text:
5 Written questions
5 Matching questions
- Yu Ping Feng San (jade windscreen powder)
Dx: Xu of the exterior with weak & unstable wei qi.
- Er Zhi Wan (two solstice pill)
Dx: Lv/Ki yin xu. especially when there is bleeding or greying of hair.
- Da Bu Yin Wan (great tonify the yin pill)
Dx: upward rising of fire from Lv/Ki yin xu
- Fu Zi Li Zhong Wan (Fu Zi pill to regulate the middle)
Dx: More severe inernal cold than Li Zhong Wan.
- Yi Guan Jian (linking decoction)
Dx: Lv/Ki yin xu w/ concurrent qi stagnation. yin xu patient that is very dry.
- a Abdominal and epigastric pain, vomit & diarrhea, inability to keep food down, cold body with very cold extremities, mild sweating.
T: Unremarkable
P: Faint
- b steaming bone d/o with afternnoon tidal fever, night sweats, spontaneous emissions, irritable, sensation of heat and pain in the knees and legs which is sometimes accompanied by weakness. possible coughing of xue or constant hunger
T: Red. little coat. P: Rapid and forceful in chi
~stronger and faster than liu wei di huang wan
- c weakness and soreness of the low back and kness or weakness and atrophy of low extremities, dry and parched mouth and throat, dizzy and blurred vision, insomnia and dream disturbed sleep, spontaneous emissions, premature graying or loss of hair
T: Red and dry
P: not noted
~supplement ki yin in a non-cloying way
- d hypochondriac and chest pain, epigastric and abdominal distention, dry parched mouth and throat, acid regurg, uptight/edgy
T: Red and dry
P: Wiry and thin (xu),frail or xu
- e Aversion to drafts, spontaneous sweat, pale complexion
T: Pale, white coat
P: Floating, xu, soft
5 Multiple choice questions
- Loose stools or diarrhea. reduced appetite, weak extremities, weight loss, distention & stifling sensation in chest &epigastrium, pallid & wan complexion, may also be vomiting
T: Pale. white coat
P: Moderate & xu or moderate
- feebleness and exhaustion, abdominal pain, sore low back, cold extremities.
T: not noted
P: Thin
- Vomit & diarrhea with cold hands and feet, agitation so severe that patient wants to die
1.Vomit after eating, indeterminate gnawing hunger, acid regurg w/ or w/o epigastric pain
2.Dry heaves or spiting of clear fluids, vertex headache
All- vomit and xu cold in mj.
T: Not red, white slipper coat
P: Thin & slow or wiry
- Pallid complexion, low soft voice, reduced appetite, loose stools, weakness in the limbs
T: pale
P: Thin and/or frail
- Extremely cold exremities, aversion to cold, sleeping with the knees drawn up, lethergic state with a constant desire to sleep, vomit, diarrhea wih undigested food, abdominal pain and cold, lack of thirst. symptoms may develop quickly-shock
T: Pale. white slipper coat
P: Deep & thin or faint
5 True/False questions
Gui Pi Tang (restore the Sp decoction)
Dx: Sp & Ht xu from excessive deliberation over a long period of time or obsessive behavior. 3 basic conditions: restless ht spirit, qi & xue xu, inability of sp to control xue. → feebleness and exhaustion, abdominal pain, sore low back, cold extremities.
T: not noted
P: Thin
Shao Yao Gan Cao Tang (peony and licorice decoction)
Dx: Any type of pain in the calves with xue xu or injury to the fluids (historically for injury to Lv xue or yin from inappropriate sweating) → irritable, slight chills, spasms of the calf muscles. possible cramping of he hands and abdominal pain.
T: No coat
P: none noted
Liu Jun Zi Tang (6 gentleman decoction)
Dx: Concurrent Sp qi xu and phlegm. → Loss of appetite, nausea or vomit, focal distention and a stifling sensation in the chest & epigastrium
T & P: not noted in bensky
Si Wu Tang (4 substance decoction)
Dx: Xue xu, especially Lv xue xu. → Dizzy, blurred vision, lusterless complexion & nails, generalized muscle tension, irregular menses with little flow or amenorrhea, periumbilical & lower abdominal pain
T: Pale
P: Thin & wiry or thin & choppy
Bai He Gu Jin Tang (lily bulb decoction to preserve the metal)
Dx: internal dryness of the Lu due to Lu/Ki yin xu (chronic). → cough with blood streaked sputum, wheeze, dry and sore throat, hot palms and soles, night sweats
T: Red. little coat
P: Thick and rapid


text:
Johnny Knoxville would be proud.
A magician wears old man makeup and then goes to public places to confuse and delight people.
A magician wears old man makeup and then goes to public places to confuse and delight people.
Roadside snapshot by my pal Rachel Demy in Twisp, Washington. (via Rachel's Instagram)
Yes, I know that isn't really Ryan Gosling. (Joey Thompson/YouTube)
A tumblr that does exactly what the title suggests: Guns replaced with Selfie Sticks.
If you want to add some real firepower to your programming repertoire, learn Java–one of the most adaptable, widely-used programming platforms around. You can easily do that with this Ultimate Java bundle, now just $69 in the Boing Boing Store.Across 14 lectures and 117 hours of content, the educators at online academy eduCBA will walk you through […]
Every company wants to harness the power of social media, but few understand how to make that happen. Be one of those select few with this Social Media Marketing Course & Certification package, now just $29 in the Boing Boing Store.Over 12 modules of course material, you'll learn what it takes to increase a brand's […]
If you've got a killer app idea, but don't have the technical expertise to pull it off, get a crash course in all things app development with the Comprehensive Android Development Bundle, now over 90% off in the Boing Boing Store. Across 83 hours of training, you'll learn to develop for the world's most popular mobile OS, mastering […]
Johnny Knoxville would be proud.
that was awesome! I especially enjoyed the bottled drink off of the paper thing… I wish I would see things like this on MY commute home!
Hilarious. Anyone know how the leaning thing is done? It can't just be amazing balance control, can it?
@1 Jackass culled their ideas for senior citizen makeup from japanese performers. Their strength was never originality (as they will generally admit) but rather the lengths they would go to (depths they would sink?) borrowing from others work / premises – that and they actually had support / backing from a major player in MTV
The performer is a magician named Cyril Takeyama– he's actually pretty talented and has a lot of clips on youtube. Look up his awesome Lacoste trick!
The leaning is this gimmick:
It involved gimmicked shoes that hook into a heavy camouflaged baseplate.
why are the japanese so much more awesomer than everyone else?
somthing about "classic" humor will always appeal to me….guess thats why i'm an animator =)
Wow, gravity leans that would make the Rocksteady crew proud.
its the same lean that michael jackson did in the 80's in the smooth criminal vid,also he did it live on stage
Comments are closed.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Sunday Times reports today that WA Premier Colin Barnett, who is also the new Minister for Tourism, has indicated the promotions for WA should be focussing on Perth and not on the natural beauty of our state.
The Premier told the ST that Brand Perth should be our selling point focus, not beaches and the rugged Kimberley. The Premier believes that is what Asian tourists want.
Strange then that the national tourist body only recently said that Chinese tourists want a country/outback experience, and 95 per cent of visitors to the Fremantle Roundhouse I talk to have expressed that they find Perth dull and much like other big cities but that they love the heritage of Fremantle, Ningaloo Reef, the outback, Margaret River, Albany and the rugged coastline.
On that note I wonder if/what the City of Fremantle is doing in regard to offering package deals for the Street Art Festival to attract interstate and overseas visitors. This is a great free three day festival that deserves package deals with tourism operators and airlines. We could for example have a night performance in the Fremantle Arts Centre only for those who arrive here on a package deal for the SAF.
Reading the number of visitors the VIVID light festival in Sydney attracts, I believe Freo could step up a little in that regard as well and not just rely on large numbers of visitors from the suburbs on the long Easter weekend.
Roel Loopers
An exclusive report by Joe Spagnolo in the Sunday Times today says a yet to be released report by the Perth and Peel Economic Development Strategy sees the development of the outer harbour as essential for the WA economy and that it would create a significant number of jobs in the region of up to 48,000.
The outer harbour is seen by the expert committee as game-changing and essential and the top priority for the region.
The PPEDS paper , to be released in June, makes no case for the Perth Freight Link but states that an extension of the inner harbour is not a viable option.
Roel Loopers
Fremantle Federal MP Melissa Parke got married to arts patron Warwick Hemsley at the Freshwater Bay Yacht Club on Saturday.
Melissa did not invite this top bloke blogger so unfortunately I did not take any photos I can show you and the article in the Sunday Times today will have to do.
Sunday Times journalist Joe Spagnolo reports the couple left by boat from Point Walter for the wedding event at FWBYC.
Melissa is a gorgeous, genuine and sincere person whom I respect so I wish her and new hubby a great and long life together!
It will be interesting to see where Mrs Hemsley will reside and if she will move away from Fremantle or if Warwick will make the move to Freo.
Roel Loopers
One has to wonder what is going on at the WA Mainroads department and the controversial Perth Freight Link and Roe 8 highway extension. The Sunday Times reports today that although contracts have been signed with a consortium of builders the required land acquisitions for Roe 8 still have not been completed.
ST also reports that the necessary amendments to the Metropolitan Region Scheme still need to be completed and might need to go through parliament for legislation.
Is it a surprise the community is highly sceptical about the PFL and the whole process when this piecemeal governance is going on?
Roel Loopers
Interesting articles by Joe Spagnolo in the Sunday Times today with the reporter claiming that WA Premier Colin Barnett stopped Transport Minister Dean Nalder from signing the contracts for Stage Two of the Perth Freight Link.
The Roe 8 highway extension is all but signed off on, but for a legal challenge by the Save Beeliar Wetlands, but the continuation of the freight link all the way into Fremantle port appears too big a challenge for the Barnett government with the Sunday Times claiming a decision will be made on it only after the 2017 State election.
It is a huge problem to find an appropriate route and method for the Perth Freight Link that has received enormous public opposition from affected communities and councils, so it would be interesting to see this ending up as one of the main election campaigns together with light rail and public transport in Western Australia.
Roel Loopers
SUNDAY TIMES journalist Joe Spagnolo reports today that Planning Minister John Day is not happy with the PERTH FREIGHT LINK project and has asked Cabinet why it wants to spend $ 650 million on stage two that would see the road stretch from Stock Road to Stirling Highway in Fremantle, when a new port at Kwinana is needed.
According to Spagnolo Premier Colin Barnett believes it might be better to build the PFL after the 2017 State election, which shows what a shambles the whole project has been. Barnett has already indicated he won't contest the next election, and it is likely that the mismanagement of the State's finances and controversial projects will see the Liberal/National coalition booted out of government in 2017.
The danger is that Transport Minister Dean Nalder is adamant that contracts to build the PFL will be signed this year, so even if a new Labor government would scrap the PFL plan the government might have to pay out contractors or go through expensive court procedures to cancel the project.
It seems amazingly ad-hoc amateurish piecemeal planning of such a huge $ 2 million project when Cabinet clearly has not debated it in detail and John Day is now starting to question the need for the Perth Freight Link.
Roel Loopers
There is an interesting article in the Sunday Times today based on the discussion paper written by City of Fremantle CEO Graeme McKenzie that I published here on Freo's View on Thursday. In the article Premier Colin Barnett basically tells the City of Fremantle to shut up about the Perth Freight Link or they won't get support from the State Government.
Barnett is quoted in the Sunday Times "They are wanting things out of the State Government and at the same time they are being critical, so it comes to mind Don't bite the hand that feeds you."
The Premier then mentions that the City of Fremantle is protesting against Roe Highway Stage Eight while at the same time lobbying to get the Department of Housing to move to Freo, as was promised by then Housing Minister Troy Buswell several years ago.
What the Premier implies is that democracy does not exists and that the Elected Members of our Local Government have no right to express an opinion and represent the Fremantle community.
It is outrageous that neither the City of Fremantle, nor the board and management of Fremantle Ports were advised about the sale of the port by State Government prior to the government announcing it. That is an insult to our City and to those who have been managing Fremantle Ports very well for very many years.
Premier Colin Barnett's arrogance and dictatorial attitude is only dwarfed by his mismanagement of our State's finances. His remarks to the Sunday Times are inappropriate, disgraceful and disrespectful to the Fremantle community and Council. The ad hoc piecemeal planning of the Perth Freight Link and the panicked fire sale of the port shows Barnett and his government have lost the plot.
Roel Loopers
It is good to see that experts are calling for better design of buildings in the Perth region. I am pretty disappointed what modern architecture represents in our area, as it is mainly cheap and fast box-like concrete highrise that has little or no visual quality and does not enhance the amenity and streetscape.
W.A. Government Architect Geoff Warn, who is also on the Perth Design Advisory Panel, believes new strategies are needed to improve the architectural quality of projects, the Sunday Times reports today, and I could not agree more.
Heritage Perth CEO Richard Offen told ST that Perth has incredibly boring architecture that leaves a poor heritage legacy for future generations.
I believe that one of the reasons Fremantle Council signs off on mediocre architecture is because the City of Fremantle is so desperate to get new development going in Freo that it compromises too easily and gives in to pressure from developers. It is not helpful either that the State's Development Assessment Panel often overrules local council decisions and allows inappropriate buildings to be erected which destroy the ambience of place in established older suburbs.
Excellent modern architecture can greatly improve the visual impact of a city, and it does not matter if that is a heritage city like Fremantle. In the right location and with restraint and consideration for the history and existing built environment a great new building will create a new focus point and attraction. Height does not necessarily have to mean that it is unsuitable for our inner city, but for Fremantle to accept extra height only the very best and outstanding architectural design and building quality would have to apply. Mediocre and boring concrete boxes have no place anywhere in the vicinity of our outstanding heritage architecture and we should take heed of what Government Architect Geoff Warn has to say about it.
Roel Loopers
With all the rubbish around about not enough or too expensive parking in Fremantle, it is nice to read the story in the Sunday Times today about the Australia Day fireworks. The City of Perth and South Perth collected thousands of dollars in fines from hundreds of motorists, while the City of Fremantle did not issues a single parking ticket during the fireworks this year and last year. I reckon that is embracing the spirit of the day and letting everyone have a good time, instead of seeing such a big crowd-pulling event and a revenue raiser. Well done Freo!!
Roel Loopers
The Sunday Times reports today that Flow House has applied to Fremantle council to install a wave simulator on the former Ampol fuel depot site at Port Beach about fifty-metres north of Salt on the Beach. Flow House already runs wave simulators in countries like the UK and USA. WA has only one wave simulator in Kalgoorlie.
Whilst I have been asking for years for more tourist attractions for Fremantle I am not sure that creating artificial waves at a beach with natural waves is something I would get excited about. Wave simulators are great in cities that are not near an ocean. For me it's a bit like the gimmick of making a beach at Forrest Place in Perth. That might be a good idea for places like Berlin, that are hundreds of kilometres away from the ocean, but for a city like Perth that is built along the coast it is rather silly to have an artificial beach in the CBD.
Roel Loopers


text:
Technology Report
MyoD-cre transgenic mice: A model for conditional mutagenesis and lineage tracing of skeletal muscle
Version of Record online: 23 FEB 2005
DOI: 10.1002/gene.20104
Copyright © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Volume 41, Issue 3, pages 116–121, March 2005
Additional Information
How to Cite
Chen, J. C. J., Mortimer, J., Marley, J. and Goldhamer, D. J. (2005), MyoD-cre transgenic mice: A model for conditional mutagenesis and lineage tracing of skeletal muscle. Genesis, 41: 116–121. doi: 10.1002/gene.20104
Publication History
- Issue online: 7 MAR 2005
- Version of Record online: 23 FEB 2005
- Manuscript Accepted: 21 DEC 2004
- Manuscript Received: 26 JUL 2004
Funded by
- NIH, the Muscular Dystrophy Association
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
- MyoD;
- skeletal muscle;
- myogenesis;
- myoblast;
- muscle precursor;
- lineage tracing;
- conditional knockout;
- mouse;
- Cre recombination;
- regeneration;
- transgenic;
- satel-lite cell
The Cre-loxP recombination system has been used to great advantage in vivo for conditional gene targeting, lineage tracing, and other applications. To express cre in skeletal myoblasts and muscle fibers, we utilized the well-characterized transcriptional regulatory regions of the muscle determination gene, MyoD. Transgenic mouse lines were produced (F3/-2.5cre) in which the cre gene is driven by the MyoD promoter and core enhancer, which directs the early activation of MyoD. Specificity of cre expression and efficiency of recombination was determined by monitoring reporter gene expression after crossing to the Cre-dependent reporter lines, R26R and Z/AP. Efficient labeling of embryonic and fetal myoblasts and muscle fibers was observed, with timing that was similar (branchial arches and limb buds) or slightly delayed (myotomes) relative to the endogenous MyoD gene. In satellite cell cultures, a strict concordance between MyoD protein and reporter gene expression was observed, demonstrating the muscle specificity and efficiency of Cre-mediated recombination. Nascent muscle fibers were labeled following injury of adult muscle, indicating recombination in satellite cells or their daughters in vivo. genesis 41:116–121, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.


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Nitish Kumar Asks Akhilesh Yadav To Ban Liquour In Uttar PradeshRiding on the popularity of liquor ban in Bihar, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today demanded that prohibition be imposed in Uttar Pradesh, where Assembly polls are due next year. On his first visit to Lucknow after donning the mantle of JD(U) ... NDTV, 1 week ago
Nitish asks Akhilesh to ban liquour in UP - Press Trust of India, 1 week ago
Nitish Kumar Asks Akhilesh to Ban Liquour in UP - Outlook India, 1 week ago
123 images for popular front
Kerala polls: Oommen Chandy goes down battling graft charges against UDF govt
A popular leader, Oommen Chandy's image failed to redeem the Congress-led UDF after its tenure was tainted by allegations of corruption and sleaze as Kerala continued with the tradition of rotation of parties, giving mandate to the Left Democratic Front The ...First Post.com, 1 week ago Kerala on the cusp of creating political history MSN News US, 1 week ago Kerala polls: 8-day drama that was the selection of Congress candidates catchnews.com, 1 month ago
Five car models in India fail crash tests by Global NCAP
As many as five popular passenger vehicle car models in India, including Maruti Celerio, Renault Kwid, Mahindra Scorpio and Hyundai Eon, failed crash tests with zero star rating by vehicle safety group Global NCAP. The UK-based group tested five models, which ...Deccan Herald, 1 week ago 5 car models in India fail crash tests Deccan Herald, 1 week ago These are the 5 'unsafe' cars in India Rediff.com, 1 week ago 5 Indian car models fail global crash test, score zero stars Asian Age, 1 week ago
Exit polls indicate win Left Front in Kerala, TN heads for photo finish
Most popular exit polls have predicted a return of Left Front in Kerala and Congress-DMK alliance in Puducherry while the DMK-Congress alliance and AIADMK are in close battle in Tamil Nadu.There are however differences by various agencies and final ...Business Standard, 1 week ago Exit Polls: Close for Jaya; good news for Mamata, Assam BJP, Kerala Left Asian Age, 1 week ago It is too close to call in Kerala polls Deccan Chronicle, 2 weeks ago All eyes on third front in Kerala verdict Sunday Guardian Live, 2 weeks ago
Fronts confident of popular mandate
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Trump's about-face on fund-raising seems unlikely to dent his popularity
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Toyota Innova Crysta launched in India
After almost a decade, Toyota has finally given its popular MPV Innova its first major upgrade. Say hello to the new Innova Crysta. The Japanese car maker announced the prices of the new offering last week but launched it today at a formal launch ...Zigwheels, 2 weeks ago Toyota Innova Crysta garners 15,000 bookings in 10 days, delivery begins; all you need to know International Business Times India, 2 weeks ago Toyota Innova Crysta: First Drive Asian Age, 4 weeks ago
Railway Smart Card popularization drive at Kannur on May 15
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Ford launches 'Black Edition' of the Ecosport
] Ford India today launched a new 'Black Edition' of its popular sub-compact SUV - EcoSport. Priced from 8.58 Lakh for the Trend+ variant, the top-of-the-line Titanium+ variant goes up to 9.93 Lakh (All ex-showroom, Delhi). The SUV comes with some ...Biggaddi, 2 weeks ago
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Major "Justice League" #50 Revelations, Changes Lead Into "DC Universe: Rebirth"
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Robot 6
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Welcome once again to What Are You Reading? This week our special guest is Paul Maybury, creator of the webcomic Party Bear. His work can be found in Comic Book Tattoo, various volumes of Popgun and 24seven, and, of course, the full-length graphic novel Aqua Leung. Be sure to check out the sketches he shares.
To see what Paul and the rest of the Robot 6 crew have been reading lately, click on the link …
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text:
Applying Agreed-Upon Procedures:
Airport and Airway Trust Fund Excise Taxes
GAO-03-361R: Published: Jan 23, 2003. Publicly Released: Jan 23, 2003.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
- Accessible Text:
Steven J. Sebastian
(202) 512-9521
(202) 512-4800
(202) 512-9521
Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
We evaluated fiscal year 2002 activity affecting distributors to the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (AATF).
We were not engaged to perform, and did not perform, an audit, the objective of which would have been the expression of an opinion on the amount of net excise taxes distributed to the AATF. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion. Had we performed additional procedures, other matters might have come to our attention that would have been reported to you. We completed the agreed-upon procedures on January 10, 2003.
May 26, 2016
Rail Grant Oversight:Greater Adherence to Leading Practices Needed to Improve Grants ManagementGAO-16-544: Published: May 26, 2016. Publicly Released: May 26, 2016.
Apr 28, 2016
Public Transit:Observations on Recent Changes to the Capital Investment Grant ProgramGAO-16-495: Published: Apr 28, 2016. Publicly Released: Apr 28, 2016.
Apr 25, 2016
Vehicle Cybersecurity:DOT and Industry Have Efforts Under Way, but DOT Needs to Define Its Role in Responding to a Real-world AttackGAO-16-350: Published: Mar 24, 2016. Publicly Released: Apr 25, 2016.
Mar 16, 2016
Aviation Forecasting:FAA Should Implement Additional Risk-Management Practices in Forecasting Aviation ActivityGAO-16-210: Published: Mar 8, 2016. Publicly Released: Mar 16, 2016.
Feb 17, 2016
Transportation Security:Status of GAO Recommendations on TSA's Security-Related Technology AcquisitionsGAO-16-176: Published: Feb 17, 2016. Publicly Released: Feb 17, 2016.
Transportation Security:TSA Has Taken Actions to Address Transportation Security Acquisition Reform Act RequirementsGAO-16-285: Published: Feb 17, 2016. Publicly Released: Feb 17, 2016.
Feb 10, 2016
Federal Aviation Administration:Preliminary Observations of Potential Air Traffic Control Restructuring Transition IssuesGAO-16-386R: Published: Feb 10, 2016. Publicly Released: Feb 10, 2016.
Jan 28, 2016
U.S. Border Communities:Ongoing DOT Efforts Could Help Address Impacts of International Freight RailGAO-16-274: Published: Jan 28, 2016. Publicly Released: Jan 28, 2016.
Jan 14, 2016
Federally Leased Vehicles:Agencies Should Strengthen Assessment Processes to Reduce Underutilized VehiclesGAO-16-136: Published: Jan 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Jan 14, 2016.
Jan 6, 2016
Amtrak:Better Reporting, Planning, and Improved Financial Information Could Enhance Decision MakingGAO-16-67: Published: Jan 6, 2016. Publicly Released: Jan 6, 2016.
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text: Personalised Triangle Flags Wooden Bunting by Craft Heaven £12.50$24.08€16.09$18.07 In stock This item is not available for delivery to United States. International delivery available letters requied for bunting number of bunting flags requirednumber of bunting flags required15 Bunting Flags (+ £6)20 Bunting Flags (+ £12)30 Bunting Flags (+ £20)40 Bunting Flags (+ £30)50 Bunting Flags (+ £40)10 Bunting Flagsnumber of bunting flags required15 Bunting Flags (+ $11.55)20 Bunting Flags (+ $23.11)30 Bunting Flags (+ $38.52)40 Bunting Flags (+ $57.79)50 Bunting Flags (+ $77.05)10 Bunting Flagsnumber of bunting flags required15 Bunting Flags (+ €7.72)20 Bunting Flags (+ €15.44)30 Bunting Flags (+ €25.74)40 Bunting Flags (+ €38.61)50 Bunting Flags (+ €51.48)10 Bunting Flagsnumber of bunting flags required15 Bunting Flags (+ $8.67)20 Bunting Flags (+ $17.35)30 Bunting Flags (+ $28.92)40 Bunting Flags (+ $43.38)50 Bunting Flags (+ $57.85)10 Bunting Flags hearts or stars - detail how many hearts and or stars you require quantity by Craft Heaven Location: Devon, GB read seller's profile see seller's complete range more items from this seller Personalised Teddy Wooden Bunting by Craft Heaven £14$26.96€18.02$20.24 Personalised Train Wooden Bunting by Craft Heaven £13$25.04€16.73$18.80 Personalised Butterfly Wooden Bunting by Craft Heaven £12.50$24.08€16.09$18.07 Wishing Tree Large Wooden Guest Book by Craft Heaven £74.50$143.51€95.89$107.74 Personalised Freestanding Wooden Family Tree by Craft Heaven £48$92.46€61.78$69.42 Nannies Grandma Nan Personalised Wooden Heart by Craft Heaven £14.95$28.79€19.24$21.62 view all you may also like PRODUCT DETAILS CUSTOMER REVIEWS DELIVERY RETURNS can be personalised ask seller a question save for later An absolutely fantastic truley unique gift, create words or names in bunting. Each bunting flag can carry a letter, star or heart A unique gift and a fantastic crafting project. Truley personal as this quality laser cut buntng is finished by you. Create your child or loved ones name in bunting, make a funky sign for your kitchen (Bake or Master Chief), the only limit is your creativity. These fantastic Bunting flags can be used plain as supplied or can be painted or decoupaged. Each kit will include: 10 Large laser cut Flags Letters selected by you (up to 10 letters, 1 per bunting flag) Hearts or Stars for bunting flags without a letter Jute twine to hang your completed bunting on. Your bunting will arrive in a hand made cotten bag which is ideal if you are giving this as a gift. Each bunting and letter is made from a high laser grade mdf, this product has a smooth blemish free face which is perfect for painting or decoupage. You can select the letters, hearts or stars required. Please note that if you have a six letter name you can request hearts or stars for the remaining 4 flags. If you would like the name "LEIGH" enter the name in the box provided -then select 5 hearts or 5 stars in the Hearts or stars dropdown menu Please note you could ask for 3 hearts and 2 stars or any combination adding up to 5. made from: Both letters and the flag shapes are made from laser grade FSC mdf. dimensions: letters 5cm Flage 14cm high 14cm wide product code: 305276 1 customer review read about our product rating system ratings guide trusted independent customer feedbackforum excellent bad good poor This product is dispatched to you by Craft Heaven. MAINLAND UK order now and receive this item by price Standard Delivery Wednesday 1 June £2.75$5.29€3.53$3.97 NON-MAINLAND UK estimated delivery price Highlands & Islands of Scotland 2-5 working daysfrom dispatch £2.75$5.29€3.53$3.97 Northern Ireland 2-5 working daysfrom dispatch £2.75$5.29€3.53$3.97 Other UK Islands 2-5 working daysfrom dispatch £2.75$5.29€3.53$3.97 INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY estimated delivery price Western Europe 2-5 working daysfrom dispatch £11.50$22.15€14.80$16.63 You have 28 days, from receipt of cancellable goods, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item. Please note: goods that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements, perishable products and personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken are non-refundable, unless faulty. Read more about our returns policy.Should you choose to return or exchange your order you will need to deliver the item(s) to the UK, where this seller is based. Craft Heaven's return policy Please see notonthehighstreet.com's returns policy.


text:
|Name: _________________________
|Period: ___________________
This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. How does Cosimo drink and bathe?
(a) hauling buckets from the river
(b) with rainwater
(c) his brother brings him pails from the well
(d) he has a hose from the ground
2. Who does Cosimo begin correspondences with?
(a) the Ecclesiastical Tribunal
(b) writers of the books he likes
(c) the King's court
(d) his extended family
3. What does Cosimo's father give him?
(a) a new knife
(b) a bow and arrows
(c) his sword
(d) better clothes
4. How does Cosimo defend himself against a suggest of trespass in the garden?
(a) says he hasn't crossed the wall
(b) says his mother knows the owner
(c) says he is visiting
(d) says he hasn't actually put his foot on the ground
5. Who does Cosimo's father send after him?
(a) his brother
(b) his sister
(c) the Cavalier
(d) the teacher
6. What does Cosimo do when Gian de Brughi is captured?
(a) rescues him
(b) send him flowers
(c) testifies against him
(d) claims to have done it himself
7. What does Cosimo do when the Abbe Fauchelefleur passes below him?
(a) ignore him
(b) tosses bits of nature down on him
(c) talk to him
(d) spit on him
8. What is Cosimo learning from the people below him?
(a) how to grow food
(b) how to build a house
(c) new languages
(d) how to ride a horse
9. What is one of the main desires the Baron has concerning his son's choice of living arrangements?
(a) to hide it from the world
(b) that he hate it and come home
(c) that he becomes famous for it
(d) that he be comfortable and safe
10. What bothers Cosimo most about fig trees?
(a) they're so sticky
(b) they are too short
(c) they have too many birds
(d) they smell
11. What happens to Gian de Brughi?
(a) he is hung
(b) he has to pay a huge fine
(c) he is sent to prison
(d) his hand is cut off
12. Who follows Viola when she goes riding on her horse?
(a) no one
(b) her aunts
(c) her brother
(d) her older sister
13. What does Biagio bring Cosimo during the rainstorm?
(a) a rain coat
(b) food and two umbrellas
(c) an old army tent
(d) a waterproof sleeping bag
14. Why is Cosimo attempting to catch his uncle with the pirates?
(a) he wants to tell his father
(b) he thinks he's a traitor
(c) he thinks it's exciting
(d) he wants a share of the cut
15. Why do Cosimo's mother and father stroll through the forest?
(a) to find more snails for dinner
(b) to go to the village
(c) to entice him out of the trees
(d) for exercise
Short Answer Questions
1. What do the pirates do to the Cavalier?
2. Who helps Cosimo with his plans?
3. Why do the men from town ask Cosimo to come down?
4. What does Gian de Brughi do while in hiding from the law after Cosimo rescued him?
5. Who does the Baron confide in and seek advice from?
This section contains 503 words
(approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page)


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text:
Today's customers are always on the go, always plugged in, and always a click away from a lift to the airport or an Orange is the New Black marathon. With companies like Uber and Netflix on the rise, consumer expectations are higher than ever. Meanwhile, companies find their customer bases growing across countries and times zones, and they're struggling to deliver the frictionless experience their customers have come to demand. Worse still, many are relying on legacy technologies that can't cope with the layers of complexity built into today's business processes.
Jun 03, 2014
After speculation that Apple was getting ready to unveil a smart home solution at the WWDC conference, the company did just that on Monday... sort of. Apple announced the new iOS 8 software development kit, which includes the HomeKit--among others like HealthKit. But that wasn't even close to being all of the news.
In a sense, the HomeKit would turn your iPhone in a sort of universal remote for your house. Often a homeowner might have apps for multiple smart devices in the house--like a thermostat, lights, and a garage door opener. With the help of your iPhone (and Siri), you would be able to control all of those devices (and their apps) from a single space by saying something like, "Get ready for bed."
It also intrduced a new app called Health which will work with third party devices -- like Nike Fuel Band or FitBit -- but can also track your calories burned and sleep patterns without any other devices. Apple also introduced iDrive, which some have described as a "Dropbox killer," because just like Dropbox, it allows you to store and access all your files from any computer.
Apple also introduced other new features, like Family Sharing. Now up to six family members who use the same credit card will be able to get access to apps someone else in the family has downloaded. And if you kids try to dowload something, they will automatically be prompted to ask you for permission.


text:
Third Coast Dance Film Festival
Think dance films are something new? Ah, no. In the mid-1890s, Thomas Edison captured Ruth Dennis dancing outdoors. One hundred and twenty-something years later, the Third Coast Dance Film Festival celebrates the marriage of these two art forms by screening 21 shorts over two nights.
This year's festival is curated by Houston dance-makers Rosie Trump and Lydia Hance. The shorts come from all over the world, including Australia, Canada, Finland, Russia and Spain. Dance film has a strong contingent of artists in Houston, and the local community will be represented by entries from Lindsey Sarah Thompson, Lynn Lane and Ashley Horn, whose Jazzland short was filmed in an abandoned theme park in New Orleans after it was flooded by Hurricane Katrina. Other films are set on rooftops, underwater, in movie theaters and in bathroom stalls.
Sept. 15-16, 7 p.m., 2012
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Sign up for our weekly guide to events in Houston, and never be bored again. With suggestions for every day of the week, our recommendations will keep you busy on any budget.
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TicketsWed., Jun. 1, 7:00pm
Sponsor Content


text:
I became a caregiver when my husband was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) in 1999. We had no idea what to expect. We were both working full-time with a son in elementary school. The first few years were pretty easy with no progression and few obvious symptoms.
United Way
Printer-friendly version
Over 1,350 programs operating throughout the country to promote increased access to health care for disease prevention and treatment, and medical rehabilitations for people with disabilities. Services focus on under- and uninsured populations.
See website for local chapter contact information
Caregiver Eligibility:
Care Recipient Eligibility:
Eligibility varies by program (see website)


text:
tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-112827272016-05-29T11:45:52.094-06:00Accidental DeliberationsNo struggle for what you believe in is ever futile.Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-74931558923408757392016-05-29T11:45:00.000-06:002016-05-29T11:45:52.297-06:00Sunday Morning LinksThis and that for your Sunday reading.

- Andrea Germanos follows up on the IMF's realization that handing free money and power to corporations does nothing for the economy as it affects people's lives. And Susie Cagle examines the role of tech money - like other massive accumulations of wealth - in exacerbating inequalities in both wealth and political influence.

- Jeffrey Sachs points out that Bernie Sanders' economic policy prescriptions are exactly what the U.S. in particular needs in order to offer a more secure life for the population as a whole:

The United States unleashed the power of CEOs to enrich themselves with mega-salaries, weakened trade unions and gave massive tax breaks to the super-rich. Sanders's policies would go after all of these unconscionable moves, bringing the United States back into line with the rest of the high-income world. He would, in short, end the age of impunity in which the rich and the powerful get their way, while the rest suffer. Sanders's policies include higher taxes on the rich, strengthening unions, raising the minimum wage, supporting families, providing free tuition at public universities and cracking down on financial crimes.

There is nothing magical or utopian about Sanders's recommendations. He is advocating policies of decency long ago adopted by other prosperous high-income countries. Our own neighbor, Canada, is a case in point. Canada has lower-cost health care, a life expectancy two years higher than in the United States, much lower college tuition, far lower poverty rates and, not surprisingly, more happiness (ranking sixth in the world in life satisfaction, behind Scandinavia and well ahead of the United States, which is 12th).

Mainstream economists long ago lost the melody line. Their models are oriented to the status quo and underemphasize the benefits of public investment. They take America's bloated health-care costs as a given, not as the result of the influence of the U.S. private health lobby. They treat low growth as natural ("secular stagnation") rather than as the result of chronic underinvestment. They have come to accept cruelly rising income inequality and rampant impunity for financial crimes. Sanders knows better, based on worldwide experience, an abiding sense of decency and a strong and accurate vision for a brighter economic future.

- Meanwhile, Robert Skidelsky discusses the futility of trying to boost a stalled economy solely through monetary policy when direct public spending figures to accomplish far more.

- Lawrence Mishel and Jessica Schieder chart the connection between union organization and income equality.

- Finally, Elizabeth Thompson reports on the federal government's lack of a clue as to how many temporary foreign workers are actually in Canada. And it's particularly worth contrasting that lax attitude toward workers brought in at the behest of employers against the detention of immigration detainees. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-58688120868962857292016-05-28T10:58:00.001-06:002016-05-28T10:58:51.524-06:00Saturday Morning LinksAssorted content for your weekend reading.

- Eric Reguly highlights the growing possibility of a global revolt against corporate-centred trade agreements:

(A) funny thing happened on the way to the free trade free-for-all: A lot of people were becoming less rich and more angry, to the point that globalization seems set to go into reverse.

Maybe it should. The shocks unleashed by globalization have yet to be absorbed. The senseless deregulation of financial services and the globalization that went with it set the stage for the 2008 financial crisis, whose damage remains. Real average wages for low and middle-income earners have stagnated for decades in North America and Europe. Jobs continue to shift to countries, notably China, where costs are lower and industries are moving up the value chain. Disinflation is turning into outright deflation – falling prices – in some regions.
...

Western governments did virtually nothing constructive to manage the worst effects of globalization on their populations, such as the loss of millions of jobs.

No wonder more and more Europeans and North Americans are not buying the free-trade hype any more. The marginal trade gains could be more than offset by greater pressure on working-class jobs or laxer regulations on, say, food quality. Europeans also fear that both TTIP and CETA are essentially undemocratic. They were negotiated almost entirely behind closed doors, and both have dispute resolution mechanisms that would allow companies to sue governments for damages if profits are hit because of changes in government policy or regulations. In effect, the provisions would rob their governments of their sovereignty.

- Ed Finn reminds us of the role citizens need to play in shaping our own future. And Cheryl Santa Maria examines the flip side to misplaced anger about leaving oil in the ground by discussing the climate chaos that would result if (for whatever perverse reason) all available fossil fuels were actually burned.

- Chris Havergal reports on Christopher Martin's advocacy for a post-secondary education based on making further learning available to facilitate social involvement, rather than on the accumulation of massive debt which narrows students' future opportunities.

- Trevor Hancock discusses the policy choices around different retirement ages - and particularly the need to take into account an individual's type of employment and life expectancy, rather than raising an overall retirement age based on unequally increased lifespans.

- Finally, the Star makes the case for a review of Canada's tax code to make sure we're not bleeding needed revenues without some important policy purpose. Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-17892648304155090992016-05-27T18:20:00.000-06:002016-05-27T18:20:43.932-06:00Musical interludeSeven Lions feat. Kerli - Worlds Apart

Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-75932182142223709772016-05-27T10:15:00.000-06:002016-05-27T10:15:46.951-06:00Friday Morning LinksAssorted content to end your week.

- Murray Dobbin is hopeful that we may be seeing corporate globalization based on unquestioned neoliberal ideology come to an end:

There is no definitive way to identify when an ideology begins to lose its grip on the public discourse but could this clear resistance (it is even more developed and vociferous in EU countries) be the beginning of the end of corporate globalization? I am not suggesting that developed countries' governments are going to suddenly return to the good old days of the post-war social contract. But what has allowed them to proceed for three decades with political impunity has been the power of ideology to overwhelm evidence and reason. Neoliberalism has enjoyed hegemonic status for so long it has been almost impossible for ordinary citizens to imagine anything different. But now they can -- not just because of political outliers Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders but because of Hillary Clinton, who has been a steadfast supporter of neoliberal policies, including free trade, throughout her political career.

 Once members of the political elite begin to question the high priests of free trade, the spell is broken, and all sorts of alternative political narratives present themselves. It takes an accumulation of unlikely suspects breaking with the consensus before that happens and we have already seen some high-profile defectors from the TPP -- including Nobel Laureate Joseph Stiglitz, economist Jeffrey Sachs and in Canada RIM co-founder Jim Balsillie. At first the Teflon seemed to hold, but there is always a time lag when it comes to cultural change and their interventions are still playing out.
- Meanwhile, Jordan Weissmann discusses the IMF's new report finding that neoliberal policies have delivered nothing close to what was promised - though Alexander Kentikelenis, Thomas Stubbs and Lawrence King note that the IMF itself has failed even in enforcing even its own insufficient commitments to social protection.

- Laura Benson points out that there's a direct connection between donations to the B.C. Libs and policies allowing mining corporations to avoid liability for environmental damage (along with other political perks). And Jordan Press reports on the conclusion by federal auditors that corporate contractors have been overpaid by over $100 million over the past three years, mostly in "excessive profits", while Trevor Zimmerman (for Friends of Medicare) highlights how private clinics are siphoning off public money while undermining our universal health care system.

- Tom Cooper and Trish Hennessy discuss the promising growth of the living wage movement. And David Bush writes about the importance of a fair minimum wage for all workers.

- Finally, Dominique Mosbergen reports on the passage of "right to disconnect" legislation in France allowing for employees to have their off-work time to themselves. And the Canadian Labour Congress has launched a new campaign to allow Canadian workers to retire with a secure and sufficient CPP pension.Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-29433094895538372582016-05-26T07:43:00.004-06:002016-05-26T07:43:47.194-06:00New column dayHere, on how the Wall government is using a partial privatization of liquor stores to open the door to the wholesale destruction of the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority.

For further reading...
- The Crown Corporations Public Ownership Act is here. Bill 1, which carves SLGA entirely out of the existing law, is here (PDF) - while the Wall government's press release contains no explanation whatsoever as to why it goes to such drastic lengths. And as a reminder, here's what happened when Saskatchewan Party candidates were offered the opportunity to explain their party's plans during the provincial election campaign.
- CBC reported on the privatization of the Information Services Corporation, while Simon Enoch highlighted the gap between rhetoric and reality when it came to the Saskatchewan Party's position on the Crowns, and SOS Crowns pointed out the lack of any logic behind the sale.
- And finally, Aditya Chakrabotty discusses the connection between austerity, privatization and the deliberate destruction of common wealth. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-14606930118650834422016-05-26T07:41:00.000-06:002016-05-26T07:41:17.272-06:00Thursday Morning LinksThis and that for your Thursday reading.

- Andre Picard writes about the widespread poverty faced by indigenous children in Canada - and the obvious need for political action to set things right:

The focus of the [CCPA's] report, rightly, is on the children among the more than 1.4 million people in Canada who identify as indigenous, about 4 per cent of the population. Half of that total are "registered Indians," 30 per cent are Métis, 15 per cent are non-status Indians and 4 per cent are Inuit. More than half of indigenous people live in urban centres.

These figures are a lot to digest, but they should, nonetheless, be the object of much reflection for our politicians and policy makers.

They are, among other things, an eloquent illustration of the fact that Canadian society is stratified by class, by race and by income, a direct challenge to our comfy belief that we are an egalitarian, socially progressive and colour-blind country.

What we look like and where we came from have an inarguable impact on our opportunities, our income and our health. So does where we live.

- Meanwhile, the Star highlights the desperate need for more affordable housing in Ontario (as in many other places). And Bruce Johnstone notes that the Wall government is going out of its way to hide deliberate choices to raise basic utility costs.

- Angella MacEwen reminds us of the wide range of workers who earn less than a reasonable minimum wage.

- Ivan Semeniuk reports on the dangerous air pollution emanating from the tar sands even beyond their contribution to greenhouse gas emissions. And Judith Lavoie takes a look at the price the public has to pay in dealing with abandoned mine sites.

- Finally, Maxwell Cameron comments on the widespread perception that the B.C. Liberal government is thoroughly corrupted. And Desmond Cole writes that the replacement of Rob Ford with John Tory hasn't changed Toronto's basic focus on favouring the wealthy at the expense of everybody else. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-43851878878220192312016-05-21T08:37:00.004-06:002016-05-21T08:37:41.148-06:00Light blogging aheadTaking a break for the long weekend and a couple of days beyond. Expect little to no blogging until next week.Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-34633234670677311532016-05-21T08:35:00.000-06:002016-05-21T08:35:29.320-06:00Saturday Morning LinksAssorted content for your weekend reading.

- James Wilt discusses a much-needed effort to map out the connections between fossil fuel corporations. And Bruce Campbell highlights how the resource sector is among the most prominent examples of regulatory capture in Canada.

- Meanwhile, Steven Chase notes that even as Stephane Dion tries to excuse the sale of arms to human rights abusers, Sweden is making a principled shift away from relying on inevitable human suffering as a profit centre.

- Michael Geist takes a look at the costs the Trans-Pacific Partnership figures to impose on Canada's economy - and the refusal of the deal's corporate backers to recognize that they exist.

- Dylan Matthews examines the impact of public tax records in ensuring improved pay equality and revenue collection.

- John Anderson makes the case for postal banking to improve both our existing public services, and the availability of financial services for people who need them.

- Finally, Matt Gurney writes that the Trudeau Libs are indistinguishable from the Harper Cons in their total contempt for any opposition. And Chantal Hebert discusses how Trudeau's combination of figurative and literal strongarming of Parliament seems to have backfired. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-11608537326824570402016-05-20T18:28:00.000-06:002016-05-20T18:28:14.735-06:00Musical interludeJason Collett - Song and Dance Man

Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-88340100450081159052016-05-20T10:19:00.000-06:002016-05-20T10:19:23.430-06:00Friday Morning LinksAssorted content to end your week.

- Johnna Montgomerie makes the case to treat austerity as a failed experiment. But Laura Basu points out that misleading coverage of economic and fiscal news has led far too many people to see the damage done by austerity as originating from other sources.

- Meanwhile, the Economist examines how unduly strict monetary policy has led to the end of otherwise sustainable periods of economic growth. Chris Savage notes that Republican-governed Michigan is now handing the business sector more free money than it's collecting in corporate taxes. And Deirdre Fulton observes that the U.S.' own assessment shows that the Trans-Pacific Partnership isn't worth pursuing - which hasn't yet resulted in any change in the plans to keep pushing it.

- Selena Ross tells the story of Teta Bayan, the nanny who was prevented from testifying before Parliament about the temporary foreign worker program due to the Libs' preference to hear from the corporate sector first.

- CarbonBrief warns that we're a mere five years away from hitting the upper limit of the greenhouse gas emissions we can send into the atmosphere while suffering only moderate effects. Matt Smith highlights how the oil industry has chosen not to develop its own technologies which could have substantially reduced the damage we're doing to our planet. Nick Fillmore points out the glaring lack of media coverage of climate change compared to its expected consequences. And in a case in point, John Klein posts about the Saskatchewan Party's throne speech climate change denialism which has received no mainstream media attention.

- Finally, Geoff Leo points out how the Saskatchewan Party is playing favourites with access to information requests, charging CBC a hundred thousand dollars more for less Global Transportation Hub documentation than it's prepared to supply to its ideological allies at the Canadian Taxpayers Federation. Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-46344917801199263392016-05-19T10:24:00.000-06:002016-05-19T10:24:03.801-06:00Thursday Morning LinksThis and that for your Thursday reading.

- Peter Mazereeuw reports on the growing opposition to the Trans-Pacific Partnership which may result in it never coming into force. And Jerry Dias reminds us why we should be glad if that movement wins out over the corporate forces who assembled it behind closed doors:

(T)he far more insidious part of the deal has nothing to do with trade or tariffs at all.

It is the Investor State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) system that would give corporations the right to sue governments for passing laws that hurt their ability to earn a profit -- even if those laws are in the public interest.

Think about that. A government gets elected to pass the laws that its citizens want -- and then gets sued under an international trade agreement for doing exactly what it was elected to do.

Think that won't happen? It already has.
...
Testifying before hearings into the TPP in New Zealand last week, Osgoode Hall law professor Gus Van Harten said that while ISDS provisions have existed in trade deals before, the TPP marks a watershed. That's because the TPP, along with a proposed trade deal between Europe and the United States, would expand coverage of ISDS provisions from 20 per cent of the world economy to up to 90 per cent .

That means that virtually the entire world economy would be ruled by these undemocratic ISDS tribunals, which put corporate profits ahead of public policy, the environment or labour rights. In fact, ISDS is a one-way street, with only private industries given the right to sue, while protecting them against state or citizen lawsuits.

The TPP, in other words, is a lop-sided deal that favours the rights of corporations over the people, a reflection of the blind faith placed in so-called free trade by our former Conservative government.
- Fernando Arce reports on the plight of migrant workers lacking any protection from Canada's federal government. And Desmond Cole sees the issue as one of the most stark examples of our seeing workers as disposable.

- Meanwhile, Anna Mehler Paperny reports on a continued pattern of immigrants being shut away in solitary confinement for years at a time due to the belief that option is easier than providing treatment.

- Chantal Hebert writes that Maryam Monsef's utterly senseless talking points on electoral reform are burning bridges to people who were more than willing to work with the Libs on a fair electoral system. And Jeremy Nuttall talks to Nathan Cullen about the obvious problems with the Libs' self-serving committee design.

- Finally, Eric Pineault comments on the trend toward extreme oil extraction - and the need to start building our economy on a more stable and less dangerous foundation. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-26752937012307349902016-05-19T10:09:00.000-06:002016-05-19T10:09:22.355-06:00New column dayHere, on the CCPA's recent report on the continued shame of child poverty (particularly on reserve) and the Wall government's lack of any interest in changing the reality that over two-thirds of Saskatchewan children on reserve live in poverty.

For further reading...
- The CCPA's previous report from 2013 covering similar issues is here.
- The Wall government's throne speech - complete with climate denialism and zero mentions of poverty among other lowlights - is here (PDF). And the single mention of First Nations involves one power contract encompassing only one First Nation. Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-38387986126460218302016-05-18T11:15:00.001-06:002016-05-18T11:15:16.571-06:00Wednesday Morning LinksMiscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Miles Corak reviews Branko Milanovic's new book on the complicated relationship between globalization and income inequality. Dougald Lamont examines the current state of inequality in Canada. And Matthew Yglesias takes a look at research showing that inequality and social friction can be traced back centuries based on the income levels associated with particular last names.

- David Macdonald and Daniel Wilson study the appalling levels of poverty among indigenous children. And Kristy Kirkup follows up by talking to First Nations leaders about the poverty facing their members (both on and off reserve), while CBC notes that resource-sharing with First Nations leads to reduced poverty rates.

- Alex Himelfarb rightly points out the importance of an open and inclusive process to discuss electoral reform. But Neil MacDonald writes that the Libs appear to have stacked the deck to prevent that needed conversation from happening, while Alison documents Marc Mayrand's warning as to how much time will be needed to implement a new electoral system.

 - Chris Hall reports that the Libs are still stalling on anything to do with C-51, as now even a first set of changes which wasn't supposed to require extensive consultation - including the implementation of any oversight - is being delayed.

- Finally, Kady O'Malley reports that the Libs are planning to put Parliamentary business entirely in the hands of Justin Trudeau and his cabinet. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-61980870355276966752016-05-17T19:55:00.002-06:002016-05-17T19:55:44.471-06:00Tuesday Night Cat BloggingBasking cats.

Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-84568974406797719152016-05-17T08:58:00.000-06:002016-05-17T08:58:53.129-06:00Tuesday Morning LinksThis and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Alison Crawford reports on the Libs' failure to pass any new legislation to allow collective bargaining for RCMP members - leaving them with even less than the system which was already found to be unconstitutional. And Jake Johnson discusses the consequences of the U.S. corporate sector's war on unions:

In a climate of intense insecurity, cultivated by both the hostile corporate setting and the wider economic context of the United States in the 21st century, workers hesitate to speak out against their employers for fear of losing their jobs. "Lives depend on these wages," the report notes. "Usually, there are few other options in the area, and these options likely pay lower wages."

Outrage sparked by horrendous working conditions is thus overshadowed by intense shame and, ultimately, resignation. "Workers clearly get the message that they if they want to keep their job, they need to endure what happens inside the plant — or, in the words of many, 'allí está la puerta' ('there's the door')."

This sense of helplessness is felt across many industries and is largely the result of a ruthless, decades-long effort by highly class-conscious elites to dismantle unions and undercut potential threats to the accumulation of profit.
...
(E)ven as profits soar, the most vulnerable workers remain stuck in an untenable scenario — horrified by their conditions but lacking an outlet through which they can voice their discontent.

There is a reason, then, that economic elites are waging unabashed class war: They understand that organized labor is a threat to corporate power. Unions are a redistributive force, one that endangers the ingrained paradigm of concentrated wealth.
- Meanwhile, Hugh MacKenzie calls out the financial sector's attempts to divert any discussion of pensions toward schemes to skim ever-increasing management fees off of Canadians' retirement savings. And Dwayne Winseck points out the inevitable effects of Bell's planned takeover of MTS as an example of corporate oligopoly at its worst.

- Jim Bronskill reports that the Libs seem inclined to pair any increase in the authority of the Information Commissioner with an unaccountable ministerial veto - which might actually make it even more difficult for Canadians to get access to the records which matter most.

- Finally, the Star calls for the Libs to reverse the Cons' gratuitously-punitive changes to the pardon system. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-16609436814892026472016-05-16T09:21:00.000-06:002016-05-16T09:21:04.844-06:00Monday Morning LinksAssorted content to start your week.

- Karen Palmer writes about a push by U.S. doctors to follow in Canada's footsteps with single-payer health care - even as a few profiteers seek to tear our system apart:

Global evidence shows that private insurance does not reduce public system wait times. The Achilles heel of health care in several European countries, such as Sweden, has been long waiting times for diagnosis and treatment in several areas, despite some private insurance. After Australia introduced private insurance to save the government money, those with private insurance have faster access to elective surgery than those without. Divisions in equitable access to care is one of the biggest challenges now facing countries that have adopted multi-payer systems.

Multi-payer systems are administratively complex and expensive, explaining why the U.S. health insurance industry spends about 18 per cent of its health care dollars on billing and insurance-related administration for its many private plans, compared to just 2 per cent in Canada for our streamlined single payer insurance plans. Hospital administrative costs are lowest in Canada and Scotland — both single payer systems — and highest in the U.S., the Netherlands, and the U.K. — all multi-payer systems.

...

Abundant evidence shows private insurance is at the root of what ails the U.S. system. Dr. Marcia Angell, co-author of the Physicians' Proposal, Harvard Medical School faculty and former editor-in-chief of the New England Journal of Medicine, sums it up: "We can no longer afford to waste the vast resources we do on the administrative costs, executive salaries, and profiteering of the private insurance system."

A Canadian-style single payer financing system would save the U.S. about $500 billion annually.

Meanwhile, in Canada, abandoning our single payer health care system for a U.S.-style multi-payer system would be the worst possible outcome for Canadians.
- Amy Traub highlights how worker activism led to a substantial increase in the minimum wage paid to employees of U.S. government contractors. And Rosa Marchitelli examines the abuse of migrant farm workers as an example of what happens when employees are completely at the mercy of their employers and others.

- Samantha Page reports on new research showing the devastating environmental impact of fracking. And Jordon Cooper writes that we should see the Fort McMurray wildfire as exactly the time to discuss the wider effects of climate change.

- Chris York discusses Ken Loach's new film on the treatment of people who receive social assistance.

- Finally, Andrew Coyne rebuts a few of the more preposterous talking points against electoral reform. And Tom Parkin argues that we should expect a new electoral system to be based on equal representation, not the Libs' political interests. Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-33650412656118765082016-05-15T11:12:00.000-06:002016-05-15T11:12:54.353-06:00Sunday Morning LinksThis and that for your Sunday reading.

- Murray Dobbin argues that the Trudeau Libs' response (or lack thereof) to wealthy tax cheats will tell us what we most need to know about their plans for Canada.

- Meanwhile, Tonda MacCharles reports on Justin Trudeau's plans to abandon Canada's longstanding commitment (however neglected in practice) to providing a fair level of foreign aid. And Tom Boggioni exposes the U.S.' use of foreign aid threats to try to keep cancer medicine unaffordable in Colombia.

- Sarah Neville points out how workplace power imbalances can create an environment ripe for sexual harassment and other forms of employee abuse. And David Graeber theorizes that part of the current gap can be explained by the proliferation of what he describes as "bullshit jobs".

- Benjamin Radcliff examines the relationship between political systems and happiness economics, and finds that social democracy is the system most conducive to well-being:

The policies most conducive to human wellbeing turn out to be essentially the same ones that Einstein himself originally suggested: those associated with social democracy. In reviewing the research in 2014, Adam Okulicz-Kozaryn, a political scientist at Rutgers University-Camden in New Jersey, found that 'societies led by leftist or liberal governments (also referred to as welfare states)' have the highest levels of life satisfaction, controlling for other factors. Looking across countries, the more generous and universalistic the welfare state, the greater the level of human happiness, net of other factors.
...
If commodification is so harmful to humans, while the greater market system itself contributes so much to human society, the obvious solution is to maintain the essential features of the market while introducing public policies that serve to 'decommodify' workers and their families. Simply put, a society is decommodified to the extent that individuals can maintain something like a middle-class existence if they are unable to successfully sell their labour power as a commodity due to illness, old-age, disability, the need to care for a family member, the desire to improve one's position through further education, or simply the inability to find (good) jobs when times are hard. The greater the level of decommodification, the easier it is for more people to survive without winning in the labour market.

The creation of a social safety net (the much-maligned 'welfare state') is essential to decommodifying people. It assures that those unable to find work will be provided with a minimum income, coupled in its most expansive form with other programmes that limit the extent to which one's wellbeing is dependent on income – such as 'family allowances' (ie child support payments provided by the public), subsidised daycare and housing, and the availability of healthcare as a social right, ie as something (like police protection) that one receives because one is a citizen, not because one can pay for it.

Labour unions also play a vital role in helping decommodify people, by providing a degree of protection to workers against the arbitrary whims of employers; the higher wages and benefits of unionised workers tend to raise the wage floor for all. Finally, labour market regulations can cover all employees, even those not in labour unions. These protections, in some countries, protect all workers, assure them paid vacation and sick days, maintain high levels of workplace safety, and might even (as in codetermination schemes) provide workers with a say in how the business is managed. All this serves to not only reduce insecurity and other forms of stress, but helps contribute to an environment in which workers feel that they are treated with the dignity and respect all persons deserve.

- Finally, Bruce Johnstone observes that the Saskatchewan Party's corporatist economic philosophy - like that of so many other right-wing governments - is failing miserably even on its own terms. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-43721237634949894142016-05-14T09:33:00.000-06:002016-05-14T09:33:38.271-06:00Saturday Morning LinksAssorted content for your weekend reading.

- Ed Finn comments on the history of neoliberalism - but notes that while the public is rightly skeptical of corporate spin, that awareness hasn't yet translated into a strong alternative:

(S)cores of well-known thinkers, writers, economists, and activists have vociferously denounced the many abuses of large business empires driven by their greed and unchecked power. The upsurge of Occupy Wall Street, Idle No More, and other public protest movements have all specifically targeted the big investment firms, banks, and other corporate giants.

Corporations and their CEOs are now commonly portrayed as villains in movies, TV shows, and books. The proliferation of insider trading and other "white-collar" crimes make front-page news. Many thousands of people have had a personal bad experience with an insurance or investment firm. And most are now also aware that the worst pollution of the environment comes from the chemicals and effluents spewed out by the big industrial complexes.

 The majority of the populace realizes that there is something seriously wrong with the prevailing political and economic systems. They may not trace their unemployment, low wages, or shoddy living conditions to the inequities of laissez-faire capitalism, but they know that sweeping changes of some kind need to be made.
...
So it's clear now that simply exposing big business atrocities will have no deterrent effects, either by governments or the corporate scoundrels themselves. Even the opposition parties in our legislatures rarely, if ever, mention corporate malfeasance during election campaigns or Question Periods. And since the politicians we vote for are the only ones with the authority to stop the titans of capitalism from further impoverishing billions, worsening inequality, and eventually wrecking the planet, we find ourselves at an impasse.
- Meanwhile, Jason Stahl makes the case for a socialist think tank to put workers' interests on a more level playing field with the corporate voices amplified by dozens of well-funded astroturf organizations.

- Lana Payne notes that the effort assembled in response to the Fort McMurray fire offers a reminder of the power and positive effect of collective action.

- Andrew Jackson discusses how a transition to clean energy could form the basis for a global economic recovery. And Bartley Kives offers a bleak look at how our climate could change in the absence of such a shift - with the Canadian prairies taking on the dry, stifling climate patterns now associated with the southern U.S.

- Finally, Karl Nerenberg highlights how the Libs are refusing to allow for a fair study of electoral reform. And PressProgress points out that if the Libs are at all serious about gender equity, they should be ruling out preferential or ranked ballots as options.Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-71014344130376164712016-05-13T16:49:00.000-06:002016-05-13T16:49:03.526-06:00Musical interludeThe Joy Formidable - Wolf's Law

Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-21715061461892951722016-05-13T10:11:00.000-06:002016-05-13T10:11:15.146-06:00Friday Morning LinksAssorted content to end your week.

- Ben Casselman writes that rather than looking to manufacturing jobs alone as a precondition to gains for workers, we should instead focus on the unions which helped to make the manufacturing sector the source of stable, higher-wage work:

Why do factory workers make more in Michigan? In a word: unions. The Midwest was, at least until recently, a bastion of union strength. Southern states, by contrast, are mostly "right-to-work" states where unions never gained a strong foothold. Private-sector unions have been shrinking across the country for decades, but they are stronger in the Midwest than in most other parts of the country. In Michigan, 23 percent of manufacturing production workers were union members in 2015; in South Carolina, less than 2 percent were.

 Unions also help explain why the middle class is healthier in the Midwest than in the Southeast, where manufacturing jobs have been growing rapidly in recent decades. A new analysis from the Pew Research Center this week explored the state of the middle class in different parts of the country by looking at the share of households making between two-thirds and double the national median income, after controlling for the local cost of living. In many Midwestern cities, 60 percent or more of households are considered "middle-income" by this definition; in some Southern cities, even those with large manufacturing bases, middle-income households are now in the minority.
...
For all of the glow that surrounds manufacturing jobs in political rhetoric, there is nothing inherently special about them. Some pay well; others don't. They are not immune from the forces that have led to slow wage growth in other sectors of the economy. When politicians pledge to protect manufacturing jobs, they really mean a certain kind of job: well-paid, long-lasting, with opportunities for advancement. Those aren't qualities associated with working on a factory floor; they're qualities associated with being a member of a union.
- Meanwhile, Hanna Brooks Olsen writes that we should be looking to recognize that service work is skilled work which should be compensated accordingly - a point which is emphasized by Canada's high demand for labour in areas where employers expect to get away with paying less. Christine Saulnier points out how a fair minimum wage represents a broad, bottom-up solution to both inequality and economic stagnation.

- But Nadia Prupis writes that economic trends are headed in the wrong direction, with workers falling further behind both past standards of living and (especially) the current upper class. And Jim Hightower offers his take on how the gig economy makes matters worse for workers.

- Jeff Spross highlights how a housing first system represents a simple starting point in combating both homelessness and numerous other related problems. And Carol Off interviews Marni Brownell about the effectiveness of small cash investments in improving child health.

- Finally, Linda McQuaig makes the case for postal banking to improve both the sustainability of Canada Post, and public access to needed financial services. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-19515204113382796832016-05-12T07:42:00.000-06:002016-05-12T07:42:38.591-06:00Thursday Morning LinksThis and that for your Thursday reading.

- Neil MacDonald discusses the unfairness in allowing a wealthy class of individuals to set up its own rules, while Jeffrey Sachs notes that the U.S. and U.K. are among the worst offenders in allowing for systematic tax evasion. And Alex Hemingway rightly points out that the recognition that a privileged few are able to flout the law makes it more difficult to establish the trust needed for society to function.

- Meanwhile, Jared Bernstein highlights the costs of trade agreements in transferring wealth and power to those who already have the most, while noting there are other factors which need to be counterbalanced as well:

There are a lot of forces other than global trade suppressing the earnings and opportunities of large swaths of workers, but trade is often the most visible one. Most economists think the lion's share of wage inequality and stagnation is because of changes in technology that have increasingly tilted against noncollege educated workers, and Froman is saying that there's nothing much in the way of technology dynamics against which opponents can rally.

In fact, there's less in the way of solid, ADH-style evidence that technology is a lead culprit here. The decline of unions, eroding minimum wages, the rise of non-productive finance, and especially the persistent absence of full employment labor markets all reduce worker bargaining power, and that is the fundamental force driving wage stagnation amid growth. But Froman's point that trade bears a disproportionate share of the public's anger is a good one.

Still, the main message from ADH, Bivens, and the rest of us who've been trying to raise this cost side of the equation for decades is that these costs are real. They're acute for many people and places and diffuse to some degree for others. Economic platitudes about how trade is always worthwhile as long as the winners can compensate the losers are an insult in the age of inequality, where the winners increasingly use their political power to claim ever more winnings.

If we don't deal with these costs by creating real, substantive, remunerative opportunities for those hurt by trade, some demagogue is sure to come along Trumpeting a case for xenophobia, walls, tariffs and protectionism. If he's not … um … here already.
- Matthew Yglesias theorizes that work is getting safer and more fulfilling with time - which may explain in part the lack of a concerted effort to further reduce the time spent on the job.

- David Wheeler offers his take on a universal basic income, while Allan Pall writes that social programs are instead headed toward exclusion of youth among other groups.

- Finally, Thomas Walkom reminds us of the importance of putting extreme weather events such as the Fort McMurray wildfire into the context of the environmental factors which cause them. And Martin Lukacs suggests that the cost of cleaning up and rebuilding should be borne by the industry most responsible.Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-30508277739789303382016-05-12T07:26:00.001-06:002016-05-12T07:26:56.031-06:00New column dayHere, on how Justin Trudeau's control over the federal electoral reform committee looks to extend a familiar pattern of top-down government into the design of our electoral system. (And I'll add one point here which didn't make it into the column: the committee design features a bare Lib majority which is itself likely to create strong pressure against any of their MPs acting with any independence.)

For further reading...
 - Ed Broadbent, Alex Himelfarb and Hugh Segal make their case as to what we should want from our electoral system:

The central problem with our winner-take-all system is that the composition of our elected parliament does not reflect how we actually voted. A candidate who receives a plurality of the votes wins, even if a majority of the voters chose others. The majority of the votes in such a case have no impact on the outcome of the election.

That means a party that receives only a minority of votes, say less than 40 per cent, can form a majority government, taking full control of the policy agenda. In fact, this is the norm in Canada. But this cannot continue. In a representative democracy, representativeness surely should matter.

...

While some are pushing preferential ballots – where we rank candidates – this is not an improvement over winner-take-all. Ranked ballots can be introduced in either our current system or in a proportional system, but, on their own, they do not solve the problems. Indeed, if introduced into our current system they will create even larger false majorities and make things even less representative, as they inevitably disadvantage parties challenging the status quo whose voters deserve as much fairness as any others.

Electoral reform is not about what works for any particular party or parties in general. It's about the public interest, what works for voters, what makes our democracy stronger. The only alternative to what we have now is a proportional system.
- Meanwhile, Andrew Coyne is rightly suspicious that the Libs are conning us on electoral reform, while Chantal Hebert theorizes that the committee has been set up to fail. And Ryan Maloney reports on the Libs' continuation of the Cons' omnibus legislation and time limits. Greg email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-19676974376484038252016-05-11T12:00:00.000-06:002016-05-11T12:00:00.527-06:00Wednesday Morning LinksMiscellaneous material for your mid-week reading.

- Caroline Plante reports on Quebec's scourge of medical extra-billing and user fees (as identified by its own Auditor General). And Aaron Derfel notes that the federal government has done nothing to apply the Canada Health Act to rein in the practice.

- Erika Shaker highlights how federal funding for post-secondary education serves mostly to provide further advantages for students who already have the most.

- The Star makes the case for the Communications Security Establishment to answer for breaches of Canadians' privacy. And Kaveh Waddell discusses how big data in the hands of the corporate sector can lead to systematic discrimination against poor communities, while Dennis Howlett challenges KPMG's claim that confidentiality entitles tax cheats to avoid exposure.

- Susan Delacourt offers a few suggestions as to how Justin Trudeau could usefully use some political capital - with a particular focus on reversing the Cons' attacks on the political system. And Kelly McParland notes that the Cons themselves may be continuing down the path of artificial barriers against experience and competence with internal leadership term limits.

- Finally, Trish Kahle discusses the shared interest of the labour and environmental movements in a sustainable economy. Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-6937461560483547942016-05-10T19:51:00.001-06:002016-05-10T19:51:07.325-06:00Tuesday Night Cat BloggingElevated cats.

Greg firstname.lastname@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-11282727.post-41156024698300797542016-05-10T08:52:00.000-06:002016-05-10T08:53:27.625-06:00Tuesday Morning LinksThis and that for your Tuesday reading.

- Robert Frank examines how market outcomes are shaped disproportionately by luck rather than significant differences in merit:

(W)ith each extension of the highway, rail, and canal systems, shipping costs fell sharply, and at each step production became more concentrated...It's of course a good thing that their superior offerings are now available to more people. But an inevitable side effect has been that producers with even a slight edge over their rivals went on to capture most of the industry's income.

Therein lies a hint about why chance events have grown more important even as markets have become more competitive. When shipping costs fell dramatically, producers who were once local monopolists serving geographically isolated markets found themselves battling one another for survival. In those battles, even a tiny cost advantage or quality edge could be decisive. Minor random events can easily tip the balance in such competitions— and in the process spell the difference between great wealth and economic failure. So luck is becoming more important in part because the stakes have increased sharply in contests whose outcomes have always hinged partly on chance events.
...

What's also clear is that the economic forces that have been causing the spread and intensification of winner-take-all markets have by no means run their course. We can expect continued growth in the intensity of competition on the buyers' side for the best talent, and on the sellers' side for the top positions.

In his widely discussed 2013 book, Capital in the Twenty-First Century, Thomas Piketty suggested yet another reason for rising inequality, which is the historical tendency for the rate of return on invested capital to exceed the overall growth rate for the economy. When that happens, he argues, wealth continues to concentrate in the hands of those who own the most capital. All things considered, then, it appears prudent to envision a future characterized by continued growth in income and wealth inequality—which is to say, a future in which chance events will become still more important.

Because the enormous prizes at stake in many arenas attract so many contestants, the winners will almost without exception be enormously talented and hardworking. But they will rarely be the most talented and hardworking people in the contestant pool. Even in contests in which luck plays only a minuscule role, winners will almost always be among the luckiest of all contestants.
- Patrick Wintour reports on a new statement from top economists that tax havens serve no useful economic purpose. And Heather Stewart examines James Henry's studying showing that more than $12 trillion in wealth has been extracted from developing countries who can least afford to see their economic production parked offshore.

- Laurie Monsebraaten reports on Kaylie Tiessen's latest study, discussing the growth of Ontario's poverty gap for single people in particular.

- Anjum Soltana and Antu Hossain rightly argue for increased access to sick days and other means of fitting work into a more secure life. And Jared Bernstein comments on the spread of non-compete agreements as a means of suppressing wages.

- Eric Holthaus points out that weather-related crises such as the Fort McMurray fire represent exactly the time to talk about how we're damaging our planet - and what we need to be doing to change course.

- Finally, Nate Cohn examines how Bernie Sanders' campaign - even if it ultimately falls short of the presidential nomination - shows a path to victory in the U.S. for a progressive candidate who doesn't need an alliance with big-money interests.Greg email@example.com