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A report done by Climate Central shows just how hot major cities can become in comparison to their neighboring suburbs. Cities become hotter when materials that absorb heat such as asphalt and concrete replaces trees and grass, which help keep areas naturally cool. This effect has earned them the nickname "heat islands." But Climate Central says that these urbanizations coupled with global warming could raise the temperatures to levels that threaten human health and strain resources.
Their research indicates that cities have been on a warming trend since the 1970s, but cities have been getting even hotter lately. In the study of 60 of the country's hottest cities, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, Denver, Portland, Louisville, Washington, D.C., Kansas City, Columbus, Minneapolis and Seattle ranked as those with the most intense "heat islands" over the past 10 years. Only three of the cities studied didn't have measurable heat island effects. In those 57 cities that did, there were sometimes differences in heat as high as 27 degrees between the suburbs and and city itself. The average for the hottest single day was a 17.5 degree difference.
An interesting result of their study is that 41 out of 60 cities showed that urbanization and climate change are increasing summer heat in cities faster than climate change is affecting the region. On top of that, 45 cities showed evidence of warming faster than any rural areas nearby. The study also mentions that more heat increases air pollution. They discovered that in the cities with available data (51), all of them showed statistically significant correlations to high summer temperatures and poor air quality. The report explains that urbanization is increasing temperatures as well as the man-made global warming.
Though this sounds pretty terrifying and that moving into a city seems like moving into an oven with a closing door, there are some things that can be done. It'll take the work of city planners, but if they incorporate more park space with grass, trees and general greenery, as well as installing white roofs, these effects can be lessened. However, the gas emissions still remain a problem that could still raise heat levels even if these other preventative measures are taken.
How does your city rank?


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Alabama's more than 550 student-athletes averaged over a 3.2 grade point average, including 46 that maintain a career GPA of 4.0
The Crimson Tide was one of three schools with 95 or more honorees
Derrick had a legendary career at Alabama, where he was one of the most dominant linebackers to ever play his position
Crimson Tide wraps up its 2014 season on Thursday in Athens
Men's Tennis Sweeps Triple Header
2013 (JUNIOR) SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year ... ITA Southern Region Arthur Ashe Leadership & Sportsmanship Award winner ... ITA Scholar-Athlete ... SEC Academic Honor Roll ... led the Tide with 17 singles wins in dual match play ... was solid at the No. 3 singles position for Alabama, posting a 12-2 record ... won 12 straight matches to open dual match play, nine of which came in straight sets ... had three wins against nationally ranked opponents in singles, including a straight set victory over 16th-ranked Jonas Lutjen of Ole Miss at the SEC Championships ... second on the team in overall doubles wins with 25 ... defeated the duo of No. 27 Harrison Adams and Shane Vinsant of No. 12 Texas A&M with partner Becker O'Shaughnessey in the quarterfinals of the SEC Championship ... earned a top-75 win in doubles with O'Shaughnessey over No. 60 Edward Jones and John Collins of 10th-ranked Tennessee ... defeated the duo of Gonzales Austin and Anton Kovrigin of No. 14 Vanderbilt with O'Shaughnessey ... earned a top-100 win over No. 86 Daniel Cochrane of Auburn ... secured the winning point for the Tide with his win over Olivier Borsos of LSU ... earned the clinching point against Arkansas with his win over Manfred Jeske ... claimed a top-50 win in doubles with O'Shaughnessey against No. 49 Adrian Skogeng and William Kallberg of 13th-ranked Ole Miss ... defeated Ayrton Wibowo and Austin Ansari of Clemson with teammate David Vieyra ... Topped Gerardo Meza of Clemson ... earned the winning point for the Tide against Cornell's Sam Fleck ... defeated No. 90 Danny Kreyman of Wake Forest at the Wake Forest Spring Invite ... clinched the victory in singles for the team against Alabama State's Jerred Thompson ... secured two wins in singles against David Zimmerman (UAB) and Joel Cook (Furman) at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships ... also added another two wins in doubles with Vieyra against Rodrigo Rappaccioli and Alex Van Cott of Tulane and Rafael Rondino and Korhan Ates of UAB at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships ... earned a win against Idan Sneddon of Tulane at the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships ... also picked up three wins in doubles with Vieyra against Tulane, Mississippi State and Samford to advance to the semifinals at the USTA/ITA Southern Regional Championships ... represented the Tide at the 2012 ITA All-American Championships in both singles and doubles ... secured a win in doubles with Vieyra against Michigan at the Tom Fallon Invitational ... earned wins against Sean Weber of North Carolina State and William Parker of North Carolina at the Duke Fab Four Invite.
2012 (SOPHOMORE)Collected 18 singles wins and 13 doubles victories during the 2012 season ... ranked as high as No. 91 in singles and No. 21 in doubles with Carlos Taborga ... beat four nationally-ranked opponents in singles ... clinched the Tide's 4-3 win over Samford from the No. 2 singles position ... also clinched Alabama's win over No. 19 Tennessee ... earned a key victory over 24th-ranked Sadio Doumbia of Georgia ... picked up non-conference wins in dual match play against TCU, Clemson, Memphis and Samford ... began his Spring campaign with a singles win over No. 97 Spencer Wolf of Northwestern ... advanced to the finals of the Namath Draw in singles at the Crimson Tide Fall Championships while also advancing to the finals of the Crimson Draw with Taborga ... made it to the quarterfinals in singles and won doubles at the Georgia Tech Fall Tournament with Taborga ... started his sophomore season with three singles wins at the Fighting Illini Invitational.
2011 (FRESHMAN)Named to the SEC All-Freshman Team ... collected 11 wins in dual match play this season, tying him for the most singles victories on the team ... defeated four SEC opponents along the way playing at No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 singles ... won four consecutive matches during dual match play to earn the No. 115 national ranking in singles this season ... in doubles, played primarily at No. 3 posting four victories in SEC matches ... earned the doubles point with Trey Walston in the win over South Carolina ... clinched the Tide's win over No. 37 Hawai'i ... made his debut for Alabama at the SEC Indoor Championships where he went 2-2 in singles and doubles.
PREP HIGHLIGHTS Boys 18 Singles National Champion in Estonia ... defeated the No. 1 junior player in the world and current Wimbledon Juniors defending champion Marton Fucsovics during the summer of 2010 ... won the Pajulahti Cup in Finland, claiming all five matches in straight sets ... advanced to the finals of the Estonian Junior Open in June of 2010 ... ranked as high as No. 271 in the ITF Junior rankings ... collected a total of 31 singles victories and 29 doubles victories in his junior career.
PERSONAL INFORMATION Born July 5, 1992 ... son of Andrei and Liidia Proskura ... has two brothers, Kirill and Arseni ... major is undecided.

subset: commoncrawl


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Francesca is my official OA sponsor. She is asking me for things I am unwilling to do: report my food; eat protein/vegetables/starch instead of my beloved cupcake lunch, and above all – be honest. Yeah right, Fancy Lady.
I spent two whole days (which actually is miraculous) of following an actual plan, when some a$$hole brought home an enormous danish with two bites in it and left it on the counter. I chucked it in the trash, but at 1 a.m. I heard a strange plea for rescue and I ran to that garbage and fished it out. And well, the rest is the rest.
I have been lying to Francesca ever since. I can't do it. I can't follow her instructions. I know I am powerless over food and my life has become unmanageable, but it is my last drug. She is a Fancy Lady anyway. Anyone younger and more successful than I; anyone with raven hair is unqualified to tell me what to do. OH, yeah.
I'm doing what I've always done: omitting facts; choosing what I want to consider abstinence, eating gobs of sugar – not to mention having enormous nightsnacks. On the plus side, I haven't binged or purged in a week, so….
But I don't know her. And she scares me. I googled her and she is all Movie Starrish and Fabulous and I hate her.
I don't know where to start. What can I do and HONESTLY stick to? Maybe I could tell her, "Look, Fancy Lady, I simply cannot do as you suggest, so for today I commit to my bottom line of abstinence: no b/p. I can also commit a suitable breakfast, ok? Ok, Fancy, successful, gorgeous Lady??"
Yeah, I'm gonna do that right now. Good luck with that, I say to myself. Let's see what she has to say about that. Fancy Lady.


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HAPPY TRAILS in Dallas... and Fort Worth, too!
My name is Hitty Lotzalove Sevashteen. Let me tell y'all a tale 'bout the time Andrew 'n' I moseyed on down to Texas...
Y'all just click on the top photo at the left, then keep clicking the arrow above to advance to the next photograph (NOTE: if y'all use the Slideshow feature, the captions for each photo may not show).


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And all, without a single exception, rose to their feet, and, with tears, asked me to remain with them.
The Gift, the great, the unspeakable Gift had, for the first time, come before their eyes in its beauty; they had found it precious; they had accepted it; and no words can tell you the joy of that multitude. Like myself they felt rich and happy in the Gift. The names of one thousand souls, I believe, were written in the Book of Life that day. Six months later we were two thousand converts; a year later we were about four thousand! And now we are nearly twenty-five thousand who have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
The news spread quickly all over America, and even in France and England-that Chiniquy, the best known priest of Canada, had left the Church of Rome, at the head of a noble band of men. And wherever it was said, the name of Jesus was blessed, and I hope you will bless the merciful and adorable Saviour today with me, when it is my privilege to have told you what He has done for my soul.
Pray for the Roman Catholics of America and everywhere, that I may be the instrument of the mercies of God toward them; that they may all receive, with you, the unspeakable Gift; may love and glorify the Gift during the few days of our pilgrimage here, and throughout all eternity. Amen.


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John Safran versus God: Australian comedian/documentary filmaker John Safran (of streaking through Jerusalem fame) has made a new series in which he: has a fundamentalist Islamic cleric put a fatwa on a fellow comedian, is beaten by a Japanese Zen Buddhist monk, attempts to get the Klu Klux Klan to admit him as a member because he is only "half Jewish," and tries to uncover the secrets of Freemasonry. According to The Age, "Safran maintains he began each religious experience in the series seriously hoping something would happen. As he explains it, if he found a particular religion to be true that would be a sensational discovery."
Lois K. Solomon, education writer for The South Florida Sun-Sentinel reports on the controversy caused by Geoff McKee, principal of Boca Raton High School. McKee, a devout Baptist who does not believe in evolution, has angered some parents and teachers by his frequent religious references in staff meetings and his attempts to start a Bible class for students. "'I don't think there's anything wrong or unconstitutional with acknowledging God in public,'" said McKee. "'The president talks about God frequently.'" A spokesman for the National Association of Secondary School Principals told Soloman that the guidelines for separating religion and public education were unclear, and that the key factor is "how much religion the community is willing to tolerate." "'He can go as far as he wants until a parent decides he's gone far enough.'"
Relapsed Catholic points us to this AP story: The vandalism and burning of a Jewish community center in Paris has been blamed on neo-Nazis by the mainstream press but an unknown group of militants have claimed responsibility on a militant Islamic site.
According to a new Pew poll, the fickle American public has changed its mind again about candidates discussing their faith and prayer. Jim Remsen of Knight Ridder Newspapersreports on the "'marked shift'" in public attitudes towards religious references: In 2003, 41% of respondents said politicians discussed their faith too little, while only 31% say the same today; the number of respondents who said there was too much God-talk rose from 21% to 27%. According to Pew officials, criticism of President Bush, a born-again Christian, accounts for most of the drop-off. "'He is closely associated with mixing conservative politics with fundamentalist Christianity – and when a president becomes unpopular, just about everything he's associated with takes a dive in the polls, too.'" So, what's a politician to do, when he's left, Bible in hand, in the middle of the dance floor? Relax, be yourself…
Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, Iraq's most influential Shi'ite cleric, has returned to the country and is calling for citizens to march on the "burning city" of Najaf, Reuters reports. While details about the march are not yet known, there is speculation that it could exacerbate anger among the majority Shi'ite community and that Sistani's return is an attempt to reclaim political power from Sadr, who has called for his own followers to march on Najaf.
"'What he's saying is that he wants to create a bunch of Jerry Falwell clones with law degrees who will fill up the courts and courtrooms with people who think just like him. And that has serious implications for people who don't.'" Allen Pusey of The Dallas Morning Newsreports more details and rhetoric about Falwell's new, conservative Christian law school, the stated aim of which is to "'return America to her religious heritage,'" and "'training the lawyers who can turn the legal profession back to the right.'"
In an emergency ruling, a federal appeals court decided last night that the open Bible monument outside a Houston court can remain while the appeals court consider's the county's request to delay removal (per order of a prior ruling) while they appeal. Read more.


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April 19, 2011
The first of three segment's of ESPN's "Three For the Show," a documentary that focuses on former UW quarterback Jake Locker airs tonight on ESPN and ESPN2.
The program, part of ESPN's Year of the Quarterback series of programming, followed Locker, Virigina Tech's Tyrod Taylor and Auburn's Cam Newton over the past season and heading into the NFL Draft.
Among the footage that Husky fans will want to see is behind-the-scenes looks from the locker room and sideline at the Holiday Bowl.
The first episode airs tonight, Tuesday, April 19, at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time on ESPN, then again at 7:00 p.m. PT on ESPN2. There are also numerous other replays. Part two of the three-part show begins airing the following Tuesday, April 26.
For more, check out ESPN's Year of the Quarterback website.


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Maria I. Marika Santoro
This paper describes the infinite-horizon general equilibrium model that, among other models, CBO uses for its analysis of the President's budgetary proposals. Agents in the model live forever and face uninsurable, individual-specific working-ability shocks and borrowing constraints, and so they differ ex post in both income and wealth. The combination of idiosyncratic uncertainty and borrowing constraints affects household decisions about saving and working: households engage in precautionary saving to self-insure against uncertainty, and labor supply decisions are less elastic than in a standard infinite-horizon growth model. To show how the model behaves in an application, the paper analyzes a 10 percent reduction in income tax rates and compares the predictions under alternative assumptions about the level of uncertainty.


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Graduate Studies
Graduate study in Biological Sciences at Purdue University is multi-disciplinary, offering a wide variety of choices for doctorate and masters degrees. Major research groups exist in the fields of Development and Disease, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and Molecular Biosciences. Areas of research include biology education research; cancer biology; developmental neurobiology; cell biology; ecology and conservation biology; genetics, genomics and computational biology; microbiology; molecular pathogenesis; physiology and behavior; plant biology and bioenergy; structural biology and biophysics. A major advisor may be selected in any of these areas. In addition, several interdisciplinary programs also are available in conjunction with other departments and divisions within the University. We therefore welcome applicants from different disciplines such as chemistry, physics and related fields as well as students from traditional biological backgrounds.
Lilly Hall, Room 1-120
915 West State Street
West Lafayette, Indiana 47907-2054
phone 765 494-8142
The Big Ten+ Graduate School Exposition
The Big Ten+ Graduate School Exposition provides students with comprehensive information regarding graduate education in the fields of Engineering, Mathematics, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Science, Technology and other Science-related disciplines. Students from all institutions of higher education are encouraged to attend, and travel scholarships are available!


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We can show that $\mathbb{R}$ and $\mathbb{R}^2$ or ($\mathbb{R}^n$) have same cardinality using the following one-to-one and onto mapping:
Say x = (0.123456789....)
Then f(x) = {(0.13579...),(0.2468..)}
My question is can we claim that the Borel sigma algebra in $\mathbb{R}$ has a correspondent sigma algebra (if it is, is it THE Borel sigma algebra in $\mathbb{R}^2$?) by mapping each Borel set D to $\mathbb{R}^2$ by f(D)? Why or why not could you give the argument??
Similarly (I am more certain of this) When we have N^n and N using this mapping could we claim that the sigma algebra in N has a correspondent sigma algebra in N^n? Does the statement hold for N^infinity and N as well, if N^infinity and N have the same cardinality ( i am not sure about my last statement)?
Thank you!


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- Overview
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XPORT Slipstream 4-Bike Dual-Receiver Hitch RackThis top-level, heavy-duty 4-bike hitch rack has dual arms to accommodate a variety of different style bikes.
- Anti-sway feature stabilizes your bikes
- Rubber pads protect the frame's finish
- Durable steel tilting base makes it easy to gain access to your tailgate when the bikes are unloaded
- Dual-receiver base fits 2" or 1¼" hitches
XPORT Slipstream 4-Bike Dual-Receiver Hitch Rack
- hitch compatibility:
- Both 1¼" and 2" receivers
- notes:
- Overweight shipping charges apply, call or email for details
- number of bikes:
- 4 Bikes
- rating:
- 3
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I've setup my databases so that anytime a procedure is blocked for more than 45 seconds the database notifies the DBA email. Is it bad practice to setup a way to auto kill the process that is doing the blocking? I'm assuming yes; however, waiting until an off hours DBA can get to a computer and fix the change seams problematic as well. Is there a better way to handle the blocking processes?
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To piggy back off @AaronBertrand, killing a process could cause transaction inconsistency and that would mean you are throwing out ACID compliance. Why not first record all queries that take over 45 seconds and then change your code design based off that?
There's a lot you can do to resolve locking/blocking issues from changing the isolation levels such as READ UNCOMMITED or using snapshot isolation (snapshot isolation is preferred as there's lots of caveats with READ UNCOMMITED, but it won't help in the case of writers blocking writers).
check out:
MCM Snapshot Isolation Intro Video


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Aug 4, 2011 10:40 AM
Jenna S., Outblush Operative, writes: We've all dated this guy. Douchey. Reeking of unwarranted aplomb. Hopefully you're not currently staring at him over his version of fine dining-a semi hot double double and a tall glass of Natural Ice. If you are then pound that burger, chug that brew and RUN GIRL! He's already hit on your sister and all of your friends. This hilarious collection of essays, Look at My Striped Shirt! Confessions of the People You Love to Hate ($10), will be the only thing you need to remember him by.
We're good, but we can only be so many places at once. Short of cloning ourselves, what can we do to make sure we're up on the latest trends? Enlist our gal-on-the street Outblush Operatives to send us guest posts on what's hot, that's what.
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


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Motivation refers to the "why" of behavior. It deals with the answer to the question, why do we engage in certain behaviors? This class offered an in depth understanding of the many forms of motivation and the sources from which they originate. The chapters in our books along with lectures covered many themes regarding motivation.We began with a brief description of motivation as the process by which a person is moved to action followed by exploring different theories from history that provided the beginning ideas and insight into the study of motivation. The next part looked at the biological properties of motivation where we examined evolutionary and personal history and its cumulative effects on motives and incentives. The topics we then discussed were addictive behaviors and drug use, homeostasis in relation to internal factors and eating. We also covered affective valence and the effects of arousal on performance along with the effects of stress and coping on health. The third part of our studies focused on the psychological properties of motivation including drives, needs, and awareness and personality traits and their affect on motivation. The final section in the course explained external sources of motivation in terms of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation and the goals and economics of motivation. We ended our journey through the extensive analysis of motivation with the function of arousal in relation to emotions and moods.
Motivation is a process apparent in the lives of everyone and taking this course really gave me a chance to take the many different explanations and apply them to my own life. One topic in particular that was interested me was the economics of motivation. This section looks at the paradox in motivation; humans value high-level goals but try to achieve them with minimal cost or energy. It describes the evolutionary adapted inclination of animals and humans to expend the fewest motivational resources while attempting to achieve the highest goals possible. This idea of a principle of least effort leads to the intriguing debate over the question, are we lazy?
Many people believe that humans are becoming lazy as our technological advancements allow us to exert less and less energy to achieve goals as we go about our lives. After learning in class about the evolution of the conservation of energy as a survival technique of our ancestors I have come to believe that we are naturally lazy. Now that we have moved into the new modern era there is no need to worry about conserving our energy for survival so people that still engage in such acts are deemed lazy!
This topic really relates to my life, I am a mater in the art of "conserving energy" or just being lazy. It takes a lot for me to become motivated to achieve my goals and I tend to slack off and lay around in bed instead of being productive. I feel this "conserving energy" or laziness debate applies wonderfully to the issues we are currently facing as a nation. The US is regarded by many to be a "lazy" nation filled with overweight people only concerned with fulfilling their needs while exerting as little effort as possible. Scientific advancement is a crucial part to progress and success of a nation but many feel technology is making people become lazy.
In the past few years, a large amount of new technology we've created is based on the attempt to enable us to achieve goals and accomplish tasks without even having to leave our homes let alone get off the couch. I will however mention the opposing view that is best stated in an article I read by Frank Bowes entitled, Is technology making us lazy?, he believes that,
"it is not the technology that makes us lazy, rather, it is our laziness that necessitates the technology. The human race has always sought out the easy path; and technology has merely served to provide us with one."Before reading this I had not previously considered this argument for technology. I hope that I have provided some people with food for thought as I end this final post having given an overview of motivation and I more extensive look at laziness, its origin, and its application to issues outside of class.


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About Us
Whippet Rescue and Placement (WRAP) is a 501(c)(3) charity organized for the rescue of purebred Whippets. We have volunteers all across the continental United States, Alaska and Hawaii. Our volunteers are compassionate, caring, generous individuals who donate their time to further the safety of our beloved breed.As a result of their efforts, there are very few Whippets in rescue and there is always a waiting list for adoptable dogs. Fill out the adoption application and file it with your closest volunteer to make sure you have first consideration for any dogs that become available.


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UT Arlington | find
people | maps | submit
an event
As part of the African American Faculty Staff (AAFSA) Black History Month lecture series, Dr. Allan Saxe will present a lecture titled "UTA transition from the Rebels to Mavericks: The Desegregation of UT Arlington" Co-hosted by Department of History. Refreshments provided by the Department of History.
Office of
University Communications(for inquiries on individual
please contact the event sponsor)


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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Meet our Chickens
We picked out two, a black one and a brown one, an Ostralorp and an Americauna respectively, and set them up in a big cardboard box in our garage with a heatlamp (repurposed from my photo lighting equipment, actually), a feeder, and water dish. We named the black one Lily and the brown Violet. They were just little peepers when we brought them home, small enough for both to make the move from the feed store in the sort of brown paper bag you send your kids' lunch in, and not yet heavy enough to even crinkle the bag's bottom.
The soft fuzz they were covered in their first week has slowly given way to glossy feathers, leaving only their heads patchy and balding where the fuzz has ebbed. Then last night, when I went to check on them, Violet's head had suddenly bloomed with a strong coat of ginger feathers, seemingly from nowhere. It's just so startling to see something grow before your eyes. I feel like I'm caught in a time lapse video somehow, the world spinning like a child's globe, flowers blooming from seed.
Since they'll have far outgrown their box by the end of this week, we've been working on setting up a coop for them to transfer to. It's down to only finishing touches at this point: the wire is on and stretched taut, but the door is still missing, they've got a box to roost in but no roosts.
This is to say that while I haven't been writing about food on the blog--a whole month has slipped away, somehow--we've still been busily approaching this idea of homestead which brought us out here in the first place. I feel with our transition into gardening and raising our own birds this year--expect egg recipes galore when the girls start laying around September--we've crossed some line in food that I hadn't really conceptualized. We're going from consumers, perpetual supermarket shoppers, and amateur gourmets (props) to cultivators of earth.
Along one the side of the house, tulips are dancing a slow masquerade, and the waxen leaves of strawberry plants shelter small red fruits as vibrant as songs, on the other side grape vines bolstered by the suddenly torrential spring rains wind like a breeze through the slats of a fence. Nearby our little lemon sapling pushes up, up toward the sunlight pushing back.
It is April here, and the air is hot or cold day to day with little pattern. We let the chickens perch on our fingers while we lay in the grass, we sow wildflower seeds in the good earth, the sky builds--fraying white along the edges--toward the inexorable heat of the summer to come.
3 comments:
- The Hayward House said...
Congrats on the chicks! You are truly setting down roots and I look forward to hearing all about it. I've got a savory breakfast custard recipe to send your way!
- April 22, 2010 at 5:38 AM
- Alisa said...
What a lovely colorful post! I love how you described the strawberries, tulips and the chicks :) alisa-foodista.com
- April 23, 2010 at 5:32 AM
- justin said...
Michele: Thanks! Since I posted this we've moved them into their coop and our berry bushes have started to develop fruit. The roots seem to just set down all on their own! I look forward to many breakfast custards to come!
Alisa: Thank you for the compliments! It's hard not to wax poetic with so much happening all around us. It's really quite miraculous.
- April 23, 2010 at 10:12 AM
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Highlighting the significance of the recently-concluded visit to France by Deputy Prime Minister and Commander of the National Guard Crown Prince Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Minister of Foreign Affairs Prince Saud Al-Faisal commented in a statement published yesterday in the Paris daily 'Le Figaro' that the Crown Prince and French President Jacques Chirac had reiterated their desire for more joint ventures and greater commercial exchange between the two countries. They did not, he said, discuss the purchase of planes, or the French capability in railroad construction; and no agreements in this respect were signed during the visit.Meanwhile, it was announced today that Crown Prince Abdullah's scheduled visit to Canada has been postponed, in consideration of the ongoing elections in that country.
On the Lebanon crisis, Prince Saud, commenting that Syria has unconditionally accepted implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559, declared that it is high time for the Lebanese to unify their ranks, form a transitional government and hold elections to ensure the stability of the country.
On the Arab peace initiative that was approved by the Beirut Arab Summit but rejected by Israel, Prince Saud called the rejection "sad and tragic", saying Israel turned the project down without taking into consideration the constant bloodshed of both Israelis and Arabs. Regarding the outcome of the U.S. visit by Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, he commented that it is bad that Israel's right to maintain some of its settlements is preserved, but it is good that U.S. President George W. Bush called for an end to settlement expansion. The Israelis, he said, must act in a way that makes them acceptable by the region's countries; they have missed an opportunity by rejecting the Arab peace plan.
On the situation in Iraq, Prince Saud hoped that the factions which had not participated in the general elections would join the political process, noting that failure to do so will have an adverse impact on Iraq's stability.
On the Iranian nuclear project, Prince Saud affirmed the Kingdom's stance that the Middle East and Gulf region should be free of all weapons of mass destruction, and said Iran has confirmed its belief in this policy.


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Ahoy Baltimore residents, starting October 2015 you will be able to hop on a cruise without having to fly, right in your own back yard. Carnival Cruises will be operating a first ever series of 10 and 14-day Caribbean cruises on the Carnival Pride, which will arrive all spiffed up after a major make-over scheduled for fall of 2014.
You can sail roundtrip or do a one way to San Juan, or take a five-day voyage to Bermuda or an eight day journey to both the Bahamas and Caribbean. "Our guests and travel agent partners have been seeking more varied options from the Northeast – particularly longer length voyages – and we're delighted to expand our schedules from Baltimore and San Juan to provide these attractive 'Fun Ship' cruise offerings from these ports," said Gerry Cahill, Carnival's president and CEO. "These new voyages not only provide vacationers with an abundance of five- to 14-day cruise choices but also feature a wide range of spectacular island destinations throughout the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda," he added.
Carnival Pride will make a couple of five-day Bermuda cruises in 2015-16 – one departing Oct. 26, 2015, and another April 10, 2016. These cruises spend two full days at Heritage Wharf, where guests can marvel at the island's legendary pink sand beaches, enjoy a variety of watersports and visit historic sites such as the Royal Naval Dockyard and Gibb's Hill Lighthouse, the oldest cast iron lighthouse in the Western Hemisphere. She will also do a trio of six-day Bahamas cruises operating round-trip from Baltimore, with stops at Freeport and Nassau on Nov. 30 and Dec. 20, 2015, and Feb. 14, 2016. Here exotic eight-day eastern Caribbean cruises from Baltimore will stop at Grand Turk and the private Bahamian island of Half Moon Cay and Nassau on Oct. 18 and 31, and Dec. 26, 2015, and Feb. 20, and April 15 and 23, 2016.
There is also a six-day East Coast U.S. and Bahamas cruise from Baltimore featuring the line's first-ever scheduled in-transit call to Charleston, S.C., as well as Port Canaveral, Fla., Nassau, and Freeport, will be offered Nov. 22, 2015.
Bookings are open for the Baltimore cruises and can be made at www.carnival.com or by calling 1-800-CARNIVAL. You can follow Carnival's Twitter page at www.twitter.com/carnivalcruise; or on its FaceFan Page: www.facebook.com/carnival, or onYouTube.


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Flirting With Disaster: The Bear Prosecution Hits More Roadbumps
As we've written before, only two Wall Street executives have been charged with securities fraud stemming from the credit crisis. The two, former Bear Stearns execs, Ralph Cioffi and Matthew Tannin (pictured), are currently on trial now, in Brooklyn federal court. Click here for recent LB coverage of the case.
But the prosecutions may not wind up providing prosecutors much of a road map for subsequent trials. That's because things don't seem to be going that well for the government lawyers, writes our old colleague Dan Slater, who recently wrote another dispatch for the NYT's Dealbook on the case.
So what's happened? According to Slater, government witnesses keep coming unleashed, providing testimony that seems if not exculpatory, at least helpful to the defense. As Slater puts it: "a case built on provocative e-mail excerpts, bereft of context, can teeter when witnesses appear in court to provide a backdrop, for example, or the surrounding context of a seemingly damning e-mail message excerpt is read before a jury."
On Monday, Slater wrote about an example of this concerning testimony from a credit analyst which seemed to help the defendants. The latest example concerns a so-called "toast" email written by Tannin to the Gmail account of Cioffi's wife, in which he claimed the whole sub-prime market was "toast."
But, writes Slater, "in that same e-mail, the entirety of which was read into the trial record this week, a more sympathetic personality emerged." Tannin also wrote:
Every so often I worry a bit that because you have been so spectacularly successful so far in almost every way, you might be taking this opportunity to second guess yourself. Well, just in case you are, don't. At the end of the day, I think we will both be able to look at all that happened and all that we have done and learn from what has gone well as well as from what hasn't … What a shame it would be for us to not take all we have learned and apply it going forward.
According to Slater, it seems the judge in the case, Frederick Block, is growing a bit weary with the government's rather choppy presentation. Regarding an "ever-growing mountain of evidence," he commented: "We have a lot of papers here … I doubt jurors are going to read all 530 of those documents. But this is how the government chooses to present its case. Continue."


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On Barbara Walters last episode of "The View" which aired on May 16, 2014, twenty five women who were influenced by Barbara Walters appeared near the end in tribute. Noticeably absent was Kelly Ripa, the co-host of "Live with Kelly and Michael".
ABC Publicity Director Lauri Hogan claimed that Ripa wasn't there because only those from the news sector were included. However Joan Lunden was included and she was co-host of "Good Morning America" when it was part of the entertainment division of ABC. Both Lunden and David Hartman were allowed to do commercials while they were hosting "Good Morning America" when hosts of the "Today Show" were forbidden because it originated out of NBC's News division. Kelly Ripa currently reads news on the air (at least the headlines) followed by a discussion and has been included as one of the "Most Powerful People in Media" by the Hollywood Reporter.
Kathie Lee Gifford was included and she is currently on the last hour of the "Today Show", but she is mostly known for hosting "Live" just like Ripa and the last hour of the "Today Show" is closer in temperament with "Live" than with the first few hours of the "Today Show". The last hour of "Today Show" however does emphasize alcohol more than almost every show on television.
Oprah Winfrey was included and she did come up through local news, but she is mainly nationally known for a talk show. Deborah Norville was included and while she reached near the pinnacle of network news, she is currently the host of the much derided "Inside Edition". Catherine McFadden was so inspired by someone she became a lawyer and then switched to journalism at the behest of Ted Turner.
Ripa's omission isn't a clearance issue because "Live with Kelly and Michael" is produced by entities of ABC.
This could be a case of George Clooney like bias toward actresses (Clooneyism) in which Clooney would sleep with actresses but he wouldn't bring them to the altar. ABC rep Hogan hasn't responded since the specter of blatant Clooneyism has been raised.


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The Esoteric Explanation behind the Solstices and the Equinoxes
The redemption of the earth, its status and its role in the future are part of the Cosmic alchemical work portrayed at the 9th Degree of the Lesser Mysteries, in many Arcane Schools. This degree is celebrated on the nights of the Winter Solstice and Summer Solstice at midnight, because this ritual cannot be accomplished at any other time. The solstices mark the moment that the ground base vibration is higher and that the Cosmic Rays of Christ-consciousness and flowing more deeply: inward during the Winter Solstice and outward during the Summer Solstice[1].
"Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love." ~Hamilton Wright Mabie
This esoteric tradition is confirmed by the ancient pagan rituals of the Mysteries, which the New Christian Mysteries came to replace in order raise the vibratory rate of these ancient rituals.
Many historians often invoke an old almanac called the Roman Chronograph, from the year 354 CE, authored by Philocalus, also known as Philocalus Calendar[2], and cites the year 336 as the first in which the Church celebrated the celebration of Christmas on December 25.
In the Armenian Church, the December 25 date was never fully accepted for Christmas, keeping the ancient tradition of celebrating the Initiation on January 6th, the Epiphany, considered the 12th Sacred Day of Mystery of the Christian tradition.
According to the Rosicrucian author Corinne Heline, the 12-day period that elapses after the Christmas solstice festivity between December 26th and January 6th is a period of profound esoteric significance and is the "spiritual heart" of the year that will follow. It is the most sacred place/time of each coming year, is called "The Twelve Holy Days" and is under the direct influence of the Twelve Zodiacal Hierarchies[3]. These Zodiacal Hierarchies project themselves on planet earth, successively during each of these twelve days, as powerful archetypes so that the world will work together when the Twelve Hierarchies finally completes itself. The Twelve Holy Days of Christmas are a period of deep esoteric and spiritual significance: a time when the Divine Light is manifesting itself more fully in the world, building into a crescendo, until its influence can be effectually released at Epiphany.


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Becoming a marine mammal trainer is one of the jobs in the animal field, that is highly competitive to get. There are much more applicants for the jobs, than there is job openings. It is a a lot of hard work to get a job in this field, and requires a lot of dedication to accomplish it. If you are still interested in pursuing this career, continue reading.
Most marine mammals that you see in zoos or aquariums are seals, sea lions, sea otters, walruses, dolphins, beluga whales, and even killer whales(the largest member of the dolphin family). As a trainer your duties consist of prepping food (lots of fish!) and feeding the animals. You also are responsible for the cleaning and care of the exhibit the animal is in. You will spend a good amount of time, training the animals in your care. Training is mostly for husbandry purposes. This helps the veterinarian staff monitor the animals health. For example, a trainer may train a seal to present a flipper for a blood draw, or a bottlenose dolphin will turn over and present its underside to receive an ultrasound. Some facilities have educational presentations that they also train animals for. This is a way to connect the audience with the animals, and make people more appreciative of the different animals species. Connecting with people is a good way to raise awareness of issues facing these amazing animals in the oceans and environments they live in.
As far as education requirements go, you need a high school diploma. Since competition is very strong, having a degree would be very helpful. Some common degrees among trainers are in biology, zoology, psychology, and even animal behavior. As with most zoological or aquarium facilities, I recommend getting prior animal experience. Volunteering at a zoo or aquarium is helpful. If that is not possible, working or volunteering your time at a stable, veterinarian clinic, or animal shelter will help get you some hands on experience.
Most marine mammal training positions require being scuba certified and completing a swim test, before you are considered to be hired. Being in good physical shape is required of these jobs. Keeping a healthy diet and exercise is very beneficial for you in this line of work. Another quality you have to be comfortable with, is public speaking. If you are not comfortable talking to groups of people, or talking during a presentation, this will not be the job for you.
However, even after seeing the requirements and knowing that it is a very competitive field, and you still think this is the field for you; I offer one more bit of advice. Stay persistent and do not be discouraged if you do not get the first couple of jobs your apply for.


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After installing SocialEngine 4 (4.8.6) on a Mac mini running Mavericks Server 3 and PHP 5.4.27, SocialEngine pukes with an error: 1 exception 'Zend_Db_Statement_Mysqli_Exception' with message 'Mysqli statement execute error : …
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It seems the comments have been broken for quite some time and I just recently found out. I have to say I was kinda surprised I didnt even get any spam for so long hehe. Anywho… I think I've managed to fix the problem now.
It seems the old ones are lost tho, even if it says on some posts that there should be some.
Well that was that.. just a quick update.


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Sep 21, 2010 10:34 AM
Elissa K. wrote, "I have to go to a gala event where the dress code is 1940s cocktail dresses. HELP! How or where can you even find retro cocktail dresses, and especially on a budget? Not costume-y stuff, Any direction would be appreciated!"
Elissa, according to our resident vintage fiend, One Ring To Rule Them All, eBay and vintage stores (and good tailors + foundation garments!) will be your best friend. Many of the dresses shown here are a bit more 50's style, technically, but with the right accessories can swing 40's style. Have fun at the gala!
1 - Shabby Apple Jitterbug Dress ($76)
2 - Beachland Ballroom Dress ($125)
3 - Bettie Page Clothing Black Embroidered "Sierra" Pencil Dress ($120)
4 - Chic Challenge Dress ($105)
5 - Dixiefried Vintage Inspired Paris Dress ($116)
6 - Shabby Apple Bette D Dress ($88)
7 - 1940's Stye Stop Staring Red Havana Wiggle Dress ($150)
8 - She Knows Just the Dress ($135)
9 - Stop Staring Black & Beige Harlow 40's Style Wiggle Cocktail Dress ($158)
10 - 1950's Style Stop Staring Black Lace Alice Wiggle Dress ($154)
Frustrated in your search for that perfect leather handbag, red stiletto pump, or whatever makes your heart go thump in the night? Send us a request and we might do the shopping work for you in a future Personal Shopper feature!
Trashy Diva is another great independent company that does vintage inspired pieces, with a lot of 1940s inspired styles:
If you've got a product or service that you'd like to promote on Outblush, click here to find out about our advertising opportunities.
Outblush is a blog for girls who love to shop. Our staff digs up the best clothes, home stuff, beauty items, and more. New items are posted every day — bookmark us and check out:


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One Moon Gallery in Esquimalt Nation
One Moon Art Galllery is a new and unique native art gallery located inside the reservation of the Esquimalt First Nation, just minutes from downtown Victoria. The One Moon gallery is adjacent to the Long House and often the visitors of the gallery are able to hear the drumming and singing of the traditional dances taking place there quite regularly and some of which are open to the public. The location is spectacular as it is facing the ocean front park that belongs to the Esquimalt people but until now was only accessible by those residing on the reserve. Even long time Victoria residents are impressed and happy to discover a serene and authentic native village close to downtown, now open for them to visit. The visit to the gallery itself is also an unforgettable experience as it is made in the style of a long house, with a Totem Pole erected for the opening of the gallery. The front doors are made of carved cedar and the interior walls and ceiling are also fully covered by natural cedar. The lighting is state of the art, the art is beautifully presented and the music piped in is soft native flute which gives the visitor a calming and non rushed experience that invites to stay and enjoy each painting and the poetry that the artist has composed for each work. The art displayed is that of Coast Salish artist Darlene Gait who is an internationally recognized painter from the Esquimalt Nation and who placed her gallery in this setting as a way to honor her people and to also welcome non natives to visit her community. The gallery supports various initiatives to promote the art of native artists and sponsors several events each year where the public is also invited. The gallery and the artist where featured in October on the front cover of the Focus magazine, which is the most read publication for the arts in Victoria. Please do not hesitate to contact us for further details. We would be happy to show your local editor the gallery at their convenience. The One Moon gallery is open on Saturdays and Sundays 10 to 5 and anytime by appointment. Please see www.onemoon.ca for further details and directions.
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Gold Price in India: Stronger Rupee Pushes Gold Lower
Nadia Simmons
If the rupee goes up once again, we should prepare for lower values in the yellow metal.
Yesterday, the Indian rupee rose to a two-week high as expectations for a narrower trade deficit and receding concerns about Syria helped the currency continue its recent recovery from record lows hit last month. Today, the Indian currency extended gains and added as much as 1.52%. It's worth noting that the rupee posted a fifth consecutive session of gains after former International Monetary Fund Chief Economist Raghuram Rajan took the helm of the central bank last Wednesday and quickly unveiled a spate of measures to support the currency and open up markets.
According to Reuters, Rajan's appointment has sparked badly-needed optimism among investors, after the rupee had slumped over 20% so far this year, as markets hope for a fresh approach to the new RBI's controversial defense of the rupee.
Since August 28 the rupee has gained more than 6%. What impact did this have on gold's chart? Where are the nearest support zones and resistance levels? Let's take a closer look at the daily chart and find out what the current outlook for gold priced in rupees is.
Click to enlarge
On the above chart we see that the situation has deteriorated since my previous article on gold in India was published.
Gold's Relationship With Indian Rupee: Update
September 6:
...the recent corrective move is a bit larger than the previous one. This means that it can extend in the following days. In this case, the 1.272 ratio is around Rs 88,382, and the next one (the 1.414 ratio) is close to Rs 87,497. It's worth noting that this ratio is slightly below the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level, and together they form a strong support zone which, from today's point of view, seems to be the first price target for the sellers.
As you see on the daily chart, since the beginning of this week, gold bears have shown their claws and pushed the price of gold lower. Today, they witnessed the scenario outlined above since the yellow metal dropped below the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level based on the entire June-August rally and reached Rs 86,200 per ounce (around 27,806 per 10g). Additionally, today the price of gold also slipped below the 30-day moving average, which serves as resistance now.
Taking the above into account, you are probably wondering what's next.
When we factor in the Fibonacci price projections (purple lines on the chart), we see that the 1.618 ratio was broken today. If the gold bulls don't manage to push the price higher from here, the next price target for the sellers will be around the 1.732 ratio at Rs 85,514. It's worth mentioning that this ratio is slightly above the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level based on the upward move from the August low to the August top (around Rs 85,449 per ounce). This area is also supported by the 45-day moving average (currently at Rs 85,090).
If this strong support zone is broken, the next support level will be close to the 50% Fibonacci retracement level based on the entire June-August rally.
Now that we know the current situation in gold priced in rupees, let's take a look at the INR/USD chart and find out whether the relationship between gold and the INR/USD exchange rate still exists or not.
Click to enlarge
On the above chart we clearly see that the situation has improved in the recent days. The INR/USD exchange rate broke above the strong resistance zone based on the previously-broken green long-term declining support/resistance line, the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level based on the entire July-August decline, and the declining resistance line based on the July and August 12 tops.
These positive circumstances encouraged buyers to act and resulted in higher values. In this way, the Indian rupee reached the 50% Fibonacci retracement level based on the entire July-August decline. Today we saw a small breakout above this resistance level (but only on an intraday basis), which is not yet confirmed.
Taking the above into account, in the following days we may see a corrective move to the previously-broken declining resistance line based on the July and August 12 tops.
On the other hand, if the buyers do not give up, the next price target will be around the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level. Please note that this area is also supported by the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level based on the entire May-August decline and the 50-day moving average.
Summing up, the recent strength of the rupee against the dollar resulted in a correction, which took gold below the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level (based on the entire June-August rally) and the 1.618 ratio. If the Indian currency drops to the previously-broken declining resistance line based on the July and August 12 tops, we will likely see a pullback in gold in coming days. However, if the Indian rupee goes up once again, we should prepare for lower values in the yellow metal. As noted earlier in this article, both gold and the rupee moved closer to important support/resistance zones. Taking the above into account and combining this with the fact that the negative correlation between gold and the rupee still remains in place, in the near future we might see significant changes in the direction in which they move.
For the full version of this essay and more, visit
Sunshine Profits' website
Nadia is a private investor and trader, dealing in stocks, currencies, and commodities. Using her background in technical analysis, she spends countless hours identifying market trends, major support and resistance zones, breakouts, and failures. In her writing, she presents complex ideas with clarity that enables you to easily understand market changes and profit from them. You can read Nadia's analyses at
where she publishes her articles on gold and crude oil trading.
No positions in stocks mentioned.


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Things to see and do - Sartène
Leaving for France
Plateau de Cauria :
Nearby tourist sites
Nearby hotels
Hotel Des Roches from78 €Book
Best Western Hôtel San Damianu from150 €Book
Hôtel Lilium Maris from80 €Book
Plateau de Cauria
Plateau de Cauria : Michelin's recommendations
Archaeological excavations of this plateau have revealed no fewer than 170 monolithic structures, which lie dispersed across the scrubland. The Stantari standing stones, to be found in a remote setting amid vineyards and pastures, have a total of eleven menhirs, including the most famous statue menhirs in Corsica, depicting armed figures with their long swords in relief. At the foot of Punta Cauria you will discover a group of some 40 menhirs, the Renaju standing stones. Lastly, the Portal Tomb of Fontanaccia, the most instantly recognisable of the Corsican portal tombs, comprises six vertical pillars supporting the granite entablature.


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Southern Refurb was incorporated August 1st, 1985. Our services include an Earth Friendly approach to the computer recycling. We offer corporations in Atlanta pickup of their computer surplus. A consignment agreement where as the hardware is sold the money we receive for the products is revenue shared. Zero land-fill dumping. Our business is and always will be based on honesty, integrity and a serious process to do you the user right. Visit our on-line store to see what we have for sale.
Our efforts have been rewarded with the increase of sellable inbound computer excess. Our sales have grown to maintenance companies, Ebay and on our E-commerce store.


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Could a Chinese constitution limit the CCP's powers?
Author: Brendan Forde, ANU
The role and implementation of the state Constitution is becoming an increasingly important issue in political debates in China, as scholars and citizens alike consider possible future directions for change and reform.
But throughout the PRC's history the Constitution in its various iterations has been perceived and treated more as a set of broad guidelines, with the enforceability of specific provisions subject to the political circumstances of the day.
The current Constitution was promulgated in 1982. It contains protections for freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association and demonstration, along with the right to vote and be elected to office. An amendment introduced in 2004 commits to the protection of human rights. The document contains a provision that asserts that the Constitution is supreme over all organisations and individuals within the PRC.
The legislature, the National People's Congress, has the power to interpret and enforce the Constitution, as well as review laws for their constitutionality — all this while the courts have no power of judicial review. The leadership of the CCP enjoys a prominent role in the Constitution.
It is in the ambiguity that exists between enumerated rights and reality that an arena for the debate of political reform has opened. While debates over the Constitution are hardly new in China the current discussions come at an interesting time, in the midst of anti-corruption and political rectification campaigns pushed by the new leadership.
In essence, the debate is relatively straight forward. One side is broadly made up of reformers or constitutionalists, ranging from those who seek better implementation of the existing Constitution to those who pursue the promulgation of a new one. As leading reformer Zhang Qianfan put it: 'Constitutionalism means nothing but the implementation of the Constitution'.
The other side is made up of those opposed to any greater role for the Constitution in China. They have deployed a range of arguments in defence of the status quo. A recent article by Ma Zhongcheng in the overseas edition of the People's Daily argued that constitutionalism was supported by hostile foreign forces to undermine the CCP, citing the contribution of similar reforms to the Soviet Union's fall (a common theme used by conservatives in China to argue against reform). And a Global Times editorial in May argued that constitutionalist reforms are incompatible with China's development path.
Constitutionalists have responded, with one noted essay in the Central Party School's Study Times by Party historian Li Haiqing calling for the introduction of constitutional concepts of citizenship to replace the political notion of the masses. Beyond intellectuals with official party sanction, the apparent reluctance of some media outlets to openly editorialise in favour of constitutionalism can be traced to January this year when an editorial in the Southern Weekend espousing the need for the implementation of the Constitution was replaced by propaganda officials.
Such an editorial intrusion might suggest that the authorities are not willing to tolerate any change. This has been reinforced by the existence of an elusive and yet-unpublished central government circular known as Document 9 that warns against hostile foreign forces using ideology to divide China.
Despite this, Xi Jinping's comments on the Constitution may indicate a different viewpoint. In December, at an event marking the Constitution's 30th anniversary, Xi referred to the Constitution as the 'legal weapon for the people to defend their rights' and commented that the 'vitality of the constitution lies in its implementation; the authority of the constitution lies in its implementation'. Addressing the Second Plenum of the 18th Central Committee in February this year Xi stated that 'no organization or individual should be put above the Constitution or the law', echoing his statements in December. These comments are quite clear, but they should not be taken as conclusive proof of Xi's attitude. Indeed, the incident at the Southern Weekend occurred after Xi's December speech.
So far, constitutional advocates have broadly survived without censure. The public debate continues, even though the conservative position enjoys disproportionate prominence in the media. However, there are shifting boundaries of acceptability that advocates will need to be wary of. An advocacy group called the Open Constitution Initiative formed in 2002 to push for greater constitutional implementation was forcibly closed in 2009. A key player in that initiative, activist lawyer Xu Zhiyong, has been detained, probably in relation to his leadership of the New Citizenship Movement, which calls for the enforcement of constitutional protections for citizens. The detention of Xu serves as a boundary marker: once the debate moves from intellectual exchange into the realms of activism the authorities will be quick to act.
It is difficult, if not impossible, to determine what influence these debates over the Constitution have had at the highest levels of power. But it is likely that most leaders would naturally prefer the greater flexibility in the exercise of power that comes from the present status quo. Regardless, the issue of constitutional implementation will not disappear — more and more citizens are aware of their enumerated rights and seek to use them. Protestors increasingly invoke these rights to legitimate and protect their actions. At stake is the rule of law itself and the faith of citizens in the Chinese political system. This is an important debate at an important time in China's political development.
Brendan Forde is a PhD candidate at the Australian National University specialising in Chinese Politics.
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UPDATE / April 12: Below are some of the "robust" replies I received after tweeting a pic of a Samsung Gear 2 late Friday afternoon.
Some are having sport (and, jeez, I didn't have time to wax my arm this week, okay?). Still, where there's social media smoke, there's fire. A lot of the comments reflect the quips I got around the office, and elsewhere offline.
The tweets (scroll down), underline four challenges, which apply equally to all smartwatch makers:
1) Fashion. Smartphones are already a style accessory, but watches are another level again. Can a smart watch cut it as male or female jewelry? Often a watch has sentimental value, collector value or snob value far in excess of a $399 gadget around your wrist.
2) Smart watches will date rapidly, but people won't want to buy a new watch every year. Tons of people happily trade up from last year's $1000 smartphone to this year's $1000 smartphone every 12 months or 24 months. But a phone is often subsidised, with a low or no upfront cost if you take a contact (which, if you're lucky, your company pays for or you can claim as an expense). A smartwatch has no SIM card. It has to be tethered to a smartphone, so in a way is just an accessory - and a full cost accessory at that. This year's smartphones have much better battery life than last year's. Flexible screens will be on the way next year. Who wants to be on a watch-buying treadmill?
3. Battery life. A deal-breaker with many first-generation smartwatches, including Samsung's Gear 1. I've only had my Gear 2 for 24 hours - but the battery's still going. That already means it beats the Gear I (and it's better at waking up from sleep mode - which again kicks in within seconds in the default setup). Hopefully it's going to last another three as advertised.
4. Seamless phone syncing. So far the Gear 2 has proved much smoother in this department, and for bonus points, it now syncs with a wide spread of Samsung's latest phones and tablets. The onscreen prompts on the watch are easy to follow, and I could sync, via Bluetooth, literally within a minute. Still, just saying you have to wirelessly pair your watch with your phone is going to make many potential buyers roll their eyes. It just sounds too finicky.
Samsung Galaxy S5 + Gear 2 land at NBR Towers http://t.co/NeAhJG9ALu pic.twitter.com/Q7zz3bDqXi
— Chris Keall (@ChrisKeall) April 11, 2014
That'll be the watch pic.twitter.com/BeiMnWlwA4
— Chris Keall (@ChrisKeall) April 11, 2014
@paulbrislen @ChrisKeall The people who would wear that are the same people who have their phone clipped to their belt. #FashionFail
— Ian Havill (@iHavill) April 11, 2014
@ChrisKeall jaysus! Did your arm shrink in the wash?
— paulbrislen (@paulbrislen) April 11, 2014
@paulbrislen @ChrisKeall actually that thing looks handy for eating your sushi off at lunchtime
— Bruce Buckman (@BruceBuckman) April 11, 2014
@ChrisKeall looks great! Times aren't synced though? That would wind me up
— James Nutt (@JamesNutt11) April 11, 2014
@ChrisKeall it's pretty nice, eh?
— Owen Williams (@ow) April 11, 2014
@ChrisKeall It's hairier than I thought.
— Scott Bartley (@scottbartley) April 11, 2014
@scottbartley @ChrisKeall A new tech 'monkey boy'?
— Sir William Bennett (@billbennettnz) April 11, 2014
@ChrisKeall exciting!
— Dee Crooks (@DeeCrooks) April 11, 2014
@ChrisKeall do you hold it up to your ear to answer?
— Mark Rushworth (@mrushworth) April 11, 2014
Samsung releases Galaxy S5, new smart watches in NZ - previews
April 11: Samsung has released its new flagship smartphone, the Galaxy S5 ($1049) in NZ today, plus three new "wearables" , or smart watches.
Sorry, people reading my print column authored Tuesday who headed to this URL: I'd hoped to have a hands-on review by now, but the kit didn't show Wednesday or Thursday.
Meantime here's a link to NBR's earlier preview of the S5, plus a preview of the smartwatches.
This article is tagged with the following keywords. Find out more about MyNBR Tags
NZ Market Snapshot
|Gold Index
|Oil Brent
|Oil Nymex
|Silver Index
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- Business Week in Review with Grant Walker & Andrew Patterson
- Matthew Hooton on the state of the British Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn
- Rodney Hide on the Ombudsman's investigation into SSC conduct of MFAT leaks inquiry
- David Cohen on how to walk out of a TV interview
- Imperial Tobacco lobbyist insists NZ visit about "contributing expertise," not pressuring government on plain packaging law


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Hotel Near The Lanes, Brighton
Are you looking for a budget hotel in Brighton? umi Hotel Brighton is the best hotel in Brighton to experience the exciting mix of what Brighton has to offer.
What are 'The Lanes' in Brighton?
In Brighton there is a collection of narrow streets known collectively as The Lanes. The Lanes are famous for their small shops including cafes, boutiques and antique shops, as well as their narrow alleyways that give the area the feeling that not a lot has changed since this was a bustling post-industrial seaside settlement.
The Lanes still have their medieval charms being part of the original settlement once known as Brighthelmston. They were further developed and built up in the 18th Century when Dr Richard Russell announced what he believed were the benefits of sea water, shortly before the Royal Pavilion became the home of the Prince Regent.
If you are looking to explore The Lanes and Brighton's many other mysteries, book your stay at umi Hotel Brighton. We are situated on the seafront which is just minutes away from The Lanes.
Where are 'The Lanes' in Brighton?
The Lanes are normally taken to be between North Street to the north, Prince Albert Street and Bartholemew Square to the south and Ship Street in the west - the eastern boundary isn't as clear. However, generally it's either considered to be East Street or Market Street.
umi Hotel Brighton is centrally located on Brighton's seafront with incredible sea views just minutes away from all of Brighton's attractions, whilst being the closest seafront hotel to Brighton train station.
Book online now or call free on 0800 077 8041, make umi's historic hotel on Brighton's Seafront your base for exploring the lively and unique culture that thrives in Brighton.


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Stressful Jobs Could Make You Old and Sick Before Time
by Sheela Philomena on July 31, 2012 at 11:34 AM Research News - G J E 4
Stressful jobs age you faster, say Finnish researchers.
Led by Kirsi Ahola of the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, the researchers measured the length of DNA sections called telomeres and how the lengths varied in association with job stress and found that people suffering from the most job stress tended to have shorter telomeres.
AdvertisementTelomeres, located at the ends of chromosomes, serve as a type of protective cap to the ropy strands, helping assure that the genetic instructions carried by genes on the chromosomes are accurately translated so cells get the right messages.
Telomeres shorten with age, oxidation and chemical insults. Often, when telomeres reach a critically short length, the cell dies in a process called apoptosis, according to NBC News.
Some cells do not die, but rather become what scientists call 'senescent' - they start making genetic errors and causing damage.
Ahola and her team analyzed blood cells called leukocytes - which are critical to immune function - in 2,911 people between ages 30 and 64.
They found that workers who experienced severe exhaustion from job stress had significantly shorter leukocyte telomeres than their relatively stress-free counterparts.
But it appears that frazzled wage earners have more to worry about than crow's feet, wrinkles and greying locks. Telomere shortening has been linked to Parkinson's disease, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer.
In short, being in a constant state of anxiety at your workplace could make you old before your time and expose you to illnesses associated with aging.
"I think that these results should be used when considering health hazards and work place legislation. Chronic work stress can become a health risk and should be prevented," the Daily Mail quoted Ahola as telling NBC News.
The research appeared in the journal PloS One this month.
Source: ANI
P Blackcurrant can Protect from Heart Disease Study Suggests Health Coaches Could be Key to Successful Weight Loss M
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A good night's sleep starts at the bottom; your mattress! Enjoy a firm sleeping surface that provides excellent back support with this queen-size mattress that comes with a box spring and a luxurious knit cover, quilted to 1.5" of foam. The foam-encased edge provides 10% more usable sleeping surface for a generous sleeping space. A motion-controlled, individually wrapped coil system conforms to your body to meet your sleeping needs.Product Features:2.5" thick zoned foam provides pressure relief for a comfortable sleeping experienceFirm sleeping surface provides good back supportMotion control, individually wrapped coil system conforms to your body and absorbs your partner' s movementsLuxurious knit cover for added comfortFR Rayon FiberFlameGuard protection meets Federal flammability standards for peace of mind3/4" SealyFoam3/4" Comfort Hold FoamDensified Fiber PadDuraTech foundation provides stable support for the mattressDimensions: 80" l x 60" w x 12.5" h (mattress); 9" h (box spring)Weight: 133 lb. (total)Warranty: 10 years(Model 44602751)Special Shipping TermsThe delivery agent will call to schedule a delivery appointmentDelivery of the set inside the home by 2 delivery personnelUnpacking product and removal of all debrisPlace mattress set on frame or properly configured bedroom furniture (headboard, footboard, rails with center support)Frame not includedDeliveries are done Monday - Friday 8:00am - 5:00pmDelivery is not available to Alaska or HawaiiIf you have any customer service questions, order status inquiries, concerns regarding defective product or product operation, please call 1-336-862-8645 and ask for the Customer Service Department related to BJ's Wholesale Club.
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I got this Sealy's memory foam mattress from BJs store. I had to rent a truck for pickup, wasted money. The bed is itchy. No one is ready to use this bed at my home. I am planning to return this one, but I have to rent the truck again.
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
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Enrichment Guide
Type of Program
Sleepy Hollow Horse Farm
Essential Information
Rte. 421
Quakertown, PA 18951
Farm animal education. Pony rides & petting zoos. ***
Additional Information
Website: http://www.sleepyhollowponies.com
Type of Program: Nature
Featured Business Listings
Edge of the Woods farm offers pony rides and petting zoos that travel to you! I found out they also have a 4-H club for ponies, one for mini-ponies and now one for Breyer horses. I have seen this company around southern NJ at various events. The animals are all in wonderful shape and the owners are seen checking up on them and rotating them through so if it is too hot or one looks tired (at Salem county fair it was brutal!) they get to rest. The prices are so much less than most pony ride places and the owners are really friendly. I took their business card and will be getting them to do a party soon!


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Li Li's Travel JournalPart 4 of 11
Entry Four: The Forbidden Forest
Loaded up with supplies from the Dai-Lo Farmstead, I prepared for my trek into the deadliest place on the Wandering Isle: Pei-Wu Forest!
The woods are dangerous—forbidden to almost all pandaren—and I knew sneaking in would be tricky. Hills and steep, rocky mountains surround the dense bamboo forest, and the only real path leading inside is blocked off by two massive gates. These sturdy barriers are located outside Mandori Village, where I've lived my whole life. That might sound convenient, but pandaren are always in the area, so it's hard to get over the walls undetected.
To make matters worse, I saw Strongbo as I was searching for a secluded place to scale the first gate from. Why was he snooping around the village today of all days? He asked me what I'd been up to earlier at the Singing Pools. "Experiencing the beauty and splendor that is our home," was my answer—and it was true!
Even so, Strongbo just narrowed his eyes and scowled like usual. (I wonder if he knows how much he looks like a wrinkly mossback toad when he does that.) With Bo poking his fat nose around, I went home to lay low and get some rest until I knew the coast was clear. Before sunrise, I crept out into the quiet, empty streets and climbed over the two great gates with a yak-hair rope I'd picked up in Dai-Lo.
Soon the sun peeked over the horizon, but Pei-Wu's thick canopy blocked out almost all light. Fog hung low on the forest floor, making it even harder to see. But I could hear sounds all around me... a lot of them. The region is well known for its abundance of critters, but there's only one that strikes fear into the heart of every pandaren: the ferocious Pei-Wu tiger.
And one of them was hunting me. Wherever I walked, heavy footsteps followed in the distance. If I stopped, they stopped. If I moved, they moved. Then, all of a sudden, the beast rushed toward me, snorting and growling. I went into the stance of the sturdy ox to defend myself just as a giant form emerged from the mists—
It was Strongbo!
Why couldn't he mind his own business? Without a word, Bo took me back home, and then he woke up Pop and told him I'd snuck into the forbidden forest. My pop chewed me out for a good hour before he finally calmed down. As punishment, he decided I'd have to suffer through a full week of training at the Singing Pools... under Bo's watchful eye.
I tried to tell Pop what I'd been doing, that I'd been exploring the Great Turtle and writing about how wonderful the journey was. I thought it would make him happy, but he didn't seem to understand or care.
Pop said my punishment would begin the next day, which meant I had time to visit one more location. Still fuming about what had happened, I set out west until I reached a long, winding trail that led to the Wood of Staves—the final resting place of the Wandering Isle's Elder pandaren. A massive stone lion, the Guardian of the Elders, protects the entrance, and the mighty being won't let you through unless you've bested him in single combat. (I was one of the youngest pandaren ever to pass the test.)
Years ago, before he left the Great Turtle, Uncle Chen had told me that he often visited this part of the isle for inspiration. Back then I didn't understand why, but now I do. There's magic to this place. When someone is laid to rest there, their walking stick is planted into the ground, and the staff eventually grows into a wondrous tree. Well, after many generations, an entire forest has sprouted—an entire history of the isle's great pandaren.
Even my family has a spot there... but I'd rather not write about that. I didn't visit it that trip. After my argument with Pop, the last thing I needed was more heartache.
As I strolled through one of the oldest thickets in the area, I came across Elder Shaopai lighting incense on his family's shrine. He's a supremely wise pandaren from nearby Morning Breeze Village. The Elder has spent his whole life recording words of wisdom for the benefit of future generations.
Shaopai walked with me for a short time, pointing at trees and saying who they were in remembrance of. Before he left for his village, he said, "I can tell that you have much on your mind, little Stormstout. It's not my place to ask you about personal matters, but take this." The Elder gave me a smooth, round object just bigger than the size of my paw—a worry stone. "When life weighs heavy on your shoulders, the worry stone can lighten the load. Its magic is very powerful."
I'd always thought worry stones were useless trinkets, but if a genius like Shaopai believed they worked, that was good enough for me.
When I finally left the woods, an odd feeling came over me, and I haven't been able to shake it. I was thankful for Shaopai's gift and for having visited so many great places on the isle, but I wanted more. The Wandering Isle is a beautiful and enchanted land full of history and wonder. For me, though, it's home. I've seen it all. Meanwhile, there is a whole world out there waiting to be explored, and I'm afraid I won't ever get to experience it.
I spent the rest of the day in the Great Library, reading through Uncle Chen's letters again. I miss him. Pop says my uncle probably got himself killed on one of his "crazy" adventures, but I don't believe it. I know he's still out there somewhere, and I know he'll come back someday.
Until then, all I can do is keep the Wanderer's Way alive here on the Great Turtle. Uncle Chen would be proud of that... My ancestors would be proud of that. It's how we were always meant to live! As Liu Lang himself once said, "Every horizon is a treasure chest; every blank map, a story waiting to be told."
If only my pop understood that. No matter what he says, one day I will make my mark on the world.
And when I do, maybe Uncle Chen will be there at my side.


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Cosmos is one of those rare plants that thrives under adverse conditions and blooms under the harshest summer sun. It's a go-to plant and this week's plant of the week.
Cosmos originated in South and Central America. Spanish priests grew this annual flower in their gardens in Mexico. Cosmos grows to 7 feet tall with large showy flowers and delicate fern-like foliage.
The most common variety of cosmos blooms in shades of white pink and red, but there are many new cultivars on the market today, both in single and double blooms. Candy Stripe cosmos has pink petals edged with fuchsia. "Day Dream" is a variety of cosmos with pale pink petals with a base of deep pink, almost red. "Seashell cosmos has petals that are shaped like tubes and then there is Psycho White cosmos with frilled double flowers and many more.
Cosmos takes full sun and, although it will grow in a wide range of conditions, well-drained soil. Don't over-water this plant. Cosmos prefers slightly dry soil between watering. This annual is easily grown from a seed, and widely available, although the newer cultivars will have to be ordered from a catalog.
Plant them in spring for early summer flowers and in June for late summer to frost flowers. These plants will self-seed so you might get the second blooming without any effort. Cosmos makes great cut flowers, lasting up to 10 days in the vase. Cosmos is drought-tolerant, sun-tolerant and a consistent performer. What more could you ask?


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LONDON (AP) - One summer evening, six bankers celebrated a business deal with dinner at a London restaurant. Several hours and three bottles of Chateau Petrus later, they had run up a bill of more than $60,000 - according to Guinness World Records, the most expensive meal per capita ever.
The Petrus restaurant - a self-styled destination for "movers and shakers" in London's St. James' district - released details of the bill to the media after the meal in July. But Tuesday night, staff at the lush, low-key dining room said politely but firmly that they were not allowed to speak to the media about this issue.
The party spent 44,007 pounds - $62,679 - most of it on wine, including a bottle of 1945 Chateau Petrus Bordeaux priced at $16,500; a $13,400 bottle of the 1946 vintage; and a bottle of the 1947 Petrus at $17,500. The dessert wine cost $13,100.
The restaurant did not even charge the party for the several hundred dollars worth of food it consumed.
The bill was just for drinks, cigarettes and tax.
The restaurant's public relations firm, Sauce Communications, confirmed the cost of the meal but said Petrus had not released the diners' names to the media.
British newspapers identified the diners as employees of Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays, Britain's largest bank.
The diners paid the bill with their own money.
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