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By Lynda Cortés-Avellaneda, Program Manager, NAMI Multicultural Action Center
It is a sunny mid-September morning in the Washington, D.C. area. The cool air and the smell of my last stash of Colombian coffee transport me back to the Equator. If really high mountains were to pop up in the background, the street were to shrink and traffic were to suddenly jam resulting in massive honking and other anathemas, I would feel right back home in Bogota.
I breathe in. I am back in the States where Latinos like me now constitute 17 percent of the nation's total population. According to the U.S. Census Bureau:
- In 2012, we were 53 million, making people of Hispanic origin the nation's largest ethnic or racial minority.
- While we used to be concentrated in a few areas, Latinos are now the largest minority group in 21 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
- Georgia, South Dakota, Mississippi and Wisconsin experienced the fastest Latino population growth at the county level between 2000 and 2011.
- 12.9 percent of U.S. residents 5 and older speak Spanish at home. This places Spanish as the most spoken non-English language in American homes.
Beyond the all-encompassing figures and language commonality, Latinos are a highly heterogeneous group. We come from different places, we have different backgrounds and we experience migration differently. These factors are critical to understand the complex and variable impact of immigration on an individual's present and future mental health—which is worth examining during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through Oct. 15 and includes Mental Illness Awareness Week, Oct. 6-12.
The experience of the migration process is linked to major adjustment stressors. Pre-migration abuse or disasters (i.e., political persecution, economic hardship, etc.), uncertain legal status and substandard living conditions once in the United States, represent additional strikes on human beings already stressed by having left behind the world they know. For Latino generations born in this country, the story isn't less challenging, but it is different.
I belong to the wave immigrants that fled excruciating socio-political turmoil a decade ago. Without a return date in sight, the excitement of a new beginning soon enough turned into hard work to adjust. The process of acculturation, sadly, was not cited in my passport—trust me, I checked.
Despite having a supportive family undergoing the same process with me, the implications of such a dramatic change had a mental health toll on all of us. The forced separation from a "hyper-extended" family, the challenges intrinsic to adolescence and the frustration of not being able to communicate in a different language were crushing. For a long time, anxiety and depression were professed members of my family.
Acknowledging that something was chronically unbalanced, talking about it and seeking professional help were crucial aspects to regaining and maintaining our mental health. However, we also faced a few additional challenges in the process:
- Stigma—Vulnerability to judgment was a huge burden before grasping that mental illness as any other illness had biological causes and was treatable.
- Unfamiliarity with the health care system. We had to learn about it and make sure mental health services were at least partially covered by our health insurance.
- Scarcity of bilingual and culturally competent specialists.
- Lack of access to bilingual mental health education and continuous networks of support.
Even though Latinos are a resilient and strong community, it is important to understand that mental illness affects everyone. And considering the Hispanic population numbers and projections, more people will face the challenges of living with a mental illness. Luckily, we are not alone. Organizations like NAMI are dedicated to building better lives for those affected by mental illness by offering not only bilingual but culturally competent resources, education and support.
United we can fight stigma!
As proud Latinos who care about the wellness of our community, let's commemorate the National Hispanic Heritage Month by taking action against inaccurate and hurtful representations of mental illness.
- Learn about Latino community mental health and resources.
- Find support for you and your loved ones by joining a free NAMI education class and/or support group near you.
- Be a voice in Compartiendo Esperanza (Sharing Hope).
- Stay informed!


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Tina Fey. Jason Bateman. Jane Fonda. Adam Driver. Rose Byrne. Dax Shepard. Timothy Olyphant. Connie Britton. Kathryn Hahn. Corey Stoll. Talk about your serious star power. That list could well be the roster of celebrities attending an A-list event, but it is, in fact, a list of the stars leading Shawn Levy's upcoming adaptation of Jonathan Tropper's beloved novel, This Is Where I Leave You.
Stars Tina Fey and Jason Bateman, who play two siblings from the Altman clan; a family forced to live together for a week as they sit shiva for their recently deceased father, joined director Shawn Levy and screenwriter Jonathan Tropper for the inaugural event at the first ever BookCon in New York City.
The panel, which lasted the better part of an hour, was moderated by Entertainment Weekly's Anthony Breznican, featured clips from the upcoming film, passages from the novel and plenty of commentary from the assembled panel. It also afforded some interesting insights to both the upcoming film and the process that went into making said film.
A cast known for comedic chops doesn't mean the film will lose the emotion of the book
Tina Fey described the film as an emotional comedy when speaking with panel moderator Anthony Breznican on set. She elaborated on just what that designation meant in her mind.
"I think it's because the in movie, when you see it, and the book, there are moments that are very funny and there are moments...that will move you to tears. I think that is the hallmark of good writing, because real life is never just serious. People cope through humor. I think it's just really a good example of Jonathan's writing and integration of real life and the humor that comes out of these situations."
Director Shawn Levy added that one of his main goals in making this film was to capture the emotions and tone of the text.
"It's about people and the experiences that are relatable, even though they are very specifically screwed up people. I read this book 5, 6 years ago and I loved it instantly. It just felt so fantastically funny and poignant. I wanted the movie to feel that way, I wanted the trailer to communicate that."
Still after hearing Tropper read a passage from the book in which Wendy (Fey) reveals to Judd (Bateman) that their father has died, and then watching the scene (of which tiny snippets can be seen in the trailer) that passage became, Fey voiced the sense that the portrayal she went with didn't mesh with the text, co-star Jason Bateman also chimed in.
TF: "I sort of went into it [shooting] knowing that I know Shawn well and I trust Shawn and we had an agreement like, you just guide this if you want more one way or the other. So listening to the passage I was like, 'God, I played it wrong. She should have been less emotional.'"
JB: "You should have read the book!"
TF: "-I did read the book! But when you're in the scene and you're playing the scene, you're playing the reality of it and maybe in an also craven attempt to have your character be likeable, you let emotion creep in."
For his part, Levy revealed that he never felt the need to push for comedy given the acting caliber of his stars.
"...I mean it's as good as it gets with these two. So, I think the way we approached a lot of these scenes was, we're going to play it honestly and we're going to worry about playing the emotions in an authentic way and just kind of have faith that we would find opportunities for funny. When you have Jason Bateman and Tina Fey you're never far from that. In this movie we never felt we had to push or go looking for the laughs. We kind of trusted that those will come because we all work in comedy enough that we have certain instincts about that. We played it for the reality of the feelings."
Levy and Tropper collaborated extensively on the script to get the right tone
Author and screenwriter Jonathan Tropper fielded a number of questions about adapting his book alongside Levy to create this film. He said that one of their biggest concerns, apart from Levy's desire to remain as faithful as possible to the text was to ensure that all of the dialogue felt right for the actors bringing those words to life.
"Shawn and I would sit there and he'd look at a line and he'd say to me, 'Can you really...Bateman would never say this.' If we couldn't hear Tina or Jason saying it it felt like well, we should get that out. There were lines that felt like they belonged and lines that felt like they didn't belong. So, I would hear Jason's voice, he has a particular sardonic side and Tina has a particular way she delivers wit. At the table read Tina changed one of our lines and it immediately went in the script, but Tina actually emailed an apology… She was like, 'I'm sorry, I hate it when people change lines,' but the way I looked at it is we were getting some free writing from Tina Fey. Whatever happens on the screen, I take credit for it so, it doesn't matter."
This collaborative process also allowed Levy and Tropper to make changes, some larger and other more subtle, to make a piece that they already loved as a novel, as strong as possible as a film. Levy and Fey spoke about one such adjustment (some of which can be seen in the trailer).
SL: "...Watching it [the table read], what struck me and Paul and Jeff, our producers, and Jonathan, was you have this great big sister character in Wendy who is always giving advice to Judd, sometimes condescendingly, sometimes supportively and the movie at this point didn't have a real kind of championing of her brother by Wendy. We just thought that it would feel really good to have Tina as Wendy stand up for her brother and take out Wade. I have to credit, the scene was, as you can tell, very much written, but some of the lines like the middle part line--"
TF: "--Oh yeah, I gave Dax that. I said, if you want to insult me, say I'm too old for a center part."
SL: "You won't find many actors who give an insult of themselves to the other actor to say to them, but that's Tina. As was 'princess cut,' and a number of other things that get said in that scene."
The set of 'This Is Where I Leave You' sounds like an incredibly fun spot
Breznican also shared that during his set visit he was struck by the sense that everyone was having a great time. He even took note of a sign outside one of the bedrooms in the home where the film was shot that read something to the effect of 'Actor's Clubhouse.' The panel shared some memories from the 31-day shoot and the atmosphere that was enjoyed by all.
Though it was true that all of the trailers were a few miles off from the set, Bateman shared that the circumstances were not the only reasons there was such a sense of closeness on the set.
"You kind of hit it on the head that our trailers were really far away [laughs]. I mean no, but we would have all hung out in one trailer had the trailers been a little closer. It was a great thing that Shawn went to Tina first, because Tina is our lead and she sets a tone on set, as does Shawn, that really trickles down. I think people are genuinely nice, for the most part, and if they are working with people who lead with nice, than you feel safe to be nice, and then everything's nice. It was a very smooth operation."
Fey added that the environment also had a positive effect on the work.
It sort of mirrored sitting shiva, it forced us to be together in a way that was good for everyone, I think. By a week into it, Kathryn Hahn and Corey were just napping in the bed together. There just was great camaraderie.
Levy recalled that having Jane Fonda on set was a particularly amusing.
"As you saw in the trailer, in the book Hilary has had a boob job 'cause she's got another book tour coming up. She just wants a touch up... So Jane early on, like the day after I cast Jane she said, 'I want to see the top prosthetician in LA and get really big, fake boobs, so we can shoot this scene where I'm in a robe and go fully open if you want to,' and I chose not to. But, we spent a day with Jane in these breasts that just look completely real. Jonathan just reminded me we'd be sitting at lunch and she'd just be like [flashes everyone] and you don't know where to look. You look at your plate, you look up, because to Jane, she's wearing like a chestplate of clothing. But to us it's like Jane Fonda below the waist, Jane Fonda above the neck and just huge breasts just being flaunted. She'd flash passing by cars, it's true, I'm not making that up."
Levy also noted that he had no problem pitting Fey and Bateman against each other for the good of the movie.
It helps when you give opposite direction to the two actors in the scene. So, I would go to Jason's ear and I would say 'Shut her up.' And I would go to Tina and I would say 'Make him confess. They didn't know what I said to the other, so you have two people working at diametrically opposed agendas. The only note I remember giving was pull his hair hard.
The cast didn't shy away from changing things up for the food of the film either. Levy recalled one great adjustment they made to ensure Adam Driver could be part of the project.
"We offered Adam Driver the movie and he couldn't do it cause he was filming that show ['Girls'], Phillip is a big part, it's well over half the schedule and we tried, it failed. I was told forget Adam Driver, you've gotta move on and find someone else. So, I read 50, 70 different actors in that age range, and it just cemented my certainty that this Adam Driver was something truly singular. So, I asked both Jason and Tina, I said, 'Look, I think there might be a way to get Adam in the movie, but it's going to mean we shoot weekends, we shoot wonky hours, we shoot way out of sequence,' and unhesitatingly they both said, absolutely, do it, because there's no second choice to an actor who's that unique. … It meant seeing our families less and our kids less, but in the end it was worth it because Adam Driver is Phillip."
Suggested Links
- 8 incredible things Amy Poehler said at BookCon
- Lena Dunham talks 'Not That Kind of Girl' at BEA: 'I can't believe it exists'
- Review: Judy Greer makes delightful use of the spotlight in debut book
- Dream casting: Joel Hopkins wants Meryl and Emma in a movie together, we do too
- Interview: Pierce Brosnan on waxing comedic for rom-com caper 'The Love Punch'

subset: commoncrawl


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April 1, 2014
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -
Alabama redshirt junior forward Carl Engstrom has decided to depart the men's basketball program, Crimson Tide head coach Anthony Grant announced on Tuesday. Engstrom, a native of Ystad, Sweden, will pursue professional playing options in Europe.
"It was great to have Carl as part of our team the past four years," Grant said. "He has been a great example as a teammate and student-athlete. We certainly wish him the best of luck as he continues his basketball career."
As a fourth-year junior, Engstrom, who suffered a season-ending knee injury just six games into the 2012-13 campaign, returned to the Alabama lineup this year. He played in 31 of the team's 32 games this season, making 10 starts, and finished with averages of 1.6 points, 2.5 rebounds and 11.8 minutes per game. Nine of his 10 starts came in SEC play.
Engstrom will graduate this May with a degree in general health studies.
"After talking with coach Grant and my family, I decided it was in my best interest to move on," Engstrom said. "I am thankful for my time here at Alabama. It is a great university and I am so happy to earn a degree from here. I also would like to thank my teammates, coaches, staff and all the Bama fans for supporting me during my career."
During his four seasons at the Capstone, Engstrom played in 84 games, making 14 starts. He averaged 1.3 points, 2.0 rebounds and 9.2 minutes per game in his Alabama career.


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The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) today announced the judging panel and submission deadlines for the E3 College Video Game Competition, which aims to identify top game design talent from U.S. academic institutions. The 2014 blue ribbon panel of judges from across the video game industry is:
· Michael D. Gallagher, President and CEO of the ESA;
· Vince Zampella, CEO, Respawn Entertainment;
· Siobhan Reddy, Studio Director, Media Molecule;
· Kate Edwards, Executive Director, International Game Developers Association;
· Brian Crecente, News Editor, Polygon; and,
· Dan Hsu, Editor-in-Chief, GamesBeat.
"Recognizing outstanding academic talent is key to maintaining the positive trajectory of creativity and innovation, and ESA is proud to place a spotlight on these student-developers at E3," said Rich Taylor, senior vice president of communications and industry affairs at the ESA. "This is an incredible panel of judges who bring years of experience from a variety of fields, and we are grateful for their support."
The competition is aimed towards colleges and universities with computer and video game development programs. Each higher education institution will submit one game representing their college or university, and finalists will receive a special showcase display and related opportunities at this year's E3, the world's premier trade show for computer and video games.
The competition will target almost 400 U.S. colleges, universities, art and trade schools offering video game courses, certificates and degree programs. Last year's competition ended with a tie between the University of Wisconsin-Stout's Flash Frozen and Savannah College of Art and Design's Lost in Thought.
Competing schools are required to submit story details and content assets from their own playable video game, which will be judged by a specially selected panel of game industry veterans and media professionals.
Five competition finalists will be offered the opportunity to present their games at the Los Angeles-based E3 show where they can also mingle with top game industry figures including publishers, developers, venture capital and marketing executives.
Important competition dates:
· Final deadline for submissions is April 18, 2013.
· Finalists will be notified on May 9, 2013.
· The winner will be announced during E3.
ESA will provide complete instructions to participating schools including guidelines on specific design, concept and key asset requirements. Universities and colleges interested in submitting a game for competition should email firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Memorex Cd Label Maker: If you want to download the Memorex CD label software then you are at the right place. Click here for free Download.
Memorex Cd Label Maker Downlaod
In today's marketing history, Memorex has gained much fame and also is recognized as one of the leading consumer brands. It has its businesses in the optical media and is known to be the best company in consumers industry. This will be used in many of the homes where there will be home audio and video products, MP3 Players etc. By using this software the user can design professional labels on to the CD's, storage cases, IPODS etc.
Memorex Cd Label Maker Key Features:
1. Operating System: This software supports the Windows OS i.e. 98Software Edition, Millennium Edition, 2000 or XP.
2. RAM: For the installation of this software the minimum RAM that should be present is 64MB.
3. Disk Space: The minimum disk space that should be available is 64MB which should be free space.
4. Browser: The internet browser that it supports is Internet Explorer 5.0 or higher.
5. Media Player: The recommended media player that should be present is Windows Media Player 9 or higher.
6. Resolution: This software best works for the minimum resolution of 800X600 and also supports the higher resolution.
Highlights Of Memorex Cd Label Maker Software:
- Registration: If the user registers for the software then all the important information regarding the update of software will be given.
- Creating a Label: With this software the user can create the new labels by choosing the option New CD Label wizard. There will be label templates for CD's, DVD's, and IPODS etc.
- Design Templates: Once the device for which the label has to be done is chosen, the user can select one of the design templates that are present in the software.
- Background: The background of the design template can be chosen from the option Browse Backgrounds and the user can choose from over 1500 backgrounds present.
- Printer Calibration: This Memorex CD label software has the option print calibration tool that helps the user to get the designs perfectly printed on the label sheet.
- Support: The Memorex Company provides both kinds of supports i.e. through phone or through websites. The users can choose the suitable option that chooses the best.
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Memorex Cd Label Maker Installation Guide:
Installation: During the installation of the software the user can view the installation guide for any doubts so that they will be cleared.
Memorex Cd Label Maker Installation Steps:
1. The corresponding link for the download of the software has to be opened and also the currently running programs have to be closed.
2. Then the software can be downloaded from that link by selecting the download option.
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4. Once the software will be opened the user has to accept the terms and conditions check box.
5. Then the installation of the software begins by clicking next whenever prompted.
6. Finally the software installation will be finished when the user will click finish button when prompted on the screen.


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Eligible transfer applicants must have a minimum of 30 credit hours completed with a grade of C or higher and must include at least one semester of a laboratory chemistry class with a component of organic and biochemistry (equivalent to UVM's CHEM 26). The remaining credits may come from a combination of the following classes:
*Only students matriculating in majors which require ANPS and MMG are eligible to enroll in the UVM courses.
Learn more about these courses in the official UVM Catalogue


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Whether you are looking for a great first helmet, or you want something rugged but don't want to pay for an expensive composite shell, then the Benny is just right for you.
It's high impact ABS shell will take a beating but won't break the bank. With easy to change liners, you can replace or re-size in a matter of minutes. The Benny was completely designed for Skydiving, so why settle for anything else.
Benny Design Features


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A misplaced storage device could lead to the leaking of a few embarrassing photos for some, while for those dealing in confidential information there might be a whole lot more at stake. Enter these self-destructing hard drives from London-based data security specialists SecureDrives, which appear ordinary storage devices on the surface but are capable of destroying onboard data when triggered by a simple SMS message. Read More
When it comes to backing up your files, there are generally two approaches ... you can put them on a physical device such as a hard drive, or you can upload them to the cloud. Hard drives can be lost or destroyed, however, while cloud-based services usually charge monthly fees for larger amounts of data – plus, not everyone feels comfortable trusting their files to faceless corporations. Well, that's where the Transporter comes in. It allows you to store your files off-site, on the hard drives of people whom you know and trust.Read More
Crypteks is bringing out our inner Robert Langdon with the new physically lockable USB flash drive. Featuring a sleek all-metal solid-aluminum alloy construction, the Crypteks USB storage is physically locked inside its housing encrypted with a user-created password that is input by twisting five rings displaying all 26 letters of the alphabet. And if that's still not secure enough, it also offers 256-bit AES Hardware Encryption. Read More
There are plenty of situations in which it's convenient for people to be able to receive sensitive data on their smartphones – one example could be a nurse at a clinic, who needs a doctor's office to email over a patient's immunization records. The problem is, those confidential records will still be on her phone, when she leaves work with it at the end of the day. A new system developed at Virginia Tech, however, offers a solution to that problem. It allows mobile phones to access certain data only when they're in a given physical location, and wipes that data from their memories when they leave.Read More
For the last few years, data security breaches by those who are supposed to safeguard our personal data have never been far from the front pages of the popular press. Incredibly, on numerous occasions employees entrusted with sensitive data have been exposed circumventing strict security procedures put in place to keep our personal information confidential. Now, Kingston has launched a new Flash drive storage solution which offers ease-of-use functionality to users and allows security to be managed centrally by employers.Read More
The fact that Solid State Drives (SSD) offer significantly better performance over hard disk drives is now well established. They're faster, require less power to run and – as they contain no moving parts – offer a more rugged storage solution. At the moment, though, HDD solutions are much cheaper and can store more data on a single device ... but the gaps are closing. Intel has now upped the available storage capacity on its new third generation SSD 320 Series to a spacious 600GB, and has managed to lower the cost by 30 percent.Read More
With so many of our pictures, videos and documents now stored in digital format, the prospect of precious data disappearing forever in the misstep of a HDD read/write head or infection from a nasty virus is even more catastrophic. About a week ago it was proposed on social networking site Reddit that a World Back-up Day would be a good idea to remind everyone of the importance of backing up irreplaceable data. The date of March 31st was chosen and, although that didn't leave much time to spread the word, the idea quickly gained traction. Read More
Verbatim showed off a new family of secure storage products at the London Infosecurity Show this week which will bring an indelible smile to the face of every Corporate IT manager. The 'Secure 'n' Go' range includes premium AES 256bit (Advanced Encryption Standard) hardware-encrypted USB drives, SSD ExpressCards, Solid State Drives and DVDs. In addition to the hardware security encryption and integrated password protection on an SSD ExpressCard or USB drive, the user can control the device via the internet and lock, unlock or erase all data if the drive is lost or stolen. The new Verbatim Control System (VCS) also offers the ability to lock, unlock or erase the drives of any user remotely from corporate headquarters, and can also audit, trace and view logs of any corporate Flash drive usage. The 'Secure 'n' Go' family hits stores next month.Read More
LaCie's new 4big Quadra is a four-bay, hot-swappable RAID data back-up solution that offers burst transfer rates of 200-230MB/s and up to 6TB (6000GB) capacity as a compact stand-alone unit - which can be scaled up to 24TB by linking four units together - along with the promise of energy efficient and quiet operation.Read More
In order to bring both security and longevity to data storage, SanDisk has announced the SDTM WORM (Write Once Read Many) Card, a digital memory drive that preserves important data for up to 100 years, and prohibits alteration or deletion. 128-megabyte SD WORM cards are currently available, with the capacity expected to increase with time. Read More
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After years of standing in her sister's shadow, Tamar Braxton has finally claimed the spotlight for herself thanks to her hit CD, Love and War, and three successful television shows ("Braxton Family Values," "Tamar & Vince" and "The Real"). However, it wasn't until Braxton was nominated for three Grammys at the 2014 Grammy Awards that the rising R&B diva felt like she was finally making a name for herself and no longer being seen as just "Toni Braxton's sister."
"It is what it is," Braxton stated during a recent phone call. "When I received three Grammy nominations, though, for work I did on my own—work that I did for me and no one else—I think that really solidified me as an artist."
Bringing her solo tour to the House of Blues inside Mandalay Bay on June 20, Braxton returns to a city she's become all too familiar with since her sister Toni headlined her own show at Flamingo Las Vegas.
"I'm so excited," Braxton told Examiner. "The show is a lot of fun. There's just so much energy. People are dancing and having a great time, and when I sing 'Prettiest Girl,' they're singing the entire song. That really surprised me."
Considering Braxton sang backup at some of her sister's shows, it was only natural to ask the R&B beauty what some of her favorite Vegas restaurants were.
"I love Mastro's [Ocean Club] and Andrea's," Braxton said. "I also love Prime Steakhouse and Fix at Bellagio. The seafood tower at Prime was the best I've ever had; it's amazing. So are the chicken lollipops and fried mac & cheese at Fix."
Despite her svelte figure, Braxton admitted that she loves "anything carb-related" and has a bit of a sweet tooth.
"I'm a Southern girl," she stated. "I try to watch what I eat but it's hard. Whenever I go out to eat I splurge. You're under enough pressure during the day at work—when you're going out with some friends at night, just eat and have fun."
As someone who eats out "all the time," one may wonder if Braxton's recent success gets in the way of her enjoying a nice meal out with friends and family. Braxton said that her fans are never a pet peeve, though, although waiters who disappear and don't come back for a while are.
While that's something everyone can relate to, Braxton is getting accustomed to having all eyes on her with two reality television shows documenting her every move. When asked if she ever expected to be a TV star, Braxton humbly replied, "No, not at all," although she said she's always been a huge fan of television.
"I'm a big fan of reality shows, in particular," Braxton noted. "'Big Brother' is my favorite show. I look forward to that every summer. I've also always loved talk shows. I remember watching 'Donahue' and 'Oprah' and 'Sally Jessy Raphael' with my mom. I always wanted to host a talk show of my own, so when the opportunity came, I took it."
Braxton is currently preparing for the nationwide launch of her syndicated, one-hour daily talk show, "The Real," which is set to premiere nationwide on Fox television stations this fall as well as in a second window on BET. Of course, fans of the popular singer/TV personality can't wait for the new seasons of her hit WE tv reality shows "Tamar & Vince" and "Braxton Family Values" to debut as well.
"A lot came out this past season on 'Braxton Family Values,'" Braxton stated, "and fans will soon find out why everyone acted the way they did." (The series returns this August.)
Braxton assured fans that, despite the fact she recently became a mother, nothing will really be off limits for either show.
"We all live very open lives," she said. "This is the first time I've played this role (of mother), and it will be interesting to see how everything works out. Logan (Braxton's son) is actually on the road with me right now! But that's what viewers love about us—we're just so honest. Nothing is scripted, although sometimes I wish things were. We're all just human. We deal with real sisterhood and women issues, and I think people see a reflection of themselves or someone they know in at least one of us."
In addition to shooting the upcoming seasons of both reality shows, Braxton's been busy working on her forthcoming album.
"I'm very excited about the music," she said. "It's very mature and fun. It's definitely an extension of Love and War."
When asked if she considers herself more of a lover or a fighter, the "Love and War" singer said she thinks she's definitely more of a spitfire.
"I'm the type of girl who says how she feels, then will hug and kiss you," she said. "So I'm a spitfire who creates love."
As for whether or not Braxton would ever consider following in her sister's footsteps and doing a Las Vegas residency of her own, she admitted that it is something she has thought of—"down the line."
"I only have one hit record out now, though," she laughed. "But it's definitely a life-long dream of mine. That's something that signifies when you've become a real superstar. I mean, Toni sold out almost every night—that was just amazing to watch."
For now, fans can catch Braxton performing in Las Vegas when she brings her Love and War Tour to the House of Blues. Doors open at 8 p.m. with the concert starting at 9 p.m. Tickets range from $23.50-$35.50, plus taxes and fees. For more information or to purchase your tickets, click here.
For more on Tamar Braxton, visit her official website.


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Where is that Tuscan Sun??Siena, Spring 2009
Where is that Tuscan Sun? Under those Tuscan clouds. Behind that Tuscan rain. I've been in Siena for over three weeks, and I've seen the legendary Tuscan sun once! Yes, many people write about the extravagant beauty of the Tuscan sun, but no one writes about the dreary "pioggia" that steadily bombards this charming little region during the winter months.
But haven't we all heard the saying, "If you want the rainbow, you have to put up with the rain?" My rainbow (the beautiful green, rolling hills outside of my bedroom window) is worth a little bit of rain. Though my fifteen minute walk to school has been slightly "dampened" by the rain, Italy is still as enchanting as it could be.
This past weekend, our entire program went on an IES Cultural Trip to Milan. I had an amazing time-- getting to know the people in my program more, exploring a new area of Italy, and (surprise) eating the food!! I think I tried the best Tiramisu yet; but then again, it seems like my favorite Tiramisu is just the last one I ate! The gnocci (my new discovery) and chocolate and tiramisu gelato are just two reasons why I love Italy, but they alone are enough to make me fall in love with this incredible country. In Milan, my favorite sites were the Duomo (the second-largest Gothic church), La Scala (the most prestigious Opera House in the world) and Leonardo da Vinci's Last Supper. I've seen many famous paintings, but this one stood out most to me. It was such a surreal feeling: standing in the room, examining the world-famous, much debated painting. Milanese culture is very distinctive, and the past mixed with the top fashion couture of the moment is such an extraordinary combination.
I started my "real" classes this week and I am really happy with the way they are turning out. My Italian language classes continue, but instead of three hours each day, we are now meeting only two hours, three days a week. Amanda, the IES Siena director, teaches two of my four classes. She teaches the required course, Presence of the Past, which is all about the history of Siena, complete with weekly Field Study. I am also in her Grand Tour of Tuscany Literature class, which also has a weekly Field Study. Amanda has been so helpful as our Director, and I'm very excited to enter a classroom setting conducted by her lively personality. Today, in my History of the Black Plague class, we watched several videos of the famous Palio. The vivid excitement portrayed through the video only deepened my desire to return to Siena for the Palio one July or August.
Life in Siena just keeps getting better. I feel like I'm just blending right in, until, before I even open my mouth, the man behind the counter talks to me in perfect English. On the way home from school today, the bus driver not only recognized me, but remembered what stop was mine-- I pressed the button to get off a stop too early and he knew to go on to the next stop! I've started settling into a routine and, once the rain stops, I plan to start running a trail that I found while walking with my two host sisters. The view from my window is only the beginning of the gorgeous countryside I'm living in! While a part of me feels like I've been here for years, mostly I'm so distraught at the fact that one-fourth of my time in Siena has already passed. My stress these days amounts to crossing places that I really want to visit off of my list and making agonizing decisions of "must visit," "go if I have time," and "really want to visit, but I want to visit there more." I know, tough life.
In two weeks, I will travel to Naples with a few friends from IES. While there, we will visit Pompeii and the Almalfi Coast. Here's the twist: we're leaving Siena at 12 AM Friday night and arriving in Naples at 5 AM. After spending a day in Pompeii and a day at the Almalfi Coast, we will then board a bus at 12 AM Sunday night and arrive in Siena at 5 AM Monday morning—just in time for class at 9 AM!! If that's not enough adventure for you, don't worry, because I have more. Tomorrow night, I'm going with my host sister, Laura, and all of her Italian friends to dinner and a discoteca... I bet you can hardly wait to read my next blog!
The slow-paced Italian rhythm of life (except for that whirlwind trip to Naples) is much more contagious than I thought it would be, and I continue to love every minute I spend here. The only thing missing is that crazy sun!
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4 Comments
Be careful in Pompeii. There's said to be a volcano somewhere nearby. You'll need to plan your sleep schedule with great care, too. We've looked up recipes for tiramisu but haven't been brave enough to try to concoct any. You'll have to fix some for us when you get home. Enjoy!
Just found your blog today and enjoyed reading about your adventures. Certainly hope you've seen the Tuscan Sun by now. Think of you often
Just stumbled on your blog today. I just moved to Siena as well, and luckily it's been sunny lately… no? Hope you have a great time!


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Workmen (Power Plant )
Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd.
Address: Mangalore Refinery & Petrochemicals Limited, Post Kuthethoor
Postal Code: 575030
City Mangalore
State Karnataka
Pay Scale: Rs. 11900- 32000
Educational Requirements: B.Sc with Physics, Chemistry & Mathematics.
Qualifications: Diploma in Electrical Engineering With Minimum 02 years relevant plant operation experience in Captive Power plant (5.0 MW and above) and Utilities associated with continuous Process Plants.
Experience Requirements: Operation of Electrical Switchyard/EDG sets/HT/LT switch gears & auxiliary electrical systems related to Power Plant.
Details will be available at: http://www.mrpl.co.in/sites/default/files/Web%20advert%2048-2013_final.pdf
No of Post: 11 Posts
How To Apply: Candidates are requested to read the instructions and ensure correctness of the data before applying. Candidates should submit their application in the enclosed format, enclosing attested copies of all relevant certificates in support of qualification(year/semester wise), age, caste, experience, copy of challan(amount paid and endorsed by bank) etc, along with recent passport size photograph and super scribing the envelope with the position applied for within the last date for receipt of applications by post / courier to the General Manager (HRD&CSR).
Last Date: 10/08/2013.
Age Limit: 30 Years
For more Government Jobs visit Sarkari Naukri
The post Sarkari Naukri For Workmen (Power Plant) In Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. – Karnataka appeared first on Sarkari Naukri.


text:
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from CorActive High-Tech, Inc.
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The 125 µm single-mode core of this polarization-maintaining fiber is co-doped with both erbium and ytterbium. It is then surrounded by a silica cladding and covered with a low-index protective coating. The resulting double-clad fiber is used for single-mode fiber lasers and amplifiers operating in... [See More]
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TC TO J. E. MARTIN; 25 August 1854; DOI: 10.1215/lt-18540825-TC-JEM-01; CL 29: 139
5. Cheyne Row, Chelsea / 25 Augt, 1854—
Dear Sir,
Yesterday morning Lord Goderich, from whom came the enclosed little Document, informed me Lord De Grey had been kind enough to write to you about Sir Thomas Robinson's Papers, on my behalf.1
Tho' the Papers in question touch only, as it were, on a corner of my present pursuits, and I cannot expect to get very much light out of them for myself, yet I shall be glad of what there is; and certainly, on quite general grounds, they are an object of historical interest, and ought to be at least examined, sorted, and carefully reposited, for their own sake.
I shall be much obliged if, when you have had time to examine the matter, you will let me know what success you have had; and appoint me a meeting to consult farther what is to be done.
I remain / Yours very sincerely
T. Carlyle


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Home » Unlabelled » ..and with the 25th pick...
Saturday, April 25, 2009
..and with the 25th pick...
Posted by David Kennedy
The Dolphins do *not* address their need at wideout. No surprise there, since Parcells never does.
Instead they get a corner in Vontae Davis.
Now Davis is interesting in that he's big and physical AND he scored a 33 on the Wonderlic testing, showing that he is one of the smartest players available in this year's draft.
And for that reason, we think its a great pick.
Here's a sample Wonderlic we posted a few seasons ago.
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text:
Find a dealer or distributor near you.
Eagle Industries is a world leader in the production of top-quality equipment systems for military personnel, law enforcement professionals, and first responders. For over 30 years, Eagle has emerged as one of the most trusted names in individual equipment and continues to set the standard in designing and manufacturing highly technical and crucial mission-readiness gear.
Quality is placed as the top priority at Eagle. Only the finest materials and hardware available are used and combined with the strongest and most unique stitch patterns throughout the production process. Eagle's "will not fail" policy drives the company to produce a wide assortment of durable, combat-proven products, including tactical vests, holsters, gear bags, packs, weapon cases, and weapon slings.
Eagle Industries offers many advantages for OEM.


text:
Why it doesn't justify a market collapse
Being poor is expensive
Join the NASDAQ Community today and get free, instant access to portfolios, stock ratings, real-time alerts, and more!
Expeditors International of Washington, Inc. (
) has announced an ex-dividend date of November 29, 2012 and a cash
dividend payment of $0.28 per share scheduled for December 17,
2012. Shareholders who purchased EXPD stock prior to the
ex-dividend date are eligible for the cash dividend payment. This
represents an 12% increase over the same quarter a year ago. At the
current stock price of $37.24, the dividend yield is 1.5%.
The previous trading day's last sale of EXPD was $37.24,
representing a -21.57% decrease from the 52 week high of $47.48 and
a 8.89% increase over the 52 week low of $34.20.
EXPD is a part of the Transportation sector, which includes
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The top-performing ETF of this group is WMW with an increase of
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Nearly Half of Iowa Republicans Say President Obama Wasn't Born in the United States
Forty-eight percent!
The latest PPP poll shows 48 percent of registered Republicans in Iowa saying Obama was not born in the U.S. and 26 percent saying they couldn't be sure. But before you thank Donald Trump for his contribution to American politics, that percentage is actually less than the national average for typical Republican primary voters. An earlier PPP poll from February showed that 51 percent of Republicans thought he was born outside the U.S. In today's poll, only 19 percent of birthers said they supported Trump, where 25 percent chose to back someone who will actually be running: Mike Huckabee. [TPM]


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I love cricket. I come from a long line of cricket-lovers and married into a line of cricket tragics.
I had a relative who was part of an Ashes tour in England under the great Sir Donald Bradman, although as the reserve wicket-keeper, he didn't get to play a Test. I had an in-law who umpired Sheffield Shield matches and practically lived for the game. My Son gained entry to his high school through a specialist cricket program. My Husband played every summer until I got sick of washing his whites. I even worked with a guy who won the Bradman Medal (okay, I admit that's a tenuous connection).
I watch cricket when it's on TV. I've seen every form of the game - from Tests, One-Dayers and Twenty20 to schoolkids, district and local turf cricket - and am equally happy with any of them. Well, mostly. Okay, sometimes I read a book instead. But I cry whenever an Aussie batsman makes a century. I cry when a favourite retires (I may have sobbed for days when Steve Waugh packed away the baggy green, but maybe that's because I wasn't as keen on Ricky Ponting). I cried when South Australia won the Sheffield Shield. I cry when one of the greats passes away (especially Hookesy).
So when someone from the South Australian Cricket Association calls, I listen.
Would I like to come to all of the Adelaide Strikers home games at Adelaide Oval (the most beautiful cricket oval in the world, some say) during the Twenty20 Big Bash League season as a sort of social media ambassador, get media accreditation, access all areas, sit in the air-conditioned press box (now AKA Twitterpit), help myself to food and drinks, wear a Strikers shirt, and tweet about the game, the atmosphere, the crowds, whatever I want??
Hell. Yes.
Actually, wait. It was more of a HELL. YES.
Unfortunately, thanks to a horrible virus which knocked me for six for a couple of weeks, I missed the first home game, but have made the most of my opportunity since then.
Sunday, December 23rd, 42 degrees Celsius
Adelaide Strikers v Sydney Sixers
A win for the Strikers
I thought I was going to faint just on the way to the game thanks to the heat, but stayed conscious by repeating the mantra "air-conditioned press box, air-conditioned press box..."
|The crowds are greeted at the gates by these clever stilt-walkers at
every home game. If I felt hot, imagine how much they were sweltering
under their costumes and make-up..... Bravo.
|Lots of freebies were given out at the gates, including wigs,
sweatbands and inflatable thunder sticks. I must add that I
love our team colours, they really stand out in the crowd.
|My view from the press box
|The Adelaide Strikers warming up before the game. Really, they could
have just stood there, it was still 42 degrees.
By the way, you may notice that more than half of Adelaide Oval is under construction at the moment, severely limiting crowd numbers, but I'm sure once the oval is fully open for business again, the crowds will be at capacity. If you build it, they will come.
|Part of the crowd in front of the old heritage-listed scoreboard
|As darkness encroached and a cool change swept across the oval (it
dropped down to 39.8 degrees C), the lights took over
|It was such a hot night, I kept saying that I didn't really want to eat
anything except maybe some cold, fresh fruit. If you wish it,
it will come.
|The Members' hospitality area
Husband asked "Are you going to come up to the Members' Stand to sit with us for a while?"
Me "Air-conditioned press box..."
|Kristy and Henry, a couple of my companions in the Twitterpit
|Yes, I even watched the game, which we won
Thursday December 27th, a much more pleasant 26 degrees Celsius
Adelaide Strikers v Melbourne Stars
A very close loss
I was devastated that one of the biggest drawcards for the Stars, Shane Warne, had chosen to skip the country and be with his fiancee Liz Hurley instead of playing this game. I had all my best Botox and hair transplant jokes ready to tweet. Shattered, I'm telling you.
|My shirt and my pass, ready to rocknroll
|My view again. I think I even sat in the same chair.
|Some of the early action, as the Stars got off to a cracking start
|Was great to see lots of bums on seats up in the Members' Stand
|The press box, AKA the Twitterpit
|Happy tweeter. Two of my tweets appeared on the
big screen at the oval. Oh, and they gave us
another fruit platter.
|Even cranes and construction work look beautiful at Adelaide Oval
under lights and a pink and purple sky
|The moon on a stick...no, it's just a light tower
|The Twitterpit got tense as the game got tight.
Kristy still managed a grin.
|Sadly, we had a loss, but the boys were still rocking their
blue afros on the way home
|Kieron 'Polly' Pollard
And if you haven't seen the two cricketers who were momentarily deafened and almost crapped themselves when fireworks went off near them, check out the video.
As somebody tweeted, "If you can't beat em, kill em with fireworks".
Our next home game is on January 10th against the Perth Scorchers, and I'll be there again, tweeting and cheering. If you're in Adelaide, get there! If you're not in Adelaide but have Foxtel, watch it!
If you're not in Adelaide and don't have Foxtel but have Twitter, follow my tweets! (all with #BBL02 and #strikeforce hashtags)
If you're not in Adelaide and don't have Foxtel and don't have Twitter.... sigh. Poor you.
And if you're American, you have probably not understood a word about this cricket stuff....
Thanks to Jenny from SACA and Michelle, my favourite social media consultant


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Telltale Games' game adaption of the immensely successful The Walking Dead series has come to a close with Season 1, but now we're hearing about Season 2 of The Walking Dead game, which will be coming out in Fall of this year.
Fans won't need to be too worried, as we're still pumping through episodes of The Walking Dead's third season on TV which should keep fans at bay for now. Studio co-founder, Dan Connors, has said:
We're aiming for fall of this year. That's a pretty long time, but it's not all doom and gloom. Walking Dead writer Gary Whitta revealed recently that "there may very well be more Walking Dead from Telltale before season two. We may have a little something extra for you between season one and two. 'll probably have something to announce fairly soon about what we're going to do. It'll be different.


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It's your first day as a member of Eagle's Nest Country Club. You walk from the clubhouse, on a high plateau over Dulaney Valley, out to a striking view of pitched greens and glass-top lakes. Someone you've never met walks up, enjoys the setting with you for a moment and offers his hand in introduction... It's the end of your first round of golf with new partners. You wind down with a drink after tackling the challenging course. Someone you've never met steps up and says, "What did you hit to the green on 18? It was a great shot..." You're only a stranger for a day here. That's why we say Eagle's Nest is Where You Belong.
These moments are commonplace. At first there are a lot of people you don't know. But on the courts, on the links, around the pool and in the clubhouse, the camaraderie changes all of that. You'll read on about the gorgeous views, the meticulously cared-for greens, the top-notch tennis courts and the pool that has a backyard feel. But we're most proud, after all, of the simple handshake that brings you into our circle. You'll feel that handshake many times in your first few days. And before long, you'll pass it on. Whatever your interests – golf, tennis, pool, social activities or a combination of all – there's a membership plan that's just right for you and your family. Click here to visit our membership page for more information.
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Get to know Eagle's Nest and our welcoming community of staff and members, and contact us with any questions. We look forward to meeting you.


text:
2 found dead inside Newport home
NEWPORT, Ky. -- Officers performing a well-being check at a Northern Kentucky home found the bodies of two people who died from "suspicious" causes.
The bodies of a man and a woman were located at about 4:30 p.m. inside an apartment in the 900 block of Roberts Street in Newport.
Officers said they responded to the home after receiving a call from a concerned neighbor. That person said the residents of the apartment hadn't been seen in more than a day.
The names of the deceased weren't released, but neighbors told WCPO they're both about 40 years old. The nature of their relationship isn't clear.
Police said they're treating the matter as a suspicious death investigation. But they haven't indicated what may have caused the deaths.


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Polanyi's Paradox Revisited: A Proposal for Reconceptualizing Capital Accumulation
By Richard H. Robbins
State University of New York at Plattsburgh, Plattsburgh, New York
Our thesis is that the idea of a self-adjusting market implied a stark utopia. Such an institution could not exist for any length of time without annihilating the human and natural substance of society; it would have physically destroyed man and transformed his surroundings into a wilderness. Inevitably, society took measures to protect itself, but whatever measures it took impaired the self-regulation of the market, disorganized industrial life, and thus endangered society in yet another way. It was this dilemma which forced the development of the market system into a definite groove and finally disrupted the social organization based upon it
--Karl Polyani, The Great Transformation (1944)
In The Great Transformation, Karl Polanyi posed what he considered the major paradox of the past 200 years. How is it possible to maintain the dynamism of the market on which our society is based without destroying, as he put it, "the human and natural substance of society?"
The nineteenth century, Polanyi suggests, was dominated by attempts to protect society against the ravages of the market (1957:40), and a creed that, as he put it, "was utterly materialistic and believed that all human problems could be resolved given an unlimited amount of material commodities (Polanyi 1957:40).
The idea that trade is the source of all well-being and that economic growth can solve virtually every problem from hunger and poverty to environmental devastation remains the bedrock of the culture of capitalism (see Robbins 2005a). Nineteenth century social and economic theorists, ranging from Auguste Comte, Herbert Spencer, and Karl Marx, while disagreeing on the processes, all postulated the ultimate emergence of an industrial society in which life's necessities would be supplied to all. In spite of the optimism, however, the nineteenth century was, according to Polanyi, characterized by societies taking action to protect itself from the ravages of the market. The story of the twentieth century, however, might aptly be called the revenge of the market," as nation-states frantically implement policies to maintain economic growth and remove barriers that might hinder the operation and global expansion of the market. Under pressure from multilateral institutions such as the World Bank, IMF, and WTO to whom nation-states have largely ceded their economic sovereignty, governments have systematically downsized wealth redistribution programs, state-supported education, public health programs, environmental safeguards, labor unions, and adopted a host of other neo-liberal economic policies that are explicitly designed to aid the growth and vitality of the market. Accompanying this growth, however, has come unprecedented global poverty, inequality, environmental destruction, social protest, conflict and other problems reminiscent of those of the worst of the nineteenth century (Robbins 2005a).
The question I want to explore is how can anthropologists and economists, working together, understand the global expansion of the market and its consequences, and how can we address Polanyi's paradox? That is, is it possible to maintain the dynamism of the market on which societies now depend without destroying, as Polanyi put it, "the human and natural substance of society"? To explore this question I will examine, first, how the language of economic growth obscures the manner that growth is achieved, and, second, propose an alternative way of understanding the process of capital accumulation that highlights the problems of the market that Polanyi described.
The Nature of Economic Growth
Addressing the paradox requires first recognizing that prime directive of our market society and the global economy in general is maintaining continual capital accumulation, creating what Ernest Gellner (1983: 24) called a "society of perpetual growth." For our economy (and indeed our society) to function we must produce and consume more this year than last and more next year than this in perpetuity. Failure to do so will result in political, economic and social upheaval.
In spite of occasional economic downturns, the remarkable feature of the past two centuries is the extent to which world markets have sustained economic growth. As Angus Maddisen ( 2003) has documented (see Chart 1), while economic growth by regions has varied considerably over the past two centuries, overall, in dollar terms, the wealth of every person on earth has increased 13 times; in Western Europe it has increased 40 times, and in Western offshoots (e.g. U.S. and Australia) some 65 times. The greatest increase in the world economy occurred from 1950 to 1973 when the global GDP almost doubled, growing at a rate of 5% a year. While these gains are impressive, it is important to note that even small increments in the growth rate can have significant effects. For example, had the annual economic growth rate of the United States from 1870 to 2000 been 1% less than it actually was (0.8% as opposed to 1.8%) the per capita GDP would be $9450 (about that of Mexico or Poland), instead of $33,330. If it has been 1% higher (2.8%, approximately that of Japan from 1890 to 1990), per capita GDP would be $127,000.
Chart 1. Rate of Per Capita GDP Growth from 0-1998 A.D. by Regions
Data from Maddison 2003.
To appreciate the effects of perpetual growth, if, in the year 2005, an individual was earning or spending $30,000 or a company was earning $300,000,000, with a modest growth rate of three percent and no inflation, they would have to more than double their income and spending in 25 years. At a more desirable six percent growth rate, or three percent growth rate with a three percent inflation rate, their spending or income would have to more than quadruple (See Table 1).
Table 1: Individual and Corporate Income Growth Over 25 Years with Growth Rates of 3% and 6%
Required Income Growth at 3%
(with 0 inflation)
Required Income Growth at 6%
(with 0 inflation)
Income Growth at 3% and Inflation at 3%
For economists, of course, the growth of GDP is the most important indicator of national economic health and has been ever since 1932, when the United States Commerce Department asked a young economist by the name of Simon Kuznets to develop a uniform way of representing national accounts (see Cobb et al 1995). Kuznets's efforts gave birth to what was to become the GDP and since then economic progress has been measured in terms of how much money people spend. Harvard economist Benjamin Freedman in his recent book The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth, (2005: 4) goes as far as suggesting that economic growth reflects, not only progress, but a society's moral state as well. Economic growth, he says, promotes such moral characteristics as social tolerance, social mobility, commitment to fairness, and dedication to democracy.
Because of its importance for our economic and social well-being, economic growth is a central topic in economic theory and research. Robert Barro along with his colleague Xavier Sala-i-Martin have probably done the most extensive work on determinants of economic growth. Barro (1997: xi), comparing high growth with low growth economies, concludes that the most important factors are: (1) starting level of GDP; (2) higher education levels; (3) lower fertility; (4) lower government consumption; (5) better maintenance of the rule of law; (6) lower inflation, and (7) improvements in the terms of trade
In the latest edition of their text on economic growth, Barro and Sala-i-Martin (2004) test 67 factors that may or may not contribute to or inhibit economic growth. Of those examined, 21 show at least some correlation to growth (see Table 1).
Table 2. Factors Contributing to or Inhibiting Economic Growth in Order of Importance
East Asian
Fraction of GDP in mining (positive)
Primary school enrollment in 1960.[1]
Former Spanish colony (negative)
The average price of investment goods between 1960 and 64
Years Open
The initial level of GDP growth
Fraction Muslim
Tropical country (negatively correlated)
Fraction Buddhist
Density of population in costal areas (positive)
Index of ethnolinguistic fractionalization (negative)
Prevalence of Malaria (negative)
Amount of government consumption (negative)
Life expectancy in 1960
Overall density in 1960
Fraction Confucian
real exchange ate distortions (negative)
Sub-Saharan Africa (negative)
Fraction of population speaking a foreign language (positive).
Latin America (negative) [2]
Data from Barro, Robert J. and Xavier Sala-i-Martin. 2004. Economic Growth. Cambridge: The MIT Press, pp 556-558
Yet, in spite of their research and in spite of the centrality of perpetual capital accumulation to our society, economists, such as Robert Barro conclude that determinants of economic growth "remain one of economics' biggest mysteries." (Barro: 1997:3)
Demystifying Capital Accumulation
I want to propose that one of the reasons that determinants of so-called economic growth remain mysterious, is that the language of capital accumulation used by economists tends to ignore, obscure or mask social, political, and cultural factors that are central to process of economic expansion. Let me give four examples.
(1) Barriers to Capital Accumulation Instead of 'Determinants of Growth'
First, instead of talking about "determinants of growth," it might be useful if we focused, instead, on "barriers to capital accumulation." By focusing on so-called "determinants," economists mask the fact that the market requires for its successful operation the dismantling of social, political and cultural institutions. Thus barriers to capital accumulation may consist of cultural beliefs, social institutions, patterns of social relations, political arrangements, patterns of economic behavior, and physical limitations that, while serving positive non-economic functions nevertheless to inhibit capital accumulation. For example, a basic barrier to capital accumulation is a non-market system of exchange. A system of exchange built on reciprocity—"I will share with you in the expectation that you will share with me"—while important as a component of social bonding, is not at all conducive to capital accumulation. The collective ownership of resources, which supports community solidarity, represents a severe drag on capital accumulation for it inhibits the exchange and economic development of resources. Value systems that attribute spiritual significance to objects in nature—animals, trees, plants, mountains, etc.—while serving important social and ecological functions, are barriers to capital accumulation because they limit the exploitation and destruction of the environment and must be removed, modified, or ignored for capital accumulation to occur. Prohibitions on consumption, such as religious dietary laws, inhibit the accumulation of capital as do strong family relations that require collective family activities as well as egalitarian relationships in which there is little need for material displays of status. One of Polanyi's main points, of course, was that the operation of the market and the commodification of land and labor, not only required new forms of social relations, but, also, that existing patterns of relations be modified or eliminated.
(2) The Overload Factor Instead of "The Convergence Factor"
Second, in their research, Barro and Sala-i-Martin note that one of the most important determinants of growth is the initial level of GDP growth; that is, the lower the starting level of real per capita gross domestic product, (GDP) the higher is the predicted growth rate (Barro 1997:1-2). Economists refer to this as the convergence factor. However, another way of articulating "the convergence factor," is to say simply that the wealthier a country becomes, the more difficult it is to maintain capital accumulation at an acceptable rate of at least some 3 percent a year. In other words, at some point the economy simply becomes overloaded as it strains to grow. Thus whatever a country is doing to promote capital accumulation, it must also do even more of it to maintain it. The implication of the need for perpetual capital accumulation along with the convergence factor is profound. It implies that, among other things, barriers to capital accumulation, whatever they are and however vital they may be to social well-being, must be continually eliminated, regardless of the social, political, or environmental consequences.
(3) Endless and Pointless Accumulation Instead of "Progress"
Third, the general tendency of economists and others to speak of perpetual capital accumulation in terms of "progress," "growth," or even "morality" overlooks one essential point: the goal of our market economy is not to enable people to attain wealth and a viable standard of living. One would think that, at least in the West, those aims would have been reached 50 years ago when the lifestyle of the average European was globally sustainable for all. But the goal is perpetual capital accumulation itself; it is not reaching some ideal material state in which people have what they need. In a society of perpetual growth, there is no ideal end state. There can never be concrete needs or ideals (material or moral) to which we aspire; we can only aspire to attaining more of whatever it is we already have. If there are problems, these can solved simply by yet more accumulation. Polanyi captures this fact when he says that the liberal economic creed was, as he put it, "utterly materialistic and believed that all human problems could be resolved given an unlimited amount of material commodities" (Polanyi 1957:40).
(4) Market Internalities Instead of "Market Externalities"
Finally, obscured also by the language of economics is the price we pay for perpetual capital accumulation. Other than a few critics from economics, (see e.g. Meadows 1974, Schumacher 1989, Daley 1996), perpetual capital accumulation is assumed by most economists to be non-zero sum game in which there are only winners and no losers. If negative consequences of capital accumulation are acknowledged, they are dismissed as "market externalities" and are rarely integrated into economic models of growth. In fact, most economists see negative externalities, such as environmental destruction or social conflict, remedied by perpetual capital accumulation itself. Yet from an anthropological point of view, externalities are the crucial elements. It is the market externalities that comprise what Polanyi called "the human and natural substance of society." Table 3 illustrates the relationships between market factors and externalities.
Table 3: Market Factors and Externalities
Market Factors
Possible Market Externality
Labor Costs
Low wages, slavery, poverty, disease, hunger, alienation,
Extraction of Raw Materials
Habitat devastation, pollution, military expansion
Transportation and Distribution
Infrastructure creation and environmental consequences, pollution, etc.
Disposal Costs
Pollution, disease, habitat destruction
Manufacturing and Production Costs
Environmental pollution, resource depletion
Advertisement and Market Expansion
Exploitation of children, conversion of relations of reciprocity into market relations, etc.
Maintaining market friendly laws and regulations
Corruption, military expansion, distortion of the political process, etc.
I want to suggest that we need a new way of conceptualizing the operation of the market, a way that recognizes that perpetual capital accumulation (1) requires destroying environmental, political, social and cultural barriers to economic expansion, (2) recognizes that the maintenance of necessary levels of capital accumulation becomes more difficult as high rates of wealth are attained, (3) that makes explicit the fact that the goal of the market economy is not to reach some acceptable standard of living, or fulfill concrete needs, but simply to expand, and (4) that makes the cost of growth, the "externalities," so to speak, internal to the process. I want to suggest that rather than talking about economic growth, that we borrow a concept from Pierre Bourdieu (1986) and speak of the operation of the market as a process of capital conversion.
Capital Conversion
Capital conversion involves transforming non-monetary capital, that is natural capital, political capital, cultural capital, and social capital, into money. We can conceptualize the process as in Diagram 1.
Fresh water, for example, is part of our natural capital. Whenever we use water for agricultural or industrial use (some 90% of the total), we are converting some of that capital into money. The conversion of forests into saleable wood or paper products is, of course, a major component of capital accumulation, as is the externalization of the cost of disposing of our waste.
We convert political capital into money by making access to power dependent on wealth or by converting our freedoms and privacy into money through the use of electronic devices. We convert political capital into wealth by ceding to corporations control over our political and social systems or cultural heritages. We convert political capital into money by relinquishing local and national sovereignty over economic decisions to multilateral organizations such as the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the World Trade Organization (WTO). When the Supreme Court of the United States ruled, as it did in 2005, that the state may expropriate private property for private developers, they promote economic development, but remove long-recognized political rights of individuals to control their own property. One of the conclusions that Robert Barro (1997) reaches in his studies of determinants of growth is that democracy may serve as a drag on capital conversion; as he puts it,
At low levels of political rights, an expansion of [democratic] rights stimulates economic growth. However, once a moderate amount of democracy has been attained, a further expansion reduces growth.
The reason for this, he suggests, is that as growth increases, citizens become more concerned with economic inequality and social justice and demand social programs and income redistribution, neither of which are conducive to the uninhibited accumulation of monetary capital.
Capital accumulation also requires the expenditure of social capital. One of the best recent examples involves the economy of Japan, which, by adopting various neo-liberal economic policies, has restarted its economy, but, at the same time, introduced levels of social inequality that undermine the social foundation of the society (Onishi 2006). The most comprehensive work on social capital is that of Robert Putnam in his book Bowling Alone (2000) in which he documents the significant decline of social capital in the United States over the past 50 years. It is significant, of course, that most of the factors Putnam identifies as contributing to the decline of social capital, such as two-income families, suburban sprawl, and television are also major contributors to capital conversion.
In sum, by speaking of capital accumulation as a process of capital conversion, we are better able to appreciate why it requires removing social, political, cultural and environmental barriers, why maintaining growth becomes more and more difficult as we convert more and more non-monetary capital into money, how we have gotten into a pattern of growth for growth's sake, and how externalities are, in fact, an integral part of the system.
Finally, there may be some objection to the idea of representing the damaging impact of the market with the economic metaphor of capital conversion. However, if we are to reconceptualize the workings of the market in ways that best communicate the negative consequences of perpetual growth, we need to choose language that vividly communicates those consequences. If it is capital (i.e. money) that people are trying to accumulate, and if, in the process of accumulation, others items of value (e.g. the environment, political rights, social relationships, etc.) are lost, it makes sense to speak of the process as one of capital conversion. In addition, since the end product of the process is money, it makes sense to portray what is lost, if possible, in monetary terms. How else to demonstrate that by accumulating money we are actually spending at ever increasing rates the legacies of future generations?
The Mechanisms of Capital Conversion
If we are to reconceptualize economic growth as a process of capital conversion, one of the tasks that anthropologists and economists and other social scientists have is to detail the mechanisms that are used in the process. Three of these mechanisms are particularly important—commodification, individuation and acceleration. These mechanisms are not mutually exclusive, as one may contribute to the other, but they suggest ways of building so-called market externalities into our models.
Commodification: Converting the Commons into a Market
Polanyi (1957: 68-69) noted that the commodification of land, labor, and money, made necessary by the machine, was instrumental in the industrial revolution. The commodification of land was required to make capital investment prudent, the commodification of money was necessary in order to raise the large capital expenditures required by machines, and the commodification of labor helped supply the workers for the machines. But commodification is an ongoing process for in order for perpetual capital accumulation to occur at all there must be goods and services for people to buy. In other words, for non-monetary capital to be converted into money it must first be converted into goods or services that can be bought and sold in the market.
For example, the environment, as a shared resource, generates no income. However, when environmental resources are turned to wood products, ores and metals, and irrigation systems, they can be converted into money. Water in itself is part of the commons, is a valuable resource, but, until it can be bought and sold, contributes little directly to the GDP. As a commodified resource it can be withdrawn and used to contribute to capital accumulation.
Political capital can, of course, also be commodified as those who seek access to power must pay for it. Access to information is a prime feature of political capital but in the "information economy" is generally now accessible largely to those who can pay for it.
Social capital consists of relationships of trust and reciprocity, but these also are rapidly being commodified. The classic example, of course, is the conversion of the social capital gained by the breast feeding of infants, into the money-producing practice of bottle feeding. Family gatherings have been converted into money-making operations by, for example, taking the traditional practice of family music-making or game-playing and replacing them with age-specific forms of entertainment (television, ipods, video games, etc.) Some have noted that much of the economic gains of the second half of the twentieth century are attributable to turning household functions—food preparation, education, entertainment—into money-making activities.
Cultural capital consists of those systems of meanings, values, and symbols that guide the way we view the world. These values, beliefs, and symbols are being transformed from their traditional uses into items that can be bought and sold in the market place. The commodification of indigenous art, or ritual paraphernalia comes to mind as an excellent example of the process.
Individuation: Enabling People, Disabling Community
It is obvious that the rate of capital accumulation is increased when there are a greater number of what we might term "consumption units." For the reason, the more that groups can be fragmented and converted into individuals, the greater the potential for capital accumulation. Laws, commonly initiated by colonial powers in the nineteen century, that transferred the rights in property from collectivities, such as villages or clans, to individuals, accelerated the conversion of natural capital into money by allowing land and resources to be expropriate by agricultural or lumber developers. The transformation of landscapes from multi-family dwellings--a process often prompted by government programs (see Robbins 2005a: 19-20)—to single-family suburban housing, multiplied the number of consumer items to be purchased. Richard Wilk (2002) explains how the process of individuation encourages consumption. "In farming cultures," he says,
families often act like a small company, in which each person is expected to work their hardest and contribute everything to the common good. When they have some extra money or resources, the family invests in improving the farm and getting more land, not in personal extravagance. So most individuals, especially while they are young, simply have little money of their own to spend. When large numbers of people leave the farm economy, and families can no longer claim all their childrens' earnings, consumer culture becomes possible.
"Outside the family," he continues,
many societies have strong institutions that define classes, castes, guilds or occupations, and people are generally not allowed to rise "above their station" in their consumption. In many societies, sumptuary laws define modest and proper dress, diet, and housing for each group. When these rigid categories become more fluid, and it becomes possible to change status, consumption often becomes a key element in defining new identities and roles. A more fluid society where people each find their own individual identity is therefore likely to have much more diverse and flexible forms of consumption.
Whereas consumption was driven by competition between groups, as in the Potlatch or the Northwest Coast or the feasts of "Big Men" in New Guinea, competition in our modern market society is now highly individualized. In a consumer culture, says Wilk,
because competition is much broader with more contestants and a broader audience, novelty is more important. People compete to get the newest items, as well as the most, and the best. Competition drives a fashion system, which demands new styles and goods all the time.
With the breakdowns of groups, individuals are required to define their identity on their own, and this requires more and more possessions. In a consumer culture, Wilk says, "in a very real sense, you are what you own, what you wear, what you consume."
Acceleration: Placing the Economy on Steroids
The one factor that economists agree most contributes to capital conversion is technology. Polanyi (1957), in fact, saw technology, or the machine, as central to the great transformation. Economists are divided about what it is about technology that makes it so important; some argue that technology is responsible for developing new consumer products that contribute to consumption, while others suggest that technology introduces "efficiency" to the production process. However, "efficiency" is one of those terms that are vague enough to sound positive, without revealing much about what the term really means. Technology certainly contributes to commodification and to individuation. But, most importantly, I believe, technology attacks one of the most rigid barriers to capital conversion--time itself (see Gleick 2000).
Elsewhere (Robbins 2005b) I have noted that the history of Western technology can be seen as the continuing application of knowledge and practice to create technological systems designed to accelerate the rate of capital accumulation. "Time is money" captures the essence of the process. We have elaborated technology in order to accelerate the production of crops and animals, to accelerate the pace of work, to accelerate the production, distribution, and consumption of goods, and to accelerate the rate of killing in war.
Technology helps convert natural capital into money by accelerating the pace of natural processes. For example, virtually all of the food crops and domesticated animals that comprise today's western diet existed 2000 years ago. Contemporary Western farmers and ranchers just grow and raise them faster. In the nineteenth century the advent of mechanized agriculture—steel plows, the mechanical reaper, the "combine" which combined the machines for reaping and thrashing wheat-- cut the labor time for each bushel of wheat harvested from sixty-one to three hours. In the latter half of the twentieth century the so-called "green revolution" with its use of chemical herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers and greater use if water, vastly accelerated the growth of crops, at great environmental cost. Technology has also contributed to the accelerated growth of domesticated animals. A grass-fed steer in 1750 would not attain maximum weight until it was five or six-years-old. By 1950, grain-feeding would bring the steer to market in two or three years. But with today's use of herbicides to increase pasturage, protein supplements, growth hormones, forced feeding of grain, and antibiotics to ward off infections, a typical steer can reach its slaughter weight of some 1200 pounds in 14 to 16 months, but again at considerable environmental, and perhaps, health, costs.
Technology has helped convert social capital into money by accelerating the pace of labor. This was one of Polanyi's major points; the "satanic mill," as he called it, transformed labor and resulted in what he called the "catastrophic dislocation of the lives of the common people" (Polanyi 1957: 33). The increased demand for more rapid production led to the introduction of the factory system and development of systems of mass production. In the United States, Frederick Taylor's Theory of Scientific Management, instituted a system that carefully analyzed every stage of the worker's task to determine how quickly it could be done. By applying his methods in one steel plant he increased the capacity of he pig-iron handler from 12 1/2 to 47 1/2 tons per day (Williams 1982). In 1912 Henry Ford introduced assembly line production for the Model-T to further accelerate the speed at which laborers performed their tasks. Within a year, assembly time of the flywheel magneto of the Model-T dropped from 20 person-minutes to 5 minutes; of the engine from 594 to 226 minutes; and of the chassis from 12.5 hours to 93 minutes (Hounshell1984). Ford, however, had to double the daily wage rate to keep workers at their mind-numbing tasks. With the continued application of labor-accelerating and labor-saving technologies the production of the average automobile today requires less than 20 hours of human labor.
But we can perhaps best illustrate the effects of technology on social, political, and natural capital by examining the impact three items that, taken together, occupy one-quarter of the lives of members of Western society-- the automobile, the computer, and the television. On average, persons in the West spend about 180 minutes a day watching television, about 90 minutes a day at the computer and 70 minutes a day driving an automobile.
Each of these activities makes demands on the environment; each has political consequences in terms of the concentration of power, and each reduces social autonomy and increases access of others to the private lives of users.
Television, for example, has been a major engine of accelerating capital conversion and consumption; but, in addition, critics claim that it is the technology most responsible for the decline of social capital, particularly in the United States (Putnam 2000). Critics claim that the increase in television watching reduces political participation and face-to-face social and civic activities (Sclove 1995).
Automobiles, of course, accelerate our travel and communication, but are responsible air pollution, urban sprawl, loss of natural landscapes, and growing dependence on corporate monopolies. Twenty-five to thirty percent of the energy needs of the United States, an amount greater than that of China and India combined, are required to move personal vehicles beyond the speed of a bicycle (Illich 1973: 82).
The personal computer accelerates communication, but also destroys political, social, and natural capital (see Turkle 1995); it opens up personal lives to whoever gain access to computer files, and creates vast garbage heaps of toxic materials. The end result of each of these technologies, along with all the others, has been an acceleration, not only of capital accumulation, but of a documented increase in the pace of everyday lives. As Robert Levine (1997:10) documents, the accelerated pace of everyday life is directly correlated to the rate capital accumulation. Thus, through technology, and in the interest of capital conversion, people in advanced industrial societies must work, play, exercise, eat, and interact faster than ever before.
Anthropologists and Economists Confront Market Externalities
As long as the "standard of living" is measured in terms of per capita GDP, and money is the ultimate good, and capital conversion is considered the cure to all our problems, indeed is seen as intrinsically moral, we will continue to face the global problems we do. The question is, what role can anthropologists and economists together play in addressing these issues?
First, I believe that both economists and anthropologists must address the question of whether or not perpetual capital accumulation is desirable (or even possible). This requires that we find some way of measuring non-monetary capital, if only to be able to judge the external costs of perpetual capital accumulation. How do we measure relationships of trust and reciprocity in order to judge whether or not their conversion into money is worth it? How do we measure our political freedoms in order to determine whether or not they ought to be turned into money. What is the human cost of commodifying our culture or accelerating the pace of human lives and the natural world? There are certainly precedents for quantifying environmental, political, social and cultural capital. The work on "ecological footprints" by Mathis Wackernagel and William E. Rees (1996) and the development by Clifford Cobb, Gary Sue Goodman and Mathis Wackernagel of the Genuine Progress Indicator (1999) serve as examples of how environmental, social, and cultural variables can be measured.
Second, economists, perhaps with the help of anthropologists, must find ways of making market externalities internal to the models that they generate for policy considerations. Finally, I think that economists must begin to focus on why perpetual capital accumulation is necessary and whether or not, given the present economic regime, it is possible to have a zero-growth economy, and, if it is possible, how can it be implemented. Economists and anthropologists must examine alternative economic arrangements. Some people propose that we return to a gift economy, where reciprocal exchanges replace market exchanges. Are such arrangements possible and, if so, on what scale?
The alternative to focusing on these questions is the continued rapid acceleration of the destruction of non-monetary capital and, ultimately the annihilation of "the human and natural substance of society."
References Cited
Barro, Robert J. 1997. Determinants of Economic Growth. Boston: MIT Press
Barro, Robert J. and Xavier Sala-i-Martin. 2004. Economic Growth. Cambridge: The MIT Press
Bourdieu, Pierre. 1986. The Forms of Capital. In John G. Richardson, edited, Handbook of Theory and Research for the Sociology of Education. New York: Greenwood Press
Cobb, Clifford and Ted Halstead, and Jonathan Rowe. If the GDP is Up, Why is America Down? October 1995 Atlantic Monthly
Daly, Herman E. 1996. Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development. Boston: Beacon Press
Friedman, Benjamin M. 2005: The Moral Consequences of Economic Growth. New York: Alfred A. Knopf
Gellner, Ernest. 1983. Nations and Nationalism. Ithaca: Cornell University Press
Gleick, James. 2000. Faster: The Acceleration of Just About Everything. Vintage Press
Illich, Ivan. 1973. Tools for Conviviality. New York: Harper and Row Publishers
Levine, Robert. 1997. A Geography of Time. New York.
Onishi, Norimitsu. 2006. Revival in Japan Brings Widening of Economic Gap. New York Times, April 16, 2006 (Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/world/asia/16japan.html?pagewanted=2&ei=5094&en=b51db1078cecb63e&hp&ex=1145160000&partner=homepage)
Polanyi, Karl. 1957 [1944]. The Great Transformation. Beacon Press: Boston
Maddison, Angus. 2003. The World Economy: A Millennial Perspective. Development Centre of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Paris
Putnam, Robert D. 2000. Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community. New York.
Meadows, Donella, et al. 1974. The Limits to Growth: A Report for the Club of Rome's Project on the Predicament of Mankind. Pan Macmillan
Robbins, Richard. 2005a. Global problems and the Culture of Capitalism (Third Edition). Allyn & Bacon
Robbins, Richard. 2005b. Technology in History: Western Europe and the United States. In Science, Technology, and Society : An Encyclopedia, edited by Sal Restivo. Oxford University Press
Sclove Richard E. 1995. Democracy and Technology. London.
Shumacher, E. F. 1989. Small Is Beautiful : Economics as if People Mattered. Harper Perennial
Turkle, Sherry. 1995. Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age of the Internet. New York.
Wackernagel, Mathis and William E. Rees. 1996. Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing Human Impact on the Earth. Gabriola Island, BC: New Society.
Wilk, Richard. 2002. "Culture and Energy Consumption." In Energy: Science, Policy and the Pursuit of Sustainability, edited by Robert Bent, Lloyd Orr, and Randall Baker. Island Press: Washington. Pp. 109-130.


text:
The first one cost $400 and the second $200 each one.
My computer has a intel ivy bridge i7 processor and 8gb of ram.
I want to play games and 3d renderings.
What combination is better?
The first one cost $400 and the second $200 each one.
My computer has a intel ivy bridge i7 processor and 8gb of ram.
I want to play games and 3d renderings.
What combination is better?
closed as off topic by Journeyman Geek♦, Xavierjazz, soandos, Indrek, Synetech Nov 6 '12 at 1:34
Questions on Super User are expected to relate to computer software or computer hardware within the scope defined by the community. Consider editing the question or leaving comments for improvement if you believe the question can be reworded to fit within the scope. Read more about reopening questions here.If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
It is usually better to have one very fast card rather than two half speed cards.
Reasons for using one fast card:
Reason for using two cards:
Having said all that, the 7870 is not half the speed of the 7970. It is about 60% of the speed. Nor will you gain double speed with SL/Crossfire. The speed gain is usually around 80% to 90%, depending on the application. (Read, some games scale better with more cards. Some do it poorly. And as stated some do not do that at all).
Added a card to make comparisons a bit easier.
The 7970 has a PassMark score of 5093; the 7870 has a 3442. As such, the 2x7870 could theoretically exceed the performance of the 7970. However, it wouldn't do so by a wide margin, so I think I'd stick with the stability and upgradeability benefits of the single-card configuration.
But wait! You say you do 3D rendering; in Blender, per chance? If so, you should probably know that the Cycles engine doesn't support AMD GPUs as of yet, and it doesn't look like it's going to for a while. This is the primary reason why I regret buying an AMD card.