text:
It takes keen insight to break new ground in seeing beyond the obvious. For thousands of years, when people dreamed of some day flying through the air, they imagined imitating the motion of birds. Science advances when people go beyond the obvious, breaking through to a different level of reasoning by searching for principles that explain what appears on the surface. Today, we know that to free a plane from the earth and send it soaring, it is necessary to understand a great deal about pressure, lift, friction, velocity and much more that people never considered, with all their longings to fly, until they adopoted a more analytical approach to aviation. Before we could fly, we had to learn how to plant ourselves more firmly on the ground. Architects experimented for centuries with building techniques that would free their designs from the constraints of weight and allow a stately church roof soar toward the sky. They finally discovered a way, with flying buttress construction, to reinforce a wall from the outside so that it could withstand the tremendous lateral thrust of a lofty ceiling. We see the beauty of a gothic cathedral. Architects see tension, thrust and compression. It was further experimentation with these and related concepts -- none obvious on the surface -- that led from those stunning breakthroughs in building design to supersonic flight and space travel. As with the physics of flight and of architecture, sociological knowledge helps us to better understand our world by taking us below the surface in human relations to the underlying interests, rules and structures that make up the entire range of human activities. Because we live through our creative imaginations as well as our jobs and personal ties, sociological insight is art as well as science. It speaks to the yearnings we all have to break free of the familiar and fly. You may never dissect another frog once you finish your biology course, and after Chemistry 101 you may never centrifuge another compound. But you can benefit every day from better knowledge about how the social world works. My purpose in writing this book has been to put both analytical and the practical dimensions of sociology within your reach. Along the way, I can promise you intriguing discoveries as we explore the patterns of society that people and time have shaped, and that make us human. "Sociology" is a term that everyone knows but not all of us can clearly define. When I'm introduced as a sociologist to a new acquaintance, a question that frequently follows is, "Just what is sociology, anyway?" Because the domain of sociology is vast, encompassing the totality of social life, a short answer can only be suggestive. At its core, sociology is the scientific study of arrangements that give structure and continuity to human relations and also of forces that produce change. Sociologists tend to organize their research around five broad questions that I highlight below, with examples of how a few researchers have addressed these questions. |
Each of us has points of view and interests that are uniquely our own, and in any group of people there are certain to be divergences in perspectives and priorities. Your desire to make a higher salary may be out of step with your manager's interest in reducing labor costs. Your idea of vacationing in France next summer may conflict with your spouse's wish to take a car trip to Alaska instead. You may want a neighborhood regulation against high fences, but some others may have a preference for backyard privacy. In hundreds of ways, people's interests and values collide on questions that are important to each of us, both at work and in private life. Yet, we have to live together cooperatively if society is to work. How do we manage to get along with one another most of the time and to succeed in pursuing common goals? Values that people hold in common are one of the keys. When people see the world the same way, they are more likely to have harmonious and productive relations. Institutions that create and sustain shared beliefs, then, are core features of groups and societies -- the family, religion and education, for example. This is unstable terrain, because society's principal institutions that build cooperation and solidarity are themselves being rapidly transformed. Explanations must be frequently revised in light of new information, and researchers sometimes disagree about how the pieces of this puzzle fit together. Recent sociological studies of the family illustrate this ferment. In two books that draw on her own field research and also additional sources (Brave New Families and In the Name of the Family), Judith Stacey describes a revolution that is fundamentally reshaping the family and individuals' commitment to it. " Family life in the United States today, as in most of the world, is deeply vulnerable and insecure," Stacey writes, and continues, "The past four decades have yanked the rug out from under patterns of family, work, and sexuality that most Westerners have taken for granted for more than a century."1 Alan Wolfe's study of 200 middle-class American families (One Nation, After All) also uncovered tension between customary family roles and the desire for personal autonomy and freedom, but he nevertheless sees a strong tendency for Americans to turn to families "for moral sustenance" and for "the world of personal ties" that "counts for so much."2 In short, questions about the future of the family and the implications of changing family values loom large in sociological research today. It is "a moment when we will either continue to follow old paths or use the opportunity of these unsettled times to construct new kinds of social ties and commitments," Betty Farrell concludes.3 Beyond the family are many other institutions that give social life direction and structure. Across the board, they are being transformed by trends and pressures of contemporary life. Religion is a case in point. In a classic study in the sociology of religion that was conducted nearly a hundred years ago, Emile Durkheim contends that "nearly all of the great social institutions have been born in religion," and that religion can be a powerful force in uniting members of society.4 Although there is sharp disagreement among sociologists about how widely religion performs that role today, nearly everyone acknowledges that religion has served that function in different times and places. Some analysts maintain that religion is on the wane as the twenty-first century begins, especially in the Western world, while others suggest that religious revitalization is the dominant trend. Holding the first position, Karel Dobbelaere argues in a series of studies that religion has been "individualized" to the point that it is now largely restricted to the private sphere in Western societies, and that it has little remaining influence over political and economic life.5 But Rodney Stark disagrees, taking issue with "the myth of religious decline" and insisting that religion is no less influential today than it was in earlier times.6 While Stark's research confirms that "the sources of religion are shifting constantly in societies," he also believes that "the amount of religion remains relatively constant" and that the long term prospects for religious influence are undiminished.7 When sociologists examine sources of cooperation in society, in addition to studying institutions such as religion and the family that promote shared values, we also examine features of social life that bring individuals and groups together in spite of their divergent perspectives. Political and economic institutions are oriented above all else toward getting people to cooperate with one another who may have contradictory interests. There are contradictory views about how that happens. In the view of capitalism's best known critic, Karl Marx, the economic and political system is able to keep the class struggle at bay by convincing the proletariat to accept "religions and political illusions" as well as through heavy-handed exploitation.8 Extending Marx's claim that capitalist owners dominate all of society, C. Wright Mills describes a "power elite" drawn from the political, business and military spheres that essentially runs the world -- shaping all other institutions according to its own interests.9 But other researchers describe instead a political arena in which a variety of competing groups work for their own interests, each with some success -- groups that form around a variety of issues. In World Risk Society, Ulrich Beck suggests that questions involving the environment, globalization and terrorism are creating new political alignments that go well beyond traditional notions of power elite domination and social class struggles. Beck believes that it is both possible and desirable in this era for societies to be shaped from "below" rather than by a few people in positions of power.10 |
2. How does social change occur in societies, and what are the implications of large-scale change for social life? Whether cooperation is based more on agreement and social harmony or strained power relations that threaten to erupt in social conflict is not always obvious, even on the inside. How many Germans expected the Berlin Wall to come down abruptly in 1989? And who was predicting that the Soviet Union would collapse almost overnight, to be replaced by 15 independent countries? Almost no one. Other developments also can change the way we live very quickly. The World Wide Web was invented only in 1991. Where would you be today without it? The 9/11 terrorist attack against the United States instantly altered our understandings of "war" and "civilian" -- perhaps forever reshaping the way governments relate to one another and to their citizens. |
In times of large-scale societal change, not only are familiar ways of living overturned, but the patterns that are thereby created present new opportunities and constraints. The rapid pace of urbanization in recent times illustrates this dual tendency. The growth and changing complexion of cities has brought a different way of life for millions around the world -- opportunity and wealth for some, but hardship and poverty for others. It continues to serve as a stimulus for additional changes, many of them rapid and unpredictable. |
In several books and articles, Saskia Sassen identifies a new kind of urban system, brought on by globalization, in which some cities have become centers of commerce and communication around the world. These global cities have developed stronger ties with one another than they have with many other cities in their own countries.12 Being a globally connected city brings rich benefits. Money flows to global cities, and innovative people move to them. Not all renowned cities are sharing in the advantages that come to the world's most prominent global cities, however, which number only a handful. Janet Abu-Lughod shows in America's Global Cities that Chicago, once a titan of manufacturing and finance, has been plagued recently by steep declines that began in the late 1960s.13 There tend to be both winners and losers in the process of massive social change, and the outcome for people in Chicago has been large-scale loss of jobs and increasing poverty rates. Many additional forces also produce social change. Evolving cultural trends affect people's priorities and values, sometimes leading to intergenerational misunderstanding. The functions of families are shifting for large numbers of people, and relations between women and men continue to evolve. Political issues are constantly emerging within countries and among nations, many of which create tensions and even conflict. Sociological analysis is directed toward adding to our knowledge about these developments and identifying ways to manage change more effectively. We ask about its causes, its implications for individuals, and how it can be channeled as a force for human betterment rather than chaos. As I will show throughout this book, these are all huge questions without simple answers. 3. What are the personal and societal implications of cultural and ethnic variation? The diversity of human societies is breathtaking. One woman can marry several men in some cultures, while in others, some men may have two or even ten wives. Our culture influences what we eat and how we dress, and it often shapes what we believe about life's most important questions. We have culturally-specific ideas about the meaning of friendship and contradictory views about what constitutes "the good life." These distinctive features of how we live are core elements of our personal identities and our priorities for living. Around the world, different cultural patterns evolve in response to unique conditions, as we adapt to the geography, climate and resources that are available where we live. Through these adaptations, people create innovations that work to solve their special problems, and predictably these cultural products set one group of people apart from another. As a result, you see more than taste in food and clothes that distinguish people from one another. These features signify cultural diversity -- shared meanings among people with common experiences, interests and values. Often, these cultural variations are not only practical but also interesting to outsiders. Who among us doesn't enjoy glimpsing ways of life among groups that are different from our own -- taking in the art and music, the food and patterns of living among people in faraway places. Beyond question, the world is richer because of African art, European music and Asian cuisine. |
But contact between different cultural and ethnic groups can also have a negative side -- one that is seen repeatedly in the antagonisms and hostilities that engulf relations between "us" and "them." Cultural conflict probably began when the first human groups migrated far away enough from their origins, and for a long enough time, to develop different customs and outlooks from the group they left behind. When we find a group of people with behaviors that are unfamiliar to us and beliefs that diverge from our own, what do we conclude about them? Very often, people have decided that those "other" groups were dangerous and somehow inferior. This human tendency to think negatively and act harshly toward people from other groups has been with us from the start, and it still continues to thrive around the world. We see it today in hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East, in the ethnic antagonisms within the United States, and in the centuries-old Balkan conflict. At the start of the twenty-first century, ethnic tensions are undiminished in many regions and countries. |
Additional questions also stand out as we consider the implications of culture and ethnicity for societal relations. How do historical patterns of ethnic discrimination continue to influence behavior, even after the most obvious manifestations of prejudice have diminished? How does cultural misunderstanding develop, and how can improved relations be achieved among different cultural groups? How well are programs working that aim to promote more minority inclusion, and how can they be made more effective? In his book Rituals of Blood, Orlando Patterson shows that historical trends have important ongoing consequences for ethnic relations. Analyzing patterns of interaction among African Americans today, Patterson finds that the entire society is paying a heavy price for 250 years of slavery in the United States and the widespread practice of discrimination that followed, but that African Americans continue to bear the greatest burden of these outcomes. The negative results of that period continue to be seen primarily in the black community, Patterson suggests, and we are now seeing "paradoxical economic integration and growth of the middle and stable working classes of Afro-Americans along with the growing segregation and isolation of the urban poor."18 Stuart Hall is one of many researchers who is exploring ways that ethnic groups adapt to minority status by consciously revising their identities and even creating new ones. It is a process that emphasizes rather than suppressing key differences between themselves and others around them. Creating identities is not such a simple matter, as I will show in a later chapter. Writing about the black experience in particular, Hall points out that blacks often actively take into account their history of slavery and forced emigration from Africa as they engage in a process of "hybridization", "recombination" and "cut-and-mix" that allows people to adapt inherited features of their "rich cultural 'roots'" to contemporary political and social circumstances. "There can . . . be no simple 'return' or 'recovery' of the ancestral past which is not re-experienced through the categories of the present," Hall suggests.19 Sociological research into ethnic group adaptation follows several paths that deepen our understanding of the role that ethnicity and culture play in human relations. I will highlight just two in this introduction. Michael Banton insists that even the importance of ethnic roles to individuals, relative to such other roles as religion, class and friendship, depends on the situation that a person or group is in. "Ethnic definitions can lose ground to other social definitions," he argues, if ethnicity happens not to be a prominent factor for sorting out relations in a particular time and place. One key factor is whether individualism is strongly encouraged in the society. If it is, then ethnic ties are likely to be weakened.20 And Deniz Kandiyoti points out that ethnicity affects women and men differently. "Women may be controlled in different ways in the interests of demarcating and preserving the identities of national/ethnic collectivities," she states -- observing that more restrictions are often placed on women then men in sexual behavior and in whether or not they can marry outside their group.21 A number of sociologists are working to promote programs that would help ensure more effective minority inclusion in mainstream social, economic and political life. In the book When Work Disappears, William Julius Wilson develops policy recommendations to address "the growing wage inequality in the United States" as it affects minority group members.22 Wilson contends that the economic and political needs of working-class and impoverished African Americans are the same as those of American whites in the same income groups. A solution is needed that will benefit all people who are not participating fully in the American Dream, Wilson argues -- not just minority ethnic groups. "My framework for long-term and immediate solutions is based on the notion that the problems of jobless ghettos cannot be separated from those of the rest of the nation," Wilson states.23 Thus ethnic issues are merged with questions that have broader policy implications. |
Differences in basic measures of well-being, such as income and life expectancy, vary enormously among different countries and also among the people within a country. Per person incomes in the world's richest nations are nearly 400 times greater than in the poorest nations, and life expectancies are nearly twice as long (an average of 81 years, compared to 41 years).24 Worldwide, nearly half of the world's six-plus billion people live on less than two dollars a day while a few enjoy yearly incomes in the millions and even billions. There is also a huge income gap within countries, with CEO's in top US companies earning more than $13 million yearly in 2001, on average, while the minimum wage was $5.15 per hour.25 In some countries, the contrast between managers' and workers' incomes is even more striking. The study of inequality is prominent in sociological research for two reasons. First, since income and social position are significant for many aspects of how people live, inequality is a key to understanding a broad range of social interactions. Also, this subject is central to sociology because several important determinants of inequality operate independently of personal motivation, training and ability. Some of these are characteristics that we possess as individuals, such as gender and ethnicity, that have visible implications for opportunity and social status. Others are features of economic and political life that are beyond any individual's control but can be critically important to personal success. Although it is well-known that men usually make more than women, and that men are more likely to rise to the top of the corporate ladder, the reasons for this inequality are a subject of extensive ongoing research. The "glass ceiling" concept was coined in the 1970s to highlight the tendency for women to be excluded from top jobs in male-dominated professions, and later studies showed that even in fields where women predominate, males tend to rise faster and further up the management ladder than women.26 In The Second Shift, Arlie Russell Hochschild and Anne Machung show that women's traditional roles as wives and mothers have important career implications, and in a follow-up book The Time Bind, Hochschild finds that in today's world, where both men and women often have demanding jobs away from home, women have adapted to the workplace world more fully than men have adjusted to conditions in which their wives may be working as much away from home as men do. Thus, since work at home is typically not divided very equitably between the wife and the husband, women have come to the workplace "'on male terms.'"27 What is to be done about this situation, if career women are to ever have the opportunity to work away from home without having the extra burden of more work to do at home every day than their husbands? Hochschild offers several practical suggestions -- a topic to which I will return in the family chapter. |
The study by William Julius Wilson that I mention above (When Work Disappears) illustrates the significance of larger economic forces for personal well-being. Wilson traces the loss of jobs in predominantly black inner-city neighborhoods to the relocation and downsizing of businesses that had employed large numbers of lower-skilled workers before they reorganized. Wilson's message is that unemployment often is not the fault of the unemployed, and that if solutions are to be found, we must look below the surface, beginning with the understanding that larger social forces have created the problem. |
In sum, sociological research indicates that many factors must be taken into account to explain why some people are so much better off than others and why a few countries dramatically exceed all the rest in national prosperity. Analysts continue examining the reasons for inequality with an eye toward developing strategies to improve opportunities for achievement. |
We know where it happens. In families and groups of all kinds we acquire "ways of seeing" and understandings that combine with our own individuality to create something new. George H. Mead termed the combination of external and internal influences the "self," and a large body of research is devoted to examining how the self is acquired during childhood and how this development leads us to play different roles in different situations.32 Sociologists examine the subject of identity formation at several levels. One is by exploring the process through which we are socialized into gender roles, looking also at how gender socialization varies from one society to another.33 We also study how meanings that are acquired in one sphere of activity often spill over into other settings, with implications that go well beyond their original intent. Religious beliefs provide a good example. In his classic work The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism, Max Weber suggests that the way of doing business in Protestant countries of the Western world was an outgrowth of religious anxiety -- a concern that developed from the strong belief in predestination that was a central component of Calvinism.34 Weber's Protestant Ethic was written at the beginning of the twentieth century. Sociologists and historians continue to study and debate Weber's ideas while also looking at religious influences on other dimensions of life -- for example, at how religious ideas can both inspire the selfless behavior of a Mother Teresa and serve as justification for the murderous schemes of an Osama bin Laden. In a recent study of religious terrorism in several countries, Mark Juergensmeyer examines the connection between faith and terrorism close up, with a series of case studies that probe the circumstances and backgrounds of terrorists acts that have been carried out by religious zealots who claimed to represent different faiths, from Christianity and Sikhism to Islam, Buddhism and Judaism. Jurgensmeyer describes the purpose of his research at the beginning of his book, Terror in the Mind of God: "In order to respond to religious terrorism in a way that is effective and that does not produce more terrorism in response, I believe it is necessary to understand why such acts occur."35 Such a need to understand by exploring below the surface of behaviors and events, is the reason for nearly all sociological research. Sociologists want to know how we arrive at the meanings that are important to us -- in essence, how we gain the "knowledge" we have about the way the world works and what our priorities in life will be. It is obvious that our universe is infused with meaning. In all spheres of life, societies and groups hold to beliefs about the "right" way to think and behave. Our religious ideas tell us the purpose of life and the future that awaits us even after death. We have political views on how governments should be run and how leaders should be elected. Strong opinions prevail about what kind of economic system is the most desirable -- even to the point that nations have been willing to go to war in support of one kind of economic system over another. We attach significance to the way people dress, how they wear their hair, and whether or not they have pierced lips and tattoos. The list is almost endless of meanings that we create and that then hold sway over our values and our actions. |
Why are cultural understandings so central to who we are, in spite of the fact that they are easily manipulated and obviously vary greatly from one group and society to another? Meanings are guideposts in uncertain territory, and even if they are not stable themselves, they turn out to be the best we have. Being a species endowed with very little genetic programming to direct our course, we need some basis for confidence that we are doing the right thing -- making the right life choices in love, politics and war. But our understanding of how we come to the beliefs we often hold so resolutely leaves a great deal to be desired. When we survey the eternal struggles among the different systems of meaning that people live by, some of which bring groups into inevitable conflict with one another, can there be any doubt that we need more sociological insight into why people often see the world so differently? |
Writing about the implications of globalization for jobs around the world, analyst Edward Luttwak takes a macrosociological approach in his book Turbo Capitalism. He uses statistical data to show that technological developments combined with globalization trends create efficiencies that eliminate jobs. Because more goods can be produced at lower costs with technological advances, supply begins to outstrip demand, further reducing the availability of jobs. "Unemployment is the global problem of our times," Luttwak concludes, and "a protracted tragedy."40 Luttwak describes a five-phase cycle in which demand leads to technological innovations that result in overproduction and unemployment. In the "big picture" that Luttwak sketches out, the cycle has repeated itself again and again. We are currently in a "surplus-of-everything" phase, Luttwak argues -- one that may not end quickly. "There is a very real danger," he cautions, that high rates of unemployment "will persist, even becoming a permanent lifetime condition" for many people in Europe.41 |
Sennett concludes that, although we should admire the "individual strength" of laid-off workers who make brave efforts to overcome their sense of failure, a larger problem remains. Sennett's view is that IBM is one of many corporations that has neglected its responsibility to serve civic interests. His view is that management should have considered the effects of their personnel actions on people and their communities. Sennett ends his study by suggesting that the globalized economy, with its tendency toward mergers, downsizing and layoffs, "radiates indifference." The result is that the system fails to provide people with "deep reasons to care about one another," and he wonders how long it will survive in its present form.42 Both Luttwak and Sennett reach similar conclusions, then, although their analyses were at different levels -- one macro, charting larger trends, and the other micro, focusing on people's personal experiences with unemployment. |
A status is a position in a social system that carries with it a set of expectations, rights, and duties. A particular status exists and derives its meaning only in relation to other statuses. Being a 25 year-old means one thing if people typically live into their 70s or 80s. It meant quite another when life expectancies of 30 or 35 years were the norm. With a projected life expectancy of 30, people could have hardly been expected to still be preparing for a career well into their 20s! All social statuses acquire their meaning in relation to other features of the system in which they are found. In this example, a key feature is the distribution of ages in the system. We will see later that many other features of social systems come into play, also, when we set out to identify the significance of a particular status relative to others. In some cases, you achieve the statuses that you have, often through your own effort and ability. Being a successful surgeon is an achieved status, as is being named the Most Valuable Player in the Super Bowl. Ascribed statuses, on the other hand, are socially meaningful categories that you did not choose for yourself. Your position as a daughter or son in your family has obligations attached to it, and also rights. Unlike the situation with achieved statuses, you did not decide to have that position. It is ascribed, along with your ethnicity, nationality and many other ascribed statuses that you hold. The sociologically important thing about both achieved and ascribed statuses is that they have a bearing on other aspects of your life -- often accounting for some of the rewards that you receive, and also opportunities that are available to you. Figure 1.1 illustrates that ascribed status is more than an abstract concept. It has a great deal to do with how well people fare in everyday life. U.S. Census Bureau data show that white men have higher incomes than black or Hispanic men, and that men in each of these categories have higher incomes than women. Among women, also, incomes vary systematically according to ethnicity. What do these findings tell us? Do white men earn more because of their achievements alone, or do their higher salaries come from their gender and their ethnicity, at least in part? And why do black and Hispanic women earn consistently less money than white women? Do women make less than men because they more often choose part-time work? Or is discrimination the key? How can we be sure? This is the stuff of both fair play and lawsuits, of self-esteem and financial security. Untangling the separate effects of ascribed and achieved status requires a great deal more than commonsense speculation. Bringing in additional information and evaluating it through a sociological lens will allow us to address each of these questions -- a topic to which I will return below and also in the gender and ethnicity chapters. |
A social structure is something like the layout of a building. When we are inside an office complex we have no choice but to follow the paths that were designed by the architect. The plan of every building was created with particular activities in mind. Churches and mosques have layouts that are different from the houses where people live or the offices where we work. The features of each design help ensure that when people are inside, their activities will fit the building's purpose. You are not likely to cook a full dinner in your office, but living in a house with an inviting and well-equipped kitchen sometimes brings on an urge to grill steaks or broil some swordfish. Social structures are patterns we find in societal life that reflect the workings of social systems. A simple social structure sketches out the range of statuses or roles in a system. A population pyramid showing the age distribution of males and females in a country, for example, is an age structure (see Figure 1.2). More complex social structures are built on interrelations among statuses and roles in a social system. And social systems are connected to one another through additional social structures. A country's age structure says a great deal about the challenges and opportunities that society faces. |
There are two reasons why Kenya has the largest proportion of children among these three countries. Infant mortality rates have dropped sharply in recent decades because of advances in medical and sanitation technology. The tradition of having large families, which was once a key to offsetting high rates of infant death, has not kept pace with the changed conditions. The U.S., in contrast, has a population "bulge" among 30-40 year-olds -- the children of the World War Two "baby boomers." Sweden did not have a baby boom because of a different national experience in World War Two, which accounts for that country's nearly cylindrical pattern from birth well into the 50s age range. |
In short, the age structure of a country reveals a great deal about the life of its people, both today and historically. Based on these data, where would you expect to find the greatest population growth in the next fifty years? Which country is likely to have the most difficulty adjusting to fluctuations in the size of different age groups? Which is likely to have the most vocal senior citizens' lobby in the first quarter of the twenty-first century? In which of these nations are young adults the most likely to have trouble finding good jobs? |
Age structure also has an impact well beyond a country's borders. The fact that Mexico has a disproportionately large number of young people is currently having widespread effects on life in the United States, as you will see when I take up the subjects of immigration and ethnicity later in the book. Age distributions are not as complex as many other broad structural features that characterize a country, such as its wage structure. Just as a population of people can be described by classifying different statuses, so too can people's earnings. But here the plot thickens, as you saw above in the discussion of earnings and ascribed statuses. Remember Figure 1.1, which indicates that whites typically earn more than blacks, and blacks usually make more than Hispanics. The first step toward understanding the wage structure in a society is to figure out how incomes vary according to such statuses as ethnicity and gender. That will tell us quite a lot about the roles that tend to accompany particular ascribed and achieved statuses. As is the case with age distributions, the wage structure of one country can be vastly different from that of another, as you will see in the chapter on global inequality. Income is related to education as well as to gender. Among full-time workers in the U.S., more education helps, but it benefits men more than women (see Figure 1.3). Not only are male-female differences in income not eliminated through education, but they actually widen with increasing educational achievement. A similar pattern can be found in all of the world's most economically developed countries -- one that can be traced back at least 200 years.48
There are many more social structures that reflect status and role characteristics of a country, and also their interrelationships. Taken together, these social structures tell us a great deal about what that country is like, in comparison with other countries. One reason for studying social structures is that the information they provide helps us to understand trends that are important for personal planning and public policy decisions. If we want to reduce the gender gap in earnings, we first need to understand how the system works. |
I once came across a desperate American traveler at an Air France ticket office in Moscow. He was searching around for someone -- anyone -- who could help him communicate with one of the Russian-speaking ticket agents behind the counter. He had just spent the most disastrous week of his life in that unfamiliar city, he told me, and he had lost a huge amount of money. He had come to Russia to set up a business, but he had failed totally. The Moscow business environment was entirely alien to him, he had discovered. He not only was unable to speak the language, but he also had no clear sense of what rules were being used in business dealings there. By the time we met, he was at the end of his rope. As he put it to me, "Please ask them if they can give me a ticket to anywhere, as long as it's away from here. I don't care where!" It was not the unfamiliarity of the city, with a clearly foreign feel, that had most disoriented this unhappy entrepreneur. Even the language barrier was not his main problem. (Until the day I met him, he had been working with a translator.) His main difficulty was something else. He knew very little about the way of life in the place where he had been trying to operate. Not knowing the rules that people followed in their dealings, he did not know how to make sense of the roles that were being played, and the expectations that others had, as he went from one business appointment to another. |
Most of our relations with other people are fairly predictable, following patterns that we know well. When you meet a stranger on the street, you can usually be confident that he will not rob you, hit you or insist that you step aside. If everyday encounters with strangers become unpredictable, you are probably in a war zone or an area where criminals have taken control. It happens, but not in normal life. If relations among people did not follow patterns that endured over time, there could be no economic system, no political governance, and ultimately no society. It would not be possible to buy, sell or produce goods, because people would lack confidence. We all need assurance that we will be paid for our work, that stores will be open during business hours, that the police will protect and the military will defend us. We know that friends will stick with us and help us when we have problems. Institutions create order when there would otherwise be chaos. Life in societies is always a game in the sense that we live by rules that are imposed by others. We learn these rules from many sources, including our families, schools, religious groups, and TV -- all of which we will take up later as we explore how social systems operate. |
We are not just conformists. If you have seen old movies, you have probably noticed small ways that our behaviors change over time. That process is what makes a film from the 1950s seem "dated" -- not to mention Elvis and the Beatles! The way we think changes, too, as cultural priorities are reshaped. You don't see many cigar and pipe smokers today, and it was not until the 1970s that the environmental movement stared to capture widespread attention. Only at that time did "biodegradable," "endangered species" and "global warming" find a place in everyday conversations. Then there are the explosive upheavals that transform people's lives in an instant. Wars and revolutions can have that effect, as can new technologies. We have only a vague sense today of how and in what ways developments in communication technology, genetic engineering and a wide range of other areas will affect our lives. In just sixty-six years, we went from the Wright Brothers at Kitty Hawk to Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. And who was anticipating, just a few decades ago, the top-to-bottom transformations that have been brought on by computers? Then, computers were exotic and expensive machines for specialized uses. No one really expected to own one. The analysis of these processes is one of the most intriguing windows
we can open to the world, as I will try to show throughout this book.
An unanswered question for all of the social sciences is whether our economic, political and social institutions can match the accelerating pace of developments in science and technology. Assessments among today's experts vary widely, and I will explore the range of them with you in the chapters that follow. On one side are Worldwatch Institute director Lester Brown and mainstream environmentalists, who argue that today's economic priorities are destroying our ability to sustain human life on the planet, and that they must be radically transformed if we are to survive.51 Taking the opposite position are Reason editor Virginia Postrel and many "mainstream" economists, who believe that the future can be bright if we give individuals the freedom to innovate and develop creative solutions to yet-unforeseen problems. In sum, their message is that we should leave the economy to follow its own rules. If we don't, they say, innovativeness will be stifled and progress will be held back -- often by "solutions" that don't fit the realities of ever-changing environmental and technological conditions.52 |
To other researchers, the future is likely to be, if not ideal, at least exhilarating. In their book A Future Perfect, John Micklethwait and Adrian Wolldridge write about globalization's efficiency and promise -- cautioning that one of its chief liabilities is the "psychic energy" it generates. That, too, has advantages. It makes us perform better and become even more efficient.55 In short, there are more questions than answers about globalization. Does globalization promise a democratic future or one dominated by ever more powerful global elites? Can the pattern of rising inequality that has accompanied global restructuring be turned around? Will national identities be preserved in an increasingly "connected" world? And what of those people and places that are being left out? The way we resolve the issues surrounding such questions as these will determine the character of societal life in the twenty-first century, and these subjects are prominently addressed throughout this book. As researchers inquire into change processes and prospects they sometimes
cross swords over the purpose of sociological inquiry itself. The
way this question is answered by different researchers has a great deal
to do with the kinds of research questions they choose to ask, the theoretical
approaches they take in their studies, and the methodological procedures
they use in gathering data for analysis.
At their core, identity issues reflect a revolution in societal priorities and ways of seeing. Sociologist Alain Touraine argues that the struggle over identity that is widespread today has largely taken the place of the historic class struggle between owners and workers.60 There was a time when working class solidarity spilled out into the street, in demonstrations against ruling elites. These were revolutions that toppled empires. But in recent years, "identity politics" has become an increasingly frequent basis for organizing "us" against "them." Today's expressions of group identity are more voluntary than before, and more a result of conscious choice among a multiplicity of alternatives. Workers had few alternatives when societal forces came together in pitting the proletariat against the bourgeoisie. In contrast, today's network society offers a heretofore unimagined range of possibilities for constructing social identities and for establishing connections with groups of every sort. In later chapters, we will see how these trends are tied to recent developments in culture, politics, religion and family life. Living in society teaches us not only what we must do to fare well, but also what we should value. These conceptions about what is desirable and good are the central components of any culture. If language is culture's mechanism for communicating ideas and knowledge, values are the most cultural-specific content that is communicated through language. |
Disagreements about policies that should be adopted and priorities that should be followed in society ultimately center on values. Organizations of all types seek our loyalty, and a key resource in this process is their appeal to overarching values.61 In politics, values are key debating points as proposed legislation is being discussed. Values are presented as the main reason for favoring both tax cuts and tax increases, for wanting both universal health care, on the one hand, and a private medical system, on the other. Values are brought into advertising to sell products, and they are a the keystone of arguments against consumerism.62 |
Why Sociologists Disagree among Themselves The four research issues that I have highlighted in this chapter show that there are basic disagreements among sociologists over how the world works, the kinds of analytical strategies that are the most useful for studying social relations, the desirability of policy advocacy as a major component of sociological inquiry, and the importance of shared values for societal well-being. Our views often differ on these core issues for obvious reasons. Human behavior is bewilderingly complex -- with an unpredictable mix of personal motivations and divergent approaches to nearly every aspect of life and interaction. If chemists had to concern themselves with helium and zinc atoms that had not only atomic weights but also creative intellects, the periodic table of the elements would not be laid out so systematically. And how different would biology be if plants and flowers were more influenced by the environments in which they grew than by genes? It should be no wonder, then, that advances in sociological understanding have come slowly and with many turns and twists along the way. The uniqueness of human relations has led some analysts to argue that the approach of physics and biology is not adequate for the social sciences -- that the nature of social interaction requires an approach that draws from the arts as much as from science.63 There is a lively debate about the applicability of the scientific method to social inquiry, and I will address this question more fully in chapter two.64 Key Areas of Consensus Although disagreements among sociologists are profound, there is a high degree of consensus in the field on many key questions. On these subjects, our differences are modest in comparison to the wide divergence of viewpoints among the general public. Put differently, there is a distinctly sociological perspective from which you can draw to gain insight about social relations. Nearly all sociologists believe that to adequately understand social life, it is important to examine the interplay between individuals and society, and to place our own situations in a broader historical context.65 Most subscribe to the idea that sociology's central task is to make connections among diverse aspects of social life -- "from examination of a single family to comparative assessment of the national budgets of the world," as C. Wright Mills put it in his classic work The Sociological Imagination.66 A large number of sociologists emphasize the need to study the subjective meanings that people attach to their own actions and the behaviors of others.67 Social interaction is so important to the creation of meaning that, as Peter Berger describes it in Invitation to Sociology, "Individuals who change their meaning systems must, therefore, change their social relationships."68 Sociologists also typically share the notion that important insight can be gained through the analysis of social structures69 and that research is strengthened through comparisons of different places and time periods as we work to acquire better knowledge about the workings of social systems.70 And there are additional areas of widespread agreement, as you will see in every chapter that follows. |
The Plan of the Book I have written the first two chapters to give you an overall sense of what sociology is and how sociologists go about studying and interpreting the social world. My principal aim in these early chapters is to help you begin developing your own sociological world view -- one that you can expand and apply as you examine social relations in this book and in everyday living. Beginning with chapter three, the main emphasis will be on what we have learned and continue to explore through sociological inquiry. Our knowledge is advancing rapidly, and I hope to convey both the substance of these developments and the excitement of the ongoing search for better understanding. The early chapters take up fundamental societal processes -- population change, cultural learning, urbanization, resource use and patterns for allocating wealth and esteem. Then, I discuss core political and economic features of societies and the shape of social relations in both small and large groups. Among the defining features of life as the twenty-first century begins, globalization stands out above most others. In writing this book, I have paid close attention to the implications of globalization for the main subjects of every chapter. We're beginning an intriguing journey -- one that I hope will capture your imagination and introduce you to a new way of seeing the world. And who can guess what may come of that? |
achieved status: A position that a person attains voluntarily -- often through effort and personal ability. ascribed status: A position that a person did not choose to adopt but which, once acquired, has social implications. consensus doctrine: The focus of the consensus doctrine is the shared values, beliefs and experiences that tie individuals to the groups in which they live. doctrine of private interest: At the core of this orientation is the belief that different people have their own distinct interests, and that societal relations can be efficiently worked out if individuals are allowed to rationally work to achieve their own self interest. institution: A complex and enduring social structure whose rules and rewards make the pattern of relations relatively stable. To describe a social structure is to specify in what way roles and statuses are interrelated in a particular area of human activity, and to describe an institution is to add an explanation for why these relationships are maintained. interests: Wants, hopes, wishes, and claims that are associated with outcomes that are seen as being personally significant (or important to a larger group). You may have an interest in seeing laws passed that would reduce taxes, for example, or that would redistribute wealth. You may have an interest in seeing land turned back to Native Americans, or in seeing more restrictions on immigration. Such interests could be associated with your personal well being, in financial or other terms, or they could result from your values, whether or not you would benefit by seeing the interests realized. Interests may be related to any sphere of life, whether political, economic or cultural. interest group: A collectivity that tries to promote rules or outcomes that will be in some way favorable to the group's well-being or to its priorities. The National Rifle Association is an interest group, as are Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the American Civil Liberties Union. macrosociology: Uses a broad canvas to examine overarching patterns and trends. Researchers doing macrosociological analysis often study larger systems -- the political or the economic system, for example -- to learn how trends in one area are tied to changes in another. microsociology: Directs our attention to ongoing, day-to-day relationships among people. It is concerned with behavior in face-to-face situations and small groups. role: A set of behaviors that are seen as being appropriate to a particular status, or to a cluster of statuses. scientific method: An approach to inquiry that centers on theories and the process of testing theories through systematic data collection and analysis. It demands a level of detachment on the part of the investigator that is intended to eliminate the distorting effects of personal bias in the research process. social contract doctrine: Holds that people with conflicting interests can work together by agreeing on rules that will govern their interaction social identities: Self-definitions and decisions about how to live that are consciously made to distinguish ourselves from others around us and from our larger culture. social structures: Patterns we find in societal life that reflect the workings of social systems. A simple social structure reflects the range of statuses or roles in a system. A population pyramid showing the age distribution of males and females in a country, for example, is an age structure. More complex social structures are built on interrelations among these statuses and roles. And social systems are connected to one another through additional social structures. social system: Any enduring arrangement in which relationships among the component parts are relatively close and are ordered in ways that are somewhat unique to that particular system -- thus different in key respects from relations that can be found in other social systems. The key components that define a social system are statuses, roles, social structures and institutions. sociology: The scientific study of arrangements that give structure and continuity to human relations and also of forces that produce change. status: A position in a social system that carries with it a set of expectations, rights, and duties that are recognized both by the holder of the position and by others. values: Conceptions about what is desirable and good. Values are the central components of culture. |
SocioSite: Sociological Theories and Perspectives. This link takes you to the theory section of a large and intriguing listing of resources in sociology. Maintained at the University of Amsterdam. The SocioLog.
A useful general compilation of sociology web sites by Julian Dierkes,
a professor at the University of British Columbia. A Sociological Tour through Cyberspace. You'll find lots of good links here to information sources on several key sociological topics. The site is managed by Professor Michael C. Kearl at Trinity University. A Sociology Timeline from 1600. Need names and dates? They're here! |
Peter L. Berger, Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective: Chapter 1: "Sociology as an Individual Pastime." Anthony Giddens, "Runaway World" (BBC, Reith Lectures, 1999). A series of five lectures about globalization by one of the world's most eminent sociologists. The lectures are available both in print and as streaming audio files. |
Core Questions from the Chapter 1. As with the physics of flight and of architecture, sociological knowledge helps us to better understand our world by taking us _____. 2. The chapter speaks about " society's principal institutions that build cooperation and solidarity." Are these institutions relatively unchanging from generation to generation, or are they being rapidly transformed? 3. (T/F) Social change predictably leads to disruption at many levels. 4. In several books and articles, Saskia Sassen identifies a new kind of urban system, brought on by _____, in which some cities have become centers of commerce and communication around the world. 5. Why is the study of inequality prominent in sociological research? 6. Please address this question that is posed in chapter one: "Why are cultural understandings so central to who we are, in spite of the fact that they are easily manipulated and obviously vary greatly from one group and society to another?" 7. Sociological work combines a focus on "the big picture" with ______. How are macrosociology and microsociology fundamentally different from one another? 8. Writing about the implications of globalization for jobs around the world, analyst Edward Luttwak takes a ______ (macrosociological/microsociological) approach in his book Turbo Capitalism. 9. In carrying out the research for his book The Corrosion of Character, Richard Sennett book interviewed interviewed a number of former IBM managers and engineers over the course of several months. These were people who had been laid off when the company downsized to cover losses that resulted from increased competition in the globalizing economy. This study is an example of ______ (macrosociological/microsociological) analysis. 10. Do sociologists generally take the view that micro-to-macro explanation is possible? 11. What are social systems, and how do they change? 12. Some statuses are achieved and some are ascribed. What is the difference between the two? 13. What is a social structure? Give examples of three or four different types of social structure. 14. Distinguish between institutions and organizations. 15. Institutional influences can be either formal or informal. Distinguish between these two kinds of institutional factors. 16. Why is it useful to know something about social structures in society? 17. In forming social identities that diverge from what might have been expected in earlier times, people are ______. 18. What are interest groups? 19. What are significant areas of consensus in sociology?
Babbie, Earl. R. What Is Society? Reflections in Freedom, Order, and Change. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press, 1994. Berger, Peter L. Invitation to Sociology: A Humanistic Perspective. New York: Anchor Books, 1963. Charon, Joel M. Ten Questions: A Sociological Perspective. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, 1995. Johnson, Allan G. The Forest and the Trees: Sociology as Life, Practice, and Promise. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University Press, 1997. Mills, C. Wright. The Sociological Imagination. New York: Oxford University Press, 1959. |
NOTE: The references for chapters are listed in Appendix B. |


text:
Hi All,
New to this forum--it's great! :) Some of you were talking about BBQing in the winter: my winter solution is to set up the grill inside my woodstove! We have one of those cheap portable grills, and we just stick the whole thing inside the woodstove and light the charcoals. Works great, no smoke, nice & cozy inside the house. Great solution for cold days, rainy days, mosquito-season, whatever. I imagine it would work well in a fireplace too. Note: I wouldn't recommend cooking over burning logs, unless you are familiar with wood types. We tried this once, and the food tasted horribly like the wood, not a good flavor--don't know what kind of wood it was. |
Follow-Up Postings:
- Posted by Bugs(email@example.com) onWed, Sep 5, 01 at 13:39
Great idea! I neve even thought of that, so far we have just done cinnimon sugar apples in foil on the wood. |
- Posted by CRW(firstname.lastname@example.com) onMon, Sep 10, 01 at 21:54
I cook in my huge see through fireplace all the time. I burn nice wood then when it gets really good coals going. I pop on my campfire grill. I only cook fast cooking stuff like steaks and porkchops. Chicken takes too long and burns and is raw in the middle. Just like real camping. I love it. I love the taste and smell of bbq steak in the dead of winter. AAAAAHHHHH sheer bliss. |
- Posted by Cidalia(firstname.lastname@example.com) onMon, Oct 22, 01 at 17:12
My landlord (who lives downstairs) barbecues year-round, rain or shine or even snow. He doesn't have a gas grill (uses wood) but has a cover for the barbecue to keep out rain and snow. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Once-a-Week Cooking Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Case Tool Inc, established in 1994, specializes in the design, build, and repair of induction heating products.
Coil repair services are based on case by case evaluation. Send your inductor in today for free evaluation. We offer competitive pricing and prompt service.
Case Tool offers build to print, reverse engineering and repair services for your current production tooling.


text:
A Pro's Nose: Duffy Waldorf
Duffy Waldorf is a serious wine collector, which is not to say he's overly serious about wine. The two bottles on prime display in his climate-controlled, earthquake-ready cellar in Northridge, California, are kitsch classics Thunderbird and Ripple. But Waldorf's reserve of more than eighteen hundred carefully chosen bottles, estimated to be worth about $100,000, marks him as one of the PGA Tour's top oenophiles.
"I have no idea what kind of golfer Duffy is, but he's about a plus-five as a wine guy," says Kirk Triplett, one of several Tour players familiar with Waldorf's collection. "Just when you think you know a little about wine, Duffy will pull out some incredibly obscure shiraz from Australia that you can never find again." Paul Smith, who owns Woodland Hills Wine Company in Los Angeles and who recently accompanied Waldorf on a tasting tour around Northern California (for charity), adds, "Duffy has an almost unparalleled palate in that he recognizes exceptional wines without caring the least about ratings. The man just knows wine."
Waldorf's hobby-turned-obsession began shortly after he sampled a bottle of 1976 Château Lafite Rothschild in 1986, the year he turned pro. "I'd always been a beer drinker, but I wanted something I could savor with friends after great days and not so great days on the course," he says, adding that fellow Tour players including Triplett, Jeff Sluman and Brad Faxon are usually happy to clink glasses with him.
Waldorf's choicest bottles?A 1952 Borgogno Barolo Riserva from Italy's Piedmont region, a 1990 Château Angélus Saint-Emilion from Bordeaux and a stunning array of "impossible to find" syrahs from California cult winemaker Sine Qua Non. He also collects white wines, pointing to a new favorite: a 2005 Jackson Estate Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand's Marlborough region. "I have to keep my wife happy," he says.
—David Hochman


text:
The documents below are from 2006/7 cases that have had recent updates. Please contact us if you would like to receive earlier case hearing notes.
Notes of case hearings and associated papers
Case 13 - Portrait of Don Diego, son of King Philip II of Spain by Alonso Sanchez Coello
Download expert's statement
Download applicant's statement
Download note of case hearing
Download note of outcome


text:
Should I make a few beds using pressure treated wood ? Is it bad for edibles? Can I get sick?
any tips? Hope this is the correct fourm for this question |
Follow-Up Postings:
Coldlime, CCA has been used to pressure treat lumber since the 1940s. Since the 1970s, the majority of the wood used in outdoor residential settings has been CCA-treated wood. Pressure treated wood containing CCA is no longer being produced for use in most residential settings. That said, people do it all the time. You'll have to decide for yourself. Below is a link to an article that may be of help to you in deciding. There have been many discussions here at gardenweb on this subject. You can do a gardenweb search on "pressure treated lumber" if you'd care to read some of those. One last thing...there is a vegetable gardening forum here at gardenweb. If you post this query there, you'll get a lot more responses than you will here. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Does Pressure-Treated Wood Belong in Your Garden?
Hi Coldlime, My "significant other" built 2 lovely raised beds, using CCA timbers, 2 years ago this fall, so this was our second year using them. He used 2-10' x 12" timbers for each box, then stacked the boxes 2-high so we don't have to bend over so far for harvesting! The secret to our success was that he was able to obtain some over-sized pieces of REALLY heavy duty black plastic, with which he lined each 2-high grow-box (including the whole bottom). Weeding?? No weeds at all, thanks to that same black plastic. We have grown chilis, Roma tomatoes, lettuces, spinach, beets, cucumbers...no leeching nasty chemicals from the CCA wood OR the plastic liner. "He done good!" |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Tips & Techniques Forum
Information about Posting
- You must be logged in to post a message. Once you are logged in, a posting window will appear at the bottom of the messages. If you are not a member, please register for an account.
- Please review our Rules of Play before posting.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review your post, make changes and upload photos.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- Before posting copyrighted material, please read about Copyright and Fair Use.
- We have a strict no-advertising policy!
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.
Learn more about in-text links on this page here


text:
Welcome to our new weekly column Dater XY! Our anonymous MALE dater will be revealing the adventures and misadventures of finding love from a dude's point of view. Let's give him a big welcome!
With a high of four degrees and over a foot of snow, the weather was not fit for man nor beast. But I had a date, so off I went into the icy cold. I'd met The Teacher through an online dating site, like so many of us do these days. I had sent her a message to see if she wanted to share a drink, she accepted, and we met at one of my favorite restaurants.
Over dinner, we chatted about the usual first date things: where we were from, how long we've been in the city, music we like, if we enjoyed our meals, etc. The more we talked, the more our chemistry grew. Of course, the chemistry could have been the Malbec. But judging by the smiles on our faces, The Teacher and I had something more. After a few hours of flirtatious and witty banter, we paid our check and I walked her to a cab. Our next date was set in two weeks and I was a happy guy. Keep reading »


text:
Sioux (Age of Empires III)/Strategy
this wiki
< Sioux (Age of Empires III)
Civilization | Tech Tree | Strategy |
The Sioux is a cavalry based civilization with very powerful and balanced cavalry but mediocre infantry units. EconomyEditThe Sioux economy does not requires Houses for population, so players should focus on gathering Food in order to procure more villagers in the early game. In the late game, the extra resources can be used to build more buildings and military units, enabling an easier Boom strategy. MilitaryEditSioux troops are weak against enemy Pikemen and Musketeers, so to counter these units the Sioux can train some Wakina Rifles, some Cetan Bows or Rifle Riders are also useful against them. To be successful in attacks, the Sioux should make their attacks short and quick. They also rely on hunting more than other civilazations, due to poor farm cards, so a good deck should include all buffalo cards. A good way the Sioux could attack is to use a large group of cavalry led by a War Chief (boosting speed and attack with a card), the Sioux should also spot weak spots in the enemy civilization's economy and attack and harass the enemy there constantly. Later in the game when the Sioux gets a substantial army of cavalry units they could use the Fire Dance and raid enemy villagers and destroy their buildings. Defensive capabilities of the Sioux are limited as they cannot build walls, but they do have unique Teepees, which, can only build up to ten (exception when card sent) to provide a little health bonus (and attack to a degree with a card) to nearby friendly units. The Sioux have a large selection of Cavalry Units to use. It is best to use the diverse Cavalry when playing as the Sioux. Although it is not heavily advised, a Sioux player can train an all cavalry army and it would still be quite balanced. Ranged infantry can be countered by Axe Riders, Dog Soldiers, and Tashunke Prowlers. Heavy infantry can be beaten with Dog Soldiers and Rifle Riders. Cavalry can be destroyed with Bow Riders and Rifle Riders and artillery can be countered with any unit. Since they don't need to build houses they are great at rushing since the resources and time spent on houses can be diverted to building an army. The Sioux navy is average since they are the only Native American civilization to lack the Water Dance. However they make up this through the Fire Dance which increases siege damage of units, allowing their canoes to handle other ships with relative ease. Plus they can have a larger navy due to able to send admiralty twice. |


text:
Tour 2008: Ireland
Game Summaries:
16 March 2008 DWRC vs. St. Mary's Dublin, Ireland Loss 12-0
The DWRC woke up on Sunday, March 16, two days after arriving in Ireland, with a bit of dilemma. Half of the team, including most of the older players and Coach Deb, had come down with a mysterious, virulent illness on Saturday, and were simply too sick to play in our first match. With just 15 able bodies, mostly rookies, we decided to "go for it" with true rugby spirit and enthusiasm. At the end of the wet, cold, and windy day, Dartmouth suffered a loss at the hands of a very respectable St. Mary's College side, but had made significant gains in our ability to pull together as a team and have a great time on the pitch. The Big Green started the match with strong possession of the ball, using the wind to keep pressure on St. Mary's with well-placed kicks. St. Mary's big #8 pummeled Dartmouth's loose forwards around the rucks, and eventually crashed her way over the tryline from the back of a set scrum, bringing the score to 0-5.
The setback did not deter the ladies in green. Dartmouth demonstrated a valiant effort against St. Mary's strong offensive players. Fullback Caroline "Aggressive with her fingers" Cima '10 stopped what appeared to be a sure try as St. Mary's created a three-on-one on the outside. Megan "Who needs shorts? I can ruck in sweats!" Thorn '11, blocked a St. Mary's kick, resulting in a scrum to Dartmouth. Scrumhalf Ilda "Finds carrots in bed" Bajraktari '11 drew an offsides penalty on her opposite number, and momentum swung as Dartmouth attempted to capitalize on several penalties made by St. Mary's. Bajraktari and #8 Alysia "Fine collector" Harris '08 kept up defensive pressure off the scrums and the DWRC's offense came alive with tremendous crashing and maneuvering techniques. Unfortunately for Dartmouth, St. Mary's regained possession, and their flyhalf, a strong player, broke several close tackles to put their second try on the board. The try was converted, increasing their lead to 0-12.
After half time, Dartmouth renewed their efforts to gain ground and increase their defensive pressure. Featured during the second half were big tackles by the Big Green, by both forwards and backs. Making one of several spectacular tackles, Hooker Amelia "Coffee is my water" Alvarez '08 won the ball back for Dartmouth soon after kickoff. Though the Big Green worked hard to burst onto the ball and maintain continuous play, sloppy ball handling and weak presentations of the ball during rucks allowed St. Mary's to regain possession of the ball. St. Mary's star #8 exhibited fancy footwork and ball skills on a long run towards the tryline, only to be stopped by a tremendous tackle from Harris. St. Mary's continued to maintain possession, but was met with more tackles by Mallory "Can get all the South African guys with her dance moves" McQueen '09, Annie "Can't go too long without clean laundry" Jones '11, and Wing Kristen "Stocked up on freshmen men" Liu '11. Dartmouth's strong defense allowed the ladies in green to attack offensively against St. Mary's. For most of the second half, the Big Green muddied up St. Mary's side of the field. Closing in on the tryline, Dartmouth worked hard to bypass St. Mary's strong defense. However, problems with getting the ball out of scrums forced Dartmouth to lose momentum and ground. Dartmouth ended the game by steadily gaining ground and increasing offensive pressure.
18 March 2008 DWRC vs. Bowdoin College Limerick, Ireland Win 36-0
As luck would have it, Bowdoin was touring Limerick at the same time Dartmouth was, and, both teams having had matches cancelled, we agreed to scrimmage.
Training Monday and Tuesday morning with an almost-fully recovered squad, and with efforts to correct deficits revealed in the St. Mary's match, the Big Green started off their scrimmage with Bowdoin with strong tackles, much-improved offensive footwork, off-loading, and support, and much improved team defensive organization, making several tries in the first half and never looking back. A Green kickoff to Bowdoin put the game into motion. Quick hands and feet allowed Bowdoin to run with the ball past the halfline, but before the Polar Bears could claw any further up the field, Leila "I have a twin?" English '09 successfully intercepted a pass. Unfortunately, she knocked on to the ball, resulting in a scrum to Bowdoin. Dartmouth regained possession soon afterwards, with Katie "What? Yeah! Ugh!" Moerlein '08 pushing Bowdoin into touch and Green winning the lineout.
From then on, the big Green kept the ball in their possession with a strong vertical game. Consistent throughout rucks was the duo offensive assault of Scrumhalf Julia "Multi-use player" Jacobsen '08 and 8-man Alysia "Bama" Harris '08 , with good support coming from the back. Winning the ball on a Green lineout 10 meters from the try line, Harris ran through the holes in Bowdoin's defense to make the first score of the game, 5-0. The first half also presented a brilliant opportunity for Wing Rachel "Climbs in her free time" Forman '09 to flex her swift running muscles and flash her pink cleats. Breaking through on the outside, she sprinted 80 meters to the try line and scored, bringing the score to 10-0. The ladies in Green continued to dominate the field until half time, with another converted try bringing the half time score to 17-0.
The Big Green's vigor did not waver during the second half. Dartmouth capitalized on Bowdoin's reluctance to tackle and made a greater effort to have more than one person in support of the ball carrier. A 22 meter dropout by Jacobsen allowed the Big Green to gain ground, followed by a successful rolling maul, which kept the ball in Green's possession. The Polar Bears, though, caught the Big Green off guard by regaining the ball and showing increased determination to break through Green's defense. Bowdoin succeeded in pushing Dartmouth back to the try zone, but a kick by Melanie "I have no identity" Pastuck '11 turned the game back into Dartmouth's favor. The second half also featured more excellent runs by Dartmouth. Second row Meghan "T-Rex" McDavid '10 ran 25 meters through holes in Bowdoin's defensive line, and Fullback Caroline "Mad Libs make me so happy" Cima '10 exploded on the open field space to score. The last few minutes of the game displayed a tremendous support effort by the backs. Strong hands on passing and quick feet on looping moved the ball out to Wing Kristen "Darling" Liu '11, who was supported by Mallory "Which outfit should I wear?" McQueen '09 to make a try, bringing the total score of the game to 36-0.
20 March 2008 DWRC vs. Creggs Creggs, Ireland
The DWRC trekked north of Galway to the tiny hamlet of Creggs (population 100) for what turned out to be our final tour match. It was almost dark as we opened the bus door at the seemingly deserted, and under-construction, clubhouse, and we were instantly overwhelmed as the steadily increasing winds of a fast-moving storm carried the powerful smell of freshly harvested cow manure through the bus. Oh, the wonders of tour...
The pitch was surprisingly well-lit, and under normal circumstances it would have been a very nice venue (minus the neighboring farm and its olfactory offerings). But this was no ordinary night. By the time the opening whistle blew, the night had been transformed into a swirling maelstrom, complete with unpredictably strong gusts of wind, sideways-pelting-rain, and heavy, sucking mud underfoot. The referee never arrived. The Creggs needed three of our players to complete their side. The stage was set for a less-than-satisfactory outcome...
But... the overwhelming spirit and determination of the DWRC made the match into a worthwhile and heartening event. Handling and support, despite terrible conditions, was phenomenal. Hard passing and harder running, communications shouted loudly in order to be heard over the wind and rain, and Big Green domination at the breakdowns enabled the DWRC to run rampart over the startled and impressed Creggs side. Dartmouth was in fine form as we controlled the match with our preferred style of play- vertical attacking from all over the pitch. #7 Michelle Dunn '09, #8 Alysia Harris '08, and #9 Julia Jacobsen '08 had a hey-day, choosing off-loads and give-and-goes instead of phase play against a disorganized Creggs' defense. Harris touched the ball down to open the Big Green's unanswered scoring run, and Jacobsen's footwork was all that was needed late in the match to finish the job after a valiant team effort caused a turnover at Creggs' twenty-meter line. #1 Amelia Alvarez not only had a great defensive day, but contributed the second try of the night after executing her signature tackle-and-poach and powering her way to the tryline. Not to be "left out in the rain", the speedy outside backs of the DWRC managed to prove that mud and rain do not necessarily add up to a forwards match, as #14 Rachel Forman '09 has some excellent runs, and #15 Caroline Cima '10 jetted through flat-footed defenders and added the third try of the match, bringing the half-time score to 15-0. All four of #11 Annie Jones '11 attempts at conversions were incredibly well-taken, though all were blown off-course by the swirling and gusting winds.
Of final note was the courageous play of the three rookies who were sacrificed to Creggs. Ilda Bajraktari '11 at #9, Autumn Dunn '11 at #5, and Kristen Liu '11 at #11 all played valiantly and very commendably, shouting organizational suggestions to their adopted teammates and playing very aggressive defense against the older and more experienced DWRC personnel. After the match, they commented that they were surprised at how much more they knew than their Creggs teammates, even though the Creggs girls were either more experienced or as experienced as they themselves were. HAT'S OFF to Tour, and to the DWRC ORGANIZATION!
Tour Journal to be added soon.


text:
Hot summer days have given California's raisins, dried plum and dried fig growers an early harvest and plumped up cranberries in bogs across North America.
Donn Zea, executive director of the California Dried Plum Board, Sacramento, said the month-long harvest of fresh prune plums in the four counties north of Sacramento began the third week in August.
Quality is exceptional, Zea said, though sizes will be smaller.
"Last year we had very large prunes, but it looks like the middle sizes will be more plentiful this year," he said.
He said volume will be down, from 135,000 tons last year to an estimated 120,000 tons this year.
Acreage is also down, from 55,000 acres a year ago to 52,000 acres as some growers shift to more profitable walnut trees.
Drying plums in electric dryers makes them prohibitively expensive to produce, he said.
Since the drying season is so short, the industry isn't a candidate for solar power, though Zea said growers are working on a "green" solution with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the University of California.
Dried figs
Dried fig producers began harvesting fresh figs in mid-August, two weeks earlier than last year, said Linda Cain, vice president of marketing for Fresno, Calif.-based Valley Fig Growers.
Most of the crop, similar to last year's at just over 1,500 tons, should be harvested by the end of September, Cain said.
The figs dry on the vine and are collected when they fall to the ground.
"Our biggest challenge is keeping up with the growing consumer demand," she said.
Karla Stockli, chief executive officer of the Fresno-based California Fig Advisory Board, said a slight increase in new plantings throughout the state will contribute to a consistent flow of fresh figs into the market from mid-May to January, and a consistent supply of dried figs throughout the year.
Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc., Lakeville, Mass., is forecasting a North American crop of 10.2 million barrels, a 2% increase over last year's record crop of 10 million barrels.
"Weather has been perfect in the Northeast," said Kristen Borsari, director of marketing for North America.
"We have an additional 1,900 acres in production, some new contracts, and growers continue to renovate their bags, which increases their yields," Borsari said.
After two years of beginning their harvest after Labor Day, California raisin growers were pleased to begin harvesting on Aug. 20 this year.


text:
Sep 8, 2010 3:56 PM by Carina Corral
A new campaign underway nationwide is called Recess Rocks and is sponsored by the Community Health Center.
It pairs dance instructors with schools to increase students' activity in a fun way.
Until today, it was only offered to Connecticut schools.
As part of the program's launch, a video contest is underway.
All second through eighth graders are encouraged to submit a video that features a speech, song, dance or commercial that answers two questions: "how do you feel about the childhood obesity problem?" and "what can you do about it?"
Prizes will be awarded to the contest winners and their schools.
Click here to information on the program and how to enter the contest.


text:
Striking Out ALS: A Hero's Tale
Authors: Ethan D. Bryan
Release Date: March 29, 2013
Excerpt: Coming Soon!
eBook Price: $3.99 (BUY IT NOW!)
Paperback Price: $13.49 [Price INCLUDES all Shipping & Applicable Taxes] (BUY IT NOW, and receive the eBook version for FREE!)
When author Ethan D. Bryan sent an email to W. P. Kinsella (author of Shoeless Joe and the basis for the film Field of Dreams) describing the scope and vision of his latest project, Kinsella replied in short time and form:
"I'm very distrustful of anyone who claims to hear voices. It is the fiction writer's job to create weird characters, but I wouldn't want to know any of them in real life."
Journey with Ethan D. Bryan, a self-proclaimed real-life "weird character," in his quest to attend the Kansas City Royals' Fantasy Camp in Surprise, Arizona, and the unforeseen twists in the journey that led Ethan to take up a new cause: to raise money and awareness for High School baseball coach Howard Bell, a Springfield, Missouri legend recently diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease).
A portion of all proceeds will be donated to Howard Bell's Striking Out ALS Charity.


text:
The Wellness Center is getting a facelift… and a tummy tuck… and well, everything else too! Over the next several months, the Wellness Center and some other parts of PWSCC will receive a major remodel, resulting in a modern facility that is better able to accommodate the needs of our students and the community of Valdez.
In order to get this started, the Wellness Center needs to move into a temporary space to give the contractor room to work. During the remodel, the Wellness Center will be located at 309 Fairbanks St, which used to house Rexall Drug. The Wellness Center will be closed beginning Monday, April 23 with hopes of re-opening in our new location by Saturday, April 28, pending completion of the move.
After a record breaking season, the Ski for Free program will close this week prior to the move, with the last loans taking place tomorrow, Wednesday, April 18. All items will be due no later than this coming Friday, April 20.
Hours of operation in the new facility will be:
Monday-Friday, 5:00am-8:45pm
Saturday-Sunday, 11:00am-7:00pm
Watch for more information next week with updates about our progress. For up to date info regarding the move, call our front desk at 907.834.1684 to speak with someone, or to hear our recorded message which will be updated any time there are changes.
Please help spread the word on the location change and short term closure!


text:
Sign In | Create Account
Sign in with Facebook
Geocaching Username: *
Geocaching Password: *
Remember me Forgot Username/Password
Geocaching > Hide and Seek A Geocache > Geocache Details
Size:  (small)
This cache was originally placed as part of the 2013 West Bend Ca$h Bash. If you are participating in the Ca$h Bash don't forget to stamp your sheet and leave the stamp for the next finder. Please replace Cache as intended. DNR form submitted to Jason Quast.
Welcome to the Goon Docks! This is 1 of 12 caches on your Goonie Adventure. One of them being One Eyed Willies Treasure. Each cache is a highlight from the movie. Now go get your Goonie on! Every group has the wise cracking, smart alec that doesn't stop talking. Sometimes Mouth's mouth got him into some trouble. Let's hope this mouth doesn't doom your find.
Additional Hints (Decrypt)
Decryption Key
(letter above equals below, and vice versa)
What are Attributes?
Advertising with Us
There are no Trackables in this cache.
View past Trackables
What are Trackable Items?
View all 4 bookmark lists...
350 1
View Logbook | View the Image Gallery
**Warning! Spoilers may be included in the descriptions or links.
Current Time: 2/1/2015 1:25:05 PM (UTC-08:00) Pacific Time (US & Canada) (9:25 PM GMT)Last Updated: 2014-08-12T03:54:29Z on 8/11/2014 8:54:29 PM Pacific Daylight Time (3:54 AM GMT) Rendered From:UnknownCoordinates are in the WGS84 datum


text:
With the announcement that NHL players will participate in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, several countries announced the selection of players for orientation camps which will be taking place in late August.
Five Leafs players have been invited to camp by their respective countries. Maple Leafs captain Dion Phaneuf was one of 47 players that will attend a Hockey Canada national team orientation camp from Aug. 25-28 in Calgary. Phaneuf was also named to the selection camp for the 2010 Olympics.
The Leafs will be well represented at the Team USA camp with three players taking part in the camp being held in Arlington, VA from August 26-27. Defenceman Jake Gardiner along with forwards Phil Kessel and James van Riemsdyk.
Nikolai Kulemin was named to Russia's camp which will be held in Sochi on August 23-24.


text:
Employer: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Internship Title: Research Assistant
Describe your duties:
Myself and the other RAs did a lot of data collecting (going out into Harvard Squard and getting passersby to fill out surveys or running studies in the laboratory). We also coded and entered that data and were somewhat involved in the analysis. The position also involved a mini "class" where we read articles during the week, wrote thought papers about them and discussed them with various grad-students and post-docs involved with the lab.
What did you enjoy most about your internship?
I really enjoyed the first-hand experience at a major research institution. The atmosphere was totally different there, and it was a fantastic opportunity to find out what things are like at that level.
What did you enjoy least about your internship?
Well, the pay was non-existent, which was not my favorite aspect of the job, especially considering how expensive it is to live in Cambridge.
What is the most significant thing you learned about yourself as a result of the internship?
The most significant thing was probably that the experience really solidified my career goals-I went in thinking this (grad school, research, the whole shebang) was what I wanted to do, and now I'm sure.
What recommendations do you have for other students considering doing an internship?
Don't be afraid! Put yourself out there and be confident-it only makes it more likely that other people will become confident in you too.
The following links are virtual breadcrumbs marking the 27 most recent pages you have visited in Bucknell.edu. If you want to remember a specific page forever click the pin in the top right corner and we will be sure not to replace it. Close this message.


text:
- South Central KY AHEC Staff
- South Central KY AHEC Mission Statement
- Service Area
- Health Careers
- Clinical Education
- Continuing Education
- Community Health Education
- Opportunities
- Partners
- Contact Us
- News
- Additional Resources
- Back to WKU Home
- Back to CHHS Home
- Back to AHEC
Liver Transplantations
Date: Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Time: 6:30 – 7:30 pm EST
Cost: N/A
Location: My Old KY Home Country Club, Bardstown, KY
Contact: Evelyn Watson
Phone: (502) 350-5032
CME Credit: 1.0 Hour Category I
Target Audience: Medical Staff @ Flaget Memorial Hospital
South Central KY AHEC Western Kentucky University 1906 College Heights Blvd #41038 Bowling Green, KY 42101-1038 Phone: 270-745-3325 Fax: 270-745-5928Note: documents in Portable Document Format (PDF) require Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher to view,
download Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Note: documents in Excel format (XLS) require Microsoft Viewer,
download excel.
Note: documents in Word format (DOC) require Microsoft Viewer,
download word.
Note: documents in Powerpoint format (PPT) require Microsoft Viewer,
download powerpoint.
Note: documents in Quicktime Movie format [MOV] require Apple Quicktime,
download quicktime.


text:
Latest News
Brad Pitt Says 'The Time Has Come' To Marry Angelina
Don't forget to RSVP! The long-awaited wedding of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie may be sooner, rather than later.
"I am getting more pre… READ MORE
Evan Rachel Wood & Jamie Bell Marry!
Jamie Bell and Evan Rachel Wood were married in a small ceremony in California Tuesday, RadarOnline.com has learned.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson Engaged To Lawyer Boyfriend!
Modern Family's Jesse Tyler Ferguson reveals in a charming new video that he's engaged to his adorable lawyer boyfriend, Justin Mikita!
The … READ MORE
Surprise! Ryan Reynolds & Blake Lively Marry
Well, that was fast! After only a year of dating, Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are husband and wife.
The Green Lantern hunk,35, tied the knot … READ MORE
Stanley Tucci Marries Emily Blunt's Sister Felicity
Three years after the tragic loss of his wife Kate to breast cancer, actor Stanley Tucci has found love — and marriage — again.
Th… READ MORE
Two Dogs 'Marry' in Most Expensive Pet Wedding Ever – It Cost $158,187...
The bride was a real dog — but then again, so was the groom!
Two pooches got 'married' in Central Park in New York Thursday night in a cerem… READ MORE


text:
Quoted from Lola http://www.bing.com/search?cp=.....q1=site%3Adadamo.comrice bran oil has a high smoke point......olive oil is best for salads
Quoted from Spring I simply LOVE rice bran oil. It does not have to be refrigerated, either.
Quoted from ruthiegirl I don't know if food processing "standards" are the same in Poland as they are in the USA. I don't think the big junk food corporations have quite as much power in eastern Europe. There's certainly a lot fewer GMOs in Europe than here.
Quoted from SquarePeg The manner in which any oil is expressed is important. Olive oil is recommended with the implicit notion that it's Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Cold pressed. This is the really expensive stuff.Sunflower oil is often heat extracted. My vague understanding is that as a result, it's oxidized right out of the factory. And your body will need to neutralize the free radicals, which will otherwise cause cellular damage.Unless the label says they're cold expeller pressed, you can assume that your rice milk contains harmful oils.


text:
This is nearly the same as Bare Escentual's "Mineral Veil," except it contains much less ingredients. But they give the same effects.
I used to think, what's the point of a sheer, white powder? I honestly thought it couldn't help my skin or make any difference. However, I noticed that when I wear the finishing dust, my sister would say "Your skin looks so smooth!"
There's something about the finishing dust that makes your makeup look so perfect and refined. It really does make your skin smoother. I like to wear this right after I moisturize my skin and right before I apply my foundation. If my blush is a bit too dark, I like to put a little on to even out my skin. It's a great product!
This product is remarkable. I love EM and have been obsessively buying foundation and blushes in shade after shade, but I was skeptical of this dust. I finally broke down after reading the reviews here, and I was so impressed I felt compelled to write my own review. My pores look much smaller, no oily breakthrough during the day at all, no melting of makeup. My skin feels silky smooth all day, not greasy, and just like the name says, I look "finished". I use the premium kabuki blush and it goes on perfectly.
I got a sample from EM after reading the rave reviews here, but I guess it's for more oily-skinned gals. It felt really cakey on my skin and thick, no matter how much I tried to apply it lightly. I guess I don't produce as much oil as this is intended for....just not the product for me. Good price though! Recommended for oilier skins.
MY HG LOOSE POWDER! I love this product so much! It's perfect for setting my liquid concealer, and for dusting over my liquid or mineral foundation to control oil. I usually don't have to touch up with pressed powder until the evening sometime when it really doesn't matter for me. It's so light and it has no color, that's awesome. Try it, you won't waste your money!
This i got as part of the free sample kit.I have tried the bare escentuals before with awful allergic reactions so that said i dont believe i would have tried this without reading the great makeup reviews by all the previous reviewers. Added to that this company offers a free sample kit-you pay about $3 for S&H only.I have DSPW.
Initially i put on the foundation without applying moisturizer and my face felt bumpy and coarse. The next day i applied the foundation using a generous amount of moisturizer before foundation along with a spritz of the avene thermal water between the foundation and the finishing dust and WOW. No bumps, no coarseness-my skin feels smooth, my skin tone is even, the staying power is incredible, i havent needed any touch up at all. I can rub my face and it does not come off-i have no problem taking it off at night. Normally my pores are a little clogged but with this i notice a significant decrease in pore size with my makeup off. I probably wont have to use the DDF sulfur mask that frequently.
Awsome-would definately recommend.
The price is $10 for 13g.
I got this in a sample pack and didnt even pick it up and use it for a month! When I did finally get round to using it I thought wow this is great. I use Avene 40+ spray and find it a bit shiny,oily. I apply this a few minutes after applying my sunscreen (before makeup) and it really mattifies my sunscreen. In fact I find it only works to do this when I apply it before makeup. When I tried it after applying my MMU it just wasnt the same. I seem to need less MMU when I use this first as it seems to make my skin look better even though its very light in colour. I will be buying a full size of this for sure:)
I purchased this along with the starter kit and loved how it made my skin matte but not ghostly. Unfortunately, my skin developed little bumpedy bumps and they stopped when I realized it was the finishing dust contributing to them. It was probably the cornstarch.
I love this all natural mineral finishing dust! It absorbs oil and looks great. It looks so great even all by itself, my husband said, so why do you go through all the bother of applying foundation and blush and concealer and bronzers and a whole lot of etc.? Why don't you just put on the finishing dust and nothing else? Already makes you look like you have perfect skin all by itself! So I told him, unfortunately this finishing dust doesn't have an SPF, that's its only drawback. Oh yes, that and the fact that it has corn starch, but this excellent company is developing a new formula with no cornstarch. This is THE BEST mineral makeup company for skin makeup (I prefer another company, Fyrinnae (www.fyrinnae.com) for mineral eye shadows), it's also cheaper, so save your money gals, and go to everydayminerals.com! Cheaper does not mean lower quality, it actually has much better quality than more expensive brands. What more could you ask for? Cheap AND great quality!
UPDATE 9/17: Ok I looked at my face after using this... up close and with my glasses on and I have to say WOW!!! I hadn't noticed before but this stuff also made my pores disappear and made my makeup appear more blended. I am utterly SOLD for sure now. A can't live without it since I am going to use this makeup. END UPDATE> I received EM Finishing Dust in my second sample kit still trying to find my colors for my skin tone. I love the Intensive formulas. Their coverage is excellent. I tried Finshing Dust right away since I have been dealing with a bit of oily breakthrough in the middle of the day in my T-Zone. This stuff is fantastic. It instantly turned my face silky to the touch and stopped the shiny breakthrough. Freshened my makeup without adding weight or build up and made my makeup look like I just applied it. This is a keeper. I will buy this in my full size kit for sure.