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Seanad Éireann - Volume 155 - 24 April, 1998
Adjournment Matter. - Access to Departmental Files.
Mr. Costello Mr. Costello
Mr. Costello: This Adjournment matter concerns the need for the Department of Education and Science to make available for academic research his Department's files on reformatory and industrial schools between 1924-68. The National Archives Act, passed in 1986, requires that all State files be made available within the 30 year rule. All material up to 1968 should now be made available to the National Archives and failure to comply with the terms of the Act must mean that the Department of Education and Science is in breach of it and is, therefore, acting illegally.
Files covering a 44 period of reformatory and industrial schools should now be made available as they represent almost half a century of archival material. That material is of enormous interest both to the individuals who were inmates of those institutions and their relatives and historians and archivists who would be interested in bona fide research in this area. Indeed, the community at large would have an interest in it as we have heard so much rumour and innuendo about the period. Books and plays have been written on the reformatory and industrial school system in Ireland but we know nothing of the facts and figures involved. We know nothing of the people who attended the schools, the polices pursued, the administrative or behavioural systems which operated and so on. The Kennedy Report published in 1970 recommended that the entire system be closed down. However, we do not know why such a conclusion was arrived at and we can only gain that information by access and research into those files.
This is an area of great historical, as well as personal, importance. Some of those who attended the schools are still alive and others have left the country. We do not know what happened to many of the young people who, it seems, were transported out of the country after the four year term — the maximum allowable period — spent in the schools. Where did these people go? It is something of a scandal that we have not been provided with any information on this matter.
Young people were sent to reformatory and industrial schools for a variety of reasons, among them truancy and involvement in petty larceny [282] and vandalism. A large number of orphans also ended up in such schools. This issue is one of national concern.
We are familiar with the names of the schools at Letterfrack, Daingean, Artane and Marlborough House, yet, we do not know what went on in them. All of the schools were State registered ones and all of the material relating to them is, therefore, available in the State archives. The National Archives have not been able to gain access to that material. I tabled this matter because a number of bona fide researchers are anxious to carry out historical work on this period, some for the purpose of making television documentaries. They are at a loss as to how to proceed when they cannot gain access to the primary material.
The Department of Education and Science has no choice but to conform with the provisions of the National Archives Act. I hope the Minister, in his response, will inform the House of when and how the Department intends to do this. I suggest the method used should be along the lines of that recently adopted by the Department of Foreign Affairs in the issue of foreign adoptions. The Department adopted a two-fold approach; personal files of a highly sensitive nature were only made available to the individuals concerned, thereby maintaining confidentiality. Matters relating to policy, administration, statistics and so on were, however, made public as they were not of the same sensitive nature. If that model were adopted in this case, we could easily ensure that the material would be available in the archives for the purposes of research.
We have recently implemented freedom of information legislation which imposes a further tier of accountability on the State towards the citizen. Therefore, the Department of Education and Science doubly breaches legislative provisions. We must ensure that all State Departments are fully accountable and that they fully disclose the material they are obliged to disclose under law. The public is entitled to have access to this information.
I am disappointed the Department of Education and Science has not seen fit to act on this matter. I know there is not enough space in the National Archives, but the amount of space for personal files is not required for files relating to the administrative and policy archives. The National Archives would be able to store those files.
I hope the Minister does not say he has a problem with space and, therefore, cannot make the files available. The personal files are voluminous because they date back for almost 50 years but the essential policy making files can be made available. Even if there is a problem in providing the files, there is legislation stating that they should be made available. The Department of Education and Science is legally bound to make them available.
I have covered all the angles and I will not accept any excuses. I hope the Minister will state [283] how the files on the reformatory and industrial schools 1924-68 will be made available.
Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob) Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob)
Minister of State at the Department of Public Enterprise (Mr. Jacob): I compliment Senator Costello for raising this important issue. I will endeavour to respond on behalf of the Minister for Education and Science.
The Department of Education and Science is willing to consider any reasonable request for access to the files in question for the purpose of serious academic research. However, the House will appreciate that in granting access, the Department must have regard to the right to privacy of individuals named on files and the need to avoid causing difficulty or distress to individuals.
The Department has a range of records and files relating to existing and former industrial and reformatory schools. In some instances the information dates back to the last century. The level of information available varies considerably between schools. Overall the records contain general data relating to more than 36,000 children who were placed in these schools over the years. Some of the entries are incomplete and generally the information is not very detailed. The records available also include some 10,000 files on individual children. The level of detail in these files can vary significantly. In some instances, the information is very limited. However, in other cases significant detail is given regarding the circumstances of the child's placement in the school and subsequent developments in relation to the child. The House will appreciate that much of this information is of a highly confidential nature and must be treated with the utmost sensitivity.
Files also exist on the original arrangements surrounding the establishment of some of the reformatory and industrial schools and also on their general administration, funding and inspection.
Industrial and reformatory schools were originally certified under the provisions of the Children Act, 1908. The number of industrial schools in the State varied from a maximum of 51 in the 1940's to just 25 schools in 1984. The number of children accommodated in the industrial schools ranged from 6,378 in 1949 to 796 in 1984. Prior to 1984, the great majority of children referred to industrial schools were placed there as a result of what was described as a lack of proper guardianship. Only about 10 per cent of the children were [284] referred to the schools on foot of indictable offences.
Children were committed to the industrial schools in one of three ways. First, they could be committed by the courts — typically as a result of not attending school; committing indictable offences, or lack of proper guardianship and not having any home. Second, they could be placed on a voluntary basis by either parents or guardians. Third, they could be placed by a local health authority. Placements in reformatory schools were made by order of the courts. Such placements generally related to older children who were convicted of indictable offences.
In 1997, the Department engaged professional archivists to conduct a detailed examination of all the files, records and registers relating to the industrial and reformatory schools in the Department's possession. The archivists work will be completed in the next few weeks and will result in the creation of a database of all records in the Department's possession. The House will appreciate the extremely sensitive nature of much of the data involved in this area. Access to such data will have to be very strictly controlled. The Minister is sure the House will appreciate the absolute need to protect the privacy of the persons named in these records and the need to treat the question of access to such data with the utmost sensitivity and care.
Serious academic researchers have been allowed access to some of these records in the past and the Minister is anxious that such research should continue to be facilitated. The Department is in consultation with the National Archives Office regarding the question of future access to the records in question. In the meantime, full consideration will be given to any serious request for access to the records for the purpose of academic research.
Mr. Costello Mr. Costello
Mr. Costello: I thank the Minister for his positive response. I hope he will consider adopting the approach taken by the Department of Foreign Affairs which made a distinction between confidential personal material and policy and administrative matters. The policies adopted and how the schools operated is of particular concern to archivists and historians. I know there is a shortage of space in the National Archives but I am delighted the Minister has agreed to make the files available.
The Seanad adjourned at 1 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 28 April 1998.
Seanad Éireann 155 Adjournment Matter. Access to Departmental Files.
General Debate


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Brentwood Academy provides a variety of camps designed to offer young people a chance to grow and mature outside the traditional classroom setting. Our goal is to provide camps which nurture and challenge students in the context of academics, the arts, and athletics. Each camp provides a motivational setting where students can develop character, build a sense of responsibility, and learn a spirit of humility and self-discipline.
The second session of dance camp has merged with the first session. Therefore, the first week of dance camp is the only one being offered during the week of June 2.
Session 1 and session 3 camps for tennis are canceled. Campers registered for either of those camps will be merged, if possible, with session 2 which runs from June 17 – June 19.
The following tennis camps have been canceled: Girls Single Play(June 2 – 5) and Girls Doubles Play (June 23 – 26).
Track camp beginning May 28 has been canceled.
Flight Basketball Leagues will be offered for boys and girls in grade K-8 beginning fall/winter 2013. Learn more here.
View the camps brochure

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The state supreme court has upheld the waiver issued allowing media executive Cathie Black to become the city's next schools chancellor.
Critics filed a lawsuit challenging the waiver, which was needed since Black does not have any professional education experience.
She replaces outgoing schools chancellor Joel Klein who was appointed by Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2002.
In a statement, the mayor said, "This decision should bring an end to the politicking and grandstanding and allow us all to focus on what matters most: continuing to improve the quality of education we offer New York City's public school children. Cathie has been working hard and is ready to hit the ground running on Monday, her first official day on the job, and I know she is looking forward to building on the tremendous progress we've made over the past eight years."
Mayor Bloomberg also praised Black saying she is ready to hit the ground running.
Several suits have been filed challenging Black's experience and qualifications for the job. The first was filed by Eric Snyder, a parent from Park Slope.
"It seems ironic, to me, that the judge would hold it rational and reasonable that the person chosen to oversee tens of thousands of educators should have less of an education than the educators she's brought in to oversee. And that's not only ironic but also disappointing and, I think an unfortunate reflection of where our education system is in New York City," Snyder said.
Snyder says he plans to appeal the decision.
Black's first official day on the job is Monday.
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3 ETFs for Japan's Determination to Rebuild
The following commentary comes from an independent investor or market observer as part of TheStreet's guest contributor program, which is separate from the company's news coverage.
NEW YORK ( ETF Expert) -- There are many times when commentators bash Japanese equities. After all, the Nikkei benchmark has been a losing proposition for buy-n-holders over the past 20 years.
Yet there are few times when you'll hear anybody question the resolve of the Japanese people. Japan was the world's first modern superpower in the Far East. Even after losing its control in the region during World War II, the country rebuilt itself into the second largest global economy. Its "total quality" management style and "just-in-time" manufacturing became the envy of the world in the late 80s; its corporate emphasis on quality set new standards for 21st century technology; lifetime employment is a reciprocal understanding between corporate officers and loyal employees.
Still, investing in Japanese companies has rarely been rewarding. Japan is an export-dependent nation with a strong currency -- a mix that isn't favorable to the bottom line of many export-dependent corporations.In order to rebuild, however, there will be a massive wave of both corporate spending and government spending. The Japanese people simply won't be deterred from the pursuit. It follows that Japan's going to be importing a whole lot of stuff in the coming months. The triumvirate of wood, coal and steel should have undeniable appeal, regardless of possible stockpiling in China. The Claymore Global Timber Fund (CUT) tracks the performance of 27 companies in the Clear Global Timber Index. Corporations include those that harvest timber for commercial use, sell wood-based products and/or own or lease forested land. In the two days since news of the Japanese earthquake hit the wires, CUT has gained 1.0%. Market Vectors Steel (SLX) tracks the price and yield of the NYSE Arca Steel Index. It exposes investors to global companies involved in the extraction of iron ore, the fabrication of steel products and/or the operation of mills. In the two days since news of the Japanese earthquake hit, SLX has gained 3.1%. Market Vectors Coal (KOL) seeks to replicate the price and yield performance of the Stowe Coal Index -- an index that provides exposure to companies deriving more than 50% of revenue from the coal industry. For Japan to generate electricity in its plants, the country will require cost-effective fuel a la coal. What's more, coal becomes even more attractive when other fossil fuels move higher. In the two days since news of the Japanese earthquake, SLX has gained 4.1%. You can listen to the ETF Expert Radio Show "LIVE", via podcast or on your iPod . You can review more ETF Expert features here.
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Tantrums caused by our divorce
Recently my husband and I divorced. I moved out with my eight-month-old and my three-year-old. Over the last six months my oldest child has been whining and screaming when he doesn't get his way. Is this typical behavior for children of this age or could the divorce be affecting my son more than we realize?Question:
Three is usually a calm time for children, a little break from the rigors and difficulties of the growth spurts associated with ages two and four. It would not be at all surprising if your son was indeed suffering from the effects of your recent separation from your husband.
It is not unusual for children to become upset when they have to move out of their home, as you have recently done. You can see why all these changes could worry a child. It sounds as if your son needs to talk more about his feelings.
I suggest talking to your son about the divorce at quiet times during the day or evening. Buy a book about divorce -- there are many good ones for children. Take your son to a bookstore and let him look through the entire selection and then have him pick one out to take home. Then you can read it to him whenever he wants to hear it.
Make sure to answer any questions he has. And even if he doesn't ask, be sure to tell him that both his parents still love him, and that they will still be taking care of him no matter where any of you live. Young children in divorce situations often worry that they will be abandoned and cannot always express this fear out loud. That is why parents need to do the talking in the beginning. Repeated conversations of this nature should help the tantrums decrease. You may have to deal with a few more until your son starts feeling safe again. I'm afraid your neighbors will have to put up with a little more screaming, because there really is no better way to stop tantrums than just letting your child cry it out. He's entitled to be upset about the divorce, as I'm sure you are. This is his way of showing it. When you hear your son's cries turn from anger to sadness or fatigue, you can pick him up and hug him until he stops crying. I'm sure both of you can use the extra hugging time!Answer:


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Friend Makes His Wife Put On A Show, Then Lets Me Use HerMy friend sent his wife out for a night of drinking at ouu usual, downtown bar. We had a good time dancing and drinking and his wife was feeling absolutely no pain by the time he came to pick us up. He dropped off one of his wife's girlfriends and then headed back to their place. When we got back to their place and we helped her stagger into the house she said she was too tired to do the hot tub and was going to bed.
Usually a night out drinking means an opportunity for me to help her hubby enjoy her sexy body. Her hubby didn't want to waste a chance to see her be a slutty sex toy, so he told her he was going to take me home then come back home. We went out the door and got in the car and pulled out and my friend asked me if I was interested in a chance to play with her. I of course said "yes!". We then drove around for about 10 minutes then headed back to their place.
We went inside and he left me in the living room. After about 5 mnutes he came back and asked me to follow him to their bedroom. We entered the room and there was his wife, totally naked, on her back and blindfolded with music playing. She looked like a sex goddess!
Her hubby got on the bed and started to caress her **** and gently stroke her ***** lips. After a couple of minutes of this it was apparent that she was getting more and more aroused, her nipples were hard and pointy and her ***** lips were glistening with her juices.
My friend asked his wife if she wanted to feel a **** inside her and she said "yes, oh yes". At that point my friend pulled out a small, blue ***** and put it in her hand. He then told her that if she wanted to feel a warm **** inside her *****, she would have to get herself off first. She murmurred that she couldn't; she's very self conscious about making herself climax even in front of her husband. He told her that the price for a warm **** was to make herseff *** for him. He moved her hand with the ***** in it down to her ***** and inserted the tip of it into her *****.
At first she kept saying she didn't want to, that she justed wanted to be ******. My friend kept encouraging her and that she'd get ****** good and hard once she made herself ***. Slowly she started pushing the ***** in further and further, working her shaved ***** harder and harder. Her breathing got more raspy and the ***** started making slurpping noises and it went in and out of her tight ******. She was getting more and more arosed and moved her other hand to her ***** to rub her **** as she penetrated herself with the *****.
I was blown away! There I was in my friend's wife naked and finger ******* herself while I watched! She'd have been so embarred to know I was also watching her in an intimate moment like this. I had a raging hardon from watching this amazing sex show.
You could tell she was close to getting herself off - she was making this sexy little moans and her back kept arching. Her fingers were really working her *****, rubbing back and forth and plunging in and out, her hand slicked with her ***** juice. Then her back arched and she let out this loud groan/moan and whimper combination that was so hot I almost came from the sound. Then she started to squirt, some hitting her hand but some also shooting a good foot out of climaxing *****. She only squirts when she's really ******* hard, so we knew she was really, really horney!
Her hubby then took her ***** juice covered hands and gently tied them above her head to the headboard. She looked so hot, hand tied above her head, her **** pointing straight up and her ***** soaking and engorged.
As she lay there sighing, her hubby asked her if she was ready for some hot **** inside heer throbbing *****. She said she was going to die if she didn't get ****** soon. Her hubby kept asking her if she really, really want to get ****** and she kept saying yes, more and more hungerly. He then asked her if she was so horney that she'd take and **** as long as it got slid deep inside her. She groaned and said "yes yes, and **** just make me *** again".
That was what her hubby was wating to hear! He motioned for me to get on the bed and **** her. I quickly dropped my pants and underware and climbed on the bed, between her legs. I guide the head of my **** to her ***** opening and inserted just the head inside her. OMG, her ***** felt like it was on fire, it was so hot around me. And she felt so silky, with her own juices as lube. It was a totally different feel to ******* her after her hubby or another guy came in her, she was so slick but still sooooo tight!
Her hubby moved up to where my head was and continued to talk to her as I pushed my **** deeper and deeper inside her. He asked her if she'd mind if it was me ******* her and she was so horney she said no. He then started talking to her about me ******* her and she got even more horney, breathing harder and harder. He then asked her if I could *** in her ***** and she said "yes, yes don't stop". At this point I was pounding my **** as hard and deep as I could into her eager *****.
The here hubby asked if she was really okay with me ******* in her bareback, as she wasn't on birth control. She almost screamed "*** just *** i don't care, just ******* *** in me". Then she started to squirt with my **** fully buried inside her. I'd never felt that before... she was squirting her hot ***** juices all over my **** and balls. It was too much for me, I blew my load as deep as I could inside her, and it felt like I spurted at least a gallon of my hot, ***** filled *** inside her. What a rush!
The whole time she'd be fingering herslef, and while I'd been ******* her, her hubby had been taking pictures and video too. It was great watching the playback of her making herself *** and then my ******* her until both she and I came again. You could clearly see her squirting her juices while my **** was inside her on the video.
I climbed off and cleaned up and then her hubby took me home for real. He left her tied up while we were gone and apparently ****** her a couple more times before he let her go to sleep.
makesmehard 41-45, M 4 Responses 31 Oct 16, 2011
What a good, well behaved wife :)
My god, that was the hottest story I've read in a very long time. I'm not married (and have only had sex once) but I'd love to be your friends wife.
Great wife, good husband and a very lucky friend.
so hot, love to do this with my wife


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Happy Earth Day – Storage in a Green World
Today is Earth day, and has given me cause to think about all things technical, and how we can better manage our lives and our consumption of natural resources in an increasingly power-hungry world.
I thought that, with it being Earth Day, I would take the time to share the story of my brother-in-law – Richard. He and his wife live out in the foothills of California in a straw-bale house, and are not connected to a power line. So they never get a utility bill. So how do they do it?
First, you need to know that the entire environment was designed this way. The straw-bale house is one of the most insulated structures possible. It is a beautiful house, with lovely wood finishes and stucco walls. You would never know it was incredibly energy efficient just by looking at it.
And Richard has built his own power plant as well, He has enough energy on storage to power his house for three days without any sunshine or wind. Pretty darned good.
Now, you might think that with all this planning for energy efficiency that Richard and his wife have sacrificed on the luxuries of life. You would be wrong. They have a dishwasher, oven, stove, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, washer and dryer, televisions, stereos, computer and more! All the landscaping is on a timer drip system. They pump their own well water and store it in gravity feed tanks. They are clearly not lacking in the luxuries of life in the United States.
So how is this all done? With very good planning. Planning for energy efficiency in all things.
For his computer requirements, Richard uses a notebook computer (lower power requirements, and can be run on batteries when the sun is not shining!), and for storage needs he uses a Seagate FreeAgent Go portable hard drive. The FreeAgent Go can be powered by the USB port on the notebook, so it too can be battery powered. All this adds to an incredibly power efficient compute model.
The amazing thing to me is this: If you were to use a FreeAgent Go, and it was plugged in, turned on, and writing data 24 hours a day (the most power draw), it would only cost around $2.41 per year to run (at an average cost of $0.089 per kilowatt-hour). That is an incredibly energy efficient device!
This example shows that there is hope. With some planning… Initiative… And creativity… We CAN manage our power consumption and not drain the natural resources that are so vital to our existence!


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Find old friends from
106 Moorfield Road Johnsonville (Johnsonville)
If youre looking to find an old friend from 106 Moorfield Road Johnsonville then add this attendance to your profile, for a better chance to reconnect with the people you once knew.
2 Members with similar attendances.
Dates attended : 1968 - 1975
Dates attended : 1941 - 2006


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Double Trouble for 'Housewives' Husbands
Joe Giudice, husband of Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice, reported to jail on Monday morning to serve a short prison sentence while another 'Housewives' hubby also found himself in trouble.
Joe–who recently filed for bankruptcy with Teresa after the pair amassed an $11 million debt–will serve a ten day jail sentence after he was convicted of driving with a suspended license. The suspended license charge stems from Joe's DUI arrest earlier this year.
Joe quietly reported for jail duty at the Morris County jail in New Jersey.
Teresa has remained quiet about Joe's jail time and has refrained from mentioning the situation on her Twitter.
Teresa recently blew up at co-star Danielle Staub at a recent Real Housewives of New Jersey reunion episode when Danielle mentioned Teresa's unnamed nephew. Watch Teresa scream at Danielle below.
The blow-up caused many to speculate that the "nephew" in question was Joe's love child, which Teresa flatly denies.
Teresa isn't the only Housewife whose husband is having legal troubles. Simon Barney, the estranged husband of Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Barney, was arrested on charges of domestic violence on Monday night. Simon reportedly threw a leash at Tamra during an argument.
What do you think of all this Housewife husband trouble? Share your thoughts below.


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Section » Blog
Hack of the month!
This photo was taken on a highway in rural western Colorado this week (via KUSA-TV Denver). A welcome, 21st century update to the art of billboard defacement!
Section » Blog
Hack of the month!
This photo was taken on a highway in rural western Colorado this week (via KUSA-TV Denver). A welcome, 21st century update to the art of billboard defacement!
More Articles
KEXP program notes update
Apologies to folks for our having not been able to continue posting our program notes in recent weeks. Both Maria and I have run into time problems in the rest of our lives – specifically, that we haven't had any – to lay out and combine our notes in a way that's useful to others.
We're working on a more streamlined format that might be more sustainable. Stay tuned!
Two Book Reviews: "2312″ and "The Yellow Birds"
My first impression of "2312" by Kim Stanley Robinson is that the author could use a good editor, or needs to take up short-form poetry to sharpen his descriptive skills. Much of the book is repetitive and does little to propel the narrative or bolster the main themes.
And yet…I haven't read a book in decades that reminds me of the best long-form science fiction of the Silver Age ('60′s and '70′s) like this book does. Robinson looks forward to an era when humans have populated and terraformed Mars, Venus, and the moons of Saturn, when space-flight within our solar system is common, and human lifespans have more than doubled. And, of course, the main theme of the novel is not just whether humanity can grow up as it grows outward, but what will humanity become–what will being "human" mean–when people can incorporate genes from animal species and alien bacteria into their bodies, and even implant quantum computers into their brains.
In one passage that falls in the center of the book, Robinson riffs on the similarity between a linked group of quantum computers and the human brain. He asks: "if you program a purpose into a computer program, does that constitute its will? Does it have free will, if a programmer programmed its purpose? Is that programming any different from the way we are programmed by our genes and brains? Is a programmed will a servile will? Is human will a servile will? And is not the servile will the home and source of all feelings of defilement, infection, transgression, and rage?…could a quantum computer program itself?"
The difference, of course, is that humans "programming" themselves with their own brains is how we might define "free will." But Robinson nicely illustrates that our free will is limited by physical externalities: our physical bodies, the environment around us, the society in which we live, and the deceptively remote influence of historical forces.
And so this big, sprawling work brings us back around to a question that lies at the heart of most American fiction: how self-reliant and self-actualized do you really need to be? In the end, don't you need other people–a connection to human society–as much or even more than your personal, individual freedom?
For that, the book is worth the time it takes to read all of its 560 pages. And Robinson does provide many beautiful descriptive passages like this one of Titan, the terraformed moon of Saturn: "True sunlight and mirrored sunlight crossed to make the landscape shadowless, or faintly double-shadowed–strange to Swan's eye, unreal-looking, like a stage set in a theater so vast the walls were not visible. Gibbous Saturn flew through the clouds above, its edge-on rings like a white flaw cracking that part of the sky." I just wish the book were as condensed and strking as this lively passage.
On the other hand, even short novels can have their flaws. So much praise has been given to "The Yellow Birds" by Kevin Powers that I was puzzled to find it lacking in many ways. The story is simple: a young soldier goes to war in Iraq, having made a promise to the mother of one of his platoon mates that he would bring him back home alive–and we learn how impossible that promise is to keep.
It's a first novel written by a young poet, and it contains many of the elements of good poetry: archetypes, vivid metaphors, wrenching themes, alternating stanzas that lead us eventually to a final reveal, and a strong central voice. But it doesn't quite hold together as a novel. Archetypes, when used in a longer narrative format, quickly become uninteresting stereotypes—for example Sterling, the hard-bitten sergeant whom everyone agrees is the perfect soldier. And we never get attached to the younger soldier that the narrator has promised to protect (conveniently named Murph, as if he were a cute, stuffed toy unable to hold his stitching intact in a hostile environment).
So instead the book becomes an exploration of the soul of its narrator, and succeeds on that level. Its poetry reminds us that the young men we send into war are not machines, not the brutal automatons that the army wants them to be, but young people full of life and the urge to experience beauty and a sense of purpose. As the narrator says of himself and Murph while they're getting ready to be deployed: "Being from a place where a few facts are enough to define you, where a few habits can fill a life, causes a unique kind of shame. We'd had small lives, populated by a longing for something more substantial than dirt roads and small dreams. So we'd come here, where life needed no elaboration and others would tell us who to be."
But a novel is not just the poetry of its language and the insights of one narrative voice. And sometimes the metaphors in this book stretch to the breaking point and beyond, as when the narrator struggles for an image to describe what it's like to fly home as one of the survivors of a pointless war. His words are buffeted by so much turbulence that the reader eventually loses the sense of what he's saying or what the character is thinking.
We also never get a sense of the every day routine of deployment in Iraq. In the midst of so much lovely metaphor, true description was strangely lacking. Less poetry and more straightforward narration would have served the story better. Fortunately, the novel is short in length so that the reader isn't asked to stay involved with the characters too long. And the disjointed narration lends truth to its overall message, presented as a sudden insight the narrator has after going AWOL in Germany: "I realized, as I stood there in the church, that there was a sharp distinction between what was remembered, what was told, and what was true. And I didn't think I'd ever figure out which was which."
I can't say I liked "The Yellow Birds" as much I expected to. And I find the high praise that critics and other writers have given it to be more an expression of their guilt over not condemning a war that was obviously unnecessary, than a clear-eyed look at the qualities of the book itself. Nevertheless, I think everyone should read it in spite of its flaws, and take the opportunity to get inside of a mind that's been battered and torn by war.
Your "representatives" at work
Senate Republicans have successfully blocked expansion of background checks for gun purchasers – a measure that polls say 90 percent of Americans support.
The ever-present gulf between what the US public wants and what our elected "representatives" actually do has never been so wide, nor so obvious.
PA judge strikes down fracking companies' rights to privacy, corporate personhood
Last week we covered a California court case in which a judge halted a BLM land sale for fracking, a precedent-setting acknowledgement that fracking has unique and dangerous environmental impacts. This week, it's Pennsylvania, where a judge has ruled that under state law corporations do not have the same rights as actual biological people.
The ruling came in a case where local media outlets wanted to unseal the confidential settlemenrt of a lawsuit in which landowners were paid $175,000 after suing fracking companies over environmental damage to their land. It's a big development, nationally and not just in Pennsylvania, because companies have been using invoking their so-called privacy rights to seal settlements that contain information on the environmental damage they cause – and Pennsylvania, as one of the states where fracking started earliest and has been most widespread, could offer a telling glimpse of the longer-term impacts involved. Thus far, hard science on the environmental costs of fracking has been difficult to come by, because companies have been withholding the information needed to study it. This week's ruling is a major crack in that secrecy.
The judge's ruling also directly took on the concept of corporate personhood, saying that that federal legal standard did not apply under Pennsylvania's state constitution. Chances are, the companies will appeal on the grounds that federal law trumps state law – but as the majority of the lawsuits over fracking have been in state court, it's likely to be a delaying tactic, rather than a serious attempt to overturn the ruling.
Explosions at Boston Marathon
This is ugly, and likely to get uglier.
Two people are confirmed dead and at least 125 injured – many seriously – after two bombs went off in quick succession near the finish line to the Boston Marathon this afternoon. The scene was a bloody mess (with hundreds of media outlets and cameras conveniently nearby), and the location and timing – Tax Day, and Patriot Day, a state holiday, in Massachusetts, plus the Newtown families sitting nearby – make the conclusion of a terrorist act pretty unavoidable.
That said, the last thing anyone should do is jump to a knee-jerk, emotional reaction. (Of the major media outlets covering this non-stop, Fox News is by far the most gory and hysterical.) We know what happened; we don't know who or why. The immediate media reaction in the hours after the 1996 Oklahoma City bombing was to assume Arab terrorists. The emotional reaction to 9-11 gave us the Patriot Act four days later, a new war the following month, and a second war whose commencement took 18 months purely due to logistics. Emotions in the wake of an incident like this are a dangerous thing, and I say that as a former elite-level marathon runner who has long worried, far before 9-11, about the potential for mass casualties at a sporting event from some nut or group looking for a lot of attention. Here we are.
Today sure seems a lot like an amateur act, not the work of international terrorists; police disarmed at least one other explosive device that failed to go off. It feels more like the bomb found on the route of Spokane's MLK Day parade a couple of years ago. If a perpetrator or perpetrators are found and they turn out to be right wing radicals – for example, responding to the alarmist rhetoric on the far right about gun control in the wake of Newtown – it would surprise nobody who's been following the ever-more-violent extremism of the far right, and the reaction sure will be interesting. Or, it could be some random mentally disturbed dude, ala Tucson, who wants attention and knows how to make IEDs.
But for the time being, let's wait and see what investigators discover – and remain vigilant for anyone in the media or elected office who tries to use this crime to demagogue for their pet cause.
One more thought – how sad is it that I can refer in the above paragraphs not just to 9-11 but four different cities – Newtown, Spokane, Tucson, Oklahoma City – where the city is enough for most readers, in context, to identify what happened there. Manhattan, Aurora, Blacksburg…the United States is fast developing a geography of violence.
For those you who think that vile racism in America…
…among elected officials (or anyone else) is strictly a problem of the Deep South, check out this.
In a county that is exactly three percent African-American, don't expect the inevitable recall campaign (already underway) to get any real traction. Instead, Commissioner Gile really ought to borrow from the tradition of a certain non-white culture and fall on his sword, or perhaps, given his culture of origin, the sharpened muzzle of one of his hunting rifles.
But he won't. And why should he? According to audio tapes of the incident, not only did his fellow commissioners fail to challenge his language choices, but many in the room laughed. He's not the problem – the culture that spawned and continues to enable him is the problem. He's just a symptom. And the Alternate Universe that comprises (but is hardly limited to) modern US conservatism is permeated with guys – and women – like this.
Oh, and somebody really ought to tell the good (sic) commissioner that in 2013 "some of my best friends are…" is truly a contemptible excuse.
Peace Activist Trainee program for high school students
Once again this year, our good friends at Western Washington Fellowship of Reconciliation are offering a great four-week summer training program for budding high school activists, and the application deadline is fast approaching.
The 2013 summer Peace Activist Trainee (PAT) program will emphasize building organizing skills, as well as meeting activists and working on a variety of peace & social justice issues.
Students receive a $500 stipend while learning how to create lasting change.
For a (current) high school sophomore or junior, it's a month that really could change their lives! For more information, check out the WWFOR web site here. The application deadline is May 15. For questions, call WWFOR at 206-789-5565 or e-mail email@example.com.
Sequestration in WA
Here is the White House summary of impact of sequestration on Washington state. It's a staggeringly high price to pay for the latest tantrum by our modern-day Know Nothing Party.
Taliban protests sequestration cuts
As Supreme Leader Mullah Omar explains here, it will devastate their budget – along with the Afghan "government" budget, the private wealth of senior members of the Karzai regime, and the Pentagon's and CIA's Afghanistan field operations, all of which are basically the same thing.


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Remember the four Britons caught disembarking a cruise ship in 2008 with $3 million worth of cocaine strapped to their bodies? Yet another person is being sent to jail for taking part in the crime, the BBC reports today.
The news outlet says a British judge this week sentenced Claudie Anglin of Birmingham, England to more than 10 years in prison for his role in the cocaine smuggling scheme, one of the largest ever documented on a cruise ship.
Anglin allegedly was waiting at the cruise terminal in Southampton, England for the four Britons on Oct. 19, 2008 when they arrived in the country aboard the 1,952-passenger P&O Arcadia.
ALSO ONLINE: Maine agency says sewage in water after ship visit
ALSO ONLINE: Disney ship rescues 18 Algerians lost at sea
ALSO ONLINE: Like the TV show Survivor? You'll love this cruise
Natalie Quinn, 26, Calvin Hylton, 41, Briony Dyce, 25, and Camille Dupee, 19 already have been sentenced to 12 years in prison a piece for attempting to smuggle the cocaine -- 44 pounds worth -- into England aboard the Arcadia. They were arrested as they disembarked the ship at the Southampton terminal after customs officials found the drugs strapped to their bodies.
The three-year-old ship had just returned from a 23-day cruise around the Caribbean where it made calls in Antigua, St. Lucia, Grenada, Barbados and other islands. The BBC says the smugglers, posing as tourists, had collected the drugs while in St. Lucia.
News outlets reported at the time that customs officials had searched the passengers after getting a tip from the ship's security officer. The security officer had found the four young Britons suspiciously out of place as the rest of the passengers onboard were couples of retirement age in their 60s and 70s.
Cruise Loggers, share your thoughts below.


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Orchard Farm Nesting Box to Let
We don't know whether we have occasion to be rejoicing or commiserating, I do hope the former. There has been no sign of parent blue tits or offspring for two days.
Does anyone know, do the young ones literally just fly the nest, followed by the parents? Or is this another case of 'nature red in tooth and claw'? Of course Boots is under suspicion but she could not possibly have attacked the whole lot anyway, and certainly not without leaving a lot of evidence behind…
Now, if we had had a camera installed we would not be in this state of ignorance and anxiety.


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Tacky and light grip pressure for a tension free putting stroke.
Triple Line embossing pattern that provides maximum traction while 100% Polymer Cord construction delivers unmatched response and control.


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We're excited to announce the finalists in the Downtown Project Arts Contest. These eleven artists will have their work displayed and performed at First Friday on October 5th. During the evening's celebration of the festival's 10th anniversary, we'll be announcing the Grand Prize Winner.
Over the next two weeks, we'll be featuring the winning submissions and the artists who created them.
Thank you to all of the artists, writers, filmmakers, and musicians who submitted their work for consideration. We are incredibly inspired by the creativity and innovation of the people in our community.
And the winners are:
Ginger Bruner–Photography
Mike Cao–Rap
Catherine Joy Calixto–Mixed Media
Diana Cossio–Animation
Matt Dunsmoor–long-form narrative
Patrick Fournie–short film
Christine Han–oil painting
Steven Liguori–sculpture
Mark Melnick–12K gold on glass
Robert Nelson–mosaic photograph
Kathleen Strukoff–oil on canvas
Photo by Bryan Schnitzer


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Today Aunt "Cake" leaves us. My heart is breaking. You know as a mom you have those moments where you wish you could clone yourself so that you can get more done...well, Cate is the closest I will ever get. She has been awesome with the kids. Just awesome! Cooked, cleaned, took the boys adventuring outside every day, cut fingernails, emptied dishwashers, loaded dishwashers, wrestled, sword fighted...and the list goes on. I'm pretty sure the kids will be as sad as I am. Jeremiah too. Now he has to go back on double duty around here.
I had a pregnancy scare on Tuesday this week. I had a really rough day throw up wise and started bleeding that afternoon. With my healthy pregnancies I never had any spotting. Only when we lost Myla. Obviously, my heart was paralyzed a little. But praise God...I went for an ultrasound and check up and the baby is fine! It is amazing how in two weeks time the baby has grown...it actually looks like a baby now...just a miniature version. What a miracle. I have some new back up medicine in case I have another out of control day again...and go back again in two week for another ultrasound. I have to say all the extra appointments this time around has been very reassuring.
Yesterday the weather got up to 60 degrees here and I officially have the spring bug. I know...bad idea with a lot more winter ahead of us, but I just couldn't help it. We even got to go to the park.
One of the main reasons I love North Carolina so much is how early Spring comes. This photo was taken last February. See...I only have to wait one more month for some real proof of spring.
Happy Thursday!
5 comments:
- JenJen said...
Praise God that the baby is still healthy and happy! I've been pregnant twice (our daughter, Lily, was stillborn in 8/2008 and we were blessed to welcome our son, Cooper in 2009) and I was always in awe with the developement between one ultrasound to the next! It's truly amazing!
- January 20, 2011 at 9:34 AM
- Tasha Via said...
Jenn, so sorry! I didn't find out until late last night and it was too late to call. I've been reminded that I need to pray for all of you girls carrying these precious children more! Love you, and SO glad everything is OK...
- January 20, 2011 at 1:02 PM
- Danielle Via said...
Glad to hear that everything is ok! I'm a little jealous of the extra ultrasounds though! = )
- January 21, 2011 at 10:53 PM
- Amanda said...
I was extremely sick throughout my pregnancies and both times ended up taking zofran on a regular basis. It was VERY helpful.
- January 23, 2011 at 9:24 AM
- scoopingitup said...
oh my heavens, congrats on your pregnancy! I am way behind!
- January 27, 2011 at 8:39 PM


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Class Playlist
- Meherbani, album: Taranga by Prem Joshua @ www.whiteswanrecords.com
- Stratos, album: Shavasana: White Swan Yoga Masters Vol. 3 by White Swan Yoga Masters @ www.whiteswanrecords.com
Preview of Jo Tastula, Vinyasa Flow playing below. Sign in to view full class and in HD!
10 min
RevitalizeVinyasa Flow | By Jo Tastula on Feb 12 2010
Enjoy this quick 10 min revitalizer which includes seated twist, hip and shoulder opener & core work, finishing with a forward bend. This clip is taken from a 60min flow class.


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Use this Leg as a replacement part for FB1001, CobraCo™ Steel Basic Fire Pit with Steel Legs.
The CobraCo™ Replacement Leg for Fire Pit Item 1001-LEG-R, is a replacement Leg for item FB1001. Includes one replacement leg.
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Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 1510 a.m. to 7 p.m.Richardson Bike Mart (Coit/Campbell)
Friday, May 1610 a.m. to 5 p.m.Richardson Bike Mart (Coit/Campbell)
Saturday, May 176:30 a.m. to 8 a.m.Start/Finish – 2801 Fujitsu – Telecom Parkway
Online registration closes on Friday, May 16 at noon CT
Please remember that our Start/Finish location has changed this year!
WildRide Start/FinishFujitsu2801 Telecom ParkwayRichardson, Texas 75082
Join us for the 11th annual WildRide Against Cancer on Saturday, May 17, 2014 and support programs and services that benefit cancer patients and their families!
Cyclists may register to ride 16, 40, or 64 miles through Richardson, Plano, Murphy, Wylie, and Garland and across the dam at Lake Lavon.
Online registration for the WildRide is available at BikeReg.com. Your WildRide registration fee helps pay for programs offered at the Methodist Richardson Cancer Center, including:
Proceeds from the WildRide also support new equipment and technology so that North Texas cancer patients can receive quality, compassionate cancer treatment close to home.
We hope you will be WILD about supporting our Cancer Center and ride with us on May 17, 2014!
Click below to download a PDF of the WildRide route map.
The Methodist Richardson Medical Center Foundation is so appreciative of the support of the Wildflower Arts & Music Festival and the City of Richardson to the WildRide Against Cancer!
Contact Us
MissionTo improve and save lives through compassionate quality health care.
VisionTo be the trusted provider of integrated quality health care in North Texas.ValuesMethodist SHINES
Methodist Health System Foundation


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Episode 49 – THE RETURN!
Posted by Steve
Geek Out Loud is back. 'Nuff Said? Not even barely. How about Derek Russell (reluctant co-host)? E-mails! Muppets! Summer 2011! TRON! and more. It's a fitting way to return to your safe place to geek out…this IS THE GEEK OUT LOUD PODCAST!
Standard Podcast [ 0:01 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download


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I'm a multi-culti student from the islands studying here in the United States. My heritage is Black, Samoan and West Indian. I am studying to get a degree in English Literature which I hope that… Read More »
Focus On
Celebrating How Loving Changed the Law
Category: People
Ken Tanabe is an advocate for understanding the impact of Loving vs. Virginia. LovingDay.org is one of his platforms.
Playing For Change Gains Momentum
Category: Lifestyle & Entertainment
It's great to see positive ideas take off. Playing for Change has the opportunity to make a real difference.
Greg Mortenson's Global Impact
Category: People
The author of Three Cups of Tea is promoting peace through education and understanding.
Visualizing What it Means to be Mixed
Category: Lifestyle & Entertainment
Kip Fulbeck's art is truly multi-media. His subjects' portraits and words bring clarity to the question, "What are you?".
Read and Engage
Celebrating How Loving Changed the Law
Shared in People by Will Mandeville 7 months, 2 days, 14 hours, 6 minutes ago
Playing For Change Gains Momentum
Shared in Lifestyle & Entertainment by PAULINA 8 months, 1 week, 4 hours, 36 minutes ago
Greg Mortenson's Global Impact
Shared in People by Will Mandeville 8 months, 2 weeks, 3 days, 4 hours, 1 minute ago


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See the full forecast for your area.
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Home Canterbury News Article
A new sound will echo through Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday when the first ever girls' choir sings at evensong.
The 16-strong group, aged between 13 and 16, breaks a centuries old tradition of male choirs and choristers but is said will bring will bring a different and appealing tonal quality to services.
They are from schools in the diocese and chosen following a auditions last November.
One of the new members Saskia Jamieson Bibb, said: "It's going to be really exciting. We will prove ourselves as girl choristers – the first time that a girls' choir has sung in the cathedral. There will be a lot of pressure probably, but it is a wonderful opportunity".
Another member Elizabeth Green, added: "It is a special choir – but there are high expectations. That is why it is a bit scary".
The new choir is led by assistant organist David Newsholme who said: "They have had only three rehearsals so far, but have made wonderful progress and are coming together as a team.
"They will add a new dimension to worship in the cathedral, but of course the boys are still very popular with both visitors and regular worshippers."
The Dean of Canterbury, the Very Revd Dr Robert Willis, added: "The boys' choir and the older girls' choir have a different timbre, but I have no doubt that, at some time in the future, they will sing together.
"We can achieve a diversity of musical sounds, something that we have already heard developing".
Click here for more news from Canterbury.
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lol, dude your posts are funny as ****. dont take my comments personally. i could care less what you post. if your not on drugs, great! if you are, great! i dont care. keep the posts coming your entertaining. im in the AC area so i especially liked the trippy story about the talking dog was it?
I'm not on drugs Da Mook. Hey wasn't there some guy that went by the moniker, "Mookie" around the Seaside area? You aren't him are you. I don't think you are. But who knows. Were you trying to insult me with the drug referrence? Aww man that hurts, dude. You guys are so angry on this site ....all talking about the length of your boards and how much rubber you need to put on. Not knowing what a barrel is.....crazy...crazy.....
I love you, Da Mook
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Broken promises. Canceled plans. Increased premiums. What's next?
Video: Obamacare: What's Next?
Video: MSNBC-Cable News' House Of Horrors
HHS Secretary Sebelius Violated Politicking Ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government ethics office says Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius violated a federal law that restricts political activity by government officials.
In a report Wednesday, the federal Office of Special Counsel said off-the-cuff remarks by Sebelius during a Feb. 25 speech to a gay rights group in North Carolina violated the Hatch Act.
Related posts:
- Sebelius Embraces Church, State Separation Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is paying homage…
- Did HHS Sect. Sebelius Spike A Report The economic report released last week by Health and Human…
Sebelius Embraces Church, State Separation
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius is paying homage to religious freedom and the separation of church and state in a graduation speech at Georgetown University, after Catholic church authorities lambasted the school's invitation for her to speak.
In remarks prepared for the Georgetown Public Policy Institute's awards ceremony Friday, she calls the separation of church and state "a fundamental principle of our democracy." Sebelius urges graduates to weigh different views in policy debates and follow their own moral compasses.
Read more at Official Wire. By the Associated Press.
Related posts:
- Media Twist O'Donnell-Coons Exchange On Church And State There was a debate between Christine O'Donnell and Chris Coons,…
- Catholic Church: Tell Sebelius You Will Not Obey The Department of Health and Human Services is unconstitutional. It's…
James Madison vs. Barack Obama on Funding Planned Parenthood
Dr. Paul G. Kengor, FloydReports.com
With a critical vote in its state Senate, North Carolina has voted to de-fund Planned Parenthood. Republicans hold a huge majority in the Senate—meaning, as a Republican majority usually does, that the Senate is pro-life. The governor of the state, Bev Perdue, is a Democrat—meaning, as a Democrat chief executive usually does, that the governor is "pro-choice," and favors funding Planned Parenthood. Enough Republicans exist in the legislature to over-ride Perdue's veto.
Prior to this vote, North Carolina infused Planned Parenthood with $434,000 annually, directed at state "family-planning programs." That money was to go to "non-abortion services;" that is, "non-abortion services" by the nation's largest abortion provider.
Most significant, North Carolina's action signals a potential trend among states. It is the third state to vote to de-fund Planned Parenthood, following measures by legislatures in Indiana and Kansas, where the governors are Republicans and supportive. In Kansas, the governor is the solidly pro-life Sam Brownback, a gigantic change from Governor Kathleen Sebelius, who is now President Obama's point-person to revamp America's healthcare system. In Indiana, the governor is Mitch Daniels.
In all three states, North Carolina, Kansas, and Indiana, we see yet again how the Republican Party has become the pro-life party and the Democratic Party—the party of my family's roots—has continued in the opposite direction.
The next key thing to watch is how the Obama administration reacts to North Carolina. In recent weeks….


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Salsa Chicken & Rice
ready in: under 30 minutes
serves/makes: 4
recipe id: 20931
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1 cup water
1 can (14.5 ounces) low sodium chicken broth
2 cups instant white rice
1/2 cup frozen corn
1/2 cup can black beans, rinsed and drained
3/4 cup prepared salsa
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 can (12-ounces) Chicken Breast, rinsed
Measure rice. Measure frozen corn. Open can of black beans and rinse. Measure salsa. Open canned chicken, measure and rinse. Add water and broth to saucepan and bring to boil. Add rice and cook about 3 minutes. Add the rest of the ingredients and simmer for 3 minutes. Add more cumin for added flavor.
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Portuguese Timor and Angola
I called on Almeida Santos yesterday to receive a briefing on his London talks with Ali Murtopo.
In outlining Portuguese views, Santos painted the following scenario. Portugal would be prepared to accept the principle of de jure independence for Timor, but before this principle could be implemented, there would be a transitional period of 6-8 years to be divided up as follows:
- For the first two or three years—Portugal would retain sovereignty in the person of a high commissioner and a Portuguese administration which would be assisted by a consultative council composed of representatives of the three political parties.
- For the next two or three years—a transitional government in which the three parties would be represented but with the Portuguese retaining a majority.
- For the next two years—a transitional government in which the political parties would have a majority.
- At the end of this period there would be elections for a constituent assembly to decide the territory's future constitutional status.
- As a first step a secret meeting would be held in Macao during April which would be attended by representatives from Portugal and the three political parties in Timor. At the same time Indonesian representatives would be available for consultation in Hong Kong if required.
- Santos said that Portugal would not impose any solution on Timor. There must be an act of free choice. But the proposed transitional period gave Indonesia and APODETI plenty of time to work for integration into Indonesia if that is what the Timorese wanted.
- I asked Santos if Ali Murtopo had accepted the above. He said yes including the proposal that APODETI should attend the preliminary meeting in Hong Kong.
- Towards the end of our meeting I reminded Santos of his previous offer to let me have a copy of the Portuguese record of the London talks and he obliged. The document is classified 'most classified most secret' and runs to 22 pages. We shall forward a translation by next safe hand bag. The record shows that Ali gave very little away and in substance did not go beyond saying that he would convey the Portuguese views to President Suharto. He is not on the record as having agreed to anything.
- There is thus a wide divergence of views between the two sides and, in the light of Jakarta's reports, Santos has very little reason to be optimistic. This is reinforced by a report just received from Governor Pires that for the past two days Radio Kupang has renewed its propaganda broadcasts to Timor.
- I thanked Santos for his advice and for the record of the London talks which I undertook to safeguard appropriately. I said our conversation was timely as President Suharto was currently in Australia for talks with Mr Whitlam and I was sure that Timor would be on the agenda. This prompted Santos to say that he would be grateful if I could brief him on the outcome of the Prime Minister's talks with Suharto in relation to Timor. I said I would be glad to do this as it was our mutual advantage to keep in close contact on the subject. (Grateful therefore if you would keep in mind Santos' request so that I can brief him accordingly.)
[matter omitted]
[NAA: A10463, 801/13/11/1, ix]


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Prisym ID
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PRISYM ID labelling software, labelling machines, order documentation and labelling software, stock management software, asset tracking software and inventory management software.
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Prof. Denis Auroux
Spring 2009
This course will focus on various aspects of mirror symmetry. It is aimed at students who already have some basic knowledge in symplectic and complex geometry (18.966, or equivalent). The geometric concepts needed to formulate various mathematical versions of mirror symmetry will be introduced along the way, in variable levels of detail and rigor.
Auroux, Denis. 18.969 Topics in Geometry: Mirror Symmetry, Spring 2009. (MIT OpenCourseWare: Massachusetts Institute of Technology), http://ocw.mit.edu/courses/mathematics/18-969-topics-in-geometry-mirror-symmetry-spring-2009 (Accessed). License: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA
For more information about using these materials and the Creative Commons license, see our Terms of Use.


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Francis Asbury Roe, born in Elmira, N.Y., 4 October 1823, graduated from the Naval School, Annapolis, in 1848. Six years later, while serving in Porpoise on the Asiatic Station, he participated in an engagement with 13 Chinese armored junks off Macao. Six of the junks were sunk and the others were scattered. During the Civil War, in April 1862, he was recommended for promotion for gallantry for his actions onboard Pensacola as that ship led Admiral Farragut's starboard column past Forts Jackson and St. Philip. After commanding Katahdin on the Mississippi, he was ordered to command Sassacus in September 1863. Eight months later he was again commended for gallantry for engaging the Confederate ram Albemarle and the gunboat Bombshell in the sounds of North Carolina. After the end of the war he commanded the Mexican Division of the Gulf Squadron; served as fleet captain for both the Asiatic Station from 1868 to 1871 and the Brazil Station from 1874 to 1875. Promoted to Rear Admiral 3 November 1884, while serving as Governor of the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia, he was transferred to the retired list 4 October 1885. He died in Washington, D.C., 28 December 1901.
(Destroyer No. 24: displacement 742 (normal); length 293'11"; beam 26'11"; draft 8'4" (mean); speed 29 knots; complement 91; armament 4 3", 6 18" torpedo tubes; class Roe)
The first Roe, Destroyer no. 24, was laid down 18 January 1909 by the Newport News Shipbuilding Co., Newport News, Va.; launched 24 July 1909; sponsored by Mrs. Reynold T. Hall; and commissioned 17 September 1910, Lt. C. H. Woodward in command.
Following commissioning, Roe conducted exercises in the Norfolk area until December with one interruption, a voyage to Newport, R.I., and back in early November. On 17 December she got underway for Key West and winter exercises in the Gulf of Mexico. With the spring, she returned to Norfolk and until January 1913 remained active off the mid-Atlantic and southern New England sea coasts. From January to April 1913, she participated in maneuvers in the Caribbean, then, into the fall, operated off New England. On 30 October, she arrived at Philadelphia where she was placed in reserve 3 November. In March 1914 she was assigned to the newly organized Reserve Torpedo Flotilla and until World War I rotated between reserve and active duty with the Atlantic Fleet. During the late summer and fall of 1914, she operated off the mid-Atlantic seaboard and from February to April 1915 again participated in winter maneuvers in the Caribbean. During the summer she was off southern New England; and, in November, she put into Charleston, where she was given a reduced complement status.
In March 1917, Roe, fully manned, was placed in full commission status. With the new month, April, she was assigned to Squadron 2, Division 5, Patrol Force and ordered to assist Treasury and Labor Department officials at Wilmington, in preventing the destruction or escape of German merchant vessels. On the 6th, as the United States entered World War I, she sent an armed guard on board Hohenfelde [see Long Beach (AK-9)].
At mid month Roe was transferred to Newport, whence she conducted antisubmarine patrols and carried out escort assignments for the next 6 months. On 9 November, she sailed for France where for the next year, she performed coastal patrol and escort duty.
On 5 November 1918, Roe departed Brest for the United States. She arrived at New York 1 December and at midmonth she returned to Charleston where she remained until July 1919. She then proceeded to Philadelphia where she was decommissioned 1 December and berthed with the Reserve Fleet. Designated DD-24 on 17 July 1920, Roe was activated in 1924 and transferred to the Treasury Department. From 7 June 1924 to 18 October 1930, she was operated by the Coast Guard. On her return to the Navy, she was again berthed at League Island where she remained until sold for scrap 2 May 1934 in accordance with the terms of the London Treaty.
20 October 2005


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Tech, marketing and agency something you gotta know.
Gallic Oscar noms feted at consul general's L.A. residence
See the original post:
French love 'Amour,' too
Talk NYC/WW is your daily download of the tech, marketing and advertising news you need to know. It's smartly curated to keep you up to speed on the innovators and innovations that are shaking up the digital world today.


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METAmorphoMESH is a new lacrosse mesh product from Jimalax where multiple sizes of diamonds are used in one piece of mesh. In this new MmMesh (that's a nice, short name), the diamonds are small (10 diamond style) up top, and larger (7 or 8 diamond) near the bottom. In the video below, Weston from Colorado explains his thoughts on the product, and since he's a stringer we trust, he's a stringer you should probably trust too.
The black and yellow mesh was a nice touch on that white Easton head. Wonder what it would be like to string the big diamonds up top? Someone get on that!
We're starting to see more of these multiple-sized diamond mesh pieces emerge in lacrosse, and 24 Seven Lax has been sharing photos of another variety (which has been around for a while) where the small holes run down the middle of the mesh, and large holes run down the sides of the mesh.
Is this the end of new mesh types? No way.
We're going to see more waxed or treated mesh, more mesh with different sized holes, more rubber mesh and I've even caught wind of a couple of other products which are in development now… As lacrosse continues to evolve, we will see more and more of this. Of course none of it really matters if you're afraid to string your own stick!


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Reviewed by 6 customers
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Comments about JanSport RIGHT PACK WORLD BACKPACK:
I purchased this bag for my middle school daughter. Very cute backpack but poorly made. Her suede bottom of the bag ripped on day two of using it. I am very frustrated about the whole situation.
- Cute
- Cheaply Made
Best Uses
Comments about JanSport RIGHT PACK WORLD BACKPACK:
I bought this back pack for my daughter who is junior in high school. I was hoping she'd at LEAST get through the rest of high school with it. She has used it for a total of 9 (NINE) days. The suede bottom is already tearing. Um. yeah. So there you go. Its a shame, because otherwise, its looks like it could be a great backpack, comfortable and stylish. But definitely NOT sturdy. And Most Definitely NOT worth 60 bucks.
- broke
- cheap material
- Damaged
Best Uses
Comments about JanSport RIGHT PACK WORLD BACKPACK:
This backpack was used for a freshman in college. It was used for only a few weeks and the bottom ripped open. I paid 60 dollars for a backpack to only have it break two weeks later. Not cool. I will not be purchasing a Jansport backpack again.
- Cute
- Tears easily
Best Uses
Comments about JanSport RIGHT PACK WORLD BACKPACK:
I had this backpack for two weeks and wasn't carrying an excessive amount of weight and it the suede part tore. I was extremely disappointed. I was told this backpack would last me a while but obviously not.
Comments about JanSport RIGHT PACK WORLD BACKPACK:
I am a sophomore in college and I bought this bag because I could never find a bag that was the right size to hold my laptop and school supplies and seemed durable.
When the Right Pack World Series came out, I fell in love and took the plunge. I love this bag in every way. I love the comfort of the shoulder straps, they don't dig into your shoulders even when carrying around nearly everything you own. I love the size, and I love that it doesn't poof up when full (creating a turtle shell look) like other big backpacks. I love the unique design. I love the suede bottom and zipper pulls. It's just overall a perfect bag!
- Many compartments
- Not a lot of colors
Best Uses
Comments about JanSport RIGHT PACK WORLD BACKPACK:
I've owned a Big Student and a Superbreak, and this is by far the best of all of them. The Big Student was too big for me and the Superbreak didn't have enough compartments for me. This backpack has a laptop sleeve inside the biggest compartment, a large compartment with a pen and phone holder, and a smaller one. Also, the leather bottom is great because I use my backpack for school and the floors aren't always clean.
The Right Pack World Collection takes you to Africa, China, Japan, Mexico and Brazil, with colorful fabrics and patterns inspired by each culture. Each backpack features the iconic Right Pack suede leather bottom and internal 15 inch laptop sleeve.
Unique fabric application inspired from countries across the world | Suede leather bottom | Internal sleeve fits 15" laptop | One large main compartment | Straight-cut, padded shoulder straps | Front utility pocket with organizer
Capacity: 1900 cu in / 31 L|Weight: 1 lb 4 oz / 0.6 kg |Dimensions: 18" x 13" 8.5" / 46 x 33 x 21 cm|Laptop Dimensions: 10.5" x 11" x 1" / 27 x 28 x 3 cm|Fabric: Cotton Canvas / Polyester Jacquard / Polyester Yarn Dye
may we suggest


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Wine Rack with Occasional Wines:
This is idea is great as a group gift from the bridal party. Buy a wine rack and fill it with bottles for special occasions that will come in the couple's first year of marriage. Tag them so they know when to use them. They're first New Year's Eve, Valentines Day, religious holidays, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving, Anniversaries, etc.
Recipe + Ingredients and Utensils
Lots of bridal showers these days will send recipe cards in the mail along with the invitation. For me, this is an instant gift idea. I almost always will give a recipe for my mother's ice cream cake which can't be made with a spring form pan. Add a gift card to Ben & Jerry's, a few candy bars, a serving plate and you are good to go.
Custom Champagne Bottle:
Great idea for a shower gift or a wedding gift for the couple's honeymoon. You can DIY or go to sites like mymoet.com and have the couple's names, wedding date, or cute phrase added to a celebratory bottle.
Jewelry Travel Bag
Clearly the bride has gotten a few new jewels recently. Why not upgrade her travel bag too? Spend a little more on a brand that will last. Luggage in general is a nice thought, but the jewelry bag has an extra intimate touch for this occasion. Even if she's not going on some exotic honeymoon, the bride will deserve to at some point!
Family Tree:
If you are attending a wedding of an immediate family member consider a giving a family tree. It is one of those thoughtful gestures that you think about doing for yourself but never quite get around to. There is also the symbolic gesture associated with adding the new bride or groom to the family. Photo frames, handwritten or printed texts, or actually illustrated trees will work.
Family Recipe Book:
Another thoughtful idea for a family member or close friend-of-the-family is a recipe book. Yes, it can be done on a budget and it will likely turn out to be the most coveted and useful books in the kitchen. Using a book printing site like snapfish will add a touch of class and professionalism that the average recipe card box lacks.
Photo Album:
I got this ingenious idea from a frugal wedding post. With six weddings on my plate this year I have been looking for all of the creative help I can get. I think this one might be a winner. The idea is not your average photo album. For those of you who have been married you know that wedding photos can take weeks or months to get back to you. Albums can come up to a year later. Ok finally the idea – attend the wedding, take photos, and have an album printed for the couple ASAP. Even if you're not the best photographer (which shouldn't matter, that's why they paid for one) they will be thrilled to have an album in front of them to show off to the throngs of people who will be asking for pictures.
If you know where the happy couple will be honeymooning, buy them something for their trip. If they are going to a resort or on a cruise check out gift packages that their host might offer. I've done dinner packages and drink tickets at all inclusive resorts and cruises. Excursions are also great ideas, but make sure you know the couple's taste or ask them first. If they're going to a foreign country why not give them a wad of cash in the foreign currency? These gift are extra-thoughtful and can be a great surprise!
You can't go wrong with the registry. You might think it's impersonal but it is what they couple wants after all and if everyone ignored the registry you would have one bummed married couple on your hands! If all else fails, you know it… CA$H is king.


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Throw your favorite piece of fabric over-top, stack your mis-matched china & add some silverware into a tin and voila!
4. Side table! I don't think I need to explain this one.
(Love the colors here Maggie, teal and tangerine? Yes please!!! – K)
5. And for the men! Throw some cigars in there and we've got ourselves a bar/lounge area. (of course this can go both ways..but we've got to give the guys a little love here and there right?)
(This might just be my favorite moment from Maggie and Kim. I adore the moody vintage-romantic vibe of it all! – K)
I cannot say thank you enough to Maggie for taking the time to create such detailed inspiration for us. It is incredibly obvious she loves every moment of styling of styling with her gorgeous collection of pieces. Maggie has a fun showroom in Northeast PA so be sure to give her a call if you are in the area!
Hugs to the talented Kim Winey for the stunning photography!
Dolores M.
Dina R.
Marisa A.
Sarah-Jane W.
Amy B.
When planning our vow renewal celebration back in 2010 I met Maggie, the lovely gal behind Maggpie Vintage Rentals. Maggie and Jason (the fiance) are making quite the name for themselves and I'm lucky to have them right in my back yard! In addition to having a keen eye for spotting the sweetest pieces to collect, Maggie also has a sharp eye for styling. This week she put together some inspiration for us based on the newest pieces in her inventory, so much so I can't fit it all into one post! Big hugs to Maggie for staging these glorious images just for RiceInk readers. Wow, don't we feel special? XO
As some of you may have noticed Jason and I have been drawn to our spools lately. I've been obsessed with them ever since Jason randomly brought them home about a year ago so I thought, why not take my current favorite piece and simply showcase that. So that's what I did. Well, not just me exactly. Kim Winey was scheduled to shoot in the space and I thought, perfect, I'll ask her for some help. Well I should know better. What I thought was going to be a few simple concepts and a few pictures.. turned into a production. A really great production though! I'd like to call this segment "Just Spoolin' Around" (props to Jason) As much as I'd like the pictures to speak for themselves, I'm still going to do a little explanation of each, but really the pictures speak for themselves.
1. An intimate umbrella table made out of lace.. what else would it be made out of? Can you do this on a large scale? Not quite, but it can be used in several intimate settings. Sweetheart table, bridal party table..How about nix the chairs and use it as your guest book table? I'm not going to make a large list because I know you just want to look at the pictures…
OR why not be inspired to make one yourself and take your cup of coffee out on a summer morning and enjoy it under an umbrella made of lace?
Kristy this would look nice in your front yard. (I'll take one please! – K)
2.Those of you who love mis matched china… how about a simple display of cups & saucers?
Check back later this week for more styling ideas from Maggie!


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A very warm welcome awaits at Kateshill House, a Georgian manor house overlooking Bewdley. Two acres of landscaped gardens provide a dramatic backdrop to the house, as well as fruit for breakfasts and...More about Kateshill House
Dating from before 1780, the Woodcolliers Arms is a family-run establishment located in the renowned Georgian town of Bewdley. This is a traditional inn offering an interesting menu with both British ...More about Woodcolliers Arms
Once a private bank, this Victorian house retains many original features and offers comfortable accommodation. The cosy dining room is the setting for tasty English breakfasts served at one family tab...More about Bank House
This hotel enjoys a waterfront location and is close to the Merry Hill Shopping Mall. Polished marble floors, rich fabrics and striking interior design are all in evidence in the stylish public areas....More about Copthorne Hotel Merry Hill - Dudley
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I think I had gotten a bit obsessed with buying lip products for the last few weeks. Maybe the reason is that lipsticks are easy to get one of, sort of as a small, easy way to satisfy a spending urge.
Not too long ago, I visited this Asian store nearby that has a bunch of random stuff. I found out they sell a bunch of random cosmetics, mostly Nyx products. Since I didn't have any Nyx lipsticks, I looked over the Black Label lipsticks.. They were $6.99 each. I had meant to just buy one to try out, but I couldn't decide between these 3 colors, so I bought them all... =]
Nyx Black Label Lipsticks
I like the packaging. You just open up the top flaps, and push the tube out from the top and it slides out of the bottom. Also, the bottom of each tube shows what the color of the lipstick should look like.
One thing I don't like about the packaging is that sticker that indicates the name of the lipstick is on the cap. I prefer all informational writing specific to the product to be attached to the body of the product itself, like on the bottom of the tube or something. I get kind of neurotic about these things, because I could easily get confused and switch the caps.
Colors are great. Pigmentation is amazing.
- I really have to apply 'India' quite lightly, because the peachy nude color looks kind of salmon-orange on me, making me look like a cartoon.
- Dusty Rose is the most wearable color, in my opinion, but still very noticeable color on me.
- Tea in Afternoon is so beautiful, kind of dramatic and I think would be great for evening wear.
These next 3 lipsticks from Mattese Elite were purchased from hautelook.com when they had the Ricky's NYC Mattese Elite sale. The lipsticks usually retail for $10, but these were sold at $4 each. Again, I purchased 3. The raunchy names really got me. I like products to have humor in them. How could I not get 'Happy Ending,' 'Deep,' & 'Naked'? lol
Packaging also great. The cardboard on the outside has an open slot. I don't know what purpose that could possibly serve. I really like the matte charcoal tubes, with shiny black trim, even the ME written on the tube.
These have the name of the lipstick written on the bottom of the lipstick...excellent!
I've yet to try these lipsticks, but Happy Ending appears to be a bright hot pink. Deep is such a dark burgundy, it almost looks straight up brown. Naked is basic, flesh-toned color, very self-explanatory.
Moving on... I liked the Black Label lipsticks a lot, so I decided to purchase what I think is one of the Nyx Round Lipsticks. They're all labeled 'Lip Smacking Fun Colors,' and that sounds a-okay to me.
The color selection was enormous and overwhelming, so to be honest, I selected 'Paris' because of the name. (I miss Paris...)
I love how all the Nyx products have that little symbol that tells you how long the product is supposed to last you before it goes bad.
These next 3 pictures are just meant to show sizing differences. I don't know how much a standard tube of lipstick contains, but I did notice that the ME lipsticks are probably the smallest ones I've ever owned. I don't mind, I like the petite size of it. In fact, I think someone like me needs cosmetic products in all mini or travel size, since I hardly ever use anything up.
So here's how they size up.
- Nyx Black Label: 0.15 oz.
- Nyx Round (Lip Smacking Fun Colors): 0.14 oz.
- Mattese Elite: .11 oz.
|NYX Round vs ME
|Black Label, Round, ME
|Looks like the reception bars on cell phones, right? (Cingular bars, remember?)
About a week ago, Rimmel was BOGO 1/2 off at Walgreen's. Since, I had wanted to try Nude Delight for a while, I decided to finally buy it and the Comfortable Nude lip gloss.
I hope this is the last nude lip product I ever buy. One could only tell if you swatch them all side by side.
Now I hope I stop buying lip products in general, because it'll take me a while to get through just the ones I showed here.