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I came across some unexpected behavior while troubleshooting a failing test the other day that took me long enough to figure out that I thought it was worth sharing here. I finally traced the failing test back to a SELECT statement in a stored procedure that was using the IN t-sql operator to exclude a certain set of values. Here's a very simple example table to illustrate the issue:
The 'SalesRegionId' column contains a number representing the sales region that the customer belongs to. This column is nullable because new customers get created all the time but assigning them to sales regions is a process that is handled by a regional manager on a periodic basis. For the purposes of this example, the Customers table currently has the following rows:
How could we write a query against this table for all customers that are NOT in sales regions 2 or 4? You might try something like this:
2: CustomerId,
3: CustomerName,
4: SalesRegionId
5: FROM Customers
6: WHERE SalesRegionId NOT IN (2,4)
Will this work? In short, no; at least not in the way that you might expect. Here's what this query will return given the example data we're working with:
I was expecting that this query would also return 'Customer B', since that customer has a NULL SalesRegionId. In my mind, having a customer with no sales region should be included in a set of customers that are not in sales regions 2 or 4.When I first started troubleshooting my issue I made note of the fact that this query should probably be re-written without the NOT IN clause, but I didn't suspect that the NOT IN clause was actually the source of the issue. This particular query was only one minor piece in a much larger process that was being exercised via an automated integration test and I simply made a poor assumption that the NOT IN would work the way that I thought it should.
So why doesn't this work the way that I thought it should? From the MSDN documentation on the t-sql IN operator:
If the value of test_expression is equal to any value returned by subquery or is equal to any expression from the comma-separated list, the result value is TRUE; otherwise, the result value is FALSE. Using NOT IN negates the subquery value or expression.
If the value of test_expression is equal to any value returned by subquery or is equal to any expression from the comma-separated list, the result value is TRUE; otherwise, the result value is FALSE.
Using NOT IN negates the subquery value or expression.
The key phrase out of that quote is, "… is equal to any expression from the comma-separated list…". The NULL SalesRegionId isn't included in the NOT IN because of how NULL values are handled in equality comparisons. From the MSDN documentation on ANSI_NULLS:
The SQL-92 standard requires that an equals (=) or not equal to (<>) comparison against a null value evaluates to FALSE. When SET ANSI_NULLS is ON, a SELECT statement using WHERE column_name = NULL returns zero rows even if there are null values in column_name. A SELECT statement using WHERE column_name <> NULL returns zero rows even if there are nonnull values in column_name.
In fact, the MSDN documentation on the IN operator includes the following blurb about using NULL values in IN sub-queries or expressions that are used with the IN operator:
Any null values returned by subquery or expression that are compared to test_expression using IN or NOT IN return UNKNOWN. Using null values in together with IN or NOT IN can produce unexpected results.
If I were to include a 'SET ANSI_NULLS OFF' command right above my SELECT statement I would get 'Customer B' returned in the results, but that's definitely not the right way to deal with this. We could re-write the query to explicitly include the NULL value in the WHERE clause:
6: WHERE (SalesRegionId NOT IN (2,4) OR SalesRegionId IS NULL)
This query works and properly includes 'Customer B' in the results, but I ultimately opted to re-write the query using a LEFT OUTER JOIN against a table variable containing all of the values that I wanted to exclude because, in my case, there could potentially be several hundred values to be excluded. If we were to apply the same refactoring to our simple sales region example we'd end up with:
1: DECLARE @regionsToIgnore TABLE (IgnoredRegionId INT)
2: INSERT @regionsToIgnore values (2),(4)
5: c.CustomerId,
6: c.CustomerName,
7: c.SalesRegionId
8: FROM Customers c
9: LEFT OUTER JOIN @regionsToIgnore r ON r.IgnoredRegionId = c.SalesRegionId
10: WHERE r.IgnoredRegionId IS NULL
By performing a LEFT OUTER JOIN from Customers to the @regionsToIgnore table variable we can simply exclude any rows where the IgnoredRegionId is null, as those represent customers that DO NOT appear in the ignored regions list. This approach will likely perform better if the number of sales regions to ignore gets very large and it also will correctly include any customers that do not yet have a sales region.
In my last post I talked about using table-valued parameters to pass a list of integer values to a stored procedure without resorting to using comma-delimited strings and parsing out each value into a TABLE variable. In this post I'll extend the "Customer Transaction Summary" report example to see how we might leverage this same stored procedure from within an SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) report. I've worked with SSRS off and on for the past several years and have generally found it to be a very useful tool for building nice-looking reports for end users quickly and easily. That said, I've been frustrated by SSRS from time to time when seemingly simple things are difficult to accomplish or simply not supported at all. I thought that using table-valued parameters from within a SSRS report would be simple, but unfortunately I was wrong.
Let's take the "Customer Transaction Summary" report example from the last post and try to plug that same stored procedure into an SSRS report. Our report will have three parameters:
The simplest way to get started with this report will be to create a new dataset and point it at our Customer Transaction Summary report stored procedure (note that I'm using SSRS 2012 in the screenshots below, but there should be little to no difference with SSRS 2008):
When you initially create this dataset the SSRS designer will try to invoke the stored procedure to determine what the parameters and output fields are for you automatically. As part of this process the following dialog pops-up:
Obviously I can't use this dialog to specify a value for the '@customerIds' parameter since it is of the IntegerListTableType user-defined type that we created in the last post. Unfortunately this really throws the SSRS designer for a loop, and regardless of what combination of Data Type, Pass Null Value, or Parameter Value I used here, I kept getting this error dialog with the message, "Operand type clash: nvarchar is incompatible with IntegerListTableType".
This error message makes some sense considering that the nvarchar type is indeed incompatible with the IntegerListTableType, but there's little clue given as to how to remedy the situation. I don't know for sure, but I think that behind-the-scenes the SSRS designer is trying to give the @customerIds parameter an nvarchar-typed SqlParameter which is causing the issue. When I first saw this error I figured that this might just be a limitation of the dataset designer and that I'd be able to work around the issue by manually defining the parameters. I know that there are some special steps that need to be taken when invoking a stored procedure with a table-valued parameter from ADO .NET, so I figured that I might be able to use some custom code embedded in the report to create a SqlParameter instance with the needed properties and value to make this work, but the "Operand type clash" error message persisted.
Just because we're using a stored procedure to create the dataset for this report doesn't mean that we can't use the 'Text' Query Type option and construct an EXEC statement that will invoke the stored procedure. In order for this to work properly the EXEC statement will also need to declare and populate an IntegerListTableType variable to pass into the stored procedure. Before I go any further I want to make one point clear: this is a really ugly hack and it makes me cringe to do it. Simply put, I strongly feel that it should not be this difficult to use a table-valued parameter with SSRS. With that said, let's take a look at what we'll have to do to make this work.
First, we'll need to manually define the parameters for report by right-clicking on the 'Parameters' folder in the 'Report Data' window. We'll need to define the '@startDate' and '@endDate' as simple date parameters. We'll also create a parameter called '@customerIds' that will be a mutli-valued Integer parameter:
In the 'Available Values' tab we'll point this parameter at a simple dataset that just returns the CustomerId and CustomerName of each row in the Customers table of the database or manually define a handful of Customer Id values to make available when the report runs.
Once we have these parameters properly defined we can take another crack at creating the dataset that will invoke the 'rpt_CustomerTransactionSummary' stored procedure. This time we'll choose the 'Text' query type option and put the following into the 'Query' text area:
1: exec('declare @customerIdList IntegerListTableType ' + @customerIdInserts +
2: ' EXEC rpt_CustomerTransactionSummary
3: @startDate=''' + @startDate + ''',
4: @endDate='''+ @endDate + ''',
5: @customerIds=@customerIdList')
By using the 'Text' query type we can enter any arbitrary SQL that we we want to and then use parameters and string concatenation to inject pieces of that query at run time. It can be a bit tricky to parse this out at first glance, but from the SSRS designer's point of view this query defines three parameters:
At this point the dataset designer will be able to correctly parse the query and should even be able to detect the fields that the stored procedure will return without needing to specify any values for query when prompted to. Once the dataset has been correctly defined we'll have a @customerIdInserts parameter listed in the 'Parameters' tab of the dataset designer. We need to define an expression for this parameter that will take the values selected by the user for the '@customerIds' parameter that we defined earlier and convert them into INSERT statements that will populate the @customerIdList variable that we defined in our Text query. In order to do this we'll need to add some custom code to our report using the 'Report Properties' dialog:
Any custom code defined in the Report Properties dialog gets embedded into the .rdl of the report itself and (unfortunately) must be written in VB .NET. Note that you can also add references to custom .NET assemblies (which could be written in any language), but that's outside the scope of this post so we'll stick with the "quick and dirty" VB .NET approach for now. Here's the VB .NET code (note that any embedded code that you add here must be defined in a static/shared function, though you can define as many functions as you want):
1: Public Shared Function BuildIntegerListInserts(ByVal variableName As String, ByVal paramValues As Object()) As String
2: Dim insertStatements As New System.Text.StringBuilder()
3: For Each paramValue As Object In paramValues
4: insertStatements.AppendLine(String.Format("INSERT {0} VALUES ({1})", variableName, paramValue))
5: Next
6: Return insertStatements.ToString()
7: End Function
This method takes a variable name and an array of objects. We use an array of objects here because that is how SSRS will pass us the values that were selected by the user at run-time. The method uses a StringBuilder to construct INSERT statements that will insert each value from the object array into the provided variable name.
Once this method has been defined in the custom code for the report we can go back into the dataset designer's Parameters tab and update the expression for the '@customerIdInserts' parameter by clicking on the button with the "function" symbol that appears to the right of the parameter value. We'll set the expression to:
1: =Code.BuildIntegerListInserts("@customerIdList ", Parameters!customerIds.Value)
In order to invoke our custom code method we simply need to invoke "Code.<method name>" and pass in any needed parameters. The first parameter needs to match the name of the IntegerListTableType variable that we used in the EXEC statement of our query. The second parameter will come from the Value property of the '@customerIds' parameter (this evaluates to an object array at run time).
Finally, we'll need to edit the properties of the '@customerIdInserts' parameter on the report to mark it as a nullable internal parameter so that users aren't prompted to provide a value for it when running the report.
When I first started looking into the text query approach described above I wondered if there might be an upper limit to the size of the string that can be used to run a report. Obviously, the size of the actual query could increase pretty dramatically if you have a parameter that has a lot of potential values or you need to support several different table-valued parameters in the same query. I tested the example Customer Transaction Summary report with 1000 selected customers without any issue, but your mileage may vary depending on how much data you might need to pass into your query.
If you think that the text query hack is a lot of work just to use a table-valued parameter, I agree! I think that it should be a lot easier than this to use a table-valued parameter from within SSRS, but so far I haven't found a better way. It might be possible to create some custom .NET code that could build the EXEC statement for a given set of parameters automatically, but exploring that will have to wait for another post. For now, unless there's a really compelling reason or requirement to use table-valued parameters from SSRS reports I would probably stick with the tried and true "join-multi-valued-parameter-to-CSV-and-split-in-the-query" approach for using mutli-valued parameters in a stored procedure.
I work with stored procedures in SQL Server pretty frequently and have often found myself with a need to pass in a list of values at run-time. Quite often this list contains a set of ids on which the stored procedure needs to operate the size and contents of which are not known at design time. In the past I've taken the collection of ids (which are usually integers), converted them to a string representation where each value is separated by a comma and passed that string into a VARCHAR parameter of a stored procedure. The body of the stored procedure would then need to parse that string into a table variable which could be easily consumed with set-based logic within the rest of the stored procedure. This approach works pretty well but the VARCHAR variable has always felt like an un-wanted "middle man" in this scenario. Of course, I could use a BULK INSERT operation to load the list of ids into a temporary table that the stored procedure could use, but that approach seems heavy-handed in situations where the list of values is usually going to contain only a few dozen values. Fortunately SQL Server 2008 introduced the concept of table-valued parameters which effectively eliminates the need for the clumsy middle man VARCHAR parameter.
Let's say we have a report that can summarize the the transactions that we've conducted with customers over a period of time. The report returns a pretty simple dataset containing one row per customer with some key metrics about how much business that customer has conducted over the date range for which the report is being run. Sometimes the report is run for a single customer, sometimes it's run for all customers, and sometimes it's run for a handful of customers (i.e. a salesman runs it for the customers that fall into his sales territory).
This report can be invoked from a website on-demand, or it can be scheduled for periodic delivery to certain users via SQL Server Reporting Services. Because the report can be created from different places and the query to generate the report is complex it's been packed into a stored procedure that accepts three parameters:
Obviously, the @startDate and @endDate parameters are DATETIME variables. The @customerIds parameter, however, needs to contain a list of the identity values (primary key) from the Customers table representing the customers that were selected for this particular run of the report. In prior versions of SQL Server we might have made this parameter a VARCHAR variable, but with SQL Server 2008 we can make it into a table-valued parameter.
In order to use a table-valued parameter, we first need to tell SQL Server about what the table will look like. We do this by creating a user defined type. For the purposes of this stored procedure we need a very simple type to model a table variable with a single integer column. We can create a generic type called 'IntegerListTableType' like this:
CREATE TYPE IntegerListTableType AS TABLE (Value INT NOT NULL)
Once defined, we can use this new type to define the @customerIds parameter in the signature of our stored procedure. The parameter list for the stored procedure definition might look like:
1: CREATE PROCEDURE dbo.rpt_CustomerTransactionSummary
2: @starDate datetime,
3: @endDate datetime,
4: @customerIds IntegerListTableTableType READONLY
Note the 'READONLY' statement following the declaration of the @customerIds parameter. SQL Server requires any table-valued parameter be marked as 'READONLY' and no DML (INSERT/UPDATE/DELETE) statements can be performed on a table-valued parameter within the routine in which it's used. Aside from the DML restriction, however, you can do pretty much anything with a table-valued parameter as you could with a normal TABLE variable.
With the user defined type and stored procedure defined as above, we could invoke like this:
1: DECLARE @cusomterIdList IntegerListTableType
2: INSERT @customerIdList VALUES (1)
3: INSERT @customerIdList VALUES (2)
4: INSERT @customerIdList VALUES (3)
6: EXEC dbo.rpt_CustomerTransationSummary
7: @startDate = '2012-05-01',
8: @endDate = '2012-06-01'
9: @customerIds = @customerIdList
Note that we can simply declare a variable of type 'IntegerListTableType' just like any other normal variable and insert values into it just like a TABLE variable. We could also populate the variable with a SELECT … INTO or INSERT … SELECT statement if desired.
Invoking a stored procedure with a table-valued parameter from ADO .NET is as simple as building a DataTable and passing it in as the Value of a SqlParameter. Here's some example code for how we would construct the SqlParameter for the @customerIds parameter in our stored procedure:
1: var customerIdsParameter = new SqlParameter();
2: customerIdParameter.Direction = ParameterDirection.Input;
3: customerIdParameter.TypeName = "IntegerListTableType";
4: customerIdParameter.Value = selectedCustomerIds.ToIntegerListDataTable("Value");
All we're doing here is new'ing up an instance of SqlParameter, setting the pamameters direction, specifying the name of the User Defined Type that this parameter uses, and setting its value. We're assuming here that we have an IEnumerable<int> variable called 'selectedCustomerIds' containing all of the customer Ids for which the report should be run. The 'ToIntegerListDataTable' method is an extension method of the IEnumerable<int> type that looks like this:
1: public static DataTable ToIntegerListDataTable(this IEnumerable<int> intValues, string columnName)
2: {
3: var intergerListDataTable = new DataTable();
4: intergerListDataTable.Columns.Add(columnName);
5: foreach(var intValue in intValues)
6: {
7: var nextRow = intergerListDataTable.NewRow();
8: nextRow[columnName] = intValue;
9: intergerListDataTable.Rows.Add(nextRow);
10: }
12: return intergerListDataTable;
13: }
Since the 'IntegerListTableType' has a single int column called 'Value', we pass that in for the 'columnName' parameter to the extension method. The method creates a new single-columned DataTable using the provided column name then iterates over the items in the IEnumerable<int> instance adding one row for each value. We can then use this SqlParameter instance when invoking the stored procedure just like we would use any other parameter.
Using passing a list of integers into a stored procedure is a very simple usage scenario for the table-valued parameters feature, but I've found that it covers the majority of situations where I've needed to pass a collection of data for use in a query at run-time. I should note that BULK INSERT feature still makes sense for passing large amounts of data to SQL Server for processing. MSDN seems to suggest that 1000 rows of data is the tipping point where the overhead of a BULK INSERT operation can pay dividends.
I should also note here that table-valued parameters can be used to deal with more complex data structures than single-columned tables of integers. A User Defined Type that backs a table-valued parameter can use things like identities and computed columns. That said, using some of these more advanced features might require the use the SqlDataRecord and SqlMetaData classes instead of a simple DataTable. Erland Sommarskog has a great article on his website that describes when and how to use these classes for table-valued parameters.
Earlier in the post I referenced the fact that our example stored procedure would be called from both a web application and a SQL Server Reporting Services report. Unfortunately, using table-valued parameters from SSRS reports can be a bit tricky and warrants its own blog post which I'll be putting together and posting sometime in the near future.


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Illiana Speedway: Jeff Cannon back in driver's seat
By Ryan Haskell Post-Tribune correspondent May 17, 2013 7:48PM
Updated: June 19, 2013 6:16AM
Veteran Illiana Motor Speedway super late model driver Jeff Cannon says that it's "dumb luck" that he's leading the super late model division.
Because his car hasn't run anything like he hoped it would in two races this season.
So he's hoping the third time is the charm.
Cannon, who won super late model division titles in 2007, '09 and '10, finished third in both features this season but still leads the division with 243 points.
He said his goal isn't to win the division title; he wants to win every single race.
"We've been racing the crate car; we've tried to race the built-motor car (bigger engine) but it didn't handle right so we took it back to the drawing board," Cannon said. "What we're trying to do is combine the two in the blue car because it'd have both handling and power."
The three-time champ drove in two races total last season. He was a crew member for Paul Shafer, Jr., last year as he tried to develop the young driver's talent.
Shafer is 16 years old, but is in his fourth year at Illiana and second in the super late model division.
Cannon said being a member of a team was quite an experience last year.
"For me, if I could watch a car, I can tell what it's doing in terms of how it's handling better than when I'm driving it," he said. "We took care of his whole racing operation last year and we had a good time with it. He did all the racing. We kept the car at our shop (Govert's Auto Body) and we took care of everything for him."
Cannon and his crew parted ways with Shafer after the season, though, because Shafer's dad wanted to take the car home and plans to travel more this season. Cannon wanted to stay close to home so he'd have more quality with his 21/2-year-old son.
So he's back racing at Illiana.
"I have mixed emotions," Cannon said. "I had fun racing with Paul and we met a couple people through him that is helping our program now. Last year the goal was to get him into some longer races so he could get stamina in those races. I wish the best for him."
Shafer is currently third in the division.

subset: commoncrawl


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Tue, Feb 5, 13 at 7:48
We currently have laminate flooring in our kitchen. We plan to do some remodeling in there and would like to redo the floor. I was wondering if Marmoleum tiles can be installed over the laminate? |
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Mark your calendars and head to Houston, Texas for the premier event in allergy/immunology. You will be able to earn CME/CE, learn about cutting-edge research and enrich your networking connections at the 2015 AAAAI Annual Meeting, February 20-24.
Join thousands of allergist/immunologists, allied health and related healthcare professionals for five full days with hundreds of educational offerings on a variety of topics including: allergic disease; asthma; immunotherapy; food allergy and GI disease; skin disease; PIDD; practice management; new technologies; and health care reform.
Other features include:
• Plenary Sessions, Keynote Talks and Symposia
• Poster Hall and Featured Poster Session
• Oral Abstract Sessions
• Seminars/ Problem-Based Workshops and interactive learning experiences
• Pro/Con Debates
• Exhibit Hall filled with the latest products and services
Check back frequently for the latest information on attendee registration, awards and scholarships, session specifics, exhibitor details and more.
Housing Alert!
It has come to our attention that a housing agency representing itself as AAAAI's hotel booking agent has been contacting attendees to make hotel reservations on their behalf. CMR (Convention Management Resources) is the only official housing provider for the 2015 AAAAI Annual Meeting. No other housing company or travel agency is authorized to place hotel reservations on behalf of the AAAAI, its exhibitors or its sponsors. These companies have not entered into agreements with the Houston hotels and are not able to guarantee rates and accommodations during the conference dates. Should you be contacted by any agency other than CMR, please email the AAAAI at email@example.com with the details.
Use the 2015 AAAAI Annual Meeting to Fulfill MOC Part II Self-Assessment Requirements
Already the premier event in allergy/immunology, AAAAI members will now be able to satisfy Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part II Self-Assessment requirements for free while at the 2015 Annual Meeting. Find out how you can receive 5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ for completing a self-assessment, and 5 MOC Part II Self-Assessment points from the American Board of Allergy and Immunology for reporting completion of a learning plan.
Days until the 2015 Annual Meeting
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January 28 | Delegate pre-registration and housing deadline |
January 28 | Delegate registration and hotel cancellation deadline for refund |
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The 10 Best Side Tables for the Great Outdoors
Truth in Decorating: Designers Christopher Coleman and Sheila Bridges rate these seasonal side tables
By Elle Decor Staff
Elevating the arrangement of your outdoor quarters from an assemblage of humdrum pieces to a smashing alfresco living room couldnt be simpler these days. The market is bursting with seriously stylish, weather-friendly goods for sunroom, terrace, poolside, and beyond. Tables both fanciful and functional are central to creating an inviting area for open-air loungingwhere else to park a drink, a book, or even ones feet?
This months experts in interior design survey ELLE DECORs choices for shapely side tables that deserve a place in the sun. Television host and author Sheila Bridges has recently put the finishing touches on a signature collection of outdoor furniture, while Christopher Colemans bold sense of color enlivens projects both indoors and out from Manhattan to Caracas.
Both designers agree that even one small table can pack a powerful punch, from the Asian appeal of Chinese Chippendale fretwork to a contemporary twist on traditional teak. What they dont advise, however, is investing in a full furniture suite. Then it looks too much like a showroom, says Coleman. People should approach outdoor spaces the same as they do interiors, adds Bridges. Mix shapes and materials and layer in fabrics and accessories just as you would inside.


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A bevy of options awaits those wishing to show their patriotic spirit this Memorial Day weekend, when three parades in Central and Mid-Queens will commemorate locals who have served their country in war.
On Sunday, Forest Hills will host one of the borough's most pomp-filled parades, replete with helicopter flyovers, bagpipe players, Army drum corps and a 25-foot model submarine float. Forest Hills' Memorial Day Parade kicks off at noon at the American Legion Continental Post 1424, at 107-15 Metropolitan Ave., and ends at Remsen Park on Woodhaven Boulevard.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg will appear alongside Medal of Honor recipient Robert O'Malley, a Woodside native who rescued American infantry squads from an ambush in the Vietnam War. "This parade keeps getting larger and larger every year," said parade coordinator Louis Neir. "It's a local tradition for us, but we keep attracting more people from all over." For more information, call Neir at (718) 835-1587.
Also on Sunday, more than 80 servicemen and servicewomen will gather at Walter Garling Memorial Park, at 72nd Place and Grand Avenue, for Maspeth's own yearly parade. Participants will meet at 1 p.m., they will be joined by a color guard, 11 bands and dozens of Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and ROTC cadets from Francis Lewis High School and Long Island City's Aviation High School.
Marchers will follow the traditional route, starting down Grand Avenue, then turning right onto 61st Street and continuing to 56th Road and Clinton Avenue before proceeding back up Grand Avenue, said event organizer Marlene Sommella.
Additionally, this year's festivities include an award ceremony for the winners of a Memorial Day essay contest for middle schoolers, to follow the march. To learn more, call Sommella at (718) 672-8333.
The ceremonies will continue into Monday, when national Veterans Hall of Famer Pat Toro Jr. leads over 75 naval and marine personnel down Myrtle Avenue in Glendale's 69th Annual Memorial Day parade. Headlining the event will be Forest Hills Councilwoman Melinda Katz, an accomplished vocalist, who will sing "The Star Spangled Banner". Paraders will meet at 11 a.m. at the corner of Myrtle and Cooper avenues. To learn more, call parade coordinator Julius Landherr at (718) 366-0121.


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My Pets: FREE Tools to Care for Your Pet and Connect with Others
Friendly, loving and very playful, the Labrador retriever has become one of the most popular breeds in the United States. Historically, this large "sporting" breed has been used to hunt and retrieve birds and only recently has the dog become known as a companion dog. The retriever is highly regarded for its good nature, easy trainability and intelligence. The Labrador retriever the #1 top breeds based on the American Kennel Club (AKC) tallies. History and OriginThe Labrador retriever hails from Newfoundland and not Labrador, as the name suggests, though both areas are located in eastern Canada. It is possible that geographic confusion led to the name. Exactly how the breed came to inhabit Newfoundland is not known. The first written report of the breed, a letter written by a traveler to this area, dates to 1822. Fishermen brought the breed to Britain in the early 19th century. Originally, the dogs ranged from a heavy-coated variety known as the Large Newfoundland to a smaller rough-coated variety called the Lesser Newfoundland or St. John's Dogs. The modern-day Labrador retriever probably descends from this St. John's Dog and the currently known Newfoundland breed from the Large Newfoundland.The breed was not originally used as a companion dog. Instead, retrievers were bred exclusively as hunters, a job for which they possessed superior talents. The Labrador retriever was officially accepted into the English Kennel Club in 1903 and the American Kennel Club in 1917. Over the years, Labrador retrievers have become useful as guide dogs for the blind, deaf and other handicapped individuals because of their intelligence, trainability, well-rounded temperament, as well as their ability to get along well with people. They are trained as therapy dogs to comfort residents in nursing homes and emotionally disturbed children. The military and police force employ the breed for scent-discrimination to track criminals, drugs, weapons, bombs, and to find people buried in debris of earthquakes or other disasters.Appearance and SizeThe Labrador retriever is a strong, medium-sized dog possessing a sound, athletic, well-balanced conformation that enables him to function as a retrieving gun dog and as a member of the family. The coat is short, dense and weather-resistant and is black, yellow or chocolate. The breed has an "otter" tail that is thick at the base and gradually tapers.The adult Labrador stands 21 to 24 inches at the shoulder and weighs 55 to 80 pounds. PersonalityThe breed is known for its kindly, outgoing and tractable nature. The Lab is eager to please and usually non-aggressive toward man or animal. Home and Family RelationsThe Labrador retriever is good-natured and gentle enough to live with children, though some breed lines have been found to be somewhat hyperactive. The breed will share the home with another dog if introduced and socialized at an early age but has a tendency toward jealousy. They are not the best watchdogs as they are not overly suspicious and might be won over by a friendly gesture of a stranger. TrainingLabrador retrievers are intelligent and love to learn. Most Labradors can begin command training at 6 to 8 months of age. At this age they can have twice daily, 10-minute lessons. If the dog wanders physically or mentally, he is still too young to begin training. Should the dog misbehave, the reprimand must be consistent and appropriate.Special CharacteristicsLabrador retrievers are powerful swimmers, a skill aided by the webbing between their toes and their water-resistant coats. They are also avid hunters. Special CareBy heritage, the Labrador retriever is a worker and requires regular exercise. They should have three walks per day and not be allowed to remain inactive and grow overweight. On the average, an overweight dog will die at an earlier age than a trim, active dog. The dog can become depressed and destructive in the home if adequate exercise is not allowed and encouraged.
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Real Change Blog
On the Street: a Veteran's View of America
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This is an essay written by long-time Real Change vendor, August Mallory. It is reprinted with his permission.
On the Street: a Veteran's View of America
By August H. Mallory
On this cold and chilly saturday morning and as I stand outside of the seattle union gospel mission to grab some breakfast I cannot help but notice the number of men and the few women who come to the mission to get a meal. I remember reading some history on rescue missions and shelters, they were once established for men dependent on alcohol and drugs, but as time went on the need for rescue missions became greater, the great depression of the 1930s brought on a different arena for rescue missions as the depression hit at the heart of america, people begin to feel the pinch of unemployment and poverty across america, and the need for rescue missions and other faith based shelters were in high demand, but even today the need for more shelters and shelter beds are in demand. with people losing jobs and losing their homes the need for shelters and shelter beds are even greater now.
As I wait to be called inside for breakfast, I see a great number of military veterans who rank highest amongst america's homeless population, men and women who fought for this country have now found themselves let down by the very nation in which they gave their time and their lives for. as a U.S. Navy Veteran I keep asking myself why is it that we as vets go into the military to gain special skills to prepare us for outside employment can never find the jobs that match our skills, and even when we go to all of these trade schools and major universities we are still left standing in the cold. we served this country, and the best america can do is leave us standing in long lines waiting for a meal. this totally unfair. an absolute slap in the face. I keep asking myself, what did I do this for if I am going to be treated in such a manner. whatever happened to veterans preference when it came to employment.
For some strange reason that is a thing of the past, however I would like to thank President Obama for speaking out on the behalf of veterans, President Obama never served in the military so he really doesn't know the struggles that veterans are going through, but he does know what the struggles of being an african american is, and as an african american the struggle for equality still exist in america.
People of color do rank highest amongst the nations poor and homeless. I suppose I should be greatful though, when I look at other countries and what they are going through. I guess living in america isn't so bad.
Marvin Hammerman Mystery, Part 1
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This is Part 1 of a story written by long-time Real Change vendor, August Mallory. It is reprinted with his permission.
Marvin Hammerman Mystery, Part 1
By August H. Mallory
As a chilly windy, and rainy day hovers over the seattle king county area, police have been called to the pioneer square area in downtown seattle, the body of a homeless man has been discovered, according to his ID his name is Roy Johnson 53 years of age, people are gathered around to view the body from a short distance,... the killer is amongst those who are watching, it looks as the Roy Johnson was striken several times with a blunt object to his head, his ID states that he is from Madison Wisconsin, and he has a shelter ID that states he is staying at a local shelter in downtown, as the crowd mingles around to see the body, the killer paces back and forth trying to figure out his next move. Detective John Brennan with the SPD major crime task force. contacts the seattle union gospel mission's executive director to tell him the terrible news, meanwhile the killer decides to leave the scene, and make his way north to the seattle space needle, RRRRRIIIIIIIINNNNGG' seattle union gospel mission may I help you. yes I am Detective John Brennan Seattle Police Department, may I speak with your Director please, please standby I will transfer you, this is Danny Garrett' Mr Garrett I'm Detective John Brennan I am afraid I have some bad news for you. as the news of Roy Johnson's murder given to Danny Garrett' garrett is sickened by what he is hearing,
Garrett must now contact the next of kin to tell them the horrifying news,
meanwhile the killer is roaming about the streets of seattle in his crazed mental state he stops and yells at oncoming traffic and then runs down various streets and alleyways, back at the union gospel mission, Danny Garrett contacts the legal office at the mission, they give him the name of Marvin Hammerman a prosecuting attorney who investigates crimes against homeless people.
End of part 1
Coming up in part 2, Hammerman join forces with Private Investigator Russell Jamison and they go undercover to flush out the killer of Roy Johnson.
Our economy, explained in song
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Looking for a quick explanation for our current economic mess? But wait, you've only got five minutes? Oh, and you'd like a little something to dance to at the same time? Look no further. Musician Tay Zonday has put together a song breaking down our broken economy over a pretty catchy synthesizer-driven jam in a track called "Mama Economy."
How would you balance the state budget?
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Think you can do a better job at balancing the state budget than the governor or legislature? The League of Education Voters has an online calculator that helps you visualize the $1.7 billion budget hole and how to fill it. A scale on one side shows apples representing state services tipping the scale to one side. You can either remove the apples by selecting programs to cut or add dollars by approving new revenue sources.
Click here to try it out.
Here's one scenario you can try out: Skip everything else and click the option close to the bottom of the list titled "Increase tax for high earners."
Did you hear that?
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The following the the poem of 2011 Vendor of the Year, Cat Condeff. It is featured in the paper this week. Real Change first ran this 15 years ago, and it is worth revisiting!
Did You Hear That?
I'll never forget it.
I was surrounded by cement.
And I burst out
With a pent-up
monstrous scream
So loud
It echoed off the walls
So full of anguish
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Real Change vendor Reggie Thompson posted on the International Network of Street Papers Blog yesterday. Check it out!
Reggie's Corner Rap-Summertime
The Courage of Our Convictions
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The 470 Real Change supporters at our October 4th Breakfast gave a standing ovation this morning to the event's closing speech, delivered by Real Change Director Timothy Harris. The 2011 Breakfast raised a record-breaking $102,165 to support our work.
Every year, when I stand up here, and look out upon this amazing community of supporters, I feel a bit overwhelmed. By the depth and breadth of our support, by the importance of what we do, and by the difference that we make.
These are very hard times, and what we do is so essential. Just a few weeks ago I asked at a vendor meeting who hadn't worked a steady job for three years or more. More than half the room raised their hands.
We create the opportunity for our vendors to be valued, to be proud of what they do. There are people in their lives, lots of people, who affirm who they are. Who care that they exist.
That matters. It matters a lot.
A few weeks ago, I went to a memorial at Seward Park PCC. The Leaves of Remembrance Project was cementing an engraved bronze leaf onto the sidewalk that read "Robert Hansen, 1951-2010."
I wonder how many people in this room knew Robert?
Robert had been a vendor since 1995. He loved people and people loved him back
And when he unexpectedly died, our community's sense of loss took us all by surprise
So sixteen months later, there I was, standing with forty other people outside the Seward Park PCC on a Sunday morning, remembering this man that had so touched our lives.
There were two ministers. There were his friends from SHARE/WHEEL and his friends from Real Change. There were his friends from PCC and his friends from downtown. The City Attorney was there, and two City Councilors, who also live in Seward Park and shop at that PCC.
There wasn't a person there to whom Robert, more than a year later, was not present.
This, this thing called Real Change, and the community that we create of it, is a tremendous gift.
We live in very mean times, and sometimes, it feels like we're supposed to just get over it, and accept homelessness, and the human degradation that comes with it, as an unsurprising fact of life.
Last year, I'm not sure, I can't keep up, the State Legislature changed the name of General Assistance
Reflection on the Blessing of the Totem Pole
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This essay was written by 2011 Vendor of the Year Cat Condeff, who attended the August 30th Blessing of the Totem and John T. Williams Memorial.
The weather couldn't have been more perfect. The forecast for the day had been for gloomy, old clouds, but the universe and the heavens had other plans, plans of their own. There were no clouds obstructing the view of the sky, and as I have no doubt that John-John (my nickname for John T.) could look down on all of us just as easily as we could look upward toward him.
If I had to pick just one word to describe the ceremony, it would be "somber." Sure, there was the celebratory regalia, as Natives from as far away as Alaska came to this event, as well as folks dressed in their finest Indian clothing, as well as people dressed in just plain ordinary garb that you see everyday folks and tourists alike wear all the time. I was about the only one that I saw who was wearing black. I thought of The Women In Black as I got dressed that day, as I do every time I wear my black velvet dress. I even wear black underwear as my own small, yet significant way of showing my solidarity with them. Perhaps the most impressive individual there—to me, anyway—was the tribal dancer, who wore a massive array of eagle feathers and bands of bells on his wrists, arms and ankles. There was one woman who had a top on the said "police" in large block letters, but it wasn't a typical Seattle Police Officer uniform, and I don't know as to what capacity it was that she was there, but the presence of uniformed city servants in blue were noticeably ABSENT. Perhaps it was just as well. The mayor showed up about 1/3—1/2 of the way through, but didn't speak. KOMO news was there, and photographers aplenty.
Pier 57 was absolutely packed with people, mostly standing room only. The chairs that were available were occupied by the elders, mostly—as it should be, and in keeping with the Native American tradition that calls for the utmost respect of those who have come before—and some were occupied by Natives who were visiting from out of state, some of them women with children in their arms. The area above the Pier 57 setting was filled with onlookers—two or more deep, depending.
The ceremony itself lasted about ten minutes. Most of what went before was honoring John-John's memory and several different tribal leaders giving speeches about whatever they thought was appropriate for the occasion. There was no "Birk bashing." There was no mention of how unfairly John T. Williams life was cut short at the hands of a trigger-happy pig. Just that he had had a hand in the making of the Totems posthumously because the design of the kingfisher was his, and was used especially to honor his life—as well as his father's and grandfather and also his living survivor-brother Rick. John-John's other brother was there,but didn't speak. Rick spoke about the making of the poles and how the money had been donated by (?) to pay for the raising and the maintenance of the two gorgeous totems. They lay quietly, side by side during all this, I don't suppose minding too much the snapping of photos and all the attention. I'm pretty sure that it was sage that was lit, and after the speeches, and the drumming and the prayers were said, Rick and one or two others (i couldn't see—), one of whom was an honored drummer, paced slowly around the two poles, chanting prayers and anointing them with the music of the drum and the burning incense.
There was a city councilman who spoke—I'd remember his name if you said it—and there was a raffle for the miniature replica totem pole as well as some turquoise jewelry and a few other handmade items—like a beautiful basket—The buy-in was $20.00 a ticket, but these sacred items were/are priceless.
After all this, it was made known that the ceremony itself was over, but that the mic would be open to anyone who wanted to share stories /or memories of the late Master Carver, determined by his own grandfather to be the best carver of the bunch. Part of me wanted to go up there and say something, but it was just too personal of a thing for me to go up and say how I knew him in front of alot of people I didn't know, who were then starting to disband, and wouldn't have been much of a captive audience at that point. They/we were throughout the ceremony, however.
I'm still not all that familiar with the camera that I was blessed with, but I did take a short movie during the drumming. The still shots were kinda disappointing, but I wasn't gonna go barging around to get a better angle like some of the others with cameras with massive lenses apparently feel they have the right to. No offense.
The main sensation that encompassed me as I made my way up the Pier's plank walkway was that we did The Master Carver, John T. Williams—John-John—proud. And I had the distinct and unmistakable feeling that he was watching everything, hearing everything, even smelling the sage, maybe…that he was with us and that he was grateful that we came together not only as a people—family, friends and onlookers—but that it was a serene event, devoid of hatred or malice or revengefull words. Absent of blame and shame. A sacred, holy blessing that occurred without any unwarranted incidents, that helped the Totems to rest quietly, until their big day in February, 2012, John T.'s birthday—the 27th—I think—when they will be raised and set in their permanent place. Mary Alice—one who has been very devoted to this whole totem pole project, as well as to Rick Williams and other members of the family and the other carvers, etc.,—was there the next day and said that there was an unmistakable sense of the poles "sleeping."
Like I said at the outset of this, the word to describe The Blessing of the Totem Poles was/is somber. Suitably, painfully so.
Submitted respectfully by
Catherine M. Condeff
"Cat" to some, including J.T.
Vendor #149
Remembering Robert Hansen
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Please join us this Sunday, September 18th at 2 pm to remember inspirational Real Change Vendor Robert Hansen as the Tree of Remembrance Project places a bronze leaf on the sidewalk of Seward Park PCC (5041 Wilson Ave. S.) to memorialize this extraordinary life. Below is a eulogy that was read at City Hall Plaza memorial event in 2010, and a link to a wonderful remembrance we published on the anniversary of his passing.
Robert would have loved this.
Seeing you here. In City Hall Plaza. Looking like a protest rally.
But we're not here to protest. We're here to celebrate our friend, Robert Hansen, and the things he stood for.
Robert was always there to support the various poor people's issues Real Change fights for. He was driven in this, I think, not by any sophisticated analysis of urban poverty issues or belief that the world would actually one day become more just.
He was there because it was the right thing to do. Robert Hansen was a good man. An honest man, who was loyal to his friends and kind to everyone.
There are things that I know personally that Robert believed in.
Robert believed in both Ford and Chevy pick-up trucks, although he preferred Chevy's. Robert believed in Econoline vans.
Robert believed in hot drip coffee and cigarettes.
Robert believed in the power of bad jokes to make people laugh.
Robert believed in work, and in making himself useful.
Robert believed in fairness, and that everyone should have a shot at a decent life. Robert saw the value in all of us.
And Robert believed that people are good.
I say that Robert believed in work.
He put in more hours than most people selling the paper, and would always be there for us to do what needed to be done.
He called Real Change from Swedish a few days before he died to apologize that he wouldn't be there to help unload the new papers Wednesday morning, like he always was.
Not long ago, someone asked me what I though about those who "choose" to be homeless. Who make the calculation that being a wage slave sucks and drop out of regular work altogether.
I said that this struck me, for those who are forever consigned to the worst jobs at the worst pay when they can get them, as entirely rational.
I said that the bigger mystery for me, the bigger source of wonder and amazement, are those who, despite the fact that work doesn't pay—that our social contract of an honest days work for an honest days pay has been long broken—continue on working, or at least trying to work.
Robert was one of those people.
I remember around six or seven years ago, when Robert thought his ship had finally come in.
He'd been working a lot of hours under the table at an auto junk yard. They liked him and saw that he was good with a wrench and knew his way around cars. I'd never seen him look better. He dropped a lot of weight and even got kind of buff.
They offered him a regular job. He was elated. Twelve bucks an hour. Vacation benefits. Health care. He said he'd still sell the paper sometimes, because he loved his customers, but he wouldn't be around very much.
Then came the background check. There was a nine year-old felony, expunged from the record in one place but not another. They said sorry, deal's off.
His desperate attempts to explain went nowhere. My phone call to vouch for him had no effect. My recommendation helped get lots of former interns into grad school, but it couldn't get Robert his dream job at the junkyard.
The business was under no obligation to give Robert a chance, so they didn't. They just hired someone else.
I think this was the only time I ever saw Robert in anything like despair, which, in itself, was kind of amazing.
No matter what was going on, whether he was losing a cheap apartment and living in his truck, or sick, or tired, Robert didn't complain.
He was happy. Robert Hansen was a happy man. I think maybe he was born that way.
Robert never stopped believing in work. In the months before he died, he'd often show me the ID card he received for completing Washington State road flagger training. He was really proud of that. He thought that maybe that would be work a 58 year-old man could do.
The last time we talked about it, he'd pretty much figured out that his badge wasn't going to get him a job. He was less disappointed this time, but part of him still hoped.
Robert never stopped hoping.
A few days ago, I was talking with one of Robert's good friends about the extraordinary community response to Roberts death. The spontaneous memorial where he worked the Seward Park PCC. The full obituary in the Seattle Times. A column from Nicole Brodeur. The many expressions of condolence and grief we've received at Real Change.
She reminded me that our work is to love. She said that if we just love, the change we need to create will follow.
She said that this is why her Jesus means so much to her. That he loved, and he loved unconditionally. He had one commandment, to love one another, and that if we could do this, we'd create his kingdom here on earth.
I've never been able to accept my friends Jesus. That's my issue. I certainly have nothing to say to the Jesus who condemns sin and worships material success. The Jesus of the powerful and the Jesus of the powerless and frustrated.
But I believe in the power of love, and I believe we are called especially to love those who aren't always easy to love.
And I believe in what Robert Hansen believed in. I believe in people, and in caring for each other. And in taking the time to share a joke and a smile to let someone know that they mean something to you.
I picked the poem for the front of Robert's memorial flyer. It's a nice poem. It's a nice thought. But I don't know that I believe that either.
I'm probably not going to be thinking of Robert every time I feel the warmth of the sun on my skin. If he's part of the Universal All, that's great, but it won't help me much when I stop to remember that he's gone.
But I do think he's with us. He's in the memories of hundreds, if not thousands of people. He's there with us on Wednesday mornings, when the new papers come in.
He is here, in the faces of all the people I know who knew and loved him.
Robert Hansen has inspired me, and reminded me again that universal, unconditional love isn't some overwhelming burden of which only a few Saints are capable. It's in the small, everyday acts of kindness. It's in taking the time to smile at someone and say hello. It's in knowing that everyone, EVERYONE, is worthy of human dignity and respect, and taking the risk of living that truth into your life.
Robert did that. And if Robert did that, so can we all.
Real Change's 17th Annual Breakfast is coming up soon!
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Our 17th Annual breakfast is coming up soon, and we would love to see you there!
Our program this year includes:
* Keynote Speaker Rev. Craig Rennebohm, Chaplain with the Mental Health Chaplaincy and author of
* Real Change's 2011 Vendors of the Year, Catherine Condeff and Kenneth Chow, who will be honored for their work and will share their Real Change stories.
* Presentation of Real Change's annual Change Agent Award.
* Hosted by Rosette Royale, Real Change's Assistant Editor.
When and where?
Tuesday October 4, 2011
Fisher Pavilion at Seattle Center
7:30am- Check-in and Networking
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Beginning the semester after the house staff member's contract begins, house staff members, their spouses, and dependent children qualify for in-state tuition rates for courses taken at the University of Iowa. An application, along with a copy of the house staff's signed contract, must be completed so the Registrar's Office can determine eligibility. More information regarding residency classification can be found on the Office of the Registrar's website.
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Explosion Big Band, with Doug Haining and Scott Agster, present an evening of swing music.Now in its 17th year, "9 Nights of Music" is offered every Tuesday in July and August. Tapestry Folkdance Center provides dance instruction from 6:30 to 7 p.m. Live music and dancing starts at 7 p.m. Bring a lawn chair and pack a picnic or purchase food from the Caf Minnesota terrace grill. No outside alcoholic beverages allowed. Come early and take advantage of free admission to the museum galleries from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a nominal fee for parking. In case of rain, performances move indoors. Call 651-259-3000 for rain updates at 4 p.m."9 Nights of Music" is presented by Xcel Energy. Additional support is provided by 99.5 Classical MPR and the Tapestry Folkdance Center.
Minnesota History Center
Tuesday, July 22, 2014


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Packet traffic on submarine networks is steadily on the rise and submarine network operators must meet exacting services while optimizing performance. As a result, more and more telecom operators are ramping up their transoceanic fiber networks to improve reliability, performance and bandwidth availability, making comprehensive testing—across the multiple layers of the network—critical.
Laying out new submarine fiber is several times more expensive than terrestrial deployments. Its troubleshooting, repair and upgrade is likewise costly. Telecom operators face the task of running each fiber at its maximum capacity. Therefore, network characterization tests, including end-to-end chromatic dispersion (CD) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD), are essential to guarantee high-speed submarine transmission. What's more, validation with a next-gen optical spectrum analyzer (OSA), performed during system commissioning, ensures that a single fiber will contain as many dense wavelength-division multiplexing (DWDM) channels as possible, while operating error-free.
Today's regional and transoceanic network deployments demand powerful, flexible multiservice testing solutions that address SONET/SDH/OTN (up to OC-768/STM-256/OTU3) and Ethernet (10M to 100G) transmissions. Accelerating and simplifying the deployment processes with powerful, intelligent platforms that easily accommodate a variety of optical, transport and datacom modules help overcome these challenges. In addition, capabilities, such as automation, simultaneous and in-service testing, as well as remote management, validate that all the tests performed throughout the lifecycle are accurate, thereby ensuring the cost-efficiency and success for 40G/100G submarine networks.
This training session will provide you with background information about the functionality and testing procedures of a DWDM system.
A comprehensive overview of ITU-T recommendation G.709, Interface for the optical transport network, whose aim is to address the transmission requirements of todays wide range of services.
This webinar examines the DWDM-network impairments created by these new technologies, such as interchannel crosstalk, nonlinear effects and carrier leakage. We discuss their impacts and how to fix them. Finally, we unveil EXFO's latest impairment-identification solution: the WDM Investigator for optical spectrum analyzers.
Discover EXFO's wide range of smart, field-portable solutions part of any technician's toolbox to perform proper Iistallation, activation and maintenance of any type of networks.
As bandwidth demands continue to increase, network service providers are looking at 40 Gigabit Ethernet and 100 Gigabit Ethernet networks to accommodate the ongoing traffic surge.
When it comes to high-speed transmission, especially when transmitting at 10G, 40G/100G, assessing fiber quality is a must. Once the basic parameters (i.e., loss, ORL, etc.) are under control, the next step is to qualify the fiber and to ensure that it is fit for transporting actual customer traffic. Polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) and chromatic dispersion (CD) optical testing become crucial at high speeds.
Packet optical transport (POT) networks are optical super-highways that use the most advanced technological enablers, from reconfigurable optical add/drop multiplexers (ROADMs) to amplifiers—and from very high bit rates to dense wavelength-division multiplexers (WDMs).
EXFO offers various optical testing instruments and system configurations to perform on-demand troubleshooting of any fiber connecting to the equipment in order to help you reduce support- and maintenance-related expenses.


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Document - Qatar should take steps to end use of torture and other ill-treatment
AI Index: MDE 22/003/2012
28 November 2012
Qatar should take steps to end use of torture and other ill-treatment
Amnesty International today urged the Qatari government to take immediate steps to implement the concluding observations issued on 23 November by the UN Committee against Torture concerning Qatar's implementation of the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (the Convention).
The Qatari authorities have an opportunity to show that they take the conclusions and recommendations of the UN Committee against Torture seriously. Amnesty International reiterates the calls made in the concluding observations and urges Qatar to take a first step towards meeting its obligations under the Convention by implementing the Committee's key recommendation to "take effective measures to ensure that all detainees, including non-citizens, are afforded, in practice, all fundamental legal safeguards from the very outset of detention, including the rights to promptly receive independent legal assistance and a medical exam by an independent doctor, to contact relatives, and to appear before a judge within a time limit in accordance with international standards." Such action would help to reduce the risk of torture and other ill-treatment that Amnesty International has documented.
Amnesty International expressed concern that under the Protection of Society Law people can be held without charge or trial for up to six months by order of the Minister of Interior acting on the recommendation of the Director General of Public Security. Such detention may then be extended for up to two years at the discretion of the Prime Minister. The Law on Combating Terrorism also provides for prolonged detention without charge or trial. These laws make no provision for detainees to have access to their families or legal counsel, effectively permitting them to be held incommunicado. Such laws facilitate torture and other ill-treatment
The Committee also expressed deep concern with regards to the legislation and called on Qatar "to ensure that all fundamental safeguards are provided, in law and in practice, for all persons deprived of their liberty. This includes the availability of judicial and other remedies that will allow them to have their complaints promptly and impartially examined, and to challenge the legality of their detention or treatment".
The Protection of Society Law makes no provision for detainees to have access to relatives or legal counsel. Since 2006, around a dozen people detained under the Protection of Society Law have been subjected to incommunicado detention for weeks or months without charge or trial. The Law on Combating Terrorism also makes no provision for detainees to have access to their families or legal counsel, effectively permitting them to be held incommunicado.
The Committee has called on Qatar "to review the use of incommunicado detention with a view to its abolition and ensure that solitary confinement remains an exceptional measure of limited duration, in line with international standards." They also called for the Protection of Society Law and the Law on Combating Terrorism to be amended to bring them into conformity with the Convention.
Amnesty International is concerned that allegations of torture and other forms of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment continue to be reported, that Qatari laws lack sufficient safeguards to protect detainees and torture and other ill-treatment and that there are no adequate systems in place, in practice, to ensure prompt, independent investigation of allegations of torture or other ill-treatment and adequate remedy or redress for victims.
Amnesty International has received around a dozen reports of torture or other ill-treatment against detainees during the period covered by the Qatari government's report (2004-2009) and since then. The methods of torture and other ill-treatment reported to Amnesty International include beating, suspension for hours, sleep deprivation, solitary confinement in small cells for weeks or months, being made to stand for long hours continuously, being made to sleep on the floor without a mattress, denial of access to toiletries such as soap, and being subjected to grossly excessive air conditioning for prolonged periods. In some instances detainees have been subjected to threats that could amount to torture or other ill-treatment.
As recommended by the Committee, the government should, in particular, ensure that all allegations of torture and other ill-treatment are investigated promptly and thoroughly by independent bodies, with no institutional or hierarchical connection between the investigators and the alleged perpetrators among the police.
Amnesty International welcomed the submission of Qatar's recent amendment to the definition of torture in the Criminal Code which brings it into line with that set out in Article 1 of the Convention.
However, other articles of the Criminal Code and Code of Criminal Procedures relating to the prohibition and penalization of acts that may amount to torture or other ill-treatment are of concern due to their vague wording and, as such, fall below the standards required under Article 1 of the Convention. This includes Article 40 of the Code of Criminal Procedures which, although it prohibits "physical and mental harm", does not define clearly the meaning of this term and how it is to be interpreted in practice. Similarly, Articles 160 and 161 of the Criminal Code prescribe penalties for public officials who commit acts of "cruelty" or "harm" individuals without providing a definition for those terms.
Amnesty International is also concerned that corporal punishment continues to be applied and that dozens of people have been given flogging sentences – ranging from 40 to 100 lashes – since 2004, including at least 45 between 2009 and 2011. The Committee called on Qatar to "put an end to its imposition of corporal punishment, which constitutes a breach of the Convention," and modify its legislation accordingly.
The Committee expressed concern that Qatar is seeking to retain a vague and extremely broad reservation to Articles 1 and 16 of the Convention insofar as they are incompatible with the precepts of Islamic law and the Islamic religion. Amnesty International fears that maintaining this reservation to Convention could be linked to the provision of corporal punishment in Article 1 of the Qatari Criminal Code. Amnesty International calls on Qatar to withdraw the reservation so as to ensure it is in compliance with the requirements of the Convention.
The Committee also expressed concerns that "Qatar continues to be a destination country for men and women subjected to forced labor and forced prostitution." It was also concerned about reports of widespread torture or other ill-treatment and abuse of migrant workers, in particular under the sponsorship system and constraints on lodging complaints against their employers, as well as the lack of information on cases in which sponsors were punished for torture or other ill-treatment of migrant workers. The Committee called on Qatar "to ensure systematic procedures to identify victims of trafficking among vulnerable groups, such as those arrested for immigration violations or prostitution, and to provide protection for victims and their access to medical, social rehabilitative and legal services, including counseling services, as appropriate". They also called on them "to strengthen its efforts to provide legal protection to migrant workers, including female domestic workers, in its territory against torture, ill-treatment and abuse and guarantee access to justice." In that regard they called on them to "adopt, as a matter of urgency, labor legislation covering domestic work and providing legal protection to migrant domestic workers against exploitation, ill-treatment and abuse" and "consider abolishing the sponsorship system for all migrant workers".
The UN Committee against Torture is the expert body established by the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment to monitor countries' compliance with that treaty. It is composed of 10 independent, impartial members who are elected by the states parties to the treaty. Governments must submit periodic reports to the Committee which in turn make recommendations to further the state party's implementation of the treaty.
Amnesty International submitted a written briefing to the UN Committee against Torture on 12 October 2012. The full briefing is available at: http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/info/MDE22/001/2012/en
Public Document
For more information please call Amnesty International's press office in London, UK, on +44 20 7413 5566 or email: firstname.lastname@example.com
International Secretariat, Amnesty International, 1 Easton St., London WC1X 0DW, UK www.amnesty.org


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Chris Gamble was set to get paid sometime in the coming days or weeks. Even though he's aging (he's 30) and therefore somewhat fading, in today's NFL defending the pass is always a paramount need. Therefore, a cornerback like Gamble whose coverage skills still very much put him among the upper tiers at his position is set to be highly courted this offseason, even with the abundance of other available — and younger — corners (Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Brent Grimes, Sean Smith).
Instead, the man who owns the Carolina Panthers record for the most career interceptions (27) is choosing to take his money and his health, and fade away.
It's a slightly curious decision given the aforementioned interest Gamble would receive as the leading corner among the second tier of free agents at his position. But in an era when head trauma is a constantly lingering concern and talking point, Gamble has surely made enough money through nine seasons, and at some point health and family are much more important.
Gamble has arrived at that point, and his agent Carl Poston issued this statement addressing his decision to retire (via Josina Anderson):
"A number of teams have expressed interest in Chris. However, he informed me last night that he wants to retire. Even though he still loves football, he told me that he's decided to focus on life after football. Chris has been a class act. I have represented him for nine years, ever since he came out of Ohio State. He's been an ideal client and he was one of the best corners in game. He's doing it the right way. He has taken care of his money and his investments to retire successfully, and now I wish him the best in his future endeavors."
Gamble was cut by the Panthers after he appeared in just four games this past season due to a shoulder injury, and his age combined with durability concerns led to the easy conclusion that his $10.95 million cap hit in 2013 was far too great of a financial burden.


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Post-show wrap: CTIA attendance down 15%
Wireless may be getting a partial pass in the down economy, but the industry's biggest trade show certainly isn't. CTIA reported attendance at CTIA Wireless dropped 15% this year, short of the worst case scenario, but definitely an indication that recession isn't bypassing mobile industry.
Official attendance came in at 34,000, down 6000 from the previous years, and way off of the 45,000 plus CTIA Wireless has enjoyed in years' previous. CTIA claims that the movers and shakers that actually make the strategic decisions and purchase the goods were in attendance, so while foot traffic may have been down high-level networking and deal-making were still going on behind the scenes.
For a complete report see Telephony's Unfiltered Post on CTIA's numbers.


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Rx drugs stolen from area drugstore Two men made off with narcotics after robbing the Walgreens at Chestnut Run Shopping Center. State Police say shortly before 1 p.m. two armed men entered the drugstore and demanded narcotics. One suspect, armed with a stun gun, went behind the pharmacy counter and took an undisclosed amount of prescription drugs. |
Copyright © Jan 29, 2015, WDEL/Delmarva Broadcasting Company. All Rights Reserved. Advanced permission from Delmarva Broadcasting Company required for publication or rebroadcast. |


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Tue, Jun 12, 07 at 0:32
Robin's Nursery a mile or so south of Xenia on Rt. 68 is having their clearance sale. 1 Gal perennials are $2.50, annual flats are $5.50, hanging baskets $5.50, lots of other good stuff. Yesterday they still had a good selection in great condition. ellen |
Follow-Up Postings:
I'm bumping this on down, since the sale was ove a month ago. They are probably pretty poor looking by now, if any are even left. |
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Munly talks Slim Cessna's Auto Club's new album and seeing Billy Bragg for the first time
Since Slim moved out of the state about twelve years ago, I was curious how you collaborate on songwriting long-distance. I know Slim talked about how when he comes to town you guys work on stuff.
I'm not really certain how bands operate that way. I think there are just sort of pre-conceived notions. I'm not going to speak for Slim, but if I have a song I'll send it out and people will do their homework, and that's what you have to depend on. I think we are older than most average bands, so you need to depend on people doing their homework and working on their own and trust them. It is easier with computers and being able to send files these days. That is really how I do it. I'll finish my songs, I'll send them out and we go from there.
How do you write a lot of your songs? On banjo, guitar, keyboards?
For me, it's all different sorts. I just want to make that last point clear, now that I'm thinking about it. We don't collaborate on songwriting. I'm actually really selfish about that. That's what I do. There are certain jobs, and I'm not really good at sharing that one.
So you write a song, you bring it to the band and they play it. Is that what you're saying, essentially?
I don't share my work with other people. I'm not going to have someone rewrite my words, is the best way to put it. Slim changed one of my words once, and I still get upset about it when I hear him say it live, and he knows it. I've told him.
He didn't want to change it back to what it was originally?
It was done in the recording studio, and I was not present. And it's not a big deal. I actually understand his thought process. I just don't agree with it.
Do you write a lot of stuff on banjo, and do you have a favorite instrument to compose on?
No I don't. Definitely on the last album I leaned on the banjo more than usual. On this new one I'm actually making an effort no to. I don't think it has any banjo songs. In fact, there are a couple of dulcimers and mostly acoustic guitars.
Was that a conscious thing to stay away from the banjo?Jon Solomon
Yeah, it was this time. It's not like I'm never going to play banjo. That's what I've played the longest in my life. But you definitely need to keep pushing yourself in different directions. At least for myself, I feel like I'm doing something new, which was probably done twenty years ago by someone else.
Do you approach the Auto Club stuff any differently than your own stuff?
There have been a few instances where things have transferred over from other bands, things that didn't work in one band, but I'm usually very conscious of where stuff is going.
I read that you played hockey quite a bit when you were young and you got a pretty bad injury and were laid up for a while. Then your mom got you a guitar and that's how you started playing, right?
Yeah, that is true. My father did have a banjo around the house, but I wasn't allowed to play it -- but I did. When I was recuperating, she bought me a guitar, and she probably regretted it.
What kind of music were you listening to back then when you first started playing?
Kind of anything. That would have been the '80s. I guess that was when lot of new wave came out. Billy Bragg was my first concert that I ever saw at the Rainbow Music Hall. I didn't go to see him. I went to see Echo and the Bunnymen. I don't even remember Echo and the Bunnymen that night. Billy Bragg, he did something for me.
What kind of effect did he have on you?
That was when people went to concerts and stood in line. So we were out at the Rainbow Music Hall all day. And all of a sudden this gentleman comes riding up on a bicycle with powered speakers on his back and he starts playing songs. He's like, "Oh, I'm playing tonight," and no one believed him. I don't think his album had even come out in the States yet. I think his EP had come out, so no one knew who he was, but he was on stage a few hours later. I was young at that time. I don't know what I was -- eleven, twelve. I wasn't even a teenager.
Were there any other shows at the Rainbow that really hit you?
I don't remember going to the Rainbow too much. In fact, I don't think I lived here at that time. I think I was in hockey school here on a hockey trip and my brother took me. I'm not sure about that. I think it was the Bob Johnson hockey school. It was over the weekend, so you have a couple of days off.
You grew up in Canada, right?
I've been to Canada. I'm avoiding that question.
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New chief Bernadette DiPino wants the police to be part of the solution.
The concept of community policing may sound abstract, but in new Sarasota Chief of Police Bernadette DiPino's telling, it's as simple as giving drunks a lift home.
At DiPino's previous post, in Ocean City, Md., the police ended up breaking up fights at one particular bar every weekend. They arrested people every week, but it did nothing to solve the problem. Eventually, DiPino got sick of it.
She paid the bar a visit, and learned that much of the violence was coming from a nearby bus stop, where those too drunk to drive would congregate late at night. The problem? Buses wouldn't stop—they were either too full, or the drivers were wary of picking up dozens of boozehounds. DiPino came up with a solution: Find two or three buses, staff them with police officers and give the drunks a ride home.
"As soon as we did that, no more fights, no more problems," says DiPino, during a fast-paced conversation in her top-floor office.
Success. And it didn't come from jacking up the arrest rate or showing force. That's the lesson DiPino wants to impart to her new department, and it's the motivating philosophy behind her studied effort to collaborate with Sarasota civic groups, nonprofits and government agencies.
To test the strategy, DiPino is pledging to tackle one of the city's most divisive and intractable issues: homelessness.
It shouldn't even be a police issue—it's not illegal to be homeless. But the Sarasota Police Department has nevertheless become the face of the controversy. There was the officer who arrested a homeless man for charging his cell phone in Gillespie Park, the policeman who threw a homeless man against the kiosk at the SCAT depot, a policeman's "bum hunter" text message, later uncovered by the ACLU… you get the idea.
DiPino has decided to meet the issue head on, and she's looking to hire case workers to act as "that middle person" between the department and local groups that help the homeless.
"Really, a homeless person doesn't need to be in jail," she says. "All that ends up happening there is they learn bad behaviors." DiPino wants to help the homeless find solutions to their root problems, which are often drug and alcohol addiction and mental illness. "The bottom line is we need to help people not be homeless anymore," she says. "It's not about arresting or citing. Let's talk to them, let's find out how they got homeless and let's get them the resources to help."
DiPino's second major project is no simpler than homelessness. She wants to use community policing techniques to reduce gun violence in north Sarasota. She'd like to help lower-level drug dealers and users return to their families and communities, and instead focus on arresting and prosecuting the most high-profile wrongdoers. But her department's relationship with Newtown won't improve overnight. "There's been a lot of distrust and feelings that the police have been abusive and harassing," says DiPino. "That's up to me and the department to reach out the olive branch."
In DiPino's vision, police officers seem more than a little like social workers. And that makes sense, because enforcing the law is only one part of being a cop, she says.
"We're the only organization that's working and on patrol 365 days a year, seven days a week, 24 hours a day," says DiPino. So if people have a problem, even one that has nothing to do with crime, guess who they call? "I've been dispatched to a water main break," DiPino says with a smile. "I get there and water's gushing out. I'm like, I can't stop that." —Cooper Levey-Baker
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