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Until recently, many thought that Europe had escaped the worst of the 2008 financial crisis. Some even argued that the crisis has demonstrated the European social model's superiority over "Anglo-Saxon capitalism". In 2010, however, we have seen an entire country bailed out, riots in Athens, governments slashing budgets, and several European nations staring sovereign debt default in the face. Some are even claiming that the euro is finished. So what went wrong for Europe? How adequate have been the responses of European governments? And what are the consequences for America? The video is from the Aug. 2 Acton Lecture Series in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Forgive the blunt title of this blog post, but the point needs to be made in no uncertain terms.
The Zenit News Agency has interviewed John Medaille, author of Toward a Truly Free Market: A Distributist Perspective on the Role of Government, Taxes, Health Care, Deficits, and More, which calls for a direct if brief (more later, perhaps – I have yet to read the book) response from this Catholic defender of the market economy.
Whether or not Pope Benedict's Caritas in Veritate is a boon to "alternative economics" as the Zenit interviewer claims, the market economy has come under attack from just about every corner since the global financial crisis of 2008. It's easy enough to kick a system when it's down, even when there's plenty of blame to go around. Some critics, however, have been suffering through many decades of capitalist triumphalism to get their revenge. Among these are the distributists.
As I've noted in some recent blog posts, distributism has its origin in the writings of G.K. Chesterton and Hilaire Belloc who, for the brilliant Catholic apologists they were, seem to have known very little about economics. As the Zenit interviewer remarks, "many are skeptical, and believe distributism is simply romantic agrarianism, or worse, just an aesthetic sensibility, without any real practical solutions."
Identified as a "neo-distributist," Medaille wants to make up for the deficiencies of his fathers. He takes economics more seriously and argues that distributism is the "truly" free-market system compared to capitalism or socialism, though it should be remembered that Chesterton and Belloc also supported distributism in the name of economic liberty, private property and less interference from the state. Be that as it may. The question is ultimately whether distributism, neo- or paleo-, lives up to its claims as an "alternative" or "third-way."
Medaille starts by critiquing the related notions that economics is a physical, rather than a human, science and that economics has nothing to do with ethics, especially justice. I don't know who he is debating here. When I studied economics as an undergrad at a large secular university and worked as an international economist for the U.S. government, I may have come across such types, though no one was so brash to say that ethics didn't matter. But it definitely does not describe those of us who appreciate Austrian economics and promote a Catholic understanding of the market economy.
More to the point, the question is how economics as a human science is to "practice" justice. How exactly can an economic system ensure justice between a buyer and a seller who come to a common agreement? Doesn't the virtue of justice require just persons? And isn't legal justice the purview of the state that legislates against force, fraud, theft, etc.?
For an example, Medaille says that, in matters of trade, foreign financing of domestic consumption is impoverishing to both parties and presumably unjust. While I could be convinced of its imprudence or undesirability in certain situations, I fail to see why or how such financing is always and everywhere unjust and therefore deserving of a blanket condemnation.
Medaille then states his case for distributism as the truly free-market system compared to capitalism and socialism. He makes the obvious point that any system that concentrates power is bound to leave individuals worse off and less free. Socialism is clearly guilty as charged but does capitalism necessarily lead to greater concentrations of economic power? The problem of concentrated power mainly occurs when corporations and the state work together – a.k.a. corporatism – which hardly describes a market economy worth defending and may even resemble the distributist model.
A truly free-market economy must allow free competition; it is only when capitalists collude to restrict competition that power is concentrated and freedom restricted. Yet this is precisely what guilds seek to do. Or have the neo-distributists distanced themselves from Chesterton and Belloc's defense of guilds and critique of competition and advertising? I cannot tell.
Medaille is on firmer ground when he reminds us that the government should be doing less and that government interference often leads to the concentration of power. But he then ruins his case by looking to the state and trade associations to collude, which seems to be acceptable so long as it all happens at a local level.
Medaille explicitly proposes using tax policy, property law, licensing authorities and other political means to the advantage of some over others. But how is local government somehow exempt from draconian or overly restrictive interference? In fact, the history of republican government is full of such examples, especially in cases where an obstinate minority asserts its rights against the majority. The concentration of power often begins "small", "locally" or "popularly" and grows from there; see Hayek's The Road to Serfdom for a well-known demonstration of the phenomenon.
In the end, I am left wondering just what the distributists think is so good about economic freedom. As far as I can tell, it is not about using our God-given skills and talents through the division of labor for the benefit of all, and I see absolutely no mention of poverty reduction, longer life expectancies, medical and technological advances, the social virtues encouraged by commerce, and other goods brought about by economic freedom. The distributist vision of economic liberty and private property seems to feed a misguided notion of self-sufficiency and pride that is as antithetical to Catholic social teaching as materialism and consumerism.
Furthermore, the neo-distributist case for free markets is riddled with the same contradictions and problems that plagued its predecessor. Making the case against socialism and a mythical laissez-faire state of affairs is simply not good enough these days. Instead of urging serious Catholics and others who take ethics seriously to seek new economic models or "lifestyles," why not encourage them to understand how markets work and what moral freedom and responsibility require from us as citizens and in the marketplace?
Over at MercatorNet, there is a discussion taking place on the "world's most dangerous idea." Entries include the idea that human beings are no more dignified than animals, that the cheap, abundant information found on the Internet is a good thing, and that the holding of dogmas is only for the narrow-minded. But the one "dangerous idea" most interesting to PowerBlog readers may that "capitalism is the most ethical form economics."
This last contribution comes from Prof. Jeffrey Langan, chairman of the Liberal Studies Department, Holy Cross College at Notre Dame University. Langan's argument is that the victory of capitalism over communism and fascism in the 20th century has blinded us to the serious defects and "real injustices that are part of its foundation, history, principles, and ethos."
Langan argues that capitalism is based on a "subtly dangerous materialism," that the greatest period of capital formation took place as a result of King Henry VIII's theft of Church property, that self-interest is simply a euphemism for avarice, that capitalism promotes usury and the rule of the strong over the weak, and lowers the wages of the workers. Not content to stick to these very negative economic consequences, Langan then asserts that capitalism promotes "the widespread use of birth control, abortion, easy divorce, and now gay marriage. Children in proudly capitalist families are frequently beset with alcohol, drug and sex addictions." He concludes that "[c]apitalism is not compatible with the principles of equitable human development" and that we are better off avoided the term "capitalism" as such.
These are bold accusations to make, especially in such a short commentary, and even more so when they are made without a shred of evidence. (Langan writes that footnotes are available upon request, but he has yet to reply to my request for them.) Though he does not use the term "distributist," it seems that Langan has been strongly influenced by the critique of capitalism offered by that school of thought, the problems of which have been dissected by Thomas E. Woods Jr. in the 2008 Acton monograph Beyond Distributism, in an Acton University Lecture I gave in June, and partially taken up in a previous blog post of mine.
Without the footnotes, it is difficult to refute Langan's core arguments about the theory and history of capitalism. Part of me wants to think that Langan is being deliberately provocative, exaggerating his case of rhetorical effect, or even arguing tongue-in-cheek. But if Langan truly believes that supporters of capitalism are blind to its defects, he is purposely ignoring what Catholic social teaching had to say about capitalism, and especially Pope John Paul II's qualified acceptance of an ethical form of capitalism in the 1991 encyclical Centesimus Annus (see especially n. 42) as well as his preference for terms other than "capitalism" to describe the market/free/business economy. More recently, Pope Benedict XVI has also gone to great lengths to recall the benefits as well as the challenges of economic globalization in last year's encyclical Caritas in Veritate (see, again, n.42).
What is even more damning of Langan's critique of capitalism is that it provides cover for those who wish to deny the connection of human freedom and responsibility that is the result of our God-given dignity. If human beings are simply driven by their desire for even-increasing amounts of material goods and do not posses the ability to say "no" or even "enough," then there really is no responsible use of freedom and we would be nothing other than clever animals. It can and should be admitted that an unethical form of capitalism can treat people as nothing more than consumers. But if this is the anthropology at the root of capitalism, if human beings are not capable of living freely and responsibly, why shouldn't we opt just as easily for those 20th-century ideologies of communism or fascism? Do we favor capitalism just because it gives us more stuff and makes fewer demands of us? Far from being a dangerous idea, ethical capitalism is what we need now more than ever.
I think that the oppression threatening democracies will not be like anything there has been in the world before….
I see an innumerable crowd of men, all alike and equal, turned in upon themselves in a restless search for those petty, vulgar pleasures with which they fill their souls….
Above these men stands an immense and protective power which alone is responsible for looking after their enjoyments and watching over their destiny. It is absolute, meticulous, ordered, provident, and kindly disposed. It would be like a fatherly authority, if, fatherlike, its aim were to prepare men for manhood, but it seeks only to keep them in perpetual childhood; it prefers its citizens to enjoy themselves provided they have only enjoyment in mind. It works readily for their happiness but it wishes to be the only provider and judge of it. It provides their security, anticipates and guarantees their needs, supplies their pleasures, directs their principal concerns, manages their industry, regulates their estates, divides their inheritances….
Thus, it reduces daily the value and frequency of the exercise of free choice; it restricts the activity of free will within a narrower range and gradually removes autonomy itself from each citizen. Equality has prepared men for all this, inclining them to tolerate all these things and often even to see them as a blessing.
Thus, the ruling power, having taken each citizen one by one into its powerful grasp and having molded him to its own liking, spreads its arms over the whole of society, covering the surface of social life with a network of petty, complicated, detailed, and uniform rules through which even the most original minds and the most energetic of spirits cannot reach the light in order to rise above the crowd. It does not break men's wills but it does soften, bend, and control them; rarely does it force men to act but it constantly opposes what actions they perform; it does not destroy the start of anything but it stands in its way; it does not tyrannize but it inhibits, represses, drains, snuffs out, dulls so much effort that finally it reduces each nation to nothing more than a flock of timid and hardworking animals with the government as shepherd.
I have always believed that this type of organized, gentle, and peaceful enslavement just described could link up more easily than imagined with some of the external forms of freedom and that it would not be impossible for it to take hold in the very shadow of the sovereignty of this people.
Alexis De Tocqueville, 1840.
Democracy in America, pp. 805-6.
This week I'm attending Mises University, one of the largest and most rigorous summer courses in the Austrian School of economics (or "reality economics," as my friend Michael McKay likes to call it).
Among the various lectures, there was one in particular that struck me as particularly relevant to the work of the Acton Institute. Peter Klein, professor of economics at the University of Missouri, delivered a presentation on entrepreneurship, a large part of the focus of his academic work.
Dr. Klein approaches the subject of entrepreneurship from the more realistic Austrian perspective. Rather than viewing people as examples of the homo economicus, as almost robotic, quantitatively-driven machines, Dr. Klein views human beings as unique and free actors. When we act, we do so under conditions of time and uncertainty. Though every human action presupposes cause and effect, there is no guarantee that our instincts are correct or that our efforts will pay off. In this way, every one of us, whenever we choose some action, is a kind of entrepreneur. In the face of uncertainty, we have an intended – but not guaranteed – result of action.
Combine that with the Austrians' very realist take on production: production is not some kind of abstract graphical function, but the concrete act of taking a natural resource (e.g. some wood, a stone, some metal ore), and using one's labor – almost investing a part of oneself – to physically transform it.
In a very broad sense, we all participate in this two-sided entrepreneurial action: actively and consciously transforming the world around us, and doing so in the face of uncertainty and imperfect knowledge.
In a much more specific sense, this activity applies to the people we would usually call entrepreneurs (Ludwig von Mises called them, "entrepreneur-promoters"). These are the businessmen we all know: the small-business owner, the investment banker, the risk-taker. These are individuals whose entrepreneurial spirit in a special way exceeds those of everyone around them. They are the ones willing to take on greater risk, confront greater uncertainty, and make more difficult decisions.
In any case, I find that this realistic description of the role of entrepreneurship fits extremely well with the theology in The Call of the Entrepreneur. In the film, we learn that the entrepreneur is a "co-creator": He participates in the act of transforming raw materials and natural resources into products for consumers; but the entrepreneur does so by investing time and energy into the production process. And creativity and imagination play an indispensable role in this process of co-creation.
I remember a kind of feeling of awe when this thought dawned on me during Dr. Klein's lecture. Here we find yet another example of how the market process, when understood and employed correctly, is not simply a morally indifferent result of choice, but a morally positive thing. Society and its consumers are made better off, and both the laborer and the entrepreneur are reminded of their human dignity as they participate in God's work of fashioning the world.
At MercatorNet, Sheila Liaugminas looks at the bank regulation push — enshrined in another 2,000 page document that few of the legislators behind this effort will actually read. In "Social Order on the Surface" she recalls an Acton conference where she heard this from Rev. Robert A. Sirico:
Politicians are not our leaders in a rightly ordered society, they are our followers … Not all views of culture are equal. but we can't engage socially on our disagreements because everything becomes political … There is no legislature that can govern the human heart … A correct understanding of who the human person is is important to social ordering. Man is prior to the state. You can't have a 'common good' if the good of the individual is not taken into consideration first.
Liaugminas also links to Research Director Samuel Gregg's recent journal article "Smith versus Keynes: Economics and Political Economy in the Post-Crisis Era" in the Harvard Journal of Law and Public Policy.
"Statism is expanding in the U.S. right now under the guise of 'the common good,'" Laugminas said. "Acton is only one institute engaging the debate about how Washington is handling the moral and 'economic dimension of human reality,' but we'd better pay attention."
Advancing the "common good" behind the banner of statism has turned out to be an exercise in reckless selfishness and rapidly advancing insecurity. Where the gospel of redistribution of wealth was advertised as a way to ensure social equality, it now threatens to impoverish great masses of those who bought into the glittering promises. And promises are still being made. Recall President Obama telling Joe the Plumber that "spreading the wealth around" would be good for everybody (see video above).
Culture matters, much more so than politics. In "End of the European Siesta?," Guy Sorman on City Journal explains why the financial fix for Europe's debt problems are really superficial and temporary. Europe, he contends, needs to throw off the socialist ideologies — now embedded in cultural attitudes — that are at odds with its founding free market philosophy.
… the European Union is based on a free market. It was so conceived in political philosophy and in economics, and the only possible way to govern it is in accordance with such economic freedom. Yet all the national governments, even those of the right, have in fact created gigantic welfare states inspired by socialist ideology.
The fact is that, at the origins of Europe, Jean Monnet, a Cognac entrepreneur with strong American connections, concluded that European governments had never succeeded and would never succeed in making Europe a zone of peace and prosperity. He thus replaced the diplomatic engine with an economic engine: free trade and the spirit of enterprise, he envisioned, would generate "concrete areas of solidarity" that would eliminate war and poverty.
The "fatal drift" away from economic freedom, Sorman explains, inevitably led to the EU project going off the rails. Is America headed down the same path? Is the culture of free enterprise, for so long integral to what it means to be an American, now in permanent decline? More from Sorman on Europe:
Unfortunately, the national governments thought it possible to reap the economic benefits of a free Europe and the electoral delights of socialism. By "socialism," I mean the unlimited growth of the welfare state—the accumulation of entitlements and jobs protected by the state. This de facto socialism, this sedimentation of electoral promises and acquired rights, grew in Europe at a much faster rate than did the economy or the population. It could thus only be financed by loans, which seemed risk-free, since the euro appeared "strong." The euro's strength drove its holders into a frenzy: suddenly, anything could be bought on credit. The result was a remarkably homogeneous indebtedness in all the countries of Europe, on the order of 100 percent of national wealth—ranging between Germany's 91 percent and the Greeks' 133 percent (a relatively modest difference), all reflecting a common socialist drift. Germany, Greece, Spain, and France differ less in their levels of debt or modes of administration, which are in fact quite similar, than in their debtors' capacities to repay. All European states are run socialist-style, in contradiction with the European Union's free-market principles. Some will be more able than others to deal with defaults, but all have drifted off course.
How shall we explain this fatal drift? The true cause lies in ideology. Socialism dominates minds across Europe, whereas liberalism—which has retained its original free-market meaning in Europe—is under attack in the academy, in the media, and among intellectuals generally. In Europe, to support the market against the state, to recommend modesty on the part of the state, is taken for an "American" perversion. And socialist ideology is sufficiently engrained that it's almost impossible for a non-suicidal politician to win election without promising still more public "solidarity" and still less individual risk. These welfare states, through their financial cost and the erosion of ethical responsibility that they foster, have smothered economic growth in Europe. We are the continent of decline, albeit decline with solidarity.
A reminder that tonight's Acton on Tap promises to be another good one. Jonathan Witt, writer and Research Fellow at the Acton Institute, will lead a discussion about J.R.R. Tolkien's views on freedom, capitalism, socialism, and distributism, and he will look at some of the ways those views have been misrepresented. The event takes place from 6-8 p.m. at the Derby Station in East Grand Rapids, Mich. (Map it here.) No advance registration is required. The only cost is your food and drink.
About the discussion leader:
Jonathan Witt, writer and research fellow with the Acton Institute, wrote scripts for The Call of the Entrepreneur and The Birth of Freedom, and co-wrote the script for The Privileged Planet (2004), all of which have aired on PBS. He also wrote scripts for the Effective Stewardship DVD Series, published by Zondervan. Previously Witt served as the writer in residence with the Seattle-based Center for Science & Culture and as a tenured professor of literature and creative writing at Lubbock Christian University. His academic writing has appeared in Philosophia Christi, Touchstone and Literature and Theology; his opinion pieces in such places as The Seattle Times, The Kansas City Star, Science & Theology News and The American Spectator; and his narrative writing in the literary journals Windhover and New Texas. He is the co-author of A Meaningful World: How the Arts and Sciences Reveal the Genius of Nature (IVP, 2006).
In this new Acton Lecture Series audio, Acton's Michael Miller discusses why many blame capitalism as the primary source of cultural disintegration. Miller, director of programs and Acton Media, asks: Does capitalism destroy culture or are other forces at work?
Listen to the lecture online here:
From Miller's Jan. 21 Acton Commentary, "The End of Capitalism?"
At least on equal par with a juridical framework as a factor in sustaining market systems is a specific moral culture. This includes trust, diligence, collaboration, honesty, perseverance, and prudence. If this crisis has taught us anything, it is the importance of morality for a market economy. The list of the seven deadly sins comprises an outline of the crisis's causes. How many of us out of greed, gluttony, or pride used credit cards to buy things we did not need or could not afford, just so we could have the latest gadget or keep up with the Joneses? What about Wall Street bankers who couldn't resist the chance to make ever more and took imprudent risks with clients' money, or out of pride bought financial instruments they hardly understood. Markets cannot succeed without a strong moral fabric among the citizenry.
On the Economix blog at the New York Times, Uwe E. Reinhardt wrote a post titled "How Businesses Create Wealth." That elicited attention from a commenter who wondered where he was "trying to go with this essay." Reinhardt, an economics professor at Princeton, answers with "Companies: What Are They Good For?" He also cites an article from Acton's Journal of Markets & Morality: "A Communitarian Model of Business: A Natural-Law Perspective." Reinhardt:
Actually, I was not trying to go anywhere with my analysis, other than to point out that businesses create value and wealth beyond the usually narrow slice that accrues strictly to the owners.
In most firms, the largest fraction of the gross value that businesses create with the goods and services they produce is channeled to employees. That allocation helps create household wealth, which may be held in the form of a home or other real estate, pensions or investments in mutual funds, or highly productive human capital — that is, highly educated offspring.
With their chronic suspicion of for-profit business, commentators on the left of the ideological spectrum insufficiently acknowledge that major contribution that business makes to social welfare.
Former Acton colleague, Jay Richards just reported that his book Money, Greed, and God has just been released in paperback. It is a thoughtful Christian analysis of the market economy and an excellent summary of the many key fallacies that plague the way we understand–or rather misunderstand–economics.
He writes:
My tentative title for the book had been The Christian Case for Capitalism. I had even referred to it that way for a couple of years while I was working on it. But the publisher came up with Money, Greed, and God: Why Capitalism Is the Solution and Not the Problem. I have friends who still think my original idea is preferable, but I'm not so sure. I've haven't gotten a sense that anyone has been confused about the title. The only negative effect is that a few wags have suggested that "Money, Greed, and God" sounds like the platform for the Republican Party. I gotta admit, that's pretty funny.
In any case, the more controversial question has been, why did I choose to defend something called "capitalism"? Wouldn't it have been better to put "free enterprise" or "free market" in the title? I do have some thoughts about that, which I'll write about later. But I should say that I was quite intentional in defending something called "capitalism."
You can also order a copy of the book at the Acton Book Shop. We'll have paperback copies in stock soon.


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Academic All Stars
Posted: 04/27/2006 - Two Chipola College students were recognized for hitting the books and community involvement.
Posted: 04/27/2006 - Two Chipola College students were recognized for hitting the books and community involvement.
Posted: 04/27/2006 - The Bush administration is beefing up security for hundreds of thousands of workers at U.S. seaports. About 450,000 port workers now must receive background checks to ensure they don't pose terrorist threats.
Posted: 04/27/2006 - A bill to keep public schools from opening too early each year is advancing at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee.
Posted: 04/27/2006 - A man is convicted this week of looting drugs from a Louisiana pharmacy in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, then selling those drugs in Bay County.
Posted: 04/26/2006 - The state Medical Examiner's Commission has launched an investigation into autopsies performed by the Bay County's coroner.
Posted: 04/26/2006 - There is more bad news for Katherine Harris.
Posted: 04/26/2006 - Efforts are underway at the state Capitol to reverse some of the things voters have been in the state constitution in recent years.
Posted: 04/26/2006 - Dozens of teachers from around the state descended on the Capitol to protest legislation they say will hurt students.
Posted: 04/26/2006 - Florida's KidCare insurance program for low-income children was facing more than $200 million in cuts this spring, but lawmakers have suddenly had a change of heart.
Posted: 04/26/2006 - A bill that would give telephone companies the chance to complete with cable TV operators is one step closer to becoming reality.
Posted: 04/25/2006 - Who says local politics aren't interesting? Apparently there are still some mixed opinions with the mayor and city commissioners over who has the right to appoint who to what.
Posted: 04/25/2006 - We hear from a competing hospital who says they received similar acclaim, but feel they're not getting a fair share of the spotlight because they opted not to pay $130,000.
Posted: 04/25/2006 - It may be years before the new Panama City-Bay County airport is up and running, but Tuesday the Airport Board got an idea of what it will look like.
Posted: 04/25/2006 - Panama City's new airport may be a couple of years away from completion, but the design of this new International Airport is coming into light.
Posted: 04/25/2006 - Seventeen Panama City firefighters rushed to the scene of a local apartment fire at mid-morning Tuesday.
Updated: 04/25/2006 - House Speaker Allan Bense may reconsider challenging U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris in the Republican U.S. Senate primary, a race he ruled out last August.
Updated: 04/25/2006 - When substitute teacher Sue Babine opened her classroom door in Crestview, she saw 11 of her students with shaved heads.
Posted: 04/24/2006 - Friday the families of victims of violent crime in out area gathered in Panama City to remember their loved ones.
Posted: 04/24/2006 - Panama City aviation authorities say Panama City has little reason to worry.
Posted: 04/24/2006 - Two people have been arrested after Bay County sheriff's deputies find a bunch of drugs in their Callaway home.
Posted: 04/24/2006 - As gas prices go up, so does the inventory at local pawn shops.
Posted: 04/24/2006 - Lawmakers pushing for another gas tax holiday in Florida say they're not giving up.
Posted: 04/24/2006 - Jeb Bush says it's not fair to punish the children of illegal immigrants if they're trying to build a better life through education.
Updated: 04/24/2006 - The Destin beach restoration project is open again after the death of a sea turtle forced it to temporarily shut down.
Updated: 04/24/2006 - The Coast Guard came to the rescue of a Wakulla County boater who became ill aboard his fishing vessel.

subset: commoncrawl


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Is this the Super Bowl False Flag promised?
This story is heart-wrenching? Like 2 Towers mashing over 1000 people in NYC.
But is this just an excuse for Cops for the DHS, the State and Local police to collect and arrest, jail and hold people without due process.
Free includes debt-free!
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Ballet Goes Broadway: Christopher Wheeldon makes his directorial debut with An American in Paris
The 2014 Dance Magazine Awards: Congratulations to this year's honorees
You vs. Your Reflection: Improve your relationship with the mirror
Choreography Knocks: Opportunities for choreographers at all levels
A Growing List of Living Female Choreographers
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posted by Siobhan Burke on Tuesday, Feb 05, 2013
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Just four hours to go (not like we're counting down or anything) before the Season 2 premiere of NBC's Smash. Expect to see a couple of new faces, like Jeremy Jordan, formerly of the Broadway musical Newsies, and Jennifer Hudson, plus more of Josh Bergasse's Emmy Award-winning choreography anchoring dramatic song-and-dance numbers. Tonight's special two-hour episode begins at 9/8c; in the meantime, check out sneak peeks of the season here and here.


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The Plan-
Encourage myself and Keep myself on track.
Daily prayer for determination and consistency.
Commit to 15 minutes of exercise.
Drink those 8 glasses of clear heaven.
Reward -
Treat myself to a swimsuit of choice. Money is no option!
When I used to think of the word "habit", negative connotations was associated.
Smoking habit -
Drinking habit -
Over eating habit -
Habitual drug use, etc.
But now... I am developing a habit of positivity.
Of course I have never been pessimistic. Yet at times, I naysay myself.
You know those doubts that linger in the back of your mind?
"How are you ever gonna own your own home after growing up in the projects?"
"Be a good parent, really? You grew up in such a dysfunctional family."
"Pass the certification test? Ha!"
The list goes on...
Well, I have proven ALL of those habitual negative thought to be false.
So my new habit is the Positivity Factor.
Graduating from the small negative thoughts which used to play out in my mind to the positive innovative thinker who sees others as possible achievers, too.
Isn't this ?
I must say that I was smitten when I checked my phone to see that I had several goodies and comments acknowledging that I have been chosen as the Capital A of the Day on the Awesome A team.
Well, I am still in the process of thanking each member and others who have been so sweet!
Although one of my biggest goal on SparkPeople is to become a motivator, I will certainly take this as a big accomplishment.
I hope I have been as encouraging as many of my Spark friends.
Sonya - The Awesome cApitAl A if the dAy!
At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.
-~Albert Schweitzer
You all have sparked me to move on to another level. I have to give God the highest glory FIRST. My cheerleaders, faithful fans, Spark buddies, sorority sisters, and prayer warriors...
You know who you are!
I feel the spark every time you send words of encouragement, post humorous blogs, and give J-Man a shout out. (J-man is Jesus)
Sparking has caused me to grow more spiritually and physically. Yes, the bible is one of my key sources, but He sent me human angels like you all to fire me up when that spark seems so far away.
Since I didn't have to work today, I made it a point to get in more fitness and enjoy time with my big boy. He smiled most of the time. Apparently, this made him VERY happy.
At 8:30 AM, I awakened to take my Nexium and Singulair with water.
Ate a banana, dressed in workout gear. Determined or what?
My son says, "Mom, are we still going to the park?"
"Of course!" I replied. Can't break a promise to him or myself.
I planned to run more, but he can't keep up. My 9 year old was tired after 30 minutes. Imagine that! This 41 year old still had energy.
Might I add that I was the Monster and chased him, but HE was tired!!!
Oh. Is it obvious that I'm bragging about being fit?
After our playtime at the park, I told him we'd go walk/ jogging. He sighed.
Of course I reminded him that it was my turn to do what I wanted for 30 minutes. So he agreed. Don't ya just love reverse psychology?
After my windy walk/ jog, I returned him to " Spark".
Then breakfast consisted of 2 whole wheat pancakes, one boiled egg, a slice on lean smoked ham, and 1 slice of bacon.
Then, back to "sparking"...All before 11:00AM.


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October 29, 2008 | No Comments
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"Create a strong and totally unique café experience: from concept and name, to graphic profile and packaging. The concept needed to be warm, welcoming, honest and genuine and targeted to young professionals"
Santini Hand Cut Chips
October 24, 2008 | No Comments
Designed by Henry Luong | Country: Australia
The raw, simple and unrefined design of this package is a great idea for a product such as hand cut, organic potato chips. The clean execution and attention to detail makes for a beautiful package with stand-out shelf appeal.
October 20, 2008 | 1 Comment
Designed by Anna Geslev | Country: Israel
Fun and colorful packaging for Igloo Ice Cream created by Israeli designer Anna Geslev.
Brachia Olive Oil
October 18, 2008 | 7 Comments
"Hand-made ceramic glazed container in the form of an olive fruit, with a bottleneck in the shape of a branch and an olive leaf formed tag. Maslina (Olive) is packed with a metal cap/funnel in a carton box wrapped in exclusive paper imitating wood structure. The product is suitable as a gift or souvenier, is re-usable, decorative but functional at the same time."
Thanks to Izvorka at TRIDVAJEDAN for sending this work to us.
REAL Chips
October 9, 2008 | 1 Comment
I'm a sucker for witty, well thought out, copy driven design. The use of a semi-translucent substrate is an interesting approach a product like chips.
Designed by HarrimanSteel.
Bloomsberry Medical Chocolate
October 9, 2008 | No Comments
Jo-Nanda at Bloomsberry & Co sent us these "not so serious but delicious" chocolate bars designed by Out of the Blue. Girth Control, Oral Pleasure, Bochox, that would have been a fun naming session.
Waitrose Fresh Herbs
October 7, 2008 | 2 Comments
"Waitrose Herbs have a lot to say for themselves. Each minimally packaged pot carries bold tabloid style text, telling you everything you may not already know about the contents. Guest herbs make an exclusive and seasonal appearance with a splash of red in the headline. Herbs are as rich in myth and magic as they are in flavour and nutrition. This was a great opportunity to spread the word and present some real shelf talkers."
Designed by Lewis Moberly.
October 6, 2008 | No Comments
TAXI Vancouver has done a great job re-branding Meinhardt. The simple execution and play on the store's name is a nice touch.
"Linda Meinhardt started her own fine food store over a decade ago and is a true food aficionado, she searches the world over for gourmet treasures she can bring back and share with her customers. We developed an identity that could serve as an organizing principle, internally and externally that reflects the essence of the brands – sharing a world of culinary discoveries with the true food afficiandos."
October 3, 2008 | No Comments
"A clear communication and uniform design was developed for the whole series, with a focus on the brand Naturdiet. The design is white and airy. On every pack the contents are photographed with energetic imagery. The whole series signals distinctly that it is about modern weight loss products."
Designed by BVD.
October 1, 2008 | No Comments
"In 2006 EAT came back to Pentagram to ask us to undertake an evolution of their brand communication, in order to bring the company's identity in-line with the way the marketplace had developed since the creation of their brand.
Pentagram produced a communications review, which recommended adding value to the brand by refocusing EAT's tone of communication, emphasising their existing good business practices and adding a degree of flexibility to the core brand elements in order to keep the EAT identity fresh and vibrant on an ongoing basis."


text:
waitressSaltos de línea: wait|ress
Pronunciación: /ˈweɪtrɪs /
Definición de waitress en inglés:
A woman whose job is to serve customers at their tables in a restaurant.
Example sentences
- We didn't have long to wait before a cheerful waitress seated us at a small table for two near a window.
- She was the only waitress who refused to serve the bikers who dined there several times a week.
- Flash has the friendliest bouncers, most evil bar tenders and sweetest waitresses of any club.
Words that rhyme with waitressseamstress • ex libris
Definición de waitress en:
- Inglés de EE.UU. dictionary
- English synonyms
- US English synonyms
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Most popular
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Palabra del día reciprocity
Pronunciación: ˌrɛsɪˈprɒsɪti
exchanging things with others for mutual benefit…


text:
The Giro Atmos continues to set the standard for high performance, matchless style, and a comfortable fit. The compact shape and low profile silhouette offers perfect style with 26 Wind Tunnel vents, and carbon reinforced Roll Cage make it a top choice for road, cross, and XC riders alike. Giro's Roc Loc 5 retention system cradles your head comfortably and securely and tension adjustments can now be made single-handedly in seconds with the turn of a small dial. CPSC Certified. SM (51-55cm), MD (55cm-59cm) or LG (59-63cm).
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Latest Episodes
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Outdated Internet Browser Detected
The Internet Browser you are using cannot establish a secure connection to SummitRacing.com which will prevent you from being able to Log In or Checkout. This is most likely because SSL 3.0 is your default SSL setting. This makes you vulnerable to the "POODLE exploit" and to ensure your security, it is not allowed on our site. Please change your browser security settings to not allow SSL 3.0 or attempt to update your browser using these links.
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Select your preferred location and we'll note which parts are ready to be picked up TODAY.
Linear Actuator, Steel, Natural, 225 lbs. Max Thrust, 12 in. Stroke, Each
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Brand: AutoLoc
Manufacturer's Part Number: LAD12
Part Type: Linear Actuators
Product Line: AutoLoc Linear Actuators
Summit Racing Part Number:
Linear Actuator Screw Type: Acme
Amp Draw: 4.50 amps
Linear Actuator Material: Steel
Linear Actuator Finish: Natural
Linear Actuator Retracted Length (in): 19.75 in.
Linear Actuator Extended Length (in): 31.75 in.
Maximum Thrust (lbs): 225 lbs.
Quantity: Sold individually.
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In-Store Pickup: Choose In-store pick-up (OH, GA, NV) on our web site.
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Some parts are not legal for sale or use in California on any pollution-controlled motor vehiclesBack To Results


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The VM-30CA Component Video, S/PDIF & Stereo Audio Distribution Amplifier from Comprehensive/Kramer is designed for use with component video (YUV), S/PDIF digital audio, and unbalanced stereo audio signals. The unit accepts (1) input, provides reclocking and equalization to the signal, then distributes it to (3) identical outputs.
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text:
The RB Continental series features a Ballistic Quadraweave exterior plus a quilted double helix interior. High-strength corded edges and seams provide durability while tested stress points are reinforced with double-stitched with high tensile thread. This case also features a Zero-G palm-contoured handle with a weight distributing foam core. Includes an adjustable shoulder strap.
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- Unique padded wide-mouth lid for easy access and better protection
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The Poetical Works of John Milton, Volume 1 (Google eBook)
W.P. Hazard, 1864 - Poetry
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Selected pages
Common terms and phrases
Adam Andrew Marvell angels appear'd arm'd arms beast Beaumont's Psyche behold Bentl Bentley bliss call'd cherubim church Cleombrotus Comus creatures dark death deep delight divine dreadful earth edition eternal evil eyes fair Fair angel Father fire fruit glory grace Grotius hand happy hast hath heard heaven heavenly hell highth hill honour ilium John Milton king Latin less light live Lycidas Milton mind morn Newton night nihil o'er Ovid pain Paradise Lost pass'd pleas'd poem poet praise Proserpina Protestant Union quam quod rais'd reign reply'd return'd round Salmasius sapience Satan says seem'd serpent shade sight soon spake spirits stars stood sweet taste thee thence thine things thou thought throne Todd Todd's Toland tree turn'd vex'd Virg voice whence wings words


text:
Posts tagged: Birth Control
Showing 26-45 of 45
What You Need to Know About the Birth Control Cases Before the Supreme Court
Category: Birth Control, Emergency Contraception
We're on Tumblr!
Obamcare is Here
Category: Obamacare
After Losing the Election with the Greatest Gender Gap, Romney Campaigns with Cuccinelli
Category: Birth Control, Abortion, Elections
A Great Week at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's Annual Legislative Conference
Category: African Americans
The Fair Shot Campaign Launches to Protect Women's Health and Economic Security
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Senator Ted Cruz's Misinformation Tour Starts in 11 Days…Don't Let Him Have the Last Word
Category: Birth Control, Obamacare
Obamacare IS Working
Category: Birth Control, Obamacare
Time for Politicians to Stop Playing Doctor. We're Revoking Your "Gynotician" License
Category: Birth Control, Abortion, State Fights
Obama Administration Announces Expanded Access to Emergency Contraception
Category: Birth Control, Emergency Contraception
350,000 Women Support The Affordable Care Act Birth Control Benefit
Category: Birth Control, Obamacare
Recent Posts
Buzzfeed: Top 6 Things You Need to Know About 6-Week Abortion Bans
December 15, 2014
Best and Worst of 2014: Colorado Contraception Program Wins Women's Health Feat of the Year
December 12, 2014
Best and Worst of 2014: "Really?!" Moment of the Year
December 11, 2014
What the President's Executive Action on Immigration Reform Means for Health Care, and for My Community
December 10, 2014
Best and Worst of 2014: Malala Yousafzai Wins Women's Rights Hero of the Year
December 10, 2014


text:
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after serveral weeks. You can still click on the link to see if the original image is still available.
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|Problems? Is your data what you think it is?
Re: Avoiding memory loss...by Anonymous Monk
|on Dec 27, 2012 at 22:33 UTC ( #1010587=note: print w/ replies, xml )
|Need Help??
... but they probably won't be destroyed immediately. Like most systems, Perl is "lazy." Unreferenced items are marked for deletion but nothing actually happens until the garbage-collector makes its midnight run, banging the cans together and waking everybody up.
In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom


text:
USA Vacation Rental Estates(1,018)
1,018 Results
- Alabama (5)
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Judy S
Our family have spent the last couple of years traveling to a warm destination to break up the winter months. We are 11 in total so look for a home that is roomy enough to accommodate my husband, myself, our 4 sons and their families comfortably and affordably. We look for locations that have a lot to do in close proximity. We found this at the Temecula Wine Country Estate #1. We were VERY pleased – it had everything we were looking for!! The description of the home on the website was very accurate. The bedrooms are very roomy with very comfortable beds in the room as well as playpens and inflatable mattresses to easily accomodate everyone. We have two 3 year olds and a 2 year old in our group and had no problems accommodating their varied nap times as the home is quite sound proof room to room. The large kitchen/family room had something for everyone- and we had access to it all. The kitchen is fully stocked with any thing you could possibly need to prepare a family meal – so nice not to have to go out to eat with such a large group. The outdoor area has spectacular views, is a huge area that is private and again had something for everyone. We barbecued, picked fresh oranges, swam, sat in the hot tub and even sat out at night in front of the fireplace watching a movie on the outdoor television. There is a very secure child-proof fence around the pool and hot tub so the kids could go out and play safely. As a runner I am looking for a safe place to run- it was right outside the gate of the estate. There is a great playground within walking distance. We did a couple of day trips to San Diego – easy to access the interstate highway and get to where we needed to be; Temecula has everything we could possibly need locally for stores. As well as numerous wineries close by - 7 minutes away at the South Coast Winery there is a wonderful spa. Our hosts couldn't have been better to us – meeting us the minute we arrived and being accessible by phone with any of our needs both before arriving and during our stay. We really felt like we were at home and will DEFINITELY recommend this place to others!
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The good life is made of many things: Love, family, friends, good food, and of course great wine! Here at Vin du Lac we're driven to establish Lake Chelan as one of the recognized centers of ultra-premium wine production on the West Coast.
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Join the Vin du Lac team for our annual New Year's Eve party! We have an amazing menu paired with our premium wines accompanied by local saxophone legend Bob Soost! Live broadcast at 9:00 pm of the New York Ball Drop, party favors, and dancing make for a perfect start to the New Year! $55.00 per person for Club members and $65.00 for non-members. For reservations, please call the Bistro at 509-682-2882 ext. 0. New Year's Dinner Menu
Join us for our free Winemaker's World Tour during dinner on Thursday evenings. Larry, Marc and other members of the winemaking team will offer free tastings comparing World class wines to VdL wines.
This Lake Chelan Chamber of Commerce event spans two weekends from January 16th through the 25th filled with incredible ice sculptures, live music, wine tasting, ale tasting, activities for kids of all ages, a polar bear splash, massive beach bonfire, spectacular fireworks show and much more!
Wine Release
Visit our Tasting Room and enjoy new features on our wine list, enjoy a wine flight, glasspour or bottle in our cozy Bistro setting.


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We've already driven the Porsche Panamera GTS in Europe in a track environment, but haven't had the chance to talk about this car after driving it in on U.S. roads yet. I've driven a few different Panamera variants since the five-door hatchback was first introduced for 2010, but this all-wheel-drive Carmine Red GTS is my favorite variant thus far. It just strikes the right balance of power and poise with its amazingly well-sorted suspension (the GTS rides 10 millimeters lower than lesser models
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The Panamera That Can Win Over Purists
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Five Things Every Investor Should Know About Index Futures
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Home > Computer Parts > Hard Drives & Data Storage > Floppy Drives
Bytecc All-in-1 3.5" Card Reader/Floppy Drive Front Panel
Usually ships in 5-7 business days. Limited availability. May not be in stock at time of order. No back orders.
3.5" internal floppy drive with all in one card reader/writer support SDHC , black color
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Mfr Part#
Memory Card Reader/Writer Interface
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Drive Interface
34-pin Interface
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Floppy Drive Data Transfer Rate
Up to 400Kbps
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Supported Windows Operating Systems
Microsoft Windows 98se, ME, 2000, XP, Vista
Drive Bay Required
3.5" Drive Bay
Included Software
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As there is no baseball from November to March, when most original episodes of The Office are aired, his explanation seems fishy? Perhaps he had a run-in with Volunteer Junior Sheriff Shrute and is boycotting the show?
Scranton is okay, but Wilkes-Barre is where it's AT!
God bless the Munleys!
great story
Nice report Peter. Enjoyed it.
Those people look like fox news anchors. Are they alien beings or actually human?
was the constitution somehow implicated in the ruling or just what the judge wanted? at 206 pages, I suspect the latter but will let the appellate court decide.
Jimmy: I agree that the Munleys are a very attractive family but I can assure you that they are all warm and personable individuals.
The Munley family are great people with solid character and great integrity. The Matriarch, Bernadine Munley (not pictured)should be cannonized.
They are the real deal...very good at what they do and quietly support many charitable causes in the community.
Interesting family. Two of the brothers attended my current school Oklahoma City University School of Law.
I have had the pleasure of meeting the Munley family. They really are very warm and wonderful people!
I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the Munley
Family and feel they are the
best of what this country is
all about..
Nice article and I have the pleasure of working closely with Bernadine Munley.
Interesting idea for an upcoming episode of "The Office": Michael gets in trouble and has to hire Munley, Munley & Cartwright to represent him. Hollywood here they come!
Cool story... just hope the firm never faces bankruptcy, or the whole family (minus the daughter in Philly) would be out of a job.
Great story on a great family. I am proud to know them. Civic minded, family oriented people.
What a super, talented family (in particular Bernie Munley Junior) whose integrity, charm and brilliance is both refreshing and inspiring.
I wonder if they could represent me on the sale of my beet farm?
So does that mean that they talk about work in non work settings--Sunday dinner, picnics, boat rides, going to the grocery store etc.? How many of them live together? What about their other family members--do they discuss the cases also?
How many of these comments are by the same person?
"I have had the pleasure of meeting the Munley family."
"I have had the pleasure of meeting some of the Munley
"I have the pleasure of working closely with Bernadine Munley."
PK, you're absolutely right. Personal injury lawyers are the best of what this country is all about!
Families that practice law together stay together. And, wow, are they an attractive clan!
I have had the great fortune of working with the Munley family (except for the daughter in Philadelphia) The family is an outstanding example of highly honorable people-and they are delightful fun. And Bernadine is a treasure!
They represented my son in a motorcycle accident and in my opinion, were very professional and guided himthrough all of the details of his case. As an owner of another successful small family run business...it appears that size may not matter!
If you think the Munleys are great they are,But ask BOB SR. about his uncle IRISH LANGAN.
I lived in Scranton years ago. It was awesome, baby.
I once dated a girl with really fat legs and one of my house mates had giant teeth.
What a very special family. How did you ever come across them? The Munley parents should run a school (or at least give seminars)on how to raise happy, successful and civic minded children with proper family values.
They are fabulous people of the highest personal and professional integrity, who don't scrimp when it comes to giving back to the community (in time and energy as well as other ways). My family has known them for years and have always had the highest regard for them (well, except for that dubious choice of the Phillies!)
Surprise! The judge who ruled that Hazelton's laws were "unconstitutional" is a former PI trial lawyer. My, who'd have thunk it. But I'm sure his decision wasn't political. Big surprise his trial lawyer brother is "proud" of him, too. Disgusting bunch.
The Office. Forget about the steamtown Mall. Come and visit the Family of Lawyers at Munley, Munley & Cartwright up the street.
how could one family have so many good-looking people in it. is that fair?????
I love Bernie even though she's supporting Rudy! Do you notice they're all looking left and she's looking to the right?
The crazy thing is that they are even better looking in person! But seriously, a really wonderful family and very dedicated to the community. Bernadine (Bernie), a friend since college, has always been actively engaged in political and philanthropic endeavors, and has received numerous awards recognizing and honoring her contributions - It was a treat to read about them!
I think there is a related billing and unauthorized practice of law issue when attorneys' spouses, most of whom have other employment and knowledge bases in other fields that may be concerned in a case, such as medicine, engineering, education, etc., end up discussing, reading, and editing briefs. With laptops in bed, it is natural. Then, is their work billed for?
A wonderful story celebrating a truly special family! I have been fortunate enough to know Bernie personally, and can say firsthand, they are bright, beautiful, extremely driven and generous, and genuinely committed to giving back to the community.
I am sure they're a nice family, but all of the kudos, combined with the freakish good looks, is a little off-putting.... The guys all look like they're from that new tv show 'Mad Men'
Dick Cavanagh has a good idea. We need to hear more about the great Irish Langan. And for the non-Scrantonians out there, it would be a treat!
The Law Blog covers the legal arena's hot cases, emerging trends and big personalities. It's brought to you by lead writer Jacob Gershman with contributions from across The Wall Street Journal's staff. Jacob comes here after more than half a decade covering the bare-knuckle politics of New York State. His inside-the-room reporting left him steeped in legal and regulatory issues that continue to grab headlines.
Comment or tip? Write to email@example.com or email@example.com
The Indiana Supreme Court has ruled that it is illegal to be drunk and annoying -- or what a reasonable person would find to be annoying, anyway.
Two decades ago Rogers Stevens was playing lead guitar for Blind Melon, the alternative rock band best known for its hit single "No Rain". Now he's a labor and employment lawyer at Ballard Spahr LLP.
An Illinois judge on Friday ruled that the state's overhaul of its troubled public-employee retirement system violates a state constitutional provision that forbids the government from making cuts to pension benefits.
For several years running, New York law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP has kicked off associate-bonus season with its announcement, typically shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday.
Should new mothers taking the bar exam get extra time to complete the test to accommodate breastfeeding? The issue has come up in Illinois in a dispute between an expectant mother and the group that administers the state's bar exam.
Content engaging our readers now, with additional prominence accorded if the story is rapidly gaining attention. Our WSJ algorithm comprises 30% page views, 20% Facebook, 20% Twitter, 20% email shares and 10% comments.


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A method of growing optical quality β-BaB2 O4 crystals involves growing these crystals from a fluxed melt of BaB2 O4, Na2 O and NaCl, in certain proportions.
1. The method of growing crystalline β--BaB2 O4 from a fluxed melt, which comprises forming a melt comprising from about 31 to about 78 mol percent of BaB2 O4, from about 1.5 to about 23 mol percent of Na2 O, and from about 7.5 to about 67 mol percent of NaCl, followed by cooling said melt to permit formation of crystalline β--BaB2 O4.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said melt is cooled to about its crystallization temperature, followed by contacting the melt with a β--BaB2 O4 seed crystal and crystallizing the product on the seed crystal.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein the seed crystal is being rotated in contact with the melt.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the melt comprises from about 31 to about 58 mol percent of BaB2 O4, from about 1.5 to about 13 mol percent of Na2 O, and from about 35 to about 67 mol percent of NaCl.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein the melt is contacted with a β--BaB2 O4 seed crystal and is cooled to about its crystallization temperature, and the β--BaB2 O4 product is crystallized on the seed crystal.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the melt comprises from about 42 to about 50 mol percent of BaB2 O4, from about 3 to about 11 mol percent of Na20, and from about 42 to about 50 mol percent of NaCl.
7. The method of claim 6 wherein the melt is contacted with a β--BaB2 O4 seed crystal and is cooled to about its crystallization temperature, and the β--BaB2 O4 product is crystallized on the seed crystal.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said melt comprising BaB2 O4, Na2O and NaCl is formed by melting together BaCO3, B2 O3, Na2 CO3 and NaCl.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the melt is held at a temperature above crystallization temperature for time sufficient to obtain a homogeneous melt composition before proceeding with crystallization.
This application is a continuation-in-part of our commonly assigned co-pending U.S. application serial No. 150,127 filed Jan. 29, 1988, now abandoned.
This invention relates to a method of growing crystals of β--BaB2 O4 from a fluxed melt. More particularly, the invention relates to the growth of such crystals from a melt comprising barium borate, sodium oxide and sodium chloride, in certain proportions.
Beta-barium borate, the low temperature form of BaB2 O4, is an important non-linear optical material which has been shown to be useful for second harmonic generation in laser systems. [D. Eimerl, L. Davis, S. Velsko, E.K. Graham, and A. Zalkin, J. Appl. Phys. 62(5), 1968-1983 (1987)]. More particularly, the use of such a material is, for example, in the environment of lasers as a "doubler" to obtain a different frequency light from a laser having a fundamental frequency. The material is particularly useful because it has been shown to be an efficient harmonic generator, has a high optical damage threshold, and is essentially transparent to ultraviolet light as short as 190nm in wavelength.
Barium borate typically melts congruently at 1095� C., but the solid that crystallizes just below this melting point is a centrosymmetric crystal which does not exhibit non-linear optical properties and is not useful in second harmonic generation. Thus, it becomes important to appreciate that below a temperature of about 925� C., barium borate exists in another crystal form, usually called the beta-barium borate form.
This low temperature form was originally thought to be C2/c, but current work has found this form to be R3c. This beta form can be crystallized from solution below this phase transition temperature, i.e., below about 925� C. An essential requirement is that a solution is required which will dissolve BaB2 O4 below this transition temperature and will then supersaturate the β--BaB2 O4 upon cooling to cause crystals of β--BaB2 O4 to nucleate and grow, or to cause a dipped "seed" crystal to grow in size.
A number of important criteria must be met for selection of the solvent components of such a solution. First, the solvent atoms should be either components of the crystal itself, or they should be atoms which do not enter the crystal lattice as impurities to such an extent as to degrade the desired crystal properties. Secondly, the solvent components should be compatible with the crucible and furnace materials at the growth temperature. Thirdly, the solution should have a sufficient range of supersaturation to inhibit the nucleation of crystals in cooler parts of the crucible away from the seed crystal. Finally, the solution should be compatible with a crystal growth rate slow enough to yield high quality crystals, but not sufficiently slow as to make it commercially undesirable.
In the past, crystals of β--BaB2 O4 have been grown at the Fujian Institute in the People's Republic of China from solutions of BaB2 O4 with BaCl2, BaF2, Li2 O3, Na2 O, B2 O3 and Na2 B2 O4 (J. Aidong C. Fen L. Qi, C. Zusheng, and Z. Yong, J. Crystal Growth 79, 963-969 (1986)). The best crystals by admission were obtained from solutions with Na2 O. However, the actual growth of the crystal was too slow to be commercially acceptable.
Barium borate crystals were first synthesized in 1874 by melting together NaBO2 and NaCl, followed by cooling. From the resultant solid, the barium borate was obtained in the form of small, needle-form crystals on removal of the NaCl from the product by soaking in water. (R. Benedikt, Ber. Deut. Chem. Ges. 7, 703 (1874)).
Thus, up to now pure β--BaB2 O4 crystals have not been grown at a commercially acceptable rate, and those crystals which are of acceptable quality for optical applications take so long to grow that other less expensive alternatives must be sought.
The present invention, avoids these disadvantages and provides a method which permits growth of good optical quality β--BaB2 O4 crystals at acceptable rates.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method of growing crystalline β--BaB2 O4 from a fluxed melt, which method comprises forming a melt of from about 31 to about 78 mol percent of BaB2 O4, from about 1.5 to about 23 mol percent of Na2 O, and from about 7.5 to about 67 mol percent of NaCl, followed by cooling the melt to cause formation of crystalline β--BaB2 O4 The resultant crystals of β--BaB2 O4 are of useful, short prismatic or nearly spherical shape, rather than in long needle form.
The present invention therefore is based on the discovery that, by combining both NaCl and Na2 O in the flux, one greatly increases the growth rate of the desired β--barium borate crystals, well beyond the rate obtainable with Na2 O flux, and at the same time advantageously controls the shape of the crystals. The crystals obtained from NaCl flux are long, needle-like and thus of little use for the aforementioned optical applications.
In yet a more specific aspect, the method comprises the steps of first heating a mixture of BaCO3, B2 O3, Na2 CO3 and NaCl in a furnace at a rate, and to a temperature, sufficient to decompose BaCO3 into BaO and C02 and Na2C03 into Na2O and CO2 without blowing out the material from a crucible in which it is contained. The melt is then held at a high temperature ("soaked") for a time and at a temperature sufficient to ensure that no solids remain in the melt, i.e. at a higher temperature. After soaking, the melt is cooled to about its crystallization temperature and a seed crystal is dipped therein. The seed is a β--Ba B2 O4 crystal of sufficient size to cause crystal growth of β--BaB2 O4 on the seed. The melt is cooled with the crystal therein preferably being rotated, until the melt forms a relatively large crystal around the seed. Alternatively, a seed need not be used, and a number of spontaneously nucleated crystals can be allowed to grow with reduction in temperature.
Having briefly described the invention, the same will become better understood from the attached detailed discussion taken in conjunction with the attached drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 shows a ternary composition diagram of the BaB2 O4 -NaCl-Na2 O solution system in accordance with the invention, wherein the composition range useful in our method is shown within the marked area.
As previously stated, because of the alpha-beta phase transition, beta-barium borate must be grown below the 925� phase transition temperature. Consequently, a flux must be used to lower the temperature. Both, Na2 O and NaCl had been used for this purpose. We investigated the barium borate - sodium chloride system using differential thermal analysis techniques and found that the system formed a eutectic point at 25 mole percent barium borate 75 mole percent sodium chloride, with a eutectic temperature of 755� C. That part of the barium borate rich region which has a melt temperature below 925� C. (necessary for obtaining the β--form of the barium borate) was found to extend from about 45 to about 25 mole percent barium borate.
Based on this information, we grew β--BaB2 O4 crystals from a melt of 45 mole percent barium borate and 55 mole percent sodium chloride.
Needle-shaped β--BaB2 O4 crystallized almost immediately at the melt surface when the furnace temperature cooled just below 915� C. The growth rate of these needles was extremely rapid along the long axis direction (or the c-axis [0001]direction). Crystal needles with dimensions of 1 mm�20 mm were formed in minutes. The melt had very limited tolerance (<10� C.) of supercooling and significant supersaturation of the melt was not possible. At very slow cooling rates (<0.3� C./hr.), the needle shaped crystals can grow to larger volume with single crystals reaching both sides of the crucible (about 5 cm across).
Seeded growth was attempted using the spontaneous nucleated needle crystals as seeds. But the limited supersaturation of the melt led to extraneous nucleation of the crucible wall at the expense, or even total dissolution, of the seed. Growth on seed crystals, when it did occur, appeared to arise more from solute transport than from melt supercooling. In addition, at the growth temperature of β--BaB2 O4, there was a slow but finite loss of the NaCl flux through evaporation. It further complicated the control of the growth rate and caused the increase of nucleation.
After several tries, we concluded that although the BaB2 O4 -NaCl system can produce β--BaB2 O4 crystals, both the crystal shape and the extraneous nucleation make it very difficult to grow crystals of sufficient size and clarity for optical applications.
In order to achieve stable growth of β--BaB2 O4 it is necessary to inhibit the tendency for spontaneous nucleation and to reduce the crystal growth rate. Only thus would it be possible to produce crystals of high optical quality. This we accomplish by providing a mixed sodium oxide-sodium chloride flux, employing the melt ingredients in the aforestated proportions. As raw materials to furnish these ingredients, barium carbonate, boron oxide, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride are suitably employed.
Generally, in accordance with the invention, barium carbonate, boron oxide, sodium carbonate and sodium chloride are placed in a platinum crucible and heated at a slow rate to allow evolution of carbon dioxide and the formation of barium oxide and sodium oxide. It is essential that the heating rate be slow to prevent the powder from being blown out of the crucible as a result of the release of carbon dioxide at too high a rate. Desirably, the melt components are heated to about 600� C., then to about 900-950� C. at a rate of about one half a degree per minute to homogenize the mixture. The resultant melt is maintained at this temperature for time sufficient to ensure homogenization, typically 20-24 hours. The melt is suitably prepared in an air atmosphere with an atmospheric pressure of about one atmosphere.
Thereafter, the melt is cooled, typically at a rate of 10� C. per hour until crystals appear on the surface of the melt. This will occur at a temperature of about 825-900� C. The melt is then reheated to above about 875� C. to re-dissolve the crystals. Thereafter the melt is ready for commencing crystal growth.
At this time, the solution is abruptly cooled to about 5� below the temperature at which the crystals redissolved. A seed crystal of about 5 grams in mass, hung from a platinum wire, typically on the end of a rod is dipped just below the melt surface to about the center of the melt with a unidirectional rotation of about 15-75RPM. The solution is then cooled at a rate of about 5� C. per day which results in the growth of a mass of crystal on the seed after about 2-5 days. The crystal mass is then withdrawn to just above the solution and the rotation is stopped. The furnace is cooled to about 500�-600� C. and the crystal is withdrawn from the furnace over a 4-8 hour period. Faster withdrawal from the furnace and consequent faster cooling than that discussed above may result in microcrack formation in the β--BaB2 O4. Thus, it essential that the slow rate of cooling be maintained.
The resultant crystal in accordance with the invention is considered to be trigonal in nature, and an X-ray analysis of such crystals reveals the specific structure R3c [R. Frohlich, Z. Kristallogr. 165, 91 (1984).
Having generally described the invention in detail, the following example is intended to be illustrative only and not limiting in any way.
177.6 grams of BaCO3, 62.7 grams of B2 O3 10.0 grams of Na2 CO3 and 107.5 grams of NaCl were mixed together to form a melt for growing a crystal in accordance with the invention. Initially, all components were placed in a platinum crucible and heated at a slow rate to allow evolution of carbon dioxide gas in the formation of barium oxide and sodium oxide. The heating was conducted to about 600� C. and then the mixture was heated to about 950� C. in four hours to homogenize the components and held there for about 20 hours. The solution was then cooled to about 865� C. which resulted in the appearance of crystals on the melt surface. Heating thereafter to about 875� C. caused the crystals to dissolve back into solution. Thereafter, the solution was abruptly cooled about 5� below the temperature which the crystals dissolve back into solution and a seed crystal, hung from a platinum wire was dipped just below the melt surface with unidirectional rotation maintained of about 30RPM. The solution was cooled at a rate of about 5� per day which resulted in the growth of a mass more than 5 grams of crystal on the seed after 3 days. The crystal mass was withdrawn to just above the solution and the rotation was stopped. The furnace was thereafter cooled to about 500� C. and the crystal was withdrawn from the furnace simultaneously over a 4 hour period.
Following the general procedure of Example 1, seven different melt compositions were prepared, and β--BaB2 O4 crystals were grown therefrom. These ternary combination of BaB2 O4 -NaCl-Na2 O are listed in the Table below, and are indicated in FIG. 1. These compositions were also prepared from mixed powders and were heated and melted following the same procedure as with the NaCl flux. Sodium carbonate was used as the precursor for sodium oxide. Crystals of β--BaB2 O4 were produced from all these melt compositions in the temperature range of 870 to 880� C.
TABLE______________________________________ BaB2 O4 NaCl Na2 OExample mole-% mole-% mole-%______________________________________2 52 42 63 54 36 104 46 46 85 48 44 86 47 47 67 46 46 88 66 17 17______________________________________
The addition of Na2 O to the BaB2 O4 -NaCl melt did reduce the crystal growth rate, especially along the [0001] or needle direction. The crystal morphology changed from needle or long prismatic shape to short prism or nearly spherical shape depending on the NaCl to Na2 O ratio. There was also an apparent reduction of the NaCl evaporation and the spurious nucleation was also greatly reduced. In addition, there was also an increase of melt surface tension which allowed better flux drainage upon the removal of crystals from the melt
The ranges for the components comprising the melt for growing β--BaB2 O4 in accordance with the present invention are as follows (all in mole percent):
______________________________________ Operable Preferred More Preferred______________________________________BaB2 O4 31-78 31-58 42-50Na2 O 1.5-23 1.5-13 3-11NaCl 7.5-67 35-67 42-50______________________________________
Having described the invention, the scope thereof may be obtained from the attached claims which are intended to be non-limiting.
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