text:
One hallmark of many high-performing schools is the success its teachers have had in creating what is known as a professional learning community. Richard DuFour (2004) characterizes professional learning communities as groups of educators who "work together to analyze and improve their classroom practice…engaging in an ongoing cycle of questions that promote deep team learning" (p. 9).
How are professional learning communities created? The answer is complex since these communities take many forms and evolve over time. One characteristic that all thriving professional learning communities have in common, however, is collaboration. Research shows that collaboration between teachers can be a powerful tool for professional development and a driver for school improvement by providing "opportunities for adults across a school system to learn and think together about how to improve their practice in ways that lead to improved student achievement" (Annenberg Institute for School Reform, 2004, p. 2).
Recognizing the value of this activity, many schools have adapted their schedules to ensure that teachers and other professionals have time to collaborate through team meetings; critical friends groups; lesson study, in which teachers collaboratively plan, observe, and analyze classroom lessons; or other professional development. A nationwide survey of more than 5,000 teachers found that 69 percent of these teachers participated in "regularly scheduled collaboration with other teachers" and 53 percent participated in a common planning period with other members of their team (Parsad, Lewis, & Farris, 2001, p. iv).
Unfortunately, school staff members sometimes find that although accommodating schedules are in place, true collaboration is more difficult than they had anticipated. Some find that the time set aside is not used productively or is not having the hoped-for impact on teaching and learning. As a result, they can become frustrated and begin seeing team meetings or common planning time as one more obligation that keeps them from doing their "real" work. This month's newsletter addresses that issue by posing five questions that teachers can use to keep their collaboration on track so that it contributes to the growth of a professional learning community in their school.
1. Are the Conditions Right for Us to Collaborate Successfully?
Although establishing a regular time and space to meet is important, other conditions are required for individuals to work effectively as a group—and the potential roadblocks are plentiful. One roadblock relates to teacher perceptions. Some teachers prefer working alone; they might feel mistrustful of other staff members, want to protect their "territory," or resist what they perceive as interference from outsiders (DuFour & Burnette, 2002). Although collaboration can thrive in a climate of continuous, positive, and respectful critical inquiry, some teachers mistake critical for criticism and fear that others will point out their instructional shortcomings.
A second roadblock relates to a lack of focus. Time for collaboration can be highjacked by personal conversations or by a mandate, project, or crisis that suddenly has appeared on the horizon. Negotiating these distractions can quickly consume meeting time. As authors DuFour and Burnette (2002) note, this lack of meeting focus can derail efforts to develop a learning community.
A third roadblock is that groups generally often underestimate the task of developing collaboration skills (National Staff Development Council, 2001a).
In recognition of these common problems, a good beginning step for collaborative groups is establishing standard operating procedures and written group norms. Another strategy for keeping the group focused on best practice is the use of discussion protocols. (See "Text-Based Discussion Protocol" Insert.) A discussion protocol is a tool for structuring conversations that specifies how talk time will be allotted to achieve specific aims, such as answering focus questions, presenting context, formulating clarifying or probing questions, or listening to and reflecting on feedback (The Collaborative, n.d.).
Although teachers might feel awkward using these tools at first, the benefits are substantial. Such tools formalize both the processes and the expectations of collaborative groups. They establish ground rules for participant interaction and can even accommodate potential distractions by allotting time for participants to voice concerns. They also help reassure participants that the investment of time will be worthwhile.
2. Are Our Efforts Aligned With School and District Priorities?
Researchers Leo and Cowan (2000) and Hord (1997) identify shared vision and values focused on student learning as one of five dimensions characterizing professional learning communities. In other words, the most effectively used collaborative meeting time focuses on issues that are directly connected to the improvement priorities of the school or district. For example, if a school goal is to improve student problem-solving skills, collaboration time may be spent examining lessons and identifying problem-solving activities across various subject areas and grade levels.
School and district goals for student achievement should drive the work of professional learning communities. School leaders should focus the work of collaborative groups by helping them align their priorities with achievement goals as well as provide the resources needed to support their work. These priorities also should act as a filter for identifying additional professional development (Annenberg Institute for School Reform, 2004). Research indicates that teachers participating in professional development linked to school activities are more likely to report that their participation improved their teaching (Parsad et al., 2001).
3. Are We Focused on Improving Student Learning?
Effective professional collaboration in schools focuses on improving practice in order to improve student learning. Teachers report that use of "one of several group processes available for the study of student work" promotes "ensuing discussions of the assignment, the link between the work and content standards, their expectations for student learning, and the use of scoring rubrics," leading to improved teaching and student learning (National Staff Development Council, 2001b).
In contrast, researcher Kim Yap (2005) finds that teachers in low-performing schools are less likely to focus on instruction during their collaborative meetings:
While teachers at the low-performing schools are likely to take part in collaborative activities (e.g., joint planning and team building), there has been some hesitancy to identify instruction as a key area of school improvement. They are more comfortable talking about organizational structures, schedules, and other factors outside of what they do in the classroom. (p. 12)
Author Daniel Duke (2006) cites one example of a school that used roundtable discussions as a collaborative process that participants felt was highly productive. He notes that student information was shared before the roundtables met so that the entire 45-minute meeting could be devoted to discussing how to make immediate instructional adjustments and provide more monitoring and support for individual students. Before these meetings concluded, individuals were assigned responsibility for implementing the agreed-upon interventions and reporting back at the next roundtable on how well those interventions had worked.
4. Do We Use Data to Inform Our Work?
The use of data provides an additional structure for keeping the focus of collaborative groups on improved teaching and learning. Accurate and relevant data can help identify areas of concern, inform discussion, provide evidence of student learning, and aid the development of strategies and solutions. Data use circumvents the common pitfalls of school improvement efforts, such as focusing on activities instead of results (DuFour & Burnette, 2002) or making and working from assumptions instead of evidence. Again, established norms and the use of structured protocols can help teachers overcome their fear that data will be used to criticize or evaluate their instruction.
Many excellent products, guidelines, and tools for identifying, interpreting, and analyzing data are available for collaborative groups to use. (See the references and the additional resource.) If more help is needed, members might also request professional development on how to ask good questions of data or how to access available data systems.
5. Do We Share What We Learn?
Sharing is a critical component of learning communities (Hord, 1997; Leo & Cowan, 2000; Morrissey, 2000). A truly productive collaboration leads not only to individual reflection on instructional practice but also to conversation among collaborators about what they have learned. Also, it is a sign that teachers have moved to deprivatize their practices and accept their own vulnerability as learners as well as teachers.
Despite its value, the ability and willingness to share insights about one's own classroom practice takes time to develop and requires a high degree of trust and professional respect. "Shared personal practice is often the last dimension to be developed. It is relatively uncommon for school staff to share their classroom practice with their peers in a formalized setting with the intent to improve and change [it]," say authors Leo & Cowan (2000, p. 13). As professionals develop a greater ease with sharing, it can grow from contributing insights during a book study or reporting on a classroom action research project to peer observation, consultation, or even peer instructional coaching.
Structured professional collaboration that focuses on improved instruction benefits both teachers and students. School staff members who aspire to grow through professional learning communities can start by learning how to more effectively use the opportunities they have to work together.
Annenberg Institute for School Reform. (2004). Professional learning communities: Professional development strategies that improve instruction. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.annenberginstitute.org/pdf/ProfLearning.pdf
The Collaborative. (n.d.). Looking at student work: Protocols. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.lasw.org/protocols.html
DuFour, R. (2004, May). What is a "professional learning community"? Educational Leadership, 61(8), 6–11.
DuFour, R., & Burnette, B. (2002, Summer). Pull out negativity by its roots. Journal of Staff Development, 23(3), 27–30. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.nsdc.org/library/publications/jsd/burnette233.cfm
Duke, D. L. (2006, June). What we know and don't know about improving low-performing schools. Phi Delta Kappan, 87(10), 728–734. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.pdkintl.org/kappan/k_v87/k0606duk.htm
Hord, S. M. (1997). Professional learning communities: Communities of continuous inquiry and improvement. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.sedl.org/pubs/change34/plc-cha34.pdf
Leo, T., & Cowan, D. (2000). Launching professional learning communities: Beginning actions. Issues…about Change, 8(1) 1–16. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues81/issues-8.1.pdf
Morrissey, M. S. (2000). Professional learning communities: An ongoing exploration. Austin, TX: Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.sedl.org/pubs/change45/plc-ongoing.pdf
National Staff Development Council. (2001a). Collaboration skills. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.nsdc.org/standards/collaborationskills.cfm
National Staff Development Council. (2001b). Data-driven. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.nsdc.org/standards/datadriven.cfm
Parsad, B., Lewis, L., & Farris, E. (2001). Teacher preparation and professional development: 2000 (NCES 2001-088). Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/2001088.pdf
Yap, K. O. (2005, April). Turning low-performing schools into high-performing learning communities: Critical lessons in school reform. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the American Educational Research Association, Montreal, Canada. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.nwrel.org/aera05/yap.pdf
Additional Resource for Data-Driven Decision Making
The Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement. (2006). Data-driven decision making. Retrieved March 22, 2007, from http://www.centerforcsri.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=85&Itemid=77
Reprinted with the permission of the Center for Comprehensive School Reform and Improvement. © 2008 Learning Point Associates. All rights reserved.


text:
Princess Hotel
Popular tour group choice
What we say:
The Princess Hotel is the most popular spot in Kengtung for midrange travellers and tour groups. The hotel is located a five-minute walk from the market and close to the town's old east gate. They're reputed to be the most reliable in terms of advance room and trekking bookings and will send guides to meet visitors at Tachileik but they don't have many rooms and in high season are continually busy. (Well, there are actually 20 or so rooms but many are in the basement and have no windows.) Rooms aren't anything special – it's the service people come for – but they are adequate with the usual midrange facilities of tea and coffee, fridge, TV, air-con, hot shower and WiFi (which even works on occasions!) Staff are efficient; there's trekking info, a spacious lobby and a downstairs seating area though the inclusive breakfast is also served in the claustrophobic basement. One should balance their organisational capabilities against the high room price -- overall this isn't the best choice in Kengtung unless perhaps you're buying a Kengtung 'package'. Their excellent free maps of the town and area are worth a couple of bucks but as we said – it'll be hard to find rooms during high season anyway.
Make a reservation online now
Contact details:21 Zaydankalay Rd, Kengtung. T: (084) 21 319, (084) 22 159 F: (084) 21 159
Email them at: email@example.com
What we were quoted
|Type of room
|Low season
|High season
|Standard - Double
Added to Travelfish on: 10th February, 2014
Last visited or updated on: 10th February, 2014
Based in Chiang Mai, Mark Ord has been travelling Southeast Asia for over two decades and first crossed paths with Travelfish on Ko Lipe in the early 1990s.
Photo gallery
Jump to a destination
- Hot spots
- Yangon and surrounds
- Bagan, Inle Lake & Mandalay
- Hpa-an & Mawlamyine
All accommodation in Kengtung
Harry's Trekking House
Sam Ywet Hotel
Private Resort Hotel
Kyaing Tong New Hotel
Law Yee Chain Hotel
The above hotels and guesthouses are the most popular places in Kengtung that people are reading about on Travelfish.org.
See our summary page for all places to stay in Kengtung
Onward travel
Mae Sai (Thailand)
Sob Ruak (Thailand)
Xieng Kok (Laos)
Chiang Saen (Thailand)
Mae Salong (Thailand)
Muang Long (Laos)
Tha Ton (Thailand)
Huay Xai (Laos)
Chiang Khong (Thailand)
Chiang Rai (Thailand)
The above are all within 200km of Kengtung.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Review: Jeremy Geddes "Exhale" @ Jonathan LeVine, NYCJuxtapoz // Monday, October 22, 2012
We had the pleasure of attending the opening reception of Jeremy Geddes, at the Jonathan Levine Gallery. Exhale is the name of a series of 17 hyperreal paintings that capture surreal instants, created with incredibly accurate detail and laborious work. His characters seem to appear in the precise juncture of a fragmented moment and space "...generating a tension between man-made environments in flux and the fragility of living bodies."
Preview & Print: Ashley Wood "Machine Sabbath" @ Jonathan LeVine, NYCJuxtapoz // Thursday, October 18, 2012
We often think Ashley Wood needs to get as much attention as any working artist today, but we know that there is a cult-following of Wood-heads all around the world. Features in our Pushead issue in November 2011, the Australia-based Wood is set to open a new body of work, Machine Sabbath, at Jonathan LeVine Gallery on Saturday, October 20. It will be his first solo show in the United States, and shares the same opening night as Jeremy Geddes' Exhale in the same gallery.
Preview: Jeremy Geddes "Exhale" @ Jonathan LeVine Gallery, NYCJuxtapoz // Thursday, October 18, 2012
As we have been noting on the site all week (can you tell we are excited?), Australian artist Jeremy Geddes will be having his US debut at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in NYC this Saturday, October 20. The Feburaruy 2012 cover artist will be showing on the same night as fellow Aussie and extreme talent, Ashley Wood.
Archive: Jeremy Geddes in Conversation with Ashley WoodJuxtapoz // Wednesday, October 17, 2012
With both Australian-based artists Jeremy Geddes and Ashley Wood debuting in the United States this weekend, October 20, at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in NYC, we look back on the cover story we ran in February 2012 with Geddes. For the occasion, we asked Ashley Wood to interview Geddes, to discuss the artist's preparation for his US debut, as well as his penchant for detail and painting 12 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Upcoming: Jeremy Geddes & Ashley Wood @ Jonathan Levine, NYCJuxtapoz // Monday, October 15, 2012
A coinciding show we have been looking forward to ever since we interviewed Australian artist Ashley Wood in our November 2011 issue: Wood and February 2012 cover artist, Jeremy Geddes, are set to open two solo shows at Jonathan LeVine Gallery in NYC this Saturday, October 20. Geddes' Exhale and Wood's Machine Sabbath both have the Australian artists showing new works with a high anticipation throughout the art world.
Preview: September issue featuring Daniel Clowes, London Police, and David ShrigleyJuxtapoz // Wednesday, August 01, 2012
A busy summer it has been all around in the art world, but in our home base of the San Francisco Bay Area, we have had two significant museum retrospectives that have made their way into the September 2012 issue of Juxtapoz. First off, we celebrate our cover story, Daniel Clowes, and his fantastic exhibition at the Oakland Museum of California, Modern Cartoonist: The Art of Daniel Clowes. Over the years, the iconic comic book artist has given us cult-followed works such as Ghost World, Eightball, Wilson, and numerous covers for The New Yorker.
Jeremy Geddes "Cluster" Featured in FEB 2012 IssueJuxtapoz // Monday, January 23, 2012
Jeremy Geddes, the Melbourne-based artist who graces the cover of our February 2012 issue, premiered a new painting in his 14-page feature, Cluster. Knowing that so many people love to see Geddes' newest paintings, we wanted to share the piece on the site today.
Preview: February 2012 Issue w/ Jeremy Geddes, Ed Templeton, Asger CarlsenJuxtapoz // Friday, January 13, 2012
We teased the February 2012 issue on the site last week, and now the Jeremy Geddes cover is making its way onto newsstands and into our webstore. The issue features interviews with Geddes, Ed Templeton, Laurie Lipton, Esther Pearl Watson, Modern Multiples, and Interesni Kazki.
Teaser: February 2012 Issue w/Jeremy GeddesJuxtapoz // Thursday, January 05, 2012
We welcome the calendar year that is 2012 with the February 2012 issue of Juxtapoz, n133 on the record books. On the cover is Australian fine artist and painter, Jeremy Geddes, an artist that we feel needs no introduction from his brilliant work capturing both astronauts and everyday people in wonderful states of floatation in urban spaces. Geddes' friend, Ashley Wood (featured in November 2011), handles the interview.
The Art of Jeremy GeddesJuxtapoz // Wednesday, October 19, 2011
After we wrote about Melbourne's Jeremy Geddes newest painitng on Facebook yesterday, we couldn't believe we hadn't shown a selection of his work on the site before. Profiled in the magazine, and soon to be featured, Geddes' work is a practice in the hyperreal / surreal, with incredible detail and photo-like realism.


text:
New Year's Writing Prompts for School Age Children
Start your New Year off with a bang. As the New Year begins, integrate writing activities with topics relating to the New Year. Writing prompts are a fun way to promote literacy and develop writing and critical thinking skills. The following New Year's prompts will allow school age children to practice writing as well as examine social and emotional concepts.
Here are some great New Year's Day-themed writing prompts and writing activities for school age children:
Why do we celebrate the New Year?
What is a resolution? What resolutions will you be making this year? How did you choose them? How will you make sure to keep them?
Have you ever been to a New Year's Eve party? Write about a memorable New Year's Eve party.
How does your family celebrate New Year's Eve?
How does your family celebrate New Year's Day?
Finish this sentence: This Year, I will: ___________
How do you feel when you are successful at accomplishing a goal? How do you feel when you are not successful at accomplishing something you set out to do? What emotions do you feel?
Instruct children to read one of the following New Year's books and write a book report. The fiction book report should include the title, author, the setting, a description of the main characters, and a summary of the book. The nonfiction book report should include the title the author, the type of information, interesting facts learned, and if the child found the book interesting.
- Happy New Year, Julie (American Girls Collection) by Megan McDonald, Robert Hunt and Susan McAliley
- Slappy New Year! (Goosebumps Horrorland) by R.L. Stine
- The Dragon New Year (A Chinese Legend) by David Bouchard and Zhong-Yang Huang
- Happy New Year, Mallory by Laurie B. Friedman and Jennifer Kalis
- New Year's Day by Lynn Peppas


text:
You have a right to know what's in fragranced body products
Manufacturers don't have to tell you everything they put in their fragranced body products. A loophole in Canada's ingredient labelling rules allows them to use the general term "parfum" (or sometimes "fragrance") on ingredient lists.
But fragrances can contain a complicated mixture of chemicals. Many are linked to serious health issues, like asthma, allergies, hormone disruption, and migraines. And because fragrance is in nearly everything, it poses a serious, hidden health risk.
Some people avoid toxic chemicals in their everyday bath and body products. But there's no way of knowing what's in a product that includes parfum or fragrance. We need to close the ingredient labelling loophole. Consumers have the right to know about all ingredients contained in cosmetics – including fragrance chemicals. European regulations are stronger; they require manufacturers to identify 26 chemicals used as cosmetic fragrances on their labels. That's a start, and it's better than our regulations here in Canada. It's Prime Minister Stephen Harper's job to update Canada's regulations. Send him your concerns and ask him to reflect the needs of all Canadians by making companies disclose all fragrance ingredients.
We surpassed our goal of 7,500 letters sent, but we're not done yet!
9126 messages have been sent. Let's get to 10000!


text: We have a server running over 4000 queries per hour at peak hours. It has never given us any problems with file descriptors etc. It does run the queries via xinetd, so there is a hard-limit on the amount of omega processes that can co-exist, but I don't believe it has often, if ever, reached that limit. The machine allows 1024 open file descriptors, according to ulimit -n. The upper-limit is a bit higher though: 399767 (according to /proc/sys/fs/file-max). I have no idea why that value is so high, probably because it doesn't matter too much. So I don't think you should be afraid to run into the maximum number of open file descriptors. When you run into that, your server will be extremely heavily loaded and you should take actions anyway. Best regards, Arjen Richard Boulton wrote: > On Fri, 2005-01-28 at 11:19 -0500, Mike Boone wrote: > >>We are currently having problem with "too many open files" on our system. We >>have a busy server that runs Apache, MySQL, and PHP on Red Hat Enterprise AS >>2.1. The most "exotic" thing the system runs is Xapian 0.8.3, which is >>accessed via the PHP-SWIG binding. I'm currently investigating the cause, >>and I thought I'd check with this list to see if there was anything obvious >>that had to do with Xapian. >> >>We're averaging something like 18,000 Xapian queries a day. Does each Xapian >>query create a lot of open files? Is there anything special I need to do to >>make sure those files get closed? Are there any special considerations since >>I'm using Xapian via the PHP-SWIG binding? > > > Each open Xapian database uses 5 file descriptors (and a 6th is used > whilst the database is being opened, or when the database is being > flushed). This could lead to quite a large number of filedescriptors > being used. > > On Linux I believe there are two file descriptor limits - one is a hard > limit set by the operating system (but is quite a high value). The > other is a lower, per-process limit, which can be changed. Under bash, > "ulimit -n" displays the current per-process limit, which may be > modified if you have sufficient permissions (usually root). > > All file descriptors used by a Xapian database should be released when > the database is closed, so as long as there isn't a bug in PHP-SWIG > which is failing to delete databases after use, there shouldn't be a > problem that raising the limit won't solve. I haven't looked at the PHP > bindings in detail, but it looks like you are meant to explicitly delete > database (and other Xapian objects) after use, so it would be worth > making sure that you're doing that. >


text:
Should I go with CBR or VBR(0) for my mp3's?
Should I go with CBR or VBR(0) for my mp3's?
May 3 2012, 03:35
Post #1
Group: Members
Posts: 15
Joined: 3-May 12
Member No.: 99436
Hi all, new to the forums. I had asked this question elsewhere and was told this is the best place to ask.
I'm currently in the process of re-converting my cd library into mp3's on my computer. Ultimately I'd like to get the best (lossy) sound quality I can get...and was originally planning to go with 320 CBR but I'm now reading a lot about VBR v-0 and how it's basically equivalent with an impossible to notice difference between the 2. I'm not concerned about space on my computer hard drive but I do plan on loading up these mp3's to my iPhone (where space can get scarce). I just converted 2 FLAC files and noticed a 1.5 mb difference between the 2, but as far as I can tell, no real degradation in sound quality.
Id just like to get some thoughts on this. I'm certainly no expert on the subject of sound science. To be honest, I'm not an audiophile at all...but at the same time, I want to "future proof" myself so that I never do realize (like I did this time around) that I'd like to upgrade my library (upgraded my headphones and started noticing a difference in quality of some mp3's).
Is there any reason why I may regret going with vbr v-0 over cbr or will I thank myself for saving the space? I figure that if some of the professionals on here cannot notice a difference then there is no chance I ever will.
This post has been edited by db1989: May 3 2012, 07:36
Reason for edit: TOS #6: not an MP3 tech issue / TOS #5: post completely different topics to their own threads
May 4 2012, 01:33
Post #2
Group: Members
Posts: 1604
Joined: 31-January 04
Member No.: 11664
IMO you should take time to find out what is acceptable to you and not follow the current 256 ~ 320k trend. With mp3 there is no full transparency 100% of the time - but public test shows good (near-transparent ) behavior at 135k VBR. The setting is around V5 not V0
Obviously there is a threshold where things fall apart say V8 will likely introduce distortion on casual listening but V5 might not or the difference will be subtle. V4 will offer even more headroom to please nearly everyone. Differences will only be revealed in abx testing and are subtle most of the time. For these reasons many people use V3 ~ V2 or even lower.
So what im saying you can rip your CD to half the rate of 320k and still get very good quality. The current trend is not supported by listening tests. Also many believe higher bitrate will solve rare problems but this is a hit and miss thing.
Consider also the lossless audio suggestions given by others.
wavpack 350k -hhs0.7c
|Lo-Fi Version
|Time is now: 26th November 2015 - 08:00


text:
How University Betrays Students
August 29, 2009
(This article first appeared exactly five years ago.)
I'd only send my son to university if he had no talent.
He is going anyway, for the social life and the certificate. I warn him that after studying the Humanities and Social Sciences, he won't be able to think independently or absorb information that doesn't fit his programming.
The modern university is not devoted to truth, quite the opposite. Repressive fe-manism is rampant on campus but that is just a symptom of a more profound problem.
Modern Western "culture" is based on the fraudulent assumptions of the "Enlightenment," an intellectual movement dating from the Eighteenth Century. This in turn was the product of the Illuminist program to create a new(secular) world order by denying the existence of God and immutable natural and spiritual laws.
In practice this means Arts students study a bunch of atheists who are presented as if they were Gods. Their professors act as high priests.
Like deaf men tuning a piano, they try to explain the human condition without any reference to the Creator, Design or man's Divine Spirit.
They portray mankind as a forlorn animal in an amoral world, characterized by a merciless struggle for survival.
They celebrate human "freedom" by which they mean the freedom to reject God's Order, indulge animal appetites, and create an alienated and dysfunctional personal reality.
Illuminism is the Luciferian doctrine of Freemasonry. (Communism is another product of Illuminism. All leading Communists were Freemasons.) The mortar board that university graduates wear is a symbol of Freemasonry. Black gowns symbolize the occult. Arts students are unwittingly and gradually being inducted into a Luciferian/Communist cult.
God represents moral and spiritual absolutes like love, truth, goodness, harmony and justice. Belief in their reality is essential for our healthy development. While our culture pays lip service to them (this is how fraud works), it is frankly devoted to their demise.
Modern education and culture is designed to make us dysfunctional. The Protocols of the Elders of Zion confirms this. The Protocols is not an anti-Semitic diatribe. (They say it is because they don't want you to read it.) It is the blueprint of the New World Order, which is now in place.
Someone like Baron James Meyer Rothschild or Adolphe Cremieux wrote and revised it between 1855-1895 for a Masonic Secret Society, the Illuminati. The Illuminati represents a continuation of the feudal alliance of Jewish bankers and European aristocrats. The Illuminati created and financed Communism.
The Illuminati is bound by a devotion to Lucifer, the rebellious angel who defied God and said man will define reality. He is called "the bringer of light." Now do you understand the "Enlightenment"? The super rich want to be God and reshape reality to fit their interests. To do this, they need to sever our links with Reality, i.e. God (absolute truth, love and justice.)
Their means are unlimited, so are their ambitions. Here are some relevant statements from Protocol 16.
"In order to effect the destruction of all collective forces except ours we shall emasculate the first stage of collectivism, the universities, by re-educating them in a new direction."
"We must introduce into their education all those principles which have so brilliantly broken up their order."
"Do not suppose for a moment that these statements are empty words: think carefully of the successes we arranged for Darwinism, Marxism, Nietzsche-ism.... it should be plain to see what a disintegrating importance these directives have had upon the minds of the goyim. " (Protocol 2)
"We shall erase from the memory of men all facts of previous centuries which are undesirable to us..."
We shall turn them into "unthinking submissive brutes waiting for things to be presented before their eyes in order to form an idea of them..."
Let me remind you of a passage from a 1930's Communist manual on brainwashing. "In the United States we have been able to alter the works of William James, and others, ...and to place the tenets of Karl Marx, Pavlov, Lamarck, and the data of Dialectic Materialism into the textbooks of psychology, to such a degree that anyone thoroughly studying psychology becomes at once a candidate to accept the reasonableness of Communism."
"As every chair of psychology in the United States is occupied by persons in our connection, the consistent employment of such texts is guaranteed... Educating broadly the educated strata of the populace into the tenets of Communism is thus rendered relatively easy." (II, Ch. 11)
Students encounter "The Cult of Great Men" the pantheon of modern pretenders who have usurped God's place.
Their every utterance is treated as Holy Writ. Scholarly articles are devoted to words that later turn out to be typos. In a graduate seminar, I witnessed a student read a list of filthy obscenities that had been censored from William Faulkner's novel "Sanctuary." After each expletive, the other students gasped with horror as though a religious artefact had been desecrated.
Professors are the overpaid priests of this secular cult. They have a vested interest in maintaining its shibboleths. They initiate students into a lifelong habit of mental servility. All knowledge comes from Great Men. Students can only aspire to analyse their meaning. A professor once told me I had failed because "only great men can say things like that."
The students' state-of-mind becomes passive and disoriented. He struggles to reconcile contradictory world-views.
One day I had an awakening. Don't these "great men" live in the same world?
Isn't it the one I live in?
Dare I think for myself?
Dislocation takes place in time as well as space. By continually studying the past, the student thinks nothing remains to be done. No manifestos remain to be written, no Bastille needs to be stormed.
While the world cries out for leadership, the new generation is buried in musty manuscripts writing footnotes to dead men.
As you've gathered by now, a Humanities education is not intended to uplift or empower. The world is owned and run by a secretive banking cabal and their inbred allies. Its goal, in the words of Cecil Rhodes, is to "gradually absorb the wealth of the world." Naturally it must obscure this plan. They want to make students their tools. Professors who don't play the game are fired.
If you haven't noticed, universities are not places of invigorating inquiry and debate. They are stagnant backwaters that reek of moral compromise and disillusionment.
Mankind is groping in the dark. "All we know is the wind that blows," Thoreau wrote. Our false confidence is based on material progress and technology, which Thoreau calls "improved means to unimproved ends."
"We have turned the brainless head of the goyim with progress," says the Protocols(XIII). With the exception of "material inventions" progress "like a fallacious idea, implies a departure from truth in all cases."
In other words, the Illuminists have infected mankind with the illusion that they are building a humanist utopia based on reason, when in fact they are constructing a neo feudal tyranny. This is the essence of "globalism" and the principle behind world events.
In conclusion, God is a Spirit or state of consciousness where ideals of justice goodness truth and love are self-evident. The Illuminists' first priority is to destroy Christianity and belief in God. They have to sever humanity from its metaphysical moorings in order to substitute a false reality conducive to their rule.
Humanities education today is a placebo, a substitute for a true education. It is a pretext for indoctrination, acceptance of which qualifies you for employment.
The world will not be saved by acts of God but acts of men representing God. Our duty is to take these ideals seriously in our personal lives and bring them into the world. The cost of rejecting God is to become slaves of very bad men.
Comments for "How University Betrays Students"
TS said (August 29, 2009):
Those who are equally familiar with this term 'free' in combination with the term 'School' certainly shouldn't have any trouble following your current line of reasoning. Those who are not clear about this term, (or the realities behind 'Dumbing us Down,') really need to read the Underground History of Education, which is freely available at John Taylor Gatto's site: http://www.johntaylorgatto.com/underground/
If you only have limited reading time-*because to the idiots in your school's administrative suite*- you might just read chapters 1-5, and jump to the conclusion on 17 &18. The book ends on a decidedly upbeat note, as few writers besides JTG could do, (having previously undermined everything you held near and dear for over a hundred pages or so.)
Google 'Free School,' and you might also conclude that, today, there is no such thing as a freakin' 'free school' in the USA. John Taylor Gatto was clearly among the first and possibly the last of these education titans. However, there is one remaining Free-School in Syracuse, NY. Although their founders and longest running staff members have retired, it would be well worth your time to visit them if you are remotely concerned about the welfare of the future inhabitants of this planet.
L. said (August 29, 2009):
Dear Henry,
Being a recent graduate from a prestigious North American University, I have become more than acquanted at how Satan's agenda is being propagated in the name of "science" and "education". Whats worse, you pay an exaggerated amount for the indoctrination. My advice to University goers: Apply strictly in profession related courses (technical) and stay away from the Arts. Here is what I have to say regarding the major subjects and electives:
Economics: This is more like a spunned belief supplemented by graphs and statistics rather than a science. It relies mostly on the work of Adam Smith (The Wealth of Nations) which was released in 1776 (Year the Illuminati was formed and America became a Republic). Around that same year, Economics came into fashion as a "discipline". Since most students obviously hate the exercise of conscribing prosperity, inflation etc. to some graphs and statistics which can be used to justify almost anything (No Rothschilds are mentioned).
What is taught is of almost negligible practical value whatsoever; and instead establishes Adam Smith's worldview of human beings struggling like critters devoted to nothing but profit.This critter worldview is then polished by graphs and theories, which make it appear to have the blessings of the almighty demigod of science. Unfortunately, many students become influenced. I remember during one class, the professor deliberately mentioned how quotas for "minorities" decrease the total "potential" (everything is potential by the way) pie for everyone. This debate had white students whining and colored students cringing. Current Economics textbooks are painting the public sector and government owned corporations as evil in order to pave the way for complete corporate Enron style oligarchy.
Psychology: Everything from perversion to homosexuality can get its readymade justification in the "science" of psychology which relies on the works of the oversexed wet-dreamer Sigmund Freud who not only saw phalluses in cigars but imposed this belief on all. Then there is Carl Jung, who advance Nazi-Illuminati agenda.
Sociology: Just because some dwellers of some island not in contact with the rest of the world have no institution of marriage and practice polyandry, we are to take them as role models free from the "negative cultural barriers" developed by us. The works of Maud characterise this insight. And by the way, anything including sexual attitudes are "social issues".
Biology: Thought Med students would be safe from indoctrination? Apart from Darwin's dogmatic personal philosophy masquerading as science, New Biology textbooks even feature a a page on Gaia pagan earth worship, an alternate belief being vigorously pedalled by the Illuminati.
Women studies: pure bottled feminism
History: In history, you may be tempted for some research and puzzle solving, but remember that no is listening in University. In fact your views may get you redflagged for your entire career as in the case of a girl I know. I would suggest writing your term paper as you like but then proof read your manuscript and edit out everything that is politically incorrect before submitting.
Submit the original to Makow! Remember that it doesnt matter what facts you have to support your thesis. Just go to your University Hall and look up at the names of the various private charities paying in millions to keep their agenda flowing through. Would the University chose you or them? Currently, most University history textbooks and courses are laden with a high dose of western/ White/American supremacism in order to prepare the West as canonfodder for the Third World War.
One of the ideas being vehemently promoted is The 'New American Century' which resembles a direct offshoot of the Neocon Project for the New American Century. This phrase was initially coined by Time magazine editor Henry Luce (Lucifer?) who styarted this catch phrase in an attempt to rally Americans for fighting for Communism in the Second World War. Prior to that, he was promoting fascism, which would in intermediatory stage towards the transfer to Communism.
Henry Makow received his Ph.D. in English Literature from the University of Toronto in 1982. He welcomes your comments at


text:
Better Search in Virtual Worlds
Page 2 of 2
But both the new tool and Electric Sheep's bots are dependent on tags labeling objects and places; there is no virtual-world search technology that can recognize objects without those clues. Constable notes that, when items aren't tagged, the best his bots can come up with is "object." "We can find them, we can see them, but we can't make sense of them," he says. Dzwigalski says that, while the new Linden Lab search tool filters out the useless list of "objects," it's no better at identifying them. As a result, residents are responsible for tagging items that they want indexed. Constable says that his company hopes to add tools that will let people label their items more descriptively and effectively. "People are looking for a very wide range of experiences and things, and it adds some complexity to the search problem," he says. He points out that people need to be able to specify whether, for example, they want to buy a virtual replica of the Eiffel Tower or visit a virtual reconstruction of it.
But the search problem has consequences beyond whether or not users can shop efficiently within a single world. As developers work to let users pass easily from one virtual world to another, the problem of searching those worlds is becoming more important. (See "Moving Freely between Virtual Worlds.") "This is the same sort of thing that we dealt with in the early days of the Web," says Corey Bridges, cofounder and executive producer of Multiverse, a platform for virtual worlds. "If we're enabling a whole network of virtual worlds, it's critical for the user to find just the world that he or she wants. Odds are, it's going to end up like the Web, where there's a whole bunch of stuff out there, and you don't want 98 percent of it."
Although Linden Lab's tool represents an improvement, it is far from solving the problem. "Search is important, but I personally don't know of any answer in that space yet," says Michael Rowe, manager of 3-D Internet and "intraverse" research at IBM. "I would say search [in virtual worlds] is going to be pretty exciting as it matures, since you're not only looking for a link: you're looking for a thing within a context of space and time."


text:
- Filed Under
Big Brother Big Sisters will host the Buckeye Pep Rally 10K Give-A-Way from 6 to 11 p.m. today at Eaglesticks Giant Tent. A reserved table, 10 tickets, is $250; individual reserved tickets are $25 or $35 at the door.
Proceeds are used to recruit, screen, match, and support the friendships (matches) between volunteer mentors and local children.


text:
Sonchus asper is traditionally used in Pakistan for the treatment of reproductive dysfunction and oxidative stress. The present investigation was aimed to evaluate chloroform extract of Sonchus asper (SACE) against potassium bromate-induced reproductive stress in male rats.
20 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) potassium bromate (KBrO3) was induced in 36 rats for four weeks and checked the protective efficacy of SACE at various hormonal imbalances, alteration of antioxidant enzymes, and DNA fragmentation levels. High performance chromatography (HPLC) was used for determination of bioactive constituents responsible.
The level of hormonal secretion was significantly altered by potassium bromate. DNA fragmentation%, activity of antioxidant enzymes; catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and phase II metabolizing enzymes viz; glutathione reductase (GSR), glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx), glutathione-S-tansase (GST) and reduced glutathione (GSH) was decreased while hydrogen per oxide contents and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) were increased with KBrO3 treatment. Treatment with SACE effectively ameliorated the alterations in the biochemical markers; hormonal and molecular levels while HPLC characterization revealed the presence of catechin, kaempferol, rutin and quercetin.
Protective effects of Sonchus asper vs. KBrO3 induced lipid peroxidation might be due to bioactive compound present in SACE.
Keywords:Potassium bromate; Sonchus asper; Antioxidant; FSH; DNA fragmentation; TSH
Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is found in drinking water, food additive [1] and hair solution [2], cause sensorineural hearing loss and adverse effects on the vestibuloocular reflex system [3,4]. KBrO3 induces chromosomal aberration and promoting tumorigenesis [5] due to elevation of ONOO- level and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels in DNA induced by oxidative stress [6]. Sever damage to sperm membranes, proteins and DNA is associated with alterations in signal transduction mechanisms that affect fertility [7,8]. Sertoli cells support the moment of sperm from testis into epididymis through efferent ducts [9]. Free radicals cause alterations in the spermatogenic cycle, hypogonadism, reduction of sperms, alterations of reproductive hormones and degeneration in seminiferous tubules [10]. 4–5 g Sonchus asper (L.) Hill powder is traditionally used in the treatment of human reproductive disorder [11], cardiac dysfunction [12] and cancer [13]. Phytochemical study revealed that Sonchus asper contains flavonoids glycosides, ascorbic acid and carotenoids, possess antioxidant, anticancer; anti-inflammatory properties. The present investigation was aim to conform the traditional use of Sonchus asper versus KBrO3 induced hormonal dysfunction, injuries and lipids peroxidation in rat testicular tissues.
Materials and methods
Plant collection
Sonchus asper at maturity was collected from District Bannu (Pakistan) during the September 2011, identified and a voucher specimen R-47 was submitted at herbarium of Pakistan, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad, Pakistan. All parts of the plant (leaves, stem, flowers, seeds and roots) were shade dried for two weeks, chopped, and ground mechanically.
Preparation of plant extract
2 kg powder of Sonchus asper was extracted in 5 L chloroform to get chloroform extract (SACE). The extract was cooled at room temperature, filtered and evaporated under reduced pressure through rotary evaporator. The extract was stored at 4°C for in vivo investigations.
High performance liquid chromatography of plant extract
250 mg plant powder was extracted with 10 ml of 25% hydrochloric acid and 25 ml chloroform for 1 h. The obtained extract was filtered and diluted to 100 ml. 10 μl samples were injected into the HPLC Agilent HPLC system. Separation was carried out through column C18, UV–VIS Spectra-Focus detector, injector-auto sampler. Trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile was used as solvent with flow rate was 1 ml/min. Different standards compounds (catechin, kaempferol, rutin and quercetin) were run for comparative detection. The calibration curves were defined for each compound in the range of sample quantity 0.02-0.5 μg. All samples were assayed in triplicate.
36 male albino rats (180–190 g) were procured from National Institute of Health Islamabad and were kept in ordinary cages at room temperature of 25 ± 3°C with a 12 h dark/light cycle. Standard laboratory feed and water was free accessed. The study protocol was approved by Ethical committee of Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad. All these rats were used for in vivo screening of chloroform fraction of Sonchus asper against KBrO3-induced testicular toxicity and hormonal dysfunction in rats.
Experimental design
To study the antioxidant effects of Sonchus asper, male albino rats were equally divided into 6 groups (6 rats). SACE was dissolved in DMSO while 20 mg of KBrO3 in water. SACE was administered after 48 h of KBrO3 treatment for 30 days.
Group I Control; only allowed to food and water
Group II KBrO3 (20 mg/kg b.w.)
Group III KBrO3 (20 mg/kg b.w.) + SACE (100 mg/kg b.w. orally)
Group IV KBrO3 (20 mg/kg b.w.) + SACE (200 mg/kg b.w. orally)
Group V KBrO3 (20 mg/kg b.w.) + Silymarin (50 mg/kg b.w. orally)
Group VI SACE (200 mg/kg b.w. orally)
After 24 h of the last treatment, all the animals were weighted, sacrificed; collected their blood and urine while their testis were removed, weighted, perfuse in ice-cold saline solution and treated with liquid nitrogen for further enzymatic and DNA damage analysis.
Serum analysis of hormone
Serum level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol and prolactin was estimated using RIA gamma counter through kits.
Assessment of antioxidant enzymes
70 mg of tissue was homogenized in 10 volume of 100 mmol KH2PO4 buffer containing 1 mmol EDTA (pH 7.4) and centrifuged at 12,000 × g for 30 min at 4°C. The supernatant was collected and used for enzymatic studies. Protein concentration of tissue supernatant was determined by the method of using crystalline BSA as standard. Various antioxidant enzymes including CAT [14], POD [15], SOD [16], TBARS [17], GST [18], GSR [19], GSHpx [20], GSH [21] and DNA fragmentation [22] were carried out.
Histopathological overview of testis
After weighting the portion specifies for histology; testis was fixed for 3–4 h in fixative sera followed by dehydration with ascending grades of alcohol (80%, 90%, and 100%) and transferred in cedar wood oil, when testis becomes clear then embedded in paraplast and prepared blocks for further microtomy. 3–4 μm thin slides were prepared with microtome; wax was removed, stained with hemotoxilin-eosin and photographed under light microscope at 40x.
Statistical analysis
To determine the treatment effects one way analysis of variance was carried by computer software SPSS 13.0. Level of significance among the various treatments was determined by LSD at 0.05% level of probability.
HPLC characterization of polyphenolic constituents
The investigated compounds in the SACE were quantified by integration of the peak-areas at 220 nm using an external calibration method. Least-squares linear regression was used to determine the calibration parameters for each of standards. The main polyphenolic flavonoids compounds in the SACE include catechin, kaempferol, rutin and quercetin (Figure 1).
Figure 1. HPLC fingerprints obtained by chloroform extract of Sonchus asper eluted with mixtures of trifluoroacetic acid and acetonitrile indicated the presence of 4 compounds kaempferol, rutin, catechin and quercetin.
Effect of SACE on pituitary—gonadal axis
The mean values of the serum hormones; etradiol, prolactin, testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone were shown in Table 1. Treatment of rats with KBrO3 for 4 weeks, significantly decreased (P < 0.01) the hormonal level of testosterone, luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone while increased markedly (P < 0.01) the secretion of estradiol, prolactin as against the control group. These alterations of hormones are significantly reversed (P < 0.01) by administrations of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg b.w., SACE as well as 50 mg/kg b.w. Silymarin in KBrO3 treated rats however non significant changes were observed in non treated SACE alone rats.
Table 1. Effect of SACE on FSH, LH, testosterone, prolactin and estradiol in rat
Sonchus asper and antioxidant profile
The results regarding the protective effects of SACE against the toxic affect of KBrO3 in rat on activities of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, POD, SOD and amount of tissue protein were shown in Table 2. Activities of antioxidant enzymes such as CAT, POD, SOD and amount of tissue protein were significantly (P < 0.01) reduced by treatment of KBrO3 as compared to control group. This reduction was improved significantly (P < 0.01) by post-administration of 100 mg/kg and 200 mg/kg b.w. SACE and 50 mg/kg b.w. silymarin to control rat. However, non significant changes (P > 0.05) were found by administration of SACE alone against the control group.
Table 2. Effect of SACE on tissue protein, activity of CAT, POD and SOD
Effect of SACE on GSHpx, GST, GSR, GSH, TBARS
Effect of KBrO3 and the protective effects of SACE on tissue phase II metabolizing enzymes viz; GSHpx, GST, GSR, GSH and TBARS were shown in Table 3. KBrO3 treatment to rats significantly (P < 0.01) decreased the activities of GSHpx, GST, GSR and GSH while significantly (P < 0.01) increased the contents of TBARS in tissue homogenate as compared to control group. 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg b.w., SACE and 50 mg/kg b.w. silymarin showed significant protection (P < 0.01) and recovered the activity of enzymes near to control rat; increased the activities of GST, GSR and GSH while decreased the contents of TBARS in a dose dependent manner. SACE when administered alone did not show significant variations.
Table 3. Effect of SACE on testis GST, GSH-Px, GSR, GSH and TBARS in rat
% DNA fragmentation, testis weight, relative testis weight
Protective effects of SACE and Silymarin against KBrO3 administration in rat on DNA fragmentation, testis weight and relative testis weight were shown in Table 4. Administration of KBrO3 significantly increased (P < 0.01) DNA fragmentation, testis weight and relative testis weight when compared to control group. Post-treatment with SACE and silymarin erased the KBrO3 toxication and significantly (P < 0.01) improved DNA damages, testis weight and relative testis weight kidney weight and relative tissue weight towards the control group in a dose dependent. However, non significant (P > 0.05) variations were observed by S. asper alone as compared to control group.
Table 4. Effect of SACE on testis weight, relative testis weight in rat
Effect of SACE on histopathology of testis in rats
Microscopic examinations of male reproductive system from control group revealed the normal semeniferous tubules, sperms with normal morphology and concentration (Figure 2). Sertoli cells were inconspicuous. Histological appearance of prostate glands and surrounding fibro muscular stroma was found to be normal in appearance. Administration of KBrO3 caused degeneration of semeniferous tubules, loss of germ cells, abnormality of germinative epithelium, interruption in meiosis, and sperm with abnormal shape and concentration were visible. Orally-administration with SACE and silymarin revealed a marked repairing of testicular abnormalities induced by KBrO3; sperm with normal morphology and concentration near to control group were seen in repaired semeniferous tubules (Table 5).
Figure 2. Histopathological changes caused by KBrO3 and preventive effect of SACE on testis in different groups; Slides (from left) Control (A, B), KBrO3 (C, D), 100 mg/kg SACE + KBrO3 (E), 200 mg/kg SACE + KBrO3 (F), 200 mg/kg SACE alone (G) and 50 mg/kg silymarine + KBrO3 (H).
Table 5. Effect of SACE on testicular histopathology in rat
Phenolic and polyphenolic compounds are potential functional foods or neutraceuticals possess a variety of biological activities and considered to detoxify oxidative stress [23,24]. Chromatogram of the present extract showed the presence of catechin, kaempferol, rutin and quercetin. The present investigation describes molecular and biochemical processes which may be involved in the toxicity and carcinogenicity of potassium bromate [25]. In this investigation, body weight, testis weight and relative testis weight changed significantly in KBrO3 treated rats, in agreement with previous studies using the same dose of 80 mg KBrO3/kg b.w. It has been shown that increased testis weight reflects the increment of lipidperoxidation that in turn related to fatty accumulation and alteration of weight [26]. The treatment with SACE effectively abolished this change since the values were not significantly different from those of the control group, suggesting that these fractions can prevent the toxic effects of KBrO3 in the testis. Antioxidant enzymes play important role in detoxification of oxidative damages constitute a mutually supportive team of defense against reactive oxygen species [27]. Present study revealed that the activities of antioxidant enzymes were significantly reduced with intoxication of KBrO3 in rats which might be due to the presence of catechin, kaempferol, rutin and quercetin which, propagating free radicals like peroxyl radicals and converting the reactive free radicals to inactive products. Similar results were recorded by other studies of during characterization of Digera muricata and Launaea procumbens in rats [28,29]. Glutathione and other sulfhydryls play a major role in the metabolism and excretion of bromate in the rat [30]. Thiol-mediated oxidation of DNA by bromine oxides and bromine radicals has been well characterized in vitro and are thought to play a role in DNA damage in vivo[31]. While extra cellular pools of glutathione may be important in protecting target organs from bromate uptake and oxidative DNA damage, intracellular glutathione may facilitate the formation of DNA reactive metabolites [32-35]. This decrease in antioxidant status permits further oxidation of cellular DNA resulting in the formation of the mutagenic lesion 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and an increase in cellular proliferation in the target tissue. More recent evaluations of oxidative DNA damage in response to acute bromate exposures have demonstrated 8-oxodG formation in rat kidney at doses as low as 80 mg/kg [36].
The successful and complete male germ cell development is dependent on the balanced endocrine interplay of hypothalamus, pituitary and testis. Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) secreted by the hypothalamus elicits the release of gonadotropins, i.e., FSH and LH from the pituitary gland. FSH stimulates spermatogenesis while LH stimulates the production of testosterone in Leydig cells, which in turn may act on the sertoli cells and peritubular cells of the seminiferous tubules and stimulates spermatogenesis [36]. In the present study, KBrO3 treatment decreased the serum level of testosterone, FSH and LH. Secretion of testosterone is probably impaired due to excessive oxidative stress and the degeneration of Leydig cells [37]. Toxic effects of KBrO3 may result in the failure of pituitary to secrete FSH and LH and that will result in testicular dysfunction leading to infertility. In the present study, estradiol and prolactin serum level are appeared to be positively associated in the control and all the treated groups but probably the direct stimulation of the pituitary by estradiol is only one of the factors determining prolactinemia, with hypothalamic dysfunction being associated, as observed in hypogonadism. This mechanism may be considered partly responsible for the central origin of hypogonadism in our study. Spermatogenesis is a complex differentiation process. Deterioration of spermatogenesis is an integral and important part of normal spermatogenesis [8]. However, spermatogonial degeneration can result from exposure to toxic chemicals [38-40]. Result of the present study revealed that KBrO3 intoxication caused marked tubular degeneration, meiotic interruption, depletion of sperm concentration and degradation of germinative epithelium were confirmed. Supplementation of SACE significantly improved the testicular injuries and reversed the cellular toxicity near to control rat [41].
Sonchus asper significantly improved the alteration of antioxidant status, DNA fragmentation and hormonal imbalance caused by KBrO3 in male rat which might be associated due the presence of catechin, kaempferol, quercetin and rutin. This study substantiated the scientific evidence in favors of its pharmacological use in male sexual dysfunction and hormonal imbalance in folk medicine.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors' contributions
RAK made significant contribution to acquisition and interpretation of data, conception and drafting of the manuscript. MRK and SS has made substantial contribution to conception and design, interpretation of data and drafting for intellectual content. All the authors read and approved the final manuscript.
Himata K, Kuwahara T, Ando S, Maruoka H: Determination of bromate in bread by capillary gas chromatography with a mass detector (GC/MS).
Food Addit Contam 1994, 11:559-569. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Chipman J, Davies J, Parsons J, Nair J, O'Neill G, Fawell J: DNA oxidation by potassium bromate; a direct mechanism or linked to lipid peroxidation?
Toxicology 1998, 126:93-102. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Hytonen M, Leino T, Sala E, Kanerva L, Tupasela O, Malmberg H: Nasal provocation test in the diagnostics of hairdressers occupational rhinitis.
Young YH, Chuu JJ, Liu SH, Lin-Shiau SY: Toxic Effects of Potassium Bromate and Thioglycolate an Vestibuloocular Reflex Systems of Guinea Pigs and Humans.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2001, 177:103-111. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Sai K, Umemura T, Takagi A, Hasegawa R, Kurokawa Y: The protective role of glutathione, cysteine and Vitamin C against oxidative DNA damage induced in rat kidney by potassium bromate.
Japan J. Cancer Res 1992, 83:45-51. Publisher Full Text
Wattenbe LW: Inhibition of carcinogenesis by minor a nutrient constituents of the diet.
Proc Nutr Soc 1990, 49:173-183. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Sikka SC, Rajasekaran M, Hellstrom WJ: Role of oxidative stress and antioxidants in male infertility.
J Androl 1995, 16(6):464-468. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Russell LD, Alger LE, Nequin LG: Hormonal control of pubertal spermatogenesis.
Endocrinology 1987, 120:1615-1632. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Creasy DM: Pathogenesis of male reproductive toxicity.
Toxicol Pathol 2001, 29(1):64-76. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Khan MR, Ahmed D: Protective effects of Digera muricata (L.) Mart. On testis against oxidative stress of carbon tetrachloride in rat.
Food Chem Toxicol 2009, 47:1393-1399. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Kareru PG, Kenji GM, Gachanja AN, Keriko JM, Mungai G: Traditional medicine among the Embu and Mbeere peoples of Kenya.
Sabeen M, Ahmad AA: Exploring the folk medicinal flora of Abbotabad city Pakistan.
Thomson B, Shaw IA: Comparison of risk and protective factors for colorectal cancer in the diet of New Zealand maori and non-maori.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2002, 3:319-324. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Chance B, Maehly AC: Assay of catalase and peroxidases.
Kakkar P, Das B, Viswanathan PN: A modified spectrophotometric assay of superoxide dismutase.
Indian J Biochem Biophys 1984, 21:130-132. PubMed Abstract
Iqbal M, Sharma SD, Zadeh HR, Hasan N, Abdulla M, Athar M: Glutathione metabolizing enzymes and oxidative stress in ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) mediated hepatic injury.
Habig WH, Pabst MJ, Jakoby WB: Glutathione-S-transferases: the first enzymatic step in mercapturic acid formation.
J Biol Chem 1974, 249:7130-7139. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Carlberg I, Mannervik EB: Glutathione level in rat brain.
Mohandas J, Marshal JJ, Duggin GG, Horvath JS, Tiller DJ: Differential distribution of glutathione and glutathione-related enzymes in rabbit kidney. Possible implications in analgesic nephropathy.
Biochem Pharmacol 1984, 33:1801-1807. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Jollow DJ, Mitchell JR, Zampaglione N, Gillete JR: Bromobenzene induced liver necrosis. Protective role of glutathione and evidence for 3, 4-bromobenzene oxide as a hepatotoxic metabolite.
Pharmacol 1974, 11:151-169. Publisher Full Text
Wu B, Ootani A, Iwakiri R, Sakata Y, Fujise T, Amemori S, Yokoyama F, Tsunada S, Fujimoto K: T cell deficiency leads to liver carcinogenesis in Azoxymethane-treated rats.
Gilbert MT, Haselkorn T, Bunce M, Sanchez JJ, Lucas SB, Jewell LD, Van Marck E, Worobey M: The isolation of nucleic acids from fixed, paraffin- embedded tissues, which methods are useful when?
PLoS One 2007, 2(6):e537. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text
Espin JC, Garcia-Conesa MT, Tomas-Barberan FA: Nutraceuricals: facts and fiction.
Phytochemistry 2007, 68:2986-3008. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Ksouri R, Falleh H, Megdiche W, Trabelsi N, Mhamdi B, Chaieb K, Bakrouf A, Magne C, Abdelly C: Antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of the edible medicinal halophyte Tamarix gallica L. and related polyphenolic constituents.
Food Chem Toxicol 2009, 47:2083-2091. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Deangelo A, George M, Kilburn S, Moore T, Wolf D: Carcinogenicity of potassium bromate administered in the drinking water to male B6C3F1 mice and F344/N rats.
Toxicol Pathol 1998, 26:724-729. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Cadenas S, Barja G: Resveratrol, Melatonin, Vitamine, and PBN protect against renal oxidative DNA damage induced by kidney carcinogen KBrO3.
Free Rad Biol Med 1999, 26:1531-1537. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Khan N, Sharma S, Sultana S: Nigella sativa (black cumin) ameliorates potassium bromate-induced early events of carcinogenesis: diminution of oxidative stress.
Human Exp Toxicol 2003, 22:193-203. Publisher Full Text
Khan MR, Rizvi W, Khan GN, Khan RA, Shaheen S: Carbon tetrachloride induced nephrotoxicity in rat: Protective role of Digera muricata.
J Ethnopharmcol 2009, 122:91-99. Publisher Full Text
Khan RA, Khan MR, Sahreen S: Evaluation of launaea procumbens use in renal disorders: a rat model.
J Ethnopharmacol 2010, 128:452-461. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Kurokawa Y, Takamura N, Matsuoka C, Imazawa T, Matsushima Y, Onodera H, Hayashi Y: Comparative studies on lipid peroxidation in the kidney of rats, mice, and hamsters and on the effect of cysteine, glutathione, and diethyl maleate treatment on mortality and nephrotoxicity after administration of potassium bromate.
J Am Coll Toxicol 1987, 6:489-501. Publisher Full Text
Murata M, Bansho Y, Inoue S, Ito K, Ohnishi S, Midorikawa K, Kawanashi S: Requirement of glutathione and cysteine in guanine-specific oxidation of DNA by carcinogenic potassium bromate.
Chem Res Toxicol 2001, 14:678-685. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Parsons JL, Chipman JK: The role of glutathione in DNA damage by potassium bromate in vitro.
Mutagenesis 2000, 15:311-316. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Khan RA, Khan MR, Sahreen S: Hepatoprotection with chloroform extract of Launaea procumbens against CCl4 induced injuries in rat.
BMC Compl Alter Med 2012, 12:114. BioMed Central Full Text
Khan RA, Khan MR, Sahreen S, Ahmed M: Evaluation of phenolic contents and antioxidant activity of various solvent extracts of Sonchus asper (L.) Hill.
Chem Cent J 2012, 6:12. PubMed Abstract | BioMed Central Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text
Khan RA, Khan MR, Sahreen S: Brain antioxidant markers, cognitive performance and acetyl cholinesterase activity of rat: Efficiency of Sonchus asper.
Behav Brain Funct 2012, 8:2. PubMed Abstract | BioMed Central Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text
Umemura T, Kitamura Y, Kanki K, Maruyama S, Okazaki K, Imazawa T, Nishimura T, Hasegawa R, Nishikawa A, Hirose M: Dose-related changes of oxidative stress and cell proliferation in kidneys of male and female F344 rats exposed to potassium bromate.
Cancer Sci 2004, 95:393-398. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text
Conn PM: The molecular basis of gonadotropin releasing hormone action.
Endocrinol Rev 1986, 7(1):3-10. Publisher Full Text
Khan RA, Khan MR, Sahreen S, Naseer AS: Hepatoprotective activity of Sonchus asper against carbon tetrachloride-induced injuries in male rats: a randomized controlled trial.
BMC Compl Alter Med 2012, 12:90. BioMed Central Full Text
Santos AM, Ferraz MR, Teixeira CV, Sampaio FJ, Da Fonte Ramos C: Effects of undernutrition on serum and testicular testosterone levels and sexual function in adult rats.
Khan RA: Protective effects of Launaea procumbens on rat testis damage by CCl4.
Lipids Health Dis 2012, 11:103. PubMed Abstract | BioMed Central Full Text | PubMed Central Full Text
Richburg JH, Boekelheide K: Mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate rapidly alters both Sertoli cell vimentin filaments and germ cell apoptosis in young rat testis.
Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 1996, 137:42-50. PubMed Abstract | Publisher Full Text


text:
Since 1990, The Marmara Catering has been offering its five star services with a variety of unique Turkish and International menus to various organisations and events outside of the hotel.
The Marmara Catering offers its services for up to 4000 people at any location, in any surroundings in both Istanbul and across the nation. With its flexible, knowledgeable and trendsetter team nothing is impossible!


text:
CBS News highlighted the complaints of a man upset with Affordable Care Act provisions that require all insurance plans to provide maternity care coverage, a reliance on anecdotal journalism that omitted the important benefits this coverage could provide -- like ending gender discrimination in the insurance marketplace and improving the nation's sub-par infant mortality rate.
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires all insurance plans, private and employer-based, to cover maternity and newborn care, one of the law's 10 categories of 'essential health benefits' that every policy must include.
CBS Evening News chose to present the impact of this mandatory maternity coverage as a superfluous benefit on its October 28 broadcast. Rather than interviewing a beneficiary of the coverage or a health expert who could discuss the motivation behind the requirement, CBS highlighted a male realtor upset that his plan included such benefits.
Correspondent Dean Reynolds introduced Aaron Galvin as a realtor whose old insurance plan did not provide the minimum level of benefits required by the ACA, and as such, he had to sign up for a new plan that did. Reynolds reported that, "It's a new plan he didn't want, with some basic but required coverage, like maternity care, he doesn't need. Galvin and his wife don't plan on having more babies."
CBS' reporting on the ACA has been marked by distortions and faulty research, and with this broadcast the network missed another opportunity to provide the facts behind mandating maternity care.
The ACA's maternity care requirement puts an end to insurance companies' systemic discrimination against women -- many companies charge women higher rates than men for the same plans and deny coverage or increase premiums for women who become pregnant, actions which the law now prohibits. Without the ACA's mandate, only 12 percent of individual market plans currently cover maternity care, according to the National Women's Law Center. This is a shockingly expensive loophole, as the cost of maternity care and delivery can reach $25,000.
Loading the player reg...
The CBS Evening News devoted five minutes, in two segments, to the back-and-forth between the campaigns of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama over Obama's September 9 "lipstick" remark and other McCain attacks before CBS White House correspondent Bill Plante reported of the "lipstick" comments: "The facts: Obama had not mentioned Palin. He was focused on the central argument of his campaign -- that McCain's policies would be no different than President Bush's."
The CBS Evening News aired a clip of an attack ad against Sen. Barack Obama in which the narrator says, "Obama was enrolled in school as a Muslim while living in Indonesia." Nowhere did the report note that Obama is in fact not a Muslim but, rather, a practicing Christian.
All three network evening newscasts misrepresented retired Gen. Wesley Clark's comments about Sen. John McCain on Face The Nation, with none noting that Clark praised McCain as a "hero" for his Vietnam war service. ABC's David Wright asserted that McCain's experience as a POW made Clark's comments "especially provocative." CBS' Dean Reynolds falsely suggested that Clark had questioned McCain's patriotism and had "critici[zed]" McCain's "service, including five years as a POW." And NBC's Brian Williams falsely suggested that Clark had impugned McCain's "war record."
Numerous media outlets have reported all or part of Sen. John McCain's statement rebuking Sen. Barack Obama for his decision to forgo public financing in the general election without mentioning that during the primary, McCain signed a loan that could have forced him to remain in the race -- even if he had no chance of winning -- in order to be eligible for public matching funds to repay the loan.


text:
Signs Of Squirrel Infestation And Wildlife Damage Around The Home
There are several signs to look for regarding squirrel problems. Squirrels tend to be territorial and will mark accordingly, some things to look for include chew marks, urine stained roof shingles, and of course, holes.
Pictures from left to right: 1. Squirrel damage to home 2. A good example of ineffective wildlife damage control, boards were used as a preventative tactic and the squirrels chewed right through them 3. Tree damage from squirrels marking their territory, a good sign squirrels are around 4. Hole in roof 5. Signs of chewing and impending attic invasion, there are also urine stained roof shingles in this area. Call us immediately if you see this around your house, as it is a sure sign the squirrels will be moving in soon. 6. An example of squirrels chewing through electrical wires, a very dangerous home hazard you should avoid.
Squirrels like to chew on trees and homes as a way to mark their territory; they also do it to gain access to various areas and to keep their large front incisor teeth nice and sharp. Squirrels can chew right through the middle of your cedar or composition roof. If there is one thing that we get more wildlife control calls and complaints about, it is squirrels. One might think that they are part of the beaver family because of how much they chew and destroy things. A squirrel's brain is about the size of an average walnut, so you do not want one in your attic thinking that your electrical wires are tasty tree limbs.
If you've seen signs of squirrels around your home, we know what to do and we can humanely evict them for you. Squirrels can quickly destroy a home so don't procrastinate, call us today. The humane way, in most cases, is the most cost effective method, so our services will save you money in the long run. After removal we'll take steps to prevent additional wildlife from invading and damaging your home in the future.
Related Topics: Squirrel Control The Flying Squirrel Interesting Facts Relocation Studies Video


text:
Author Archive: jmcmanamay
Color Not Convention
At age 4, Fay Martin Chandler '43 was denied the chance to hold her baby cousin, and instead was offered a doll to play with.
Moving Forward
All across campus, philanthropy is remaking Sweet Briar's learning spaces.
Bend It Like Magruder
Professor of dance and director of Sweet Briar College's dance program Mark Magruder has released a CD of original music compositions, "Yoga Dreams."
A Mighty Wind
For Physical Plant workers, it was all hands on deck in the wake of the June 29 derecho that left behind widespread destruction and power outages across the region.
Slave Dwelling Project
Joe McGill of the National Trust for Historic Preservation created the Slave Dwelling Project to preserve and interpret structures that once housed enslaved blacks.
New Dean of Enrollment
Steven W. Nape began work as dean of enrollment management at the College on May 29.
'Salty' Winner One to Watch
Leah Busque, a 2001 Sweet Briar computer science graduate, took home the award for overall Entrepreneur of the Year at the second Salt Block Project Awards Dinner in October.
25 and Counting
In October, Professor Bill Kershner celebrated his "first 25 years" in the theater department with a "Silver Soiree."


text:
Eating organic often means spending a little more at the grocery store, but does the added cost of organic food have an added benefit to your health? Well it could depend on the type of food you're buying.
"The difference between organic vegetables and conventionally raised vegetables is there are a number of different processes that it goes through. For one thing with conventional vegetables they use a lot of chemical fertilizers," says P.J. Larson, the Produce Manager at the Vitamin Cottage in Grand Junction.
Are these chemicals really harmful for us? Dr. Louis DePalma, the Internal Health Specialist at DePalma Chiropractic and Health in the Redlands, says they could stress your body out, "Anything that is extra and not natural, the body has to deal with those extra toxins, and the body has to filter the toxins out which puts more stress on the body."
If you are trying to save money it might not be practical to eat all organic but experts say there are some foods you shouldn't stray from, "Strawberries are really big on the list and peaches. Those are a couple of the fruits that are notorious for really soaking in pesticides," says Larson.
Other foods where you consume the peel, such as apples, tomatoes, bell peppers, lettuce and spinach are also best organic. Larson says you can't really wash all of the chemicals off.
Milk makes your bones strong but according to Dr. DePalma it can be better for your body if you buy organic, "Milk, organic, because of the hormones that are in it, hormones and antibiotics, that affects the body."
As for your little ones Dr. DePalma also says you should start them off with organic, "Baby foods should be eaten organic because babies are more susceptible to the toxins and the pesticides."
When it comes to foods like bananas, avocados, onions and grape fruits you don't necessarily need to reach for the organic says Dr. DePalma, "Oranges and stuff that has a thick skin that you can peel off, not as crucial to worry about eating organic."
As for meat the answer isn't as clear. Meat that isn't organic is produced with extra hormones and antibiotics. So if it is important to you to avoid those things then choose organic.
Experts say you can also save some money by avoiding organic pastas and cereals. They are so processed that organic really doesn't mean anything for those foods.
Whether you buy organic or not, the choice is ultimately up to you, just remember to wash before you eat.
KKCO firmly believes in freedom of speech for all and we are happy to provide this forum for the community to share opinions and facts. We ask that commenters keep it clean, keep it truthful, stay on topic and be responsible. Comments left here do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of KKCO 11News.powered by Disqus


text:
Casey Rodgers/AP
With her uncanny ability to add some casual cool to even the most classic silhouettes, Rachel Bilson once again lends her expert eye as a guest editor for Piperlime.
The Hart of Dixie star, who also shills for Sunglass Hut, curates a new selection of affordable to aspirational items to reflect her trademark "comfy" style. "I like to… Continue reading Rachel Bilson Premieres New Picks for Piperlime


text:
Ben Affleck may not have been nominated for best director for the upcoming Academy Awards—but he surely wins best dad in our opinion!
The 40-year-old actor was spotted out with his two daughters, 7-year-old Violet and 4-year-old Seraphina, at a Los Angeles farmers' market Saturday, looking all the part of doting dad.
The actor had his hand full with bags of goodies and a bouquet of flowers presumably for wife Jennifer Garner.
Jennifer Garner is also quite the mom—check out her new head accessory here!
Along with winning our approval as an adorable dad, Affleck also won quite a few at the Golden Globes.
The actor took home the title of Best Director and Best Motion Picture, Drama at the awards last Sunday evening where he thanked the most important woman in his life—Jennifer.
Affleck shared: "I want to thank my wife who is the reason why I'm standing here. I adore you. I love you so much. Thanks for sitting through this. You are my everything. Thank you."
Swoon much?!
Speaking of famous families, check out these other adorable broods!


text:
- The Economist – The euro-zone crisis: Europe's three great delusions
The continent's leaders have still not grasped how much they need to do to save the euro
The first is shoot-the-messenger syndrome. Too many European politicians lay all the blame on speculators, hedge funds, rating agencies and the rest for "unwarranted" attacks on the euro. Such thinking has informed Germany's decision to ban "naked" short-selling of government bonds. The German regulator itself admits that this practice played little part in the Greek mess. The ban will apply only in Germany, whereas most short-selling happens in London. If it has any impact at all, it will merely make it harder to sell government bonds.
The second delusion might be termed excessive faith in shock-and-awe. … In truth, Greece's debt problem is one of insolvency, not illiquidity—and insolvency cannot be rectified by piling on more debt, however shocking and awesome the amount. Instead, euro-zone governments and regulators should start planning now for an orderly debt restructuring, including the imposition of losses ("haircuts") on banks that hold Greek debt.
The third and most disturbing delusion is that deeper structural reform is not necessary; everything will be fine if only Greece and other euro-zone laggards cut their budget deficits. Several notorious fiscal reprobates are promising Angela Merkel that they will whip themselves into line. This is both masochistic and cowardly.
There is a misguided belief that yet another bailout package will be announced this weekend and this one will finally solve the crisis. There is already a $1 trillion bailout in place, larger than the TARP. This was the sixth emergency bailout announced this spring and the largest. Each one was designed to "wow" the markets after the previous one was deemed inadequate.
This kind of thinking misses the point of the problem of the crisis. See the highlighted part above. This is a solvency crisis. Letting Greece or other PIIGS countries borrow more money is not the answer. Greece has already been bailed out and does not need to borrow from the capital markets until 2013 (they will get their loans from other Euro-zone countries directly). So, the Greeks are already "covered" as part of the 750 billion euro deal announced two weeks ago.
The problem is the market is not buying this "fix too much debt with more debt" approach. More bailouts are not the answer. Austerity is the answer.
- BusinessWeek – Come Together
The euro zone's crisis can only be solved by unity, says ECB President Jean-Claude Trichet. So why is everyone talking about blowing it up?
Anyone trying to predict the outcome of Europe's financial crisis should pay close attention to Jean-Claude Trichet. As head of the Bank of France in 1999, he helped create the euro. After seven years babysitting the new specie as president of the European Central Bank in Frankfurt, Trichet and the euro are as intertwined as a man and a currency can be. He is too invested to let it break apart on his watch. Whatever emotional tug the 67-year-old Trichet may feel, though, is counterbalanced by his devotion to sound money and central bank independence. He doesn't want to debase the euro just to keep shakier members of the zone on board. Even as the financial crisis spiraled out of control, he refused to support weak governments—Greece, Spain, Portugal—by buying up their debt. That restraint burst on May 10. A run on Greek government bonds had begun to spill over into Portuguese, Spanish, and even Italian sovereign debt, raising fears of a self-feeding downward spiral. That day, Trichet reversed course and announced the ECB would begin buying sovereign bonds after all, "to ensure depth and liquidity." That, along with a 750-billion-euro loan package from EU countries, stopped the run and gave the euro some breathing room.
- The Wall Street Journal – Falling Euro Spurs Cautious Intervention Talk
Officials in the U.S. and Europe concerned about the euro's decline are cautiously talking about a policy tool they haven't used in a decade: intervening in currency markets. Policy makers have been content to let markets set the value of the euro, which has fallen about 17% since early December, worrying U.S. exporters who face European competition and raising fear of inflation in Germany. Expectations of the prospects of intervention pushed up the euro to near $1.26, after the currency had slipped below $1.23 earlier. Late in the day, the euro traded at around $1.25. Marco Annunziata, chief economist at UniCredit in London, figures the euro would have to fall to about $1.10 in a week or so to prompt policy makers to act. Such a fall could shake markets globally, boost interest rates in Europe, and threaten to undermine a global recovery.
- The Telegraph (UK) – Whatever Germany does, the euro as we know it is dead
Angela Merkel's ban on short-selling is just a distraction from the horror to come
For Angela Merkel, leader of the eurozone's richest country, a queue is forming of high-quality adversaries. As she tips German Geld und Gut into the furnace of a rescue package for the euro, while going it alone in a misguided ban on market "manipulators", the brass-neck Chancellor has infuriated domestic voters, angered her EU partners (in particular the French) and invited the so-called wolf pack of global traders to do its worst. In one respect, Mrs Merkel is right: "The euro is in danger… if the euro fails, then Europe fails." What she has not yet admitted publicly is that the main cause of the single currency's peril appears beyond her control and therefore her impetuous response to its crisis of confidence is doomed to fail. The euro has many flaws, but its weakest link is Greece, whose fundamental problem is that for years it spent too much, earned too little and plugged the gap by borrowing in order to enjoy a rich man's lifestyle. It flouted EU rules on the limits to budget deficits; its national accounts were a moussaka of minced statistics, topped with a cheesy sauce of jiggery-pokery.
- The Wall Street Journal – Editorial: The Fear Returns
Europe's policy panic is feeding another financial panic.
Anyone who thought that last week's IMF-EU bailout would calm markets has had a rude awakening this week, especially after yesterday's global selloff in stocks. It rarely gets uglier than a 3.6% one-day fall in the Dow and 4.1% on the Nasdaq. Even more ominous is the return of fear in the credit markets, with interbank risk spreads hitting their widest levels since spring 2009. Investors are fleeing riskier assets and moving back to the relative safety of the dollar and U.S. Treasurys, which means less credit available to finance business and risk-taking. The plunge of the euro has exacerbated this flight to the greenback, and the rapid exchange-rate movements of recent weeks are always more disruptive to investment decisions and capital flows than conventional economic wisdom cares to admit. Feeding the financial panic is the policy panic, especially in Europe. Instead of keeping cool, political leaders are restricting short sales, banning hedge funds, and proposing to raise taxes on any euro that moves somewhere that politicians don't like. All of this only speeds the flight out of euro assets. German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble should try not speaking for a day, and see if the euro rises.
Category: Think Tank
Please use the comments to demonstrate your own ignorance, unfamiliarity with empirical data and lack of respect for scientific knowledge. Be sure to create straw men and argue against things I have neither said nor implied. If you could repeat previously discredited memes or steer the conversation into irrelevant, off topic discussions, it would be appreciated. Lastly, kindly forgo all civility in your discourse . . . you are, after all, anonymous.
7 Responses to "The Fate Of The Euro"
Europe has too many power centers to form a coherent policy to solve their structural problems.Their biggest problem is the centrality of their monetary policy and different fiscal policies of the separate countries.One thing is certain that it will be a long drawn out problem with periodic flares like the Spanish seizure of Catholic Church led Caja today
The fundamental euro concept is wrong. The euro is a surrogate for a gold standard. The gold standard failed because it restricted nations from creating money. So, any crisis requiring a nation to spend more — recession, depression, war, excessive negative balance of payments, deflation — could not be addressed.
Norway had it right: They didn't join then EU. The UK had it right: They joined the EU, but maintained control over their own money. Because none of the EU nations has the power to create money at will, each must rely on an ongoing positive balance of payments to add money to its economy for growth — a functional impossibility.
Since the world's balance of payments always is zero, a positive balance of payments requires someone else to be negative — a kind of "beggar thy neighbor" policy. For the EU to survive long term, each nation should follow the UK lead.
Rodger Malcolm Mitchell
[...] links: 'A financial earthquake' – FT Alphaville The interactive eurozone crisis – FT Alphaville The fate of the euro – The Big Picture Germany's eurozone crisis nightmare – Martin Wolf, [...]


text:
UPDATE: Suit has been filed alleging "multiple instances" between 1997 and 2000.
A lawsuit alleging a St. Paul priest and University of St. Thomas professor "engaged in sexual contact" as a seminary student with a girl will be filed Monday.
The lawsuit against Michael Keating will be filed in Ramsey County District Court, attorney Jeff Anderson said in a statement Sunday evening.
Anderson said the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis had knowledge of these claims in 2006. Anderson said he will provide information about the case and how the archdiocese handled the report at a Monday news conference. He said he will have photos and a statement from the now 20-year-old victim.
Keating has taken a voluntary leave of absence from the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, said archdiocese spokesman Jim Accurso, who declined further comment.
Keating did not return a call Sunday to his St. Paul home.
On behalf of the archdiocese, Keating was scheduled to give a series of speeches titled, "Rediscover: Belonging; Living in Communion with God," at four locations across the Twin Cities in late September and early October.
Keating, an assistant professor in Catholic Studies at St. Thomas, is the manager of the Rome Program and the founder and director of the Habiger Institute for Catholic Leadership.
Keating is a speaker and retreat director at national and international venues, according to his biography on Crisis Magazine.
Keating, who graduated from the University of Michigan, earned a doctorate in history from the University of Notre Dame and a theology degree from Dominican Pontifical University of St. Thomas Aquinas in Rome.


text:
Magnum Force Clear
- Ships by vendor MC
- Privacy Guaranteed
- Discreet Packaging
- Largest Selection
- Lowest Prices
- 21 Years Online
- Color: Clear
- Feature: Latex Free , Phthalate Free
- Material: Silicone
- Manufacturer: Nasstoys
- Weight: 8.32 Ounces
Product is not soft silicon as I thought it would be.
Was this review helpful for you?
They fit great and are easy to get on and off. Makes my erection feel more powerful. The shipping was extremely fast. Great product.
Was this review helpful for you?


text:
[Edited by pheephee, 4/7/2009 1:33:29 PM]
Aww, better luck next time. When you pass, we can has lotz fun mebbeh? Just don't get a volvo.
"Volvo" triggered this memorable quote for me:
"Look, I'm just a biochemist. Most of the time, I work in a little glass jar and lead a very uneventful life. I drive a Volvo, a beige one. But what I'm dealing with here is one of the most deadly substances the earth has ever known, so what say you cut me some FRIGGIN' SLACK?" ~ Stanley Goodspeed
awww, you should of used your sex appeal... works for me.
Yes, you have great sex appeal... to women.
I dislike ACslashDC. The songs are crappy, I prefer Iron Maiden. (no offense to acslashdc fansslashfanboisslashloversslashaddicts)<_<
I prefer Iron Maiden as well. But I don't dislike AC/DC.
im immune to it


text:
Thomas Calabro
Played: Dr. Michael Mancini
Thomas was the only cast member to stay on "Melrose Place" throughout the show's entire run from 1992 until 1999. Before playing Dr. Mancini on the TV drama, the actor began his career in theater at Fordham University. He landed a coveted role, as Oberon, in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" after his classmate, Denzel Washington, dropped out of the play.
© 2015 Whalerock Industries


text:
Students in an engineering lab class at Ohio State University at Marion (OSUM) work on a problem Friday morning, Aug. 23, 2013. There are 36 students in the class, instructed by Harrison Smith. The afternoon class is even larger, Smith said. The growing number of students in science and engineering has prompted OSUM to look at constructing a new science building.
- Filed Under
An increasing growth in engineering students has The Ohio State University at Marion making another push to secure funding for its science and engineering building.
Ohio State Marion officials announced recently that the regional campus needs to raise about $1.9 million more to start construction. Dave Claborn, director of development and community relations, said his hope is to see construction start in 2014. That's when he expects construction on an extension of University Drive to be built through campus will start.
"I see the groundbreaking and build about the same time as the new ...


text:
FootprintWire 26.04.13
Today's green news: Urinals made from strawbales
Carbon Trust report shows potential for a boom in small-scale solar power in the developing world, on Blue and Green.
Solar panels contribute to malaria elimination, on Business Green.
Cars are no longer environmental villains, on The Economist.
And finally… French design studio Faltazi has devised a urinal made from a funnel and a strawbale that produces high grade fertilizer, in The Guardian.
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment.


text:
Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream
3450 Adams Ave. (Hawley Blvd.) Send to Phone
619-284-5197 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu
OpenOpen daily
- Dress code: Casual
- Kid-friendly
* Click here for rating key
Mariposa Homemade Ice Cream Restaurant Review: This Normal Heights refresher builds shakes and fills waffle cones with ice cream (white chocolate-raspberry ripple, banana-walnut), sherbet and sorbet. Top your sundae scoops with homemade dulce de leche, marshmallows or hot fudge. No gimmicks, just good dessert.
Check out the 2015 edition of GAYOT's Annual Restaurant Issue, which features the Top 40 Restaurants in the US and more.


text:
Alamo Colleges Education Services is a secure portal connecting Faculty, Staff & Students to Academic Resources, Email, and other Online Resources.
Support Contacts: Helpdesk: 210-485-0555 | Weather Line: 210-485-0189
Click Here to Login
For additional information, visit the Student Logins page.
MLK Campus: (210) 486-2330
Location: Center for Learning Resources (CLR)
SWC Campus: (210) 486-7023
Location: Building 1-C123
Online Databases
Library Catalog
Off-Campus Access
Renew Your Items
This 48-hour class studies medical terminology, word origin, structure, and application of medical terms. Students enrolled in the course will learn to define, pronounce, and spell medical terms as a result of learning to build and analyze terms through the introduction of prefixes, suffixes, root words, plurals, abbreviations and symbols. This class is ideal for:
CE Specialist:
John email@example.com
MLK CampusContinuing Education Building
1801 Martin Luther King Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78203 (210) 486-2000800 Quintana Road, San Antonio, Texas 78211 (210) 486-7000