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April 12, 2014
WASHINGTON – The Georgetown men's tennis team (7-12) lost its Saturday afternoon home match at the McDonough Outdoor Tennis Complex on campus to the Norfolk State Spartans (12-6) by the final of 4-3.
Georgetown senior co-captain Casey Distaso (The Woodlands, Texas/Edmond North ) and junior John Brosens (Bedford, N.Y./Brunswick School) earned the only two singles victories in the 4-3 defeat on Saturday.
Distaso, playing from the No. 5 position, defeated Peter Pello of the Spartans in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3. The senior defeated Pello during the fall at the Georgetown Classic in straight sets, 6-4, 7-5.
Brosens improved to 4-4 at the No. 6 spot for Georgetown with a 7-5, 7-6(9) straight-set victory over Norfolk State's Daniel Grauel.
The Georgetown pairs of juniors Shane Korber (Newport Beach, Calif./Corona Del Mar) and Alex Tropiano (Laurel Hollow, N.Y./Cold Spring Harbor) in addition to freshmen Jack Murphy (Coronado, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) and Jordan Portner (Ellicott, Md./Mount Saint Joseph) helped GU grab the doubles point, 2-1.
The Blue & Gray will conclude its season when they host Villanova in a BIG EAST match on Wed., April 16 with play slated to begin at 1 p.m. ET at Georgetown's McDonough Outdoor Tennis Complex.
Norfolk State 4, Georgetown 3
Washington, D.C. (McDonough Outdoor Tennis Complex)
#1 - Dimitry Zyhmantovic (NS) def. Daniel Khanin (GU); 6-1, 3-6, 6-2
#2 - Pascal Domnik (NSU) def. Shane Korber (GU); 4-6, 6-3, 6-0
#3 - Robin Riethmueller (NSU) def. Alex Tropiano (GU); 6-1, 6-3
#4 - Igor Braga (NSU) def. Jack Murphy (GU); 1-6, 6-3, 6-4
#5 - Casey Distaso (GU) def. Peter Pello (NSU); 6-4, 6-3
#6 - John Brosens (GU) def. Daniel Grauel (NSU); 7-5, 7-6 (9)
#1 - Shane Korber / Alex Tropiano (GU) def. Dimitry Zyhmantovic / Peter Pello (NSU); 8-2
#2 - Igor Braga / Robin Riethmueller (NSU) def. Casey Distaso / Daniel Khanin (GU); 8-5
#3 - Jack Murphy / Jordan Portner (GU) def. Daniel Grauel / Pascal Domnik (NSU); 8-6
More Headlines
Hoyas Drop Saturday Home Match to Norfolk State...
The Georgetown men's tennis team (7-12) lost its Saturday afternoon home match at the McDonough...
Men's Tennis Falls to No. 54 George Washington
The Georgetown men's tennis squad (7-11) fell to the No. 54 nationally-ranked George Washington...
Men's Tennis Drops Close Match at UMBC, 4-3
The Georgetown men's tennis team dropped a non-conference match against UMBC on Wednesday...
Murphy Wins Second BIG EAST Tennis Player of...
Jack Murphy (Coronado, Calif./La Jolla Country Day) of the Georgetown men's tennis team was named...
Men's Tennis Defeats Connecticut, 6-0
The Georgetown men's tennis team (7-9, 0-1 BIG EAST) defeated the Connecticut Huskies on Saturday...
Men's Tennis Falls in BIG EAST Matchup to...
The Georgetown men's tennis team (6-9, 0-1 BIG EAST) dropped a BIG EAST matchup on Friday...
Men's Tennis Defeats Mary Washington, 6-1
The Georgetown men's tennis team (6-8, 0-0 BIG EAST) defeated the University of Mary Washington (...
Daniel Khanin Named BIG EAST Men's Tennis...
Georgetown men's tennis sophomore Daniel Khanin (Baldwin, N.Y./Pendleton) was named the BIG EAST ...
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Employers should consider 'going beyond' minimum wage
The new rates for minimum wage compare to the so-called Living Wage of £7.45 (outside London) and £8.55 in the capital. The Living Wage is worked out according to the basic cost of living in the UK, but employers only pay it on a voluntary basis.
– Rhys Moore, Ddirector of the Living Wage Foundation
The Living Wage Foundation welcomes the work of the Low Pay Commission, which has a difficult task in setting a rate. It is very important to have a statutory floor and ensure nobody sinks below that level.
But we think it's also important to have something more ambitious than a minimum - which is where the Living Wage comes in. The Living Wage is a voluntary rate of pay which employers commit to paying.
It's for employers who decide they can do better and go further than the statutory minimum.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Last Tuesday might feel like ancient history, but the Greeks and Romans knew better. Check it out.
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New York City Nightlife
Old Town Bar
Old Town Bar Review
The proudly unpretentious bi-level Old Town is redolent of old New York, and why not—it's been around since 1892. Tavern-style grub, mahogany everywhere, and atmosphere, atmosphere, atmosphere make this a fun stop on any pub crawl. Men, don't miss the giant, person-size urinals.
- Address: 45 E. 18th St., between Broadway and Park Ave. S, Gramercy, New York, NY, 10003 | Map It
- Phone: 212/529–6732
- Website: www.oldtownbar.com
- Subway: 4, 5, 6, L, N, Q, R to 14th St./Union Sq
- Location: Gramercy
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The Mariners young catcher is an intriguing hodge podge of tools. We take a (slightly) deeper look.
What if the 1995 Cincinnati Reds Cared As Much About Their At Bat Music As Current Players?
Open thread for day 2 of the MLB Draft, airing at 10am PST on MLB.com.
Dustin Ackley has a new swing that doesn't appear to be much improved.
Quickly recalling when Bret Boone flipped out out of absolutely nowhere for the amazing 2001 Seattle Mariners.
The out-of-character seasons of Bret Boone (Mariners), Garry Matthews Jr. (Rangers), Terry Steinbach (Athletics), Darin Erstad (Angels), and Jose Lima (Astros).
Brandon Phillips and the franchise's best second basemen
Boston gets their first unassisted triple play, Robin Yount sets a record against the Red Sox, and it's the last day for the grandfather of a baseball family.
Kerry Wood is retiring, which gives us a great excuse to gawk at his 20-strikeout game for the rest of the day.
Here's hoping that everyone's enjoyed these spirited discussions about Alan Trammell and Jeff Bagwell. Next year, it isn't going to be so quaint.
Reflecting a little bit on the Mariners' acquisition of Bret Boone, and the impossibilities that followed.
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Optimal mechanism design for the private supply of a public good
AbstractWe study the problem of finding the profit-maximizing mechanism for a monopolistic provider of asingle, non-excludable public good. This problem has been well studied for the case when agents''types are independently distributed, but the literature is almost silent about the case of generaljoint distributions. We investigate the problem from an automated mechanism design perspective,meaning that we want to understand the algorithmic complexity of finding the optimal mechanismwhen we are given a finite set of type profiles and their distribution. We show that the optimaldeterministic, dominant strategy incentive compatible, ex-post individual rational mechanism canbe computed in polynomial time by reducing the problem to finding a maximal weight closure in adirected graph. Node weights in the graph correspond to conditional virtual values. Whenvaluations are independently distributed, the constructed mechanism is also optimal among allBayes-Nash implementable and ex-interim individual rational mechanisms. In contrast, for dependentvaluations strictly higher profit can be achieved if one allows for ex-interim individualrationality. By invoking techniques due to Crémer and McLean, we show that optimal deterministic,ex-interim individual rational, Bayes-Nash implementable or dominant strategy implementablemechanisms still can be found in polynomial time if the joint distribution of types satisfiescertain regularity conditions.
Download InfoIf you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help page. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.
Bibliographic InfoPaper provided by Maastricht University, Maastricht Research School of Economics of Technology and Organization (METEOR) in its series Research Memorandum with number 038.
Date of creation: 2012
Date of revision:
Handle: RePEc:unm:umamet:2012038
Contact details of provider:
Postal: P.O. Box 616, 6200 MD Maastricht
Phone: +31 (0)43 38 83 830
Web page: http://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/
More information through EDIRC
Related researchKeywords: operations research and management science;
Other versions of this item:
- Csapó, Gergely & Müller, Rudolf, 2013. "Optimal mechanism design for the private supply of a public good," Games and Economic Behavior, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 229-242.
- C61 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Mathematical Methods; Programming Models; Mathematical and Simulation Modeling - - - Optimization Techniques; Programming Models; Dynamic Analysis
- C72 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Game Theory and Bargaining Theory - - - Noncooperative Games
- D82 - Microeconomics - - Information, Knowledge, and Uncertainty - - - Asymmetric and Private Information; Mechanism Design
- H41 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - Public Goods
ReferencesReferences listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:
- Werner Güth & Martin Hellwig, 1986.
"The private supply of a public good,"
Journal of Economics,
Springer, vol. 46(1), pages 121-159, December.
- Werner Güth & Martin Hellwig, 1986. "The private supply of a public good," Journal of Economics, Springer, vol. 5(1), pages 121-159, December.
- Gueth,Werner & Hellwig,Martin, 1986. "The private supply of a public good," Discussion Paper Serie A 40, University of Bonn, Germany.
- Paul Milgrom & Robert J. Weber, 1981.
"A Theory of Auctions and Competitive Bidding,"
Discussion Papers
447R, Northwestern University, Center for Mathematical Studies in Economics and Management Science.
- Milgrom, Paul R & Weber, Robert J, 1982. "A Theory of Auctions and Competitive Bidding," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 50(5), pages 1089-1122, September.
- Jehiel, Philippe & Moldovanu, Benny, 2006.
"Allocative and Informational Externalities in Auctions and Related Mechanisms,"
CEPR Discussion Papers
5558, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
- Philippe Jehiel & Benny Moldovanu, 2005. "Allocative and Informational Externalities in Auctions and Related Mechanisms," Levine's Bibliography 784828000000000490, UCLA Department of Economics.
- Jehiel, Philippe & Moldovanu, Benny, 2005. "Allocative and Informational Externalities in Auctions and Related Mechanisms," Discussion Paper Series of SFB/TR 15 Governance and the Efficiency of Economic Systems 142, Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin, University of Bonn, University of Mannheim, University of Munich.
- Philippe Jehiel & Benny Moldovanu, 2006. "Allocative and Informational Externalities in Auctions and Related Mechanisms," Levine's Bibliography 122247000000001129, UCLA Department of Economics.
- Jean-Jacques Laffont & David Martimort, 2000.
"Mechanism Design with Collusion and Correlation,"
Econometric Society, vol. 68(2), pages 309-342, March.
- Laffont, Jean-Jacques & Martimort, David, 1998. "Mechanism Design with Collusion and Correlation," IDEI Working Papers 81, Institut d'Économie Industrielle (IDEI), Toulouse.
- Jean-Claude Picard, 1976. "Maximal Closure of a Graph and Applications to Combinatorial Problems," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 22(11), pages 1268-1272, July.
- Alex Gershkov & Benny Moldovanu & Xianwen Shi, 2011. "Bayesian and Dominant Strategy Implementation Revisited," Working Papers tecipa-422, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
- Philippe Jehiel & Moritz Meyer-ter-Vehn & Benny Moldovanu & William R. Zame, 2006.
"The Limits of ex post Implementation,"
Econometric Society, vol. 74(3), pages 585-610, 05.
- Philippe Jehiel & Moritz Meyer-ter-Vehn & Benny Moldovanu & William R. Zame, 2005. "The Limits of Ex-Post Implementation," Levine's Bibliography 666156000000000548, UCLA Department of Economics.
- Philippe Jehiel & Moritz Meyer-ter-Vehn & Benny Moldovanu & William R. Zame, 2005. "The Limits of Ex-Post Implementation," UCLA Economics Working Papers 839, UCLA Department of Economics.
- Schmitz, Patrick W., 1997.
"Monopolistic Provision of Excludable Public Goods under Private Information,"
MPRA Paper
6549, University Library of Munich, Germany.
- Schmitz, Patrick W, 1997. "Monopolistic Provision of Excludable Public Goods under Private Information," Public Finance = Finances publiques, , vol. 52(1), pages 89-101.
- Alex Gershkov & Jacob K. Goeree & Alexey Kushnir & Benny Moldovanu & Xianwen Shi, 2013.
"On the Equivalence of Bayesian and Dominant Strategy Implementation,"
Econometric Society, vol. 81(1), pages 197-220, 01.
- Alex Gershkov & Jacob Goeree & Alexey Kushnir & Benny Moldovanu & Xianwen Shi, 2012. "On the Equivalence of Bayesian and Dominant Strategy Implementation," Working Papers tecipa-445, University of Toronto, Department of Economics.
- McAfee, R Preston & Reny, Philip J, 1992. "Correlated Information and Mechanism Design," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 60(2), pages 395-421, March.
- Bruce Faaland & Kiseog Kim & Tom Schmitt, 1990. "A New Algorithm for Computing the Maximal Closure of a Graph," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 36(3), pages 315-331, March.
- Fernando Branco, 1996. "Multiple unit auctions of an indivisible good," Economic Theory, Springer, vol. 8(1), pages 77-101.
- Alejandro M. Manelli & Daniel R. Vincent, 2010. "Bayesian and Dominant‐Strategy Implementation in the Independent Private‐Values Model," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 78(6), pages 1905-1938, November.
- Edward Clarke, 1971. "Multipart pricing of public goods," Public Choice, Springer, vol. 11(1), pages 17-33, September.
- Robert B. Wilson, 1967. "Competitive Bidding with Asymmetric Information," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 13(11), pages 816-820, July.
- Cremer, Jacques & McLean, Richard P, 1988. "Full Extraction of the Surplus in Bayesian and Dominant Strategy Auctions," Econometrica, Econometric Society, vol. 56(6), pages 1247-57, November.
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Buttonholes – keyhole buttonholes
This type of buttonhole is worked for thicker buttons on jackets and coats, using buttonhole thread and including an extra lengthwise thread for more strength. Mark the buttonhole length on the right side of the fabric; slash the opening and the cut at the front edge like a wedge or use a punch to create a round hole. To prevent fraying, neaten/finish the raw edges with zigzagging/over-lock stitching, including the extra curving. Place an extra thread allong the buttonhole edge, then buttonhole stitch over it, starting from underneath a back corner. Loop the thread around the needle point, then pull the needle through and tauten thread. The little knot must be placed exactly on the fabric edge. Buttonhole stitch along one side and fan the stitches around the curved end, always covering the underlay thread, pulling the little knots upwards slightly. Place the thread along the other edge and continue stitching over it. Finish the other end of the buttonhole with a corded thread bar (see handworked buttonhole). Finally
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Select () or exclude () categories to narrow your recipe search.
As you select categories, the number of matching recipes will update.
Find exactly what you're looking for with the web's most powerful recipe filtering tool.
1/1 Photo of Apple Butter Almond Bread
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
20 mins
1 hrs
Like the Random Bars, this was a case of "OMG the fridge died and everything is thawed" turning into a delicious, moist quickbread, which turned into an impromptu donation to my hairstylist's place!
Serves: 10
Units: US | Metric
Serving Size: 1 (78 g)
Servings Per Recipe: 10
The following items or measurements are not included:
egg substitute
almond milk
Getting dinner on the table just got a whole lot easier.


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News in Brief: A Washington Roundup
NCLB Parental Funds Misspent, Audit Says
The Department of Education's office of inspector general has found that the Learning Exchange, a nonprofit education organization based in Kansas City, Mo., misused money allocated to it under a grant to establish a Parental Information and Resource Center.
The organization's grant, which was intended to help educate parents about their rights and options under the No Child Left Behind Act, went into effect Oct. 1, 2003, and was terminated on Feb. 2 of this year. David H. Westbrook, a spokesman for the Learning Exchange, said the grant was terminated voluntarily after the organization decided to narrow its mission and focus.
The Nov. 16 audit report found that the organization did not properly contract for services, incorrectly allocated employee-compensation payments, spent PIRC funds on unallowable activities, and did not provide enough documentation to explain its expenditures.
The report questioned a total of $436,665 in expenditures. It called for the Learning Center to return more than $164,000 and said it must provide documentation for another $271,722. For instance, the audit cited $650 used for chair massages at a school rally as an unallowable activity. Mr. Westbrook said the organization plans to appeal the audit before the department takes final action.
"We are aware that there were some documentation problems," he said in a Nov. 20 interview. "We addressed those problems while the grant was in place." He said the massages were a gimmick to draw parents to the Learning Center's information booth at the school event. He said the way the audit referred to them "makes you think people were out having champagne and getting roses and massages" at taxpayer expense.
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Definitely hit up H-town you got a ton of fans and we no how to have a good time man, Drake's concert already sold out we show rappers love down here
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Investing.com - U.S. stocks opened mixed on Tuesday, as markets were jittery ahead of upcoming U.S. economic reports as Monday''s upbeat U.S. data did little to support sentiment.
During early U.S. trade, the Dow 30 slipped 0.14%, the S&P 500 edged down 0.12%, while the NASDAQ Composite rose 0.20%.
On Monday, the National Association of Realtors said that U.S. existing home sales increased 4.9% to a seven-month high of 4.89 million units last month from 4.66 million in April. Analysts had expected existing home sales to rise 2.2% to 4.73 million units in May.
Separately, market research group Markit said that its preliminary U.S. manufacturing purchasing managers' index rose to a four-year high of 57.5 this month from a final reading of 56.4 in May. Analysts had expected the index to ease down to 56.1 in June.
Walgreen (NYSE:WAG) tumbled 1.49% after the drugstore chain reported a 16% rise in its fiscal third-quarter earnings, still below market expectations.
Dean Foods (NYSE:DF) added to losses, dropping 0.68%, after the Wall Street Journal reported that Federal authorities asked for information related to an insider-trading probe of investor Carl Icahn from the food-and-beverage supplier.
Elsewhere, Avon Products (NYSE:AVP) shares retreated 0.54% after the cosmetics seller said it plans to cut 600 jobs in a bid to reduce costs and restore profitability. According to the company, the job cuts should save $50 million to $55 million a year before taxes.
Gap (NYSE:GPS) slipped 0.19% after announcing that employment applications at Gap and Old Navy chains have climbed by at least 10% from a year earlier. The news came in the wake of the retailer''s plans in February to increase hourly wages to $10 by 2015.
In M&A news, Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT), down 0.27%, confirmed late Monday that it had agreed to buy Russian drug maker Veropharm.
On the upside, Monsanto (NYSE:MON) shares gained 0.47% amid reports it is considering a takeover bid for Swiss agricultural firm Syngenta (SIX:SYNN).
Across the Atlantic, European stock markets were mixed. The DJ Euro Stoxx 50 dipped 0.03%, France's CAC 40 added 0.13%, Germany''s DAX inched 0.04% higher, while Britain''s FTSE 100 fell 0.22%.
During the Asian trading session, Hong Kong''s Hang Seng rose 0.33%, while Japan's Nikkei 225 inched up 0.05%.
Later in the day, the U.S. was to release private sector data on consumer confidence, as well as a report on new home sales.


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Donor Form
BFK is meant to keep competitive baseball open to kids from all walks of life – we want to make talent the primary factor in determining who can play competitive, travel team baseball.
In the past, The Hardtke Baseball Academy has contributed significant funds for player scholarships and travel fees. In fact , The Hardtke Baseball Academy has contributed over $200,000 in the past 10 seasons. These funds assured spots on Hardtke travel teams for kids who did not have the financial wherewithal to do so on their own. BFK was formed to expand the opportunities beyond what The Hardtke World of Baseball Academy can do alone. BFK was formed as a non-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation, so that contributions are tax deductible. Our Federal Tax ID# is: 36-4495191.
We're asking for help from people and groups who recognize the importance of keeping baseball open to everyone – people like you! Any size contribution is appreciated. All donors, will be recognized by The Hardtke Baseball Academy. and be prominently featured on The Hardtke Baseball Academy website (
"Baseball for KidsTM (BFK)." is intended to provide an opportunity for less fortunate kids to play competitive baseball. It will also give these kids the opportunity to travel and thereby giving them exposure for potential college scholarships as they play baseball.
BFK will provide scholarships and travel funds for qualifying kids in Northern California. These players have to meet certain GPA's in order to qualify for receiving any intial scholarships. Targeted ages are 12- through 18-year olds. The younger age groups will play locally and regionally. Older groups will play in various tournaments on the west coast . – typically four or five such tournaments a year. Annual cost of a traveling team now runs about $1,300 - $2,000 per player, with travel fees adding hundreds more dollars per tournament!
If you are a business owner and would like to contribute a service or raffle prize we would gladly appreciate your donation.
An HWOB Gift Certificate in the amount of $10.00 will be given for every $100.00 donated.
All money should be paid to: Baseball for Kids, either paid online by clicking on the donor form link above or by check and sent to:
Hardtke Baseball Academy
117 Bernal Rd. #70-408
San Jose, CA 95119
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Hello, I'm Jani and I'm very pleased you are here!
My job is to remind people what it feels like to be deep in creative flow, confident, unafraid and utterly enchanted with life.
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This site has many resources for you. Whether you're rediscovering your creative self after a long absence, or an artist ready to step up to the next level, there are so many ways I can support you. If this is your first visit, take a look at the 'new here' page and find out more about me here.
Thanks for visiting, please stick around and explore for a while and don't forget to connect with me on Facebook and Twitter too.
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I Almost Stopped Looking After The Awful First Photo...But I'm So Glad I Didn't
There are many ways animals are mistreated in our society today, and the reality for some of these animals is extremely sad. The following harsh but true animal ad campaigns will really make you think about animal violence and animal cruelty in our world today. These ads give a voice to the voiceless and provide a powerful awareness for what is really going on with animals around the world.


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The Summer 2014 IRC Newsletter is now available.
The Summer 2014 IRC Newsletter is now available.
The Buddha's most explicit path of practice is the Eightfold Path. This is a set of eight practical approaches to bring Buddhist practice into the width and depth of our lives. The Eightfold Path Program is an introduction to each of the Eightfold factors so participants will discover how to apply each set of practices in ways that are personally meaningful. Pre-requisite: completion of IMC's Introduction to Meditation course or the equivalent.
1. 2-1/2 hour monthly meetings that include teachings, meditation, and discussions.
Introduction to the 9-Month Eightfold Path Program, Sunday, September 14, 1pm to 3pm
To apply, fill out an application found under the Eightfold Path Mentoring notice on the Special Events page of IMC's website
Dear Friends,
As we finish our second amazing year of running our retreat center we have a clearer understanding and vision of what will help the center thrive well into the future. Coincidently and surprisingly we have been given the opportunity to accomplish this!
Recently, the property next door went up for sale. It includes one forested acre with a 3-bedroom house. Owning this property will allow us to have more resident volunteers caring for our center and our retreats. This is probably the single most important step in creating a strong foundation for our future.
This new property will provide us the extraordinary opportunity to expand the natural setting for the retreat center. It also preserves the quiet and beauty of our retreat environment – the house is only 50 feet from our meditation hall!
The house makes an ideal residence for our teachers. It will offer them a better space to work, collaborate, and bring their families along as they teach retreats. It also provides housing for training the next generation of teachers.
The forested surroundings will give us more space for walking meditation and private reflection in nature. We can also use this additional acre to create a community room for study retreats and disciplines such as yoga and qi gong.
Purchasing this property has become a possibility! In July, a generous supporter purchased the house in order to provide us time to raise the money to buy it from him for the $750,000 he paid. Please help ensure that this opportunity doesn't slip away—the sooner we can buy it the sooner we can use it and benefit from it.
We are confident our collective generosity will nurture our community-run center, bringing more and more benefits to our world. With your donations and good-wishes you can help IRC thrive as a retreat center and as a model for what is possible.
With much gratitude,
Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella
Click to see PHOTOS of the property.
~ Ways to Donate ~
By Check: Please write Friends of IRC in the memo and mail to:
Insight Retreat Center, 108 Birch St., Redwood City, CA 94062
DONATE ONLINE and choose the Green "Special Donation" section.
Questions or Gifts of Stock: please email email@example.com or call (831) 440-8858
The second Buddhist ethical precept—to refrain from taking what is not given— can be a source of happiness in a number of ways. For example, knowing we have not hurt others by stealing from them is one small form of the happiness that comes from this precept. Knowing that we're a person others regard as trustworthy and safe, someone they don't have to fear will steal from them, is another cause of happiness. And still another form of happiness is the joy of blamelessness and the contentment from having no remorse.
Motivated by a sense of our shared humanity, living by this precept can be seen as a gift. We live in the world with all people as family, and just as we would not steal from our own parents or children, we don't take anything from others unless it is offered. In doing so we offer them the gift of harmlessness, safety and ease. Not taking what is not given is connected to the freedom of heart Buddhism points to. Our greatest wealth is in our hearts, and being free of the greed and selfishness that motivates most acts of theft is a prerequisite for uncovering that inner wealth. A heart at ease simply won't steal.
By wording the second precept "not taking what is not given," the Buddhist tradition presents a higher standard and greater clarity for ethical behavior than simply "not stealing." From this standpoint, things have to be clearly and freely offered before we take something. This precludes relying on ambiguity, deceit, force, exploitation or intimidation to acquire what belongs to others. No matter how small or how low in monetary value, if it isn't given, we don't take it. When practiced thoroughly, this precept extends to not borrowing something without permission.
The second precept can also be applied to how and what we consume by refraining from buying anything that originates from people who haven't given their labor or resources freely. So, for example, we wouldn't buy clothes made in sweatshops where people are forced to work involuntarily. We would also avoid using natural resources acquired against the wishes and rights of the local people from where the resources came.
Not taking what is not given can also relate to services others perform for us. In the complexity of our interpersonal relationships, fear can easily motivate people to do things they would prefer not to do. Employees may feel they can't say no to a boss's request. Spouses may agree to do things they don't want to because they fear straining the relationship. Silence should not automatically be taken as consent. Instead, we should ask ourselves if the other person is doing something for us out of a sense of coercion, or of their own free will.
In the Buddhist ritual where people express their intention to live by the second of the ethical precepts they say, "I undertake the training to abstain from taking what is not given." Calling this a "training" implies one is working toward fully living by this precept. It is not a vow of ethical purity one is obligated to live up to. Rather it is an intention to sincerely train to become a person who lives up to it. When taken on as a training, the second precept can be separated into three kinds of training: in restraint, character, and understanding. These three elements are aspects of the traditional Buddhist trainings of sila, samadhi, and panna (virtue, meditation, and wisdom).
Restraint. Training ourselves to refrain from causing harm is central to Buddhist practice. When we refrain from taking what is not offered, we avoid confusing, harming or upsetting others. We ourselves benefit from having a clear conscience and knowing we haven't given cause for people to be angry at us. We also have the satisfaction of not giving in to greed.
Training in restraint is a support for practicing mindfulness. When we hold back from the impulse to take, we then have the opportunity to look carefully at the nature of the impulse. What beliefs, emotions, and desires are behind it? What justifications do we use to take things that aren't offered? Or if they are offered, are we taking for the purpose for which they are given? Perhaps pens or stationery are offered freely at work. However, this doesn't mean we can take them home to pass out to all our relatives. For the practice of mindfulness, the stricter we are with the second precept the more opportunities we have for probing deeply into what motivates us.
In particular, it is useful to explore the role greed and selfishness play in our impulses to take what hasn't been given. As the Buddhist path of freedom is a way to end greed and self-preoccupation, living with this precept helps us stay on this path.
Character. The second area of training is developing our character or basic disposition. Here the second precept becomes a precept of action by engaging in those mental and physical activities that transform us from the inside out. Living by the second precept is a prompt to practice generosity, goodwill, contentment, and freedom from attachments. As we behave in these ways more and more, we not only act ethically, we become ethical. Being ethical becomes part of our character as we develop greater mindfulness, empathy, happiness, and equanimity. All these combine to promote greater ethical sensitivity and care, and function as antidotes to the power of greed.
Every inclination to take or want something can be an occasion to practice greater mindfulness. For people who don't actually steal, this can be done by bringing greater attention to subtle forms of taking what is not given, such as dominating a conversation, pushing to the front of a line, or failing to tell the cashier that we've been undercharged for a purchase. The precept can function as a "mindfulness cue." Every time we have a desire to have something that wasn't given, our commitment to the precept can prompt us to pay more attention to what is happening in our inner life and to recommit to living an ethical life. The second precept also offers the opportunity to train in contentment. We can search for ways to replace greed and desire with a sense of satisfaction with what we already have. We can also practice being content with what is given or offered to us without trying to get something more or something else. Contentment may be one of the most underappreciated supports for training in the path of freedom. It is well worth cultivating.
Because taking what is not given involves our relationships with others, the second precept can also be used as a means to bring greater attention to other people. When we want something belonging to others, we can take the time to allow our empathy to bring us a fuller appreciation of them and their circumstances. Exercising empathy strengthens and increases it.
A training closely associated with the second precept is generosity, or "giving what is not asked for." Generosity can never be an obligation: giving based on obligation may sometimes be necessary, but it is not generosity. It can be very meaningful to explore ways to be generous. Whenever we are tempted to take what is not given, we can instead consider how to replace the temptation with generosity. Then take the time to feel nourished by this generosity. Our inner character changes for the better when we are so nourished.
Understanding. In addition to training in restraint and character, the third form of training is cultivating understanding. Internally, this means understanding our own motivations, values, and needs. Interpersonally it means understanding the consequences of our actions on others. This includes taking the time to learn about the consequences of our acquisitions and consumption even as they extend beyond what we see. In this wider context how might we be taking what is not given? How careful can we become in not doing so? The fact that sales people happily offer to sell us cell phones and computers does not mean that all the components of these devices come to us from freely offered sources. When children, in slave-like work camps in the Congo, mine the tantalum and tungsten used in our electronics, are our electronic devices really offered freely?
The three areas of ethical training—restraint, character, and understanding – overlap considerably. Developing one often develops the others. Developing all three brings forth the best qualities of the heart, all essential to a life of greater happiness and inner freedom.
—Gil Fronsdal
The July-September 2014 IMC Newsletter is now available.
The intention to not cause harm lies at the heart of Buddhist ethical and spiritual life. The commitment to non-harming leads to a life committed to not killing, which is the first of the five precepts undertaken by Buddhists the world over.
The first precept has implications in many areas of our lives, some personal and others societal. Close to home it may relate to such issues as eating meat, hunting, having firearms, self-defense, and pest-management. Both at personal and societal levels the precept is connected to questions of abortion, euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide. More widely, the first precept relates to questions about war, military service, capital punishment, the culling of wildlife, and laboratory research with animals.
The first precept is also intimately connected to our inner life as it relates to our motivations, values, emotions, and beliefs. To live by this precept is more than avoiding killing, it touches on our capacity for goodness—sometimes called virtue. Mindfulness, love, compassion, generosity and wisdom are all companions to the first precept. In addition, freeing ourselves from the distortions of selfishness, greed, or aversion creates the conditions for naturally wanting to avoid harming.
As a Buddhist practice, the first precept can be approached though the framework of the three areas of Buddhist training: training in ethics, in meditation and in wisdom. Traditionally called sila, samadhi, and pañña these three trainings concern how we behave, how we are, and how we see. As such, they support us like the legs of a tripod: we need all three to stay upright and balanced in situations that may challenge a commitment to non-harming and the first precept.
Training in sila (ethics) emphasizes the practice of restraint. This training entails restraining from killing, even ants in our homes. Some people include avoiding activities indirectly connected to killing, such as buying produce grown with pesticides. Restraint is useful in cultivating a number of important personal qualities. It develops will power, patience, the capacity to let go, and the safety of blamelessness. Restraint can also foster greater self-understanding; not acting on an urge can help us to see the urge more clearly.
In relation to the precepts, training in samadhi (meditation) involves developing the heart and mind so our inner life supports our ethical life. Traditional forms of samadhi training include meditation practices that develop mindfulness, concentration, loving-kindness, or compassion. Greater concentration, with the associated contentment, calmness confidence, and equanimity reduce the selfishness that lies at the root of most unethical behavior. Developing loving-kindness and compassion helps us consider and regard others in caring ways. These all contribute to greater ethical sensitivity and self-awareness. This, in turn, reduces the chances that we will act on the fear or hate which often motivate the impulse to harm.
Training in samadhi ensures that living by the precepts is not simply adhering to particular rules. When our virtues and beneficial inner states are developed, we are naturally motivated to act in ways informed by the precepts. When we are happy, mindful, and compassionate we are not inclined to kill. Rather, we understand that killing any living being diminishes our inner well-being and ease.
Training in pañña (wisdom) is developing our understanding and insight. One way ethical wisdom is cultivated is through investigation. When we are about to act contrary to the precepts we can stop to investigate the situation. In particular it is useful to inquire into three areas of our potential action, their intentions, their consequences, and alternatives to them.
For example, when our actions will directly or indirectly cause the death of a living being, we can investigate the intentions motivating the actions. Do the intentions support a path to awakening? Are we happy and proud to have these intentions? Is what we are intending to do worth the sacrifice of another life? How do we balance competing intentions? We may want to safeguard both the termites eating our house and our house. Are there times when we need to choose between the termites and house? Or, what about a situation where we are being physically attacked? How do we choose between not wanting to cause harm and the desire to protect ourselves?
Because these can be difficult questions to answer, it is important to investigate the consequences of killing. Too often people kill with a short-sightedness that fails to recognize the ripple effect of taking life. Using pesticides may successfully exterminate a pest, but too many times we have discovered later that the pesticide harmed other creatures and humans exposed to the pesticide. Killing an enemy soldier may seem appropriate in times of war but when we consider the ripple effect on the soldier's children, family, and community, is war the best way to accomplish what needs to be done? By investigating and understanding consequences, the balance between self-care and caring for others may change.
We can also consider the consequences to our inner life if we take the life of another. Meditation practice reveals the toll that killing has on our inner life. When those who have killed other people or animals begin to meditate, it is not uncommon for them to experience difficulty in facing their past actions and working through the pain and regret. Until they meditated, the harmful personal consequences laid buried in their minds.
The third area to investigate when we are motivated to kill is to consider the alternatives. All too often people want a quick solution with clear results. But discovering the alternatives to killing sometimes requires research and creative problem solving. For example, instead of buying a gun to protect ourself, can we take the time to learn self-defense strategies that will keep us safe without needing a firearm? Instead of physician-assisted suicide, can palliative care reduce the pain? Instead of pesticides on our crops, can we choose to grow plants that are not threatened by local pests?
While killing can be done quickly and easily, the unexpected negative consequences can last a long time. Finding alternatives to killing may take much time and effort, but they do not leave the same legacy of suffering. Rather, alternatives to violence leave a legacy of peace and good-will.
The personal maturity that comes from the combined training in sila, samadhi, and pañña gives a person an internal guide for their ethical life. The motivation to live a life of non-harming becomes something we want to do; it becomes something we know enriches our inner life and the lives of those around us. Not only does it diminish the impulses of greed, hate and delusion, it also increases the presence of generosity, love, and wisdom.
In this way, living by the first precept is not only about what we don't do. It is also about what we do. The Buddha associated the first precept with the practice of generosity in the following teachings:
Abandoning the taking of life, one abstains from taking life. This gives freedom from danger, freedom from hostility, and freedom from oppression to limitless numbers of living beings. In giving freedom from danger, hostility, and oppression to others one gains a share in limitless freedom from danger, hostility, and oppression. This is the first great gift. —AN 8.39
Just as not taking life is the first Buddhist ethical precept, so generosity is the first Buddhist virtue. When they come together, we can have firsthand experience that the first precept is less about following external rules and more about expressing generosity and compassion arising from within.
—Gil Fronsdal
Unhindered: A Mindful Path Through the Five Hindrances
Gil Fronsdal's new book is now available. It can be ordered through Amazon and maybe available through special order at a local bookstore. It provides a detailed discussion of each of the five hindrances. These are the mental states that present the most common obstacles to meditation. As such, all meditators should become familiar with the hindrances and how to work with them. The book provides instruction on how to turn the light of mindfulness directly on the hindrances so to transform them from obstructions to steps along the path of freedom. Overcoming the hindrances reveals the beauty of our hearts and the wisdom of a clear mind.
The January-March 2014 IMC Newsletter is now available.
Anyone practicing mindfulness knows there are forces in the mind that can make it difficult to stay attentive to one's present moment experience. Ranging from weak to very powerful, these forces hamper our ability to remain mindful, develop concentration and have clear insight. They pull our attention away from our efforts to meditate. Even with the best of intentions to stay focused, these forces can propel us into the world of pre-occupation and distracted thought.
Rather than reacting to these difficulties as being "bad," "distractions," or personal failings, it is important to be mindful of them. In that they are happening in the present, they can be a basis for cultivating greater awareness and wisdom. They can become part of the path of practice, rather than a detour.
It is important to investigate the forces of distraction and agitation carefully to understand their nature and how they work. It is easier to find freedom from something when we know it thoroughly. Ancient Buddhist stories tell of Mara, the Buddhist personification of temptation and distraction, approaching the Buddha. Each time Mara arrives, the Buddha simply says, "Mara, I see you," and Mara flees. Recognizing Mara was effective in bringing freedom from Mara.
Of the many forces of distraction, five are traditionally identified as particularly important for people practicing Buddhist mindfulness and meditation. Known as the five hindrances, they are workings of the mind that can hinder our ability to see clearly and our capacity to develop a stable, concentrated mind. The hindrances are sensual desire; ill will; sloth and torpor; restlessness and worry and doubt.
As you can see, the list is actually made up of seven factors, but four are always paired. One explanation for the paired items is that they represent closely related physical and mental factors.
The first two hindrances are related by being opposite qualities. Desire and ill will are both forms of wanting, albeit in opposing ways. Desire wants to have something, whereas ill will wants to push something way. The third and fourth hindrances are similarly seen as opposing tendencies. They both involve levels of energy or vitality. Sloth and torpor are low energy states while restlessness and worry are high energy states.
The fifth hindrance, doubt, is not specifically connected with any of the other hindrances or distinguished into physical and mental aspects. This is because doubt is often entwined with any combination of the other hindrances and can cast its influence in many ways on our whole being.
The wisdom needed for working with the hindrances is discovered through mindfulness of them. This wisdom is acquired slowly, requiring much patience. It also requires an interest in studying the hindrances as they appear. Reading about the hindrances cannot substitute for the time and effort needed to understand how the hindrances operate. As each person has his or her own path through the hindrances, you will have to find yours.
It is best to respect the hindrances and their power. This is not to acquiesce to them, but rather it is a way to overcome their sway. Through developing one's mindfulness, the hindrances begin to lose their power. With the growth of wisdom, equanimity, and concentration it is possible to be free from their influence.
It is also possible to be free of the hindrances themselves; they do not have to be present. One's mind can be hindrance-free. Without the obscurations of the hindrances, such a mind can become clear, perhaps like a translucent pond in which everything is seen clearly.
Buddhism recognizes a hindrance-free mind as a beautiful mind. In fact, for some people this mind is one of the most beautiful experiences they know. Because all other forms of beauty are perceived through the mind, when the mind is clear and peaceful, what we perceive will be perceived within this clarity and peace. It is like having the light turned on after living in the dark for a long time: the marvel of sight becomes more wonderful than whatever is seen.
On the path to freedom, the primary function of a hindrance-free mind is to teach us about non-clinging. When the hindrances hinder it is because we are clinging to something. When the hindrances are absent we are then free of their accompanying clinging. By seeing the difference between clinging and non-clinging we learn that freedom is found in non-clinging. When this lesson is learned well, we understand that clarity, peace, beauty and other experiences on the path to freedom are not the point of the path; they are stepping-stones to more and more thorough degrees of freedom from attachment.
The milestones along this path are measured by release from attachments. In relationship to the hindrances this may begin with letting go of anger, discouragement, or dismay that they are present. A further step is giving up judging oneself negatively because of the hindrances. Another signpost is letting go of any belief that justifies the importance of the hindrances. The most significant milestones is being released, even temporarily, from the hindrances themselves.
With a strong enough experience of non-clinging we come to a fork in our path. One direction leads to more clinging, the other to freedom. As practice becomes deeper the path of freedom becomes more obvious. At some point it becomes clearly the easier path. When we are new to practice it is clinging that may be easiest, one day it becomes non-clinging. Freedom supports further freedom. It empties the mind of obstructions and agitation until, in the beauty of the mind's clarity, we are free of ourselves.
This article is an excerpt from Gil's new book, Unhindered: A Mindful Path Through the Five Hindrances, which can be purchased on Amazon.com. Click through the Recommended Books page on our website when making a purchase on Amazon, and help support IMC.
The Spring 2014 IRC Newsletter is now available.
The Fall 2013 IRC Newsletter is now available.
The October-December 2013 IMC Newsletter is now available.
Buddhism teaches that personal practice and safeguarding our environment are closely connected. This is because both of these endeavors ask us to overcome the forces of greed, hate, and delusion. The intimate relationship between the world and ourselves means that when we properly care for ourselves we will care for the world, and when we do what's best for the world, we benefit ourselves.
After his awakening, which took place as he sat outdoors underneath a tree, the Buddha continued to live and meditate in forests throughout his life. He explained that he did this for his own benefit and out of compassion for future generations. Because nature is a tremendous support for the path of liberation, the Buddha instructed his followers to meditate in nature.
Practicing mindfulness outdoors in nature cultivates a greater appreciation of the natural world. Building on this appreciation, a healthy respect for nature can come from understanding how dependent our lives are on the natural environment and how easily human activity can damage this support system. When the Buddha was alive, human impact on the natural world was evident mainly on a small, local scale. Today, the evidence of this interconnectedness is global—for instance, the greenhouse gases released through human activity in some parts of the world affect climates across the planet.
There's an ancient Buddhist tale that tells of a mythic tree whose vast canopy provides shade and whose abundant fruit can be harvested freely by anyone. But when a greedy person stuffs himself with fruit and then breaks off one of the branches, the tree stops bearing fruit.
Another early Buddhist myth depicts an ideal world of abundance and ease that progressively falls into decay in response to the deteriorating ethics of the people who live there. The decline begins as people become greedy and continues with the gradual appearance of arrogance, lust, laziness, theft, lying, and violence.
These ancient myths no longer feel fanciful—they quite accurately represent our modern world. Rainforests have been clear-cut and the land can no longer support people living there. In some parts of the world the soil and water have become polluted with pesticides, herbicides, and other chemicals, sickening nearby residents. The air in metropolitan areas is filled with smog, and children who breathe this pollution have higher rates of asthma and autism.
If we look closely, we can see that greed, hate, or delusion underlies all large scale human destruction of the environment. Greed drives exploitation of our natural resources, hate destroys vast lands through the ravages of war, and delusion perpetuates environmental harm when we don't understand the impact our actions have on the natural world.
Of these forces, delusion (and its partner, indifference) is perhaps the most widespread and thus the most destructive. Even those of us with the best intentions can be blind to the effects our actions have, especially when the repercussions are out of sight, removed in space or time. For instance, large dams built in order to improve people's lives have destroyed the watershed that sustained the very communities they were meant to serve. Cutting trees in the Himalayas in order to care for one's family can have disastrous consequences when hundreds of thousands of people do the same thing. When farmers in Sumatra set fires to clear land, they neither know nor care much about the record air pollution that falls on Singapore as a result. One person thinks that his or her driving contributes a negligible amount of pollution, without considering what happens when that contribution is combined with the millions of cars driving in the same region. In the California Bay Area, for example, the smog from its 5 million cars kills trees in the Sierra Mountains, far out of sight of Bay Area residents.
Buddhism emphasizes the impact our individual actions have on our lives and the world around us, and it follows from this perspective that caring for the natural world begins with each of us. As practitioners on this path, it doesn't make sense to ignore what we can personally do by relying on others to take responsibility for our environment. Instead we view our own actions as significant. Because of the staggering number of people now living on the earth—7 billion—the combined actions of many can either preserve vast ecosystems, or destroy them. If we fall into passive acquiescence in the face of environmental destruction, we give up our individual "response–ability"—our ability to respond.
Many of us can make the choice to consume fewer natural resources and to act out of compassion for the earth. Doing so doesn't have to diminish the quality of our lives; it can increase it. We can choose to see reducing our carbon footprint not as an act of deprivation, but as an opportunity to gain the spiritual benefits of a simpler lifestyle. If the natural world is to be our teacher, as Buddhism suggests, maybe we can learn more by walking in a forest or a local park than by speeding by on the highway; perhaps we're closer to the heart's freedom when we sit undistracted in nature than when we're plugged into our various electronic devices.
In each of our lives we're presented with myriad opportunities to make small and large changes to reduce the negative impact we have on the natural world. When we make these changes as part of a spiritual practice, they support our spiritual growth. Contributing to the well-being of all of life can give joy and provide deeper meaning to our actions.
Still, as individuals we can't make sweeping changes all by ourselves. Political action is needed to ensure that we all work together for sustainable usage of our natural resources. It takes public policies and laws to ensure that we all share in creating mass transit systems, reducing pollution, and protecting open spaces. History has shown that governmental action is needed as a safeguard against the nearsighted systems within which commercial and industrial interests often operate. Only governments have the ability to negotiate environmental agreements across many states and between nations.
So where does that leave us as Buddhist practitioners? When Buddhist practice is applied to our political efforts, generosity can be our motivation, goodwill and compassion our guide, and learning can replace our quick judgments. Guided by these wholesome qualities, political action can be passionate, energetic, and effective. Some people mistakenly believe that Buddhism, with its emphasis on equanimity, is incompatible with political action. But Buddhism doesn't discourage political engagement. What it does discourage is divisive, hostile, and exclusively self-serving efforts at making political change.
There's no doubt that human activity now challenges the health of our natural world more than at any other time in history. Unfortunately the damage to our environment has been increasing every year. If we are to reverse this trend, all but the poorest of us need to make changes in our lifestyle and patterns of consumption. Buddhism provides a way to embrace these changes as part of a path to freedom, peace, and compassion. Our ability to respond to these challenges is also our ability for spiritual growth. We can improve the quality of our environment while we deepen the capacity of our hearts.
—Gil Fronsdal
As part of IMC efforts to lower our environmental impact we are currently fundraising with a goal of $15,000 to install a solar water heater at our retreat center, the Insight Retreat Center. This is currently one of the most significant steps we can take to lower our propane usage (and our ongoing expenses). Helping us install a solar water heater is a way to support IRC well into the future.
If you are interested in supporting our drive, either send a check payable to "Insight Retreat Center" and mail to Insight Retreat Center, 108 Birch St., Redwood City, CA 94062, or make an online donation at
During the first week of October, Insight Meditation teachers and centers around the globe will be celebrating Earth-Care Week. This is a newly minted event arising out of the International Vipassana Teachers' meeting at Spirit Rock in June. It was one response from the teachers to a letter signed by over 2,000 people requesting that teachers provide "guidance and leadership in addressing the issue of climate change."
IMC will be observing Earth-Care Week in the following way:
1. Gil will focus his talks on the connection between
2. To reduce IRC's carbon footprint we will have a drive to
3. We will encourage calculating one's carbon footprint as a
4. We will encourage reducing gasoline consumption.
5. Our children's programs in October will focus on caring
6. On Sunday October 13th, 11am to noon, everyone is invited to participate in small and large group discussion where we can learn and inspire each other in practical ways we can care for our planet and all life it houses.
Information about the wider Insight communities' efforts for Earth-Care Week is found at 1earthsangha.org.


text: Strict Standards: Redefining already defined constructor for class XML_Parser in /home/sites/www.americanpoems.com/web/store/aom/includes/os.php on line 1188 Strict Standards: Declaration of XML_Parser::raiseError() should be compatible with PEAR::raiseError($message = NULL, $code = NULL, $mode = NULL, $options = NULL, $userinfo = NULL, $error_class = NULL, $skipmsg = false) in /home/sites/www.americanpoems.com/web/store/aom/includes/os.php on line 1604 Strict Standards: Declaration of XML_Unserializer::startHandler() should be compatible with XML_Parser::startHandler($xp, $elem, &$attribs) in /home/sites/www.americanpoems.com/web/store/aom/includes/os.php on line 3503 Strict Standards: Declaration of Cache_Lite_File::get() should be compatible with Cache_Lite::get($id, $group = 'default', $doNotTestCacheValidity = false) in /home/sites/www.americanpoems.com/web/store/aom/includes/cache.php on line 1020 American Poems: Books: Ploughshares Spring 1997: Poems and Stories Home Apparel Appliances Books DVD Electronics Home & Garden Kindle eBooks Magazines Music Outdoor Living Software Tools & Hardware PC & Video Games Search All Products Apparel Appliances Arts & Crafts Automotive Baby Beauty Books Computers DVD Electronics Gourmet Food Grocery Health Home & Garden Industrial & Science Jewelry Kindle eBooks Kitchen Magazines Miscellaneous Mobile Apps MP3 Downloads Music Musical Instruments Office Products Outdoor Living Pet Supplies Photo & Camera Shoes Software Sporting Goods Tools & Hardware Toys VHS Video On Demand PC & Video Games Watches Wireless Wireless Accessories Advanced Search Sitemap View Cart Checkout Location: Home » Books » Ploughshares Spring 1997: Poems and Stories Ploughshares Spring 1997: Poems and Stories enlarge Creator:Yusef Komunyakaa Brand:Brand: Ploughshares Books Category:Book List Price: $9.95 Buy New: $2.52 as of 9/2/2014 13:47 EDT details You Save: $7.43 (75%) In Stock New (6) Used (36) from $0.01 Seller:academic_book_guy Sales Rank:5,484,130 Languages:English (Unknown), English (Original Language), English (Published) Media:Paperback Pages:227 Shipping Weight (lbs):0.7 Dimensions (in):8.4 x 5.3 x 0.4 Publication Date:April 15, 1997 ISBN:0933277199 EAN:9780933277199 ASIN:0933277199 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days Features: Used Book in Good Condition Editorial Reviews: SynopsisContributors to this issue include: Tony Ardizzone, William Baer, James Bertolino, Bruce Bond, Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Kevin Bowen, Laton Carter, Richard Cecil, Bruce Cohen, Martha Collins, Greg Delanty, Toi Derricotte, Mark Doty, Gil José Durán, Martín Espada, George Evans, George Evans, Sascha Feinstein, Carolyn Ferrell, Cecile Goding, Jennifer Grotz, Alexander Gurevich, Marilyn Hacker, Bob Hicok, Colette Inez, Hatif Janabi, William H. Johnson, Alice Jones, Allison Joseph, Jesse Lee Kercheval, Priscilla Lee, Larry Levis, Demetria Martinez, Khaled Mattawa, John McCluskey, Jr., Campbell McGrath, Phil Metres, Carl Phillips, Marilene Phipps, Rohan B. Preston, Leroy V. Quintana, Jan Richman, Jennifer Richter, David Rivard, Lloyd Schwartz, J. D. Scrimgeour, Angela Shannon, Reginald Shepherd, Maura Stanton, Gerald Stern, Nyugen Quang Thieu, Melanie Rae Thon, Richard Tillinghast, Barbara Tran, Jon Tribble, Reetika Vazirani, Charles Harper Webb, David Wojahn, Lisa Yanover, Daisy Zamora CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC. THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED 'AS IS' AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME. Brought to you by American Poems Categories •Apparel •Appliances •Arts & Crafts •Automotive •Baby •Beauty •Books •Computers •DVD •Electronics •Gourmet Food •Grocery •Health •Home & Garden •Industrial & Science •Jewelry •Kindle eBooks •Kitchen •Magazines •Miscellaneous •Mobile Apps •MP3 Downloads •Music •Musical Instruments •Office Products •Outdoor Living •Pet Supplies •Photo & Camera •Shoes •Software •Sporting Goods •Tools & Hardware •Toys •VHS •Video On Demand •PC & Video Games •Watches •Wireless •Wireless Accessories Subcategories United States •African American •Asian American •Classics •Anthologies •Drama •Hispanic •Humor •Jewish American •Native American •Poetry New, Used & Rental Textbooks •Business & Finance •Communication & Journalism •Computer Science •Education •Engineering •Humanities •Law •Medicine & Health Sciences •Reference •Science & Mathematics •Social Sciences •Test Prep & Study Guides Related Categories •Anthologies Poetry Literature & Fiction Subjects Books •Anthologies Short Stories Literature & Fiction Subjects Books •United States Literature & Fiction Subjects Books •Literary Literature & Fiction Subjects Books •General Anthologies & Literary Collections Literature & Fiction Subjects Books •New, Used & Rental Textbooks Specialty Boutique Books


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First and foremost: The speaker says that adding a new casino must "generate significant new revenue" to the state. Reading between the lines, this means that current operators can't expect a massive tax reduction: Doing so would eat deeply into the state's revenue from gambling.
Busch also notes that he wants to ensure "reinvestment" in the gambling facilities. It's unclear what mechanism would be used to do this, but it is also a new idea that has not been widely discussed. And, as he has said in the past, he expresses a desire to allow table games like poker and blackjack.
The speaker also notes that he wants counties that have casinos to be "held harmless" by the introduction of a sixth site. And he says that Prince George's County voters should have the final say over whether or not to allow a casino there.
The speaker said that he plans to meet this week with leaders from the House Ways and Means Committee, which will oversee the gambling expansion as well as member of the governor's workgroup on expanding gambling.
Next week, he said the House will convene late on Thursday. And the House Ways and Means Committee will hold their bill hearing on Friday.
"There are a number of private interests impacted by proposed legislation," Busch wrote. "As a caucus, we will focus on the public interest and ensuring the best product for the state."


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How to Own a Pet Fox
Do you want to own a pet fox? Foxes are very smart and sociable animals. Find out if you have what it takes.
This article has been tagged as a stub.
That means it's off to a good start, but still has plenty of room to grow before it reaches its full potential. Can you help it flourish? If you think the article offers complete and accurate instructions, feel free to remove this tag!
1Research. Does your state or country have a law against wild animals as pets? In most places, you will have to get a wildlife permit first.
2Set up your house. Remove any chemicals, cords laying on the floor, poisonous plants, or other things that could harm your fox.
3Contact a breeder. These can be found online, or other resource.
4Make sure that you have proper equipment, such as food, shelter, the time to raise a fox, and a place for it to go to the restroom


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Rejected: Leading economists ponder the publication process: George B. Shepherd, (Ed.), Sun Lakes, Arizona: Thomas Horton and daughters, 1995. viii + 151pp
AbstractNo abstract is available for this item.
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Bibliographic InfoArticle provided by Elsevier in its journal International Review of Economics & Finance.
Volume (Year): 6 (1997)
Issue (Month): 4 ()
Pages: 441-442
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Web page: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/inca/620165
Related researchKeywords:
ReferencesReferences listed on IDEAS
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- Lucas, Robert Jr., 1972. "Expectations and the neutrality of money," Journal of Economic Theory, Elsevier, vol. 4(2), pages 103-124, April.
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Did This Guy Steal $25K Worth of Pappy?
A new "person of interest" shows his face
Byon October 24, 2013
FRANKFORT, Ky. It appears as though the race to find the person who stole over $25,000 worth of Buffalo Trace's high-end bourbon Pappy Van Winkle is getting even more interesting. According to the Franklin County Sheriff's Department, a bald white man in a purple jacket (see video above), allegedly offered to sell "a large quantity of Pappy" at a liquor store in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, 84 miles from Frankfort. The guy at the liquor store told him "Hell no," and turned the video over to the police. From the time stamp on the video it looks like the exchange happened in less than a minute. The sheriff's department is now on the lookout for this new "person of interest." That might mean we can rule out Anthony Bourdain, but who knows? Buffalo Trace has still not commented on the case.
Follow Eat Like A Man Blog on RSS and on Twitter at @ESQFood.
About Eat Like a Man
This is a food blog for everyone, not just men. Even if you're not a man or you don't eat like one, we welcome you. It's just that there are foods that men love and there are ways that men eat that are just different, and we celebrate that. Every day, you'll find a mix of ideas, interviews, opinions, wisdom, tips, news, and recipes. For everybody. Especially men. And, very often, a drink.
What To Read Next
01Why This Massive Celebrity Nude Photo Scandal Is So Appalling
02The House of Representatives Has Been Bought. Here Is Definitive Proof.
03The Most Stylish Dogs on Instagram
04The Facts on Suicide and Friendship That Every Man Needs to Know
0510 Albums Every Record Collector Should Have on Vinyl
06The Best Damn Bruce Springsteen Cover We've Heard This Year
07The 99.99%
08Vermont Is Leading the Race to End the War on Drugs
09Dad Proves We've Been Making Pancakes Wrong the Entire Time


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District 3 - Fergus Falls area
Last updated: 2014-08-26
CO Troy Richards (Fergus Falls) received questions related to the summer goose hunt. He also took complaints of late shooting. Anglers were checked on area lakes along with boating enthusiasts. There was also a conversation about wolf/hybrid dogs running off leash in Maine Township.
CO Tricia Plautz (Henning) along with a COC spent time working fishing enforcement, boating safety, and AIS enforcement. The officers checked on a commercial minnow net, assisted an Otter Tail County Sheriffs officer with a call, attended a safety day in Wolf Lake speaking to over 100 individuals on ATV safety, assisted Wadena area chapter of MDHA with a fork horn field day on the shooting range. The officers worked the early August goose season but found very minimal activity.
CO Paul Nelson (Elbow Lake) worked on several wetland issues this week including draining and altering wetlands. Time was spent checking fishermen, boaters and completing some required training. Additional time was spent checking goose hunters and working WCA cases.
CO Shane Osborne (Evansville) checked fishermen, boaters, goose hunters and ATVs. An AIS meeting was attended in Brainerd. Complaints of fish over limits, trespass, and ATV?s operating on county highways were investigated. Station equipment maintenance was performed along with receiving yearly performance evaluation.
CO Mitch Lawler (Alexandria) worked the TIP trailer along with other officers at the first annual Youth Outdoors Day, sponsored by Pheasants Forever and Vikings Sportsmen?s Club, where over 500 area youth enjoyed outdoor related activities and events. Fishing activity continues to be monitored with enforcement action taken for no angling license and angling with extra lines. A shoreline owner was cited for operating his weed roller well outside the permitted area. The third local FAS class was also completed, totaling over 80 youth now certified this month.
CO Jeff Johanson (Osakis) continued working fishing, boating, and AIS enforcement on and around area waterways. While working AIS enforcement, an individual was found transporting a boat with aquatic vegetation on the trailer and the drain plug in place. A closer inspection of the boat revealed very small zebra mussels in the livewell. Enforcement action was taken and a boat de-con was ordered. Additional time was spent closing out public water and aquatic vegetation violations, monitoring goose hunting activity, and patrolling for ORV activity. COs Johanson, Lawler, and Larry Hanson with K9 Reggie, spent several hours manning the TIP Wall of Shame trailer at the first annual youth outdoor activity event in Alexandria. The event was a huge success with over 500 youth in attendance and many positive public interactions made. A big thank you to the Viking Sportsmen Club and the Douglas County Pheasants Forever Chapter for organizing and staffing the event!
CO Tony Anderson (Morris) focused enforcement efforts on AIS, OHV and fishing enforcement. Angling activity has been slow on area lakes. CO Anderson also investigated a vehicle that tried to travel down a minimum maintenance road and became stuck. Minnow transportation permits were issued as well as handling calls from the public regarding use of WMA and WPAs for hunting opportunities.
CO Daniel Baumbarger (Glenwood) reports enforcement efforts for the week included checking fishermen, ATV operators, goose hunters, and monitoring AIS compliance. Additional time was spent on boat and water safety, commercial enforcement, and littering complaints. Calls were fielded regarding waterfowl season questions, and nuisance animal complaints.
Wheaton - vacant.


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To kick off our week-long chocolate theme here at FOLK, I wanted to share a sweet little guilty pleasure…but without the guilt.
Now I must warn you – please keep an open mind about this one. If you haven't heard of avocado chocolate mousse before, you might just keep on going (and understandably so), missing out on something truly delicious. When I first heard of this dessert, my thoughts were along the lines of 'leave the guacamole for the nachos'…
As you might know, avocados are full of healthy goodness. They are loaded with nutrients such as fibre, potassium, Vitamin E, Vitamin B and folic acid to name a few. They also act as a nutrient booster by enabling the body to absorb more fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotine, which are vitamins stored in the liver and fatty tissues. Because they are eliminated slowly, they pose a greater risk for toxicity.
Many of us don't associate chocolate with a slim waistline, but cocoa is loaded with antioxidants which protect the body from cellular damage. In fact, cocoa has more antioxidants than most foods tested so far, including blueberries, red wine, black and green tea (more than 4 times the amount of green tea). I'm of course talking about dark chocolate.
There are many sugar alternatives such as Sucanat, raw honey, 100% maple syrup, Stevia drops etc.
Ingredients – Healthy Chocolate Pudding recipe
2 medium ripe avocados
1/3 cup of cocoa powder
1/4 cup of honey, raw agave nectar or other sweetener of choice
1/2 cup of coconut milk or almond milk
1 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
dark chocolate for garnish
In a blender or food processor, blend avocados until smooth. Add remaining ingredients – except for the dark chocolate – and mix. Scoop onto bowl and chill for at least half an hour. Garnish with dark chocolate, berries and enjoy this guiltless pleasure…:)
If you wish, you can also top it with some coconut whip (go here to see the recipe).
You won't notice the taste of the avocado, but the smooth and creamy texture of this dessert will make you want to make it over and over again.
If you try this dessert, I would love to know your thoughts.
I hope you can join us tomorrow when Heather shares another chocolate inspired creation. Have a great day!
related posts
» Desserts, Food, Recipes, Valentine's Day » Healthy Chocolate Pudding
12 Responses to Healthy Chocolate Pudding
ok, i have all the ingredients. gonna try. i will let you know, i am diabetes 2 and really miss chocolate at times. thanks for the recipe.
What an interesting recipe! I can't wait to hear what folks think…I hope you'll share!
That's so cool! I can totally see how the avocado would work in this case! Pinned it to my Eating Clean board! Great job, Lucy!
wow sounds crazy! I hate avocados but want the health benefits maybe this is the way… lets see what Lynne comes back and says
This is Delish! I am going to give this a try. I can see how the avocados can give this a creamy texture. Lovely!
I just bought 2 avocados and didn't make guacamole.. so I am going to make this! I'll keep you posted! Very cool Lucy!
I have just, in the last two years, become very fond of avocados, tossing a couple into my grocery basket every week. Now, I have just got to try this recipe! Very intriguing and thanks for sharing.
This is such an interesting combo. I happen to have some avocados but no coconut or almond milk. May give it a try with regular milk. Would you say this make 4 servings?
At first I recoiled but then I tried it. So delicious!!! Thank you for such a great healthy recipe!
Just tried making these. Even with barely ripe avocados it was surprisingly delicious! There was a slight taste of avocados but it was so fresh! I keep looking for foods and desserts that won't make me feel 'heavy' afterwards and this is perfect!
I made this as a treat on Valentine's Day and it was delicious! I found it to be very rich and couldn't finish my serving. It was almost like a chocolate mousse or ganache in its texture after it chilled for a while. Loved the coconut cream topping, too!
We tried this while visiting my parents. It was made with honey for the sweetener, but was still quite bittersweet. I'm wondering if adding a very ripe banana (or half of a banana) would put it to being closer to milk chocolate for taste.
Leave a Reply
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Neil Patrick Harris will host the Tony Awards for a fourth time next month, with the Emmy Award winning actor confirming the big news in a statement today.
"I'm very excited to be back hosting the Tony Awards at the legendary Radio City Music Hall," Harris reveals. "It'll be more impressive than ever - if my math is correct, it will be 267 times bigger than last year. Oh, wait. No, that can't... hold on... carry the one... I'm awful at math."
The How I Met Your Mother star was the lead name linked to the hosting job after putting in stellar performances in 2009, 2011 and 2012.
He's back! Neil Patrick Harris has been confirmed to host the Tonys for a fourth time (WENN)
As well as his hit TV show, Harris has strong ties with theatre, having starred in Broadway play "Proof" and the musicals "Cabaret" and "Assassins." Meanwhile insiders tells New York Daily News' Confidenti@l that the star has been "quietly been making the rounds of shows" to prepare for his hosting gig.
The actor will also act as a producer of the ceremony, as he did last year. Harris' fourth turn as host puts him behind only five-time host Angela Lansbury and ahead of Julie Andrews, Robert Preston, Rosie O'Donnell and Hugh Jackman who have all hosted three times.
The Tonys take place on June 9.


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Grand Haven City Council on Monday night unanimously approved the festival's application to have the 2012 event on Harbor Island from Aug. 10-12.
Based on the event application, upwards of 3,000 people are expected to attend the three-day festival — which will feature pirate exhibits and activities, live arms demonstrations, and other re-enactments.
"Harbor Island is going to open us up to a larger amount of pirates," Halverson said. "There's going to be encampments out there now, and they wouldn't be able to do that at Central Park."
Despite the move to a bigger venue on the island, festival organizers said they wouldn't lose sight of their target audience: families.
"We're still family oriented," festival president Dan Leonard said. "We have a much larger area for children."
Family activities include a cast from a production of "Peter Pan," dancing mermaids, and other pirate-themed crafts and games, he said.
"We are a family event," Leonard said. "We don't want to go late into the night."
Loutit District Library Director John Martin said he was excited about what the move would mean for the festival going forward.
"Being on Harbor Island will allow them to do so many more things and spread that out," Martin said.
During last summer's festival, a wedding at Central Park forced the pirates to Loutit District Library's parking lot, and a thundershower that Saturday afternoon forced festival participants indoors to the library and parking garage.
While the weekend festival is moving to the island, Loutit officials stressed that weekday events would still take place at the Grand Haven library. Halverson said the traditional educational components would take place at the library, and activities following the pirate sail-in.
Since the festival is similar in nature to the local museum's annual Feast of the Strawberry Moon, which is held on Harbor Island in June, Halverson said he and other festival organizers talked with the Tri-Cities Historical Museum to make sure the events wouldn't conflict.
"We got their blessing on it, and we moved from there," he said.
Halverson noted that organizers also consulted with Feast organizers to get tips on how to run the Harbor Island event.


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Secondary menu
In association with: HP
William and Kate open state-of-the-art facility – but don't you hold your breath for any improvements
Spaniard on the way out of Bilbao after training ground bust-up, strange rumours in Liverpool
Mark Halsey angered Liverpool fans by sending off Jonjo Shelvey and awarding a penalty to Man U
But Liverpool lost a bad-tempered affair against Manchester United
Not one British team manages a win in last night's World Cup qualifiers – and England are awful
Gerrard itching to lead his country to the finals in Brazil - but first they need to beat Moldova tonight
Ashley Cole and Ashley Young miss their shots after England fail to display international class
The progress of Roy Hodgson's men at Euro 2012 has restored reputations, but can it last?
England have an appalling success rate in penalty shoot-outs but at least they aren't playing the Germans
Don't tell their agents, but just ten footballers are earning enough to make annual big money chart
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Book Clubs & Writers' Groups
Library Branch
Toronto Reference Library
Author and U of T professor of philosophy Mark Kingwell discusses the philosopher's life and craft with host, John Miller.
This workshop is geared towards parents who experience more than average levels of stress either from the traumatic birth of their child, or by raising a child with medical or mental health complications. Participants will l...
Join Library staff and discuss new books and timely favourites....
Thu Oct 02
Thu Nov 06
A presentation about books, new and old. For more information, call 416-393-7660.
Tue Sep 30
Tue Oct 28
Tue Nov 25
Eglinton Square
Join a circle of poets & writers who unite to share their artistic energy. Registration required. Call 416-396-8920 for more information.
Mon Sep 29
Mon Oct 27
Mon Nov 24
Mon Dec 01
Toronto Reference Library
A book club for people looking to read thought-provoking books. If you like to read non-fiction, this is the place!...
Thu Sep 25
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Aimez-vous lire en français? Si vous voulez participer à des discussions stimulantes, contactez Céline au 416 395-5762
Thu Sep 25
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Thu Nov 27
Join in an engaging discussion about a different book each month. For more information contact the Branch at 416-394-5310.
Mon Sep 22
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Toronto Reference Library
The Toronto Writers' Co-op offers weekly workshops, guest authors, member readings, open mic and publications--your opportunity to polish, publish and perform your work.
Sun Sep 21
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Join library staff for entertaining book talks. Refreshments will be provided.
Tue Sep 16
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Hamas Controls the Game
By Jean-Marcel Bouguereau
Israel is once again confronted with the choice between two bad solutions. Since Hamas - which has continuously bombarded the little town of Sderot - has extended its targets to Ashkelon, a coastal city of 110,000 inhabitants 65 kilometers from Tel Aviv, the Israelis may not sit idly by. But at what a price: Saturday alone, Israeli reprisals killed 63 people in Gaza, the organizers of that rocket fire, but also numerous civilians, including women and children, inciting the world's general indignation. Now everything indicates that this deadly operation could be the first of a series that could end up with the invasion of the Gaza Strip, the closing and control of the wall between Gaza and Egypt through which pass the rockets Iran furnishes Hamas and, undoubtedly, an out-and-out "cleansing" of this narrow band of territory. This recalls the slogan once invented by Yitzhak Rabin - Israel will fight terror as though there were no peace process and pursue the peace process as though there were no terror. That strategy is now less appropriate than ever.
"Israel behaves like a blind Goliath that strikes hard, with no political objective. (É) It's a mistaken concept, denuded of any strategic reflection, that leads nowhere," deems Professor Menachem Klein of Bar Ilan University. This specialist considers that "this whole operation has been counterproductive. It has not stopped the rocket fire; it has considerably weakened Mahmoud Abbas" who could not under any circumstances continue the peace negotiations. Nonetheless, having learned some lessons from the fiasco in southern Lebanon, people worry: what would the goals of such an operation be? According to good sources, people are talking about bombing - not targeted, but "indiscriminate" - around a two kilometer area from the point of rocket launches, or - another option - having the Army penetrate Gaza for a "two- to three-month" long operation to dismantle Hamas's military networks. With the IDF bogged down in a new quagmire and a peace process already in serious trouble. And with the possibility that Israel be caught between two fronts, should Iran activate Hezbollah in the North. Even as one IAEA official has just presented extremely alarming data with respect to Iran, most notably about the manufacture of a nuclear warhead.