text:
- Nic Marks
- London
- United Kingdom
Director, Happiness Works
This conversation is closed.
Should Governments start to measure what really matters to people - their happiness? Or should they stay out of such a private matter?
David Cameron, UK prime minister, has recently announced that the UK will create a new indicator of National Well-being. He said as much in his TED talk last year and now he is walking his TED talk! This is something we have argued for at new economics foundation for some time - and I also lay out my thoughts in my recent TED book - The Happiness Manifesto. But are we right? Is this a valid aim of government? Or should government just simply stay out of such a private realm? Indeed can government stay out of this realm? Fo example unemployment makes people unhappy but does inflation? Should a government therefore concentrate more on security of jobs than controlling the money supply? What about education - should kids be educated to fulfil labour market requirements or to lead fulfilling lives? So many areas that Governments touch our lives - the economy, the financial markets, health services, schools, local engagement and the built environment. How could they be different - nay better?
DISCUSS ... I would love to know TEDsters views!
Lee Coursey
Feb 16 2011: Stay out of it! If the government decides to start measuring our level of happiness, the following will almost certainly happen, based on past history. None of these is good:
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1) The government will spend more taxpayer (or borrowed) money to build the "Happiness Assessment and Reporting Department." This department will balloon to 12,000 federal employees within ten years.
2) Politicians will manipulate the regulations governing the specific components whose measurements go into the Happiness Index, so they can get the results they want. Primarily, the party in power will want to change the law so the Happiness Index will go up, and those out of party will try to manipulate it to make it go down.
3) Government will never be satisfied with just MEASURING happiness. They will feel compelled to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT, which (A) is not a proper function of government, (B) will undoubtedly backfire and have unintended negative consequences, and (C) will cost money to implement.
Let's just go back to having the government protect our basic rights, defend the borders, establish a currency, and operate the courts. We can do everything else better as private citizens.
Feb 16 2011: OK, but what if we combine happiness index with increased direct democratic participation? Then there will be not so much power left for the government to exploit it for its own needs.
Aldous Blair
Feb 17 2011: I understand you well-presented argument, but I do see a measurement of General Well-Being as symbolic of an important change from government caring more about money, to more about it's citizens, whose job to represent is indeed the foremost purpose of government.
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Whether that symbolic change with translate into something practical improvement to civilian's lives, and whether that is government's responsibility, is up for debate. The idea that politicians would manipulate the figures to reflect their record better is very believable and implies the need for it to be run 'quango' style.
Though to be honest I would be more worried about self-identified plutocrats wanting the figures to be manipulated out of fear what would be found.
Sara Mayhew
Feb 19 2011: I don't like the sound of it. Wellbeing and prosperity involve more than just feeling happy. In other words, though it may not sound nice, there are more important things than being happy. Anyone who's read Aldous Huxley's Brave New World will understand the dangers of a society that places comfort and happiness as its highest priority.
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Feb 19 2011: i think i agree with you there, and i'd add it's that often pursuing goals other than happiness that is what ultimately brings happiness about.Feb 23 2011: What Nic meant was well-being, more than happiness.
I agree that physical comfort is probably highly overrated, to say the least, as a factor contributing to well-being. From what I have observed, it's the other way around: the less pampered people's lives are in the physical sense (while having their basic needs met) the less burdened they are, and thus better off.
@Ben Explicitly going after it may indeed lead to hedonism and false choices, whereas a life devoted to something outide of you, brings you happiness as a side effect.
Chip Conley mentioned in his talk that the Bhutanese Prime Minister said that their goal was also not to generate happiness, but to "create the conditions for happiness to occur".
This seems like the right approach on a macro-scale, and I assume that likewise, individuals create these conditions by focussing their energies outside themselves with good intention.Feb 19 2011: I think that this is a critical topic and that we have to both change what we measure in quantitative metrics (ie we need to be measuring our natural resources as an asset that is currently being depleted, recognizing that it underpins our traditional wealth and our happiness), and that we need to fit in qualitative aspects - measure not just the size of growth, including natural resources, but also measure the quality of that growth. Joe Stiglitz and the Sarkozy Commission on the metrics piece of this have done important work here (will be interesting to see if this can be central to the G20 agenda); and on qualitative assessments, that is where Bhutan and their GNH (Gross National Happiness) discussed below is an example, a potential model, to consider and from which to learn. They feel they have compromised with lower per capita income, but that they have high other, perhaps even more accurate, happiness indicators (psychological) and related high values such as amount of forest cover, natural system protection. I believe we need to change what we are measuring and how both in governments, and in corporations, in order to better direct financial flows, investments, to value and grow what matters more for what may be more true to why we are here, for happiness. Even for love. Naive? I think an imperative for avoiding a very chaotic, dangerous, and unhappy future.
Feb 23 2011: Completely agree.
When viewing a country as an entity, not only does it make perfect sense to devise measuring tools and metrics to scientifically assess what is needed to increase well-being, it seems unwise not to.
Tom Bell
Feb 16 2011: Nic, I think its dangerous for government to try to get anymore involved in our lives in anyway. Unfortunately in this age of austerity there will be an increasing amount of public sector bodies concentrating on "managing the credit" for whatever they can. Monitoring our collective progress up and down the happiness index will doubtless occupy the time of an army of public sector workers?
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Government should concentrate on creating the conditions in which things can happen and we in turn should measure them on their performance in this area; i.e. stop spending money on phrases and concentrate on building and repairing infrastructure. No potholes and no platitudes = happy populace.
Liz McLellan
Feb 17 2011: I think there's a big problem with the word "happiness" - We may have good statistical evidence to measure "well-being" where "happiness" is a very debatable term. It reminds me of the start of the discussions of "global warming" which was a frame for the discussion where "climate chaos" would have been more accurate and less confusing to people.
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Happiness is a mood that comes and goes depending on what one is doing. It's not possible to lock it in. It is a by product of an activity which you are deeply engaged it.
Contentment may not be such a good thing...where else does the impulse to improve the world come form but discontent.
Well-being however allows one to engage productively in the world....and states have an interest in developing the wide basis for well being for the populace.
Feb 17 2011: The thought of the state promulgating rules based on its determination of what promotes well being is just as frightening to me as rules promulgated to promote happiness. I'd prefer that the state limit its role in the personal lives of its citizens to the greatest degree reasonably possible. But, everyone's entitled to their own opinion, unless of course that opinion is destructive to the well being of the populace ;-)
Feb 24 2011: Think of it as a deepening respect for metrics and a focus on the information they give you about well being. I have to perform on the job and so does the state.
-infant mortality
-number of men over 80 without dimentia
-number of volunteer projects
-number of people who play music as a hobby (whatever...)
( I am sleepy and admittedly this is a list of the top of my head)
The only role for the state here is transparently measuring success and failure year after year on metrics that citizens AGREE on...
Many nations are moving in this direction as a matter of transparency not as a matter of determining choices for citizens but as a representation of the veracity of their policy and ideological claims. That I can't imagine any rational person objecting to...Feb 16 2011: Often the things that are supposed to make us happy, don't work. A perfect plan-economy and nanny-state would provide everybody with everything they need and distribute it evenly so no-one would want for anything. But we probably wouldn't be happy. To be happy, we need some control over our own lives, choices, risks, and failures. There has to be something to aspire to, something to grow beyond etc.
Good government should aspire to have happy people, and I think it's admirable of Cameron to realise this. But different things make different people happy, so what is most important is to allow as much freedom and opportunity as possible, and to give people access to the tools to make their aspirations happen. I would say that those tools are mostly made available through education.
Feb 17 2011: I think the government should do everything it can to promote the public welfare ...
.... but no more.
We need to measure it's ability to do so and stop it when it exceeds that ability.Feb 16 2011: This is something I've recently had a change of mind. Not quite change as much as blurring of mind.
No doubt that happiness is an important experience to have in life. But the more I thought about happiness as Guiding Principle the more it seems trivial.
I take the example of my country, Brasil. What if we took happiness as the most important measure of the economy. Well, certainly the government would start shifting (or increasing) investments into Carnaval, soccer matches, subsidizing prostitutes, beer and caipirinhas. The happiness index would skyrocket, and most of the people would indeed be more happy, but is that what we should be striving for?
As I said before, I have no current stance on this and as much as I agree that individual human well-being should be at the forefront of collective decision making, happiness strikes me as a very superfluous value. Not only that, but most of the things that we decided to be a part of our lives, because they makes us happy, were started by events that brought us "poor-being", discomfort or even physical and psychological pain. How could you tell if certain occurrences of "poor-being" won't turn into major well-being factors in the near of far future?
I remember the dread of learning some things in high-school that caused anger (not well being), but I'm very glad I did, cause it gave me the basis to love learning now. Similarly we could imagine that going to the dentist and fixing your cavities will bring you a lot of suffering, pain and discomfort. But the good that comes from that is, most of the time, worth the suffering. Emotional development works the same, it may be awful to go through some things growing up, like love break ups, friend betrayal or death of close ones, but all these "bad" emotional experiences make us grow and eventually (more often than not I hope) learn to be more balanced and have long standing well-being.
Perhaps happiness and well-being can't be achieved without suffering.
Feb 16 2011: But this problem is no different than the problems that politicians face with determining the economic guidelines and policies. If it was left for the society to decide, surely everyone would increase their wages, unemployment benefits, make education, healthcare free, etc. It's the task of politicians and policy-makers to foresee possible future implications of such actions and choose the ones that will serve people the best in the long-term. Quite similar principle can be applied to happiness.Feb 16 2011: I think the definition of happiness is at question here. In Bhutan, where this concept seems to have originated, the predominant religion is Buddhism and I believe they would see happiness as something closer to "contentedness" or "satisfaction with life" than the temporary pleasure of soccer matches. That "satisfaction" comes from everything in our experience and suffering is a part of understanding that experience.
The types of choices the government has to make wouldn't change - only the measure of success. Gross National Happiness as opposed to Gross National Product.Feb 17 2011: Agreed. Replace "happiness" => "well-being"
Feb 17 2011: Agree. "Well-being" seems easier to define than "happiness":>)
Eric Ingram
Feb 16 2011: Government should stay out of our personal matters, completely. Enforce contracts, private property, provide for the common defense, period.
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Feb 16 2011: Yeah, the best government is invisible government, truly. But be realistic: most people are no more able to conduct a good, happy life by themselves due to external pressure. Mass media, consumerist values etc. are affecting us so much that if people are left exposed to all this, in the meantime they will be dumbed-down completely. Indeed, the popular culture is becoming more and more immense and penetrating, and few people are able to stand completely against this. That's our endorsed capitalism and libertarianism :)
New index of happiness might be able to partially prevent this or even reverse - it would account for these "non-governmental" factors and thus provide strong, substantial grounds for limiting negative media's effect on people's lives.Feb 16 2011: Why not more?
Tim Colgan
Feb 17 2011: Survival of the fittest you say?
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liam o'dugan
Feb 17 2011: I believe the important thing in Cameron's statement is what he is choosing to measure, Happiness in addition to other indicators of progress and health. The Calvert/Henerson indicators project seeks to measure quality of life. http://www.calvert-henderson.com/ From these kinds of things, one can start to judge whether governments (at all levels) are creating the conditions that allow for the pursuit of happiness, not whether governments can make us happy. Two different jobs. I prefer they get the former right.
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Liz McLellan
Feb 24 2011: Well said...and yes...it strikes me as very strange that it's controversial...at all.That said - taking a quick look at that-- and their definition of "waste" they have what seems to be a really outdated (1970s) view on what waste is and how to handle it....So that puts me in with folks that let out a big heavy sigh when people place too much faith in the wrong institutions...government or otherwise...
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Nic Marks
Feb 16 2011: Great to get home from work and see so many comments! I think those TEDsters talking about Governments not being able to directly make us happy are right. However governments are one of the major influencers of the conditions for happiness (others include businesses, institutions and culture). By happiness I actually mean our broader well-being - how we feel and also crucially how we are doing. Today we launched a new report laying out how we think well-being and progress can be measured - the report is part of our contribution to the current debate in the UK. The report is freely available here for those interested:
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Later today I was in a meeting in the UK Houses of Parliment - an all party committee on measuring well-being. A prominent member of the UK government talked very openly about how politics all over the world had become very dry and was afraid of people's emotional lives. He was almost lamenting about how nearly all of us read novels, are moved by aesthetics and have strong emotional relationships - but somehow this is not valid for politics. Why? How have we let the political realm become so seperate from people's actual lived experience?
Adam Burk
Feb 16 2011: Nic, I agree that government could take up the charge to create the conditions for happiness to flourish. In fact, this would be a noble move.Feb 16 2011: governments fail at providing wealth, so they shifted the goalpost. but it won't take long before they fail at the new task as well. governments are just as unable to create happiness. except it will be less obvious, as measuring happiness is even more problematic than measuring wealth. much more problematic. one could call it impossible.Feb 16 2011: Of course they should. Look at Egypt, had there been a proper two way communication channel, and had the issues of the everyday citizen been addressed, the situation would have been different. Similarly, for any nation to develop properly and fully there must be 100% transparency. It is the key to a civil-democratic society.
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Innovative technologies must be put to use for this. Probably, developing social media channels for easy public accessibility and understanding, outreach programs and events that engage communities, local redressal programs, etc.
Eric Lawton
Feb 23 2011: I was looking at a news feed yesterday which was about Texas voting on permitting handguns on university campuses.
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There was an accompanying advertisement with a picture of a battlefield with one soldier applying a white patch and the slogan "Stop severe bleeding fast - saves lives" (sorry, I'm not going to give them another ad).
Gross Domestic Product would be improved by the gun sale, the ammo, and the anti-coagulant. Even "better" would be if the anti-coagulant didn't work and a funeral was necessary. Surely we can devise a measure which better reflects how well a nation is doing than the GDP. And as others have pointed out in this thread, the U.S. constitution guarantees "pursuit of happiness" so how do we know how well they are doing in enabling this if there is no measure of success? I know it was pointed out that it is only the right to engage in the pursuit, not the achievement, but we can leave it to the citizen to do the pursuing and take the average achievement as being a proxy measure for the success of enabling of the pursuit which is the government's constitutionally required job. It would certainly be a better measure than GDP.Feb 21 2011: After reading this TED conversation, I presented this concept to my Economics professor and he approved it as a topic for a research paper. His favorite Economist is Joseph Stiglitz which I saw mentioned above. I'm very intrigued by the ideas shared here, and it has compelled me to learn more. If you have a moment, please recommend any pertinent articles, books, source material, etc. There appears to be some very good source material within the thread already so no need to repeat anything already mentioned. Thank you for the inspiration!
Feb 22 2011: Benita - check out our most recent report called Measuring Our Progress - free to download from here:
There is also the OECD wikiprogress site:
(this has masses of leads to follow up!)
Feb 22 2011: Thank you for giving me a great topic for my research paper and for the data above, Nic!
Kind Regards,
Feb 24 2011: Hope you will post the results here Benita!Feb 18 2011: Yep...sorry...I'm one of "those" people...I wrote such a long post I had to divide it into three parts...here is the final thought:
If a government were to decide to measure the true well-being of its citizens then one would need to ask the following questions: What is the driving force behind the measurement? For what purpose? Is it being measured with sincerity? What is the practical application of the information? What are the benefits of measuring happiness? If it's purely political motivation as a talking point, well then, it's worthless and could potentially be harmful. But if the information were gathered to ensure the conditions for the pursuit of happiness were possible then I'm in support…send me the questionnaire (just don't ask me where I like to be tickled).Feb 18 2011: Why is the measurement of whether I'm happy a private matter? I've read enough Cosmopolitan and Maxim Magazine polls to know that nothing seems private or sacred when sharing intimate information about activities that make a person happy. I also find it highly unlikely the government would concern themselves with such "private" topics. Measuring GNH (Gross National Happiness), as they do in Bhutan, includes measuring health, psychological well-being, education, environment, living standards, governance, how and whether culture is being fostered and the what sense of community is with its citizens. Many governments measure these same things, but it's how the information is interpreted, the purpose behind the measurement and the exact aspect of the field being measured that sets it apart from other countries.
Ask yourself, would you prefer to live in a country that promotes peace and personal happiness (a happiness many of us have forgotten to recognize) or one that promotes political power and accumulation of resources?
Bhutan seems to accomplish the task of measuring happiness quite successfully, but many westernized countries have very different cultural values. Those values are shaped by the society we are raised in. Bhutan's goal is to pursue the simplicity of being "good human beings". Their most important goal IS the happiness of the people, which is based on deeply spiritual motivations. The US culture, my culture, was founded on certain principles (freedom, equality and pursuit of happiness) that have morphed under motivations of personal gain and the pressure to be "The World's Policeman", "The World's Banker", "A Super-Power" and a nation of self-made multimillionaires living the "American Dream". I think the real question to ask is "have countries adopted false ideas of happiness that ARE being measured, but prevent nations from fostering true well-being for its citizenry?" (side note…I LOVE my country warts and all).Feb 18 2011: What an interesting question. I enjoyed answering it so much that I practically wrote a novel and gave several answers because the way the questions were posed left it open to a number of different interpretations.
I read through the thread of answers and I'm surprised many did not answer it directly. I read a lot of cynicism and negativity toward government and anything pertaining to government. I read numerous comments posing the question of whether happiness can be defined, or is it even an end goal. I read questions asking how measurement is possible. Very few people however answered the question directly or even questioned the validity of the question.
When asked "should governments start to measure what really matters to people-their happiness" I'd answer that one could argue they already do. I will use the United States as my example. The US Government measures GDP which sums up the standard of living of its citizens. Wages, profits, economic growth, employment, corporate profitability, number of new business start-ups, graduate and post graduate degrees and national test scores are all measured by the government and since US citizens (I am stereotyping here, but reasonably so) seem to value money, success, power and prestige one could argue these things are their version of happiness and they are already being measured. If this were the case, then the answer to the second question is that the citizens don't view the matter private and in fact are even happier when their success and "happiness" is broadcast to the world.
One could also read the first question and ask is happiness (as the author of the question is intending it) what really matters to citizens? Perhaps. Many peoples' lives are lived miserably as a result of their own actions which never seem to change…so are they even interested in happiness?Feb 18 2011: I think governments have an extremely hard task to actually know what 'we' want. Most of us rarely know what we want ourselves. Ever-changing styles governed by people who don't really care about us, only how they can put their name out there and make some money. The generation in their 50's now are going to want something different from what the generation in their 20's will want when they hit 50.
I think trying to keep everyone happy is a battle no-one should start. Perhaps governments should be creating a society that enables people to be flexible with their lives in a way that doesn't leave employers in shit and our economy screaming. Most people stay in crappy situations because it's just easier. Figure that one out and I think governments will be one step closer. I know a lot of people that go through cycles; They're not happy with their situation, so they change it and slowly bring themselves out of a hole. Only to find something else wrong with their new situation and do it all over again. Can we change something that may actaully be built into us as humans?Feb 17 2011: I do NOT think that anyone is hoping that a government will try to "measure" our happiness. The point the Bhutan government is making is that, as it makes decisions, the criteria for those decisions is how it will affect the overall well-being of all of the population. That isn't invasive in any way - it's a government that weighs the impact of every decision against its affect on every member of their society.
Tim Colgan
Feb 17 2011: At the begining of the current economic crisis there was a meeting of world leaders (The London Summit 2009) which was held under the rubric of "Growth, jobs and stability". At the time I thought - shouldn't the focus be "Sustainability, Quality of Life, Justice"?
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As long as our goal remains on maximizing GDP we're going to destroy the planet, remain in endless wars fighting over dwindling resources and work ourselves to death. Humans are capable of more.
So yes, I think there is a need to focus on citizen well-being. And although it will be flawed (and in need of constant refinement) a way to measure it would be useful.Feb 17 2011: There are multiple issues being discussed in this thread.
1) is happiness the ultimate personal/collective objective (my answer is yes)
2) Should governments intervene to ensure that the ultimate collective/personal objective (be it money or happiness) is maximized- if not directly aim for making people wealthy/happy, to at least ensure the conditions for economic stability/ flourishing; emotional stability/ flourishing. ?
Again my answer is yes, government are there to govern the relationship between individuals/ collectives ; by narrowly focusing on 'ensure that contracts are enforced' we are falling in the domain of reciprocity when talking about human relationships- a market focussed viewpoint that is based on personal self -interest and reciprocity , ensuring that contracts are honored will lead to good outcomes. However Steven pinker has been pointing out that human relationships fall at least in 3 domains - dominance, mutuality/ friendship and reciprocity. While money , centered around reciprocal relationships , is suited for 'market taking care of itself' mentality; what works in one domain dos not necessarily work in other domain. If we aim for maximizing happiness, we move into domains of mutuality/friendships where contacts between people are shown to have larger effect on happiness than contracts and we need new ways of thinking about Governments role- ensure that relationships are healthy/ intimate?
And what role government plays and what decision it makes will vitally depend on whether happiness is end goal or economic prosperity. Suppose many call centers are being set in India and are leading to economic prosperity, but at the same time due to night shift work/ some other reason are putting people at much stress and unhappiness perhaps leading to fragmentations of relationships as measured by increasing divorce rates etc in that population - in that case govt incentives to that industry maybe inline with economic imperative but not happiness goal.Feb 17 2011: Government is our cooperative business, not a California hug-fest. As well-intentioned as David Cameron may be, he is not, nor has any politician before him, connected to the millions of British subjects. Centralised governance is always dangerous and there has never been a single flicker of escape from that system since the strongest ape became dominant.
How to operate a widely-connected system of governing? Simple really. Everyone expresses their answer to a posed question. Exactly. I hear you all yelling "referenda". It's the connecting that might be difficult. I hereby claim as my intellectual property www.referenda. When 60 million Brits are signed up, David C. can pose his first question.
Mine would be "Should we ban exporting weapons?"
Straight to the point yet impossible to ask in any chamber of government. Why? Because, and herein lies the problem with the whole "happiness" nonsense, no one in government speaks on behalf of the nation, each and every one is beholden to someone exerting influence, even if, on the lowest level, it is his or her spouse. Realistically, it is on a level of lobbying, money and blackmail. The UK is the world's 2nd largest exporter of weapons. How in the world can that be in the interests of the British people. It is not, thus proving that our interests do not count. The "Are you happy?" campaign is a smoke screen.
Cameron, if you want to connect, ask us what we want or better yet, what we don't want, tabulate the responses and make it happen. Then most of us will be happier and we can move on to the next problem irking us. See how it works, David? Think of it as "Why are you miserable?" campaign.
Feb 23 2011: Very important point.
Money politics, however, is something that can only gradually wane, not something that can be changed overnight. The other end of the spectrum would be "happiness politics". (which you seem to view rather cynically)
There is no 1 solution for making the shift toward more happiness-oriented politics, not even embracing referenda as primary guidance tool in decision making. Referenda are of limited use, because hardly anybody is informed enough on most subjects to help guide collective policy. Having specialized representatives doing that for you is a good idea.
The corruption corporate lobbying introduces in terms of politicians representing "the people", is something that will diminish as constituencies get organized in their own lobby groups on subjects that matter to them.
In this respect the internet is a blessing. People are making themselves heard like never before. (Avaaz, Amnesty, var. petitions)
A good example is the grassroots resistance against factory farming in the Netherlands at the moment. Animal rights organizations, backed by scientists, use their funds to INFORM THE LARGER PUBLIC, including those who presently still care most about cheap meat, about what factory farming actually entails these days.
Right now, Dutch parlement has established a moratorium on newly built CAFO's until the impacts on human health, animal welfare, the environment have been properly assessed.
People have to be properly informed first. Only then is it possible to politically leverage the expertise and drive that is present in specialized NGO's. These groups need large numbers of people backing them to be effective players.
This is only going to get better, since it is so much easier to connect to people.
And: this is also is changing the way corporations operate. They are more and more inclined to use NGO-knowledge in their decision-making.
Information is the key. Once informed, focus momentum through NGO's to influence policy.
Liz McLellan
Feb 24 2011: You're miserable because you're English.
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*I kid
Randy Robida
Feb 16 2011: I find it difficult to begin without an expletive. Its hard for me to imagine anything much more frightening than the government attempting to measure happiness. One can only assume that the purpose of measuring it would be so that the government could then get busy helping everyone be happier. To borrow a quote, "Forbid it almighty God". That's the last thing I need.Feb 16 2011: It is as the comment above states: "So many areas that Governments touch our lives..."
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Perhaps the government doesn't have to have direct influence with this topic, but it would certainly benefit all of us if the government was aware of this information. If the government is not aware of what matters to the majority of people, the gov. cannot effectively create and direct policies/ laws to accomodate what the majority of people want...can they? If we don't have all the information, the results of our efforts are not as accurate as they might be with all appropriate information.
David Spence
Feb 16 2011: The more government does and measures the larger the government gets and therefore the more expensive the government gets. My mother used to say to me "No one can make you happy but your self." How can we expect government to do for it's people what the people will not do for themselves? To measure over all happiness could be an interesting indicator of overall social health of a nation but government should not be responsible for individual happiness. That is why the American constitution does not give a right to happiness but rather the liberty to pursue our own happiness.
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Feb 16 2011: I got the same information as a child David..."no one can make you happy but yourself", and that was very valuable information, in my perception:>)
The government is the people, and the people are the government, are we not? I don't expect the government to do something without my help! I agree that government is not responsible for individual happiness, and I also believe that the government we elect has a responsibility to serve all the people. In that respect, they (government officials) should have a clear picture of what matters most to most people. What do you think?Feb 17 2011: David, I agree and then disagree. We are responsible for our own happiness, and living in the United States there are conditions and opportunities that we take for granted on a daily basis that allows us to rest back on our laurels and think this is the only truth.
Governments should not be charged with creating happiness by rather ensuring that the conditions for well-being are present. This doesn't have to create any more complex systems than we already have, in fact they could be simplified. This idea of measuring well-being is a synthesizing concept that could reduce the size of government through elimination of redundancies and the creation of more collaborative government bodies. Another conversation for another time perhaps...
Feb 17 2011: I wholeheartedly agree that we take a lot for granted in the United States, and I also agree that ultimately, we are responsible for our own happiness. And yes, I percieve that the government could help ensure that the conditions for well-being are present and this could be done with much more simple systems. In order to achieve this, there would have to be some serious house cleaning in our government!Feb 17 2011: So it's not the government's function to "promote the general Welfare"? Perhaps it's time for a constitutional amendment.
Feb 17 2011: I would like to see governments promote the general welfare of the people. If we go back to the basic ideas of the constitution, it appears to be a very well thought out, beneficial document. We seem to have complicated the government's practices, laws and policies with redundancies and complex systems, which may not be necessary? it's really difficult to simplify anything once it has become complex, but I believe it to be possible:>) I'll sign my name "Pollyanna":>) LOLFeb 16 2011: Its a lovely idea and of course begs the next question " What is happiness" but can government or rather the machinery of government engage into this area? I don't think government cannot directly improve overall happiness rather use the notion of increased happiness as a guiding image/value behind all policy and action. How would happiness as a policy driver sit with the politics of the state. It seems politicians ( and others) so often use fear as a social control mechanism . Fear of crime, disease, old age, youth, others etc. Would an increase in overall happiness result in reduced overall fear?
Perhaps the first place to start would be to measure the happiness of governments and their servants.Feb 16 2011: The failure of capitalism and its values will naturally and inevitably demand that new measures of happiness are implemented. However, this will be a difficult task for the world's governments. New methods will have to be tested, and subjects of these experiments will be us.
Now, the problem I see is that there are few governments that are genuinely devoted to increasing people's welfare. Usually, it is the balance between corporate lobbyists' and society's demands that politicians have to find. The measure of happiness is intended to shift the weight to society's side, increasing its welfare. However, at the moment there's so much uncertainty as to the definition of the happiness, its measurement etc., that this uncertainty can be easily exploited /against/ the welfare of society, of course in the most covert and subtle ways.
The challenge, therefore, will be to find definitive and unambiguous indicators that will truly represent people's rates of happiness and leave no place for negative exploatation. This strict operationalization can be very difficult due to relatively elusive nature of happiness, where subjective criteria is unavoidable. However, it's only important that the subjectivity will remain with the people being surveyed, rather than with the politicians and lawyers devising the legislation.Feb 16 2011: isn't that the function of religion in a society?
Feb 16 2011: Interesting thought!
If religion is our yardstick for happiness, and our government steps in and judges/discredits this... won't that leave a lot of people, er, unhappy?
My question is HOW will we make this measurement? Isn't happiness relative - like art and poetry and music?
Feb 16 2011: "Please select your level of happiness:
- Happy
- Neutral
- Unhappy"
Something of the sort would have to be sent out to every single person.
Feb 23 2011: Interesting addition to the annual data collection as mentioned in http://www.ted.com/conversations/453/a_self_chosen_class_system_of.htmlFeb 16 2011: perhaps I'm unaware of exactly what you mean but my point was fundamentally different.
of course economic conditions affect people's happiness generally, but so do taxes, and not as much as war and famine.
Governments exist to keep the citizenry safe from tyranny and safe from anarchy. they're to do little else. if they do more they're getting in the way of everyone and it's a pain.
Churches and religion are essential (or at least have been essential for all of recorded human history) in order to keep a citizenry moral. and that morality is what fosters an environment where happiness can flourish. that's my point. you can't mandate happiness and governments can do nothing but mandate.
tell the governments to get out of the way. measuring happiness is not the issue. just teaching people how to be good to each other is the best thing we can do to increase happiness generally. and that is the responsibility of the churches.
Feb 16 2011: I agree with you - organized religion has a place in all society since the beginning of time. It's how we (as questioning human beings) answer those un-answerable questions.
I disagree however, with the idea that all churches teach morality. Many do promote that Golden Rule ("Do Unto Others...") but for a lot of religions right now, that's a bit like a parent telling a child, "Do as I say and not as I do..."
And I completely disagree with the idea that only through church, do you learn the lessons of right and wrong. We won't learn that from government, either. I'd like to think that it is innate to all healthy human beings.
I guess, before I can answer the question about a government's concern for our happiness, I need to understand how this happiness can be measured and determined by that same government. If you send me a form , you may get a different answer today than I will give tomorrow. Happiness is relative AND fleeting...
Adam Burk
Feb 18 2011: Morality is not the property of religion.
- +7
Ben Jarvis
Feb 19 2011: perhaps that could be said of some religions, however many religions are intrinsically divisive, with clear rules on how to treat non-believers, enforcing distinction and discrimination. perhaps there wouldn't be all this unrest in iraq if there were no such thing is shia muslims only sunnis (or vice versa).
- +2
Zdenek Smith
Feb 20 2011: Governments also exist for many other reasons. They should ensure human rights and freedoms are upheld. Governments can also promote healthy lifestyle. Governments are here to ensure the employees are not abused by their employers. Governments should be more concerned with protecting environment. They have the job to keep markets competitive (free from monopolies) and economy going (through control of interest rates). And so on.
- +2
It is a common misconception that only religion keeps people moral. Morality is in part learnt from various sources and in part it is based on genes.
One important job that the government has is to ensure that people have access to education. Education about happiness, ethics and work-life balance should be a high priority.Feb 21 2011: hiya zdenek, long time.
it's interesting that you mention access to education, and not the presence of education. i agree. it's terrible how in some country and some parts of countries education is restricted by psychologists who feel that students shouldn't learn how to deal with failure and instead force institutions to always be positive, by school boards who think that they know better than teachers what a curriculum should consist of and so limit what teachers are allowed to teach, and government bureaucrats who set fact-remembering-based tests as conditional on support, which has the effect of stifling real education.Feb 22 2011: Hi Ben, good to 'see' you.
Yes there are currently many barriers in the present education system and I think we have a few conversations here about how the system need to change. Luckily students can learn from the Internet (like with Wikipedia or TED) and people are becoming aware of these problems.Feb 23 2011: Mr. Adam
Yes indeed religion doesn't own morality yet some religions such as mine which is the christian-catholic religion is guided and teaches us about morale. And please do not say that what is that about the priests who rape childs they do not represent us the catholics for they are not us nor should you belive those fake catholics who believe only that which is best for them and not all of it. And yes science can answer questions about morality but so can religion. Let me ask something is abortion moraly correct? I believe it is not because since someone i s conceived they are alive and since they are alive they have complete right to be called human beings and if they are human beings they have the right to life but do you ask them before you kill them no you do not. I'm not saying that this is what you do or believe but what i am saying is that i believe that because of my religion and beause of science, So all I ask is that you do not take all religions to be saying that they own moralty that they created morality some just mean to guide us through it and help us understand it.
PS: If I was disrespectful I am very sorry it was not my intention.
Liz McLellan
Feb 24 2011: churches are there to keep people moral?
- +3
I beg to differ. I am a deeply moral atheist. I won't debate the issue because I am frankly bored with it. But I will also not let the assertion pass without noting it's ridiculousness.Feb 25 2011: Excuse me but it is not ridicule it is the truth it would be an entirely different thing to say that people just dont follow the rules as they should it is not my problem if you do not believe in any religion but it is my problem if you say that what I believe in is ridicule. Oh and by the way religion is diffirent that a church. Please next time you comment about someone else's religion know a little about it before you comment. Thank you.Feb 16 2011: Interesting concept Jordan. What about the people who are not connected with a church?
Feb 17 2011: I'm speaking of churches as far as their place in society, not necessarily as part of every individual's life.
a good analogy is the roads I drive on - they're paid for by taxes - taxes paid long before I started driving on them. so it is with the church's role in society. the groundwork has already been laid, whether or not I pay my taxes, whether or not I go to church.
I of course didn't make this all up. this was our George Washington's and our other founding fathers' position too.
Feb 17 2011: Good analogy with the roads Jordan:>) I agree that church's laid some ground work for moral behaviors. I also agree with Liz in the next thread, that some beliefs fostered by some churches have led the populous astray on some issues. I believe that we can draw from various sources to find our answers. Would it be benificial for individuals to take more responsibility for themselves with the support of churches, governments, civic groups, etc.? Do you think it's helpful or possible for churches and governments to relinqluish some of their control and participate more in the genuine empowerment of the people? That is my dream:>) I think for that to happen, many politicians and church leaders would have to give up their own agendas, and honestly evaluate how their actions impact the people they are serving.Feb 20 2011: @Jordan: Individuals and societies before and during Christianity helped to develop and create a ground work for morality. For example see the Age of Enlightement (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Age_of_Enlightenment) or look at Greek philosophers.
On some issues like women's and gay rights, slavery and freedom to vote, lots of ground work was done outside of church as well.Feb 21 2011: jordan i agree with you that at the present time churches have that role, but do you believe that no other institution is capable of fulfilling that role in place of churches?
persoally i think that although churches are given a place in society, that is not a necessity, as they do not provide something that no other organisation could.


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Attack of the Giant Crayola!
Why does "Ugly Betty" star Vanessa Williams look like a walking Crayola crayon?
Perhaps, as she told reporters at the Saggies, it's because she let her oldest daughter pick out this painfully bright, retina-scarring yellow Escada gown.
Let's just hope the little tyke is never allowed to do this again. Oh, wait. Her oldest daughter is 21.
Soo ... um, on the up side, major kudos to Miss V for not looking remotely like she could have a daughter that age.
Photo: WireImage


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""..the Rotunda is superbly located bang in the city centre with New Street and the famous Christmas market less than 20ft from our door – perfect for dropping off those heavy shopping bags."" North Devon Journal
"The New York Times recently named our second city as one of the hottest destinations for 2012...Its favourite place to stay? Staying Cool's apartments atop the Rotunda..." The Sunday Times
"There are no bellhops nor a gym...instead you get a Mac Mini, free Wi-Fi, an espresso machine and a juicer (oranges included)." The New York Times


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Can you add a few aliases for her:
Lin, Rin and Linn.
and also for Bart:
Can you add a few aliases for him:
Bat, Batt and Batto
This topic is locked from further discussion.
Can you add a few aliases for her:
Lin, Rin and Linn.
and also for Bart:
Can you add a few aliases for him:
Bat, Batt and Batto
Gritty Adaptation should probably get Gritty Reboot as an alias, since that's often what these are (and the page stands as testament to this).
Tokushu Hodobu -> Special Reporting Division (suggested English title)
Super Mario Land 2: 6 Tsu no Kinka should be an alias of Super Mario Land 2: 6 Golden Coins
Jonatan Soderstrom --> Cactus
Michael Solomons - Mick Solomons - Credited as this in Ashen.
Paragon Five, Inc. - Paragon 5
Atari Masterpieces Vol. 2 - Atari Masterpieces Vol. II
Rad Racer - Highway Star - Japanese Title
Mighty Switch Force -> Mighty Switch Force Hyper Drive Edition
(the full title of the Wii U port)
Elminage: Yami no Fujo to Kamigami no Yubiwa -> Elminage Original (official English title, so it should be flipped)
Knightmare -> Majou Densetsu (Japanese title)
Polar Panic -> Arctic Adventures (PS Minis title)
Polar Panic -> Arctic Adventures Brain Freeze (PS Mobile title)
Can you add an alias for Warriors: Legends of Troy. Can you add the Japanese name which is Troy Musou?
Could you please add the alias "Ubisoft Red Storm" to Red Storm Entertainment's page? The two terms are used at differing times for different projects and sometimes used interchangeably.
Thank you!
Untitled Double Fine Adventure should have 'Reds' as an alias. I wouldn't change the actual name just yet, since it's apparently just a code-name, but it definitely should be an alias.
Märchen Adventure Cotton 100% should probably have Marchen Adventure Cotton 100% as an alias. Isn't there a rule that accented pages should have non-accented aliases so we can find them?
Steve Gaynor
Steve "Hot Scoops" Gaynor
Steve "Scoops" Gaynor
UnchainBlades EXXIV -> Unchained Blades Exxiv (expected English title) (someone already did this)
Can the following be added as an alias?
Bat - Bart
Lin - Lynn
And then once these ones get updated from my post here:
This page -> Souther
This page -> Shuu
This page -> Ryuuga
This page -> Juuza
Done up to here.
For the KSG http://www.giantbomb.com/ksg/93-5705/ add "Kel-Tec Shotgun" as an alias.
Gary Oak - Remove Blue, add Shigeru
Ash Ketchum - Remove Red, add Satoshi
Blue - Add Green
Can someone add an alias?
Tomohisa Mitsuyasu -> J-Walk Mitsuyasu
As he's been credited under this name in a few games.
Major Virtue's Last Reward spoiler, but this should be added to the alias.
Done up to here.
David Mason needs the Alias Section. also, Chloe Lynch needs the alias Karma.
FIFA 08 -> FIFA 08: World Class Soccer
FIFA 09 -> FIFA 09: World Class Soccer
FIFA 10 -> FIFA 10: World Class Soccer
FIFA 11 -> FIFA 11: World Class Soccer
FIFA 12 -> FIFA 12: World Class Soccer
FIFA 13 -> FIFA 13: World Class Soccer
(Japanese titles)
the internet leads me to believe that before FIFA 08, the games didn't make it over to Japan so no need to alias those pages
The Wii version of FIFA 09 was also called "FIFA 09 All-Play" so that needs an alias as well.
Can someone add an alias
Akira Ohashi -> Akira Oohashi
As this person has been credited under the alias name as well?
The Denpa Men needs alias: Denpa Ningen no RPG
Brain Age: Concentration Training ->>> Dr. Kawashima's Devilish Brain Training - Can You Stay Focused?
Tokyo Crash Mobs ->>> Gyouretsu Nageloop
Rhythm Hunter Harmo Knight ->>> Rhythm Hunter HarmoKnight (page needs renaming to HarmoKnight anyway, put in a request in the page rename thread already, though)
Chris Seavor -> Christopher Seavor
One Piece: Kaizoku Musou 2 -> One Piece: Pirate Warriors 2 (expected English title)
PhotoKano -> PhotoKano Kiss (Vita port)
Akuu Senki Raijin -> Akara Senki Raijin (alternate translation/romaji)
Arumana no Kiseki -> Almana no Kiseki (alternate translation/romaji)
Batsu & Terii -> Bats & Terry (alternate translation/romaji)
Cyborg Hunter -> Chou-on Senshi Borgman (Japanese title)
Double Dribble -> Exciting Basketball (Japanese title)
Druid -> Druid - Kyoufu no Tobira (Japanese title for FDS version)
Fantasy Zone II -> Fantasy Zone 2 (number)
Flying Dragon: The Secret Scroll -> Hiryu no Ken (Japanese title)
Hiryu no Ken II: Dragon Tsubasa -- Hiryu no Ken 2 (number)
Jackal -> Final Commando: Akai Yousai (Japanese title for FDS version)
Kalin no Tsurugi -> Sword of Kalin, Karin no Tsurugi, Kalin no Ken, Karin no Ken (all alternate translated/romaji names)
Ninja-Kid II -> Ninja-kun - Ashura no Shou (Japanese title), JT-104 (alternate US arcade name), Rad Action (alternate US arcade name), Ninja-Kid 2 (number)
Power Strike -> Aleste (Japanese title)
Sangokushi: Nakahara no Hasha -> Sangokushi: Chuugen no Hasha (alternate translation/romaji)
Shadow Land -> Youkai Douchuuki (Japanese title)
Silviana -> Sylviana (alternate spelling)
SpellCaster -> Kujaku Ou (Japanese title)
Spelunker II -> Spelunker 2 (number)
Wonder Boy in Monster Land -> Bikkuriman World, Saiyuuki World (both alternate versions with different graphics, but otherwise identical)
Ys: The Vanished Omen -> Ys 1 (makes it easier to search for it)
Destiny of an Emperor -- Tenchi o Kurau (Japanese title)
Kung-Fu Heroes -- Super Chinese (Japanese title)
Little Ninja Brothers -- Super Chinese 2 (Japanese title)
Sid Meier's Civilization V: Gods & Kings --> Civ V: Gods & Kings, Civilization V: Gods & Kings, Civ 5: Gods & Kings, Civilization 5: Gods & Kings (Based off the original's aliases).
Emma Frost: White Queen
Alan Scott: Green Lantern
Baxter Stockman: Knat Man (his alias from TMNT2 manual)
WWF With Authority! should be added as an alias to WWE With Authority!.
Would you kindly add the alias TFOL or TFoL to Thirty Flights of Loving. Thank you, kind folks.
thechineseroom -> The Chinese Room
Can someone add an alias to Fighting Mania: Fist of the North Star which is
Punch Mania: Hokuto no Ken
As this was what it was called in Japan.
Use your keyboard!
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TICONDEROGA - PRIDE of Ticonderoga will hold its annual meeting on Tuesday, June 7, at 5 p.m. at Ticonderoga Country Club. The board will look back briefly on the recent accomplishments and review the projects on the horizon.
Anyone interested in PRIDE and how it works with other community agencies and grants is welcome to attend. RSVP by June 1 by calling 585-6366 or by emailing email@example.com.
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RECAP: Pink Sweep
Thunder sweeps pink weekend, claims first place in Western Conference
FINAL STATS: Box score
By Ruben Dominguez – Thunder staff writer
STOCKTON, Calif. –
VIDEO: Highlights and postgame reaction – Bunz, Thomas
FINAL STATS: Box score
By Ruben Dominguez – Thunder staff writer
STOCKTON, Calif. –The Stockton Thunder (7-1-1, 15 points) enjoyed goal scoring from five different players and ended Thunder Goes Pink VII victorious in a 5-1 rout over the Alaska Aces (5-4-0, 10 points) in front of 4,194 fans on Sunday at Stockton Arena.
The win completes a three-game weekend sweep, as well as back to back wins over the aces.
In victory, Thunder goaltender Tyler Bunz (5-1-1) made 31 saves on 32 shots. Center Harrison Reed collected three points (1 goal, 2 assists) to lead the Thunder offense.
"I think we're deep in our lineup right now," Thunder head coach Matt Thomas said. "There are guys sitting in the stands who could come in there and really help us win hockey games every single night."
With the win, the Thunder matched the 2006-07 squad, which also went 7-1-1 in its first nine games, for best start in franchise history. They claimed first place in the Western Conference and are now tied with Gwinnett for the best record in the ECHL.
Like they've done the last three games, the Thunder got on the board early. Forward Toni Rajala took advantage of an Alaska breakdown, scooting down the right side of ice on a breakaway and putting away a fancy backhanded flip to give the Thunder a 1-0 lead just 1:17 into the game.
With time running out in the first period, the Thunder converted on a power play for a 2-0 lead. Rajala passed to defenseman Tony DeHart, who found defenseman Nathan Deck on the left side. Deck fired a shot past the blocker of Aces goaltender Mark Guggenberger (4-3-0) for his first goal of the season with only 8.9 seconds left in the first period.
In the second period, another power play saw the Thunder show off their great distribution skills. Reed sent the puck to center Justin Maylan, who one-touched it to forward Yannick Riendeau, who one-timed a shot past Guggenberger to give the Thunder a 3-0 lead 3:12 into the second frame.
The offense kept rolling in the third period. Forward Garet Hunt got a rebound in front of goal but fell as he attempted a shot. From his knees, Hunt was able to get the puck to Maylan, who slotted it home for a 4-0 lead 3:22 into the third period.
Alaska got on the board 9:49 into the final frame. Russ Sinkewich found Alexandre Imbeault on the right side of the goal. Imbeault finished off the pass to cut the Thunder lead to 4-1.
The Thunder response came four minutes later. Reed converted on a counter attack, after the Aces turned the puck over at the neutral zone, and buried a snap shot from the left circle for the unassisted goal and 5-1 cushion at 13:58 into the third period.
"It's a credit to our affiliation," Thomas said. "You always hope to get a lot of good players in recruiting over the summer and I think we snagged a couple good ones. But everyone's contributing and that's what you want."
"I think we've shown that we're a top team in the league," Bunz said. "We have a lot of guys step up and make play for us. Rajala's been doing a great job. So have Reed and [Matt] Reber. Guys like Hunt, it's pretty amazing to watch what they do. Hunt doesn't get a lot of the credit, but what for me, being a young player, he's been one of my favorite captains to play under."
NOTES: The Thunder scratched Mike Little, Cameron Brodie, Phil Mangan, Gabriel Levesque, Jesse Fratkin, and Evan Vossen …. the Thunder have scored at least five goals in three straight games and ended Thunder Goes Pink VII with 18 goals in three games … Rajala has now scored a goal in four consecutive games … the Thunder finished the 2006-07 regular season with a 38-24-10 record
The Thunder will now travel to the Bay Area for the start of a three-game road trip. The first game of that road trip will be Friday, Nov. 9 against the San Francisco Bulls at 7:15 p.m. (1280 KWSX/StocktonThunder.com) at the Cow Palace.
A two time recipient of the ECHL "Award of Excellence," the Thunder led the ECHL in attendance for four consecutive seasons and drew over 200,000 fans for the seventh consecutive season in 2011-12. Season Tickets, Group Tickets and Mini-Plans for 2012-13 are on sale now. For more information about tickets, merchandise, or other inquiries contact the Stockton Thunder offices at (209) 373-1500 or visit www.StocktonThunder.com.
1. STK – T. Bunz
2. STK – H. Reed
3. STK – T. Rajala
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It is very important to obtain a death certificate of a person who has passed away. It is very essential, as it is a proof of death of a person. As per rules and regulations, it is very important to have death certificate of a person. As per government law and regulations, it is necessary to register date and time of death. It enables a person who has died to be free of any obligations. To get death certificate online it is very important to check state's local authorized website on which one can get death certificate of the deceased.
The Legal Framework of Death Certificate
In India, it is a rule, which is mandatory for all people to get a death certificate. As per law of birth and deaths act 1969, it is essential for a family member to register, date, time and place of person who has passed away. Within 21 days of death of a person, it is very important to get it registered with a registrar and obtain a death certificate. Once it is registered, a person can even get death certificate online. A person can check out state government's website and can obtain death certificate in a hassle free manner.
What You Need to Do to Obtain a Death Certificate
It is very important and essential to collect a death certificate of a person who has passed away, as it helps in settling different claims, which are important. There is complete process, which a person has to follow for filing for a death certificate and after filing one can even get copy of death certificate online.
It is very important and essential to register and report and death in family to state registrar office. A relative of a deceased person can file a death report if a death is happening in house and a doctor can register a death if it is happening in hospital. Jail superintendent can also register a death if death has happened in prison. Nevertheless, if a body is found deserted, then police can also file and report a death.
After death of a person, it has to be reported and registered within 21 days to get a death certificate. Local government authorities will be registering a death and will be issuing a certificate of death. There is a form, which is available with state's registrar, which has to be filled in accordance to obtain a death certificate. One can even obtain a death certificate online as it is available on states website after it is registered.
Late registration fee is to be paid by a person if they are late in registering a death within period of 21 days. For obtaining a death certificate, one has to fill all prescribed forms and then pay all necessary fees and proof of death issued by a doctor with a copy of ID proof.


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Highlands Ranch painting contractor invites your connection with any important painting services today. You're at the right spot with the best Highlands Ranch painters, transforming your home's paint color decoration, one you'll be very proud of many years to come. Your painting contractor of Highlands Ranch employs only the best seasoned painters painting interior walls and ceilings to protecting exterior siding and trim.
Eco Paint is Highlands Ranch's premier painting company, specializing in complete interior and exterior painting services, one room, or the entire home. Our goal is to provide the very best in protecting one of your largest investments, with real paint cost savings, having a paint contractor's service you can depend on from start to finish. Managing your painters project through it's completion from scheduling, paint sampling, preparation, clean up, on the job work safety, equipment, to painting finals, is what the architectural, product, and special coatings contractor of Highlands Ranch does best.
Because our quality control standards are the highest, our staff and journeyman pro painters are among the best in the business. Our goal is to always deliver "Customer Satisfaction is Our Main Concern". We want you, our valued customer, to be happy, building lasting friendships along the way.
Please note when painting homes online, the current screen paint colors may not necessarily be precise representations of actual paint or stain colors due to monitor color setting variances.
Highlands Ranch pro painters are all rigorously verified, clean cut, having at least ten years experience as a full time professional painter. Eco Paint's house painters are some of the best in the industry, with you, our customer in mind. Our house painters provide two coats of paint, wet on dry paint application, sometimes priming a room's walls or ceilings for greater paint coverage and uniformity.
Painters in Highlands Ranch are able to match drywall textures when repairing sheetrock or removing Pop-corn ceiling textures, our house painters are a cut above the rest, having the knowledge and expertise of journeymen painters in Colorado. Our painters can save hundreds if not thousands of dollars painting kitchen cabinets, instead of re-facing or replacing expensive cabinetry, for a first class showroom paint finish for your house painting requests.
Some of our painters work in a crew of painters, while others paint alone, making the right combination of meeting your paint costs on a timely manner, for jobs large or small.
Highlands Ranch painting services is embraced with a 100 year family tradition; Cal started Cal's Home Improvements in 1977 to help put his self through college. Two generations of home improvement trades, Cal found he enjoyed helping his local community by providing paint home repairs, making today, over a hundred years of family house painting services. Cal also did everything from drywall, wallpaper to siding repair and siding replacements dating all the way back to the late 70's.
Cal invented the term "Eco Paint" in 1993, long before Green Earth Friendly paint was ever available as a retail item, the term Eco had dual meanings to Cal Phillips. Eco being economical, as well as environmental, and ecological, Eco Paint using the safest paint products known, and the ecological steps we take. Both acronyms have important meanings to Cal, and Eco Paint.
Keeping painting services economical as well as ecological, Eco Paint is your first Green Earth Friendly Paint Contractor of Colorado. Today, Eco Paint is a world-wide term, known to many, and Eco Paint Inc. calls Denver and Highlands Ranch home for all of your painting services. Your painting requests is the utmost importance, from painting arches ♦ accent walls ♦ brick ♦ basements ♦ doors ♦ cabinets ♦ ceilings ♦ rooms ♦ stairs ♦ walls ♦ windows ♦ ≈to≈ Exterior painting services, includes painting aluminum siding ♦ brick ♦ concrete ♦ decks ♦ doors ♦ metal ♦ porches ♦ shutters ♦ siding ♦ stucco ♦ trim ♦ venetian plasters ♦ windows ♦ wood ♦ wood repairs ♦ deck staining ♦ siding replacements for complete house painting services in Highlands Ranch.
Residential and commercial painting has been our career for over 30 years, one you can count on, having vast experience painting homes and businesses, your house painting authority for Highlands Ranch Colorado.
Eco Paint always puts the customer first, and understands how important your next painting project is, we paint your home or business with the highest quality standards, with your complete 100% Satisfaction Guarantee.
Painting homes, apartments, condominiums, government, parks, recreation facilities, We have completed 1000's of painting jobs interior, exterior, residential, and commercial painting in the Highlands Ranch Colorado area.
Call Today! (303) 591-4978
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Personal Message From Cal,
A Real pleasure working for you, painting your home in Highlands Ranch.
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I went down to Isle of Palms, SC to visit family a few weeks ago.
This trip had a trifecta of objectives.
- Kiddies to spend time with their grandparents
- I was able to spend time with my baby brother (13 years difference, I think, between us) and his sweet girlfriend
- Photograph a brand new baby boy
Obviously I was most excited about objective #3.
I am a firm believer in fate. I feel that each person enters your life for a reason, that a greater being molds our decisions and choices, putting us in the right place at the right time.
Stephanie knew of her husband Matt via the local music community…but there was not much more to it than that.
Matt's mom lived next to Stephanie's sister. One day in conversation Matt told his mom that her neighbors sister was hot. Matt's mom told Stephanie's sister what her son had said…but there was not much more to it than that.
However, that little bird was planted, and when Stephanie and Matt ended up at the same bar, Group Therapy, an entire YEAR later, that little bird gave the push for Stephanie to go up to Matt. She said "My sister said your mom said, you said you thought I was hot." Matt simply replied, "Yep." The rest was history, 2 months later they moved in together, 2 months after that, they were engaged, and now here I am, photographing their first born son, Oscar.
You maybe wondering about the blog post name. Well this little guy has a pretty long name. I thought it was cute, I have a simple satire sense of humor. I understand if I'm the only one that smiles a little bit at the relation between song centered around a mock german name of lengthy meaning and this handsome little kids name. You get it right? no, ok moving on…
- What's the #1 most played song on your iPod?
Rihanna – stay
Only because Matt learned to play it on piano so I'm learning the accompaniment
- What would you sing at Karaoke night?
Getting me to sing in front of people would be your challenge. Then it would be sinead o'connor nothing compares to you.
- If you could paint a picture of any scenery you've seen before, what would you paint?
Probably this dreamscape of mine- I'm on a mountain in sun god robes with a bunch of little people throwing pickles at me.
- if you could live in any other country for 2 years where would you go?
I'd pack up baby boy husband and dogs. Move us to Greece. We've been there 2x for a month altogether And the life is so relaxed, beautiful and simple – we could raise goats perhaps.
- If you could witness any event past, present or future, what would it be?
The Big Bang. Id attend with a camera
- Is your glass half full or half empty?
It's a bottle of water. Half full- always.
- What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
I had a baby, but that wasn't the event. The experience that made me stronger was (and is) the way my husband views me. To him I'm this amazing sexy superwoman- him sticking to his story is what makes me believe it.
- What is something you learned in the last week?
Point the penis down in the diaper. A moby wrap is as difficult as it looks. I will always feel better with sleep, but never regret the reason I'm not getting it.
- Do you love or hate roller coasters?
Love. However My life as a roller coaster would be terribly boring. Only inclines for years and years…
- Where's Waldo?
I think he was behind the carousel last, but we haven't gotten that far yet.
Just got my first smile from baby boy today one step at a time


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The Oyster Club Amsterdam: for hotspot lovers
The owners of the Harbour Club opened a new hotspot: The Oyster Club Amsterdam. Located at the historical Olympic Stadium where restaurant Vak Zuid used to be. The Oyster Club Amsterdam has all what it takes to become a success. A beautiful interior with sturdy elements combined with elegance and luxury with a huge bar as the center piece. The menu at The Oyster Club Amsterdam is extensive! Meatlovers and vega's can go here too, but most dishes are all about seafood. I think there are over 30 different preparations of oyster on the menu. Bring your wallet or a hot date, cause a night full of oysters will run up the bill ;-). But they're good just as the rest of the seafood at The Oyster Club Amsterdam. Saw some delicious plates of au fruits de mer come by. For dessert the assorted cheeses are very good and all local produced. One of the best features of The Oyster Club Amsterdam is the huge and sunny terrace! Can't wait to go back to enjoy it.
The Oyster Club Amsterdam
Address: Olympisch Stadion 35
Neighbourhood: Amsterdam South
Website: theoysterclub.nl
Price level: upscale, so make it a special evening!
Perfect for: a seafood night out or lunch at the sunny terrace
PS: more hotspots are in my Amsterdam Little Black Book. A city guide to Amsterdam with the best restaurants, shops and things to do. Always new addresses coming up so check out your online Little Black Book daily for the latest gems I spotted!
Let's get social!
Follow Your Little Black Book on social media and I'm happy to keep you updated on the latest hotspots. Or let me know all about your favourite addresses!
@byiannsterdam or www.twitter.com/byiannsterdam


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Dr. Neal Barnard's Program f...Neal Barnard
Until Dr. Barnard's scientific breakthrough, most health professionals believed that once you developed diabetes, you were stuck with it—and could anticipate one complication after another, from worsening eyesight and nerve symptoms to hear… more
Dr. Neal Barnard's Program for Reversing Diabetes: The Scientifically Proven System for Reversing Diabetes without Drugs
Sugar Detox: The White Devil...Diabetic Health Club Members
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KEEP IN MIND::Diabetes, the result of eating too much sugar is known as the silent killer. Each year it takes thousands of lives. One of the smartest, fastest, and healthiest ways to get control of it, is by simply eating right.
The Diabe… more
Sugar Detox: The White Devil - A 30-Day Sugar Detox Made Simple (Quit Sugar or Quit Life!) & Diabetes Diet - A Diabetes Cookbook Filled With 30 Delicious … Sugar, Added Sugar, Stop Eating Sugar 1)
Studies in Diabetes (Oxidati...Irina Obrosova, Martin J. St...
Studies on Diabetes examines how increased oxidative and nitrosative stress – one of the leading causes of diabetes complications – pathologically affects multiple tissues in the body. The volume editors and chapter authors are leading inve… more
Studies in Diabetes (Oxidative Stress in Applied Basic Research and Clinical Practice)
Gestational Diabetes Testing...Mathea Ford
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Gestational diabetes tests, are meant to prevent unwanted and uncontrolled gestational diabetes complications. Your doctor office has called and said you need to come in for some screening or testing for gestational diabetes…What does thi… more
Gestational Diabetes Testing: Your Answers to the What? When? and How? Baby Steps for Gestational Diabetes
Diabetes: Chronic Complicati...Kenneth M. Shaw, Michael H. ...
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Diabetes is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Major complications include nephropathy, neuropathy, retinopathy and heart disease, which affect thousands of diabetics every year. The prevention and treatment of … more
Diabetes: Chronic Complications (Practical Diabetes)
LOW SUGAR AND DIABETIC CHOCO...Michelle Carrier
The author Michelle Carrier's son Paddy was diagnosed with Diabetes II five years ago. Since that time Michelle has collected and researched countless low sugar recipes. In this little recipe book she and her son have compiled their favouri… more
The Uncomplicated Guide to D...
Diabetes complications can be prevented, and they can be treated.First you need to know how serious and life threatening the issues are that you're up against. Learn how to take care of yourself to prevent diabetes complications before they… more
The Uncomplicated Guide to Diabetes Complications
Outsmart Diabetes 1-2-3: A 3...Editors of Prevention
For the more than 21 million Americans who currently suffer from diabetes, there simply is no other reference that can match the breadth and depth of expertise found here. To prepare this book, the editors of Prevention interviewed dozens o… more
Outsmart Diabetes 1-2-3: A 3-Step Plan to Balance Sugar, Lose Weight, and Reverse Diabetes Complications
Levels of Acculturation and ...Sarah E. Ross, Susan F. Fran...
Background Acculturation of Mexican Americans toward the predominant American culture has been shown to influence health outcomes. Little is known about the role of acculturation in diabetes control. Objective To measure the association bet… more
Levels of Acculturation and Effect on Glycemic Control in Mexicans and Mexican Americans with Type 2 Diabetes (Postgraduate Medicine)
Levels of Acculturation and ...James Hall, Richard Young, R...
Background Acculturation of Mexican Americans toward the predominant American culture has been shown to influence health outcomes. Little is known about the role of acculturation in diabetes control. Objective To measure the association bet… more
Levels of Acculturation and Effect on Glycemic Control in Mexicans and Mexican Americans with Type 2 Diabetes (DOI: 10.3810/pgm.2011.01.2246) (Postgraduate Medicine)
Complete Nurse's Guide to Di...American Diabetes Association
Newly updated, Complete Nurse's Guide to Diabetes Care, second edition, is the essential reference for nurses who work with diabetes patients. Get the latest details on the pertinent aspects of diabetes care and newest research, including d… more
Complete Nurse's Guide to Diabetes Care (Childs, Complete Nurse's Guide to Diabetes Care)
Reversing Diabetes Cookbook:...Julian Whitaker, Peggy Dace
In REVERSING DIABETES, Dr. Julian Whitaker offers a comprehensive lifestyle program that has helped more than 10,000 diabetic patients at the Whitaker Wellness Institute. The good news is that many diabetics can control their condition—na… more
Reversing Diabetes Cookbook: More Than 200 Delicious, Healthy Recipes
Fast Diet: The Complete Fast...Dr. Michael Ericsson
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Fast Diet: The Complete Fast Diet Plan - Fast Diet Cookbook And Fast Diet Recipes To Burn Fat Quickly, Lower Blood Pressure, Prevent Diseases And Look Beautiful
Today only, get Fast Diet: The Complete Fast Diet Plan and Read on your PC, Ma… more
Fast Diet: The Complete Fast Diet Plan: Fast Diet Cookbook And Fast Diet Recipes To Burn Fat Quickly, Lower Blood Pressure, Prevent Diseases And Look Beautiful … Fast Diet Cookbook, Fast Diet Kindle Books)
How To Lower Blood Sugar: Na...Nora Greenway
Perhaps your doctor has said those painfully unwelcome words to you – "If we don't get your blood sugar under control, you'll have diabetes"…or, worse, "Your blood sugar is too high. It's time to put you on treatment." Your weight, your eat… more
How To Lower Blood Sugar: Natural Remedies for Diabetes
How To Lower Blood Sugar Lev...Samuel Eleyinte
Do you really want to lower your blood sugar real quick without you taking drugs or pills?If your answer is yes, then you are in the right place, as this book is for you.Perhaps your doctor has said those painfully unwelcome words to you – … more
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American Diabetes Associatio...American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association—the nation's leading health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy—has completely revised this comprehensive home reference to provide all the information a person needs to liv… more
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Biomedical Science, Engineer...Dhanjoo N. Ghista
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One of the things that I've noticed in the four years that I've been selling self defense products is that women seem to have this feeling that an assault, robbery, rape or any other crime always happen to the other guy and not to them. I'm not sure why that is because women are targets of violence in nine out of ten cases.
So it is no surprise that companies are designing nonlethal self defense products specifically for women these days. Those products provide an alternative to deadly force and are experiencing great popularity mostly because these products are so effective in providing a way to defend yourself.
Self defense products are only meant to give you time to get away from a dangerous situation and seek help. Nothing else!
Pepper spray has been around for thousands a years but the Mace pepper gun has only been around for a few years. It has rapidly become the favorite self defense product for women.
It comes in four designer colors-one of them pink-and shoots out seven 25 foot sprays of a full 10 percent solution of oleoresin capsicum or OC which is derived from cayenne pepper.
A shot in the face of OC and the bad guy will experience extreme pain, shortness of breath, choking coughing and oh yeah his eyes will tear up so badly they may shut so he can't see. These nasty consequences last "only" fifteen to forty five minutes and then go away.
If you are reading this article you probably consider your self at risk of some kind of crime like domestic violence, assault or even rape. Take the next step and be proactive to defend yourself with the favorite self defense product for women.
When are you getting one?
A 10 percent solution of OC spray is illegal in some jurisdictions. So check the internet or your local sheriff's department first before getting some.
Get a FREE 25 page e Book on 'Making Your Home Secure' and save 10% off the purchase price.
The Mace Pepper Gun can protect you in any self defense situation.
The Great Pretender Stun Gun


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Inside the Office of ESC
After working at ESC for four years I can tell you what seems like an ordinary day for me isn't a typical work day for most people. When you first walk into the building you get hit with a whiff of chocolate although like anyone who's worked here for more than a few weeks sadly, you will be become accustomed to the tantalizing aroma and don't notice it anymore unless you go back into shipping or production and they are running one of our stronger aromatic inclusions such as mint or orange then you can defiantly smell it (more on that later).
As I wait for my computer to boot up I go into the kitchen and grab some coffee. ESC purchases organic coffee and no disposable cups here; everyone uses reusable mugs and dishes each day. After answering emails and returning some calls I head back into shipping to coordinate samples going-out and I get hit with the nose twitching smell of mint. Which almost immediately makes my stomach grumble and luckily it's time for lunch. As I walk back to the kitchen and grab my lunch out of the fridge you'll notice no soda or snack machines around. This is an employee inspired effort to help support company wellness. This time of year I enjoy making salads with produce from my home garden and reading a book while eating my lunch outside on the ESC patio.
After lunch it's time to start going through the 10% GiveBack applications that have been submitted over the past few months so that we can pick our next partnerships. After carefully reading through some applications and giving my feedback it's time for a quick meeting. As I walk to the conference room you'll notice almost all the materials in the building including desks, chairs and even the carpet is made from recycled materials. The rest of the afternoon is filled with phone calls, research, emails and some writing. Late in the afternoon several employees head out back to the work-out room to de-stress and work-up a sweat.
After finishing-up for the day, I gather my things and head out to the parking lot. While you see several eco-friendly cars and employee's car pooling you'll occasionally also see employees ride home on their bikes when the weather cooperates. Next time I'll give you a peek into the factory where our chocolate is made.
Leave a comment
- Check your local @WholeFoods to see if this firecracker of a sale is happening where you are! https://t.co/EKfte1yGkO
- 19 drool-worthy ways to eat more s'mores this summer http://t.co/PUHxqfwCHv via @buzzfeeders


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‹ Exit photo gallery
Hiking through Shenandoah National Park
When the weather was actually manageable outdoors last weekend, I went on a great hike in the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Looking over southern Luray, VA
Here's another look at good ole Luray, VA
(Photo: Alex Liggitt | Date: Jul. 15, 2011) fullscreen mode


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Federal Grant Programs - Financial Aid Office
Ohlone's Federal College Code is 004481.
- U.S. Department of Education PIN
- Repayment of Federal Funds Requirements
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Bureau of Indian Affairs Grant (BIA)
- Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
Repayment of Federal Funds Requirements
If you receive a Federal grant and then withdraw from all of your classes before 60% of the term has been completed, you may owe money back to the grant program.
Based on the date you completely withdraw, the Financial Aid Office will calculate the "earned" portion of your grant and will determine the amount you must repay.
A complete withdrawal from classes will affect your financial aid.
We urge you to carefully evaluate your options before taking such a step. Counseling, advising, tutoring, and other support services are available to help you maintain enrollment in one or more of your classes.
If you decide that you must withdraw from all of your classes before the 60% point, it is your responsibility to officially complete the withdrawal process with the Office of Admissions and Records.
In addition, you must immediately notify the Financial Aid Office that you are no longer enrolled so that your repayment amount can be calculated and repayment arrangements made.
If you withdraw from all of your classes without making appropriate arrangements, you may lose your eligibility for future Federal financial assistance from any federally eligible school.
U.S. Department of Education PIN
When you apply for financial aid you will receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) from the U.S. Department of Education. This will give you access to your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems over the Internet. For some applications, it will serve as your electronic signature. If you are a dependent student, one of your parents will also need a PIN to sign your online FAFSA. Request a PIN at www.pin.ed.gov.
You can use your PIN to do the following:
- Access, complete, and electronically sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA.
- View the status and results of your processed FAFSA.
- Make corrections to your Student Aid Report (SAR).
- View a history of any Federal student aid you have received.
Because the PIN serves are your electronic signature and provides access to your personal records, you will need to keep it in a safe place. Do not give your PIN to anyone including financial aid officials. You will be able to use the same PIN in the future to apply electronically for student aid and access to your U.S. Department of Education records.
You may obtain additional PIN information including how to use it, security information, or obtaining a new PIN, by going to the website at www.pin.ed.gov or contact Customer Service at (800) 4-FED-AID [(800) 433-3243], TTY (800) 730-8913.
Federal Grants
Federal Pell Grant
The Pell Grant is a federally-funded program. This grant cannot exceed one-half (½) the cost of your education. To be eligible, you must be an undergraduate student, enrolled in at least 6.0 units each semester, demonstrate financial need, and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
Grants range from approximately $555 to $5,550 per academic year. The amount awarded, as determined by the Federal Pell Grant Program is based on the income and current asset information you provided in the application.
If you want to apply for the Federal Pell Grant and other financial aid programs, use the FAFSA. The deadline to submit the FAFSA and complete the Ohlone College financial aid file is April 23, 2012. Review Summer Pell if you are attending summer classes.
Please Note: For students receiving Federal Pell Grants for the first time on or after July 1, 2008, award eligibility is limited to 18 semesters.
See also the Summer Pell Grant.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
Students on Unsatisfactory Warning (Probation) will not qualify for FSEOG.
FSEOG is a federally-funded program designed to supplement other sources of financial aid for students with established need. FSEOG awards range from $100 to $4,000 per year. FSEOG is available for as long as it takes to complete the first undergraduate degree.
When you apply for financial aid, you will automatically be considered for this program based on eligibility requirements, packaging policies, and availability of funds.
If you are awarded FSEOG funds, you must complete at least 6.0 units (half time) with a grade point average (GPA) of at least a 2.0 in order to continue receiving these funds.
You must file the FAFSA in order to be considered.
Bureau of Indian Affairs Grant (BIA)
BIA grants provide money to help defray the costs of your education if you are of American Indian descent. Grant amounts may vary according to individual agencies of the BIA.
For information or applications, contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Central California Agency, Higher Education Coordinators, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825 or call (916) 978-6000.
Federal Work-Study Program (FWS)
Federal Work-Study (FWS) is a federally-funded program which enables students to earn part of their financial aid awards through employment. Your total Federal Work-Study award depends on when you apply, your level of need, and the funding level of your school.
Learn more about the Federal Work-Study Program.


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Marketing Information
For PCs with PCI Express (PCIe) slots, the Intel PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter offers the newest technology for maximizing system performance and increasing end-user productivity. Specifically, the Intel PRO/1000 PT Desktop Adapter uses auto-negotiation to allow the adapter to run at the highest available network speed (10, 100 or 1000 Mbps), and it maintains full bandwidth capacity with the dedicated 2.5-Gbps bandwidth of a PCI Express input/output (I/O) bus to provide connectivity you can count on.
General Information
Media & Performance
Management & Protocols
Processor & Chipset
Power Description
Environmental Conditions
Physical Characteristics