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Corporate America and the GOP have been playing a very dangerous game, throwing enormous amounts of money behind PR campaigns demagoguing the very deficit that their radical manipulation of the political system created in the first place. They thought they could hide their true intentions under the cloak of fiscal responsibility and good governance. The fact that the very tool they virtually invented to captivate the democratic process finally turned around and bit them in the ass is almost Shakespearean in its irony.
Little Shop of Tea Party Horrors: Corporate Astroturf Campaign Turns Into Giant Man-Eating Venus Flytrap |
By: Jane Hamsher Wednesday July 13, 2011 9:38 am |


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GreenHome, the Australian Conservation Foundation's sustainable living program, has won the 2007 Banksia Education Award, awarded by the Banksia Environmental Foundation.
"We're thrilled to accept this award on behalf of the Australian Conservation Foundation and also the GreenHome workshop participants and online GreenHome Challenge members," said Elle Morrell, GreenHome Research Coordinator.
"GreenHome is a national program which has had a presence in not only NSW but also Victoria and Western Australia through workshop delivery and events. We're continuing to expand the program with the aim of educating all community members interested in greening their lives," she said.
Since January 2005, significant environmental benefits in NSW include 116 ML of water saved (equivalent to 116 Olympic sized swimming pools full of water), 6880 tonnes of greenhouse gas prevented (equivalent to taking 1370 cars off the road) and 510 kilolitres of waste avoided (equivalent to 2123 wheelie bins full of waste). Similar savings are expected after the continued roll-out of the program in Victoria this year.
"The achievement of this award represents all the hard work that is occurring in the Australian community to become better environmental citizens. They are now looking to government and business leaders to deliver the necessary policies to make sure the community's efforts are not insignificant when it comes to addressing big issues like turning around climate change and dwindling Australian water supplies," Ms Morrell said.
GreenHome assists people to make changes to their homes and lifestyles that will not only help the environment, but help them too. Through community education GreenHome highlight ways for families to save on their electricity, gas and water bills and make their homes a more comfortable place to live in. One way everyone can get involved in GreenHome is to take the online GreenHome challenge.
GreenHome has been made possible through funding from the NSW Environment Trust 'Our Environment – It's a Living Thing' partnership and, in Victoria, through the Department of Sustainability and Environment's Sustainability Fund.
The Banksia Environmental Foundation, established in 1989, is a national not-for-profit organisation that promotes environmental excellence and sustainability through its Awards program and other associated events. The Banksia Environmental Awards are regarded as the most prestigious environmental awards in Australia.

subset: commoncrawl


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Wednesday, May 22nd, 2013 - 11:13pm ET
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Junior Sweeper
Joined: Mar 2002
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Location: CHILLICOTHE OH
ALL THOSE `CCOKIES'and not a one to eat
I deleted 3,062 out of temporary files today and this is after I removed Gator. Daughter's computer has Gator and very few cookies.She DOESN'T have iWON PrizeMachine and I did until I found out It was a form of spyware.Can anyone enlighten me and how much of this is safe to remove?
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The only advice I have is be careful...
I had accumulated so many cookies that I felt they were some how muking up my pc. Now understand I am NOT very computer saavy!!! So, being the "whatever you read in the techie books and follow the instructions" kind of person I proceeded. I did this on a sunday night -cleaned cookies,video, audio and download file. Also defraged and dumped the recycle bin. Mon morningy my pc was dead. Now, I am not saying these things don't need to be done but don't be like me and start deleting everyting YOU think is not useful. The end result was I lost all my data and had to completely reinstall windows and any peripheral programs. It was a MESS! Cleanup is good but too much can cause problems...
Maybe someone else here has some good advice about computer cleanup and maintenance: kt | ||
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A collection of news and information related to Mary Chapin Carpenter published by this site and its partners.
Displaying items 1-12 of 29
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L.A. Phil announces 2013-14 season: From Amadeus to Zappa
The music will range from A to Z -- Amadeus to Zappa, that is -- when the Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrates its 10th anniversary season at Walt Disney Concert Hall in 2013-14. In marking the occasion, the Phil also will attempt both to look back at...Tags: Where the Wild Things Are (movie), Yo-Yo Ma, Entertainment Events, Maurice Sendak, Ramsey Lewis
Edgar Meyer, double bass master, to play Old Dominion University March 18
Edgar Meyer, a celebrated classical bassist who specializes in multi-genre blending, will perform a solo concert at Chandler Recital Hall on campus at Old Dominion University 8 p.m. Saturday, March 18. Tickets are $15, $10 for students. Visit...Tags: Travis Tritt, Garth Brooks, Lyle Lovett, Emmylou Harris, Yo-Yo Ma
The Rocky Mountain highlights of John Denver's career: Speaking with his bassist about new tribute show
Lehigh Valley Music presents FESTBLOGAlan Deremo, who played bass in John Denver's band in the 1990s, says he was preparing more than a year ago to play at the opening of the Colorado Music Hall of Fame when Denver's estate approached him about joining...... -
Philadelphia Folk Festival stacks talent for its first year -- after its first 50
Lehigh Valley Music presents FESTBLOGFor its 50th anniversary last year, the Philadelphia Folk Festival had some of the biggest performers names in the genreperform — Arlo Guthrie, David Bromberg, Tom Paxton, Tom Rush and Doc Watson and Levon Helm, who both passed away this...... -
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin at Musikfest Cafe: Little harmony, no hits
Lehigh Valley MusicThe idea of pairing Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin sounded like a great show: Two voices, strong music and a bunch of hits. But the pair's show Sunday at Musikfest Café had three significant problems: The two rarely sang...... -
Top 5 Concerts of the Coming Week
Lehigh Valley MusicTop 5 Concerts of the Coming Week 1. MARY CHAPIN CARPENTER AND SHAWN COLVIN Mary Chapin Carpenter had 18 Top 20 country hits, including the No. 1 "Shut Up and Kiss Me" in 1994. She's had six gold and platinum...... -
2 Grammy winners sell out one area venue; classic rock act cancels at another
Lehigh Valley MusicTwo Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriters have sold out at one area venue, and a classic rock act has canceled a show at another. Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin, who each have had No. 1 songs and between them have had...... -
Susan Elizabeth "Susie" Mudd, Music Monthly publisher
Susan Elizabeth "Susie" Mudd, the former publisher, editor and owner of the free magazine Music Monthly, which for nearly three decades reported on Mid-Atlantic rock bands and musicians as well as other music, died April 5 of cancer at Sinai Hospital....Tags: Newspaper and Magazine, Timonium, Roland Park, Arts and Culture, Music Industry
Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin perform at Norwalk Concert Hall on April 27
Mary Chapin Carpenter (pictured) has won five Grammys, recorded 12 albums and sold over 13 million records. Shawn Colvin won three Grammys, including "Record of the Year" and "Song of the Year" in 1998. See them both together this Friday at Norwalk...Tags: Shawn Colvin
Ravinia high on proven marquee names in upcoming schedule
The Ravinia Festival remains one of the nation's heavyweight classical music impresarios even if it increasingly finds itself in the position of playing Goliath to the David of the Grant Park Music Festival at Millennium Park. Ho-hum symphonic...Tags: Yo-Yo Ma, Diana Krall, Broadway Theater, James Conlon, Fine Artists
Patty Larkin reflects upon her 25-year career and pushes onward
Patty Larkin Jan.. 6, 8 p.m. The Kate, 300 Main St., Old Saybrook (860) 510-0473, katherinehepburntheatre.org. Folk singer-songwriter Patty Larkin has seen a complete overhaul in the way music is recorded, distributed and sold over the course of...Tags: Suzanne Vega, Music, Old Saybrook, Music, Entertainment
Mixtape Friday for August 19, 2011
Marianne 1. Shoot to Thrill - AC/DC 2. Do I Do - Stevie Wonder 3. Respect Yourself - Marc Broussard 4. Party Train - Gap Band 5. Rock & Roll - led Zepplin Nicole 1. Feeling Good - Michael Buble 2. Viva Las Vegas- Elvis Presleybr> 3. With Plenty of...Tags: Jimmy Buffett, Metallica (music group), Count Basie, Judy Garland, Dean Martin
Feb 25, 2013
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Mar 13, 2013
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Feb 1, 2013
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Aug 17, 2012
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Apr 26, 2012
| Allentown Morning Call
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| Allentown Morning Call
Apr 13, 2012
|Story| Baltimore Sun
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|Story| WTXX-LTV
Mar 7, 2012
|Story| Chicago Tribune
Jan 4, 2012
|Story| WTXX-LTV
Aug 23, 2011
|Story| WGN-AM
Original site for Mary Chapin Carpenter topic gallery.


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I'm involved in a project to form a representative body for LOI fans and we're attempting to compose a list of contacts and I was tasked with collecting Wexford Youth's contacts.
I'm looking for contacts/emails/phone numbers of any supporters groups or clubs.
Any other links/contacts to fans' groups or websites/forums. Plus any facebook pages/twitters/etc that could be used to contact Wexford fans would be welcome.
If you want to contact me personally my email/phone number is available by PM.
There is a facebook pages http://www.facebook.com/WexfordYouthsFC, http://www.facebook.com/pages/Wexfor...60744430711121, twitter https://twitter.com/YouthsOfficial.
SC page on facebook http://www.facebook.com/groups/142326122533711/
Also an unofficial twitter https://twitter.com/WYFC
Contact emails are available on the official website http://www.wexfordyouthsfc.ie/
If you need anything additional just let me know.
Also do you have any detials of the project you are talking about fb or anything but something I would very much be interested in.
And Miles To Go Before We Sleep


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Calvin Klein 3 Pack Cotton Stretch Boxers - Multi
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Newegg.com - A great place to buy computers, computer parts, electronics, software, accessories, and DVDs online. With great prices, fast shipping, and top-rated customer service - once you know, you Newegg.
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Gigabit on Every Port
The 16-Port Unmanaged Gigabit Switch series brings the speed of Gigabit Ethernet to each and every port for a truly high-speed network. If your network has a mix of legacy and modern computing capabilities, each port allows for standard Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, or Gigabit Ethernet connections. You have the latest technology available to every computer and device connected to your network.
Innovative Design
The sleek plastic case of the DGS-1016A series is an industry first for a Gigabit SOHO/SMB switch. Using a compact desktop style helps reduce heat levels and allow for a fanless design, making the switches silent, as well as economical. The 16-Port Unmanaged Gigabit Switch series is small, lightweight, wall-mountable, and ideal for any business with big needs and a small budget.
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Bad DesignPros: It's a 16 port unmanaged gigabyte switch that isn't a rack mount. Cons: Bad design for a desktop item. The design is made in a deliberate slop of about 35 degrees. I'm all for fancy but when the device needs to stack other equipment it shouldn't be angled so it needs it's own space. Other Thoughts: Listen up networking professionals who design networking equipment. The devices should be about utility > looks. In this case this device was made for a desktop environment not a rack mount. The ports are on the back. This is why I bought this switch. These should be designed to stack other routers above them. 0 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Did you? |
"It's a 16 port unmanaged gigabyte switch that isn't a rack mount."— 11/5/2012


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"...a clear and practical guide covering everything from preparation to closing the circle and an excellent start to deciding whether this approach can help you."Ā Harvey Schachter, Globe & Mail, August 2006
Corporate conflict costs organizations millions of dollars in lost productivity, increased turnover and litigation. Corporate Circles is the first book describingĀhow to resolve internal corporate conflict using a circle process. Fitzgerald uncovers the fallacies that prevent corporations from resolving conflict and identifies the secret to creating a collaborative work group with empathy and trust.
With 15 years of successful law practice behind her, Fitzgerald uncovers the mistakenĀbeliefs that prevent corporations from effectively ending conflict andĀexplains, in depth, why the one-conversation solution works so well. "I have identified the secret to creatingĀ a truly collaborative work group - building empathy and trust - and my aimĀis to help others do the same," says the author. Her research shows that unresolved issues slowly erode productivity and creativity and can cause headaches at all levels of the organization.
Corporate CirclesĀprovides a step-by-step process on how to develop and facilitate a corporate circle in any organization. The book explains how to prepare participants and how to effectively follow up. Unlike many conflict resolution techniques, a corporate circle, in a matter of hours, can help even the most dysfunctional group share opinions and perspectives to move past negative feelings.
About the Author:
Maureen Fitzgerald, PhD, is a lawyer and recognized expert in conflict and collaboration. She is the author of six books including Mission Possible: Creating a Mission for Work and Life and a forthcoming title, ONE CIRCLE:Ā Tapping the Power of Those Who Know You Best, due out in Spetember 2006. She has a commerce degree, two law degrees, has taught at two universities and currently lives in Vancouver, BC. Information about her other two books can be found on this website.


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We have stayed in this hotel twice with my wife. Found by accident: In 2011 summer we spent one night in this hotel just because hotels in Geneva were so expensive. We were coming from Streasa Italy to catch out flight from Geneva airport and needed to stay one night somewhere. The hotel was a very nice surprise. Personnel vere... More
- Also Known As:
- Continental Hotel Évian Les Bains
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- Built in 1868, Hotel Continental has preserved all its charm from yesterday but with the comforts of today.Located in the heart of Evian in the pedestrian street, step out and discover the numerous shops and restaurants the town offers. Take a walk to famous Lake Geneva, the beautiful Casino, the thermes (spa) or the conference centers.Between lake and mountains, Evian is ideally situated to explore the Chablais region and nearby Switzerland.Our spacious and nicely furnished rooms evoque the 19th century past of Evian. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, Expedia, Hotels.com, Priceline and Venere so you can book your Hotel Continental reservations with confidence. We help millions of travellers each month to find the perfect hotel for both holiday and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.


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Securing the world's food supply in a changing climate may be one of the biggest challenges we face in this century. In six of the past eight years, the human race consumed more corn, wheat, and rice than it grew.
Every day, 18,000 children under age five die of hunger and malnutrition. Almost all of them live in developing countries, the very countries most vulnerable to climate change.
Understanding the molecular underpinnings of how plants adapt to challenging environments and defend themselves against insects and fungal infections will be crucial to ensuring the world's food supply into the future, making basic plant research more important than ever.
Founded 25 years ago, the Salk's Plant Biology Laboratory is home to some of the world's leading plant biologists. Their groundbreaking research profoundly impacts many areas of science, from agriculture to stem cell research, from tumor biology to drug development.
"Our lab is interested in identifying the mechanisms that plants use to respond to changes in their environment, particularly light. Our hope is that by discovering the molecular triggers that determine whether a plant matures into a spindly or robust specimen, we can contribute to efforts to increase crop yield and alleviate hunger."
Plants by nature may be rooted to one spot, but they are remarkably adept at making the most of their digs. Activating a complex series of molecular switches that regulate their growth patterns, they literally seek their place in the sun by reacting to changes in their surroundings in ways that maximize their chances for survival.
Chory and her team have recently identified two pathways that govern different aspects of plant growth. For light-loving plants, competing with larger flora for a share of the sun can lead to so-called shade avoidance syndrome—a set of responses in which they expend their growth resources toward stem elongation rather than bulking up harvestable portions such as leaves and seeds. Using the reference plant Arabidopsis thaliana, Chory's group identified a series of genes that plays roles in the shade response and identified one that encoded a new enzyme. She and her colleagues determined that the enzyme uses the amino acid tryptophan to synthesize auxin, a hormone that regulates plant growth. This pathway is rapidly deployed to synthesize auxin at the high levels required to initiate the multiple changes in body plan associated with shade avoidance. Despite auxin's importance for plant growth and development, the details of how it is synthesized have puzzled plant biologists. Multiple biochemical pathways for the production of auxin have been proposed, but the specific function of each pathway and how they all intersect is not known. Now the role of at least one pathway has become clearer.
Starlight, not daylight, lies at the heart of another recent discovery by Chory and her colleagues. At least since Charles Darwin, scientists have known that many plants grow in regular nightly spurts, with plant stems elongating fastest in the hours just before dawn. Chory's lab has identified the genes controlling those bursts of rhythmic growth. They found that expression of a large number of genes scattered around the Arabidopsis genome dealing with hormone biosynthesis, hormone signaling, and hormone metabolism are all tightly correlated with rhythmic plant growth.
These discoveries could eventually allow scientists to design crops that can grow substantially faster and produce more food than the most productive varieties today.
"Nature vs. nurture, genes vs. environment—what is more important? My group is interested in understanding the roles of genetic and 'epigenetic' processes in cell growth and development. By understanding how the genome and epigenome talk to one another, we hope to be able to untangle the complexity of gene regulatory processes that underlie development and disease in plants and humans."
Our view of heredity has largely been written in the language of DNA, but recent discoveries in a field known as epigenetics—the study of heritable changes in gene function that occur without changing the letters of the DNA alphabet—show that how a cell "reads" those letters is critical. Adding molecules such as methyl groups to the backbone of DNA can change how genes interact with the cell's transcribing machinery and hand cells an additional tool to fine-tune gene expression. The genomes of higher eukaryotes are peppered with modifications, but until scientists were able to take a detailed look at the whole genome, there was no way of knowing whether a particular chemical tag was critical or not.
Ecker and his team pioneered new technologies that allowed them to capture the genomewide DNA methylation pattern of the plant Arabidopsis thaliana and chart its effect on the activity of any of Arabidopsis's roughly 30,000 genes. Cells employ a whole army of enzymes that add methyl groups at specific sites, maintain established patterns, or remove undesirable methyl groups. When Ecker and his colleagues compared normal cells with cells lacking different combinations of these enzymes, they discovered that cells put a lot of effort into keeping certain areas of the genome methylation-free. On the flipside, they found that when they inactivated a whole class of methylases, a different type of methylase would step into the breach for the missing ones. This finding is relevant for a new class of cancer drugs that work by changing the methylation pattern in tumor cells.
Being able to study the epigenome in great detail and in its entirety will provide researchers with a better understanding of plant productivity and stress resistance, the dynamics of the human genome, stem cells' capacity to self-renew, and how epigenetic factors contribute to the development of tumors and disease. Ecker and his team are already looking into how methylation affects the development of human stem cells as they differentiate into other types of cells.
"A plant's shoot system is responsible for all of the above-ground portions of the plant, such as leaves, branches, and flowers, and is the site of photosynthesis. The root system lies below the ground and provides water and nutrients to the plant. My lab's research is focused on how a plant embryo sets up this apical/basal polarity."
Controlled by a tightly regulated choreography that determines what should go up and what should go down, plants develop along a polar axis with a root on one end and a shoot on the other. But scientists and home gardeners alike have been messing with plants' basic architecture for years. Permanently switch on a gene called BODENLOS (or "bottomless"), and they forgo root development altogether. Dip plant cuttings into hormone rooting powder, and roots start to sprout where none have been. The active ingredient, a synthetic version of the plant hormone auxin, which regulates root growth, overrides the molecular switch that keeps auxin-responsive genes turned off in parts of the plant that are above ground.
Long discovered that the switch is none other than a protein called TOPLESS. It had become clear that TOPLESS functions as a so-called co-repressor, which regulates gene expression by inhibiting the activity of transcription factors. Transcription factors control gene activity by binding to DNA sequences adjacent to a gene. But exactly how TOPLESS silences genes necessary for root development has remained unclear.
Hoping to gain insight into how TOPLESS functions by looking at the company it keeps, Long and his team searched for interacting partners in the plant Arabidopsis thaliana. This wee weed was the first flowering plant to have its genome unlocked and is loved by plant biologists for its short generation time. They discovered that BODENLOS, a transcriptional repressor that silences auxin-responsive genes, recruits the co-repressor TOPLESS to help with the job. While auxins are found throughout the whole plant, BODENLOS is only active in the shoot, ensuring that no accidental roots sprout above ground unless a gardener, "Dip'N Grow®" in hand, tips the balance.
Understanding how seedlings ensure that they are neither all shoot nor all root is fundamental to engineering plants that develop in ways that better suit agricultural needs.


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Scrapbook MOCA
The collective blog of the Museum of Chinese in America. Currently posting: Comics! In conjunction with a season of comics exhibitions at MOCA, we are pleased to invite you to join our drawing contest! Submit a drawing of yourself as a superhero. We will post your drawing on this site and our curators will select a winner each month. Great prizes to be won!
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May 7th, 2012 at 11:03AM
At the panel.
#America Through a Chinese Lens
#Streethaiku in America
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The links to the stories summarized on this page are time sensitive, so stories might no longer be online at that URL. We also include links to the original source publication itself.
Monday, 20 September 2010
1. Editorial: UC Berkeley's sports dilemma
San Francisco Chronicle
September 18, 2010
Credit CAL with taking up a third-rail topic: the runaway costs of college sports. After trimming academics, the campus heeded an outcry and ordered up a study on its ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT.
The fix-it suggestions include the usual: more fundraising, better management and a call for thrift in the face of a $10 million-and-rising yearly deficit. There's another idea in the report written by ALUMNI AND FACULTY LEADERS: Consider cutting five to seven teams from Berkeley's roster of 27 sports squads.
Campus higher-ups may make a decision within the next two weeks on cutting teams. If it happens, it will be an emotional, complicated but necessary calculation. Sports knit the campus together. Headlines and broadcasts give Cal visibility. Check-writing alums start out donating to athletics, but later contribute bigger sums to academic causes and building projects. These benefits can't be ignored.
But a hard look at Cal athletics turned up problems. The yearly deficit can't be defended while faculty and staff face furloughs and wage freezes, student fees rise, and operations sink to the point where campus buildings have 63 roof leaks and the grounds have a single gardener to mow lawns....
The final result isn't clear. But Berkeley is taking an informed approach on an emotion-laden topic. Full Story
2. Video: UK Animators Use Cellphone and Microscope To Film Smallest Stop-Motion Animation Ever
Popular Science
September 20, 2010
Using a Nokia N8 smartphone and a CellScope, the team behind the Wallace & Gromit series has made the worlds smallest stop-motion animation film.
Follow 0.35-inch-tall Dot as she runs through an obstacle course made of British currency, rides a bumblebee and stitches her way out of trouble. The music is catchy too....
Directors Ed Patterson and Will Studd attached a CellScope (winner of a PopSci Best of What's New award in 2008) to a Nokia N8 12-megapixel camera to film Dots struggle in her microscopic world. They said Nokia commissioned them to make the film in celebration of CellScopes potential to improve medicine in the developing world.
CellScope is the brainchild of DANIEL FLETCHER, A BIOENGINEER AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA-BERKELEY, who combined a cellphone camera with a 50x magnification microscope.
[Link to video] Full Story
3. Perceptual Learning In Healthy Adults Boosted By Alzheimer's Drug
Medical News Today
September 20, 2010
Research on a drug commonly prescribed to Alzheimer's disease patients is helping NEUROSCIENTISTS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, better understand perceptual learning in healthy adults.
In a new study, to be published online Thursday, Sept. 16, in the journal Current Biology, researchers from UC BERKELEY'S HELEN WILLS NEUROSCIENCE INSTITUTE AND SCHOOL OF OPTOMETRY found that study participants showed significantly greater benefits from practice on a task that involved discriminating directions of motion after they took donepezil, sold under the brand name Aricept, compared with a placebo....
Donepezil, like other cholinesterase inhibitors, is used to treat early stages of Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Previous research on donepezil has focused primarily on its beneficial effects on quality of life and clinical symptoms in patient populations. However, little was known about the specific cognitive processes that are enhanced by this drug.
"We wanted to better understand the biological mechanisms that underlie the ability to learn new tasks and to shed light on which specific neural processes are being enhanced by donepezil," said the study's principal investigator, MICHAEL SILVER, UC BERKELEY ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF OPTOMETRY AND NEUROSCIENCE. "This is the first study to show that donepezil can enhance learning of a new skill, even in normal, healthy people."... Full Story
4. Political Economy: It's official: The Great Recession ended last summer
Washington Post
September 20, 2010
The Great Recession is officially over -- and has been for more than a year.
The panel of economists that is the widely accepted arbiter of business cycles has called an end to what is now officially the longest U.S. economic downturn of the post-World War II era. The recession ended in June 2009, 18 months after it began in December 2007, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research's business cycle dating committee.
But the committee took pains to make clear that it was not asserting that the economy has returned to full health....
The business cycle dating committee consists of eight top macroeconomists, chaired by Stanford University's Robert Hall. Only seven participated in the decision, however: DAVID ROMER, AN ECONOMIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, is on leave as his wife, CHRISTINA ROMER [ALSO A UC BERKELEY ECONOMICS PROFESSOR], was until recently serving as a top adviser to President Obama. Full Story
5. Editorial: Stimulus for Clunkers
A new study charts an economic failure.
Wall Street Journal (*requires registration)
September 20, 2010
By now, the only defense Democrats can mount of the Obama stimulus programs is that the economy would have been worse without them. There's no way to disprove this counterfactual, but now we have some empirical evidence other than 9.6% unemployment and 1.6% growth.
To wit, economists ATIF MIAN OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY and Amir Sufi of the University of Chicago have examined "cash for clunkers," the $2.85 billion program that subsidized consumers to buy new cars and destroy older ones. Their conclusion: The program "had no long run effect on auto purchases." It did juice sales during its two-month run last summer, by about 360,000 cars, but then it quickly hurt sales by about the same amount, in effect stealing purchases from the future. The program was a wash in a mere seven months.
White House economists might dismiss that finding because their larger goal with cash for clunkers was to stimulate "aggregate demand" in the overall economy. Earlier this year, [UC BERKELEY PROFESSOR] CHRISTINA ROMER, the former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, wrote that cash for clunkers was an example of "very nearly the best possible countercylical fiscal policy in an economy suffering from temporarily low aggregate demand." The program wasn't sold as a discount for cars people were already planning to buy, but rather to encourage knock-on economic activity such as more consumer spending and job creation....
Messrs. Mian and Sufi caution that their findings "do not warrant the claim that all forms of fiscal stimulus fail to boost long-run economic output" (their emphasis). But if this is the result from the "best possible" stimulus programper Ms. Romerthe impact of the others must have been awful.
[Link by subscription only] Full Story
6. Op-Ed: Tortoise economy of the Great Recession
San Francisco Chronicle
September 19, 2010
Word from the 12 Federal Reserve Banks, summarized in the Fed's Beige Book, shows the economy slowing in July and August.
But the Fed is quick to point out that the economy overall is still growing - even though it's growing more slowly than in the spring.
Can we have a moment of realism here, please?
In 2008 and 2009 the economy fell into the deepest hole it's been in since the Great Depression. Since then we've been struggling to get out. We're failing big time.... Full Story
7. Op-Ed Column: A Health Care Plan for Colleges
New York Times & International Herald Tribune (*requires registration)
September 18, 2010
Over the past few weeks, millions of parents sent their children off to college. But amid the packing and unpacking (and in some cases, the tears), most probably didnt realize how increasing health care costs are harming their kids education.
Consider this: In 1980, a new associate professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a leading public school, earned about the same amount as one at the University of Chicago, a nearby leading private school; ditto for the University of Texas at Austin and Rice University.
By 2000, new associate professors at the University of Illinois and the University of Texas were earning about 15 percent less than their counterparts at Chicago and Rice. And by this year, the differential had widened to 20 percent....
What does health care have to do with any of this? Research Ive done with Tom Kane of Harvard and the Gates Foundation finds a surprisingly strong connection: over recent decades, as state governments have devoted a larger share of resources to rising costs of Medicaid, the health care program for the poor, they have cut support for higher education....
The result, as weve seen, is that public colleges havent been able to stay competitive with private universities on salaries and spending on students. It might be possible to trim some more fat, but ultimately quality is going to suffer.
The evidence suggests that may already be happening. The U.S. News and World Report college rankings are hardly perfect, but they do provide some perspective. In the 1987 survey, there were eight public schools among the top 25; this year there were only three, and none in the top 20. In 1987, the top-ranked public university (the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY) came in fifth. By 2010, Berkeley was still the top-rated of the public universities, but it had fallen to 22nd overall.
How can we reverse this trend? One step is to provide more federal support for Medicaid when downturns hit, because that is when states tend to put the squeeze on higher education. ... Full Story
8. 'Cookies' Cause Bitter Backlash
Spate of Lawsuits Shows User Discomfort With Latest Innovations in Online-Tracking Technology
Wall Street Journal (*requires registration)
September 19, 2010
Tools that track users' whereabouts on the Web are facing increased regulatory and public scrutiny and prompting a flurry of legal challenges.
Since July, at least six suits have been filed in U.S. District Court for the Central District of California against websites and companies that create advertising technology, accusing them of installing online-tracking tools that are so surreptitious that they essentially hack into users' machines without their knowledge. All of the suits seek class-action status and accuse companies of violating the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and other laws against deceptive practices....
The tools cited in the suits are part of an "arms race" in tracking technologies, said CHRIS HOOFNAGLE, DIRECTOR OF THE BERKELEY CENTER FOR LAW & TECHNOLOGY'S INFORMATION-PRIVACY PROGRAMS. Some users, uncomfortable with tracking, now routinely block or delete cookies. "There are some in the industry who do not believe that users should be able to block tracking, so they are turning to increasingly sophisticated tools to track people," he said.
One such technology involves "Flash cookies," which use Adobe Systems Inc.'s popular Flash program to save a small file on a user's computer. ...
Last year, researchers including Mr. Hoofnagle at Berkeley found that some Flash cookies were being used to re-create regular browser cookies that users had deleted. ...
[Link by subscription only] Full Story
9. Digits Blog: How to Protect Your Childs Privacy Online
Wall Street Journal Online (*requires registration)
September 17, 2010
Websites popular among children and teens place more tracking technologies on users computers than do the top websites aimed at adults, a Wall Street Journal investigation has found. But parents can take steps to limit their childrens exposure....
But studies and interviews suggest additional considerations for protecting children, particularly young children, online. Elementary-school-age children may not understand basics of Internet safety, according to a 2005 study in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology. ...
Such concerns are less pressing with teenagers, who tend to know as much, or more, about the Web as their parents. But a study released earlier this year by RESEARCHERS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA BERKELEY and the University of Pennsylvania found that older teenagers are more likely than adults to believe their privacy is being protected online when it isnt. ...
[Link by subscription only] Full Story
10. White roofs cool energy bills
Washington Post
September 18, 2010
New York -- Herb Van Gent points his infrared gun at a square of still-unpainted gray shingle and clicks the trigger. He gets an immediate temperature reading: 143 degrees and rising. Then he aims it five feet away to a square of roof I have just painted: 98 degrees and decreasing.
He smiles.
"A 45-degree difference and we're only on the first coat," he says. That means it also will be cooler inside the building, saving energy, he says....
The idea of painting roofs white is catching on across the country; Energy Secretary Steven Chu has said it could help in the fight against global warming....
According to former California energy commissioner [and UC BERKELEY PROFESSOR EMERITUS] ARTHUR ROSENFELD, an average, 1,000-square-foot roof painted white can save 10 tons of carbon dioxide, the equivalent of emissions from one car for about 2 1/2 years. On a national scale, turning roofs cool could eliminate 2 billion tons of carbon dioxide, about the same as taking 20 million cars off the road for 20 years, according to Rosenfeld, who carried out his experiments with Hashem Akbari at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in California.... Full Story
11. PG&E exceeded its own maximum pressure standard on San Bruno pipeline
San Jose Mercury News (*requires registration)
September 17, 2010
Federal investigators have determined that the natural gas in the pipeline that exploded in San Bruno was running at a higher pressure than the maximum limit PG&E has told the public it maintained.
At the time of the explosion, the utility's computers showed that the gas was at least 386 pounds per square inch, according to a source familiar with the investigation. PG&E spokesman Jeff Smith said Thursday that the maximum the company operated the line at was 375 psi, a figure that PG&E Vice President Geisha Williams also cited in a news conference Monday....
"Between 375 and 400 psi still sounds safe, but it's all premised on a defect-free line," said BOB BEA, A PROFESSOR OF ENGINEERING AT UC BERKELEY with extensive pipeline experience.
"Here's where the demands on the pipeline from internal pressure have to be matched with a set of capacity questions. Was the steel brittle? Did we have a combination of corrosion and fatigue?"...
Bea noted two factors that could have contributed to the explosion. First is a sewer pipe replacement project that the city of San Bruno contracted for in 2008. ...
The second is corrosion from liquid in the line. ...
[This story also appeared in the Contra Costa Times and Oakland Tribune] Full Story
12. Op-Ed: Setting low-carbon fuel standard proves tough for state's air board
Sacramento Bee
September 18, 2010
The 1848 Gold Rush led to California's "Golden State" nickname, but now it's the sun's golden rays that could sustain the state as an economic and environmental powerhouse....
Scientists at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy have already documented biodiesel's greenhouse gas emissions benefits. However, the California Air Resources Board has embarked on its own analysis. The ARB says it wants to confirm that biodiesel made from existing byproducts and co-products in the United States does not result in indirect emissions anywhere in the world....
Uncertainty led the agency to assemble an expert work group with representatives from environmental advocacy organizations, government and various universities, such as UC Davis, UC BERKELEY and Iowa State University. The work group plans to draft a set of recommendations that can be applied directly to the ARB's modeling exercise to improve its scientific credibility.
We expect the ARB will receive sound advice from the group and will use those recommendations to come to a rational conclusion about emissions from various sources of renewable energy....
The time to use more low-carbon fuels is now.... Full Story
13. Experts wonder if Jerry Brown's words make him a straight shooter or loose cannon
Since the primary, the Democrat has compared Meg Whitman's campaign to a Nazi propagandist and referred to Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky. Some strategists worry about long-term damage.
Los Angeles Times
September 20, 2010
When gubernatorial nominee Jerry Brown blurted out his unfiltered thoughts last week, aiming barbs at a longtime rival and former president whose assistance Brown's campaign had been scurrying to obtain, the reaction from Democrats was dismay, but not surprise....
"Meg Whitman, she's learned her lessons," said BRUCE CAIN, A POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT UC BERKELEY. "She's very poised, she's got that little smile she flashes no matter how much she hates you, she's got her lines down, she's very quick-witted. I can't imagine she'll deviate from that."
Cain said most electoral contests feature two candidates like Whitman, scripted and unwavering from their central message.
"I really like unconventional politicians, they're more fun to watch," he said, but they are not necessarily the most successful. "In general, the upside of being scripted exceeds the downside of being scripted, that's why everybody does it."... Full Story
14. Robert Reich's Blog: Christine O'Donnell and the 'crackpot gap'
Many Americans are cynical about government, but they like dangerously out-of-touch politicians even less.
Christian Science Monitor Online
September 20, 2010
After the victories of many of the insurgent primary candidates shes sponsored, Sarah Palin is off to Iowa today (Friday) for a high-profile series of political events. Is it possible shes looking to make a run in 2012? Do birds fly?
Republicans are being fueled by a so-called enthusiasm gap but their biggest worry leading up to the midterms should be the crackpot gap.
In Delaware, Palin-endorsed tea partier Christine ODonnell is so far right shes called delusional by Delawares GOP leader. In Kentucky, Palin-favored Rand Paul says the Civil Rights Act of 1964 shouldnt apply to businesses. In Colorado, tea partier Ken Buck talks of getting rid of the 17th amendment, which provides for the direct election of senators. In Nevada, Palin-favored Sharon Angle has called for 2nd Amendment remedies if Congress doesnt change hands....
Were in the midst of an ongoing economic emergency that requires clear thinking, intense work, and practical ideas. It also requires that we join together rather than be pushed apart. The loonies who are taking over the GOP pose a real and present danger.
[Professor Reich also blogged on trade sanctions against China in the Christian Science Monitor Online] Full Story
15. Interview: Id Rather Hear Stories That Affect Our 600 Million
Beating the drum of India Rising is all very well but India is ignoring less flattering aspects at its own peril.
Outlook [India]
September 18, 2010
Activist and academic RAJ PATELs profile proudly notes that he has worked for the World Bank and the WTO, and protested against them both around the world. A VISITING SCHOLAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEYS CENTRE FOR AFRICAN STUDIES, Patels latest offering to the literary worldThe Value of Nothingis a New York Times bestseller. In an interview with Ashish Kumar Sen, Patel says beating the drum of India Rising is all very well but India is ignoring less flattering aspects at its own peril....
Q. Where does the India story go from here?
A. For some, the India story is one of inevitable and unbridled prosperity in the future. All it will take is just the right combination of FDI, right foreign policy and the right kind of business partnerships and suddenly there will be prosperity raining down on everyone. For me, that may all be well for the 50 million people touched by it. But the story Im more interested in, and the Indian story that appears in movies like Peepli [Live], affects 600 million people. That is the story Im more keen to hear about.
Q. To what extent does ignoring that story have a detrimental effect?
A. Its already a very serious problem. I think a lot of Indians are mortified to hear that a few Indian states have more poor people than all of sub-Saharan Africa. This is not so much a problem that will have consequences in the future as one that already has consequences. Full Story
16. Blog: The New Agtivist
Francis Thicke wants to lead Iowa agriculture to a greener future
September 20, 2010
There's a lot at stake in the 2010 mid-term elections. Democrats are biting their nails over the House and Senate races; Grist is highlighting the 37 governorships that are up for grabs. In this picture, the contest for secretary of agriculture in Iowa might seem a tad obscure to non-Iowans -- especially if you, like most people, would have trouble naming your own state's Ag Sec.
But Iowa is the big kahuna when it comes to farming, producing a fifth of the nation's corn, a sixth of its soy, 30 percent of its hogs, and 12 percent of its eggs. It's also the second-largest recipient of federal farming subsidies, and currently in the news for the recall of half a billion salmonella-tainted eggs. If challenger Francis Thicke (pronounced "TICK-ee") manages to unseat incumbent agriculture secretary Bill Northey, it would be a huge win not only for sustainable agriculture in Iowa, but the nation. And it would send a clear message to Congress as lobbyists and activists begin putting on their battle overalls for the next Farm Bill.
"To the extent that the 'farm bloc' is shown to be much less unified in its resistance to change, the more likely that change is to come in Washington," MICHAEL POLLAN, food-system journalist and UC BERKELEY PROFESSOR, tells me by email. (Pollan and -- in a surreal twist -- filmmaker David Lynch are judges in a contest to make a music video for the brain-colonizing song "Happy Cow" that will be used in Thicke's campaign.) "As the scandal over Jack DeCoster's egg 'farm' demonstrated, Iowans are deeply divided over the industrialization of their agriculture," he continues. "The triumph of a reform candidate like Francis Thicke would demonstrate to Washington that a change in agricultural policy would in fact be welcome in much of the farm belt, and that legislators who purport to represent farm states by simply blocking reform more closely reflect the interests of agribusiness than that of their own constituents."... Full Story
17. Company With Bay Area Roots Seeks Approval For Modified Salmon
KTVU Online
September 20, 2010
Tinker with the genetics of salmon and maybe you create a revolutionary new food source that could help the environment and feed the hungry.
Or maybe you're creating what some say is an untested "frankenfish" that could cause unknown allergic reactions and the eventual decimation of the wild salmon population.
The Food and Drug Administration hears both arguments Monday when it begins a two-day meeting on whether to approve the marketing of the genetically engineered fish, which would be the first such animal approved for human consumption. The agency has already said the salmon, which grows twice as fast as conventional salmon, is as safe to eat as the traditional variety.
The FDA's approval was being sought by AquaBounty -- a company that was originally incorporated in1991, under the name A/F Protein, to pursue the commercial development of antifreeze protein-based technology under license from the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY.
Approval of the salmon would open the door for a variety of other genetically engineered animals, including an environmentally friendly pig that is being developed in Canada or cattle that are resistant to mad cow disease....
Critics have two main concerns: The safety of the food to humans and the salmon's effect on the environment.... Full Story
18. Why science can't hold sway
Our biases are overpowering.
Philadelphia Inquirer
September 20, 2010
Why do so many Americans disagree with scientific consensus on issues such as global climate change and the safety of burying nuclear waste? Is it our poor education? Science illiteracy? Innumeracy?
None of the above, according to a new study published in Journal of Risk Research. People's positions on these issues and their willingness to believe or discount scientists depends mostly on ideology, or what the study's authors call "cultural cognition."
After surveying 1,500 people, the researchers found that those who were "egalitarian and resentful of economic inequality" were more likely to assume that there was scientific consensus that human activity is contributing to climate change, but not that it's safe to dispose of nuclear waste underground. Those who were more "hierarchical, individualistic and connected to industry and commerce" were more likely to make the opposite assumptions....
"It's not that one group is paying more attention to what scientific consensus is," said Dan Kahan, a law professor at Yale and author of the study. But there's a pervasive tendency to form perceptions of scientific consensus that reinforce people's values.
The researchers also confronted subjects with FICTIONAL AUTHORS - Robert Linden, professor of meteorology at MIT; OLIVER ROBERTS, PROFESSOR OF NUCLEAR ENGINEERING AT U.C. BERKELEY; and James Williams, professor of criminology at Stanford. All had Ivy League Ph.D.s and membership in the National Academy of Sciences.
Subjects were asked whether they'd recommend a book by any of these authors to a friend.
The result: The experts could be seen as sages or stooges depending on whether they were said to agree with a subject's preexisting belief.
Sure, professor Roberts might have a Ph.D. from Princeton but if he's going to panic about nuclear waste he must be a girly man - or if he thinks it's safe to bury it, someone in the nuclear industry must be paying him.... Full Story
19. Awards given for outstanding research papers
EE Times Asia
September 20, 2010
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) handed out awards and commendations to students from around the world who submitted outstanding research papers for the company's annual search.
Thirty-seven student researchers received cash prizes during TSMC's Outstanding Student Research Awards ceremony in Hsinchu, Taiwan on August 20. The winners, selected from 203 entries, came from Taiwan, the United States, Holland, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore and India....
Scholars from Cornell University, UC-BERKELEY, Georgia Tech and Cambridge University won gold awards, while MIT, Stanford and National Taiwan University bagged silver awards. Bronze awards went to scholars from Ohio State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, National Tsinghua University (Taiwan), National Taiwan University, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The Award Committee bestowed the top prize, the Academy Award, to Albert Bartok-Partay, a doctoral candidate at Cambridge University.
Gold award winners received $6,000 while silver and bronze award winners received $4,000 and $2,000, respectively. Full Story
20. Astronomy's Amateurs A Boon for Science
Discovery News
September 20, 2010
Back in 1994. a comet broke apart, slammed into Jupiter and created a visible scar that lasted for weeks. The comet's discovery was credited to one professional astronomer and two amateurs: Gene and Carol Shoemaker, and David Levy. Hence it became known as Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9.
Since the earliest days of human history, mankind has scoured the heavens. The invention of the telescope in the late 16th century launched a hugely popular backyard hobby that has yielded its fair share of terrific discoveries -- made not by scientists, but by amateurs.
Amateur astronomers scored again this year by being the first to observe two asteroid impacts on Jupiter using high-speed video monitoring equipment: one on June 3, 2010 (image and video here), and another on Aug 20....
A new paper analyzing follow-up observations of the June event by professional astronomers will soon appear in Astrophysical Journal Letters. ...
What gives them an advantage over professional astronomers when it comes to spying these small 10-meter objects? According to co-author IMKE DE PATER OF UC-BERKELEY, they can record the night sky for longer periods of time using color video cameras to capture small impacts lasting two seconds or less; professional telescopes can only capture them by chance.... Full Story
21. Left Behind in Venezuela to Piece Lives Together
New York Times & International Herald Tribune (*requires registration)
September 18, 2010
Ciudad Guayana, Venezuela The first scavengers one sees in Cambalache, a sprawling trash dump on this citys edge, are the vultures. Hundreds drift through the veil of smoke that rises from the refuse each day at dawn.
The carrion birds vie with children and their parents for scraps of meat discarded by Ciudad Guayanas more fortunate residents. Those toiling under the vultures wake mutter to one another in Warao, an indigenous language spoken in the nearby delta where the Orinoco, one of the worlds mightiest rivers, meets the Atlantic....
Such harrowing scenes of misery are supposed to be receding into Venezuelas history. The country claims in figures it gives the United Nations that it vies with historically egalitarian Uruguay for Latin Americas most equitable income distribution, as a result of oil-financed social welfare programs....
The authorities know about the Warao who live at Cambalache. Their living conditions are a highly sensitive issue....
Warao leaders and RESEARCHERS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, informed federal health officials in 2008 of an outbreak of a rabieslike disease that killed dozens in Delta Amacuro, only to have the authorities refuse to see them, attack them in speeches, try to discredit their findings and open a criminal investigation into their report.... Full Story
22. Woman Held in Iran Arrives in U.S.
New York Times Online
September 20, 2010
New York (AP) -- An American woman who was held in Iran for more than 13 months and accused of espionage said Sunday she and two men detained with her never spied or committed any crime, calling their arrest ''a huge misunderstanding.''
Discussing her experience at the most length since her release Tuesday, SARAH SHOURD underscored her gratitude at being released but said she felt only ''one-third free'' because her fiance, SHANE BAUER, and their friend JOSH FATTAL remain in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison.
''This is not the time to celebrate,'' Shourd, 32, said at a New York news conference. ''The only thing that enabled me to cross the gulf from prison to freedom alone was the knowledge that Shane and Josh wanted with all their hearts for my suffering to end.''
Meanwhile, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in New York to attend the U.N. General Assembly. He later met with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to discuss developments in Iraq, Afghanistan and the Middle East and efforts to resolve the dispute over Iran's nuclear program.
Ahmadinejad told The Associated Press, ''We're very glad that that lady was released. (Due) to the humanitarian perspective the Islamic Republic chose to adopt on the subject, she was released on bail. And we hope that the other two will soon be able to prove and provide evidence to the court that they had no ill intention in crossing the border, so that their release can also be secured.''...
THE THREE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT BERKELEY GRADUATES were detained in July 2009 after Iranian officials said they intentionally crossed the country's border from Iraq. Echoing accounts their families have given in their absence, Shourd said Sunday that the three had been hiking in a popular tourist area -- near a waterfall in Iraq's Kurdistan region -- and had no idea the border was nearby....
[This story appeared in hundreds of sources nationwide] Full Story
23. Diversity in Academe: Undergraduate Diversity
More Minorities, More Women
The Chronicle of Higher Education (*requires registration)
September 19, 2010
Growing numbers of college students in America are women or members of minority groups. Even so, a smaller percentage of all black and Hispanic college-age people are enrolled in academic institutions than are white people of college age. In college, members of minority groups struggle disproportionately to succeed academically.
[UC BERKELEY is listed. See also Table: Race and Ethnicity of Students, by Institution. Link by subscription only] Full Story
24. Curb Your Enthusiasm
Some advisers suggest maximizing the emotional, as well as the financial, returns from investments. But our emotions can sometimes lead us astray
Wall Street Journal (*requires registration)
September 20, 2010
The Stoic philosopher Epictetus told his students that the wise man "keeps guard against himself as his own enemy, and one lying in wait for him". This is a view of human folly shared by the rather younger field of behavioral economics. As James Montier, behavioral economist and member of GMO's asset allocation team, puts it: "Your worst enemy when it comes to investment is yourself."...
Behavioral psychologists believe many of the mistakes investors make come from illogical thinking. We process information quickly and badly, which leads us to make poor decisions. Behavioral economists look for the typical mistakes or 'cognitive biases' that humans make when interpreting information and making decisions....
TERRANCE ODEAN, PROFESSOR OF BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF BERKELEY, says: "We've shown in a study that investors who trade more actively tend to do less well than more passive investors." This is probably, Mr. Odean argues, because active investors, who check their portfolios every day have more emotional, instinctive and short-term reactions to market volatility....
You can also set checks on your own impulses. Professor Odean says: "Electronic trading has made investing a lot quicker and more seamless. But this is not entirely a good thing. Friction and obstacles can be a good check on impulsive behavior. Investors can create these sorts of checks for themselves, like speed bumps."...
[Link by subscription only] Full Story
25. This Week in GeekTech: Blackmailing Trojans, New Processors
San Francisco Chronicle
September 18, 2010
Another week, another batch of nerdery from PCWorld's GeekTech blog: This week, we look at odd malware, goodies from IDF, a linux tablet hack, and a couple of developments in the world of robotics. So put on your nerdiest T-shirt, get a cup of coffee, and grab your Spock ears. It's time for This Week in GeekTech....
Touchy-Feely, Blood-Clot-Busting Robots Are Coming!
We covered a couple developments in robotics this past week. UC BERKELEY RESEARCHERS developed a technology that would let robots feel and actually grasp objects with a lighter touch. So maybe a Jetsons-style chorebot isn't so far off after all?...
[Another story on this topic appeared in The Independent (UK)] Full Story
26. The Corner Stall Office
New York Times & International Herald Tribune (*requires registration)
September 17, 2010
My friend Michael was facing a dilemma earlier this summer. He was running late at work; he was overdue to meet a friend; he needed to return the phone call of an important client, a Broadway legend, as he described her. So he did what many people do these days. He multitasked. He slipped into the lavatory; he dialed his client....
The bathroom, long home to the most private of human acts, has increasingly entered the public domain....
In many ways, the anxiety surrounding cellphone conduct mirrors the period a century ago when the telephone itself was becoming widely adopted. CLAUDE S. FISCHER, A SOCIOLOGIST AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, and the author of America Calling: A Social History of the Telephone to 1940, said that telephone companies originally discouraged people from using the phone for social conversations at all.
There was a lot of punditry at the time about the terrible things the telephone was doing, he said. It was mechanical, impersonal and killed a lot of time. Etiquette books scorned inviting people for dinner over the telephone, saying only a written note would do. AT&T openly discouraged people from answering the phone with Hello because it was considered vulgar.
But what happens in periods of large social change is that people adapt the new technology to fit their priorities, Dr. Fischer said. With the original telephone, people began using the technology to make dates with friends or to call their widowed mothers back on the farm. Far from destroying social cohesion, the public believed the telephone was advancing it. A similar transition is under way today, he said.... Full Story
27. Hundreds stride for late Saratoga city councilman and cancer research
San Jose Mercury News (*requires registration)
September 19, 2010
Saratoga City Councilwoman Susie Nagpal wasn't a runner. But more than 300 of her friends and relatives showed up under pleasant skies Sunday for "Stride for Susie," a walk and run in her memory that raised money for lung cancer research.
Nagpal was 46 when she died from the disease in May.
"I had no idea it would be this big," said her niece, TARINI ULLAL, A UC BERKELEY SENIOR who came up with the idea of a fundraising run to remember her aunt....
Sunday's event raised about $30,000 for the Bonnie J. Addario Lung Cancer Foundation, according to Tarini Ullal. Donations can still be arranged by calling 650-642-4142 or e-mailing email@example.com. Full Story
28. Critic's notebook: Museums building on a renewed civic life
The Pompidou's intriguing new outpost illustrates the current phase of museum design in which architects are hands-on participants of urbanism.
Los Angeles Times
September 19, 2010
Reporting from Metz, France The new outpost of the Pompidou museum, which opened in the spring in Metz, a city of 125,000 in eastern France, is not what you would call a conventionally handsome building. Designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and France's Jean de Gastines, the museum has a translucent, Teflon-coated roof that appears to have melted over the top of its long, tube-shaped galleries. Inside it is full of cavernous spaces, some dramatically scaled and others merely bloated....
The $91-million building is emblematic of a rich new phase in museum design, which continues to be a surprising bright spot for architects otherwise struggling through a dismal couple of years. Although the sputtering economy has forced a handful of museums to cancel or scale back expansion plans, many others, seemingly against all odds, are building or raising money for renovations, new wings or satellite facilities.
The Los Angeles County Museum of Art will open its second building by Renzo Piano, the $54-million Lynda and Stewart Resnick Exhibition Pavilion, on Oct. 2, even as the museum's director, Michael Govan, pursues plans for the eastern half of the LACMA campus with the Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. In downtown Los Angeles, New York firm Diller, Scofidio + Renfro is racing to finish designs for the 120,000-square-foot Broad Collection building while also at work on two other museum projects: an inflatable event space for the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington and a new home for the UC BERKELEY ART MUSEUM AND PACIFIC FILM ARCHIVE in downtown Berkeley. After an ambitious international competition, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art this summer chose Norwegian firm Snohetta to design a $250-million extension that will add 100,000 square feet of gallery space.... Full Story
29. Clark Center's Japanese art blooms in Berkeley
San Francisco Chronicle
September 18, 2010
Most Bay Area residents might not even have heard of the San Joaquin Valley town of Hanford, let alone stopped there. So they will not have seen one of the region's most surprising and inspiring assets: the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture.
The BERKELEY ART MUSEUM's big fall exhibition, "Flowers of the Four Seasons," brings a generous selection of the Clark Center's holdings to a Bay Area audience for the first time. The show borrows its title from one of the glories of the center's collection, a gilded six-panel screen decorated with a riot of colorful flowers by Saito Ippo, an artist active at the turn of the 19th century.
The screen serves well as an emblematic object because the Clark Center collection favors art of the Edo period (1615-1868) because of the work's somewhat eccentric exuberance and because it has a beauty that appeals to Japanese and Western eyes alike.
These qualities also fairly represent the taste of the center's founder, WILLARD CLARK, AN ALUMNUS OF UC BERKELEY and UC Davis and a native of Hanford (Kings County), who began collecting Japanese art with his wife, Elizabeth, in the 1970s....
Flowers of the Four Seasons: Ten Centuries of Art From the Clark Center for Japanese Art and Culture: Scroll paintings, sculpture, ceramics and basketry. Through Dec. 12. Berkeley Art Museum, 2626 Bancroft Way. (510) 642-0808. www.bampfa.berkeley.edu. Full Story
30. '57 Triumph an unlikely family car
San Francisco Chronicle
September 19, 2010
There is a myth about sports cars that they can never be considered a family car - especially when one is raising young children. They are dangerous and encourage a reckless attitude towards driving and a capricious outlook on what should be a sensible exemplar of good parental judgment and safety. Let us quietly go about our business in our Saabs, our Volvos and minivans. No way!
Our 1957, bright red, racing screened, roaring, head-turning, grin-raising, big-eyed Triumph TR3 small-mouth convertible has brought more smiles, joy and laughter to our family of 14 than any circus could ever muster! Just seeing it parked on the street makes anyone's face light up in a big smile from ear-to-ear.
I remember the time that our four-year-old daughter was eating her noodles on a drive home and the wind caught her little noodle cup and blew it into the heavens, never to be found again. Fifteen years later we still all carry that memory with a sense of joy and wonder. The "Baby Car," she named it, with endearing love in her eyes. To her, this was not a car, it was something to care for, a little friend, a bringer of happiness, something to hug, an adventure to ride to school and back.
All this unexpected happiness for our family all started one day in Berkeley in 1984. One of my students won a travel scholarship to Europe, but he didn't have any money to live on while on the road. He concocted the idea to sell me his Triumph TR3 for whatever I could get for my 1980 Ford Escort - $2.500....
We are all children (within our adult bodies) and we should never forget the sense of wonder and innocence we had when the world was a shiny red, windy car with a big happy face carrying us where we had to go. It is the little car that could! And it helped us believe that, sometimes, even a car, can be that friend that makes life more exciting, happy and enchanting. We must all dare to catch the full wind of life in our face and Triumph over the impossible! Full Story


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An (Arch Linux) pacman-like package manager for some Linux distributions. Actually this Bash script provides a wrapper for system's package manager. Instead of remembering various options/tools on different OSs, you only need a common way to manipulate packages. Not all options of the native
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North America
New Jersey Weighing In on Proposed Sea Island for LNG
by Jacqueline L. Urgo The Philadelphia Inquirer
November 12, 2007
Digg It
Stumble it!
You wouldn't be able to see them from the beach in Sandy Hook, N.J. -- tanker ships as long as a 100-story building is high, pulling up to the deepwater docks.
Nineteen miles off the New Jersey coast, a New York energy-investment firm is proposing to build a $1.8 billion, nearly 60-acre industrial island to serve as a terminal for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Officials in New Jersey, concerned that the island might jeopardize the state's 127-mile coast and the $21 billion it generates in tourism each year, last weekend won a voice on whether the Atlantic Sea Island Group's plan for the artificial island is built.
The Coast Guard and the U.S. Maritime Administration, which will decide whether to approve the island, designated New Jersey an "adjacent coastal state" for the project's application.
That designation, sought by Gov. Corzine and other officials, allows the state to review and comment on the proposal. It also gives New Jersey the chance to hold at least one public hearing, allowing citizens to weigh in.
"This was the right decision, and it means that New Jersey now gets a seat at the table in determining the future of this island," U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) said. "The potential impact of this facility on our state and our region could be enormous."
There are only five LNG terminals in the United States. The only offshore terminal is 116 miles off Louisiana.
Almost three dozen applications for terminals, including two on the Delaware River, are pending.
The terminals would boost the nation's supply of natural gas at a time when increasing demand is squeezing North American sources.
Energy giant BP plans a $600 million LNG terminal on the Delaware in Logan Township, Gloucester County. The project has received preliminary federal approval, but remains stalled by litigation.
Philadelphia Gas Works also has proposed an LNG terminal on the Delaware, in the Port Richmond section. The utility broke off talks with Hess LNG in March to develop the terminal, but says it still wants to build one.
LNG is natural gas cooled to minus-260 degrees, making it liquid and economical to be shipped from Russia, Algeria, Trinidad and other countries.
The LNG industry claims a perfect 40-year safety record. Still, homeland-security experts are concerned that tankers could become terrorist targets. A leak could cause a vast, flammable vapor cloud.
Most proposals for LNG terminals on land, including the two along the Delaware, have generated fierce opposition because of those concerns. An ocean island might fare better, its supporters believe.
The island would be due east of Sandy Hook, a windswept Monmouth County peninsula that is home to a national park, a military base and a lighthouse.
Howard Bowers, chairman of Atlantic Sea Island Group, said last week that he had hoped to keep New Jersey out of his company's application so the process would be less complicated.
Bowers, 67, said he already had spent about $10 million on the application. He said he loved the sea and believed the project would be safe for the environment and benefit the economy of the New York and New Jersey region.
"I've been a fisherman for 55 years," Bowers said by telephone from his office in Manhattan's Chrysler Building. "I've lived on the water all my life. I have the skin-cancer scars to prove it.
"I see what we are trying to do out there as helping the environment. We're building a marine sanctuary with the island, where species can begin to regenerate while we are creating an energy solution for the region that could lower costs for consumers and reduce the emissions of methane gas into the atmosphere by transporting natural gas in a more efficient way."
The island would be constructed on the open sea, between two international shipping lanes.
Most of the region's natural gas arrives through pipelines from the South. LNG shipped in huge tanker ships, proponents say, is cheaper and more environmentally sound.
Not everyone agrees.
Four New York legislators from Nassau County have called on Gov. Eliot Spitzer to oppose the island.
The island, to be called Safe Harbor Energy, would be about six times of the size of Giants Stadium, sitting on the ocean floor in about 60 feet of water. It would have a 20-foot-thick foundation of rock and at least 11 million cubic yards of dredged sand and gravel.
With its armored breakwaters and prefabricated caissons, the island could weather a 200-year storm, its backers say.
The island would cover 116 acres on the ocean floor, tapering to 56 acres on the surface, according to the application.
It would include a deepwater docking area for as many as five 1,000-foot-long tankers, which would unload their cargo into four storage tanks, each holding 180,000 cubic meters of LNG.
The product would be transported to New York via an undersea pipeline.
Bower hopes to have the island in business by 2014.
Environmentalists say the island would permanently harm marine life and the undersea landscape and could become a prime terrorist target. They say a leak or explosion would be an environmental catastrophe.
"It may be a way of bringing a lot of natural gas into the Northeast, but it is also a way of creating a lot of potential hazards," said Paul Falkowski, professor of marine and geological sciences at Rutgers University, who has called the island "an accident waiting to happen."
Copyright (c) 2007, The Philadelphia Inquirer. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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OCZ introduces ultra fast 4GB DDR2 kit
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The never resting OCZ Technology has introduced its latest memory kit and it's not just your standard run-of-the-mill RAM.
OCZ claims its DDR2 PC2-9200 Flex II 4GB series is the world's fastest 4GB kit money can buy. It features the Flex II cooling kit which allows you to water cool the RAM if you are going for ultra high clocks. The package even includes 40" plastic tubing, 4-way manifold barb and 3/8" and 1/2" barb adaptors.
Working at 2.1 volts, the two 2GB RAM modules will clock up to 1150MHz DDR in Dual Channel at relatively good timings of 5-5-5-18. OCZ's Lifetime Warranty is also thrown in for good measure. No details on pricing just yet but expect to pay a fair chuck.
You can read more over at the OCZ product page for more details.
Further Reading: Read and find more RAM news at our RAM news index page.
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One of His Own
>> Friday, April 6, 2012
"For God so love the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." –John 3:16
I picture His blood flowing onto the dirt of Golgotha Hill. I feel the tears on my face as I think of His blood cleansing me and washing away my sins. Sins no longer remembered, by Him.
The miracle did not end there, the grave could not hold Him; on the third day He arose! Jesus is risen! He is our Shepherd!
A recent Friday afternoon found my husband Joe and me, on the way to our favorite weekend getaway. I was enjoying the lush green hills bathed in golden sprinkles from the sun when, much to my surprise, a flock of sheep were feasting on the grassy hillside. The shepherd sat on a rock watching over his flock. I felt as if I had been transported back to biblical times, and given a glimpse of David as a shepherd boy tending his flock. Maybe I had.
A shepherd looks for a luscious green pasture for his flock to feed on and a safe place for them to rest. His sheep knows his voice, even if there are other flocks near by, maybe sharing a field, when he calls, his sheep knows his voice.
If the shepherd knows one of his sheep has strayed he will leave the others and search for the one. Even risking his life to find that one and return it safely to the fold.
Jesus used the comparison of the caring shepherd to help us understand His role in our lives. He's the Master, yet willing to serve. He experienced death to give us life. He arose to overcome the grave. If we stray He beckons us come. With open arms He welcomes us home and tells us we are His own.
"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow me." John 10:27 NKJV
Wishing you a glorious Easter as we celebrate our Savior. He Lives!!


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Candidates for all Mayo School of Health Sciences pharmacy residencies are selected annually on a competitive basis. All programs begin on approximately July 1 each year.
Available positions for each residency program each year:
Mayo Clinic utilizes the Pharmacy Online Residency Centralized Application Service (PhORCAS) for all Mayo School of Health Sciences pharmacy residency applications.
Applications and all supporting documents are due by Jan. 5 of the year you wish to begin a program.
Your application must contain these materials, all of which must be uploaded to PhORCAS:
For letters of recommendation, you must instruct those providing a letter to complete the standardized form in PhORCAS. In addition, they must upload the typed letter.
All candidates must also register with the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) Resident Matching Program, which makes all appointments. Match results are released in late March.


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> The Role of the Notaire > Setting up the Sale: The 'Compromis de Vente' (Pre-Sale Agreement) > The Property Subject to Sale > Completing the Sale: The 'Acte Authentique de Vente' (Deed of Sale) > Formalities after the Sale THE ROLE OF THE NOTAIRE The Notaire is the person who ensures you perform the sale or purchase without risk. They will give you advice, draft the 'Compromis de Vente' (Pre-Sale Agreement) and perform all the necessary formalities of the sale once the agreement has been signed. They help you to take the necessary precautions and avoid common and costly errors that can occur during the buying process. One of the Notaire's main roles is the writing of the Compromis de Vente (Pre-Sale Agreement). The terms of this agreement are subtle in nature and its complexity means drafting it cannot be done by someone who isn't familiar with the techniques and procedures. As such, the Notaire is key to the whole purchasing process. You will be paying for their work and for this reason the choice of Notaire is important. Although the seller and purchaser may use the same or different Notaires, very often the seller will already have chosen a Notaire to represent him in the sale and will suggest that you use the same one to simplify the process. This may well be an acceptable solution, but before agreeing you should be satisfied that you are happy with their choice. Alpine Property know all the Notaires in our region, and as such, we recommend getting in touch with us for advice at this stage. << back to index SETTING UP THE SALE: The 'Compromis de Vente' (Pre-Sale Agreement) When the seller and buyer have agreed a price, both parties enter into an initial bilateral agreement that sets out the terms of the sale. The signing of the form means the buyer and seller agree to the purchase of the property subject to financial guarantees.This contract is usually called the 'Compromis de Vente' or for off plan purchases a 'Contrat de Reservation'. Both documents contain very similar information, but this guide will generally refer to the more common 'Compromis de Vente'. It is this stage of the process which contrasts most with many other countries, such as the UK. While an offer may be accepted in the UK subject to contract such that either party may pull out at any time before completion, in France the initial contract will bind the parties to the sale to varying degrees. Essentially this means that 'gazumping' and the general anxiety and maneuverings rife in the UK system are avoided. It does, however, mean that the initial agreement should be treated with slightly more circumspection because of its binding effects. The bilateral agreement between the two parties sets out the terms of the sale, and will often include various let out or escape clauses ('clauses suspensives') in order to protect the buyer, such as their ability to obtain a loan. A 'cooling off' period of seven days prior is built onto the process at this stage (see below). What goes in the 'Compromis de Vente'? Mandatory Information There is certain mandatory information that should be included in the agreement, which the Notaire will set forth in writing. Careful attention should be paid to the information before signing and any aspects you are not clear on should be raised with the Notaire. The 'Compromis de Vente' (Pre-Sale Agreement) must provide the following information: - Identification of the property to be sold with its description, its dimensions, outstanding charges (such as a mortgage) and in the case of an apartment forming part of a Copropriété (co-ownership), any outstanding commitments (significant construction, repairs etc). - A statement of the presence or absence of asbestos and any other substances required to be checked for by law (termites, lead etc). - The terms of the planned sale, the date on which the offer will elapse and the conditions for taking up the option. - The amount and date of payments. - The amount of the security deposit or reservation indemnity. - The date for taking possession. - The latest date for signing the 'Acte Authentique de Vente' (Deed of Sale). - Any Clauses Suspensives, such as the obtaining of loans or building permits. - Servitudes: any conditions attached to neighbouring properties such as rights of passage or zoning restrictions, which could influence your purchase decision. The Purchase Price The 'Compromis de Vente' (Pre-Sale Agreement) will state the final purchase price of the property, indicated both in numbers and words. The amount in words will be decisive in the event of a difference between the two. In order for the sale to be effective, the purchaser and seller must agree on the price. - Registration Tax or VAT Various costs must be added to the purchase price: registration taxes or VAT if the sale is subject to such tax, which generally applies to the sale property in the course of construction, new buildings and for the first resale within five years after competition. You must pay careful attention to this, as property in the course of construction tends to state the price 'before tax'. For other purchases, the seller must pay the VAT - deducting the VAT they paid on acquisition and construction realised before the sale. For all tax issues consult the Notaire or an accountant before taking any decisions. - Conditions for payment of the purchase price You are bound to pay the price accepted in the 'Compromis de Vente', in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in it. Formalities In addition to this information, there are certain formalities that will be performed in order to verify the validity of the 'Compromis de Vente': The Identity and Capacity of the Parties As part of the registration formalities, the Notaire must verify the first and last names of the sellers and buyers, as well as their place and date of birth. To confirm this, they must obtain birth records that are less than three months old at the time of the transaction. They must also verify the legal capacity of the parties by confirming that each one is an adult and is not subject to court protection (i.e. custodianship), which in France is indicated in the civil records of the person's birth certificate. Marital Status The marital status and regime of the seller is necessary to determine whether the spouse can act alone, or whether they require the agreement of their partner. If you have joint property rights, you cannot sell property without the consent of your partner. Verification of Title The Notaire ensures the seller is the actual owner of the property for sale by reviewing the deed of ownership. If the property for sale is subject to joint ownership, the sale requires the consent of all the joint owners. Cooling Off Period Once you have signed the 'Compromis de Vente' you have a period of seven days to reflect before it becomes binding. If you wish to withdraw from the purchase you must inform the Notaire by registered letter within the 7 day period. What to avoid Do not pay money directly to the seller - you may lose your money if the seller is not empowered to sell or the property is subject to a mortgage. You should also ask certain questions before beginning negotiations with the seller of the property that the Notaire will be able to help with: - If the seller is represented by a third party, is the person representing the seller authorised to do so by special mandate? - If the seller is a farmer, merchant or the representative of a company, is there a risk that your partner could be subject to bankruptcy or liquidation proceedings? - If you are dealing with an individual deep in debt, is it possible that they have been subject to excess credit proceedings? - Is the seller subject to some form of legal protection? Also remember that you won't be able to enter the property until signing the final deed of sale or paying the purchase price. << back to index THE PROPERTY SUBJECT TO SALE Once the 'Compromis de Vente' has been signed there follows a period of generally two to three months in which enquiries are carried out to ascertain whether there are legal obstacles to the sale. The Notaire carries out all of the work and will be professionally bonded in order to certify the accuracy of the work. The main enquiries that will be made are: 1. Verifying the identities of all the parties and previous owners. 2. Verifying the deeds of the property. 3. Searching for any rights of third parties (rights of way, which might affect the sale or use of property). 4. A land registry check to determine whether a mortgage exists on the property and that there are sufficient funds to repay it available to the seller. 5. At additional cost it is possible to request that a specialist surveyor be appointed to verify the boundaries and size of the property. 6. A check with the local planning office, usually at the Town Hall. The Notaire will request a 'Note d'Urbanisme' or a 'Certificat d'Urbanisme' from the office to prove that no planning restrictions exist to prevent the purchase and intended use of the property. Surveys Surveys of the property's condition by professional surveyors or 'experts' are unusual in France. It is more common to request local artisans to give an opinion as to the condition of the building and for them to give quotations for the work before entering into the initial agreement. French buyers would be more likely to approach an architect or 'expert' but even then it is unusual for them to be asked to prepare a detailed report as has become 'de rigueur' in many other European countries. << back to index COMPLETING THE SALE: 'L'Acte Authentique de Vente' (Deed of Sale) Following the signing of the 'Compromis de Vente', over the course of the next two or three months, the Notaire will prepare the 'Acte Authentique de Vente' (Deed of Sale). The Preparation of the 'Acte Authentique de Vente' (Deed of Sale) As soon as the 'Compromis de Vente' is signed, the final deed of sale shall be prepared. The Notaire will be able to provide you with a probable date of signing of the deed of sale, and the deadline will be stated within the 'Compromis de Vente'. In order to complete the deed, the Notaire will ask for certain documents in order to perform various verifications with the administrations: Personal Information and Origin of Ownership The purchaser must provide their 'Livret de Famille' (if they are French) or a passport and Birth Certificate (if foreign) and, if applicable, their Marriage Certificate. The seller will also provide these and their title documents for the necessary checks. Clearance of Priority Rights For any sale of property, the Notaire must confirm that the municipality where the property is located has no priority purchase rights on the property. Purchaser's Loan If you are using a loan to fund the purchase, the Notaire will contact your bank to find out the conditions of the loan. Before the sale, the bank will receive a draft deed for which the Notaire will ask its agreement. If this is given, the Notaire will receive the funds on the date planned for the signing of the 'Acte Authentique de Vente'. Signing the 'Acte Authentique de Vente' If all of the formalities are performed and the Notaire has all the documents necessary to establish the 'Acte Authentique de Vente', they will propose a date to sign the document. Both parties are entitled to a copy of the draft document in advance - it will set out all the details of the sale as confirmed by the searches. The Acte will also set down the various dates (completion, moving in) and the price, the Notaire's fees and taxes to be paid. If there are no further queries then both the seller and the buyer are required to attend the Notaire's office to sign the finalised 'Acte Authentique'. Both parties must agree to attend a meeting within 15 days of notification, although it is not essential that the buyer attends in person -you can give power of attorney to someone else to act on your behalf. Prior to the signing, the Notaire will read the 'Acte Authentique' to you and explain the meaning of its contents. You should ask if there are any clarifications you may need. One of the most important matters on completion is that the purchase money is transferred to the Notaire's account. If payment is not received by the Notaire on the appointed day, then he will not be authorised to have the deed signed and completion will have to be postponed, and so it is vital that the funds are organised well in advance. You may transfer funds to the Notaires "Clients Funds" account by SWIFT inter bank transfer. Once signed, the Notaire will then send the 'Acte Authentique' to the Local Land Registry for registration. It will take approximately six months before registration is completed. When it is returned the Notaire will keep the original document but a certified copy will be handed over to the buyer. In the meantime the buyer will hold an attestation from the Notaire, which will act as a certification of ownership when dealing with certain entities such as utility providers. Once the deed is completed, the keys can be handed over and it's time to open the champagne! What can go wrong? One of the parties doesn't want to sign the 'Acte Authentique de Vente' If one of the parties has changed their mind and no longer wants to sign, the other party may consult their lawyer in order to apply to the court of general jurisdiction. They may seek a judgement that the sale is effective, or damages against the recalcitrant party. In general, a buyer who refuses to sign the 'Acte Authentique' is liable to pay the seller damages of 10% of the purchase price. Obviously, this only applies where none of the clauses suspensives applies. The death of the seller If the property's seller dies prior to signing, the purchaser can obtain the signature from the seller's heirs. The heirs are bound by law to comply with the undertakings of the deceased, and in case of refusal action may be brought against them to enjoin them to perform the sale. << back to index FORMALITIES AFTER THE SALE The Notaire's role continues after the 'Acte Authentique' has been signed: Publication of the Sale The Notaire will publish the 'Acte Authentique' at the mortgage registry where the property is located. This formality is accomplished within two months of the signing of the 'Acte Authentique' and makes the sale binding against third parties, such as creditors and neighboring landowners. Notification to the Managing Agent of the 'Copropriété' (co-owned) If the property sold is a 'Copropriété', the Notaire will notify the managing agent of the building by registered letter with return receipt within fifteen days of the transfer of ownership. Local Taxes Once you have signed the 'Acte Authentique', you are liable for taxe fonciere (property taxes). Although the seller remains legally liable for such taxes for the rest of the year, a provision is usually provided in the initial agreement which apportions these taxes between the purchaser and the seller for the current year; therefore you pay for how many months you have owned the property. Collection of these taxes will normally be done through the Notaire, although it is possible to provide a fixed sum for them at the time of sale, taking the previous year's taxes as the basis for this. Delivery of Title After a period of between three and eight months, the Notaire will provide the purchaser with their certificate of title. << back to index | |||||||||||
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Send this story Print this story Adjust text size Letter: Measure L team drops Romero, backs Keith
The Measure L team had backed both Romero and Menlo Park Mayor Kirsten Keith. She has extensive experience in social issues, has served on two city commissions, and has been an exemplary council member
Having met and watched all of the candidates and in spite of regret at the prospect of losing our best council member, I support Kirsten Keith for county supervisor. It's time we had a quality representative in that mysterious government that takes our property taxes but can't keep the parks open.
Henry Riggs
Callie Lane, Menlo Park
For Measure L team
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The Plantation, ca. 1825
Unknown artist
Oil on wood
Unknown artist
Oil on wood
19 1/8 x 29 1/2 in. (48.6 x 74.9 cm)
Gift of Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, 1963 (63.201.3)
Landscapes by folk artists generally show a particular location, yet this painting is conceptual. Everything is symmetricalvegetation functions as a decorative fringeand considerations of line overrule the depiction of reality.