't played. I think the biggest thing is he hasn't played against competition as good as he is, so you're always able to have your physical ability make up for whatever else you did. He's learning. I'm sure it's going to happen. There's too much talent not to."
A three-time Cy Young Award winner, Koufax flew to New York last month to present Clayton Kershaw with his second Cy Young. The two Dodgers aces met again on Monday, and Koufax gave a glowing report on the 25-year-old.
"He's just a very special person -- a special pitcher, a special person," Koufax said. "If he keeps getting better, the sky's the limit, and if he doesn't get any better, the sky's still the limit."
Koufax also was asked if he thought the Dodgers and D-backs' recently heated rivalry might spill over into the season-opening series in Australia.
"Absolutely not," he said. "After that long on an airplane, you won't have a temper."


text:
Aggressive Monmouth & Ocean County Workers' Compensation & Personal Injury Lawyers Help You in Your Recovery
Reliable and respected Red Bank trial attorneys who work hard for you
At the Law Offices of Robert Olkowitz, P.C., we believe that working people are the backbone of this country. They are the most in need and deserving of the highest-quality legal representation and immediate relief from an injury to support families and maintain their lifestyles. For over 30 years, our Red Bank attorneys have been there to fight for those injured and disabled in New Jersey.
In 1995, Robert Olkowitz founded the law firm to continue his advocacy for individuals and their loved ones needing legal help with Workers' Compensation, Personal Injury, and Social Security disability appeals. The firm has an experienced team of trial lawyers dedicated to his mission. Together, our Monmouth and Ocean County workers' compensation and personal injury lawyers use their knowledge of best practices and common pitfalls to attain the best possible outcomes for you.
Our attorneys are always on your side
At our firm, we are always available to speak with you. You receive personal attention and sound legal counsel from the initial consultation onward. Our focused expertise allows our litigators to be aggressive in the courtroom. We never settle for what the insurance company first offers and are committed to fighting for the full value of our clients' cases.
The Law Offices of Robert Olkowitz, P.C. has earned the respect of both clients and the legal community. Over 95 percent of our clients have consistently been referred by satisfied clients or other attorneys. Certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a workers' compensation and civil trial lawyer, Robert Olkowitz is recognized as a leading workers' compensation attorney throughout New Jersey -- and has also been selected as one of New Jersey's Super Lawyers since 2009.
Whether you're injured at work, during a motor vehicle accident or on someone else's property, we handle a wide range of workers' compensation and personal injury cases. The Law Offices of Robert Olkowitz, P.C., in Red Bank can help with the following:
Schedule your free consultation with an experienced lawyer in Red Bank
When you need the services of a skilled and respected personal injury lawyer, work with the Law Offices of Robert Olkowitz, P.C. by calling 732-741-7444 or contacting them online. Committed to you and your legal needs, you pay no attorney's fees unless you collect from your lawsuit or settlement. We're located in Red Bank and serve clients throughout Monmouth and Ocean counties in New Jersey.


text:
A downlight is a luminaire that emits a focused beam in a downward direction. Ten years ago, Collingwood revolutionised LED downlights with the first fire-rated IP65 product, forerunner of the current H2 Pro collection. Now all of our recessed LED downlights are dimmable and fire-rated for use in residential properties, and most are IP65 rated so you can use the same fittings throughout, even in bathrooms.
Furthermore, we continue to lead the market with new features. For example, ease of installation is important so Collingwood features include a slim profile, push-fit terminal and Easy-Fit connectors, twist and lock bezels in finishes that include black, white, chrome, silver and gold, both round and square, and fixtures that can be covered directly by rolled or blown insulation.
We have focused on visual comfort, so we have developed downlights that bring true meaning to the term low glare. Moreover, we have incorporated dim to warm technology where the colour temperature changes from a day-bright 2800/3000 Kelvin at 100% to a beautifully warm 1800/2000 Kelvin at 25%. We have also introduced colour switchable technology - three white light temperatures in one lamp that may be changed at any time using an integrated switch or with a standard wall dimmer.
We offer lights with particularly high output for higher than usual ceilings; tiltable lights for use in vaulted ceilings or to throw light onto the walls, and totally trimless lights for the most discreet fixture ever. We have even introduced a downlight that is totally watertight. Rated IP65 from the back as well as the front it is a discreetly beautiful fitting for use outside in soffits, fascias or anywhere open to the elements.
Of course, whilst most downlights are recessed into the ceiling, they don't have to be. If you want to make a feature of your fitting, as well as your light, take a look at the beautiful DL collection. Made from anodised aluminium and available in two sizes with a matching pendant it is a wonderful statement piece for a high ceiling.
Collingwood downlights fall into two categories: Pro, with a 70,000-hour lamp lifespan and seven-year extendable warranty, and Essentially Collingwood, a small collection of cost-effective products with a similarly impressive 40,000-hour lamp lifespan and four-year extended warranty. As recessed downlights come of age, we also offer single source replacements for retrofit into existing housings, as well as converter plates for former over-large openings.
Collingwood's downlight expertise extends into commercial applications; our Thea range provides an innovative solution for every requirement.
- Remove This Item 3000-6500K
H2 Pro 550 CSColour switchable, dimmable, fire-rated downlight


text:
Cline Cellars is vegan friendly
|24737 Arnold Drive/Highway 121
Sonoma, CA, 95476
|Checked by:
|Double checked by:
|Melissa, Suzie, Valerie, Pierre
|over 13 years ago
|Double Checked:
|about 4 years ago
Products by Cline Cellars:
Vegan Friendly
Company email (December 2016):
"No animal based products of any kind have been used in making this wine (no egg, whites, isinglass or gelatin fining). It is 100% vegan."
Company email (May 2014):
"Cline Cellars uses no animal-based fining agents in any of our wines at any of our production facilities so they are all vegan friendly."
Company email (March 2013):
"we use no animal products in making Cline wine - in fact we use no fining agents at all when making our red wines and only use bentonite clay in white wines (universally used to protein stabilize white wine)"
Company email (December 2012):
"In response, while we do offer our various product lists, some products in our stores and the selections offered may actually vary somewhat by state and region. The primary reason for this is that we also attempt to source products locally whenever we can, as we also do not ship our products over really long distances. Our lists are also not all-inclusive, and are offered moreso as a guideline of possible product selections.
In response, to your inquiry regarding our possible vegan wine options, we are enclosing a list of possible vegan wine selections below:
Bonterra-Whites are vegan
Castle Rock-All are vegan
Charles Shaw-Reds are vegan *occasionally gelatin is used in the whites' refining processes, but that it is removed from the end product
Cline Cellars-All are vegan
Fetzer-Whites are vegan
Georges Dubeouf-All are vegan
Kendall Jackson-Whites are vegan
Rosenblum Cellars-All are vegan"
Company email:
"Hi Kristin - I do not "fine" the wines using any animal products. We manage the fermentation such that the wines are not overly tannic when produced."


text:
Jan Willem has scored himself a new girlfriend via a chatbox and boy, is he eager to meet her. He even walked all the way up to the railway station to pick her up and on their way hom he just can't keep his hands off the young girl...
Watch the whole story!
Old farts luring teens into sex!
Horny old men on the hunt for some nasty teenage pussy!
Watch the full set!
Cute teen girls who're tricked into sex with horny old seniors!
18 U.S.C. Section 2257 Compliance Notice - http://www.imco.nl/2257/


text:
I disappeared.
I know.
I lost my voice.
I finally found it.
I used it today…on the phone with Blue Shield.
It took me 11 days and two hours to connect with a customer service representative.
Needless to say, I was at my breaking point.
If I wasn't so accident prone, I would have just let the policy lapse.
This is a summary of our call:
BS: No ma'am, your husband could not have removed himself from this policy without your authorization. You're the primary policyholder on the account.
Me: I realize this. And it's miss.
BS: What?
Me: You called me ma'am. It's miss. I'm not that old. I know I'll continue to age but I'm not THAT old right now. For instance, the man you referred to as my husband is 15 years older than me. He is ma'am. I am miss. Make sense?
BS: Of course, miss.
Me: Also, as far as the law is concerned, he's my husband. But that's it. For the purpose of this call – if you could refer to him as ma'am or the man I'm waiting on to process the paperwork that will allow us to legally detach – I would sincerely appreciate it.
BS: Of course, miss. How about Mr. Daly?
Me: That's the same person. I'm still legally married to that ma'am.
BS: *changes the subject*
BS: Mr. Daly would like to cancel his coverage, correct?
Me: Yes. I have an email here that says he called you a few weeks ago to make that change. He also needs me to pick up my hope chest. But I already crossed that off my list.
BS: I do have a note here that Mr. Daly tried to cancel his coverage and we told him he could not do so without your approval.
Me: (laughing) I bet he loved that.
BS: I apologize that change was not already made and confirmed. If you could verify a few things for me, I can cancel his coverage now that we've got you on the phone.
Me: Yes?
BS: Mr. Daly's birthdate?
Me: I'm not sure. I need to text my mom. She knows. And she always answers my texts.
BS: Ok, miss.
Me: Is there anything else I can verify? He kept our cats. I know their names. He likes candy. Anything like that?
BS: Not really, miss.
Me: Honestly, I'm surprised you're still on the phone with me. But I waited 11 days and two hours to speak to you (I even tried once in Spanish). I never planned on making this pleasant for either of us. I probably owe you a thousand dollars too. The way I see it? I really have no incentive to stop humoring myself. And of course I know when he was born…ish.
BS: Thank you. If I could place you on a brief hold, I will make these changes to your policy right now.
Me: That's fine. But I know where your office is located. I will drive there if we get disconnected. Nobody wants that. And before you put me on hold, could you tell me if you still have his payment information on file?
BS: His payment information?
Me: Yes. The card that was being used for automatic payments on this account. I'd like to use that card to buy eye makeup remover while I'm waiting for you to come back on the line.
BS: *crickets*
BS: I'll just be one minute, miss.
Me: Fair enough.
BS: Mr. Daly has been removed from the policy. Is there anything else I can do for you today?
Me: Yes. You can tell me how much I owe you. I imagine I'll be penalized for the fact that no one confirmed this policy change weeks ago. Could you email me confirmation of the cancellation, a current statement and any other relevant changes to my policy/rate?
BS: I would be happy to email that to you. Your email address?
Me: *gives her my personal email address*
BS: Thank you, Miss Daily.
Me: Oh dear.
BS: Yes?
Me: It's Paulsen. Miss Paulsen.
BS: But your email says…
Me: I know. My email says Daily. It's spelled differently. And it's not my last name.
BS: I'm sorry?
Me: Me too. Well, I'm not that sorry. It's kind of funny. It's Daly vs. Daily. He's Daly. Like the Bob. I'm Daily. Like the blog. It's like Kramer vs. Kramer. But better. Because there's only bangs (no kids) involved.
BS: *crickets again*
Me: You have maintained an unbelievable level of professionalism on this call. I would have hung up on me long ago. Oh wait, your customer service line did hang up on me – more than a dozen times. I'd say we're even. That being said, thank you so much for your help. If you were with me right now, I'd buy you lunch at Chipotle. But I have a feeling you don't want to hang out.


text:
(To be read along with the previous post)
The flight, surprisingly, felt short. We touched down at Heathrow at 0505 hours (wow, nice number, haven't noticed it until now. And you know those scary stories people tell about UK immigration, like how they'd rip your guts open and eat your heart alive if you didn't bring X-rays,etc.? They're not true. For me at least. They just took a look at my passport and letter and stamped, *BOOM*. In fact, if it wasn't for the accent the officers spoke with, i'd have thought that i was in Malaysia.
So then i waited for baggage, which i thought was a soooooooo unique because it was bright red. But then there was a lot of other red bags T_T But the biggest surprise was seeing a senior waiting as soon as i went out of the arrival terminal. WOW. :)
They picked us up in a 15-seater van, which they drove by themselves. If you're wondering why im putting 'they' instead of their names, its to give them an air of mystery and authority, hahah.
It was like 4 C outside, so when i breathed it was like a dragon breathing out smoke, you see. Except it wasn't smoke, it was condensed water vapour. And they drove us to Finsbury Park, home of The Seniors. Its also the home of Arsenal, which is a football club less significant compared to The Seniors. And we had a breakfast of fried rice in tray (nasi goreng dalam dulang) which was delicious as we were all pretty *grumbling tummy*, and that explains everything. We just got here, but they were already treating us like brothers, which really made me feel 'waaaaaaa'...
And then in the afternoon i had lunch at Harput Kebab, which so far seems to be the best kebab joint on earth. I couldn't finish it, and i'm like Cookie Monster at home, which shows just how generous the Harput man is. And then in the evening i went to Butlers Wharf to register for accommodation. If you happen to come by Tower Bridge, and I'm sure you'll do if you're a tourist, be sure to visit me yeah :) Its a really nice place, nearby the River Thames and all, plus its victorianly dodgy and yet modern at the same time (victorianly dodgy at the halls, modern on the other side of the river).
If i have the mood i'll post some pictures and talk some more about London. I love it here, for now :)
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Hello London, my name is Ikmal
(To be read along with the previous post)
Posted by The Author at 4:54 AM


text:
トップページ › Forums › Traveling Japan
3 weeks, 5 days ago
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Topic Title (Maximum Length: 80):
Our website provides comprehensive information about Japan! Get an insider's view about the Japanese culture, language, cuisine, history, where-to, how-to...all you need to know to prepare yourself for a trip to or a life in Japan!
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text:
Internet privacy is considered as one of the basic human rights which everyone is entitled to.
However, in the last decade, online surveillance and monitoring policies have been tightened by governments around the world. This has made it even more essential for internet users to ensure protection of their privacy.
There are multiple reasons why users need to protect their Internet privacy. To understand the reasons, it is important to have knowledge about the loopholes from where your information can be stolen and used against your will and without your consent.
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What is your opinion? Does VPN really helps?


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Investors over the past month have massively shifted from growth to value stocks, potentially creating a trading opportunity for stock pickers sifting through the recent carnage, investment research firm TrimTabs says.
The Sausalito, Calif., firm, which tracks stock market liquidity, including mutual fund and exchange-traded fund flows, announced Monday that growth ETFs have redeemed $5.6 billion, nearly 5% of assets, while value-oriented ETFs have issued $3.9 billion, close to 3% of assets.
The sector rotation marks a "huge" change in trend, according to TrimTabs CEO David Santschi, who told ThinkAdvisor, "We think investors are starting to re-evaluate the prospects of the higher growth companies, particularly cloud computing, social media and biotech companies."
While acknowledging that one can only speculate as to what is motivating investors, Santschi says a three-step process seems to be occurring, and he has a high degree of confidence based on historical patterns on the first two steps:
"It really started before tax day on April 15," he says of the first step. "We expected a selloff before tax day and that's exactly what happened. People were selling before tax day to pay taxes… The market's generally weak in the days before tax day.
"But the selling continued — perhaps because of poor performance of these IPOs in these [cloud computing, social media and biotech] sectors and Fed tapering," says Santschi, who regards the persistent selloff as the second step in the massive roations, and as a significant departure from investor sentiment over the past year, which heavily favored growth over value.
"[IPO] deals with weak pricing and poor performance have caused people to re-evaluate valuations and start looking harder at this stuff," he adds, speculating that investor re-evaluation of growth is the third step in the massive rotation now under way.
Santschi says that investors are seeking perceived safety: "In the tech space, that's things like Microsoft (MSFT), Oracle (ORCL), Cisco (CSCO); in non-tech, that's Exxon Mobil (XOM), Procter & Gamble (PG) and utilities of various kinds."
In contrast, the stocks of social media companies like Twitter (TWTR) and LinkedIn (LNKD) have had a rough spring.
While Santschi is adamant that such companies are "bubbly," he is actually quite bullish on the market, most especially about prospects for solid growth companies dumped along with the wobbly ones.
But he emphasizes that TrimTabs' bullishness is not because the Bay Area firm thinks the market is cheap — to the contrary, Santschi says it's overvalued — but rather because the liquidity factors the firm tracks are bullish for the short and intermediate terms.
"We're traders, not investors," he says, adding that money flows, sentiment and supply-and-demand factors such as corporate buybacks of shares are very bullish.
Santschi says a fund based on a TrimTabs model portfolio (the Turk Capital U.S. Equity Long-Short Strategy) that has outperformed the S&P 500 every year since it launched in 2008 is one way for advisors and accredited investors to use the firm's distinctive liquidity-based research.
While the TrimTabs CEO is upbeat about the short term, he is outright morose about the long-term prospects for a market in which easy-money induced "malinvesting" is quite prevalent.
"If you didn't have massive money printing and zero rates, nobody would be lending money at [today's] levels," he says. "Bankruptcy law firms and restructuring companies are letting [employees] go because there isn't enough work."
Santschi calls the malinvesting a "major" market theme — "but it's not in all areas of the market. You see it a lot in tech; that's the single best sector where you see the craziest stuff," he says, citing cloud computing and social media companies in particular.
"The basic model in Silicon Valley world is you raise money; try to get a lot of users and try to figure out later how to make money from them."
These firms tend to rely on subscriptions or advertising, but often can't make money sufficient even to cover their costs, Santschi says.
And yet, they have been drawing massive funds, he says, "from the free money" the Federal Reserve has made available to venture capitalists.
"All this money is getting printed and chasing all this nonsense, Santschi says. "Venture capitalists tend to be very good at flagging the top of the market … but investors said last month 'We've had enough; we're not going to pay for this nonsense.'"
A similar phenomenon is taking place in real estate, where easy money funneled by the Fed through private equity firms like the Blackstone Group has fueled bubble markets in places like Phoenix, Las Vegas and parts of Florida, Santschi says, citing "buy-to-let schemes in these bombed-out markets," which today are "way overvalued."
"They can't make money in banks or in bonds, so they buy real estate," he says. "We're in another bubble — just in a different kind of bubble — a generalized kind of credit bubble that they've created.
The investment analyst, whose models seek short- and intermediate-term trading opportunities, says he doesn't know when this bubble will burst.
"It can probably last as long as borrowing costs, interest rates stay low," he says. "If you could earn 4% on a savings account, or pay 8% for a mortgage, you wouldn't have people bringing profitless companies in San Francisco to market and making billions off them. Nobody would give them money. And Blackstone wouldn't be buying thousands and thousands of rental properties; prices would collapse."
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