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Nope. As much as I am absolutely overjoyed at Gen 6's announcement, I can't help but feel that Gen 5 hasn't really had his turn yet. Maybe a few months more with Gen 5 would've done the trick.
Did this with SS, lol. Took one look at the team, got really pissed and then reset the game.
I do this too. When I don't, I feel like I'm missing something.
Am I the only one around here who doesn't understand how people can not have all their Pokémon at the same level, or at least near each other? I've seen some teams that have Pokémon in levels 75, 73, 70... 60, 55 and 50?! I mean, I can understand a level difference of maybe 5 in the same team, but 25 levels?! Do they even think that if they're against someone and their last Pokémon is the one at level 50 they're pretty much screwed?
I can't. I just can't. All my Pokémon have to be, mandatorily, at the same level, at all times. I'm that radical. :|
YES. I think this is absolutely amazing and I honestly don't care that much on how long Generations last, especially Gen V.
Yes, cause I honestly do this myself. Not really on purpose though, it just happens. Although I don't go so far as in 25 levels, I've been near 10 levels sometimes because I get so carried away with using one/two Pokemon for every Trainer I battle (cause it's the strongest/can take opponents down the quickest/best typing etc) that the weakest out of my team falls behind a bit. I always go back to train the lowest leveled one though, so it's not like they're always 10 levels behind.
Claims: Dialga | Multitype | Judgment | Adamant Orb | Draco Plate
Avatar drawn by me.
Am I the only one around here who trained their very first starter Pokémon, and no other mons? My first run included a Typhlosion, level 50, and a level 26 Flaaffy in the same team.
I understand. The way I train my Pokémon is: all Pokémon are level 10. Pokémon A goes to level 12, then I switch it for Pokémon B. When Pokémon B goes to level 12, I switch for Pokémon C. When Pokémon C is at level 12, I go back to Pokémon A to make it go to level 14 and so it goes. I switch every two levels.
Nope. I once did this with Gold when I was 8, but with my Feraligatr. I even got it to level 100. I'm not planning on doing it again, though. I just don't see the point anymore. It's boring to train the same Pokémon over and over again.
Am I the only one who is strangely fond of a type you never thought you'd be attached to? This happened to me recently with the Bug type. Bug-types were always kind of "eh" to me, but the other day I was counting how many Pokémon I've EV trained, and Bug turned out to be the most popular type. I've trained Parasect, Venomoth, Scyther, Pinsir, Forretress, Heracross, Shuckle, Vespiquen, Yanmega, Volcarona and Galvantula. Psychic is my favorite type and I've only trained Alakazam, Mr. Mime and Claydol. :|
tumblr(not spoiler free)
Am I the only one around here who goes all OCD on other people because their names are either in all capital or all lowercase letters? o_o
I did that a lot of times when I played GSC. I had a level 70 Typhlosion or so by the time I reached the league and the second highest leveled pokemon on my team was that level 45 Ho-oh.
Am I the only one around here who thinks Steel-types need more attention?
The Rainmaker
Am I the only one around here who would like there to be absolutely no backwards-compatibility in Gen VI?
The change to 3D, the worldwide release... it just feels like a really fresh start.
Nope. I tend to fidget a bit ver this painfully insignificant thing. And it's not even just Pokémon. I do this with everything.
Nope. I find time for a Pokémon game, I play it obsessively for a few weeks, real life takes over, I forget for weeks on end. Rinse and repeat.
Am I the only one who really wants Pokemon Ruby & Sapphire Remakes?
tumblr(not spoiler free)
Even I'm looking forward for more Ghost types since I think there are not very much Ghosts around us, it'd be great to have new ones. Like a Ghost type, typed with Water, or Fire, or Grass (that's stupid, isn't it?).
Also, am I the only one who thinks that English Pokémon names are the worst?
Officially claimed Scraggy. GPXPlus profile.


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Choosing and Using Edible Flowers
Enjoy the Flavor, Color, and Texture That Flowers Can Bring to Food. "Choosing and Using Edible Flowers" by Cyndi Lauderdale and Lucy Bradley is available on-line for free. Full of guidance on how MORE »
Enjoy the Flavor, Color, and Texture That Flowers Can Bring to Food. "Choosing and Using Edible Flowers" by Cyndi Lauderdale and Lucy Bradley is available on-line for free. Full of guidance on how MORE »
The North Carolina Community Garden Partners (NCCGP) is pleased to announce workshops for North Carolina community garden leaders planned for the fall of 2014. The one-day GROW (Gardeners Recreating Our World) workshops will include MORE »
Whether you rent or own your home, you probably want to save money on monthly utility bills – particularly during the summer. Here are some great tips for keeping cool and saving money MORE »
Chatham County invites you to a webinar on April 17, 2014 on the exciting concept of community food councils. It is slated from noon-2:30 pm in the Agriculture Building Auditorium at 65 East MORE »
Oct. 11 at Drumsong Sanctuary for the Soul, Chapel Hill Flier:HTatDrumsong_Oct2014_B&W MORE »
The Farm at Penny Lane is a 40-acre therapeutic center near Pittsboro NC for people with mental illness. People can work on recovery here through horticultural therapy and other programs. Founded by Thava MORE »
Take a look at the new North Carolina Blueberry Council Website for consumers. Great information on freezing, storing, and cooking with blueberries. Nutrition information and lots of great recipes. For information on growing blueberries see MORE »
NCSU Graduate Student Amy Borsay is studying Landscape Design in Horticulture Therapy Gardens geared toward Wounded Warriors. See her Poster synthesizing her review of the MORE »
CONTEST: Real Food Media Short Video The Real Food Media Short Video contest invites aspiring filmmakers, teams of food change makers, and communicators to create 30-second to four-minute films in one of four styles: documentary, MORE »
If you're visiting the State Fair this week (runs through Oct. 27th), don't forget to check out the Expo building and the fantastic display on bees and beekeeping! Don Hopkins, NCDA&CS State Apiarist, MORE »

subset: commoncrawl


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At each of its 31 area locations, the YMCA of Greater Houston pursues a mission to bring health, wellness, and personal growth to communities. Kids leap into activities ranging from swim lessons and youth sports to a teen Youth & Government program that stirs up confidence and leadership abilities in students, preparing them for mudslinging student-council campaigns.
Zumba, ballroom dance, and Les Mills group exercise classes shake up adult workout routines, as complimentary childcare frees up parents to pursue fitness goals. Meanwhile, adult sport leagues such as basketball and racquetball result in friendly competition and hyper-literate team names inspired by obscure philosophers.
Pieces by local artists, yoga demonstrations looping on a flat-screen TV, and comfy furniture all line the sun-soaked lobby at Bikram Yoga Sugar Land. The waiting area exudes the same soothing vibes students find inside the studio, where teachers lead 90-minute yoga sessions. Each class consists of 26 postures and two breathing exercises, which pupils of all ages and body types enact in a room heated between 105 and 107 degrees. The heat helps bodies stretch during the intensive cardiovascular workout, which burns calories, melts away stress, and increases flexibility.
If that sounds overwhelming, don't fret??the studio hosts beginner's classes several times a day, and supplies helpful info for first timers. Bikram Yoga Sugar Land even offers courses for kids, special-needs children, and babysitting for moms. Once class lets out, students can enjoy one of the studio's relaxing spa treatments, which range from massage therapy to organic facials.
No man is an island, but you can still develop muscles that are hard as rock. The personal trainers at One2One Training Center have helped everyone from professional athletes to body builders get into the best shape of their lives. Anyone who goes through One2One's fitness program—natural athlete or otherwise—must be willing to admit the following: "I can't do it all by myself." With a dedicated staff of trainers so close at hand, that's not such a bad thing. Trainers work with individual clients to develop realistic fitness goals, then follow through with the help of advanced exercise equipment at one of three local facilities.
Dahn Yoga integrates Korean Taoist philosophies and holistic Korean Oriental medicine into a form of yoga that strives to forge stronger connections between mind and body. The certified instructors at Dahn Yoga adhere to these ancient practices and help students of all ages and fitness levels develop core strength, which, according to Dahn philosophy, is the basis of physical, mental, and spiritual health. Through classes, private lessons, and workshops, students learn to link postures with breath control, ultimately developing greater bodily awareness. Besides improving flexibility, strength, and posture, instructors also emphasize the brain's role in overall well-being. They lead brain exercises that challenge and sharpen the mind to develop more productive habits and levitate pennies out of mall fountains.
Dahn Yoga's founder, Ilchi Lee, also built a comprehensive brain-development program—called Brain Education—from the principles upon which Dahn Yoga is founded. Combining physical, emotional, and cognitive exercises with guided imagery and games, Dahn Yoga's instructors develop emotional control, improve communication between the brain's hemispheres, and inspire guests take decisive action. This program has five progressive steps that can be applied to a dedicated yoga practice as well as everyday life.
At Yoga West, experienced, dedicated instructors promote healthy, centered lifestyles with sessions that unite the mind and body within a nurturing environment that emphasizes community, not competition. Owner Kristin Abel—whose motto is "It's just yoga"—welcomes patrons of all ages, shapes, and skill levels to ease into the relaxing world of yoga at their own pace, learning to release stress while having fun and getting fit. In classes suited to those who are stretching across the mat for the first time to advanced yogis, Abel and her team of dedicated instructors foster the release of toxins as students flow through Vinyasa's series of poses or stretch and soothe the body in restorative-yoga classes. The instructors also lead sensual belly-dancing classes and TRX resistance classes to bolster core muscles and cardiovascular systems without the need to jog with a giant sloth clinging to your back.
Sometimes it seems that timeless movies and holiday meals are the only way to simultaneously entertain three generations at once, but CrossFit Caveman adds a third activity to the mix: going to the gym. There, certified coaches engage entire families in fun workouts, scaling movements to suit everyone from grandparents to 3-year-olds. Each CrossFit routine incorporates exercises modeled off of real-life actions: pushing, jumping, running, and changing a monster truck?s tire, for example. Students master these techniques during introductory sessions before reporting to mainstream classes that hone their form and tone muscles through weightlifting, gymnastics maneuvers, and calisthenics.
Owners Sharon and Ray welcome clients of all sizes to their "cave." They and their staff?which includes sports enthusiasts, a Navy drill instructor, and a CrossFit Havoc Strongman competitor?push their students to achieve milestones that once seemed incredible, such as completing a series of chin-ups or using a kettlebell for something other than a parking-space saver. In addition to their regular curriculum, they host classes for kids aged 3?12, as well as sport-specific regimens and women-only sessions.


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This Week in the WNBA
Philadelphia, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The 2014 All-Star Game magnified the transition the WNBA is currently going through, as the younger talent continued to outshine the more familiar names.
Atlanta rookie point guard Shoni Schimmel was awarded the All-Star Game MVP after she set a new record with 29 points. The eighth overall pick out of Louisville has made a surprisingly gigantic impact on the league in her first year with the Atlanta Dream -- both on and off the hardwood. Schimmel has the top-selling jersey among all players, and the Dream hold a five-game lead for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Schimmel was joined in the Eastern Conference's starting lineup by teammates Erika de Souza and Angel McCoughtry, along with former MVP Tamika Catchings, who made the game-winning layup with just under seven seconds remaining in overtime. Chicago's second-year phenom Elena Delle Donne sat out due to her ongoing struggle with Lyme disease despite being voted in as a starter.
Although the fans' votes ultimately did not decide the starting five for the Eastern Conference, Atlanta deserved to have three players on the floor at tip-off. The Dream are the only team in the East with a winning record, and also seem to be the only squad capable of competing with one of the Western Conference powers in a playoff series. Coach Michael Cooper, who won the 1987 NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award and earned a spot on eight All- Defensive Teams during his 12-year stint with the Lakers, has implemented a successful system in his inaugural tour with Atlanta. The Dream are leading the WNBA in field goal percentage defense (.417) and rebounding differential (3.47), and rank second with 10 steals per game.
The West also displayed how youth is making a big-time impact, as Tulsa second-year guard Skylar Diggins led the team with 27 points on 10-of-18 efficiency from the floor. The former Notre Dame star has become one of the league's most popular players, as she owns the second-highest selling jersey in the WNBA behind Schimmel. Diggins posted only 8.5 ppg as a rookie in 2013, but she has drastically improved to pour in 21.0 ppg this summer.
"It just shows you the future of our league is so bright," Diggins said. "We have vets who have helped us out so much and done so much for our league. You see the passing of the torch, if you will, and tonight was a great example of that."
Maya Moore, who is now in her fourth campaign with Minnesota, netted 24 points and eight assists. Phoenix's Brittney Griner also made a mark in her second All-Star game with 17 points, five boards and three blocks.
Moore is averaging a WNBA-best 24.1 ppg this season. The former UConn standout has already collected a pair of WNBA championships in her first three years at the professional level and could very well make it three, as her Lynx have the second-best record among all teams behind Phoenix.
The Mercury already had a superstar in veteran point guard Diana Taurasi, who is leading the team with 17.8 ppg and 5.9 apg this year. The addition of Griner did not yield immediate results, but Phoenix has transformed into an unstoppable force this season due to the former Baylor center's presence. Griner made a name for herself during her collegiate career right away by setting the all-time single-season record with 223 blocked shots during her freshman season. She went on to win an NCAA championship, a Final Four Most Outstanding Player accolade while becoming the first NCAA basketball player ever to finish a career with 2,000 points and 500 blocks. Griner's record- breaking trend continued in the WNBA. She is the only player to dunk twice in one game and earlier this season, the 6-foot-8 tower rejected 11 shots in a three-point win over Tulsa.
The Ogwumike sisters also participated in this year's All-Star Game and both contributed eight points for their respective squads. Nneka, who won the 2012 Rookie of the Year award, also tallied 11 rebounds and six assists. Chiney has a great chance of following her sister's footsteps to be named the WNBA's top rookie, as she is recording 15.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg to lead all-first year players in both categories.
Nneka Ogwumike and last season's MVP Candace Parker will face a new challenge as they return to the City of Angels from Phoenix. Los Angeles fired the 2012 WNBA Coach of the Year Carol Ross on Sunday because of the team's 10-12 start. Sparks general manager and executive vice president Penny Toler will take over the head coaching responsibilities for the remaining of the season.
"I'd like to thank Carol for her contributions to the Sparks organization, team and Los Angeles community," said Toler in a news release. "Carol is a tremendous coach, but we felt it was time to bring in a different energy to this team. Decisions like this are never easy, and we wish Carol the best."
Toler, who has never served as a head coach at any level, inherits a team that is currently in the playoff picture as the last seed in the Western Conference. Toler has shown she can overcome a lack of experience in the past. Following her retirement in 1999, she was hired as the Sparks' general manager. She quickly assembled a dominant roster that led to WNBA titles in 2001 and 2002.
1. Phoenix (18-3)
2. Minnesota (17-6)
3. Atlanta (15-6)
4. San Antonio (11-12)
5. Indiana (11-12)
6. Los Angeles (10-12)
7. Washington (10-13)
8. Connecticut (10-14)
9. Seattle (9-15)
10. Tulsa (8-15)
11. Chicago (8-14)
12. New York (8-13)
Tuesday, July 22
Phoenix at Seattle - The Mercury will look to continue their franchise-record 12-game winning streak on Tuesday as they head to Key Arena to tangle with Sue Bird and the Storm. Phoenix has dominated Seattle this season, winning the first three matchups by an average of 17.3 ppg. The Storm, who hold their opposition to a WNBA-low 75 ppg, are capable of pulling off an upset as they have managed to down Minnesota twice.
Atlanta at Minnesota - Two of the top three teams in the WNBA will square off once again. The Dream edged Minnesota, 85-82, when the Lynx visited Georgia on June 13. Schimmel was held scoreless in that contest, but Angel McCoughtry and de Souza combined for 39 points to lift Atlanta to the win. Moore felt the wrath of Cooper's defensive scheme in the first tilt, as she was limited to 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting from the field. The Lynx had Seimone Augustus for the first meeting between these teams, but she has missed seven games in a row with bursitis in her left knee.
Wednesday, July 23
New York at Los Angeles - Toler's debut on the bench will come this week as Bill Laimbeer's Liberty visit the Staples Center. New York enters the week just a half-game out of the playoff picture and with a pair of All-Stars on its roster. The Sparks will need to adjust to Toler's new philosophies quickly to maintain their fourth-place position in the West.
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CENTRAL AND SOUTH CALIFORNIA — Shipments (14-10-11) — Movement expected about the same. Trading moderate. Prices 18s higher, others lower. Unofficial prices cartons thorned 12s $18.85-20.98, 18s $22.85-28.64, 24s $20.95-26.85, 30s (wide range in price) $14.95-22.98. Quality variable. Prices from trade sources. No f.o.b. report issued as of Dec. 10.
Artichokes — F.o.bs as of Dec. 3
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Holman Christian Standard (CSB) | New International Version (NIV) |
40 How I long for Your precepts! Give me life through Your righteousness. | 40 How I long for your precepts! Preserve my life in your righteousness. |
Holman Christian Standard Bible ® Copyright © 2003, 2002, 2000, 1999 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. (Holman Christian Standard Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Hi Joern,
> the network for lac2005 is getting into shape. if you want to
I think it would be great to make use of this network for the FAVE
event in Bristol on the 20th August:
LINUX® is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds in the USA and other countries.
Linuxaudio.org logo copyright Thorsten Wilms © 2006.
Hosting provided by the Virginia Tech Department of Music and DISIS.


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I got married over the winter and my hubby's previous bachelor pad is in need of a bush! It is a brick ranch with attached 3 car garage (vehicles were in driveway so didn't include). The house is about 8 years old and he has added a retaining wall with a circle at the end. We we would like to plant a smallish size tree in the circle (was thinking white fountain cherry?) but need some help with the rest. We would also like to dig up the island to the left and place something in there, but that could be down the road, more concerned right now with the retaining wall portion. I have no clue how to do this, but I do know some of the things that I like, limelight hydrangeas and anything low maintenance, I do not want to be a slave to the yard. Hubby golfs way too much, and "I" don't want to be the one weeding every weekend. We plan on using black mulch. If anyone could give me suggestions or do a computer mock-up that would be so awesome! PS - we are on a budget. Thank you so much in advance. |
This post was edited by Frostecat on Mon, Jun 2, 14 at 13:33
Follow-Up Postings:
Here is a picture of the whole house, this might help. |
This post was edited by Frostecat on Mon, Jun 2, 14 at 13:36
You should show the retaining wall "circle" so that one could actually gauge its size and from a view where the house is in the background. In other words, a square-on picture taken aiming at the end of that portion of the house. |
Does this help? |
This post was edited by Frostecat on Mon, Jun 2, 14 at 13:37
Here's another view. |
This post was edited by Frostecat on Mon, Jun 2, 14 at 13:38
The circle is very small so I can't imagine anything bigger than a 12' ht. lilac in it. You might consider smaller spiraeas for the raised planter. In general, the planter is too shallow in it's front-to-back depth. Next time, allow at least 5' of depth. The blank space between the two windows is "asking" for a small tree form, but there is no room in the planter. It would need to go in the ground in front of the planter. |
Thanks Yardvaark. I wish I had gotten on this forum before the retaining wall was built! As it stands now, we are going to be putting a white snow fountain cherry in the circle. I am in love with limelight hydrangea, and was at a landscaping place this weekend where they had the tree form. I asked about putting that in between the windows and they thought too much of a tree - tree with the cherry on the corner and suggested I go with bushes. We are hoping to clear out the island someday, retaining wall first, so maybe I could put one in the island at that time. I did see some spirea I liked too it was golden with some red in it? Can't remember the technical name (excuse my ignorance, but I admit I know nothing about landscaping). Maybe clump in 3's under the windows? Would you recommend any type evergeen type of bush too? It would be nice to have something in the winter months. Do you recommend any day lily's too? |
"I asked about putting that [limelight hyd.] in between the windows and they thought too much of a tree." "Too much of a tree"?? Isn't that exactly what a tall blank space requires? I don't know who "they" is, but I think I would ignore the advice. However, as I mentioned earlier, it would not work to put such a plant as close to the house as your already-built planter requires. The trunk(s) would need to go about 5' or 6' from the house ... outside of the raised planter. If you're creating a hedge out of multiple shrubs (as you might do in the raised planter), forget about 3's. That guideline does not apply since a hedge, when it is finished, is a single item. It would be better if someone more current than I on zone five plants makes a recommendation for evergreen shrubs you might use. |
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Recent Headlines from Above the Law
Work Dries Up At Quinn Emanuel, And Its Leader's Solution Is For Attorneys To 'Do Some Fun Stuff'
Don't worry, be happy — and most importantly, be thankful that your firm's leader is this awesome, because there are few like him in the business of Biglaw.
Associate Bonus Watch: Quinn Emanuel (2014)
Quinn Emanuel associates express differing views about the firm's bonuses this year.
Biglaw, Crime, Lateral Moves, Law Schools, Morning Docket, Partner Issues, Police, Romance and Dating, Weddings, Weirdness
* "The notion that some of us weren't invited, selected or chosen to join Morgan Lewis is ridiculous." Bingham McCutchen partners who aren't moving to Morgan Lewis don't want you to think they're losers. [Am Law Daily]
* MGA is back in court to sue Mattel, and now it wants $1 billion after its $88 million verdict was nixed by the Ninth Circuit. Here's hoping Quinn Emanuel will come to the rescue in a hot pink Barbiemobile. [National Law Journal]
* "We want an indictment. The cops don't like it." Missouri's governor declared a state of emergency ahead of the grand jury's decision on whether to indict the police officer who shot Michael Brown. Yikes. [Reuters]
* Not that it's a wise choice, but you can still apply to law school with a low GPA. Almost nothing is "too low" these days. Most law schools want a pulse, that's all. [Law Admissions Lowdown / U.S. News]
* Everyone can find love, even mass murderers and cult leaders: Charles Manson applied for a marriage license so he could get hitched to a 26-year-old woman who's visited him since she was 17. [E! Online]
2nd Circuit, Contract Attorneys, Document Review
Contract Attorney OT Suit Moves To Second Circuit
What causes lawyers to strike out (via lawsuit) at the law firms that hire them?
Biglaw, Brobeck Phleger & Harrison, Contests, Hotties, Real Estate, Romance and Dating
New York's Most Eligible Biglaw Bachelors
Feast your eyes upon some of Biglaw's best and brightest, and then vote for your favorite…
Barack Obama, Biglaw, Books, Crime, Insider Trading, Law Schools, Morning Docket, Politics, Securities Law
* Politics and Biglaw just don't mix: House Republicans hired Quinn Emanuel to handle their suit against President Barack Obama after Baker Hostetler withdrew from the representation due to "political pressure" the firm was facing. [Politico]
* The paper and napkin-eating "Middleman" in the post-it note insider trading ring pleaded guilty to securities fraud charges. This might make it difficult for his cohorts to substantiate their not-guilty pleas. [DealBook / New York Times]
* "This is a tale with no shortage of knaves or villains." If you're interested in learning about Chevron's legal wranglings in Ecuador and with plaintiffs attorney Steven Donziger, there are a bunch of interesting new readings for you to peruse. [WSJ Law Blog]
* Crisis in legal education be damned! They may have bad timing, but these law schools are focusing on building bigger and better facilities for students they're unable to put in their seats. [National Law Journal]
* Ohio law schools have taken a bruising in terms of decreased enrollment, but the University of Toledo has faced the worst of it. With a 25.9% reduction in 1Ls, tuition cuts can only do so much. [Toledo Blade]
Bankruptcy, Biglaw, California, Death Penalty, Federal Judges, Gay Marriage, Law Firm Mergers, Law Schools, Morning Docket, SCOTUS, State Judges, Student Loans, Supreme Court
* Now that a federal judge has classified California's death penalty as unconstitutional, it's only a matter of time before the issue reaches the Supreme Court. We have a feeling the justices will likely roll their eyes. [National Law Journal]
* Word on the street is that Bingham McCutchen has got the urge to merge, and has apparently spoken to a handful of potential partners over the course of the past three months. We'll have more on these developments later. [Reuters]
* As it turns out, it was neither Wachtell Lipton nor Jenner & Block that managed to snag the coveted GM litigation oversight job. Nice work, Quinn Emanuel — you're considered a "well-respected outside law firm." [WSJ Law Blog]
* Congrats, Flori-duh, you did something right. A state court judge has ruled that Florida's ban on gay marriage violated the U.S. Constitution in the latest post-Windsor victory for equality. Yay! [Bloomberg]
* Thanks to their hundreds of thousands of dollars in law school debt, many graduates are considering declaring bankruptcy. Too bad most won't be able to get their loans discharged. [Connecticut Law Tribune]
Bar Exams, Celebrities, Emily Pataki, Hillary Clinton, Kathleen Sullivan, Law School Deans, Paulina Bandy, Politics, White & Case
The Bar Exam: 6 Famous Failures
If you fail the bar exam, it's not the end of the world; just ask these six celebrities, whose lives and careers turned out fabulously!
Biglaw, john quinn, Lateral Moves, Law Firm Mergers, Litigators, Musical Chairs, Partner Issues, Small Law Firms, Texas, William Burck
Musical Chairs: Another Entrant Into The Houston Market
Which Biglaw behemoth just swallowed up a prestigious boutique to launch in H-Town?
Biglaw, Crime, English Grammar and Usage, Fast Food, Federal Judges, Morning Docket, Patents, SCOTUS, Screw-Ups, State Judges, State Judges Are Clowns, Supreme Court
* With OT 2013 drawing to a close, here's a nifty chart that shows which Supreme Court justices vote together most and least often. The division is real, people. [The Upshot / New York Times]
* "Not only do they have unique interpretations of the Constitution but they can't even agree on how to pronounce words." Listen to our SCOTUS justices flub the word "certiorari." [Legal Times]
* Quinn Emanuel and Samsung must now pay more than $2M in sanctions to Nokia and Apple after leaking confidential, "attorneys' eyes only" information in a discovery blunder. Oopsie! [Legal Week]
* "Why can't you get a real job?" This judge — the same one who sentenced a rapist to just 30 days in prison — told a fast-food worker to get a better job to pay off his restitution more quickly. [Billings Gazette]
* If you think you've seen the best of the "Law and ______" classes, you ain't seen nothing yet. Say hello to some newcomers, like Video Game Law and Law of Robots. Justice Scalia is pissed. [WSJ Law Blog]


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Fernandez remembered for her trademark zeal on the court
From a moody, undisciplined player, to one of the most zealous competitors to ever step foot on the court, Gigi Fernandez became the pride of Puerto Rican sports and relished every moment of it.
More than a decade after retiring from professional tennis, Fernandez is devoting the bulk of her time to opening a health and wellness center in Puerto Rico. The 44-year-old Fernandez can't say much about the new venture now, but as was the case with her tennis, she's approaching it with trademark zeal. After leaving Clemson University after one year to play pro tennis in 1983, Fernandez earned a B.A. in psychology from the University of South Florida in 2003 and is currently halfway toward an MBA at Rollins College.
"I'm not the smartest person in my class, but I am the most competitive," said Fernandez just prior to starting her daily one-hour bike ride. "Somehow, I turn everything into a competition. Recently we were studying operations management where you play this game online as a team. I had to be the leader. I have to win. I've never found a situation where being competitive is a detriment."
Certainly competition has marked much of Fernandez's life. Over the course of a 15-year playing career, Fernandez earned 17 Grand Slam doubles titles (14 with Natasha Zvereva). In singles, Fernandez reached as high as 17th in the world rankings, including runs to the semis of Wimbledon and quarterfinals of the U.S. Open. She also holds a pair of Olympic gold medals: doubles titles earned in Barcelona in 1992 and Atlanta in 1996 with current ESPN and CBS analyst Mary Joe Fernandez. The two medals are front and center on Gigi's desk, along with a car license plate that reads "DBL GLD." By far the most successful tennis player in the history of Puerto Rico, Fernandez was named Puerto Rico's "Female Athlete of the Century" in 1999.
"Winning that first Olympic gold was the most special moment," said Fernandez. "We're in Barcelona, playing the Spanish team, Conchita Martinez and Arantxa Sanchez Vicario. Thousands of fans are screaming. We're up a set and a break and then the King and Queen show up. We lose six games in a row. But we won it."
Much as Fernandez came to relish the cauldron of competition, that wasn't always the case. Through her teens and even into her pro career, she was a moody and undisciplined, prone to erratic habits in diet, training and competition. Very early on the likes of Martina Navratilova and Pam Shriver had been struck by her skills. But harnessing such assets as sharp volleys and keen court sense was another matter.
Then came Julie Anthony. A former pro with a doctorate in psychology, Anthony dared wake Fernandez up to what she might accomplish. "I was going to go one way or another and she raised my game and took it to the next level," said Fernandez. "If not for her, I don't know where I'd be."
The pairing with Zvereva rocketed Fernandez even further. The two were an inspired duo, thoroughly nimble at the net, adroit with service returns and often able to raise their playing level at crunch time. Added to this was more than a hint of emotion, propelled to some degree by each player's frustration and fragility in singles. Truly, Fernandez-Zvereva was a case of one plus one equaling three.
Instead, these days Fernandez wakes up at five in the morning and finds herself immersed in schoolwork and her new business venture. Said Fernandez, "I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off." It's a distant cry from the days of life as a pro. Said Fernandez, "I miss waking up in the morning and not having anything to do but sit around all day, watching TV, thinking it was stressful that I had a match to play at night. But then again, I don't miss having to work so hard that I feel like sucking wind. And I really don't miss traveling constantly. I've got eleven nephews and nieces, so I'm catching up for lost time by spending more time with my family."
Joel Drucker is based in Oakland, Calif., and writes for Tennis Magazine and Tennis Channel.
- Bulls stop Warriors in OT; home streak over
- Mayweather, Pacquiao talk at Heat's halftime
- Blatt: LeBron has moved into MVP contention
- Colts, CFL WR Carter near deal, source says
Sept. 15
• Cowboys among fan favorites in Mexico
• Merrill: Eagles' line coach Castillo honors his past
• Tanber: St. Francis AC had vision for future
• ESPN The Magazine on USC QB Mark Sanchez
• ESPN The Magazine on Ricky Rubio
• Dettloff: Panama Al Brown a champion
Sept. 16
• Carmona gave 'em something to cheer | Gallery
• ESPNRISE.com: Soccer player Erik Hurtado
Sept. 17
• Charlie Villanueva: 'Why I give back'
Sept. 18
• Crasnick: The Manny Effect
Sept. 19
• Latino food: an MVP at Yankee Stadium
• Yankee Stadium's memorable musical night
Sept. 22
• Drehs: Garza graces cover of Madden NFL '09
Sept. 23
• McNeil: Velasquez an inspiration
Sept. 24
• Drucker: Gonzalez's resolve to win came at price
Sept. 26
• Lapchick: Bithorn paved way for Puerto Ricans
Oct. 1
• Drucker: Gigi Fernandez a zealous competitor
• Jackson: Manny Ramirez being an MVP?
• Keri: Pujols an underappreciated superstar
• Tanber: Aaron Garcia finds his game
Oct. 2
• Simmons: The real villain in Manny's departure
• Dettloff: Hernandez brings hope to Salvadorans
• Viruega: A century of American football in Mexico
Oct. 3
• Rodriguez: Baseball motivates at Clemente High
Oct. 6
• Tanber: Catching up with Lisa Fernandez
Oct. 7
• Tanber: Chi Chi Rodriguez more than a matador
• ESPNRISE.com: Nader transitions to new home
Oct. 8
• Audio slide show: La Charreada
Oct. 10
• Tanber: Zendejas promotes football among youth
Oct. 13
• Tanber: Ochoa's legacy will reach beyond golf
• Christensen: Figueroa a new face in men's golf
• Christensen: Tanco a new face in women's golf
• Merrill: Danny Villanueva's success story
Oct. 14
• Hammann: Melendez first Globetrotter from Puerto Rico
Oct. 15
• Buckheit: Chivas USA holds own in L.A. market
• OTL: Roberto Clemente Jr. talks about his father
• OTL: Tim McCarver remembers Clemente
• OTL: Ozzie Guillen on his shrine to Clemente
• E:60 video: Turf 2 Surf


text: New digital music services from major tech players such as Apple, Google and Microsoft will "build out" the music streaming market while still leaving room for smaller competitors, according to Rara's director Tim Hadley. Rara launched in December last year and announced an expansion to new markets last week, new mobile apps and a partnership with manufacturer Lenovo to boot. Spun off from B2B music streaming provider Omnifone, Rara was launched in competition with Spotify, Deezer, Rdio and a number of older streaming services. Since its launch, Microsoft has unveiled Xbox Music, in a move that is thought to be a game changer in streaming. However, Hadley says that Rara is confident it can compete with larger players, with a focus on mainstream consumers.


text:
TranSwitch Corporation Receives Nasdaq Minimum Bid Price Non-Compliance Letter
The Company is considering actions that it may take in response to this notification in order to regain compliance with the continued listing requirements.
About TranSwitch Corporation
TranSwitch Corporation (TXCC) designs, develops and supplies innovative integrated circuit (IC) and intellectual property (IP) solutions that provide core functionality for voice, data and video communications equipment for network, enterprise and customer premises applications. We provide integrated multi-core network processor System-on-a-Chip (SoC) solutions and software solutions for Fixed, 3G and 4G Mobile, VoIP and Multimedia Infrastructures. For the customer-premises market, we offer interoperable connectivity solutions that provide a bridge between HDMI and DisplayPort and enable the distribution and presentation of high-definition (HD) content for consumer electronic and personal computer markets and also provide a family of communications processors that provide best-in-class performance for a range of applications. Overall, we have over 100 active customers, including the leading global telecom equipment providers, semiconductor and consumer product companies. For more information, please visit www.transwitch.com.
TranSwitch Forward Looking Statements
Forward-looking statements in this release, including statements regarding management's expectations for future financial results and the markets for TranSwitch's products, if any, are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements regarding TranSwitch, its operations and its financial results, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including without limitation the risks associated with downturns in economic conditions generally and in the telecommunications and data communications markets and the semiconductor industry specifically; risks in product development and market acceptance of and demand for TranSwitch's products and products developed by TranSwitch's customers; risks associated with foreign sales and high customer concentration; risks associated with competition and competitive pricing pressures; risks in technology development and commercialization; risks of failing to attract and retain key managerial and technical personnel; risks relating to TranSwitch's available cash; risks associated with acquiring new businesses; risks of dependence on third-party VLSI fabrication facilities; risks related to intellectual property rights and litigation; and other risks detailed in TranSwitch's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.Check Out Our Best Services for Investors
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Javascript Validation: Only Allow 1 Letter In Form If 2 Words Added
Hi, i know i should have 2 fields for a first and last name in my form but i dont - and was wondering if someone would be able to help me with - or has - a java script valadation rule to only allow a one letter character (letter in between spaces such as a middle initial) in a text field if at least 2 words are also included (2 words of at least 2 or more characters)
so if the user input ' John H ' an error prompt would display until one more word is added/at least 2 words are found
right now im using the below coding to allow at least 2 words in the text field but would like to see if its possible to enhance it so it will only block a one letter word if there are less than 2 other words in the form - right now if any words is added with less than 2 characters it will display an error... if anyone knows of a better form of code that needs a minimum of 2 words added and still allows single characters such as middle initials to in a validation script i'd greatly appreciate your help... i get lost on validation process'
'cheers' in advance to anyone that may know of something or a site that can point me in a better direction
function(value,element){return this.optional(element)||/^((\b[a-zA-Z]{2,80}\b)\s*){2,}/
Something to try ...
See if this works for you...
Code:<!DOCTYPE HTML>   <title> Untitled </title>    Full name
<input id="Fullname" id="text" value="">
Ex: John Q. Student
<button onclick="alert(middleInitial())">Check initial</button>
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thanks jmrker, but that makes the middle initial required as well
thanks for the coding help jmrker, but that seems to make the middle initial required as well...
the basic problem i'm having is i need a form field to allow a minumum of 2 words... i found a script that kind-of works, but it works by making sure there are at least 2 words in the text field with at least 2 characters in each word, but it looks at the first 2 words to make sure they are more than 2 characters (which screws up allowing a middle initial)
i guess i need a script that looks to see if at least 2 words were entered with 2 or more characters in each word, but looks at all fields in the form and not just the first 2. im not very good with validation scripts so im not sure what to do
thanks again for your help jmrker... hopefully i can figure this out so it can allow a middle initial as an option but still require at least 2 words with 2 characters or more in each word
Code:var temp=TheName.split(' '); var Valid=1; if( temp.length>1){ for x=0;x<temp.length;x++){ if (x==0 || x==temp.length-1){ //if first or last word if (temp[x].length<2){Valid=0} }else{ if (temp[x].length!=1){Valid=0} } } if (Valid==1){ alert('Thanks'); }else{ alert('not a valid name'); } }else{ alert('name to short'); }
Last edited by Lerura; 07-19-2011 at 04:02 AM.
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sorry for any confusion, to be more specific in what im looking for - i have a form field for full names 'fullname', i wanted to make the form have a validation script to require a minimum of 2 words in the field, i found a script that does the job
minvalue:"Please enter your full name."
minvalue:function(value,element){return this.optional(element)||/^\w{2,}\s+\w{2,}/.test(value);}
[end script]
it allows a minimum of 2 words with at least 2 characters per word... but it seems like it only looks at the first 2 words to see if they have at least 2 letters, which creates a problem because if i add my middle initial in the field (John H Smith) it tells me 'Please enter your full name.' even though at least 2 words with at least 2 letters were added...
what i am looking for is a script to use in a text field that will requires a minimum of 2 words to be entered, with each of the 2 words having at least 2 characters... but i dont want it to only examine the first 2 words in the field, i want it to look at all words entered and make sure there are at least 2 words with 2 or more characters. so entries like 'John Smith', or 'John H Smith' will be allowed whereas enteries like 'J J', 'Joe J', or 'Joe' will produce an error message like Please enter your full name.
Last edited by clhmedia; 07-19-2011 at 04:33 PM. Reason: put diff script: updated
See if this works any better for you ...
Code:<!DOCTYPE HTML>   <title> Untitled </title>    Full name
<input id="Fullname" id="text" value="John H. Smith">
Ex: John Q. Student
<button onclick="var tmp=FullNameCheck();if (tmp != '') { alert(tmp)}"> Check Fullname </button>
i think this would be easier to do with multiple boxes... idk the code off the top of my head, but my approach would be ("planning stage" for a one text box field)
1) take the text and set a pointer to [0] in the string
2) first check that all chars in the string are either upper/lower case and contain only "."s
3) step through the string and copy "chunks" of it to three strings (determined by checking for white space)
4) validate the string accordingly
so to try and "demo" what I am saying is if I enter
this would "chunk out" to be 6 strings... you will need to tell the user he/she has too many. so then they enterDr. Higgly James Wiggly the 3rd
now I get three strings and validate each one. I can validate the first as being Higgly (and correct) I can validate the second as J. (and allow this bc it is the "middle name" string) and validate the last as Wiggly (and correct)...Higgly J. Wiggly
this will require some nested loops though and will get a little "fun".... wouldn't it be easier to have either three boxes? or have them click a button that stores the name and they do it three times?
in addition- if you parse out the string to three separate ones can't you just check to verify that at least two of those strings have more than 2 letters and then flip a BOOL variable?
and finally, you want at least two, but you don't limit... so i can enter
Dr. Higgly James Wiggly III King of Ireland Duchess of walmart
... now what do you do? IMO, direct the user, the more "leniency" you give them, the more problems you will encounter


text:
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On Monday February 27th, 2012, WikiLeaks began publishing The Global Intelligence Files, over five million e-mails from the Texas headquartered "global intelligence" company Stratfor. The e-mails date between July 2004 and late December 2011. They reveal the inner workings of a company that fronts as an intelligence publisher, but provides confidential intelligence services to large corporations, such as Bhopal's Dow Chemical Co., Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon and government agencies, including the US Department of Homeland Security, the US Marines and the US Defence Intelligence Agency. The emails show Stratfor's web of informers, pay-off structure, payment laundering techniques and psychological methods.
[MESA] Iraq-Pakistan-Afghanistan MILITARY SWEEP 03.08.2010
Released on 2012-10-19 08:00 GMT
Email-ID | 1132657 |
Date | 2010-03-08 16:55:45 |
From | email@example.com |
To | firstname.lastname@example.com, email@example.com, firstname.lastname@example.com |
List-Name | email@example.com |
-Overall turnout to be announced at noon-IHEC
-More than 500,000 voters took part in Diala elections (Diala was a
troublesome province NE of Baghdad, commonly referenced as a microcosm of
Iraq. High turn out suggests large participation by the Sunnis)
-Gates Visits Afghanistan to Meet With Karzai (remarks to be followed)
--Over 80 die as Hezb and Taliban clash in Afghanistan (Insight into rift
btwn Taliban and Hekmatyar; Hekmatyar has a history of switching between
frighting and allying with the Taliban. Has proved more willing to
negotiate with Kabul than the Afghan Taliban. Interesting development- the
rift could be exploited by ISAF and Kabul)
-Can Afghanistan economy thrive without poppy? (report by CNAS)
-Gen. McChrystal Details Lessons of Marja Offensive
-Training, Investment Create Sustainable Afghan Army (DOD Report,
explaining its own efforts)
-Helmand Will Serve as Template, NATO Official Says (insight into next
phase: Kandahar)
-Mar. 8: Afghan-ISAF Operations in Eastern, Southern Afghanistan (uptick
in operations/seizures/arrests in RC East and Kabul area- Nangarhar,
Paktika, and Khost Provinces; Haqqani Network commander nabbed).
-Suspect arrested in Pakistan not Gadahn: officials (Pakistani's claim to
have an amercian, but its not Gadahn, this guy had a similar alias)
-12 killed in Lahore blast, TTP claims responsibility (TTP lashing out)
Overall turnout to be announced at noon-IHEC
March 8, 2010 - 09:31:12
BAGHDAD / Aswat al-Iraq: An official with the Independent High Electoral
Commission (IHEC), Hamdiya al-Husseini, on Monday said that the overall
turnout for Iraq's parliamentary election will be announced this noon.
"Ballot boxes arrived at the IHEC this morning," the semi-official
al-Iraqiya TV channel quoted Husseini as saying.
Nearly 19 million Iraqis eligible to vote from Iraq's 18 provinces headed
to the country's voting stations yesterday (March 7) to choose 325 members
of Parliament.
A special voting that included detainees, hospital-bound patients and
security personnel who are working on the election day took place in the
country over the past few days.
More than 500,000 voters took part in Diala elections
March 8, 2010 - 02:40:33
DIALA / Aswat al-Iraq: Director of the Independent High Electoral
Commission (IHEC) in Diala expressed comfort over the wide participation
by voters in the elections, noting that more than 500,000 took part in the
"More than 500,000 voters took part in the voting process inside the
province out of the total 840142 voters (60%), despite the recent
incidents in the province, including the three bombing attacks in
Baaquba," Aamer Latief Al Yehiya told Aswat al-Iraq news agency.
Baaquba, the capital of Diala, is 57 km northeast of Baghdad.
Gates Visits Afghanistan to Meet With Karzai
Published: March 8, 2010
KABUL, Afghanistan - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates arrived on an
unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Monday morning to meet with President
Hamid Karzai and NATO commanders, and to review plans for a major
American-led offensive into the Taliban heartland of Kandahar.
Mr. Gates gave no date for the anticipated push into the city of Kandahar,
which has a population of 900,000 and is the capital of Kandahar Province
in southern Afghanistan, but he said, "There is some very hard fighting,
very hard days ahead." Administration officials have said only that the
campaign, a central mission for the 30,000 extra forces that President
Obama has ordered to Afghanistan, will occur sometime this year.
Mr. Gates spoke to reporters on his plane en route to Kabul.
Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top NATO and American commander in
Afghanistan, later told reporters in Kabul that the offensive in Kandahar
would be different from the recent American-led campaign to largely rout
the Taliban from Marja, a much smaller town in Helmand Province. While the
Marja offensive began with a burst of forces into the area in the middle
of the night, General McChrystal said the Kandahar offensive would unfold
more slowly.
"Militarily it will not look much like Marja," he said at NATO
headquarters in Kabul. "We already have Afghan and coalition forces
partnered with them inside Kandahar."
General McChrystal said the problem was not the city itself but the
districts around Kandahar that had what he called a "menacing Taliban
He said there were Afghan and coalition troops in those districts as well,
but he indicated he would be able to reinforce them as more of the 30,000
American troops flow into Afghanistan this summer. At this point only
6,000 have arrived.
"So there won't be a D-Day that is climactic," General McChrystal said.
"It will be a rising tide of security as it comes."
He added that in Marja, "We have essentially got control of the area now."
In his comments to reporters, Mr. Gates said that despite the success in
Marja, it was still too early to expect top Taliban leaders to reconcile
with the Afghan government, as the United States and Mr. Karzai would
"I think we ought not to get too impatient," Mr. Gates said. "I do believe
that the senior Taliban are only going to be interested in reconciling in
terms that are acceptable to the Afghan government and those of us
supporting it when they see that the likelihood of their being successful
has been cast into serious doubt. My guess is they're not at that point
Mr. Gates is visiting Kabul during the same week that President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad of Iran is expected in the Afghan capital to meet with Mr.
Karzai. Mr. Gates told reporters that Iran was "playing a double game in
Afghanistan - they want to maintain a good relationship with the Afghan
government, they also want to do everything they possibly to can to hurt
us, or for us not to be successful. And they're trying to thread that."
Mr. Gates said he believed that Iran was providing money and "some low
level of support" to the Taliban in Afghanistan, and that "they also
understand that our reaction, should they get too aggressive in this, is
not one they would want to think about."
Geoff Morrell, the Pentagon press secretary, swiftly amended Mr. Gates's
comments on Iran and said that the defense secretary meant to say that any
American reaction would occur within Afghanistan, not elsewhere. As Iran
has continued its nuclear program despite American and international
pressure to curtail it, there has been speculation for years that the
United States or Israel might bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.
Mr. Gates said he also planned to talk to Mr. Karzai about the Afghan
president's recent visit to Marja, where Mr. Karzai was besieged by
complaints about the United States military operation, the lack of an
Afghan government presence in the area for years and a list of other
grievances. Mr. Gates tried to put the pummeling in a positive light. He
said that the complaints were to be expected, and that it was good that
Mr. Karzai, who has long had limited influence outside the capital, was
traveling to other parts of the country to talk to Afghan citizens.
"This is the first time these guys have had the opportunity to interact
with somebody from the central government, having been under the thumb of
the Taliban for at least a couple of years," Mr. Gates said. "And for them
to say, `We need development, we need less corruption, we need services,
we need projects, we don't like civilian casualties, we don't like night
raids' - there was nothing that they said that I would have found
surprising, frankly. It's like when I go out and have a town hall with our
troops or meet with the spouses, they're not reticent about telling you
when things aren't working."
Mr. Gates said he was unsure what to think about reports that the
handpicked new district chief for Marja, Hajji Abdul Zahir, had served
jail time in Germany on charges of stabbing his stepson. Mr. Zahir has
denied the reports, and a NATO spokesman in Kabul has quoted Mark Sedwill,
the senior NATO official in Kabul, as saying, "This country is not going
to be run by choir boys."
Mr. Gates weighed in with this: "The question is, if the guy committed a
crime and served the time, then does that automatically rule him out? I
mean I just don't know the answer to the question."
Over 80 die as Hezb and Taliban clash in Afghanistan
Updated at: 1605 PST, Sunday, March 07, 2010
KABUL: Nearly 80 people were killed in bloody clashes between rival
Islamist groups in northern Afghanistan.
The fighting between Taliban rebels and militants loyal to the
Hezb-i-Islami insurgent group erupted early Saturday in Baghlan province
where both factions are active, said provincial police chief Mohammad
Kabir Andarabi.
Citing local sources in the region, the police chief said the battles took
place in the Jangal Bagh area. The interior ministry confirmed the clashes
but was not able to give casualty figures.
"We have intelligence reports that 60 fighters, 40 Hezb-i-Islami and 20
Taliban have died so far," Mr Andarabi said.
"Our reports indicate that up to 19 civilians were also killed."
The Taliban is the main militant group behind an increasingly deadly
insurgency to topple the Western-backed Government of President Karzai and
force out about 121,000 US and NATO troops stationed in Afghanistan.
Smaller militant outfits were also battling the government and foreign
troops, either joining forces with the Taliban or waging their own
Hezb-i-Islami, an Islamist faction loyal to former Afghan prime minister
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, is the second-biggest militant group.
Mr Andarabi said four Hezb-i-Islami commanders surrendered to the
government following the clashes and more could follow.
Murad Ali Murad, an army general, said Afghan security forces sent
reinforcements to the area and said his initial reports suggested 50
militants were killed in the fighting.
Qazi Burhaan, who calls himself a Hezb-i-Islami commander, said that
fighting erupted after Taliban militants snatched some of his men. He said
they lost one fighter and killed 15 Taliban.
Afghanistan is gripped in an insurgency launched after a US-led invasion
toppled the Taliban in late 2001.
The Taliban and Hezb-i-Islami differed in the past over their policies,
with Hekmatyar saying he was open to peace talks with the Afghan
Government and the US as long as foreign troops left the count
Can Afghanistan economy thrive without poppy?
The Afghanistan economy must shift reliance off its poppy crop toward
agriculture and mining. The government began a massive poppy eradication
campaign this week.
Why It Matters
Afghanistan needs $10 billion annually to support an army and police force
big enough to protect it. Today, most of that comes from international
donors. The challenge is to grow the economy fast enough to allow
international forces to withdraw.
Let's do the math. President Hamid Karzai, backed by NATO commanders, says
the country needs 400,000 Afghan soldiers and police to defend itself.
That would cost about $10 billion annually.
Afghanistan's current budget: $1.1 billion. And $400 million of that comes
from foreign donors.
To close that gap, Afghanistan cannot rely on the current dynamo of its
economy - poppy. While it accounts for nearly 30 percent of the country's
gross domestic product, and 90 percent of the world's heroine, it's
unlikely to ever be legalized and, therefore, taxed. On Wednesday, the
government launched a massive poppy eradication program, starting in the
What can be done to build up the remaining 70 percent of the economy?
Magic bullets
Policymakers zero in on two areas to grow Afghanistan's $11.4 billion
economy: agriculture and mining. Farming has big potential by virtue of
its huge workforce, and mining holds the prospect of untapped value in the
billions of dollars. Both, however, will take years to develop and
improved security to encourage investment.
Mining is currently a $52 million a year industry - less than 1 percent of
the economy. But a few big-name projects highlight its potential. In a
deal with the Chinese in 2007, the Aynak copper mine will bring in $1
billion of annual revenue for Kabul. And bids were due Feb. 15 to exploit
Hajigak, a massive iron ore deposit.
"That's estimated to bring in up to $3 billion a year in government
revenues for centuries," says Craig Steffensen, Afghanistan country
director for the Asian Development Bank. "I think the mining sector is
this magic bullet that everyone is looking for to sustain things without
[foreign donors] having to cover costs until kingdom come."
Of course, magic bullets are rare. Western investors have hesitated to
enter Afghanistan because of an uncertain regulatory environment,
corruption, lack of transparency, and lack of security, says James Yeager,
an American geologist who advised the Afghan Ministry of Mines.
Mining: the Chilean model
Still, he points to Chile as what's possible for Afghanistan. Thirty years
ago it had a fledgling mining industry, he says. "They changed their laws
to make mining very favorable. They cleaned up their corruption act. Today
they are the world's leading producer of copper."
Mr. Yeager hesitates to put a dollar figure on Afghanistan's mineral
wealth, saying it requires more research. Then, to develop any deposits,
firms must conduct exploratory drilling, arrange financing, and line up
engineers. Normally those steps would take three to five years, Yeager
says. "Then you couple that with the fact that there's really no
infrastructure in Afghanistan, no drill companies."
Skip to next paragraph
Why It Matters
Afghanistan needs $10 billion annually to support an army and police force
big enough to protect it. Today, most of that comes from international
donors. The challenge is to grow the economy fast enough to allow
international forces to withdraw.
The Aynak copper mine shows that some of the hurdles can be surmounted,
though the deal has been criticized for lack of transparency and
allegations of bribery. Indeed, natural resources often become a
corrupting influence in developing nations. They also can tie economies to
severe boom and bust cycles.
Afghan leaders are taking steps to avoid those mistakes. The Aynak deal
was structured to give the government a fixed stream of revenue, shielding
it from commodities crashes. And the government has been accepted as a
candidate for the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, which
would put mining revenues into accounts that are supervised
internationally, says Mr. Steffensen.
Agriculture: the American angle
Another area for growth is agriculture. Worth $3.3 billion, it's not
actually the biggest sector - it's No. 2 after services, a $4.4 billion
segment dominated by trade, transport, and government support.
But improvements made in agriculture can be applied across the widest
swath of the country. "The most likely areas of improvement are in the
agricultural sector because more than 40 percent of people in Afghanistan
are busy in this sector," says Abdullah Saleh, an analyst with the
Afghanistan Investment Support Agency.
The United States is spearheading a $500 million investment this year in
Afghan agriculture. This involves improving seeds, offering farmers
credit, improving irrigation, and encouraging food-processing factories.
In the southern province of Helmand, USAID has set up an agribusiness
industrial park with an airstrip, and, so far, has signed up a cooking oil
manufacturer. But it remains treacherous for many farmers to transport
their product to the capital. Fixing that problem is one goal of the
Marjah offensive - launched by NATO and Afghan forces in mid-February -
underscoring how development requires security.
"No one likes to go to a poor country that needs so much in terms of the
social sector and put a bunch of money into the military," says Jeremiah
Pam, a guest scholar on postconflict economics at the US Institute of
Peace in Washington.
But "once you have security ... there are often surprises in terms of the
capacity that is finally allowed to bloom."
Gen. McChrystal Details Lessons of Marja Offensive
KABUL, March 8, 2010 - The Taliban flag no longer flies over Marja, and
the operations in the central region of Helmand Province have lessons for
the rest of Afghanistan, the commander of U.S. and NATO forces in the
country said today.
Army Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal and Ambassador Mark Sedwill - NATO's
senior civilian representative in Afghanistan - spoke with reporters
traveling with Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates at International Security
Assistance Force headquarters here.
The Marja operation is a tactical and operational effort to liberate
75,000 Afghans from Taliban tyranny, the general said. "There was a
Taliban flag flying over the place," McChrystal said. "There was also
extensive narco-trafficking and production in the area."
The military part of the operation in the region is not over, but the
high-profile part of security operations is, the general said. Following
the strategy of "clear, hold, build and transfer," the clear portion of
the operation will continue for months, he said. "But we have essentially
gotten control of the area now, and we have begun moving into the next
phase - the hold and build," McChrystal said.
Establishing effective government control in the region is key to success
as the operation continues, he said. The governmental part of the
operation concentrates on the people and allows the national government to
show its leadership in a critical area. It also telegraphs where the
military and government will move next.
"Many people talk about Kandahar," McChrystal said. "We are absolutely
going to secure Kandahar. We are already doing a lot of operations in
Kandahar, but it is our intent under [Afghan] President [Hamid] Karzai's
direction to make an even greater effort there."
Operations in Kandahar will be different from those in Marja, McChrystal
said. Some 30,000 coalition troops already are in and around the city, he
said, but more are needed. The general said Kandahar operations will be
more like a rising tide than a D-Day invasion, and that he anticipates it
will reach its zenith in the summer.
"Kandahar has not been under Taliban control; it's been under a menacing
Taliban presence, particularly in the districts around it," McChrystal
said. "We have put additional forces in the districts, and we will
reinforce that over time." The general added that he anticipates a lot of
"political shaping" of Kandahar in advance of any offensive in the city.
The operation in Marja has a strategic importance as well, McChrystal told
reporters. "As it becomes a steppingstone to further ops," he said. "It's
also a demonstration to the Afghan people, the international community, to
the Pakistanis, and -- importantly -- to the Taliban as well, that things
have changed."
Narcotics bankrolled the Taliban in Helmand. "Security is the way we
attack the problem long-term," McChrystal said. "In my view, you can never
reduce the [narcotics] problem until you get governance and rule of law
As the region becomes more secure, McChrystal said, officials are finding
that drug lords are moving their operations elsewhere in the country. "As
we expand security," he added, "it makes it more difficult to find places
to relocate."
The operations in Helmand have proven the strategy works, McChrystal said.
ISAF and its Afghan allies are not trying to bring the insurgents into a
toe-to-toe battle, McChrystal said.
"We were trying to take Marja with no fight or as little fight as
possible," he explained. "We want the Afghan people to see the approach of
security does not necessarily mean there will be a set-piece battle in
their neighborhood." The coalition wants the insurgents out of the area so
the people can make the decision to reintegrate without pressure from the
Taliban, he said.
Cultural aspects in the country really define the strategy, the general
noted. "What I think we've learned ... is if you try to push against the
culture, you have huge problems," he said. "So when we have military
operations here, I don't think of pushing them somewhere. I think of
pulling somewhere.
"In Marja, we were pulled in." he continued. "We launched the final
operation as a result of a signed resolution by the [community council],
asking us to do the operation. They pulled us in."
Training, Investment Create Sustainable Afghan Army (DOD Report)
Special to American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, March 8, 2010 - Training and financial investment are critical
to helping Afghanistan's security forces become self-sufficient, a senior
participant in the effort said.
Army Brig. Gen. Gary Patton, the deputy commanding general for programs
with Combined Security Transition Command Afghanistan, shared his insights
during a March 6 "DoDLive" bloggers roundtable on how U.S. and NATO forces
are supporting the training and growth of Afghan security forces.
Patton has direct oversight of Afghan army programs and is responsible for
generating and sustaining them. By integrating infrastructure
construction, equipment procurement and training contracts, Patton said,
he provides the Afghan army the tools it needs to reach self-sufficiency.
"What I'm doing is generating the new units with equipment, with basing,
and combine that with the training piece," Patton said.
Patton used his experiences in Iraq -- comparing his observations from
deployments early in the war and deployments later in the war -- to
illustrate the kind of growth he wants to see in Afghan self-sufficiency.
During a deployment in Ramadi, Iraq, Patton said, he didn't have much
support in the form of Iraqi military or police officers. While deployed
to Tikrit during his second Iraq tour in 2006 and 2007, he said, he saw
quite a bit more support from Iraqis. Now, he said, his mission is to help
Afghanistan move to a point of self-sufficiency the way he saw it happen
in Iraq.
So far, he said, significant progress is evident toward that goal. In
eastern Afghanistan, 82nd Airborne Division soldiers are embedded with the
201st and 203rd Afghan army corps. The units live, eat, sleep and work
together in the field as one combined force.
"The 82nd and their subordinate units literally are embedded and
intermingled with their Afghan partners at every level, starting with the
corps, the brigade and all the way down to the platoon," Patton said.
"It's a pretty remarkable and efficient form of partnership. We're
generating Afghan army units at a pretty rapid pace."
But no matter how well recruiting is going, Patton noted, growing the
Afghan army will fall short of its goal without experienced officers.
That's where partnerships such as the one in which the 82nd is engaged
come in handy, he said.
"What you don't get when you generate units at such a rapid pace is leader
development, because it takes a lot longer to develop a leader rather than
a soldier from a recruit," he said. "What you get from the partnership and
combined action is the role-modeling of the U.S. soldiers and U.S.
Marines. ... You get leadership by example. A big part of leader
development of our Afghans is just being connected at the hip with their
coalition partner."
A major way U.S. and NATO forces are helping to create a sustainable
military in Afghanistan is to take an "Afghan-first approach" to supplying
the Afghan army, Patton said. First, they'll direct funds to Afghan
industry to build the army.
"We're going to invest about $1.5 billion in the local economy this year,
in buying sustainment and equipment items for the Afghan army and police,"
Patton said. "We're buying [equipment] on the local economy, and what that
does is create jobs."
That money will buy things such as boots, poncho liners, blankets, web
gear, socks and T-shirts. Patton said a recent review of contracts found
that, for example, six out of seven U.S. and NATO boot contracts had
required boots to be imported.
As a result, the general said, those contracts were eliminated and
resources were directed to bolster the Afghan manufacturing industry. This
assists in the mission, he explained, because it gives the local
population confidence in the way their country is run.
"Now, all of the boots for the Afghan army will be made in Afghanistan by
Afghans," he said. "It's important, because ... that's a lot of jobs. An
Afghan that has a job is less likely to be an Afghan getting recruited by
an insurgent or the Taliban."
(Ian Graham works in the Defense Media Activity's emerging media
Helmand Will Serve as Template, NATO Official Says
American Forces Press Service
KABUL, March 8, 2010 - Operations in Helmand province will serve as a
template for future operations elsewhere in Afghanistan, NATO's senior
civilian representative here said today.
Ambassador Mark Sedwill, who served as British ambassador to Afghanistan,
said the operation is different from others in three basic ways. The
first, he said, is that from its inception, NATO's regional commander,
British Maj. Gen. Nick Carter, and his Afghan counterparts planned the
operation "from the end-game backwards."
"And the end-game is the civilian delivery of governance and development,"
Sedwill said.
The second difference, Sedwill said, is the integration of Afghan and
coalition forces. The operation was authorized and led by Afghan President
Hamid Karzai and his team, the people of Helmand wanted the operation to
proceed, far more Afghan troops are on the ground, and the Afghan
government has led the effort totally, he noted.
The third difference is the integration between the provincial and
national governments, he said. National ministries have been intimately
involved with the planning and allocation of resources to the effort,
Sedwill said. Karzai traveled to Helmand and held a meeting with the
elders of the province yesterday.
As the effort in Helmond transitions into the "hold and build" portion of
the strategy, some quick projects already have begun. Bazaars, schools and
clinics are reopening, and money is flowing to clear irrigation ditches.
"All this is just to get normal life moving again," Sedwill explained.
The government also is totally revamping the police in the province. "One
of the reasons the Taliban [were] able to control this area was the police
had, in effect, been captured by some local warlords who were using them
against the population," Sedwill said. "The people told Karzai that they
would not accept the old police force, and in fact said they would fight
again should that be the case.
"It is absolutely critical that policing, in particular, delivers what the
people of the area require: honest and decent policemen," he added.
The answer was to bring the Civil Order Police into the region, and they
will stay there for months, the ambassador said, while new local police
are recruited and trained.
Because many of the same problems exist elsewhere in the country, Sedwill
noted, the experiences in Marja and Helmand are transferrable. "Dealing
with those political issues ... is going to be a big part of how we are
going to shape the campaign as we bring it forward," he said.
ISAF PRESS RELEASES - Mar. 8: Afghan-ISAF Operations in Eastern, Southern
KABUL, Afghanistan (March 8) - An Afghan-international security force
searched a compound in a rural area northeast of Khowst City, in the
Sabari district of Khost Province, after intelligence information
indicated militant activity. During the search the joint force detained a
few suspected insurgents for further questioning.
In another operation in Khost last night, a joint security force searched
a series of compounds outside the village of Ya qubi, in the Sabari
district, after intelligence information indicated militant activity.
During the searches the security force detained two suspected insurgents
for further questioning. The search force also uncovered several rifles
and a shotgun.
A Taliban deputy commander was captured by an Afghan-international
security force in Nangarhar Province last night. A joint force searched a
compound outside the village of Sanganay, in the Khogyani district, after
intelligence information indicated militant activity. During the search a
suspected militant fled and was wounded. He was pursued and apprehended by
the joint force.
The militant identified himself as a Taliban deputy commander responsible
for leading attacks and ambushes against coalition forces. He was treated
for his wounds on the scene and medically evacuated to a nearby base.
In another Nangarhar operation last night, a joint security team searched
a compound in the village of Adowr, in the Khogyani district after
intelligence information indicated militant activity. During the search
the joint force captured a Taliban weapons facilitator responsible for
acquiring weapons and ammunition for militant cells and involved in
ambushes against coalition troops.
In Paktika Province last night, an Afghan-international security force
searched a compound outside the village of Mohammad Kor, in the Orgun
district, when intelligence information confirmed militant activity.
During the search the joint force captured a Haqqani sub-commander
responsible for ordering the killings of Afghan citizens who cooperated
with the government. When directly confronted, the Haqqani commander
identified himself and surrendered.
In Zabul Province last night, a joint security force searched a compound
in Jarollah, a village in the Qalat district, after intelligence
information indicated militant activity. During the search the joint force
captured a Taliban weapons facilitator responsible for weapons and supply
movements to various militant cells.
In a Zabul operation yesterday, an Afghan-international security force
searched a compound in northeast Qalat City, in Qalat district, after
intelligence information indicated militant activity. During the search
the security force captured a Taliban facilitator who participated in
attacks on coalition forces and runs an early warning system for various
militant networks.
In other operations, an Afghan civilian told ISAF forces about a weapons
cache in the Shindand district of Herat Province yesterday. When a
security force investigated the report it found two 107mm rockets and
detonation cord. The items were destroyed.
Suspect arrested in Pakistan not Gadahn: officials
Monday, 08 Mar, 2010
KARACHI: Pakistani security agents denied on Monday that an American al
Qaeda spokesman wanted in the United States for treason had been arrested,
saying there had been confusion over the identity of a detained suspect.
Some Pakistani officials had said on Sunday that Adam Gadahn, a
California-born convert to Islam with a $1 million US bounty on his head,
had been arrested on the outskirts of the city of Karachi.
But a senior government official and two security agents said on Monday
the suspected al Qaeda operative picked up in Karachi was not Gadahn.
"Our initial impression was that the guy was Adam Gadahn but that
information now looks incorrect," said one security official, who declined
to be identified.
The arrested man was believed to be an American who goes by the alias Abu
Yahya, the officials said. Gadahn is known to have used a similar alias.
"Probably the name and his origin caused the confusion," the first
official said.
He declined to speculate about the identity of the arrested man except to
say he was apparently an American al Qaeda operative.
"We don't know yet how big a catch he is," he said.
While ruling out another big offensive soon, Pakistan has arrested several
senior members of the Afghan Taliban in recent weeks, including a top
military commander, Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar.
But Islamabad has only officially confirmed Baradar's arrest.
Gadahn has been involved with al Qaeda's as-Sahab media wing and has
appeared in al Qaeda videos wearing robes and a turban and warning the
United States that it would face attacks if it did not heed al Qaeda
On Sunday, a video was released on Islamist websites in which Gadahn
called for Muslims in the United States to launch attacks to undermine the
economy, according to a website that monitors al Qaeda announcements.
The FBI has been seeking to question Gadahn since May 2004, and the U.S.
government has offered up to $1 million in reward money for information
leading to his arrest.
The 2006 treason charge against him carries a maximum punishment of death.
Separately, a senior Pakistani Taliban commander linked with al Qaeda who
the government said last week may have been killed in a Pakistani air raid
telephoned a Reuters reporter to say he was alive.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Saturday senior Pakistani Taliban
commander Faqir Mohammad may have been among 16 insurgents killed when
helicopter gunships attacked a militant hideout in the Mohmand region on
"I'm fine. It's just propaganda," said the man on the telephone who
identified himself as Mohammad. The reporter has spoken to Mohammad before
and said he recognised his voice.
"I was in Bajaur, not Mohmand that day. None of our commanders were killed
in the attack. We lost some fighters and women," the man purporting to be
Mohammad said, referring to another region on the Afghan border.
12 killed in Lahore blast, TTP claims responsibility
Upadated on: 08 Mar 10 05:26 PM
LAHORE: Office of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in K Block of Model
Town, Lahore was targeted in a suicide car bomb blast Monday. At least 12
people including two security officials have been killed while 89 others
injured in the blast, Hospital sources confirmed SAMAA.
The spokesman of the banned outfit Tehreek-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) told
SAMMA by phone from an unidentified location that TTP claims the
responsibility for the suicide car bomb blast whilch killed 12 people and
injured 89 others.
The FIR of the suicide car bomb blast have also been registered.
The blast was so intense that it was heard from several kilometers away
from the spot whereas smoke can be seen from roofs of the houses located
far away from the blast scene. The office building was totally destroyed
and a deep crater is formed at the blast scene.
The area is totally residential; however, the target was FIA office
located in one of the house, confirmed police sources. Windows of nearby
buildings were broken by the explosion. Several people have been feared to
be stuck under the rubble.
Rescue activities are underway and the security agencies have cordoned off
the area. Emergency has been imposed in nearby hospitals. Jinnah Hospital,
Lahore has asked people to donate blood.
DCO Lahore Sajjad Bhutta said that the nature of explosion could not be
confirmed so far. He said that around 150 people work in the FIA office
and around 60-70 people must have been present at the time of blast as the
day was just starting. He said that more than 30% people have been
evacuated and injured are being transferred to different nearby hospitals.
Responding to a question about reasons of not transferring the FIA office
from the residential area despite several requests from the residents, he
said that appropriate security measures were taken.
Punjab Law Minister Rana Sanaullah said the investigation team will
certainly analyze that why the office was not shifted from the area if
there was any security threat; however, he said that there was no such
threat and the office was not dealing with anti-terrorist activities.
He said that if we talk about the treat to any government office then
shifting wouldn't help because the terrorists have even targeted mosques
and markets where only innocent people have been killed. He said that more
attention should be given to improve security arrangements to prevent such
incidents. When asked how come so much explosive material can be
transported to centre of a city when all the security agencies are on high
alert, he said that obviously reasons of such security lapse will be
analyzed and every possible step will be taken to prevent such acts in
Interior Minister Rehman Malik has asked IG Punjab to submit report on the
According to SAMAA representative at the Jinnah Hospital, doctors at the
hospital were observing a strike which was called off due to the emergency
situation and additional medical staff was also called to handle the
AGENCIES ADD: A suicide car bomber destroyed offices used to interrogate
suspected militants in Lahore on Monday, killing up to 13 people in the
latest attack on Pakistan's cultural capital.
More than 65 were wounded as buildings collapsed after the bomber tried to
ram a car packed with up to 600 kilograms (1,300 pounds) of explosives
into the investigations unit in Pakistan's second city.
There were scenes of panic as volunteers and rescue workers dug with bare
hands under the collapsed two-storey building and a severely damaged
Muslim seminary, searching for survivors amid fears the death toll could
Pakistan pointed the finger at Taliban-linked militants seeking to
destabilise the nuclear-armed country of 167 million. A wave of similar
attacks has killed over 130 people in Lahore over the last year.
More than 3,000 people have been killed in suicide and bomb attacks across
Pakistan since July 2007. The attacks have been blamed on Al-Qaeda-linked
militants opposed to the government's alliance with the United States.
"We had just assembled in our classroom when it looked as if hell had
broken with a huge blast," Noor Mohammad, a student at the seminary told
A thick pall of smoke accumulated outside the window as wood panels broke
into pieces, hitting and wounding students.
"There was panic as students, many of them carrying their injured friends,
rushed to the exit in a bid to find a safe place," Mohammad said.
Flying glass also injured passers-by. A woman and her daughter were among
the dead in the city of eight million. The wounded civilians were mostly
office workers or parents dropping their children at school.
Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called on members of the ruling Pakistan
People's Party in Lahore to donate blood for the wounded.
"It was a police special investigation unit that was targeted. The
building was used to interrogate suspected terrorists," Lahore city police
chief Pervez Rathore told AFP.
The blast gouged a huge crater out of the ground, crumpled roofs and
littered the streets with tree branches. Bulldozers and other
heavy-lifting machinery worked to clear mounds of rubble, witnesses said.
Police officials said 13 people were killed and 65 wounded, but Khusro
Pervez, Lahore's top administration official, put the death toll at 12.
Eight government officials, including police, and four civilians,
including a woman were among the dead, he said.
"It's plain terrorism... the same groups which are already operating in
Pakistan. It is a suicide bomb. There is ample evidence," Pervez told AFP.
Police said 30 to 50 people were in the investigative building, used by
police and intelligence agents, at the time of the attack.
"We have found the head of the suicide bomber. It was found about 500
metres away," said Model Town police official Ayyaz Saleem.
Interior Minister Rehman Malik blamed "hired killers who want to
destabilise Pakistan" and blamed the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
faction holed up along the northwestern border with Afghanistan.
"In almost every blast there has been TTP involvement and they themselves
have also claimed responsibility for attacks," he added.
The city's Jinnah Hospital declared a state of emergency, straining to
cope with casualties as rescuers used seismic sensors to search for
The attack follows a recent decline in violence by Islamist militants in
Pakistan after a significant increase in bloodshed in late 2009.
Pakistani officials had linked the reduction to the suspected death --
still not confirmed -- of TTP leader Hakimullah Mehsud and military
offensives that have disrupted militant networks.
The military claims to have made big gains against Taliban and Al-Qaeda
strongholds over the past year, launching major offensives in the
northwestern district of Swat and the tribal region of South Waziristan.
Washington says militants use Pakistan's semi-autonomous tribal belt to
plot and stage attacks in Afghanistan, where more than 120,000 NATO and US
troops are helping Afghan forces battle the Taliban militia.
Michael Quirke
ADP - EURASIA/Military


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A dalit community in the heart of Patna struggles for even the basics
Diametrically opposite to the 'India Shining' avatar endorsed by politicians, there exists a world which struggles at the wrong end of the wide gap between the rich and the poor. The stark contrast is noticeable in emerging economies like that of Bihar.
Central to the State capital – Patna -- is the famous Gandhi Maidan, witness to the most visible political rallies and electoral promises. Adjoining it is the 'chamar-toli' of Salimpora Ahra where the ironic reality of everyday life takes over. The Government has, undoubtedly, taken steps to develop the area as a part of State policy. The development efforts are visible in the government schools and anganwadi kendras established in the region, long list of BPL card holders and the launch of several schemes intended to benefit the marginalised communities. And yet, the situation in this colony in the heart of the city is worse than that of a remote, forgotten village. The schemes are inaccessible for a large chunk of the area's population and most affected by this trend are the 25 to 30 dalit families living by the side of an open drain, risking their lives everyday.
For those who cross this area with their noses covered, the 'only' perceptible risks these dalit families face are mosquito bites, lack of sanitation facilities and stench of the dirty water; but those who live here know better.. "During the rains, we stay awake the entire night. As the water level in this open drainage rises and enters our houses we raise the height of our beds. Of course, the rain dripping from the temporary broken rooftops cannot be escaped," said Ramsakhi Devi, a mother of four living in the locality.
The worst affected are the little children, especially since the number of children in each family in this locality is considerably large. "Many a times we have saved our children from drowning in this open nallah. We were lucky to save their lives at the cost of few injuries but till when their luck holds out is difficult to say," she lamented.
This destitute lot has, on several occasions, requested Dharmshila Devi, the ward member of the area to get the drainage covered. But the colony has been at the receiving end of State's inaction. Though Dharmshila Devi was unavailable for comments, her husband, the "mukhiya pati" Ashok Kumar Yadav, who lives in a concrete house covered from all sides, said that it's only been four months since his wife has become a ward member. He promised that they would look into the matter. But the dwellers believe his promises don't count considering the unresponsive attitude of Dharmshila towards her own electorate.
The Government has invested in large grants for these people living at the margins of the city, yet they continue to live in the filthiest of conditions. Other benefits too are not forthcoming. While many of them have BPL cards, most do not get the benefits they are meant to provide. The Indira Awas Yojana follows a similar pattern. Clearly, promises by the government and the statistics showed in their annual reports are far from the reality these people live.
(Charkha Features)
Keywords: Chamar-toli, Salimpora Ahra, Dalit community, sanitation facilities, health issues, BPL cardholders