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EX- US Secretary of State COLIN POWELL == in his 2003 Press Conference had said..
"... China is blessed with gifted leaders..."
Coming from Powell--- that's a real compliment
They are clearly very talented propagandist
You Indians blow your own trumpets to claim that you have a great democracy with great govet ..
BUT, somehow or other ,- the World do not believe you guys
I partly agree with Friedman. I think that democracy is the least bad system that we have found to govern ourselves... the problem is that it depends too much on politicians.
In the US campaigns, it's more important how much money you raise (to drill your name in voters' brains through TV) than programmes (anyone knows what are finally Romney's or Obama's programs?). After the elections, goverments are bound to the groups that financed their campaigns and, many times, they can not govern properly because of extremism of the opposition.
In Southern Europe countries, ethics and social responsability of politicians is ZERO. They waste public money, steal fo their families and, despite huge evidence and the fourth power (the "free" press), never end up in jail.
So systems should be redesigned. But this will not happen if ther is not a huge crises, because the ones that should redesign the system are politicians, the ones that benefit most from the current system.
So, democracy? Yes. But politicians without strong ethics and social responsability create people's disentchantment with politics. And a democracy where only 25% of population vote is a democracy only in name.
The HERALD TRIBUNE wrote ".....China created a new paradigm --- an authoritarian country that works, and that is highly successful.......
Unfortunately, the Herald Tribune is the International version of the New York Times and their websites are blocked from view by the Chinese government for those people living in China. So, if the Herald Tribune is such a worthy source for you to quote, why is the government blocking it? Hmmmm....
Maybe if you go and Pray a million times in your temple --- then, your God will give you the answer, you are looking for
Is China a meritocracy? Most definitely not.
First, in theory and on paper, China is not a meritocracy. On paper its dictatorship of the proletariat. Its the same way, the US is a Republic, where is democracy even mentioned in the Constitution. China is a meritocracy the same way the US is a democracy, they are not.
Secondly, let's pretend that China is a meritocracy. From 1950-1980, the civil service had the best candidates, because to be frank, there was no other jobs. It was a meritocracy if you define meritocracy as quotating Mao's Red Book. After 1980, where the best people chosen? From 1980-1990, China was sending 30,000 people to the West to study every year. I would assume they would be China's top graduates. But among some of the leaders in their 50s how many of them have foreign degrees, very few.
Thirdly, would you even want the bureaucracy to be a meritocracy? You want good people, but you clearly don't want the best. If China was a meritocracy you end up with all the best people in government, and other areas of the economy are starved for talent, like Singapore. You don't develop your own entrepreneurs, scientist etc. Effectively you outsource all that to foreigners.
The most important thing is not picking the best people, but incentives. Wall Street had the best people, but it had a horrible incentive system.
Apologists for the Singapore system, such as Thomas Friedman, Kishore Mahbubani and some commentators here need only talk to the 40% of the electorate in Singapore that voted against the ruling party in the 2011 general elections to see for themselves the fallacy of "enlightened meritocracy".
A soaring income gap, unaffordable housing and an elite that pay themselves astronomical salaries are only some of the symptoms of the problems. A more serious issue arises when an elite becomes so entrenched that, however altruistic the founding generation might have been, it builds a self-perpetuating system by changing the system to shut out the views of a significant proportion of the population. This makes it difficult for the latter to ever get into government or make themselves heard. In Singapore, this has been done by creating firewalls with super electoral-wards, gerrymandering of electoral districts, government control over the media and a draconian law that allows detention without trial for indefinite periods of time. Peaceful demonstrations are not permitted, except in a small designated area and even one person protesting an issue (however peacefully), can be construed an "illegal assembly".
With the media tightly controlled by the state, only approved voices, such as Mahabubani's are heard in Singapore and outside the country. The government is fighting an unsuccessful battle to preserve its image, including by employing people to engage critics online. In the end, however, without the safety valves of democracy, the system will either implode or come to grief in other ways.
As Sir Winston said "democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others that have been tried from time to time ...". Wise words indeed.
Do you ever get tired of mindlessly parroting back Western Liberalism? Why don't you use your brain instead of mindlessly aping Westerners; where are there riot in the streets, Singapore or Greece,or France, or Spain? How is that wonderful democracy working in Europe; people vote with their feet and the number one destination for European with money is Singapore. Wake-up and stop being a lap dog for Western Liberalism
"40% of the electorate in Singapore that voted against the ruling party in the 2011 general elections"
So at least there are elections? If so, there is the possibility that the government can be changed, even if the other factors you mentioned come into play.
As long as each vote is respected, it is possible that the 40% will become 51%, at which point the government loses it's absolute majority and moral authority, even if proportional representation means the government continues to hold most of the seats in the house.
I believe Malaysia is confronting a similar situation in which the party that has ruled since independence is looking at a real possibility of losing the popular vote at elections due in the next few months.
Everything depends on how these transitions are handled.
I used to read a book called: "What US Can Learn from China" by Ann Liu?, who is a Chinese American like me. I was very excited about the book for a while, because she pointed out many things China has done "right", including its meritocracy. For people growing up in China, seeing the country doing well is a wonderful thing.
However, after a half way through the book, a realization hit me. Most of what she writes about China is just not true. The China she writes about is not the China that I grew up with, and visited on regular bases. For example growing up in a government official family, I know for as a fact that most people, including some of my own family members got promoted because of the connections they have. Even though, talent plays a big role in lowly government post, at higher levels, your promotion is mostly determined by your connections. Furthermore, people with right connections will never get fired regardless of the seriousness of their corruption, unless of they are exposed by the media like the Bo XiLai case. How is this true meritocracy?
To be fair, the book still has many good points. For example, the corruption and danger of financialization (money printing economy), the corruption of the Wall Street, the danger of special interest groups are all very good and thoughtful points, but her points about China is half right at best.
Maybe true meritocracy does not exist anywhere, not even in China. Speaking of connexion, as you know daddy Bush was elected President of the US, then later baby Bush was also elected. I wonder if baby Bush would have been elected if daddy Bush was not a President before him.
STOP your mis-informatoion
GUANXI is being practized by every official --- therefore the only left to be selected for promotion is meritocrasy
WHY do you think that your grandfather did not deserve his promotion---was he a USELESS BUM ??
You slander and humiliate your own grandfather just too trash the Chinese system
Your un-just condemnation of your grandfather makes you a scum
Did you take your medicine yet.
chinese 'meritocrats' are the least embarrassed at all.
it's those who have been saying 'chinese 'meritocrats' ' won't work are now fittingly embarrassed.
compared to china, the japanese 'meritocrats' or so called 'democracy' are more embarrassed. for example japanese fiscal budget for 2012 is 90 trillion japanese yen but more than 43% of the budget is borrowed through some national deficit debt. (and not all are approved by its 'diet' yet)
in other words, japns government is broke and that's embarrassing for all japns people.
watch now japs government is going through another round of QE, at the consternation of japns people.
now that's embarrassing, TE.
My friend you must really dislike Japan. Everything you say is true but lacks perspective. There are no rural poor in Japan but in China there are ~ 468 million people (triple Japan's population) living on less than $2/day.
The reasons for Japanese debt are mostly due to the Japanese social security safety net - a trait inherited from the Constitution of Japan in 1947. 65 years have passed since then and still, despite all China's growth, if a poor Chinese is starving or gets sick they are left to die without government assistance. As for ordinary Japanese citizens, Japan generates a national wealth of ~ $275,000 per capita. The Japanese also have one of the best education and health care systems in the world, though I will concede the Japanese health system is far from perfect and is perhaps inferior to that of the UK.
What is embarrassing Mr. Kommon Senses is that Chinese political rulers have personal (or familial) net wealth measured in MULTIPLES of the corresponding net worth of American and European politicians. When almost HALF A BILLION Chinese are living in poverty with no future beyond their own subsistence, while the elitists dine on plates of pure gold, China loses the right to criticise other nations, least of all Japan.
'When almost HALF A BILLION Chinese are living in poverty with no future beyond their own subsistence'
boyu, your concept of china is really outdated and at least 2 decades behind (but that's your business)
but even be it as may, what all that have got to do with my post saying why japan is embarrassed?
china could be the worst devil or the best saint, it won't change the fact that japan is embarrassed one bit.
by the way, japan is very rich but that's nothing to brag about. under the protection and stationing troops of the us for the past 60 some years, japan was nursed back to economic health by americans through years of open market opportunities and almost decades of unlimited technology transfer given by the us. (albeit japanese seldom acknowledge such american favors given to them).
and you are wrong, I don't dislike japanese, I only dislike japanese militarism rightwingers and their 'pearl harbour trick'.
My apologies sir, I do not intend to openly contradict you, just to add a little depth and perspective to what you are saying.
The figures I quoted about China are for 2011. Let me add perspective to my own statistics if it will please you - in 1981 ~ 85% of Chinese lived below the poverty line (<$1.25/day) and now this figure has fallen to ~ 16%. This is real improvement, however, the fact still remains that 500 million Chinese live on less than $2/day today. At the same time Chinese politicians and elitists laud western neo-liberal capitalism as Marxism in disguise, making many millionaires and billionaires.
A point I would like to make, and is one we can ALL learn from, particularly the US, is that Japan experienced a vast boom in wealth (be it from ingenuity or subsidies) and managed to redistribute that wealth relatively equitably amongst her people. In the US it has been said that 99% of all wealth created since Reaganomics in the 1980s has gone to the top 5%.
The Chinese seem much more content to follow the American model of redistribution than the Japanese - a folly with serious negative connotations for the 500 million living on <$2/day and all those who find themselves no longer economically active through fault of their own or otherwise.
If you require me to say it I do not approve of how Japan has treated China historically but that does not mean that China (and the US/UK) cannot be humble and learn lessons from Japan on how to build a more equitable society in a rich nation.
I suspect the Japanese politicians in the 1990s found it easier to borrow from the Japanese populace. And then inertia seems to have set in.
Most of the debt is owned by its own citizens; and Japan used to have a high savings rate.
Not sure it is broke since taxes are relatively modest (effective rates are a little higher than the US').
The Economist had some chart on that recently conveying OECD findings:
They could cut more defense spending, raise income taxes, reassess investments in their construction-industrial complex, etc. I guess as measures.
'My apologies sir, I do not intend to openly contradict you,…'
But you are either unintentionally mistaken or deliberately lying about 'chinese poor'.
according to CIA factbook, china has a per capita GDP (dollar exchange rate) of about $5,300 for year 2011.
china reduced its people under its poverty line to about 20 m in 2011, but that number shot up to about 120 m when its poverty line was redefined to somewhere less than $2 a day($730 per year) in 2012.
china cannot have 500 m folks living under $2 as you erroneously claimed, or the math above would not add up.
'Most of the debt is owned by its own citizens; and Japan used to have a high savings rate.'
that's exactly the curse or problem for japanese.
japan is on the par with china in holding big sum of us treasury notes, but like china there is no visible way to convert japanese people ownership of japanese government bonds to the us debts.
japan also holds large amount of FDI in the us, and that's not readily liquid either.
in other words, japns people are 'double' indebted, making them even more poor than on their books. small wonder japns per capita GDP has been dropping.
Don't blame me, blame wikipedia. "Facts" derived from:
There is also a distinction between GNW (gross national wealth) and GDP (gross domestic product) with Japan's GNW $275,000 and GDP $35,000 per capita, roughly. Chinese GDP per capita is roughly $5,500, GNW remains ambiguous.
Incidentally I have just come across another figure on wikipedia which contradicts the poverty figures I quoted. The secondary source (2008) quotes Chinese poverty (<$2/day) @ 29.8% of the population or ~ 390 million people, not 500 million.
I wish we had a meritocracy in the West. It sounds great! We would certainly not be in the mess we are in right now!
Not so sure about that. The sector that harped the most on having talent, and being disciplined by market forces was the financial sector.
And merit was emphasized quite a bit in the context of whether money was being maid or lost.
And the record shows many otherwise very intelligent, successful people ended up placing their firms in serious trouble over the course of a huge real estate bubble and boom in a variety of financial instruments.
They got laid low by a busts similar to many other panics and real estate busts in the past.
Otherwise, there are exams and different levels of seniority in the federal bureaucracy. Not everyone is a political appointee or just benefitting from seniority. Believe all sorts of continuing education is available and considered for promotions too. And believe similar characteristics are evident in different state governments. So not sure merit is absent as a consideration in governing - it tends to reside in the bureaucracy that supports the decision makers and implements their policies.
So that leaves open an interesting question: How is merit defined; what are the characterisstics of meritocracy; where does it best manifest; what are the best objective, metrics, incentives to sustain valid achievement, etc.?
I think the Chinese system isn't bad at all IF the entire system is reset every 20-25 years, that means the entire offices and all their inhabitants are retired and the new government set up from zero in a new Capital (perhaps alternate between Beijing and Nanjing as their names suggest?)
Meritocracy is the implementation of advancement based upon intellectual talent. Often, advancement is determined by demonstrated achievement in the field where it is implemented.
In fact, China has never been a true meritocracy. The Chinese system of advancement supposedly based on "meritocracy" is similar to the gaokao system today. Neither system rewards people based on intelligence or talent. The gaokao system rewards based on the ability to memorize and repeat—a rote system. Memorization never has and never will measure any talent other than the ability to memorize. It penalizes free thinkers and creative thinkers—which is where real intelligence and talent spring from. This system often overlooks true talent and true intelligence, because truly talented and truly intelligent people often feel personally endowed with free will and often refuse to be put into the box and be limited by such systems. True geniuses find such measures of talent and intelligence to be laughable. Advancement in China in the Party at virtually every level today is based on who you suck up to and who you pay. It works the same way in many organizations, particularly the SOE's, quasi-SOE's, and the companies heavily infiltrated by the Party. It's a simple system, actually, but ineffective of finding leaders. Sometimes it works, and honest, intelligent people rise, but most of the time the system at tracks people who are the best gamers of the system. The system works in China because the system is built to support it. The tragedy is that so much wealth and privileged is squandered on the elite when it could be filtered down to the people....which is what communism is supposed to be all about in the end. Why even keep up the farce of calling it the Communist Party and call it what it is - the Fascist Party.
I think this article could apply to many Western countries. As the author points out, wealthy families and interest groups do sway rules and institutions at their will, oftentimes to satisfy their interests at the detriment of a larger group of constituents. Regardless of their origins such groups are reluctuant to allow a change to the status quo favouring them.
This brings us to the door allegory. In my opinion the difference between the Western and the Chinese paradigm lies in the quantity of doors rather than in the presence(state) per se. The one party system in China, and its extensive and micromanagement type polices, offers just one door of opportunity that really matters - namely up the party ladder(depicted above:)). Conversely, in the West, given a more pluralistic approach, there are few more doors of no lesser importance.
Yet, as a rule doors have somebody behind them reluctuant to let strangers in or looking to maximize the benefits from doing otherwise. By the virtue of quantity and perhaps of the probability theory more people manage to squeeze in the doors in the West than in China.
Westerners who insist upon democracy don't get it!
I am among those Westerners whom the Economist bemoans; I am an admirer of the Chinese (and the Singaporean) meritocracy. I do not simply believe that the meritocratic model is fitting for China based upon its culture and history; I believe it is an outright superior model to Western mass democracy. We are not blind; we are well aware of the short coming of Meritocratic Technocracy, but those short comings are in the nature of men and will be found in any system. What we despise is the inability of Western "universal value" liberals to see the log in their own eye before they point out the speck in the eyes of others. It is the claim of the Western Liberals that the Chinese system is afflicted with nepotism, cliques, backroom deals, and lack of accountability.
My retort to their argument is that they should look in the mirror; is not the Italian Republic afflicted with nepotism at all levels; is not the American Republic afflicted with backroom deals; is not the French Republic afflicted with a lack of accountability; to a great extent are not all Western governments afflicted with all of these maladies. All Western countries have the same problem as China when it comes to selling access, it is called lobbying. You cannot expect to have a regulatory state with bureaucracy, licensing, and red tape and not have lobbying. If you want to get rid of it; copy the Singapore or Hong Kong model of minimal to no regulation and simple forms filed with low paid polite young women. Whatever the short coming of a regime of Meritocratic Technocracy, which as I have shown can be found among democratic regimes, you cannot argue that the CCP has not delivered for the people of China. Moreover, we have not even covered the complete and utter failure of liberal democracy to bring good government to non-Western countries. India has aped the West more than any other non-Western people and have suffered for it. After 65 years of independence, India is still a backward mass of poverty with a GDP per capita lower than Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan; if democracy cannot deliver a standard of living above that of countries which have been racked by corruption, civil war, and dictatorship what is its benefit; the psychic income of the common person knowing he has a hand in his miserable life and squalid conditions??All of you who support democracy should think carefully about what it would mean and how it would produce results superior to what has occurred (think India). I am not a fan of Mao, but he correctly warned "Let's not make a fetish out of democracy". Here is a quote from American Senator John C. Calhoun on the real outcomes one should expect in system of democratic government.
"If the whole community had the same interests, so that the interests of each and every portion would be so affected by the action of the government that the laws which oppressed or impoverished one portion would necessarily oppress and impoverish all others (or the reverse) then the right of suffrage of itself would be all-sufficient to counteract the tendency of the government to oppression and abuse of its powers, but such is not the case. On the contrary, nothing is more difficult than to equalize the action of the government in reference to the various and diversified interests of the community and nothing more easy than to pervert its powers into instruments to aggrandize and enrich one or more interests by oppressing and impoverishing the others; this too, under the operation of laws, couched in general terms and which on their face appear fair and equal. Such being the case, it necessarily results that the right of suffrage (by placing the control of the government in the community) must lead to conflict among its different interests ;each striving to obtain possession of its powers as the means of protecting itself against the others or of advancing its respective interests regardless of the interests of others. For this purpose a struggle will take place between the various interests to obtain a majority in order to control the government. If no one interest be strong enough (of itself) to obtain it, a combination will be formed and the community will be divided into two great parties (a major and minor) between which there will be incessant struggles on the one side to retain and on the other to obtain the majority and thereby the control of the government and the advantages it confers."
[See Below]
Will China grow freer in teams of economic and personal freedom? Of course, but that does not equate to mass liberal democracy. If civil liberties are protected, why push for mass democracy? Is it outcomes or processes that count? Are poor outcomes achieved through a democratic process more legitimate than excellent outcome achieved through authoritarian/technocratic processes? A quick trip to the UAE , Kuwait, or Qatar shows us that even autocrats can respect personal liberty(for its citizens). China's (and even more so, Singapore's) Meritocratic Technocracy ensures that government operates efficiently on objective standard without consideration of special interest group. There is a moral element in the West agitation for democracy in the World, but it is misguided and naive. They claim that the people have a "right" to their vote, but the entire concept of "rights" as they are expounded in the West is specious; it is a convenient, albeit inconsistent, logical framework for the justification of government power and the limitations of such power. Government at its core has been and always will be the use or the threat of the use of force and violence. As such, one does not truly possess any rights which he cannot defend himself and those "rights" which the governing authority observe by custom, if they have sufficient force, may be abridged at their pleasure by whatever procedural means they concoct to justify it. A study of history shows us that any claim of the universality and inevitability of vague and metaphysical "natural rights" is absurd. The character and history of a people may create "rights", which more accurately should be called customs, which restrain the operation and activities of government; there are in fact no true guarantees that these "rights" will continually be observed and there is a very thin logical consistency in their legitimacy.
Democracy is a luxury item, it involves the inclusions of the masses of uninformed persons in critical and detailed decision making; it represents a step away from the road of professionalized government based on technical expertise. Even in European history, civil liberties did not arise until after the formation of the centralized state and Absolutist monarchy; that is, civil liberties arose after power was taken from the feudal class who held power by right of birth and placed into the hands of technical experts (often from the middle class) who held power based on competence. The shift to a system that allows everyone, regardless of ability, a say in governance will always lead to a decline in the quality of government and when you are already poor and backward you cannot afford that. Moreover, name a democracy or a republic in history that did not go into stagnation and immediately fall into despotism under the banner of needing thing to work (or get done) again.
What counts, processes or outcome? The China already has all the outcomes that most people in the world hope to achieve; so what is so important about democracy? Because the West has adopted mass democracy, which really is not working out to well, does that mean everyone else in world must? Is giving every person in society, whether or not they are a crackpot, a say in governance worth sacrificing the material wellbeing of the nation and risking anarchy? Despite the claims of Western Liberal, democracy is not a good in and of itself. Most peoples in the world support democracy because they think it will deliver the type of life the people in the West already enjoy; the evidence clearly shows that is not the case; both the European and Asian democracies were economically developed before becoming democracies. Most importantly, there are legitimate and accountable alternative to democracy; Western Liberalism, whose error and flaws are being made manifest before the whole world, is not the inexorable march of human history, but rather a gross error in judgment and a sign or moral rot.
I will leave you with a quote from Seguier, the Attorney-General of France in 1770; he possessed the best insight ever into the real motives of "democracy and human rights advocates":
"Their desires will be satisfied only when they have placed the executive and the legislative power in the hands of the multitude; when they have destroyed the necessary inequality of ranks and conditions; when they have degraded the majesty of kings, made their authority precarious, and subordinate to the caprice of an ignorant crowd; and when, finally, by means of these strange alterations, they have thrown the whole world into anarchy, and the evils that are inseparable from it. Perhaps, in the troubles and confusion into which they have brought the nations, these pretended philosophers and independent spirits intend to raise themselves above the common level, and to tell the people that those by whom they have been enlightened are alone fit to govern them."
"I am among those Westerners whom the Economist bemoans"
I'll have to give you the benefit of the doubt on that one.
I haven't heard anyone claiming that democracy is perfect: only that it beats autocracy.
"India is still a backward mass of poverty with a GDP per capita lower than Nigeria, Ghana, and Sudan;"
Actually India has a higher GDP per capita estimate, on a PPP basis, if the CIA World Factbook is to be believed.
India: $3,700 2011 est
Nigeria: $2,600
Ghana: $3,100
Sudan: $2,800
If a more sophisticated comparison is made beyond per capita GDP, India also ranks higher on the Human Development Index put out by the UN:
India - 134
Ghana - 135
Nigeria - 156
Sudan - 169
That is with a billion plus people that you seem to overlook mentioning.
Now in comparison, China got the 101 spot.
I point that out because it represents one of many inaccuracies in the screed put forth, that comes off as modern day variant of tripe that was put out by Stalinists, Lenninists, Fascists and Nazis before WWII.
Although you did quote a slavery proponent interestingly enough, John C. Calhoun, who oddly employed marxist-like language/arguments to defend slaver interests (Marx of the Master Class as Richard Hofstadter stated).
The presidential republican system in France and the US is more autocratic than the Chinese communist system.
Look at what Bush did? Acting as an autocrat, he lied to the whole world about weapons of mass destruction and invaded Iraq and killed more than a million Iraqis.
The autocratic governments of France, England and the US bombed Libya for six months and killed 40,000 Libyans.
Look at the autocratic manner by which the US government arrested, jail and torture Brad Manning. And what did Manning do? He simply wanted to break the monopoly of information by the US government.
There is no evidence that France, England and the US bombed 40,000 Libyans to death. Show me one bombing survey or BDA indicating that.
Otherwise, the total estimates of fatalities is in the neighborhood of 30,000 deaths, spanning combatants and civilians, from fighting on the ground by all sides as well as the air campaign.
Was I arguing for autocracy; I said Meritocratic Technocracy and it is clear that democracy loses hands down against an efficient regime of Meritocratic Technocracy like in Singapore and China; given their relative situations. The fact is; whatever the goals of the regime, a regime of Meritocratic Technocracy will achieve them and a democratic regime will not, or if they do achieve them, it will be slowly and with major externalities.
Well Michael,
First let me say, I in no way endorse the views of John C. Calhoun; however, when it comes to the pitfalls of democracy, you cannot argue against the truth of his position. Next, the GDP per capita number I cited for India where on an "exchange rate" basis; if we take it on a "PPP" basis, India has done worse than Congo (the republic), Indonesia, and Guatemala. Even taking your absurd "Human Development" stance, India has done worse than Vietnam, Nicaragua, and the Palestinian Territories! Take your head out of your behind and look at the facts; stop trying to defend the indefensible. India's post-independence democracy is a failure; all the Western Liberals love to excuse India's problem by citing its large population, but China has a larger population and an economy 2.5X (at PPP) than India. What is difference between China and India; oh, democracy and Meritocratic Technocracy!
Seems to be some excitement over someone challenging assertions over India, and providing a different set of points.
I am not big on wikipedia, but they provided different estimates of nominal GDP per capita, and guess what, in some cases India still bests some of the countries cited, like Nigeria and Sudan, or are in comparable bands (like with Ghana).
Not sure why a variety of countries keeps getting ejaculated. Now it is Vietnam, Nicaraqua and the country-to-be, the Palestinian territories? Why the exclamation point?
Otherwise, like the prior point, India actually seems to do alright in comparison to Vietnam and Nicaraqua on nominal GDP/per capita stats.
See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nominal)_per_capita
Otherwise, as Fun with Fruit poster mentioned, no one is contesting that there are shortcomings with the different forms of democracy (representative, direct, etc.). In fact most objections were addressed head on by drafters of the US Constitution in the Federalists papers (who were just a generation prior to John C. Calhou).
What becomes pretty shaky are citing some shortcomings as the basis for making broad brush statements about "failure" without much elaboration or credible set of metrics for making comparisons. Just a rehashing of claims of ineffectiveness that go back a hundred years, during the age of extremes.
And a large population does matter. Now kudos to China its economic developments. Of course, much of the success is due to an export orientation that wouldn't have worked without access to US markets, or inflows of US, Japanese and European investments and technology.
Not sure though that success in one demographic giant means the challenges of large populations is any less for another demographic giant. Then you seem to paper over diversity.
But it certainly isn't a straight up comparison of democracy and your claim of meritocratic technocracy (believe the merit bit is challenged when concerning China, see corruption indices where China and India are close).
Throw in export orientation and diversity at a high level, different historical experiences, let alone a whole slew of other issues, and holes appear in the broad brush, facile comparison you put out there.
It is just that all of your arguments are moronic! If democracy cannot produce better outcome for India than countries which have undergone civil war and military dictatorship or even outcomes superior to a territory still under military occupation, than it clearly is a failure. Again you use India's large population to excuse away its failures and claim that comparing it with smaller countries is unfair, but there are only two countries in the billion plus population club; China and India. China is a growing, dynamic, and prosperous country; India is largely stagnating. In many ways, India was in a superior place to China when they both started their reforms 20 year ago, but we can see China is the winner hands down; again, we have to look at the difference in leadership. I know that democracy has made the concept of standards and results repugnant in the West and feel good politics and excuse are more acceptable, but you cannot eat excuses, live in excuses, or cure disease with excuse; result are what count; China has results, India has excuses. Furthermore, like all countries seeking to develop, China had to export to developed markets to gain the hard currency to pay for industrialization, but the capital to develop came from the overseas Chinese and retained earnings, not the West. As for the importation of technology from abroad; what of it, were the Chinese supposed to repeat the entirety of economic history from steam engines forward?
It is just that all of your arguments are moronic! If democracy cannot produce better outcome for India than countries which have undergone civil war and military dictatorship or even outcomes superior to a territory still under military occupation, than it clearly is a failure. Again you use India's large population to excuse away its failures and claim that comparing it with smaller countries is unfair, but there are only two countries in the billion plus population club; China and India. China is a growing, dynamic, and prosperous country; India is largely stagnating. In many ways, India was in a superior place to China when they both started their reforms 20 year ago, but we can see China is the winner hands down; again, we have to look at the difference in leadership. I know that democracy has made the concept of standards and results repugnant in the West and feel good politics and excuse are more acceptable, but you cannot eat excuses, live in excuses, or cure disease with excuse; result are what count; China has results, India has excuses. Furthermore, like all countries seeking to develop, China had to export to developed markets to gain the hard currency to pay for industrialization, but the capital to develop came from the overseas Chinese and retained earnings, not the West. As for the importation of technology from abroad; what of it, were the Chinese supposed to repeat the entirety of economic history from steam engines forward?
Sorry. The western countries that bombed Libya killed more than 40,000 Libyans, most of them unarmed civilians.
Kind of hard to do when most estimates for total fatalities for that conflict was 25,000 to 30,000.
Quaddafi didn't even try to make that claim of your.
Now if you have some additional, credible source stating otherwise, please share it.
Reports today that there is legislation pending in the Hungarian parliament that anyone buying 250,000 euros of 5-year government bonds will be given a Hungarian passport.
A Hungarian passport gives the holder the right to live and work in any EU country.
Hungary has EU central bank loans that are due for re-payment, and is seeking to raise the funds using this as one method.
The measure is aimed primarily at citizens of China, but presumably anyone will be eligible.
I don't know if the EU will object to this legislation before it is passed into law. But if it is, Budapest should get an instant new Chinatown and Little India, and the food will improve instantly.
Fried rice is my personal favorite, though I have started cooking it myself at home. Chinese restaurants can be quite stingy when it come to ingredients.
Last time I was in London there was a tiny restaurant on a back street off Leicester Square called Poons. A modest little place with cracked formica tables where a plate of chicken feet cost only £3.
I was very upset on my most recent visit to see that Poons is no more. So long little chicken feet!
Absolutely not. They'll get a Visa/residency permit not a passport.
Rather a big difference.
I am looking at a Reuters report: "Buy Hungarian Bonds and Get Citizenship"
"Proposed legislation listed on the parliament's website would grant permanent citizenship and ultimately citizenship to outsiders who buy 250,000 Euros of special government bonds"
Taken from Nepszabadsag daily.
I've read a lot of the posts, one thought on China's boom: would it have been possible if the United State, Japan, Europe weren't the way we are?
In otherwords, China isn't successful because they are so great, just because they are operating better than the rest of us. Kind of like the US after WWII; was not hard to dominate a country racked by war.
I'm suprised that no one was brought up a comparision to the ceasers of Rome. Very much a meritocracy, very corrupt, and very succesful, until it wasn't.
I think it has more to do with Western countries taking advantage of cheap labor.
People in the west won't work for the low wages or in the terrible working conditions the Chinese will. Couple that with the fact that China allows it's water and air to be polluted to a degree that would horrify any first world citizen.
Now that Chinese workers are demanding more pay/better working conditions there are manufacturers that are beginning to either look back home for workers or elsewhere for cheaper labor.
Really what does China have to offer businesses other than cheap labor and lax regulations?
And what do the western countries have to offer other than invasions, bombs, missiles, drones and death?
Really, the western people are murderers and torturers. The worst the world has ever had.
Don't think there is much comparison to Caesars. They essentially relied in the end on military power for their governments. In fact the principate devolved into a more blatant military government in the 200s AD.
As for China's boom, I think it is overlooked that the country's success depended on access to foreign markets, notably the United States.
The United States was the export market of first and last resort, in the 1990s and going into the 2000s. Now that may be changing with efforts to develop an internal market.
Similarly, having firms willing to locate operations to China, make investments, transfer technologies and know how and what not was also helpful.
Now because of its large population, China has long benefitted from foreign firms willing to play ball, to ain market access, or capitalize on cheap labor. The Chinese stood out from the Japanese in setting up special zones, letting itself be an export platform and working at attracting foreign firms during its industrialization period.
"And what do the western countries have to offer other than invasions, bombs, missiles, drones and death?"
Really? And what are you typing on? Where was it invented? The internet started where and by whom? How do you get your goods, plains, trains and automobiles, right? Seriously, this list would be endless.
The reason I love the Economist is its unabashed 'proper' liberal perspective. It is just this perspective, however, that leads to a misunderstanding of China.
While 'we' may live in a world with the individual at the helm, I believe eastern understandings place the importance of family and deference to authority much stronger. The advantages of command and control are clear in the strong, stable and significant growth that China has achieved. There are, of course, faults with this approach and I commend the Economist for its elucidation.
Just as America could not possibly implement democracy as 'purely' as Switzerland, so China (due to it's size) will have to realize democracy on it's own course. A democracy needs to be rooted in local conditions, but in China's case the roots are long and complicated. Adopting an overly ideological perspective can easily lose track of reality.
Great comment.
article after articles, such relentless attacks on china on the eve of its leadership change, veiled or not so subtle, can mean only one thing--- china must have done more things right for china than TE or the west can handle.
that, is the ultimate compliment, my dear chinese posters.
Perhaps if China had a transparent government that was accountable to the law, the Economist would find less reason to criticize it.
What do the rich and unions get in return from their political donation?
Most politicians in "free" world have business background. How do their family business benefit from their political power?
Quite funny, "free" media never go after such obvious corruptions in "free" world, don't you think?
Your post addresses neither the transparency of China's government, nor its accountability to the law.
Try doing that rather than throwing around red herrings.
When "free" media can't get what they want, it is not transparent.
When "free" media can get what they want, it is transparent.
Do you ever try to know anything the "free" media has no interest?
For example, the following :
A major theme is the pressure from the financial industry on the political process to avoid regulation, and the ways that it is exerted. One conflict discussed is the prevalence of the revolving door, whereby financial regulators can be hired within the financial sector upon leaving government and make millions.
The media brought down Nixon - I'd say that's getting what they want. Not only do the US media routinely expose the inner workings of government, the majority of the decision-making process in the US is open to public scrutiny.
I'm not sure what you're trying to accomplish by pointing out lobbying by the financial industry, because that, too, has been thoroughly reported by US media, such as here:
and here:
The issue of the "revolving door" has also been covered, including here:
and here:
Please explain how the Chinese government is similarly transparent. If a Chinese newspaper wanted to report on the wealth of the families of Xi Jinping or Wen Jiabao, would it be free to do so? What about an independent investigation into the alleged crimes of high-profile politicians such as Bo Xilai? When a Chinese government agency is considering introducing a new regulation, where is the draft posted so that the public may comment on it before it goes into effect?
You might also want to address the issue of whether or not the Chinese government and its officials are in fact accountable to the law.
The media brought down Nixon - I'd say that's getting what they want. Not only do the US media routinely expose the inner workings of government, the majority of the decision-making process in the US is open to public scrutiny.
In China, government and CCP are on the top of the chain.
Who are on top of chain in "free" world?
"In China, government and CCP are on the top of the chain."
Precisely. And, as such, they are neither transparent nor accountable to the law.
"Who are on top of chain in "free" world?"
The state.
"Who are on top of chain in "free" world?"
The state.
Government in "free" doesn't even have power over parasites, power over rich?
I'm sure that Raj Rajaratnam would be a much happier man today if that were true. However, you seem to be throwing around those red herrings again, because it's not obvious what a government's power over the wealthy has to do with either its transparency or accountability to the law.
'Perhaps if China had a transparent government that was accountable to the law, '
but don't be silly. why should china be more 'transparent' to the west when the west was not the least bit more 'transparent' to china?
china may not all being right, but why should it be taken as a sucker?
I'm not suggesting that China should be any more transparent to the West than the West is to China. But China has a long way to go before it comes close to Western nations on transparency.
'But China has a long way to go before it comes close to Western nations on transparency.'
but that's what you think or brainwashed to think.
take japan, how much transparency do you know about japanese post war military strength? japan has more military capacity hiding in civilian suits bursting to the seams.
yet the west chose to look the other way simply because that fits the scheme of things of current western strategy.
However transparent Japan may or may not be has no bearing on the transparency of the Chinese government, which is sorely lacking.
There is a democracy within Party of stakeholders. If economic progress is measure of progress, China elevates masses in social ladder. Western democracies allow 1% to make all money and 25% to live on alms (known as unemplyment benefit). QE impoverishes those who saved for rainy days. In China everybody aspires for a better tomorrow.
I love it when people extrapolate propaganda from protesters about the US to the whole west!
Top 6 oil companies in US earn 150 billion dollar profits each year.
and government still has to subside 4 billion each year.
You are really a warrior on top of clouds.
"Top 6 oil companies in US earn 150 billion dollar profits each year.
and government still has to subside 4 billion each year."
So what?
What is your point?
That oil companies are profitable? Or that companies extract subsidies or concessions? Because honestly that doesn't make companies in the US any different to those in China or any other country.
Stop running around the comments section spewing unrelated and repetitive 'facts' that are not backed up with any references or research and actually don't reply to anything actually stated.
We're all waiting for your to actually engage instead of skimming around like a troll - but has yet to happen.
"You are really a warrior on top of clouds."
Love it when people pick on my nickname. Usually happens on a Chinese or Indian article (tells us all something) and just highlights the vacuousness of the commentator.
You're probably the 20th person to fail at this! Congratulations for further proving my point.
What is your point?
I want Chinese people are entitled to the profits
In China, all those profits go to people.
Don't give the crap that few CCP took most of money.
500 million people have been urbanized, this needs huge huge amount of money way beyond your imagination.
What? CCP stone faces are genius? where did they get the money?
"In China, all those profits go to people"
And with that I rest my case.
ztoa789 thank you for proving my point about you.
Try reading the article and better luck next time.
In China the profits go to the people. Gawd I'm laughing so hard right now. You are either naive, idealistic or taking those profits at 50 cents a time.
In China the profits go to the people. Gawd I'm laughing so hard right now. You are either naive, idealistic or taking those profits at 50 cents a time.
That is mathematics.
You can twist your head 360 degree, you still can't refute the next post of mine.
What a shame and ridculus, Thomas Friedman could become a China -old-hand!
You believe him?
The only reason why democracy works in the West is because its citizen are actually quite prosperous, even the poor ones relative to the poor in places like China and India. In fact, the latter is an example where democracy have failed due to its large amounts of the poor. Democracy can't remove corruption, it merely justifies corruption as officials hide behind the veil of being "democratically elected".
In the US, there's enough education, time, and distribution of information for the average citizen to make reasonable choices. The majority of citizens in third world countries are relatively too poor to make decisions about their leaders, especially with the interference lobbying groups, "PACs", and the political twisting of facts.
"The majority of citizens in third world countries are relatively too poor to make decisions about their leaders"
Quite a condescending attitude. In my opinion poor people have a greater interest in good governance than the rich, because they have more at stake. Being poor does not make a person stupid.
It does not make them stupid, but without propper education and knowledge about both philosophies and procedure with a system they most certainly won't take part, especially if they expect their government corrupt and a vite thus worthless anyways. Western democracies works exactly what jz1900 said, wealth and education and the feeling of people of lower classes of actually having an influence.
Being poor does not make a person stupid.
Typical beautifully spoken nonsense.
"Being poor does not make a person stupid"
Tell those poor in the US who vote for GOP and against their own interests.
One can always rely on Banyan to write pieces that praise India and bash China.
Hey, that legacy has its meritorious side:
10:37, 22:45, 33:40, 36:00
This is a great article from the Economist in a long period. As a Chinese, I have always failed to understand the logic from certain western scholars, fan-faring the Chinese ruler-ship. There is no "recruiting the best", at least not the best abilities or best morality, probably best actors/actresses/speculators. They are disgusting to common Chinese. There is no Confucius in China any more. Pretending to be Confucius is against Confucius from beginning.
This week's issue: South Korea's economy, a riposte to Piketty and...
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Tolerance in America: Getting nicer
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UK election 2015: British Parliament interactive timeline: Commons sense
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Currencies and tourism: The power of the almighty dollar
UK general election 2015 - map of Britain: Constituency cartography
Graphic detail
Politics: The first TV "debate"
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text:
things are looking ugly again - the oversupply is dangerous... might buy back if it hits $1.60 again. Good luck.
"Sobara, who has a $40 price target on the stock, writes that his bullish call on the stock revolves around the potential of its Utica/Marcellus holdings, and upcoming "potential liquidity events: that will bolster its balance sheet, including the initial public offering of its a Eureka Hunter Midstream master limited partnership, which he expects in the second quarter, and a potential joint venture. "
the company they purchased was only $2.5M.... not a big transaction??!
beat on revenues... down 10%?!
All my biggest busts have been from watching stupid arshe jim crammer.. he is the worst for a retail investor.
I'll take that gamble and it could pay off big...
anyone following this stock? Wonder how the portfolio will be affected by the downturn in Houston and all the failing Oil & gas companies that are going to be filing bk and laying off 1,000's of employees?
is there anything left here? I don't think so but I have never seen so much panic and fear... If MHR is 90% gas then is it possible for a turnaround? I think its 50% chance of bk and shareholders wipeout. if this his 1.50, I will be willing to take a gamble on it again.
MHR never recovered after GE started talking about buying undeveloped property in Australia... that was the beginning of the end!!!
stupid arshe GE couldn't deliver... kept making promises and selling this and that and never attained any goals. he is the ultimate salesman and just was at the casino with the shareholders money... I lost $50k by giving him my credit line. If this was any normal time, they could count on the pipeline sale but with the condition of the market, there is no way they can structure a good deal for it right now. I bet MHR drifts under $1.00 and will hover around there for a while. #$%$!
go stick your head in a toilet you loooooozer
I think the company, and many others like this, will have to reorganize and file bk... they will still be functioning companies but at less capacity... they will reset and shed debt and come back in 2016 ready to go at it again. Common shareholders get completely wiped out... sucks.
They just moved to Dallas... probably signed a 10 yr lease on 100,000 SF of prime office space - probably paid $20M in relocation costs and expenses for employees. Unfortunately, that is not a good sign of the desire to sell the company - anyone disagree with that assumption?.
if this dips under 2$ bucks, I am going back in. I think we will see a waive of panic and margin calls that will force this under $2 and then it might be a good buying opportunity. Jhees,, this is ugly.
sad to see what has happened here. I used to own 24k+ shares but sold almost all of it (at a loss) around 4.60... could have been much worse. who could have seen this coming? I also sold HK and that is doing way worse than MHR. overall, I lost 35% of my whole trading account in a period of about 4 months bc I was so weighted in these debt ridden O&G companies. should have stayed in wallmart and DSW!!!! fa*ckme!!

subset: commoncrawl


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aww yeah son!
Bring on the demon dogs
LOL dry water...
" Bring on the demon dogs "YES
Let's do this!!
Time to start the week!
oh yea
I always profile with a rod... :)
This is why I love Fridays ...... damn I meant Mondays
New rule, if you see a bunch of zombies or people with shotguns, do not run up close to them to start shooting them.
Brad: It's like a party in my lap.
"end of the week" HAHAHAHA
You're not fishing for present you're fishing grey box looking thing.
push A dipshit
Never checked in? Isn't that what saving is?
York checks in all the time with the bureau. It's how you save.
I love how George acted almost fist-bumpingly to the perspective of going to Velvet Falls. "Oh man, I got that crazy hat, I gotta show it off"
It is like Brad is trying to make these as boring as possible. VJ only from now on for me.
I dunno about you guys but i always do my profiling with a rod.
i want to see what the emily face does!
You guys don't have to kill every enemy in the room, you could have gone straight to the red sparkly things and avoiding using your large health kit. Just saying.
Seems like team VJ got really lucky with the fishing.
The evidence is biting.
Ryan's date confusion pretty funny too lol
"Look at him. He is CLEARLY insane."
Ah... That made this episode for me.
Maaan, you guys are only half way through the game, finishing it by the end of the week would be amazing.
Didn't VJ get it on first try. lol I thought it was supposed to be whatever you fish out. Seems like it's not ^^
Brads freak out was hilarious. Hahaha.
love brad's storage zombie reaction
Ugh @ Brad, you're not supposed to hit any buttons until the roulette comes up.
frustrating to watch, but still pretty funny.
If Brad was only able to catch fish for the rest of the endurance run....man, that would be great.
Ryan's wrong on his York not in the FBI theory. At the part where you go to interview the twins for the first time George and Emily talk about someone from the FBI calling ahead to make sure they didn't question them until York got there.
I just want to listen to Brad freak out every ER.
sound of Brad's freak out is essential nowadays
I didn't know they prerecorded these =\
End of the week? CONTINUITY BROKEN RUN RUN!
I don't care what you hatas say. I love both the ER equally.
It's like a party in my lap!
Ryan's whole "end of the week" thing killed the magic for me :(
"It's like a party in my lap!"
O rly?
@Ryan: every time you save at a phone, you're calling back to the FBI to update them on the situation.
I just noticed the zombies are not wearing any shoes.
While Special Agent Francis York Morgan probably is insane, he checks in every time you save.
Pretty good episode. Still wonder what a freaked-out Emily is when you catch one.
Catch an Emily!
Wow. Jeff and Vinny's run made the fishing for evidence part look like it was supposed to give you the missing files on the first try.
Way to break the fourth wall even more than usual, guys.


text:
Several economic indicators showed good news and signaled the recession's end may have arrived. U.S. factory output increased in August to 52.9 on the Institute for Supply Management index, the highest level in a year and a half. Pending sales of U.S. homes in July also hit their highest level in two years, according to the National Association of Realtors.
View Full Article in:Forbes
Published in Brief:


text:
The Junior League of Tyler Proudly
Presents the 37th Mistletoe & Magic
Harvey Convention Center, Tyler
Thursday, November 5th, Noon – 8 p.m.
Friday, November 6th, Noon – 8 p.m.
Saturday, November 7th, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Mistletoe and Magic 2014
"A Holiday in the Highlands"
to our sponsors, market shoppers, vendors and all the volunteers
who made Mistletoe and Magic 2014 a HUGE success.
We are proud to serve such a wonderful community.
Girl Power Program Receives National Award
The Junior League of Tyler's Girl Power program has received the Golden Achievement Award from the National School Public Relations Association based on its work with
Girl Power is a project initiated by the Junior League of Tyler, Inc. to develop the leadership skills of 6th grade girls in our community by promoting self-esteem and confidence; health and nutrition, and a spirit of volunteerism after doing intensive research to determine that middle school girls were at a most impressionable time of their lives. Multiple events are held throughout the year targeted to this age group and issues they face on a daily basis to give them the tools to make good choices now and in years to come.


text:
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Blue should roll dice, take top available talent
With the CFL draft only six days away, and three of the four prospects I previously listed as the "fantastic four" signed or trying out for NFL deals, should the Winnipeg Blue Bombers now make their first selection (second overall) from the scraps of the NFL draft, or simply take the best player available, existing contract or not?
For proper context, it's important to know that most Tier 1 players in the CFL have had some form of contact with the National Football League at some point in their careers. Whether they went to camp, were previously drafted, played a few games or seasons, or worked out for a couple of clubs, serious skill sets do not often go unrecognized by the super sleuths of the NFL. The talent may have been glossed over and not developed properly (Cameron Wake), or it may be in the wrong place at the wrong time and prematurely dismissed (Brandon Browner), but few standouts north of the border worth their salt haven't at least got a sniff from the Americans.
With that in mind, I think the reaction to a rookie free-agent contract in the NFL by CFL teams is overblown and inappropriate. While it is true that both Matt Sewell and Stefan Charles signed with the Titans, Andy Mulumba with the Packers, and Ben D'Aguilar will be trying out for the Bucs, all we can be sure of is they might be late for the start of 2013 training camp in Canada. In fact, as the statistics about rookie-free-agent signings tell us, many won't even make it to regular training camp, and most will be cut before the NFL season begins.
I would understand the contemplation if any of these players were taken on Day 1 of the draft. Unless you really screw things up and are a non-functioning adult, being drafted anywhere in the first three rounds in the U.S. usually guarantees you at least two or three years in the show to hone your craft.
But that didn't happen.
Not only did none of the top CFL prospects get drafted on Day 1, 2 or 3, but there were 254 other players selected before teams even started to think about them. For every story you hear in the NFL about a player making good and making a career in the league in spite of his non-existent draft status -- such as Israel Idonije -- there are hundreds of other rookie free agents that never gain a foothold and become exactly what the NFL thought they would.
When it was reported that Stefan Charles received a bonus to sign with the Titans, some of the comments I read opined the up-front cash is an indication the team is serious about him. Trust me when I tell you NFL rookie-free-agent signing bonuses are nothing more than specks of chicken feed general managers find beneath the couch cushions. My first one in 1997 was for a paltry US $2,500. They don't even blink about giving away bonuses of this nature.
While I understand that no one wants a Christmas gift that is on layaway and doesn't have a definitive arrival date, look at the development of former No. 1 pick Henoc Muamba. Henoc only began to make an impact on this roster in his second year of play, and his best years are ahead of him, which is typical of all but the rarest of freshman players. So does it really matter if a CFL team has to wait a few months, or even a year or two before they get a return on their investment? Do you really think any of these draft candidates have the capacity to show up and run amok in the CFL before the moisture dries behind their ears? The day a first-round CFL draft pick turns the tides and fortunes of their football team in their inaugural season is the day I come out of retirement as an offensive tackle. Besides, a season or two of NFL coaching and tutelage will only make that player even more valuable when he does wash out of the league.
In six days, the Bombers have an opportunity to select a player who could make an impact both on the field and to their non-import ratio for more than a decade. If this club is already taking a gamble at quarterback this season to solidify the future of the position, wouldn't it also make sense to roll the dice and draft the best talent available, even if there may be a miniscule risk that he may never land here?
Doug Brown, once a hard-hitting defensive lineman and frequently a hard-hitting columnist, appears Tuesdays and game days in the Free Press.
Twitter: @DougBrown97
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition April 30, 2013 D3
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can i add Maltodextrin at the bottling stage? if so how and how much to use? also if can add it do i have to adjust my priming sugar which is 3/4th a cup for 5.25 gal batch ?
Why not just use straight priming sugar?
I want my Irish stout i'm clearning to be thick , and i read that green beer will thicken up but i'm not sure it was pretty watery when i tasted it .
From what I understand, Maltodextrin will add a very small amount of sweetness, but primarily will add mouth feel. I think it's recommended 4 oz per 5 gallon batch if I remember right ... more if you want it thicker ... at bottling time. I'm no expert though .. I am sure there are more qualified people to answer this questions. I just thought I would give it a try!
It is 12% fermentable so cut back just a hair on the priming sugar.
you think 5/8ths a cup priming sugar and 4oz ofd multodextrin be good and not 2 much ?
Doesnt How to Brew say that Malto can give the drinker some rancid gas?
hmm... I used 8oz in my 5G batch of banana cream ale.. but haven't drank enough at any one time to know if gas is a problem...
I'll have to pay more attention


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Winter Leagues 10/16 – Three Inside-The-Park Homers In One Game?
Checking in with Pirates' players and friends in the Winter Leagues MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Venados de Mazatlan 7, ...
Checking in with Pirates' players and friends in the Winter Leagues MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Venados de Mazatlan 7, ...
With less than a week remaining in camp, the Pittsburgh Pirates made their latest round of cuts this morning, sending three relievers to minor league camp, including ...Read More
From 2008-2011, the Pittsburgh Pirates spent a lot of resources on projectable pitchers out of high school. So far, this approach has led to breakout performances from ...Read More
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The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted JaCoby Jones as an outfielder in the third round of the 2013 draft, then surprised everyone the following year when they moved him ...Read More
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Marshmallow is a cat who likes to sleep a lot...in many different ways and places, and in some you might find surprising! On the TV, in the laundry basket, in a flower potjust about anywhere and anything you can think of can be a great place for a nap! It just goes to show you how even a lazy ol cat like Marshmallow can have his own special way of thinking creatively. Adorable Marshmallow
Marshmallow is a cat who likes to sleep a lot...in many different ways and places, and in some you might find surprising! On the TV, in the laundry basket, in a flower pot–just about anywhere and anything you can think of can be a great place for a nap! It just goes to show you how even a lazy ol' cat like Marshmallow can have his own special way of thinking creatively. Adorable Marshmallow
Corso di inglese, il Metodo English for ItaliansEdizione 2010. "English for Italians", il nuovo metodo di inglese al primo posto in classifica sul programma di Apple "iTunesU". Per ricevere l'audio gratuitamente invia una email a firstname.lastname@example.com. L'inglese non è uguale per tutti! Questo corso risolve le difficoltà specifiche dello studente italiano per mezzo della linguistica contrastiva. Il corso è 100% registrato in mp3. Tramite le
How to Protect Your Health and Home from the Chemicals ThatAre Making You SickFrom the The New York Times'"Queen of Green" comes the ultimate guide for finding and eliminating the toxic chemicals in your home today. There is no longer any question that consumer products contain toxic chemicals harmful to our families. But how do we protect ourselves, and where do we start?In Toxic Free, Debra Lynn Dadd, hailed by The New York Times as the "Queen of Green," discusses the
Protest and the Politics of Blame: The Russian Response to Unpaid WagesThe wage arrears crisis has been one of the biggest problems facing contemporary Russia. At its peak, it has involved some $10 billion worth of unpaid wages and has affected approximately 70 percent of the workforce. Yet public protest in the country has been rather limited. The relative passivity of most Russians in the face of such desperate circumstances is a puzzle for students of both
The definitive guide to green superfoods by one of the world's leading green foods authorities. Sandoval studied under the tutelage of the famous wheatgrass pioneer Ann Wigmore, and ever since, it has been his life's passion to help people feel better, live longer, and increase their quality of life with the aid of whole foods. Learn how you can increase your energy, boost your overall health and
Warm-Ups, Games and Choreographic TasksDance Improvisations: Warm-Ups, Games and Choreographic Tasks presents 73 individual and group activities to use as warm-ups, as games that stimulate creativity, and as choreographic tasks in creating movement materials. The improvisations offer extensions that further develop improvisation skills. The book supplies step-by-step instruction, making it a valuable tool for instructors of students
La Singolare Persecuzione di John Vincent HardenIl milionario del tabacco John Vincent Harden è appena arrivato a Londra, quando cominciano a capitargli strane cose. La sua camera d'albergo viene liberata, e i suoi bagagli spariscono. Poi riceve un telegramma che lo richiama a casa, nella sua piantagione nel Kentucky, ma scopre che era un imbroglio. Infine, quando una carrozza a quattro ruote quasi travolge l'americano, Harden sa che è il
Practicing For Young Musicians: You Are Your Own TeacherReal progress happens when you take your weekly lesson,right? Wrong! Success depends on what you do between lessons, when and how you practice. And between lessons you are your own teacher. Regardless of your instrument, or what style of music you hope to perform, this book will help you take responsibility for your own progress and use the time you spend practicing in the most rewarding way
The essential guide to what's in the toiletries and cosmetics you useWe all like to believe that the latest 'miracle' cream will make us look ten years younger, and we fill our shopping baskets with hair products designed to 'smooth and shine' or make-up that promises to stay on all night long. In a world that is increasingly obsessed with appearance, we are becoming more and more vulnerable to the idea of a 'quick-fix' in a bottle.Yet many of the products we use


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My father died in his sleep early in the morning on Nov. 9. I was not present then, because he lived in Michigan. We left for Michigan the next morning. His funeral was on the following Tuesday. All six children, many of the grandchildren and even a few great grandchildren were present. At the cemetery, Dad was given an honor guard ceremony by the Kent County Honor Guard. This included a 21 gun salute and taps. I was given the flag that was on his casket.
Bobby Gibson from McPherson will give the program, "The REALLY Good Ole Days?" at the Barton County Historical Society meeting on Monday, Nov. 26.
Barton County Fair Friends will sponsor an afternoon tour of five Great Bend homes on Sunday, Dec. 2. Proceeds will benefit the 2013 Barton County Fair.
Great Bend Police
HOLLYWOOD--Happy Thanksgiving, everybody, and God bless America.
Barton County Jail
The Notre Dame-USC rivalry has been defined by dominance over the last four decades. Two of college football's most celebrated teams have alternated long runs of success in the series that have coincided with the ups and downs of the programs.
Shane Paul Gottschalk, 21, of Hays, passed away Monday, Nov. 19 at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha. He was born Feb. 25, 1991, in Hays to Gregg and Patricia (Wooster) Gottschalk.
McCLOUD, Okla. -Dwight Murray, Jr., 75, passed away on Nov. 19, 2012. Dwight was born on Dec. 16, 1936, in Winfield to Dwight Everett and Doris Violet (Prouty) Murray. He retired from Northern Gas Products in Bushton after 35 years of service.
Happy Thanksgiving. Welcome to our home. Feel free to take a victory with you when you leave.
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - There were no sighs of relief, no jumps for joy when the New York Jets found out they wouldn't have to worry about Rob Gronkowski this week.
ROZEL - Brant Adam Colglazier, 18, died Nov. 20. He was born March 11, 1994 in Great Bend, the son of Ray Colglazier and Debra Wedge Colglazier. A lifetime area resident, he was a grocery stockman at Dillon's.
Great Bend dental hygienist Phyllis Marsh, R.D. H. is retiring from active practice this month. Phyllis graduated from UMKC School of Dentistry with her Bacher of Science degree in Dental Hygiene in 1969. Her career has touched the lives of many patients throughout the state of Kansas as she has practiced in dental offices in Kansas City, Manhattan, Larned, and Great Bend. She most recently practiced with Dr. Konrad Rock and Dr. Ross Hildebrand.
Dear Editor:
Dear Editor,
God Bless America, and how's everybody?
Let me put this as charitably as I possibly can:
The last time the Barton Community College softball defeated Seward County was 2009. Some 24 straight losses. Until Wednesday that is.
Finally a sweep. The Barton Community College baseball team had played six doubleheaders this season. And six times the day ended with a split.
Golden Belt Home Health & Hospice receives a $1,772 donation, which represents proceeds from the recent Chili Challenge cosponsored by The Bikers of Central Kansas and the American Legion Riders. From left to right are: Dan Slack, Rae Ann Brack; Donita Wolf, GBHH&H director; Lori Grauer; and Danny Riggs. The funds will help hospice patients.
MADISON, Wis. –The Rhonda Knudson Agency, an American Family Insurance agent and her outstanding team in Great Bend, Kansas, has been recognized for providing outstanding customer experience under the American Star Excellence in Customer Experience Certification Program.


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obit: Kevin Joe Dudik
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Waco Tribune-Herald (TX) - November 22, 2010
Deceased Name: Dudik, Kevin JoeKevin Joe DudikKevin Joe Dudik, 24, of Penelope and Hubbard, died early Saturday morning, Nov. 20, 2010, the result of a motor vehicle accident near Hubbard. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday at St. Martin's Catholic Church in Tours, with Msgr. Isidore Rozycki as celebrant. Burial will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery near Penelope. A rosary will be recited 7 p.m. Monday at the Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West by Msgr. Isidore Rozycki.Mr. Dudik was born Dec. 25, 1985, in Hillsboro, the son of Emil Joe and Rose Ann (Roessler) Dudik. He attended schools in Malone and Hubbard. He was active in FFA, assisted with many Ag Projects, and graduated from Hubbard High School in 2004. Kevin also graduated from T.S.T.C. as a Certified Machinist in 2005. He worked for FMC in Stephenville, Mercury Tool in Waco and currently at The Feed Store in Hubbard. He was a member of St. Martin's Catholic Church in Tours and the Catholic Life Association. Kevin enjoyed harvesting, hunting and he especially loved spending time with his family.Kevin was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Emil and Lucille Dudik.Survivors include his parents, Emil Joe and Rose Dudik of Hubbard; his maternal grandparents, John and Alma Roessler of Leroy; four brothers, Emil Dudik IV and wife, Lora, Michael Dudik and fiance, Kari, Justin Dudik, and Brian Dudik, all of Hubbard; two sisters, Janet Dudik Girard and husband, Jimmy, of Penelope, and Michelle Dudik of Hubbard; a niece, Katy Girard; two nephews, Carson Girard and Brayden Dudik; and many aunts, uncles, other relatives and friends.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the charity of your choice
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Heads up: Top comment and controversy
Documentary claims O.J. Simpson innocent of murders, serial killer guilty
22 November 2012 10:04 AM
Here's meat for conspiracy theorists: a new documentary claims that a death row inmate may be guilty of the double-murder that brought down O.J. Simpson, the former NFL star who was forced to pay compensation to the victims' families in a civil trial after a court had earlier found him innocent.
O.J. Simpson was tried and acquitted in June 1994 of stabbing his wife and her best friend, then later found liable in a civil wrongful death trial and ordered to pay $33,500,000 in damages.
The documentary My Brother the Serial Killer, which debuted yesterday on American television, stars Clay Rogers, a man who claims it was his brother - not O.J. - that was guilty of the 1994 murders. "I'm absolutely certain that my brother Glen killed Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman", he said. "I know my brother did it because I've seen proof that he was there."
Fred Goldman, the father of one of the victims Ronald Goldman, immediately moved to reject the film's claims: "The overwhelming evidence at the criminal trial proved that one, and only one, person murdered Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. That person is O.J. Simpson."
Goldman went on to lambast the Investigation Discovery channel for releasing the show, accusing them of irresponsibility.
The documentary's claims are predominantly based on testimony Glen Rogers purportedly gave to his brother.


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Pension Rokytka
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Prague - Two Days is Not Enough
... we had no complaints. Also, our room rate included breakfast.We checked in, the luggage was jettisoned, we ate peanut-butter and banana sandwiches then set out for the sites of Prague.
I have to say that it was difficult to look in a direction and see something that you did not want to photograph. Every view, it seemed was worth saving. We walked along the Vltava River then across one of the many bridges. There was a little cafe by ...
Day Three: Archives and Golems and Kafka: Oh my !
Well, we are three for three with the amazingly beautiful weather in this amazingly beautiful city!
Even after a full night of exploring Prague "on their own" for the first time, all our intrepid students were up and at 'em early in the morning this morning (OK, one of our merry band might have needed a little help, but he got there) for our stop: the Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes. We all successfully navigated the tram, which is ...
Vienna to Prague
... in 1989, during the Velvet Revolution was used for large demonstrations (with hundreds of thousands of people or more).
We made it to the Old Town Square in time for the change of the hour so we could watch the medieval astronomical clock do it's thing. Here's what we saw: "our figures flanking the clock set in motion at the hour, representing four things that were despised at the time of the ...
Pretty Much Perfect Prague
... our hands. And so the longest night of the trip began, with Laura falling asleep at 3am and Tom not getting any zzzz's till about 4. Awaking dead to the world we began our first day, which was designated to venture about the famous monuments in around Stalins park and Petrins Hill, detouring via the castle. Being a extremely overcast day, we unfortunately did not get to enjoy the views which the lookouts were rumored to give but did love the different monuments we got ...
Flying Like Birds
... about a minute. It was so AWESOME! It's like you are fly, but only falling at the same time. The parachute comes out and we float for about five minutes. He did a couple fun spirals while we were going down too, which made it way more fun. Since life has been so exciting today, we head out for the night again to try some of the other bars. We found this club that was in the canal in a boat. So much fun! We danced all night ...


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If you're looking for sexy burlesque costumes for a fancy dress party then look no further. We stock a beautiful range of burlesque fancy dress which will make you look seductive and sexy. Moulin Rouge costumes are a popular choice for fans of the Musical or the film. You could even recreate the Moulin Rouge costumes from the Lady Marmalade music video featuring Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliot, Mya, Lil' Kim and Pink. Burlesque is a popular form of striptease which is popular in cabaret and clubs. It is often associated with 1930s and 1940s Hollywood glamour and it has begun to get popular again with many burlesque dance classes now available to join. So show off your moves in one of our burlesque fancy dress outfits!
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Our sexy burlesque fancy dress includes a Lace Burlesque costume which is a short red halter neck dress with a black skirt, a Fringe Stripe Burlesque costume which is a strapless black and pink striped dress with a tutu skirt, and a Bow Burlesque costume which is a black dress with a bright pink halter neck strap and pink bows. We even have a Madame Vamp costume which is a burlesque style Vampire; perfect for Halloween parties! Any of these outfits could be worn as a Dita Von Teese costume. Dita is a famous American burlesque dancer and actress. Our costumes can also be worn as Moulin Rouge fancy dress outfits, and you would look at home in any cabaret wearing them!
Once you have chosen your burlesque outfit you can start adding accessories. We have pretty mini top hats, elbow length gloves, and stockings or tights in our hosiery section.
Ordered the Little Dead Riding Hood outfit yesterday morning and it's arrived today. Wow, the outfit is amazing, love it!! ....and the delivery couldnt be better. Thankyou :-)
Ordered the Little Dead Riding Hood outfit yesterday morning and it's arrived today. Wow, the outfit is amazing, love it!! ....and the delivery couldnt be better. Thankyou :-)


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Report: Shane Dillon, former Colorado QB, headed to San Diego
Jul 25, 2013, 1:20 PM EDT
Remember Shane Dillon?
He's the former quarterback at Colorado, a guy that was recruited to sling the pigskin by some of the biggest football programs in the country, that decided to quit the sport to return to the hardwood. We wrote about him here.
And, according to Matt Norlander, Dillon's made his decision. He'll be heading to San Diego.
Dillon made an effort to play on Colorado's basketball team, but Tad Boyle didn't have an open scholarship, and playing two sports at the collegiate level is an easy way to destroy an semblance of a social life. You're not a college kid when you're in season, and playing football and basketball means you're always in season.
Before making the choice to leave Colorado, Dillon did approach Buffaloes basketball coach Tad Boyle. The team just didn't have an open scholarship for him. Between that and the firing of football coach Jon Embree after the end of last season, the choice seemed more of a no-brainer as the months wore on. He told his parents he'd try to do workouts with football in the spring.
"But I knew my heart was somewhere else," Dillon said.
It always was. During the season, Dillon would sneak in pick-up games late at night, after football practice. And he upped his play on the court during formal intramural play in the spring.
"I probably shouldn't have played, but I played," he said. "That was the turning point for me. I looked at myself and said, If I'm sneaking in here and playing these games because I love it, am I really doing what I want to do?"
It will be interesting to see what Dillon turns into in the WCC.
With the likes of Gonzaga, St. Mary's and BYU in the conference, however, it's surely going to be better competition than those intramural games.
You can find Rob on twitter @RobDauster.
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As a means to both promote their product and get a giggle out of would-be consumers, Triggertrap put together this witty short video that highlights a few ways you can use their robust triggering system to catch would-be Christmas thieves ala Home Alone.
Posts Tagged 'steal'
Is Etsy the New Silk Road for Copyright Infringement?
While browsing through my image search results on PIXSY (a new service that finds and invoices image theft for you), I was surprised to see my picture for sale on Etsy (above). My immediate reaction:
- What an ugly mousepad. I'd never print my photo like this.
- The seller seems to be stealing thousands of photos. How could Etsy let this happen?
- Who had the nerve to think they could do this?
So my picture was the party and I wasn't invited. I decided to see what I could do to notify the seller and contact Etsy about the problem. Read more…
Here's How iPhone Thermal Cameras Can Be Used to Steal Your Pin Codes
There are a lot of great, fun, and interesting things people can do with an iPhone and that FLIR 'predator vision' infrared camera case we told you about at the beginning of this year. But, as it turns out, there is also a very bad thing people can do.
Using just an iPhone and the Thermal camera case, people can actually steal your PIN codes, be that for an ATM or that keypad on your car or garage door. Read more…
Facebook Photos Employee Posts Step-by-Step Instructions for Stealing Grad Photos
It takes about 13 steps (give or take a step) to steal a graduation proof off of the Grad Images website and remove the watermark in Photoshop, but it only takes one step to get everybody in the photo community to hate you: post those 13 steps online in a cheeky blog post about "freeing" your grad photos.
Which brings us to Jesse Chen, a software engineer, graduate of UC Berkley and member of the Facebook Photos team who saw nothing wrong with posting detailed photo theft instructions on his blog for his fellow graduates. Read more…
Anti-Piracy Group Accused of Stealing the Photo They Used in an Anti-Piracy Ad
Well this is awkward… We're all for people advocating for copyright law and making sure that people at least understand that it's bad to steal other people's intellectual property, but if you're going to do it, you might want to follow your own rules.
Case in point: Anti-piracy group The Business Software Alliance was called out this weekend for allegedly using a stolen photo in an anti-piracy ad that encouraged people to turn in unlicensed software users. Read more…
Curious Octopus Attempts to Snag Entire Underwater SLR Rig from Diver
Sea creatures are out to get your cameras. Don't believe us? Well the evidence is overwhelmingly in our favor. Sharks, crabs and manta rays have all tried to snatch photography equipment from unsuspecting camera men and women in the past, and this video shows that octopuses (octopi? moosen?) are trying to get in on the action as well. Read more…
Nikon D600 Kits Plummet to Ridiculously Low Prices Around the Web
If you've recently purchased a Nikon D600 at its standard body-only retail price of $2,000, you might want to stop reading this post lest you suddenly find yourself filled with manufacturer-induced buyers remorse. If you're a budget-conscious photographer in the market for a new full-frame DSLR, today might be your lucky day.
Nikon has launched a brand-wide fire sale of the Nikon D600. While the body-only price hasn't changed, retailers around the web are selling the camera with a bundled lens and pricey accessories for the same price as the body itself.
Read more…
Gone in 30 Seconds: Photog Holds Show and Invites Strangers to Steal His Photos
Copenhagen, Denmark-based photographer Lukas Renlund recently came up with a neat way of drumming up some excitement over his photographs. He held a public photo exhibition called "Steal My Photograph!" that turned out to be possibly the world's shortest show. After hanging up 40 framed photographs on a wall outdoors, Renlund invited passersby to take any single photograph they desired, with one condition: they had to hang it up, photograph it, and then email the photo and description to Renlund.
Read more…
Thieves Stealing Camera Lenses from Around Photographers' Necks
The next time you're walking around with a DSLR around your neck and a stranger asks you for directions, you might want to keep a hand on your lens. Yesterday BBC's "The Real Hustle" included a short segment in which they demonstrated how easy it is to steal a lens on the street. The con artists simply detach and pocket the camera lens of an unsuspecting photographer while pretending to ask for directions. Apparently this is a real con that thieves are using these days…
(via Pixiq)
Canon A490 for $50 Today on Amazon
In the market for a cheap compact camera? Amazon's Gold Box deal of the day today is a Canon A490 for $50. Be sure to also grab the free Lowepro case if you decide to buy.
Canon PowerShot A490 (via Photography Bay)
Update: There's also an amazing deal for a Canon SD1300 over at Radioshack. The $180 camera is currently priced at $70!


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A collection of news and information related to Highway and Road Transportation published by this site and its partners.
Top Highway and Road Transportation Articles
Displaying items 13-24
Early morning water main break causes flooding and road delaysStory | Dec 7, 2013 | 12:35 PMA water main break caused flooding and road delays for Burbank motorists early Saturday morning as utility crews worked to repair the broken pipe and road surfaces undermined by the flood. Crews were called to Olive Avenue and Niagara Street at 1 a.m....
Intersections set for signal upgrades in Burbank
Burbank to skate into holidaysStory | Oct 11, 2013 | 2:55 PMWinter lovers, rejoice. The Burbank City Council signed off on plans to bring a temporary ice-skating rink to downtown Burbank through the holiday season, hailing the project as a "fresh idea" that will draw consumers to local businesses....
Delays on I-5 in Burbank expected for carpool lane construction
High-speed pursuit suspect slammed into 15 cars before arrest in BurbankStory | Aug 3, 2013 | 3:05 PMAn unlicensed Las Vegas woman involved in a high-speed police pursuit that ended in Burbank Saturday morning was arrested after crashing into 15 cars, according to California Highway Patrol. When a California Highway Patrol officer tried to pull over the...
Update: Burbank high-speed pursuit suspect identified as Las Vegas womanStory | Aug 3, 2013 | 5:05 PMCalifornia Highway Patrol officials have identified an unlicensed Las Vegas woman who allegedly led police on a high-speed pursuit, crashing into 15 cars before stopping in Burbank on Saturday morning. Tirza Saravia-Reyes, 35, was arrested Saturday,...
7-car pileup halts traffic on 5 Freeway in Santa ClaritaStory | May 10, 2013 | 2:21 PMA seven-car pileup had drivers trapped on the northbound 5 Freeway in Santa Clarita on Friday afternoon, after a crash that authorities said began with a hit-and-run left four lanes of the roadway blocked for an hour. California Highway Patrol officials...
Las Vegas woman pleads not guilty after allegedly crashing into 15 carsStory | Aug 6, 2013 | 8:26 PMA Las Vegas woman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to two felony counts after she allegedly was involved in a high-speed police pursuit that ended in Burbank Saturday after her vehicle crashed into 15 cars, according to California Highway Patrol. Tirza...
Burbank council votes to approve Screenland Drive sidewalks
Girl, 10, a passenger in police car chase in BurbankStory | Jun 3, 2013 | 11:53 AMA man was arrested in Burbank this weekend on suspicion of child endangerment after he allegedly led police on a brief chase with his 10-year-old niece in the car. The car chase shut down the southbound Golden State (5) Freeway for 10 minutes early...
A look at what's in Burbank's news pipeline
Planning board to review IKEA expansion project in BurbankStory | Jan 10, 2014 | 5:04 PMSwedish furniture giant IKEA may get one step closer next week to building its largest store in the United States as its proposed expansion project is slated to come before the Burbank Planning Board on Monday. The retailer announced a little more...