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my own buddies (mostly female) giving Bush a little Bukkake Bombing of
our own. I'm talking sex here, darling, nothing lethal, of course.
Make love, not war.
Perhaps a couple of definitions are in order. First, bukakke. If you're a porn fan, you probably know that "bukkake" is a Japanese term that refers to spraying the face and body of a person, usually a woman, though sometimes a man, with sperm from one, several or many men. The word actually means "splash" or "squirt" in Japanese. In some bukkake sessions, 150 men ejaculate onto one woman.
In American Bukkake, the recipient acts like she's enjoying herself, rubbing the sperm into her skin like a beauty treatment (which it is!). In Japanese Bukkake, she plays up the degradation. Though American Bukkake appeals more to an Ethical Hedonist like me, perhaps the Japanese style is closer to the essential allure of bukkake. Whether they like it or not, aficionados say that the target often experiences a sort of "enlightenment" while being doused with 150 or so different varieties of spunk.
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Company Profile
Website: http://www.dmas.org/
The Direct Marketing Association of Singapore (DMAS) is a not-for-profit trade organization established in 1983 to promote and protect its members' interests, facilitate the development of direct marketing infrastructure and share information and ideas on direct marketing. Members are invited to attend monthly networking and educational seminars, share in best industry practices and take advantage of exclusive business opportunities.
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SES London, Feb 20-24
SES NYC, Mar 19-23
SES Toronto, Jun 11-13
SES San Fran, Aug 13-17
Marketing Manager/Director
Creative Director
E-Commerce Manager
Brand Manager
Director, Business Analytics
Media Buyer
Media Planner
SEO Specialist/Consultant
PPC Analyst
Junior Account Manager
Chief Marketing Officer (CMO)
Chief Executive Officer/President
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subset: commoncrawl


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About Ameson
Board of Advisors
Advisory Committees
American High School (+AP) Program
AST: Ameson Scholastic Test
Ameson Chinese Elite Identification System
China Equitable Information Management Service
Global Bridges
International Seminars
Jiangsu Explore
Capacity Building
Educator Training
Government Officials
SAYA: Sino-American Youth Ambassadors
ACE: Chinese Elite Program
AYC: Ameson Year in China
AFT: Ameson Fellowship for Teachers
OPT: Optional Practical Training
ACE + China's Capitals: Yesterday and Today
PPP: Professional Pathways Program
American High School (+AP) Program
AYC: Ameson Year in China
AFT: Ameson Fellowship for Teachers
Ameson Foundation organizes "Jiangsu-Ontario International Education Cooperation Forum" in Canada
Published on Monday, 21 September 2009 10:42
meson Foundation organized "Jiangsu-Ontario International Education Cooperation Forum"for Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on June 28, 2005.
During the forum, the Jiangsu People's Government declared its new policy of promoting internationalization and modernization of education and encouraging cooperation of education institutions and governmental bodies between China and abroad. They hope that by implementing those policies, there would be an improvement in school management and an increasing number of collaborations with international educational projects.
Officials of the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education, Ontario, representatives from twelve Canadian universities and representatives from education institutions in Ontario participated in the forum.
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What Will Anthony Kennedy Do on Gay Marriage?
It's the question driving the entire Prop 8 train.
Ward reminds us that at his 1987 confirmation hearing for the Supreme Court, Kennedy testified that "there is a zone of liberty, a zone of protection, a line that is drawn where the individual can tell the government: Beyond this line, you may not go." When questioned about Beller,Kennedy replied,"This was the first case involving a challenge to the discharge of homosexuals from the military, and I spent a great deal of time on it, and I thought it important for the reader and for the litigants to know that I had considered their point of view." Writes Ward, even though Kennedy voted against them, "Kennedy's remarks once again showed that in his mind, gay rights claims were valid and deserved serious consideration." In 1995, the court unanimously decided Hurley v. Irish-American Gay, Lesbian, and Bi-Sexual Group of Boston, holding that the St. Patrick's Day parade organizers had a free-speech right to exclude an Irish gay group from participating in the parade.
Which made it so surprising when, in 1996, Kennedy sounded such a sure and forceful note in Romer v. Evans, the Colorado case. Notes Ward, after Romer, retired Justice Harry Blackmun, who had written Roe v. Wade, sent Kennedy a note: "Monday's decision took courage. You will now undoubtedly receive a lot of critical and even hateful mail. I have had that experience and still receive letters, some of them abusive, in almost every mail. Hang in there." To which Kennedy replied, "No one told us it was an easy job when we signed on." Ward also quotes a clerk from that term—not one of Kennedy's—explaining why Kennedy so badly wanted to author the opinion: "Kennedy definitely wanted the case. … His big shtick was this was an exceptional case, this was an outrage. He wanted to sock it to the people of Colorado. The emphasis on motive, bad guys is very much Kennedy."
Those hoping that Kennedy would forever be a strong advocate after Romer would soon be disappointed. In 2000, Kennedy voted with the majority in Boy Scouts of America v. Dale, allowing the Boy Scouts to bar gay troop leaders, based on the group's rights of free expression and free association. Trying to square this no-yes-no-yes pattern with Kennedy's blockbuster decision in Lawrence, Ward concludes that what really changed over Kennedy's tenure at the court was an uptick in the number of gay rights cases at the court, a growing acceptance of gays and lesbians in the political arena, and the presence of new justices, like Breyer and Ginsburg, who were open to gay rights.
Thus, when faced in 2004 with the now-urgent question of what Kennedy might do on gay marriage, Ward was far less certain than all the advocates on both sides who say they're sure they'll lose. He concludes that Kennedy's "opinions in Romer and Lawrence can be considered precedent to expand gay rights, including gay marriage. At the same time, they could constrain his choices and he could be unwilling to extend his position to more controversial gay rights claims." And that's pretty much the uncertain Kennedy landscape we've all come to recognize. Ward is certainly right that "future gay rights claims will be treated seriously" by Kennedy, but he'd also ask you to remember that the justice will be equally attuned to the opinion polls, the mood of the country, and the strong pushes and pulls from his colleagues. In other words, anyone seeking deeper hints or tips on what Kennedy might do in Perry is probably just going to have to wait and see. Kennedy may not even know yet himself.
Slate V: Watch Mark Fiore's animated commentary on activist judges:


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Comments about Mountainsmith Mountainsmith Modular Hauler 4 System:
I bought this system to use during a car trip from Canada to Florida with my teenage daughter. By the end of the trip my daughter agreed...the cube system was wonderful! We knew which colour cube held toiletries, which was snacks, which had emergency gear, and which one was just for her. Made things much easier!
The bright colours are easy to keep track of, the cubes are easy to wipe out and keep clean, and and the carry bag they fit into is a good gear hauler on its own.


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For most people, a "guilty" pleasure is eating raw cookie dough. For Jessie Oleson, it's cupcakes or cinnamon rolls baked with cookie dough in their centers. Or a "Pookie," an entire apple pie wrapped in cookie dough and baked. Oleson takes your guilty pleasure and raises it a rainbow layer cake.
CakeSpy, the popular blog penned by Oleson, is known for its whimsical illustrations and whackadoo recipes--things like leftover Easter candy cookies, doughnut upside down cake, and Twinkie tiramisu. It's not all about silly sweets, though. Oleson is a serious spy when it comes to sniffing out regional sweets across the country, such as the Southern tradition of making fudge with Velveeta, and historic treats, like Battenburg Cake. Now Oleson has a new book, CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life.
The book is filled with recipes for some of Oleson's craziest concoctions, such as Cadbury Crème Eggs Benedict--crème eggs cut in half, served on a brownie, and covered with vanilla buttercream frosting. Oleson admits these aren't things you should be eating on a daily basis, but rather wants to bring fun and fearlessness to baking. There are cupcakes baked in ice cream cones, cakes baked in jars, and homemade toaster treats that are all achievable for an adventurous baker with a serious sweet tooth.
Most recipes include either a photo of the finished product or one of Oleson's illustrations. The captions on some of the illustrations are laugh-out-loud funny--next to the recipe for doughnut upside down cake is a drawing of a pineapple glaring at a doughnut and saying, "Can't you let me shine for once!!" Some recipes offer shortcuts like using a pre-made apple pie for the pookie, or store-bought toaster pastries, cookie dough, or pie crust. In sidebars, Oleson encourages experimenting on your own for things like the Red Velvet Cake shake with other cake slices or even pie.
Oleson even has serving suggestions just as sweet as the recipes. For the grilled cheesecake--a sandwich made of pound-cake slices filled with cheesecake and fried like a grilled-cheese sandwich---she suggests serving something akin to the tomato soup you would usually have alongside a savory grilled cheese sandwich: Melted strawberry ice cream.
Meet Jessie Oleson around town this month as she promotes CakeSpy. There is a book launch event at the CakeSpy Shop on Thursday, October 13, from 6-9 p.m. On October 14, she will be at Book Larder from 6:30-7:30 p.m. There is a sweet meet-up at the Cupcake Royale location on Capitol Hill October 15 from 7-9 p.m., and on October 17 at the location in Bellevue from 3-5 p.m.


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So I want to transfer a whole bunch of iTunes files from my girlfriends old, slow, barely working computer to mine. I talked to some people at the Best of Buys and got a quote for about $100-200, depending on total size. Not going to happen.
What are my options? I was thinking about buying an external hard drive, copying everything to that, and then plugging it into my computer.


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Missing Clown Loach
We stocked our little 6 gallon nano cube over the weekend with the following: (the fish store said this combo would be OK)
1 clown loach
2 calico platy
3 shrimp
1 siamensis
3 cardinal tetras
1 pork chop rasboro
It's 2 days later, and the clown loach is gone. We've looked under the driftwood, inside the live plants, in the filter area.. it's just gone!
Could the others have eaten it if it died? Could it have dug a hole in the substrate and died?
This is our first fish tank, and we're on day 3 with fish. Any help would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
Hi and welcome aboard.:wave:
To me, it's overstocked.:) A clown loach and siamesis will both need 30 gallons altogether. Loaches need to be kept in groups so you'll need to rehome the clown in a 55 gallons minimum for groups. They can reach 12 inches even if they are quite slow growers.
Pork chop rasbora is Rasbora heteromorpha or Harlequin Rasbora. I'd suggest upgrading the tank to a near 20 gallons mark and add more cardinals and harlequins. Platies are fine though I recommend a sex ratio of one male to 2-3 females.
Before adding the fish to a new tank I suggested, you may have to cycle the tank for awhile. Get a test kit and test for ammonia, nitrites, nitrates and pH. Make sure ammonia and nitrites are zero for the tank to become safe for fish. Get your lfs' established filter media and cycle the tank using your platies. Their wastes will serve as ammonia and the bacteria will convert it into nitrites in a few days and finally into nitrates. You just have to be patient on this one.:)
Your lfs gave you wrong information about the fish combo and space issues. I'd get rid of the clown loach and if you can't upgrade, get rid of the siamensis.
Good luck.:)
Hi Blue,
I understand about the clown loach needing more space and to be in a group. We won't get another to replace it. Thing is, what could have happened to it? It's GONE! No where to be found in the tank!
We want to just stick with this tank for now, we spent a month getting the water just right, and want to work with what we have. It's our very first tank and we are just on day 3 of having the fish. Is it too small for the siamensis? What should we do with the siamensis? (aside from getting a new tank) He's VERY active. Just hope it works out? Take it back? He's so cute!
Our fish store is very reputable and strictly specializes in (Japanese-style) planted freshwater aquariums (it's not a petco kind of place). I'm surprised they said this would be ok.
What do you think happened to the clown loach??
You'd be suprised how quickly a dead fish can be "returned to nature" if left in a tank. It quite possibly could've been consumed by the others.
Whoa. That's wild.
Is my siamensis really in too small of a tank? (6 gal). I like the way he's cleaning up things in there.
check the filter for fish remains.
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May 1, 2016
He was to be followed by the other hopeful, Andrea Grubb Barthwell, a former deputy drug czar in the Bush administration.
Party officials said the committee choosing the candidate wanted to emerge with a single candidate to replace Jack Ryan in the race against Democratic rising star Barack Obama.
Keyes is an East Coast conservative who hasn't lived in Illinois. Barthwell is a Chicago-area physician who has a history of contributing to Democrats
Either choice to go up against Obama almost assures Illinois will send Washington only its fifth black senator in history.
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Please be aware that all new incoming IC community members will have their username assigned based on the "first initial + full last name" format.
Student usernames will no longer be limited to the first 6 characters of their last name, and will no longer automatically include a number. However, any username (faculty, staff or student) may have a number added to it as necessary to prevent duplication of an existing username.
This change only applies to usernames assigned since late last fall; currently assigned usernames of community members will not change. The new format will become more noticeable as this year's incoming freshman have their accounts set up in IC systems. Therefore, going forward, it will no longer be possible to distinguish a student from a faculty/staff member based on the presence of a number in their username.
This is part of a new initiative that will allow each person to have one permanent identity with the college, regardless of whether they are a student, faculty/staff member, or alumnus. It will also allow for an IC community member to have multiple roles at the college without having to maintain multiple accounts.
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For Part I of this blog, I will highlight a new discovery where scientists have now been able to create cloned stem cells and I will review two ethical debates that were central to earlier discourse surrounding stem cell research: (1) the moral status of human embryos and (2) the potential physical and social harms to women as egg providers.
So finally research cloning (a.k.a. therapeutic cloning) has been achieved! The technique is called somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) and now has been used to derive human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) (Tachibana et al., Cell 2013). Performing SCNT using human oocytes is an astonishing accomplishment and has significant ethical and clinical implications.
Although the process Tachibana and colleagues used differed, typically SCNT involves taking a human ovum, removing its nuclear genetic material (a process known as enucleation), and replacing it with a diploid nucleus from any cell (i.e., the nucleus of an epithelial cell) and then parthenogenically activating the egg to initiate embryonic development. If this embryo was allowed to develop in vitro and was then transferred into a surrogate woman, the child born would be a clone of the individual who donated the somatic cell nucleus. This technique is commonly referred to as reproductive cloning and is banned in every nation that has policies on human cloning. This is the technique used to clone Dolly and many other animals. Therapeutic cloning differs in that instead of transferring the cloned embryo into a surrogate woman, cells can be isolated from the inner cell mass of blastocysts which will become hESCs. (See Cloning for Therapy Figure). The interest in cloning for many scientists, patients and others rests in creating cloned hESC cells for regenerative medicine because hESCs can differentiate into every cell of the adult body. SCNT was originally explained as a technique necessary to derive hESCs that are a clonal match to a patient so that when transplanted, the cells would be recognized as self and would not be immune rejected post-transplantation. Policies on therapeutic or research cloning differ from country to country and some permit it while others prohibit the practice. The scientific feat of research cloning was said to have been first done by Woo-Suk Hwang of South Korea, but his work was soon after proven to be fraudulent. Thus therapeutic cloning is scientifically and potentially clinically valuable. But there are tons of ethical issues surrounding research cloning.
Among the various ethical debates on stem cell research, a few have received as much attention as the moral status of human embryos. The idea was that if embryos are considered persons who are afforded inalienable rights (e.g., the right to life), they cannot be used to derive hESCs as this results in their destruction. In contrast, if human embryos do not have personhood and lack full moral status, it would be considered ethically permissible to use them to derive hESCs. Without getting into too much moral philosophy or biological development, some people believe that a human embryo has full moral status equivalent to persons at the moment of conception and thus creating hESCs, which results in its destruction, violates its right to life. But not everyone believes a human embryo is a person at the moment of conception. Some believe that human embryonic day 14 is morally and biologically significant because natural twinning cannot occur after this point and each twin is a person. It is for this reason that many religious doctrines consider embryonic day 14 as the moment an embryo becomes a person. Yet what is the biological and moral significance of conception or any discrete time point in the continuous developmental process? Others believe the theory that a human embryo deserves moral protection not because it has full moral status during a discrete developmental moment, but because it has the potential to become a full member of the moral community and have a life like ours. Human beings have values and interests and because an embryo will come to have these attributes, then we should grant it moral protection even during its earliest stages of development. But this theory too has issues. If an entity doesn't have full moral status we are not morally obligated to offer it any protection, irrespective of its potentiality. Another belief is that for full moral status, entities are required to have several advanced cognitive capacities including consciousness and sentience. This view too lends to some troubling outcomes because it prevents infants, the elderly senile or incapacitated individuals from moral protections. In addition, some animals would have moral status equivalent to persons and thus deserve protection and this would likely affect how we conduct animal research and farming. A final theory I would like to mention is that of respecting human embryos. Here, we offer respect to human embryos because they are a salient symbol of human life. How we treat embryos reflects how we look at life more generally. We respect and do not burn the U.S. flag or deface artwork not because they have moral status, but because they are morally valuable and should be respected. Similarly, human embryos may not have full moral status but are deserving of respect. Based on this theory, many would permit the destruction of human embryos for stem cell research as it is a laudable goal, but probably won't permit using embryos to make jewelry or for cosmetic testing. There are issues with all of these views and for the sake of brevity I will not delve into them any further here. A second major issue that received far less attention than discourse surrounding the moral status of embryos was the potential harms to women. Here, young fecund women can be solicited for their eggs in unregulated markets. Especially those in financial need may assume the risks ovarian stimulation and oocyte retrieval for payment. Yet whether it is unethical to offer a woman, even one in financial need, money for her eggs is still contested.
The Alden March Bioethics Institute offers a Master of Science in Bioethics, a Doctorate of Professional Studies in Bioethics, and Graduate Certificates in Clinical Ethics and Clinical Ethics Consultation. For more information on AMBI's online graduate programs, please visit our website.
|0 comments | Topics: Cloning , Reproductive Medicine , Stem Cell Research , Women's Reproductive Rights
BIOETHICS TODAY is the blog of the Alden March Bioethics Institute, presenting topical and timely commentary on issues, trends, and breaking news in the broad arena of bioethics. BIOETHICS TODAY presents interviews, opinion pieces, and ongoing articles on health care policy, end-of-life decision making, emerging issues in genetics and genomics, procreative liberty and reproductive health, ethics in clinical trials, medicine and the media, distributive justice and health care delivery in developing nations, and the intersection of environmental conservation and bioethics.


text: Bangalore, July 27, 2013: Befitting the novel and perhaps historic initiative from the Archdiocese of Bangalore under the enlightened leadership of Dr Bernard Moras, Muslim leaders and political leaders cutting across party lines joined the Iftar party at the Archdiocesan Paalana Bhavan. The dignitaries included Union Minorities Minister K Rehman Khan, who specially flew down from Delhi, senior Congress leaders and former union ministers C K Jaffer Sharief and C M Ibrahim, former BJP minister Mumtaz Ali Khan, former ministers Roshan Baig, T John, Congress MLAs N A Harris, J R Lobo, former MP H T Sangliana, ex-MLAs Obaidulla Ahmed Sharief, Ivan Negli, Wakf Board Chairman Abdul Riaz Khan, State Youth Congress President Rizwan Arshad, former BBMP Corporator Pradeep Kumar Reddy, A B Khader Haji, General Secretary, Malabar Muslim Association, and several other prominent Muslim leaders including Dr Taha Mateen, Chairman Accuna Hospital and President of Zamaat-e-Islami Hind Karnataka.Though Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had promised to attend the Ifar party and the State police had made elaborate security arrangements for the chief minister's arrival, he failed to turn as the legislature session went on till late night and was followed by a cabinet meeting. However, two ministers – Home Minister K J George and Health Minister U T Khader – turned up as the participants were having dinner. Christianity and Islam are perhaps the two biggest and most organized religions in the world, which share similar dogma, beliefs and spiritual content besides the adherence to prayer, fasting, upholding human rights and dignity besides service and fighting for justice, especially in helping the poor and needy, said the Archbishop emphasizing that both the religions believed in one almighty God, the creator of living being.''Human life with God is like the sky without sun," Dr Moras said and asserting that Christians and Muslims were true brothers and sisters in faith. ''It is God, who has created all human beings as members of one family as brothers and sisters to worship and obey the almighty. It is our bounden duty to protect nature and live in peace and harmony as God's chosen people," he said emphasizing the need for eradicating poverty, violence, exploitation and injustice, which was still very predominant in the world and especially India, despite the enormous progress in science and technology.The Archbishop underscored the necessity of Muslims and Christians and all those believing in God living like a family and solving all problems in a spirit of unity, give and take, cooperation, peace and justice for all. All religions must take it upon themselves to make an in-depth study of other religions and remove any misgivings or prejudices that they may have against each other as all problems and obstacles could be overcome through mutual dialogue, cooperation and tolerance. The Archbishop said the Vatican in its much acclaimed ''Declaration on the relationship of the Church to non-Christian Religions" of 1965 had held that ''Upon the Muslims too, the Church looks with esteem. They adore one God, living and enduring, merciful and all powerful, maker of heaven and earth and speaker to men. They strive to submit wholeheartedly even to His inscrutable decrees, just as did Abraham, with whom the Islamic faith is pleased to associate itself. Though they do not acknowledge Jesus as God, they revere Him as Prophet. They also honour Mary, His Virgin Mother: at times they call on her too with devotion. In addition, they await the day of judgement when God will give each man his due after raising him up. Consequently they prize the moral life and give worship to God, especially through prayer, almsgiving and fasting."''Although in the course of centuries may quarrels and hostilities have arisen between Christians and Muslims, this most sacred Synod urges all to forget the past, and to strive sincerely for mutual understanding on behalf of all mankind, let them make common cause of safeguarding and fostering social justice, moral values, peace and freedom," the Archbishop said quoting the Vatican Declaration.Dr Moras said the Church is always ready to lend its hand friendship, help and service to its Muslim friends and people of other religions willing to accept this offer of friendship, help and service for the larger good of society and welfare of mankind. ''Our offer of friendship, cooperation and dialogue is permanently available at all times," he said to a thunderous applause from the audience.The Archbishop also offered the Idd Mubharak greetings in advance on behalf of the entire Christian community to the Muslim brethren on the occasion of the Id-ul-Fitr festival to be celebrated towards the month-end after the end of the 40-day fasting for the Holy Ramadan month. Union Minister Rehaman Khan, who spoke on behalf of the entire Muslim community, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and thanks to the Archbishop for his wonderful initiative for the first time in the history of Christian-Muslim brotherly ties in the State. ''The objective of all religions is reforming and guiding their faithful and society. We owe a duty to entire society and mankind to work together for peace and harmony in society and help the needy," he said.Senior Congress leader and former Union minister C M Ibrahim echoed the sentiments expressed by Rehaman Khan hoped that the doors of the Archdiocese opened to the Muslim brethren must always remain open. ''The wonderful and praiseworthy initiative taken by the Archbishop is a watershed in the annals of Muslim-Christian relations in Karnataka," Ibrahim said lauding the service of the Christian missionaries in the education, healthcare and social service sectors and said they were ''simply unparalleled.''''The spirit of brotherhood and love through the novel initiative of organizing the Iftar get-together in the Archdiocese marked the beginning of a long-lasting and closer relationship this year, when all the dams in Karnataka were full and overflowing," he said assured the Christian community that the Muslims will stand united behind Christians whenever they faced any threats and challenges.However, the most erudite, scholarly and apt response from the Muslims came from Dr Taha Mateen, President of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, Karnataka, when he quoted verses from Quran to state the similarities between Islam and Christianity. Even Prophet Mohammed had said Christians were the nearest that adherents of Islam would find in terms of love and affection. Both religions believed in one almighty God, who created the entire universe and all living beings, Dr Mateen said. Dr Mateen said both the religious minority communtieis of Muslims and Christianity shared common problems and threats. Apart from the dangers of saffronisation of educational text books and culture, he said it was unfortunate that the country was sought to be converted into religious intolerance and even forced uniformity as against the lofty ideals of unity in diversity. He also voiced concern over the attacks against Christians in Gujarat, Kandhamal and even Mangalore.''Islam respects and reveres Jesus as a prophet and also the long and flowing beard of Jesus," he said Muslims also shared the same sentimentality regarding beard. ''We respect and honour the real Madonna, the Mother Mary, who is always depicted with head-covering. He hoped that the openness and broad-mindedness shown by Archbishop was followed by priests and sisters running Christian educational institutions in Mangalore and elsewhere.Fr Ronnie Prabhu, Public Relations Officer of Bangalore Archdiocese and Karnataka Region Council of Catholic Bishops, welcomed. Fr Faustine Lobo, National Director of Pontifical Misison Socieity, India, compered the entire programme and former MLA Ivan Negli proposed a vote of thanks.(Source: Daijiworld News)


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I want to switch doctors -- but is it too late?
I'm in my sixth month of pregnancy, and my husband and I aren't happy with my doctor. He isn't very personable, and at my last appointment he came down on me pretty hard for gaining 20 pounds so far. I cried the whole way home. I chose him because he's covered by my insurance and is close to my house, but I think I'd be much happier with someone else. A pregnant friend recommended her doctor to me, and he sounds great. Should I change doctors, or is it a bad idea at this point?
Posted: 06/01/1997 by a BabyCenter Member
Mom Answers
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Go ahead and change to the doctor you are comfortable with! I had to change mine at 32 week when I was pregnant with my first son because I became very unhappy with the doctor I had then. I was very lucky to find my current OB to take me in at that point. I explained to him the situation and he was more than happy to welcome me as his new patient.posted 04/19/2007 by Lynne_Lynne
I am 33 weeks and receive prenatal care at Kaiser. So far my experience has been horrible to the point I just switched doctors. No matter how far long you are if your not happy with the care you are receiving switch if you have to. Make sure your new doctor is aware of your prenatal history. Remember all pregnancies are different and weight gain is normal. I went from 125 to 205 with my son whom was almost 10lbs at birth and was able to lose the weight whithin 4 months after having him. After having my son I gave birth to a 10lb 11oz girl and was still able to lose the weight. Drop the doctor. Take Care of Yourself and keep smiling.posted 03/16/2007 by a BabyCenter Member
I'll suggest that you call the labor and delivery floor of your area's local hospital (or where you want to deliver) and ask the head nurse for some suggestions. Just explain that you need to switch doctors (no other info)and you're new to the area. You might need to call back if they are really busy. Those nurses see A LOT of doctors and also "see them in action"; after you receive the suggestions, call the doctors on the list and speak with the office manager. Office staff make your experience more enjoyable and pleasant. I haven't been back to certain doctors, just because the staff members were fairly miserable people. I hope this helps!posted 12/07/2006 by quint317
I'm 32 weeks and switching OB's. I've never been comfortable with my OB but decided to put up with him because he had been the only one I'd been seeing and knew my history etc etc, but now that my due date gets closer and closer, I'm less and less comfortable with this person delivering my baby and so I'm switching this late in the game. I figure I need to be comfortable during labor and delivery, that's the most important thing.posted 11/21/2006 by a BabyCenter Member
You should definitely change doctors and can at any stage in your pregnancy. I was actually happy with my initial doctor, but HATED the practice and the hospital. The only way to go to a different hospital was to switch doctors. I did at around 30 weeks and have gone to her every since (and now in my 2nd pregnancy). Be sure to tour the hospital earlier rather than later in your pregnancy in case you do want to switch. Ultimately, you may want to switch doctors several times until you find the right one for you.posted 08/27/2007 by jens1stbb
I'm also in my sixth month and just switched from an O.B. to a midwife. My doctor was great with my first child 6 years ago, but it seems this time around she is too busy. She hasn't even said a word to me about prenatels (if I'm taking them, if I want a prescription), and she found a lump in my breast and said "I'm not too worried about it, but we'll ultrasound it" That was at my first visit and I haven't heard a word about it since. She FORGOT!!! I think that's a pretty big deal to not at least write it down. Which obviously she didn't. Anyway, I think that if you choose to change dr's clear into your ninth month, that it's your choice and you should do what makes you feel right. The doctor probably won't even notice you're gone. They have sooo many patients....posted 10/25/2006 by babydoll81_12
I switched doctors at 6 months in my first pregnancy, and it was a great move. I too felt my doctor was not personable and empathetic - when I complained of a possible ear infection she didn't even look in my ear because she said she wouldn't be able to give me anything anyway, and I ended up in urgent care 5 days later where the doctor said my ear infection wouldn't go away on its own without some pregnancy-approved antibiotics. I switched to a midwife at the hospital to get more personal attention (my pregnancy was completely normal) and I was so happy I made the change. Also I ate as much as felt right during pregnancy and gained 40 pounds but it wasn't too difficult to take it all off within 6 or 7 months of the birth (with exercise and watching my eating).posted 12/10/2006 by eleanor33
I think it is very important to find the right "fit" with your doctor. I personally love my doctor who I had with my first son. He remembers what I went through emotionally and physically with my first pregnancy. I have friends who have him as well and think he can be short with them. My point is it's all about "fit". Depending on where you deliver the changes of even having your OB are slim to none. The bottom line is you have to be comfortable with your doc and what may be right for someone else may not be right for you.posted 08/22/2007 by TRASMUSEN
hi im cary 29 weeks pregnant and changed my doctor last week im so releaved now his a great doctor explains everything you need to know .posted 08/16/2007 by a BabyCenter Member
I am in a similar situation.I am kind of disapointed by one of the doctors in the practice I go to.I just had my 20 week ultra sound .I feel like I did not get enough information, I am very upset I only got 2 pictures out of the 10 the doctor took.When I asked if I could have more pics she simply said "no" and explainde they would remain in my records.I feel like all of my pregnant friends get more attention , pics , recordings and ultra sounds...etc from their doctors.I am seeing the wrong doctors or am I worrying about insignificant things?!posted 03/09/2006 by Purko
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This competition, plus other giveaways will launch soon, stay tuned for more information about Revealing China.
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Wade Blade
A Soldier's Christmas - Poem by Wade Blade
Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone,
in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney with presents to give,
and to see just who in this home did live.
I looked all about, a strange sight I did see,
no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by mantle, just boots filled with sand,
and on the wall pictures of far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kinds,
a sobering thought came to my mind.
For this house was different, so dark and so dreary,
the home of a soldier, now I could see clearly.
The soldier lay sleeping, silent, alone,
curled up on the floor in this one bedroom home.
The face was so gentle, the room in such disorder,
not how I pictured a United States soldier.
Was this the hero of whom I'd just read?
Curled up on a poncho, the floor for a bed?
I realized the families that I saw this night,
owed their lives to these soldiers who were willing to fight.
Soon round the world, the children would play,
and grownups would celebrate a bright Christmas day.
They all enjoyed freedom each month of the year,
because of the soldiers, like the one lying here.
I couldn't help wonder how many lay alone,
on a cold Christmas eve in a land far from home.
The very thought brought a tear to my eye,
I dropped to my knees and started to cry.
The soldier awakened and I heard a rough voice,
'Santa don't cry, this life is my choice;
I fight for freedom, I don't ask for more,
my life is my God, my country, my corps.'
the soldier rolled over and soon drifted to sleep,
I couldn't control it, I continued to weep.
I kept watch for hours, so silent and still,
and we both shivered from the cold evening's chill.
I didn't want to leave on that cold, dark, night,
this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
Then the soldier rolled over, with a voice soft and pure,
whispered, 'Carry on Santa, it's Christmas day, all is secure.'
One look at my watch, and I knew he was right.
'Merry Christmas my friend, and to all a good night.'
Comments about A Soldier's Christmas by Wade Blade
Sara Fielder (12/16/2011 7:43:00 PM)
Well done! At the end when the soldier says 'Carry on Santa, it's Christmas day, all is secure.' I got choked up. Whilst civilians are preocuppied with everything the season has to offer, he is continues thinking about his duty to God and country. They won't sacrafice 2 minutes of their day to think of him, but he continues to make his sacrafice even when not in uniform and off duty. Wow. (Report) Reply
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text: Best Of Edinburgh Screenprint by Lucy Loves This £32$61.64€41.19$49.04 6 customer reviews(6) In stock £7.25$13.96€9.33$11.11 delivery to China Receive this item 5-10 working days from dispatch International delivery available framingframing (required)NoneBlack frame with white mount as per main photo (+ £43)framing (required)NoneBlack frame with white mount as per main photo (+ $82.83)framing (required)NoneBlack frame with white mount as per main photo (+ €55.34)framing (required)NoneBlack frame with white mount as per main photo (+ $65.89) quantity by Lucy Loves This Location: London, GB read seller's profile see seller's complete range more items from this seller Personalised Letter Christening Print by Lucy Loves This £20$38.52€25.74$30.65 Personalised City Letter Print by Lucy Loves This £47$90.54€60.49$72.02 Best Of Dublin Screenprint by Lucy Loves This £32$61.64€41.19$49.04 Best Of Angel Screenprint by Lucy Loves This £32$61.64€41.19$49.04 Animal Alphabet Set Of Three Letters by Lucy Loves This £55$105.95€70.79$84.28 Dress Up Shakespeare Card by Lucy Loves This £3.95$7.60€5.08$6.05 view all you may also like PRODUCT DETAILS CUSTOMER REVIEWS DELIVERY RETURNS Made in Britain ask seller a question save for later Celebrate the Scottish capital with this beautiful print. It captures Edinburgh's best bits, including its stunning architecture, unrivalled culture and love of a good shindig! This is a limited edition – each print is signed and numbered. Please allow an extra 3 days for framing. Hang this print to celebrate the city you live in, or to remember an area you've left. It would also be an ideal housewarming gift for any Edinburgh-dwelling friend. Or buy a set of LucyLovesThis city prints to create a personalised journey. You could choose your hometown, the city where you went to university and your current abode. A personalised set would also make a lovely wedding present – it could include the city where the couple met, where they got engaged, and their honeymoon destination. This print is available in black, as a 21x30cm print. It is part of a series of monochrome prints, each dedicated to a different city. Other cities currently available are: Berlin, Brighton, Cambridge, Dublin, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, Manchester, New York, Norwich, Paris and Sydney. Also available is a range of prints called the London Letters, where each print showcases a different area of the capital. made from: Made in Britain. Hand-screenprinted in-house in the LucyLovesThis studios, using high-quality water-based inks that contain no solvents at all. The paper stock is 315gsm premium paper. Screenprinting is a craft and, as such, prints do vary, so each one is unique. This is part of the beauty of screenprinting. We offer a full professional framing service for our prints. They are made from solid wood, and handmade in the UK. We use high quality acrylic glazing that is indistinguishable from glass and is a safe option for artwork intended for children's rooms. They are also professionally framed by hand in our London studio. Please allow an extra 3 days for framing. dimensions: Unframed print: 30x21cm Framed print: 32.5x45cm product code: 244086 6 customer reviews Tue 01 Jul 2014 Beautiful print, A4 sized so very easy to find a frame for too! Wed 11 Jun 2014 When the product arrived, my friend was very pleased with it. Fri 16 May 2014 Great quality Wed 07 May 2014 This was well made and of good quality. Wed 18 Dec 2013 BEAUTIFUL Thu 28 Nov 2013 I bought two prints Edinburgh and Leeds. They arrived quickly and I had them framed myself as it worked out cheaper. Dark wood frame and black mount they look superb see all customer reviews hide some customer reviews read about our product rating system ratings guide trusted independent customer feedbackforum excellent bad good poor This product is dispatched to you by Lucy Loves This. Unframed print: Your print is carefully packaged in a cello bag, before being mailed in a sturdy envelope. 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text:
Super Mario Star
Welcome in world where stars are shinning so brightly! Now our Super Mario Brother must find way out how to collect all wondrous magical stars which are needed to fill the sky with them. You should be careful because minions of Bowser will disturb in your adventure.
Super Mario Star Related Downloads
Two of the most feared enemy races joined forces to launch the ultimate attack, known as "Sun Blast". Your mission is to seek and destroy all enemy starships, which are the main threat. Prepare for combat!
Killer robots on the loose! Omni-Corp needs YOU to destroy or capture them all! Infiltrate the Omni-Corp warehouses and destroy or capture as many droids as you can. Build up a squad and use them to help you.
Space Hack is a sci-fi Action/RPG title with Diablo-inspired gameplay mechanics, presented in real-time 3D graphics. The story puts you on a colony transport ship that suddenly gets trapped inside a Black Nebula.
One of the BEST PC shooters yet! A fast paced slugfest, with a pulse-pounding sound track, and jaw-dropping VGA animation & cinematics. In the future as a mercenary flying the super-tech Raptor.
Chickens. For centuries we have oppressed them, grilling, roasting, stewing, and stuffing them in buns. The time has come for us to pay. Intergalactic chickens are invading Earth, seeking revenge for the oppression of their earthly brethren!


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Tricia shows you tips on how to get "hard to germinate" seeds started.
Sometimes we all need a helping hand.
If your favorite seeds are in the "hard-to-start" category, we have tips for you on techniques to give them a hand and get growing.
The three basic methods for "encouraging" the hard-to-start seeds to germinate are:
Scarification - scar or scratch or nick the hard seed coat
Stratification - exposure to a period of cold temperatures
Soaking - hydrates seeds with tougher seed coats
Tricia demonstrates all the methods in our video, Seed Germination—Scarification, Stratification, and Soaking.
A seed is made up of a seed coat that encloses the plant embryo and the endosperm. The endosperm is the food supply for the early growth of the embryo.
Seeds that are hard to germinate often have a tough seed coat. Nasturtiums, morning glories, and moonflowers are popular seeds with hard coats. If you are not sure if the seed needs scarification, soak a seed in water overnight. If it swells up, no need to scarify.
To "scar" or abrade the seed coat and allow more water inside, use a pair of nail clippers or a file. Be careful. If you make a deep cut you can hurt the plant embryo just under the seed coat.
Some perennial seeds need moist cold to germinate. You can mimic the freezing and thawing of winter by putting your seeds in the refrigerator. First, mix 1 part seeds with 3 parts moist sowing medium, like perlite. Place the mixture in a sealed, plastic bag and put it in the refrigerator. Check once a week to be sure the mixture stays moist. The length of time in the refrigerator depends on the plant variety. When you plant the seeds, plant the moist medium along with them.
Soaking helps seeds with tough coats, and also draws out harmful chemicals. For legumes like peas and beans, soak them for 2-24 hours in room temperature water. Beets contain a germination inhibitor, therefore germination will be enhanced by a 2 hours soak in water.
Parsley is a special case and needs to soak for 24 hours, then have its water changed, then soak for a second 24 hours. Parsley is very slow to germinate and do best when seeds are in complete darkness. So cover seeds well and be patient when planting this out in the garden.
For more information, the very thorough, and highly regarded book, The New Seed-Starters Handbook, will be your best friend.
A short and clear booklet, with a handy list of hard-to-grow seeds and how to deal with them, is Starting Seeds Indoors, from the Storey Country Wisdom Series.
Now, go stump your friends by talking about how you're going to stratify seeds—and enjoy your new plants!
Sarah Benton Says:
Mar 26th, 2012 at 4:35 pm
I tried cold stratifying Delphinium exaltatum seeds but didn't have any luck. Any ideas?
Llan Starkweather Says:
Mar 28th, 2012 at 8:25 am
Basil and pesto are a basic food group.
Donna Hohenschuh Says:
Apr 7th, 2012 at 8:01 pm
Extremely difficult to start delphiniums. I have tried on the surface, in the dark, under lights, on heat pads. Very little success. What's the key?
illini Says:
Aug 25th, 2012 at 5:05 am
how does one germinate teak trees (tectonis grandis)
Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:
Jan 28th, 2013 at 12:44 am
Lian, Thank you for your suggestion! U of Minnesota says that basil germinates best when directly sown outdoors under 1/4" of soil http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/m1219.html
Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:
Jan 28th, 2013 at 12:48 am
Sarah and Donna, Delphiniums are hard to germinate. The cold scarification should have worked. Cornell Univ also suggests growing delphiniums from cuttings http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene09de.html
Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:
Jan 28th, 2013 at 12:51 am
illini, The Royal Botanical Gardens at Kew have detailed instructions about growing the hard-to-germinate teak trees http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Tectona-grandis.htm
Allison Says:
Apr 28th, 2013 at 9:52 am
I'm trying to grow "fakous," a summer squash common in the Middle East. They look like cucumber seeds but with a hard coat. I've nicked and soaked them to no avail. I even, as a Palestinian friend suggested, soaked them with garlic!
I'd be grateful for any tips you might have!
Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:
Apr 30th, 2013 at 4:34 pm
Allison, We have been unable to locate any Middle Eastern squash with that name. All squash from that origin is similar to various forms of zucchini which do have a seed with a shell. The lack of germination may have more to do with seed storage rather than the coat. They may indeed need a sandy or peaty starting medium or a pre-soak to compromise the shell, but not knowing the actual name of the squash type, we are limited in what we can advise.
Please let us know other names for the squash and we can do further research.
Allison Says:
May 9th, 2013 at 8:03 am
Thanks for your efforts. I seem to have exhausted all my avenues to find the scientific name of the plant. So it looks like growing fakous is not in the cards for me.
I thought the seeds came from a garden center of some sort. But maybe they came from someone's kitchen—and then who knows how they were stored!
I have had great success growing another Middle Eastern plant called "mloukhia." Which reminds me, I'd better get it planted!
Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:
May 10th, 2013 at 9:49 am
Allison, Hmm, interesting vegetable mystery! Let us know how your mioukhia grows—we are always looking for new vegetables to add to our seed offerings.
I'll have to look at my notes but I Think molohkia Says:
Aug 29th, 2013 at 2:15 am
Joe Bowen
Charlotte from Peaceful Valley Says:
Sep 10th, 2013 at 2:47 pm
Thanks very much, Joe! Based on your suggestion I found this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mulukhiyah for Allison's second vegetable.
Anne Says:
Mar 24th, 2014 at 8:08 am
Hello - this question is for Allison listed in the comments and for Charlotte. I am looking for a seed source for fakous and I can't find one in the U.S. - any recommendations you have would be great! Thank you
Stephanie Brown Says:
Mar 24th, 2014 at 8:58 am
Hello Anne,
Mona Twocats-Romero Says:
Mar 7th, 2015 at 11:16 am
I have been trying to germinate narrow leaved coneflower, echinacea angustifolia with no luck at all. I've stratified them for two months, with no luck. A friend says she soaks them in water in a baggie and then freezes them for two months, thaws and plants and gets pretty good germination. If you have any other tips, I'd appreciate them. They are all purchased seed from peaceful valley.
Barbara Jacobson Says:
Mar 7th, 2015 at 12:39 pm
Fakous is not a squash but a seedless cucumber.
BarbaraJacobson Says:
Mar 7th, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I was in Palestine and was shown a plant that was called "cats eggs" in English.
Madeline Says:
Mar 7th, 2015 at 1:57 pm
Ok, I have a quasi-challenge for Peaceful Valley! Hard to grow, hard to find "aji dulce" used for Caribbean dishes is a sweet version of a pepper that looks identical to the Scotch bonnet. I found only one source online. These peppers are available in grocery stores in the NE, like NY and NJ. Ten seeds were sold to me for $5, and only one germinated. Obviously, I'm being very careful with the plant and will not transplant until it is a strong plant. One more suggestion, an herb called "culantro," from Cuba, not to be confused with cilantro. The plant looks like a low-lying weed, resembling a dandelion whose leaves are completely different from dandelion , like mini machetes with saw teeth.
Betty Gray Says:
Mar 7th, 2015 at 2:41 pm
I would be so grateful if someone would help me with Michelia champaca seed germination. I have tried using a heating pad, bottom watering, substrate/vermiculite sowing medium, with Gibberilic Acid 3,
Bettye Boone, former owner Boone-Fox Herb Farm Says:
Mar 8th, 2015 at 4:31 am
In regards to germinating basil, I disagree that it germinates best by direct seeding outdoors. I germinate basil in a germinating medium, barely cover the seed, and bottom water until the medium is moist. The basil seed will develop a mucus looking covering which let me know the seed is viable. Basil is very easy to germinate and grow!
Suzanne at Peaceful Valley Says:
Mar 10th, 2015 at 5:05 pm
Sounds like you did what you needed to do, stratify seeds. Did you keep them moist while in the cold? Just got a response from one of our nursery staff that just did some and they took 3 weeks to germinate. She covered them lightly and kept the soil moist and located in an unheated greenhouse.
I am not sure about the freezing them. You can always try a few seeds and see what happens.
Suzanne at Peaceful Valley Says:
Mar 10th, 2015 at 5:10 pm
Barbara, I did an extensive search for "cats eggs" and did not find any thing.
Suzanne at Peaceful Valley Says:
Mar 10th, 2015 at 5:12 pm
So the sounds like from all the comments that fakous is actually an Armenian cucumber.
Charlene Carney Says:
Mar 10th, 2015 at 9:47 pm
Dearest Peaceful Valley, you are far and away my favorite source for everything gardening. Please do a video or article on winter sowing and include as many varieties as you can. Thank you so much. P.S. I winter sowed my Echinacea Purpurea, Borage, and Scullcap.
Suzanne at Peaceful Valley Says:
Mar 16th, 2015 at 10:13 am
So peppers are challenging to germinate. You need to get the soil warm enough but you don't want the humidity so high that damping off occurs. A heating mat is a must for starting peppers, especially hard to start varieties.
Cynthia Martin Says:
Mar 26th, 2015 at 4:14 pm
I've started nine varieties of basil, several kinds of peppers, way too many tomatoes, and many other vegetables, herbs, and flowers three weeks ago 1/4" deep in peat pots on top of the old-fashioned radiator in my apartment and they are all doing beautifully. I had meticulous notes for each variety but I got carried away and ignored them. I move everything under a grow light (on the floor in front of a radiator) after they sprout.
Suzanne at Peaceful Valley Says:
Apr 9th, 2015 at 10:40 am
Betty, regarding the Michelia champaca, the seed is very challenging to germinate and the more common and reliable way to propagate is from cuttings.
William Statome Says:
Jun 11th, 2015 at 2:58 pm
im trying to start some akebia quinata seeds and ive read from a couple sources that it takes about 45 days to germinate unlike the pack they came in that stated 3 to 4 months. actually the only successful attempt i seen was by putting them in a wet coffee filter in a sandwich bag, any pointers?
Suzanne at Peaceful Valley Says:
Jun 16th, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Here is a link that I found for starting the seeds. Check it out, it might help you http://homeguides.sfgate.com/germinate-chocolate-vine-indoors-28477.html
Harold Brown Says:
Jun 16th, 2015 at 6:31 pm
Valuable information thank you very much


text:
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So I heard there is a vote to change the legal bar entrance age to 21 in IC. This issue really doesn't concern me considering I am of age, however if it passes you can't help but think this would be better for ISU to attract recruits against the hawkeyes...
Originally Posted by ISUboi12
So I heard there is a vote to change the legal bar entrance age to 21 in IC. This issue really doesn't concern me considering I am of age, however if it passes you can't help but think this would be better for ISU to attract recruits against the hawkeyes...
Yes it would. It would level the playing field a bit...and put some bars out of business. when you have 30K students and only juniors and seniors can go to the bar versus Older Fresh, So, JR and SR. that would make for a lot less bar crowd. That is why ISU has some of the best House and Frat parties around.
I hope that it passes because then there will be absolutely no reason to go Iowa City.
Really I don't see the bar age as making much of a difference. If a player picks a school soley based on whether he can go to the bars or not, then I probably wouldn't want them on my team.
On a side note, I hope The City doesn't change the law unless they grandfather it in, as I usually make about 10 trips to Iowa City soley to go to the bars as I'm underage right now. Face it, Ames sucks during the winter and there's nothing better than a fun night out at the bars. If this happens I feel for the underage students in Iowa City as the house party scene absolutely sucks compared to Ames. The residence halls are awful too because of the dry policy and $500 fine as well as eviction for the second offense. In Ames I don't even have to leave my dorm room to party.
A reason to appose it would be that it would cause fewer unclassman Hawkeye players to drink somewhere else and make it less likely to get arrested in the stupid ped-mall. It would cut down on broken jaws caused by sucker punches and eye pokes caused form pool cues.
I hope that it passes, more for the health of the students more than any other reason. I also can't imagine how it would help/hinder recruiting. If a student chooses where to play based on if they can get into the bars or not would raise some giant red flags IMO.
"Seven minutes to glory."
Just because someone chooses a school because it has a better nightlife doesn't make them an unworthy player or student. Face it, alot of high school students don't know what they want to do when they go to college, besides have fun. It isn't a vote that will make or break Iowa... but it will definately have some bearing on a few of our recruits.
Detasseler... please tell me you worked for the USDA Plant Intro Station..
Oh and for anyone who is curious, the vote is November 9th... My guess is that it won't pass.
But if it does... I can assure you that you won't be "grandfathered in".
No I work for Pioneer HiBred in Reinbeck, why do you ask?
Oh, I worked for USDA, working in corn during the summer is pretty much brutal. Especially pollinating.
My guess is that it won't pass.
That completely depends on how many students vote.
Are we sure it is a vote by the people or more than likely the city council?
Originally Posted by Cypwr
Are we sure it is a vote by the people or more than likely the city council?
It is a special election in which the public votes. A petition was submitted to the City Council, which meant they had two choices: they could sign it as city law, or they could put it on the ballot of a special election. Since all but two of the council members have gone on record saying that they don't support the measure and/or think it is not something the city wants, they chose to put it on the ballot.
As mentioned, that election is November 9th. Thanks to the same-day voter registration state law that went into action on July 1, UI students can now just show up to the polling place on election day and vote. None of this "register 10 days before the election" crap anymore. As I said in the last thread about this issue, UI students have notoriously horrible turnout rates for any election (even for a university), except when you threaten their right to get plastered. They will show up in droves for this thing.
Last edited by ornryactor; 07-16-2007 at 08:48 PM.
True and Valiant
I also remember a game with Kansas when Cy (wore a huge suit then) went out to center field, squatted, and "pooped" a couple of chickens that had been dyed blue then chased them around.
Originally Posted by DJK15
God I hope so, even if it's not the right thing to do, KF needs to do it.
Victory before honor.
::gasp:: You should probably edit your post Ornry.
Reinbeck... the old stompin grounds.
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Pintos trample Indians
Originally published October 10, 2012 at 6 a.m., updated October 9, 2012 at 2 p.m.
Friday's contest against Osage at Riley Field was more than just "a game" to the Pintos. It was California's Senior Night, and what better way for the evening to end than with a big 61-12 win?
"Our offensive line did a great job of blocking up front," California Coach Marty Albertson said. "We had several touchdowns where our guys weren't even touched. Ryan Korte, Nathan Goans, Curtis Fulks, John Goans, Alexx Lewis, Jason Wolverton and Nathan Squires, they do a lot of the hard work. Without these guys, we're not going anywhere."
Friday's game started off with a Pinto fumble recovered by Osage after the Indians' opening kickoff. The Indians went on to score on an 8-yard run by Tyler Winn. The PAT failed and the Indians had their only lead of the night, 6-0.
"I think Anthony (Price) would've gone all the way with that first play," Albertson said. "He was in the clear, but when he switched hands with the ball, it got knocked out. After that, we came back and played really well."
The Pintos answered with a two-play drive that resulted in a 62-yard TD by Price with 8:52 left in the first quarter. After Efrain Torres' kick for the extra point, California led 7-6.
California's next two possessions ended with touchdowns by Seth Fairchild. First was a 43-yard run, then a 55-yard TD (and the point after by Torres) to improve California's lead to 20-6 with 3:24 left in the first quarter.
Then the Indians fumbled the kickoff return, which was recovered by California's Scott Porter at the Osage 19-yard line. Three plays later Dylan Albertson ran in an 8-yard TD. Albertson hit Logan Rowles with a pass to score the two-point conversion, and the Pintos led 28-6 with 2:11 remaining in the first quarter.
California's first drive of the second quarter started off at the Pintos' 4-yard line and ended with a 70-yard TD by Price. Torres nailed the kick for the extra point and California led 35-6 with 7:15 left in the first half. Osage fumbled the kickoff return, which was recovered by California's Jacob Johnson at the Osage 27-yard line. The play that followed was a 27-yard TD pass from Jaden Barr to Albertson. After Torres' PAT, the Pintos led 42-6.
Barr and Albertson repeated that play to cap California's last possession of the first half, this time for 31 yards. After a missed point after, the Pintos led 48-6 with :22 left in the second quarter.
The Indians got back into the scoring game at the start of the third quarter when Jake Ulmer took the opening kickoff and scored an 86-yard TD. The Pintos blocked the kick for the extra point and the Indians' trailed 48-12.
The Pintos answered with a 7-play drive capped by a 20-yard TD by Fairchild. After a failed PAT, California's lead was 54-12 with 8:21 left in the third quarter.
The Pintos' last possession of the third quarter ended with a 73-yard TD run by Albertson. Torres nailed the PAT kick and California led 61-12 with 2:08 remaining in the third quarter.
Though no more points were put on the board, the Pintos weren't done. The first play of the fourth quarter consisted of a pass by Osage quarterback Bo Dean that was intercepted by California's Jacob Kueffer. With sophomore Alex Dalbey now getting some time on the field as California's quarterback, the Pintos ensued with a short drive that included a 32-yard TD by Walker Borghardt that was negated by a penalty against California.
Osage's final possession of the night came up empty as well, and the Pintos came away with the conference win, 61-12.
California (7-0, 5-0 and state-ranked #8,) had 458 yards from 35 carries and Barr completed 2 of 4 passes for 58 yards. Price led rushing with 11 carries for 166 yards and two TDs. Fairchild followed with seven carries for 147 yards and three Tds. Lutz had seven for 36 yards, Albertson had two for 81 yards and two Tds, and Borghardt had four carries for 27 yards.
Leading California tackles was Rowles with four solos and five assists. Lutz had three solos and three assists. Porter had one solo, four assists, one sack for an 8-yard loss, and a fumble recovery. Albertson had one solo and four assists, and Kueffer had two solos, one assist and one interception. Curtis Fulks had two sacks, one for a 2-yard loss, and one for a 6-yard loss. Squires also had a sack.
Osage (4-3, 3-2) had 27 carries for 108 yards and Dean completed 8 of 20 passes for 50 yards.
The Pintos will play Warsaw (2-5, 2-3) at 7 p.m. Friday, at Warsaw.
"Warsaw has a good quarterback, probably one of the best we have faced this season, who runs and throws well," Albertson said. "We'll have to contain him. I think we'll control him like we did the last two games with good quarterbacks. Warsaw also has a couple of good receivers who are pretty tall. It's going to be their Senior Night, so they'll be excited, but we'll be ready."
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Mekong River at Luang Prabang. Source: Allie Caulfield
Laos is a landlocked nation of nearly six-and-a-half million people in southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam. Most of the country is mountainous and thickly forested. The Mekong River forms a large part of the western boundary with Thailand.
Its major environmental issues include:
- unexploded ordnance;
- deforestation;
- soil erosion; and,
- most of the population does not have access to potable water
Laos is susceptible to floods and droughts.
Modern-day Laos has its roots in the ancient Lao kingdom of Lan Xang, established in the 14th Century under King Fangum.
For 300 years Lan Xang had influence reaching into present-day Cambodia and Thailand, as well as over all of what is now Laos.
After centuries of gradual decline, Laos came under the domination of Siam (Thailand) from the late 18th century until the late 19th century when it became part of French Indochina.
The Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907 defined the current Lao border with Thailand.
In 1975, the Communist Pathet Lao took control of the government ending a six-century-old monarchy and instituting a strict socialist regime closely aligned to Vietnam.
A gradual, limited return to private enterprise and the liberalization of foreign investment laws began in 1988.
Laos became a member of ASEAN in 1997.
Southeast Asian states have enhanced border surveillance to check the spread of avian flu.
Laos talks continue on completion of demarcation with Thailand but disputes remain over islands in the Mekong River. There is concern among Mekong Commission members that China's construction of dams on the Mekong River will affect water levels. Cambodia is concerned about Laos' extensive upstream dam construction.
Location: Southeastern Asia, northeast of Thailand, west of Vietnam
Geographic Coordinates: 18 00 N, 105 00 E
Area: 236,800 sq km(land: 230,800 sq km; water: 6,000 sq km)
Land Boundaries: 5,083 km (Myanmar (Burma) 235 km, Cambodia 541 km, China 423 km, Thailand 1,754 km, Vietnam 2,130 km)
Natural Hazards: floods, droughts
Terrain: mostly rugged mountains; some plains and plateaus. The highest point is Phu Bia (2,817 m) and the lowest point is the Mekong River (70 m).
Climate: tropical monsoon; rainy season (May to November); dry season (December to April)
Topology of Laos. Source: Wikimedia Commons.
Ecology and Biodiversity
See also:
People and Society
Population: 6,586,266 (July 2012 est.)
Laos' population is dispersed unevenly across the country. Most people live in valleys of the Mekong River and its tributaries. Vientiane prefecture, the capital and largest city, is estimated to haveabout 853,000 residents in 2012. The country's population density was 27/sq. km.
About half the country's people are ethnic Lao, the principal lowland inhabitants as well as the politically and culturally dominant group.
Source: World Wildlife Fund
The Lao are descended from the Tai people who began migrating southward from China in the first millennium A.D. Mountain tribes of Hmong-Yao, and Tibeto-Burman (Kor and Phounoy) as well as Tai ethno-linguistic heritage are found in northern Laos. Until recently, they were known as Lao Sung or highland Lao. In the central and southern mountains, Austro Asiatic (Mon-Khmer and Viet-Muong) tribes, formerly known as Lao Theung or mid-slope Lao, predominate. Some Vietnamese and Chinese minorities remain, particularly in the towns, but many left in two waves--after partial independence in the late 1940s and again after 1975.
The predominant religion is Theravada Buddhism. Animism is common among the mountain tribes. Buddhism and spirit worship coexist easily. There also are small numbers of Christians and Muslims.
The official and dominant language is Lao, a tonal language of the Tai linguistic group. Minorities speak an assortment of Mon-Khmer, Hmong-Yao, and Tibeto-Burman languages. French, once common in government and commerce, has declined in usage, while knowledge of English--the language of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)--has increased in recent years. The government is encouraging officials and students to learn English. High school students are required to take either French or English; the majority today choose English. The government introduced English at the primary school level in 2010.
|Pha That Luang, the Great Stupa in Vientiane, is considered a national symbol of Laos. It was built in the 16th century on the ruins of a 13th century Khmer temple, which in turn was built on the ruins of a 3rd century Indian temple built by Buddhist missionaries. The stupa is said to contain a relic of the Buddha.
Ethnic Groups: Lao 55%, Khmou 11%, Hmong 8%, other (over 100 minor ethnic groups) 26% (2005 census)
Age Structure:
0-14 years: 36.7% (male 1,197,579/female 1,181,523)
15-64 years: 59.6% (male 1,908,176/female 1,950,544)
65 years and over: 3.7% (male 107,876/female 131,513) (2011 est.)
Population Growth Rate: 1.655% (2012 est.)
Birthrate: 25.68 births/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Death Rate: 7.99 deaths/1,000 population (July 2012 est.)
Net Migration Rate: -1.14 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2012 est.)
Life Expectancy at Birth: 62.77 years
male: 60.85 years
female: 64.76 years (2012 est.)
Total Fertility Rate: 3.06 children born/woman (2012 est.)
Languages: Lao (official), French, English, various ethnic languages
Literacy (age 15 and over can read and write): 73% (2005 Census)
Urbanization: 33% of total population (2010) growing at an annual rate of change of 4.9% (2010-15 est.)
Laos traces its first recorded history and its origins as a unified state to the emergence of the Kingdom of Lan Xang (literally, "million elephants") in 1353. Under the rule of King Fa Ngum, this powerful and wealthy kingdom held suzerainty over much of what today is Thailand and Laos. His successors, especially King Setthathirat in the 16th century, helped establish Buddhism as the predominant religion of the country.
By the 17th century, the kingdom of Lan Xang entered a period of decline marked by dynastic struggle and conflicts with its neighbors. In the late 18th century, the Siamese (Thai) established suzerainty over much of what is now Laos. The region was divided into principalities centered on Luang Prabang in the north, Vientiane in the center, and Champassak in the south. Following their colonization of Vietnam, the French supplanted the Siamese and began to integrate all of Laos into the French empire. The Franco-Siamese treaty of 1907 defined the present Lao boundary with Thailand.
During World War II, the Japanese occupied French Indochina, including Laos. King Sisavang Vong of Luang Prabang was induced to declare independence from France in 1945, just prior to Japan's surrender. During this period, nationalist sentiment grew. In September 1945, Vientiane and Champassak united with Luang Prabang to form an independent government under the Free Laos (Lao Issara) banner. The movement, however, was short-lived. By early 1946, French troops reoccupied the country and conferred limited autonomy on Laos following elections for a constituent assembly.
During the first Indochina war between France and the communist movement in Vietnam, Prince Souphanouvong helped form the Pathet Lao (Land of Laos) resistance organization committed to the communist struggle against colonialism. Laos was not granted full sovereignty until the French defeat by the Vietnamese and the subsequent Geneva peace conference in 1954. Elections were held in 1955, and the first coalition government, led by Prince Souvanna Phouma, was formed in 1957. The coalition government collapsed in 1958, amidst increased polarization of the political process. Rightist forces took over the government.
In 1960, Kong Le, an army captain, seized Vientiane in a coup and demanded the formation of a neutralist government to end the fighting. The neutralist government, once again led by Souvanna Phouma, was not successful in holding power. Rightist forces under Gen. Phoumi Nosavan supplanted it later that same year. Subsequently, the neutralists allied themselves with the communist insurgents and began to receive support from the Soviet Union. Phoumi Nosavan's rightist regime received support from the United States.
A second Geneva conference, held in 1961-62, provided for the independence and neutrality of Laos. Soon after accord was reached, the signatories accused each other of violating the terms of the agreement, and, with superpower support on both sides, the civil war soon resumed. Although Laos was to be neutral, a growing American and North Vietnamese military presence in the country increasingly drew Laos into the second Indochina war (1954-75). For nearly a decade, Laos was subjected to extremely heavy bombing as the U.S. sought to interdict the portion of the Ho Chi Minh Trail that passed through eastern Laos. Unexploded ordnance, particularly cluster munitions, remains a major problem.
In 1972, the communist People's Party renamed itself the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). It joined a new coalition government in Laos soon after the Vientiane cease-fire agreement in 1973. Nonetheless, the political struggle among communists, neutralists, and rightists continued. The fall of Saigon and Phnom Penh to communist forces in April 1975 hastened the decline of the coalition in Laos. Several months after these communist victories, the Pathet Lao entered Vientiane. On December 2, 1975, the king abdicated his throne and the communist Lao People's Democratic Republic (LPDR) was established.
The new communist government imposed centralized economic decision-making and broad security measures, including control of the media and the arrest and incarceration of many members of the previous government and military in "re-education camps." These draconian policies and deteriorating economic conditions, along with government efforts to enforce political control, prompted an exodus of lowland Lao and ethnic Hmong from Laos. About 10% of the Lao population sought refugee status after 1975, many of whom resettled in third countries, including the United States. From 1975 to 1996, the U.S. resettled some 250,000 Lao refugees from Thailand, including 130,000 Hmong. The last major resettlement to the United States of about 15,000 Hmong from the Wat Tham Krabok camp was in 2004.
The government that assumed power in December 1975 aligned itself with Vietnam and the Soviet bloc and adopted a hostile posture toward the West. In ensuing decades, Laos maintained close ties with the former Soviet Union and its eastern bloc allies, and depended heavily on the Soviet Union for most of its foreign assistance. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Laos has sought to improve relations with its regional neighbors. Laos was admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in July 1997 and applied to join the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 1998. The government hopes to accede to the WTO by 2013. Currently, Laos' foreign policy concentrates on its immediate neighbors. Laos generally maintains a low profile in the larger international arena, although it has been playing an increasing role in activities of the Non-Aligned Movement and hosted the First States Party of the Cluster Munitions Convention in 2010. In 2011, Laos accepted the statutes of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Over time, the Lao Government closed the re-education camps and released most political prisoners. By the end of 1999, more than 28,900 Hmong and lowland Lao had voluntarily repatriated to Laos--3,500 from China and the rest from Thailand. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) monitored returnees for a number of years and reported no evidence of systemic persecution or discrimination against returnees per se. UNHCR closed its Laos office at the end of 2001. Today, Laos is a country in transition and has set a goal of graduating from Least Developed Country status by 2020. While the Lao political system remains firmly in the control of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP), the forces of globalization and regionalization continue to drive the Lao government to open the economy to market forces. Laos increasingly shows a willingness to engage in international fora on governance issues as well.
Laos maintains a "special relationship" with Vietnam and formalized a 1977 treaty of friendship and cooperation that created tensions with China. Although the two were allies during the Vietnam War, the China-Vietnam conflict in 1979 led to a sharp deterioration in Sino-Lao relations. These relations began to improve in the late 1980s, and in 1989 China and Laos normalized relations. Today China is becoming a major player in Laos; Chinese investment in Laos is increasing at a rapid rate, bringing with it a growing number of Chinese workers. China isthe second largest single foreign investor in Laos behind Vietnam. In 2003, Laos and Thailand signed agreements to cooperate on cross-border, labor, and counternarcotics issues. Laos and Thailand signed a joint communique in March 2007, the first in 20 years, covering infrastructure development, avian influenza, border control, and Hmong migration issues.
Government Type: Communist state
The only legal political party is the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP). The head of state is President Choummaly Sayasone. The head of government is Prime Minister Thongsing Thammavong. Government policies are determined by the party through the powerful 11-member Politburo and the 50-member Central Committee. Important government decisions are vetted by the Politburo.
Laos adopted its Constitution in 1991, amending it most recently in 2003. The National Assembly, which has added seats at every election, approves all new laws, although the executive branch retains the authority to issue binding decrees. The most recent elections took place in April 2011, when the National Assembly was expanded to 132 members. Laos has enacted a number of new laws in recent years, but the country is still governed largely through the issuance of decrees. Many new laws are being passed at this writing. They are designed to bring Laos into compliance with WTO requirements as Laos aspires to become a member in the near future.
A small-scale insurgency against the regime that continued since the end of the Indochina conflict has essentially ended. Past incidents included attacks in 2003 and 2004 against various types of land transportation and public markets. There were reports of clashes in 2005 and 2007. In late 2006 and 2007, more than 1,000 former fighters and family members were estimated to have surrendered to Lao authorities, and there were no credible reports of clashes in 2010 or 2011. The United States opposes any acts of violence against the Lao Government.
Capital: Vientiane - 799,000 (2009)
Administrative divisions:
16 provinces (khoueng, singular and plural) and 1 capital city* (nakhon luang, singular and plural);
Provinces (except 15 - Capital City):
Independence Date: 19 July 1949 (from France)
Legal System: civil law system similar in form to the French system. Laos has not submitted an International Court of Justice (ICJ) jurisdictiondeclaration; and, is a non-party state to the International criminal court (ICCt).
Source: Wikimedia Commons
International Environmental Agreements
Laos is party to international agrements on: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea, and Ozone Layer Protection.
Total Renewable Water Resources: 333.6 cu km (2003)
Freshwater Withdrawal: 3 cu km/yr (4% domestic, 6% industrial, 90% agricultural)
Per Capita Freshwater Withdrawal: 507 cu m/yr (2000)
Access to improved drinking water sources: 57% of population
Access to improved sanitation facilities: 53% of population
Agricultural products: sweet potatoes, vegetables, corn, coffee, sugarcane, tobacco, cotton, tea, peanuts, rice; water buffalo, pigs, cattle, poultry
Irrigated Land: 3,000 sq km (2008)
Natural Resources: timber, hydropower, gypsum, tin, gold, gemstones
Land Use:
Laos is a landlocked country with an inadequate infrastructure and underdeveloped human resources. The country's per capita income in 2011 was $1010. Agriculture, mostly subsistence rice farming, dominates the economy, employing an estimated 75% of the population and producing 33% of GDP. Laos to relies heavily on foreign assistance and concessional loans as investment sources for economic development. In 2010, donor-funded programs accounted for approximately 8.5% of GDP and 90% of the government's capital budget. In 2010, the country's foreign debt was estimated at $5.8 billion.
Following its accession to power in 1975, the communist government imposed a harsh, Soviet-style command economy system until 1986, when the government announced its "new economic mechanism" (NEM). Initially small in scale, the NEM was expanded to include a range of reforms designed to create conditions conducive to private sector activity. Prices set by market forces replaced government-determined prices. Farmers were permitted to own land and sell crops on the open market. State firms were granted increased decision-making authority and lost most of their subsidies and pricing advantages. The government set the exchange rate close to real market levels, lifted trade barriers, replaced import barriers with tariffs, and gave private sector firms direct access to imports and credit. These economic reforms led to increased availability of goods and economic growth that has continued to the present day.
The government of Laos, one of the few remaining one-party Communist states, began decentralizing control and encouraging private enterprise in 1986. The results, starting from an extremely low base, were striking - growth averaged 6% per year from 1988-2008 except during the short-lived drop caused by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. Despite this high growth rate, Laos remains a country with an underdeveloped infrastructure, particularly in rural areas. It has a rudimentary, but improving, road system, and limited external and internal telecommunications. China has signed a deal with the Lao to build a high speed rail system in the country. Construction on the $7 billion project is slated to begin in April 2011 and will take five years.
The economy of Laos is essentially a free market system with active central planning by the government, similar to the Chinese and Vietnamese models. However, unlike China or Vietnam, Laos has negligible industrial capacity, an undeveloped and underproductive system of agriculture, and increasingly relies on its rich natural resources to earn much needed-foreign reserves. In particular, the hydropower, mining, precious metals, and timber sectors have attracted major investment from Thailand, Vietnam, and in the last decade, China. Vietnam is now the largest source of foreign direct investment (FDI) in Laos.
Electricity is available in urban areas and in many rural districts.
Subsistence agriculture, dominated by rice cultivation in lowland areas, accounts for about 30% of GDP and 75% of total employment.
The government in FY09/10 received $586 million from international donors. Economic growth has reduced official poverty rates from 46% in 1992 to 26% in 2010. The economy has benefited from high foreign investment in hydropower, mining, and construction.
Laos gained Normal Trade Relations status with the US in 2004, and is taking steps required to join the World Trade Organization, such as reforming import licensing. Related trade policy reforms will improve the business environment.
On the fiscal side, Laos initiated a VAT tax system in 2010. Simplified investment procedures and expanded bank credits for small farmers and small entrepreneurs will improve Lao's economic prospects.
The government appears committed to raising the country's profile among investors. The World Bank has declared that Laos's goal of graduating from the UN Development Program's list of least-developed countries by 2020 is achievable.
The seventh 5-year plan (2011-15) calls for a budget of U.S. $5 billion for public investment, U.S. $3.8 billion (76%) of which would come from foreign assistance. Tourism remains a bright spot of the Lao economy, offering real future potential, solid growth, and substantial job creation.
International indices rate Laos poorly on transparency and ease of doing business. Endemic corruption and poorly developed commercial law continue to hamper economic development. Laos has begun the World Trade Organization accession process, with the intention of joining that organization as soon as possible.
GDP: (Purchasing Power Parity): $17.44 billion (2011 est.)
GDP: (Official Exchange Rate): $7.9 billion (2011 est.)
GDP- per capita (PPP): $2,700 (2011 est.)
GDP- composition by sector:
agriculture: 27.8%
industry: 34.8%
services: 37.4% (2011 est.)
Industries: copper, tin, gold, and gypsum mining; timber, electric power, agricultural processing, construction, garments, cement, tourism
Currency: Kips (LAK)