text:
Janet Hamlin / AP
In this sketch reviewed by the U.S. Department of Defense, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed reads a document in court on Saturday.
Updated at 10:20 p.m. ET: GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba -- Accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and his co-defendants defied a military judge Saturday by refusing to answer his questions, and one of them got up and started praying as the long-awaited arraignment of the terror suspects got off to a rocky start in a military courtroom in Guantanamo.
Mohammed -- dressed in a white turban and robe -- sat silently, taking off his headphones when Judge James Pohl first addressed him. "One cannot refuse to participate and frustrate the proceedings," a clearly irritated Pohl snapped.
"The reason he's not putting the earphones in his ears is because of the torture that was done to him," his lawyer, David Nevin, told the judge.
Ramzi Binalshibh, another alleged 9/11 plotter, at one point disrupted the court by standing up and shouting -- first in Arabic and then in English -- that "the era of Gadhafi is over but it continues at this camp. Maybe you aren't going to see me anymore ... there are threats we have seen at this camp. Maybe they will kill us and say we have committed suicide."
When Pohl ordered him to sit down, saying such issues could be raised later, Binalshibh shot back: "The time to discuss these things is now, not tomorrow."
While families of the 9/11 victims watched in the courtroom, and on closed-circuit television at seven sites in the United States, the dispute - and other protests by the defendants and their lawyers -- appeared to initially tie up the proceedings in knots.
The chaotic hearing ended with the reading of the 87 pages of charges, which took more than two hours. The judge then declared the court in recess until June 12.
Binalshibh earlier brought the court to a halt when he stood up and then dropped to his knees in prayer.
NBC's Michael Isikoff reports from Guantanamo on the disruptions .
Another defendant, Walid bin Attash, sat in court in restraints -- apparently because of a dispute with guards -- and his lawyer said he couldn't participate because his client was "in pain." The restraints were later removed.
With his long flowing beard, Mohammed was a striking presence in the courtroom. But his refusal to utter a word -- despite repeated entreaties by the judge -- stood in stark contrast to previous court appearances where he has chanted Koranic verses, denounced the United States, and taken credit for the terror attacks.
At left, a 2003 photo obtained by the Associated Press shows Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the alleged Sept. 11 attacks mastermind, shortly after his capture. At right, a photo downloaded from www.muslm.net purports to show Mohammed in 2009.
When the defendants declined to wear their headsets so they could listen to translations of the judge's questions, Pohl ordered a translator to repeat them out loud in Arabic. And he plowed ahead, asking each of the defendants detailed questions about their knowledge of the lawyers who had been appointed to represent them and whether they accepted them. None of the defendants responded and refused to even look at the judge.
During a break, the defendants could be seen leaning back in their seats, laughing, smiling and chatting among themselves -- apparently pleased with their ability to frustrate the judge.
The lawyers did their part, raising repeated objections. Cheryl Borman, a lawyer for Attash and dressed in a muslim hajib, objected to the attire of women members of the prosecution team, several of whom were dressed in military skirts with their legs showing.
"There are issues of cultural sensitivity here," she said. "I am suggesting the prosecution team make decisions of appropriate dress of their female colleagues so that our clients are not forced to look (at them) for fear of commiting a sin under their faith."
Nevin, Mohammed's lawyer, asked Pohl to force prosecutors to identify the men sitting in the back of the courtroom. "Given what Mr. Mohammed has been through with unknown, shadowy people it will affect his ability to proceed," Nevin said. The men were later ID'd as paralegals and FBI agents.
The tactics appeared designed to highlight objections their lawyers have raised to the fairness of the proceedings before a military commission.
In recent days, defense lawyers have filed motions objecting to rules that allow military guards to inspect the mail they send their clients, a lack of translators, and orders that make anything their clients as "presumptively classified."
The Obama administration had previously sought to try the suspects in federal court in New York City -- a move that stirred up a storm of political opposition. Since then, the case has been moved back to military court here at Guantanamo and some of the family members that gathered here this week said they are anxious to see the suspects brought to justice.
An online article purportedly written by al-Qaida members includes instructions on how to set fires in Montana. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
"I'm from Brooklyn and you know what, you face your, you face your fight," said Eddie Bracken, whose sister Lucy was killed in the World Trade Towers.
He said he wanted to see Mohammed and his co-defendants in the courtroom. "I want to see him eye to eye. That's the man that killed my sister -- him and the other cohorts or whatever you want to call them."
Background on the long, winding road to arraignment
Pentagon releases video of US troops interrogating bin Laden's driver
Honor student pleads guilty in 'Jihad Jane' terror plot
NYT: Role of torture revisited in bin Laden narrative
Bin Laden in hiding: Hatching horrific plots despite crippling attacks on al-Qaida
It was the first public appearance by the five men in more than three years.
Mohammed, a Pakistani citizen who grew up in Kuwait and attended college in Greensboro, N.C., was joined by four co-defendants:
- Binalshibh, a Yemeni -- allegedly chosen to be a hijacker but couldn't get a U.S. visa and ended up providing assistance such as finding flight schools;
- Attash, also from Yemen, allegedly ran an al-Qaida training camp in Afghanistan and researched flight simulators and timetables;
- Mustafa Ahmad al-Hawsawi, a Saudi accused of helping the hijackers with money, Western clothing, traveler's checks and credit cards;
- Ali Abd al-Aziz Ali, a Pakistani national and nephew of KSM, allegedly provided money to the hijackers.
Like Mohammed, Binalshibh also earlier told the court he was proud of the attacks in New York, Washington and Shanksville, Pa.
Defendants before military commissions typically do not enter a plea during arraignment. Lawyers for the men said they were prohibited by secrecy rules from disclosing the intentions of their clients.
Rachel Maddow points out that while fear and a lack of confidence in the American Justice system has forced terror trials like the upcoming trial of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to be held at Guantanamo, prosecutors were able to conduct a successful terror conviction in a Brooklyn court without any of the dire consequences warned of by alarmists.
But Jim Harrington, Binalshibh's civilian lawyer, didn't expect any of the defendants to plead guilty, The Associated Press reported.
And attorney James Connell, who represents al-Aziz Ali, told reporters at the base that the arraignment is "only the beginning of a trial that will take years to complete, followed by years of appellate review."
"I can't imagine any scenario where this thing gets wrapped up in six months," he added.
Also in court Saturday were six 9/11 family members who won a lottery to attend the proceedings. Others were watching on closed-circuit video at military bases in New York City and the eastern U.S.
Cliff and Christina Russell traveled from New York to honor the memory of Cliff's younger brother, Stephen, a firefighter killed responding to the attacks, AP reported.
Cliff Russell said he hopes the tribunal will end with the death penalty for Mohammed and his co-defendants. "I'm not looking forward to ending someone else's life and taking satisfaction in it," he said. "but it's the most disgusting, hateful, awful thing I ever could think of if you think about what was perpetrated."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:
- Prostitute at center of Secret Service scandal speaks out
- Deal nears on blind China activist as US offers fellowship
- Blind activist: What did he do to rile Beijing?
- Meet Monsieur Caramel Pudding, likely French president
- Water access spurs resentment in West Bank
- Suicide bombers kill 12, wound 110 in Russia
- Apology to journalist fired for WWII surrender scoop
Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world


text:
Student Support Services
Student Support Services is one of eight Federal TRIO Programs (TRIO) designed to identify and provide services for individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds. These programs are targeted to serve and assist low-income individuals, first-generation college students, and individuals with disabilities to progress through the academic pipeline from middle school to postbaccalaureate programs. TRIO also includes a training program for directors and staff of TRIO projects.
Through a grant competition, funds are awarded to institutions of higher education to provide opportunities for academic development, assist students with basic college requirements, and to motivate students toward the successful completion of their postsecondary education. Student Support Services (SSS) projects also may provide grant aid to current SSS participants who are receiving Federal Pell Grants (# 84.063). The goal of SSS is to increase the college retention and graduation rates of its participants.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Today's half is brought to you by The Leopard at the Summit (Steve K.) Thanks brutha.
Of course, you're responsible for the second half.
Bring it!
The first time I heard of Compassion International . . .
Today's half is brought to you by The Leopard at the Summit (Steve K.) Thanks brutha.
Of course, you're responsible for the second half.
Bring it!
The first time I heard of Compassion International . . .
Sponsors and Donors, What You Can Do
…last summer at a student Life Camp in Alabama
Over 3 years ago when Bart Campolo spoke at my college. Afterward I went over to the table and picked up a packet, just to take a closer look. I then noticed we had the same birthday and knew right then that I was supposed to sponsor her.
…was when I went to Revolve. They had a video and testimonials and Jordan and I decided we really needed to sponsor a child. I'm so glad we did!
4 years ago I had picked up a brochure off a counter in an antique store one weekend when my husband and I were out and about. It was 6 months and a lot of praying before we found Hikma, age 13 from Etiopia.
With in a year we were sponsoring a total of 3. The last 2 (6 and 19) left the program the end of July.
We are still sponsoring Hikma, this past month our sponsorship was transfered to two children that had been waiting for almost a year. Two weeks later we have a fourth spronsored child.
The first time I heard of Compassion International, I KNEW I had to do it. I sponsored a little girl named Jennifer. Jennifer is the name of my sister who passed away suddenly at the age of 31 in 1986.
Compassion was brought back to my attention at a Michael W. Smith concert. I had recently been to India to see the country before the wedding of a friend and I left there forever changed. My heart was desperate to find some way to make a difference there but handing out money randomly is more dangerous than helpful. I found two children in different parts of India who'd been waiting for some time and chose a boy and a girl. It has been a relief to feel that I can do even a little something to make a difference in a country I have grown to love so much. Not to mention that changing one child's life changes every child for generations after.
I learned about Compassion by accident. I was attempting to sponsor a child through another program. It was something I had wanted to do since I was child, having grown up watching the Sally Struthers commercials. The other site was not working and in my frustration I simply conducted a search for "sponsor children". For once, I was determined to follow through on my good intensions right then! Compassion and my sponsor children have taught me so much about love, life and faith. All things work for the good, even other organizations bad web sites.
My junior high school Music teacher (Mrs Artman) shared with her class a letter she received from a child she and her family sponsored. That seed was sown in 1970. When I got my first full time job in 1979, I decided to sponsor a child through Compassion…I don't remember "how I was led" to Compassion…but I do remember the first child I sponsored, Maxiana (ed. last name removed for privacy reasons) from Haiti. I still have her picture and letters. I (and my husband) have continued to sponsor children ever since.
I was 15 or 16 years old and reading Brio magazine(a Focus on the Family magazine)with an ad for Compassion International featuring Michael W Smith. 🙂
I was so impacted. I said "I'm going to help them one day."
My family had just begun going to a different church my freshman year of high school. The high school Sunday school class sponsored a child with the offering money collected and had a picture on the bulletin board and letters from our child. Due to this experience, I began sponsoring my own child while in high school as well.
I had been praying for several months about sponsoring a child, but didn't know which company I could trust, and was asking God for guidance. I was out for lunch with a missionary Dr. from Haiti on furlough, and asked her what happened to poor people when the hurricane destroyed their homes? How did they get by? She said, "Well, of course the children who were in Compassion didn't miss a single meal!" This is how God answered my prayer, because she knew all about Compassion's ministry — and spoke very highly of it — several of the formerly sponsored children were now nurses in her hospital on Haiti's island of LaGonave. I immediately sponsored a boy in this area. He has finished school now, and I'm sponsoring his little brother. This was 20 years ago, and I'm still amazed at the way God directed me to Compassion. She also happened to be a close friend of Wess Stafford's, from the years he'd spent in Haiti. Wonder of wonders.
I was in college and Tony Compolo spoke to our campus at chapel. I was so moved that I went back to my dorm room, filled out a sponsorship slip that I cut out of CCM magazine and sponsored my first child. It was less than a year before I joined the Advocates network. That was 14 years ago….
. . . was when I opened a brand new Rebecca St. James cassette tape and a small flier dropped out, asking if I'd join Rebecca and Compassion in sponsoring a child.
Who Will Save the Children?
(*Amen to the Randy Stonehill comment)
Cry for all the innocent ones — born into a world that lost its heart.
For those who never learned to dream — because their hope is crushed before they can start.
And we shake our fists in the air — and say, if God is love how can this be fair?
But we are His hands, we are His voice — we are the ones who must make the choice.
And if it isn't now, tell me when — if it isn't you then tell me who will save the children.
Who will save the children?
We count our blessings one by one — yet we have forgotten how to give.
It seems we don't want to face — all the hungry and homeless who struggle to live.
But Heaven is watching tonight — tugging at our hearts to do what's right.
But we are His hands, we are His voice — we are the ones who must make the choice.
And if it isn't now, tell me when — if it isn't you then tell me who will save the children.
Save the children.
As we observe them through our TV screens — they seem so distant and unreal.
But they bleed like we bleed — and they feel what we feel.
Oh – save the children
Save the children…
Save the children…
Now we decide that nothing can change — and throw up our hands in numb despair.
We lose a piece of our soul — by teaching ourselves just how not to care.
But Christ would have gone to the cross – just to save one child from being lost
But we are His hands, we are His voice — we are the ones who must make the choice.
And it must be now; there's no time to waste
And it must be you; no one can take your place
Can't you see only we can save the children
Save the children. Please save the children.
Randy Stonehill…enough said.
I too first heard of Compassion International from Shannon's blog (Rocks in my Dryer) when she joined the Uganda blogging trip. It has been a WONDERFUL experience.
When ladies from my Sunday School class brought up sponsoring a child through Compassion. We have been sponsors for a few years now.
… was the time I went to Micheal W. Smith's concert in Seoul, Korea.
I got small picture of a beauuuuuuuuuuuutiful little boy living in Haiti. And he had capatured my mind. Yes, that's how I met Compassion and it became almost everything to me.
Now I'm working in Compassion Korea as an Vision Trip Specialist and the little boy, my son Jokensly's Mom who is a teacher and Dad are workinig in Compassion Haiti and their project, too!
We became truly a Compassion family. How awesome God fulfils and leads our life. Now I'm living in happiness expecting and thrilled to see His marvelous plans for us through Compassion.
"The first time I heard of Compassion International…"
Was at Creation Fest (east) in 1998 with my wife and twin boys (age 11). They had each accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (without the other knowing it) and to commemorate the event, my wife and I got them each their own child to sponsor. Prior to Creation Fest, we had never heard of Compassion International.
Today they are 20 years old and are still sponsoring the same two children.
I was introduced to Compassion when Tony Campolo was the weekly guest speaker at the Howard University Chapel in Washington,DC. He stressed that Christians need to get involved in the community locally or internationally but do something. I admit that I wasn't doing too much except warming a bench at church although I was a volunteer tutor for 3 years but taking a break from it. He had Compassion booths set up and asked the congregation to check them out after service. This was 4 years ago and now I'm sponsoring 3 kids from Brazil.
The first time, I heard of Compassion I think is when my pastor did a special offering for the Tsunami victims. I was trying to get some more money raised for it. He mentioned how that he knew that the money would indeed go towards the victims of the Tsunami. I asked him how he knew and what organizations that he were going to help. He mentioned three organizations and the first was Compassion. That was 3 1/2 years ago. I was reading the email and realized how much had changed in the last 3 1/2 years and I just wrote him a letter thanking him for introducing me.
…when my friend, Cynde, told me about her sponsored children and the kinds of benefits they were getting through the programs.
I am now sponsoring 3 children through Compassion (Ana from Peru, Aneesha from India, and Meredith from Dom. Rep.) They are all now 16 years old (you can probably guess that I sponsored them all at about the same time). I've been a Compassion sponsor for about 6 years. I've also been able to inspire a friend to sponsor 3 children.
As a side note, my friend, Cynde, once got to meet a young woman from the Dominican Republic (I believe it was) who had been a Compassion-sponsored child and was now a successful business woman. She told Cynde that Compassion had been such a blessing for her family. When I hear stories like that, it says a lot about the long-range benefits of Compassion's programs.
…I was at a marriage conference "I Still Do" October, 2000, it was my husband and I's 1st year anniversary, we were living near Houston, Tx. I heard them mention something from stage about it, and to be honest, I don't even remember what they said, I just saw that they had children from Africa and I always told my hubby that I wanted to adopt a little boy from Africa.
Of course, we were not ready for kids of our own at the time, so I thought "what a perfect way to have a 'son'!" So, I hunted down the table, and studied the pics over and over, and, Ta-Da! There was Majyambere, looking so cute, about 5 or 6 years old, a little boy from Rwanda, and wearing girl shoes! My heart melted, and well, the rest is history!
…was when my grandpa told me stories of taking pictures of all of Korean Compassion kids.
…was when Shannon(Rocks in my Dryer) and Sophie (Boomama) blogged from Ethiopia on the Compassion bloggers trip earlier this year. Another online friend had a link to their sites and I was immediately pulled in by their descriptions and by the work they described that Compassion was doing. Within 2 weeks we had signed up to sponsor a child. That blogging trip made all the difference for us!
–I asked the question, "What do I need to do and how often do I need to write?"
Because of my lack of knowledge about Compassion and what it does for these kids, I took my sponsorship lightly. It took a very long time to open my eyes to the reality of their hunger and to realize what it truly means to be a sponsor. A spark ignited in my heart and now I couldn't imagine not having our 3 in our lives. I no longer ask the question, What do I have to do?". But instead, "What CAN I do!"
This has inspired me to put on a Compassion Reignite Party at our church congregation! I am so unbelievably excited! All sponsors will be invited and anyone looking to save a child. We will be dining on our children's favorite foods and other foods from their country. We will be writing our children. We will be sharing pictures and stories. We will be raising awareness of the food crisis and other needs. We will be praying for each of them, and in the end-God gets all the glory!!!!
The first time I heard of Compasssion International was through a insert in one of Michael W. Smith's cd's. He was sponsoring Gavi then (she has since graduated the Compassion program and is now married)and I knew Compassion was something I wanted to be a part of. It has been one of the best decisions of my life sponsoring children in need.
…I was 18 years old, living in Virginia, and I was at a Christian concert at a church. I've forgotten who the performer was, but whatever he said that night about Compassion really stuck with me. I knew that child sponsorship was something I wanted to do.
My church was financially assisting a seminary student. He sent us a letter describing his fixed expenses. In the letter, he indicated "support of my compassion child." I wondered what on earth a compassion child was. Was this a new euphemism for an out of wedlock birth? After all, I'm on the high end of middle age, so it doesn't surprise me too much to realize that I'm out of the loop. 🙂 So I plugged "compassion child" into a search engine and learned all about Compassion children. What a laugh I had! Then, I sponsored my first child. What a great experience!
…I was looking at a "sea" of child packets, and I ultimately sponsored my first two children.
… was when the Robbie Seay Band played at my church one Sunday morning, and had a display. It took me about a month to finally sponsor my first child.
© 2016 Compassion International. Compassion and Compassion International are registered trademarks in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. All Rights Reserved.


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The Kaua'i Planning Commission affirmed Tuesday the March 28, 2013 order of Hearings Officer Richard Nakamura to revoke permits held by Coco Palms Ventures LLC's to rebuild the property which was damaged in 1992 during Hurricane Iniki.
The permits include the following: Special Management Area Use Permit SMA (U)-2005-1; Project Development Use Permit (PD)-U-2005-4; Use Permits U-2005-6; Variance Permit V-2005-1 and Class IV Zoning Permit Z-IV-2005-5.
Enforcement of the order was stayed for 30 days to allow Prudential, Coco Palms Ventures LLC's lender, to further explore the issues involved. As part of his order, Nakamura noted that only the Planning Department would be allowed to ask for an extension of this 30-day stay. The department made no such request and the commission unanimously adopted the order to revoke.
In response to the Commission's action, Mayor Bernard P. Carvalho, Jr. stated, "I am very pleased to hear of the Planning Commission's action today to accept the Hearings Officer's recommendation to revoke the permits currently held by Coco Palms LLC. The property has languished for much too long, and with no alternate plan being proposed by the owners, it's time to move on to new opportunities."
The mayor added, "I plan to arrange for a community discussion very soon so that we can all envision what the future could hold for this site of such historic and cultural significance. Let's put our hopes and dreams on the table, and work toward a collective vision of Coco Palms that will do justice to this special place and will result in a community resource of which we can all be proud."


text:
category: 2000-2009, Basson, Cello, Clarinet...
As the Sound of Many Waters
- As the Sound of Many Waters Album Track Listing >>
- 1As the Sound of Many Waters for solo flute (1998) 13:38 - James Newton, flute
- 2Violet for flute, clarinet, violin, cello, piano, and two marimbas (1994-95)
- 3Gihon for solo violin (1995)
- 4The King's Way for soprano, flute, bassoon, violin, cello, harp, percussion, and piano (1989)
- 5I. The Prayer of Thanksgiving
- 6II. Prayer Through Strife
- 7III. Resolution 3:09 - Adina Aaron, soprano
- 8Like Jasper and Carnelian for solo flute (1997
- As the Sound of Many Waters Details >>
- LabelAnthology of Recorded Music
- Year2000
- Discs1
James Newton, flute
San Francisco Contemporary Music Players:
Tod Brody, flute;
William Wohlmacher, clarinet;
Rufus Olivier, bassoon;
Roy Malan, violin;
Stephen Harrison, cello;
Thomas Schultz, piano;
Karen Gottlieb, harp;
Daniel Kennedy, William Winant, percussion.
David Milnes, Guest Conductor
- As the Sound of Many Waters Album Track Listing >>
category: 1980-1989, Bass, Clarinet, Flute...
Mixed Quintet (Leroy Jenkins)
- Mixed Quintet (Leroy Jenkins) Album Track Listing >>
- 1Shapes, Textures, Rhythms, Moods of Sound (Jenkins)
- 2Quintet #3 (Jenkins)
- Mixed Quintet (Leroy Jenkins) Details >>
- LabelBlack Saint
- Year1983
- Discs1
James Newton (flute)
Leroy Jenkins (violin, viola)
Marty Ehrlich (bass clarinet)
John Clark (French horn)
J.D. Parran (clarinet)
- Mixed Quintet (Leroy Jenkins) Album Track Listing >>
category: 2010-2019, Bass, Basson, Cello...
Sacred Works
- Sacred Works Details >>
- LabelNew World
- Year2011
- Discs1
This is the first recording devoted to James Newton's sacred works. The composer has been influenced by the masses and cantatas of Stravinsky and Bach and the operas of Messiaen, Puccini and Verdi.
- Sacred Works Details >>


text:
Dear members,
Thank you, NarutoBase Staff
The are four zetsu clones here... but the last zetsu the one that is in on the ground...that looks like Black zetsu !
I think that its black zetsu because it looks more chill and watching...
wow that was a great......fail.....black zetsu would be black genius
It's white.. black zetsu is obviously DNA from Madara who got created after his death
..... wow..... just ..wow
Originally Posted by Mischeif Maker
wow that was a great......fail.....black zetsu would be black genius
LOL this ^ thread/
Black Zetsu is black. That Zetsu is white. Therefore that is not Black Zetsu
Thread Faill
you spotted black zetsu
*the most EPIC FACEPALM EVER*
YEAH,only it`s white :confused:
Duh fail
Sorry Alexu, but this thread is indeed a fail. You should close it.
Good attempt, but sadly black Zetsu is black. I've been wondering where he is as well, but this isn't him
:shrug:i thought that was a zetsu dog:shrug:
Logic please
there's a reason why its called black zetsu
Come on guys it's possible a white Zetsu was turned black by some crazy DNA experiment.
thats not black zestu
So this is what happens when he isn't posting other people's ideas.
LOL - sorry dude... couldn't help it
Forum Rules


text:
Was: $
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The Warrior Dynasty AX1 Hockey Stick is the starting point to any player's personal dynasty on the rink. This new family of hockey sticks from Warrior is the new strong arm and power line. The mid-kick AX1 stick is packed with technologies for top-notch performance and durability.
This Dynasty AX1 features the AxySym Technology that uses a compression carbon fibers on the back and under-sides of the shaft to give a massive energy return while the stretch fibers on the front to allow for a speedy loading process. The HiFused construction of the AX1 raises the fusing point higher than the standard height which improves shooting accuracy and balance. The StrongArm Geometry of the shaft near the hosel helps to resist twisting while increasing stability.
The blade on the AX1 is loaded with features making it as responsive and durable as possible. The two backbones that provide the support and stiffness of the blade are called their TwinSpars. Hardcore X foam is the featherlight foam package that fills the interior of the blade, the foam has 60% higher compression resistance and as well a 40% overall strength gain. Carbon-plated glass fiber lines the outer layer of the blade to aid in eliminating cracking and chipping. Finally, the Aramid sole runs on the part of the blade that comes in contact with the playing surface. This material is so strong and durable that it is also used in bullet-proof vests.
- Heritage: New
- Level of Play Guideline: Elite
- Construction: HiFused one-piece
- Shaft Dimensions: Double concave side walls/Square corners
- Flex Point: Mid-Kick
- Weight: 470 grams (Based on a 85 flex Kovalchuk)
- Construction:
- AxySym Technology - Compression fibers utilized in the back and under-side of the stick maximizing power and recoil while the stretch fibers on the front side allow for easy loading.
- HiFused - Significantly higher fuse point than other sticks, which improves shot accuracy and the overall balance.
- Strong Arm Geometry - Hosel area is thicker and taller to help resist twisting while shooting and to help increase stability.
- Flex Profile:
- Mid-Kick - The most powerful kick-point in the game, AxySym allows for a quick loading process and returns a mighty strong shot
- Geometry:
- Double concave side walls, and square corners
- Grip:
- Slick Grip
- Blade:
- Dynasty Blade Construction
- Carbon-plated glass fiber outer-layer that resists cracking and chipping while increasing stiffness
- TwinSpar - Two carbon fiber spars run heel to toe to increase the life and strength of the blade
- HardCore X - The Lightest foam package with 60% higher compression resistance and 40% greater strength
- Aramid Sole - Extremely durable material used in bullet-proof vests lines the bottom of the blade to extend the longevity of the blade
- Flex: 40 and 50
- Length: 51"


text:
« Back
"Justice and Climate Change"
Discussion Paper 08-04, Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, Belfer Center
September 2008
Authors: Eric A. Posner, Cass R. Sunstein
Harvard Project on Climate Agreements Discussion Paper Series
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Harvard Project on Climate Agreements
Climate change raises complex issues of science, economics, and politics; it also raises difficult issues of justice. Poor nations are especially vulnerable to rising temperatures, in part because they are poor. Wealthy nations have less at risk, in part because they are wealthy. It is both tempting and plausible to suggest that for either emissions reductions or adaptation, wealthy nations owe special obligations to poor ones. In this paper, we address this general question by focusing on a much narrower one: how should permits be allocated in a global cap-and-trade system? Many observers have urged that in an international agreement, emissions rights should be allocated by reference to population, not to existing emissions. The intuition here is that every person on the planet should begin with the same emissions right. From the standpoints of distributive justice, welfare, and fairness, the per capita approach does have major advantages over an approach based on existing emissions, because it would provide significantly greater benefits to poor people. However, the per capita approach is far inferior to an approach that focuses more concretely on what the right normative theory requires. Nonetheless, insisting on a principled allocation, in which poor countries receive many permits, may make international agreement impossible. This could lead to disaster for the very nations that are poorest and most vulnerable to climate change. Targeting adaptation assistance to poor nations, or to poor people in poor nations, would be a better way to combine climate change policy with distributive justice.
Climate change raises difficult issues of justice, particularly with respect to the distribution of burdens and benefits among poor and wealthy nations. To illuminate these issues, this paper focuses on the narrower question of how to allocate greenhouse gas emission rights within a future international cap-and-trade system. In particular, it highlights shortcomings in an approach that is often advanced on fairness grounds: a per capita allocation in which emissions permits are distributed to nations on the basis of population.
In an international cap-and-trade system, participating nations would agree to an overall "cap" on emissions and each nation would receive a share of total emission rights or permits under the cap. The allocation of emission rights would not bear on the effectiveness or efficiency of the program, but it would have important distributive impacts.
The two approaches most commonly considered for allocation are based on existing emissions and population. A pragmatic argument can be made for the former on grounds that it would more likely win the support of wealthy and powerful nations. But this approach also violates basic notions of fairness and could be seen as limiting the economic development rights of poor nations. By contrast, an allocation that awards equal emission rights on a per capita basis strikes many observers as inherently more equitable and responsive to welfare concerns. Under this approach, countries with high per capita emissions (such as the United States) would lose relative to countries with large populations but low per capita emissions (such as China).
The intuitive appeal of a population-based allocation may tend to obscure its practical and theoretical weaknesses. But close examination in light of several complicating factors — including the lack of correlation between population and wealth, the differential benefits of climate-change abatement in different countries, and the realities of governance in many poor nations — reveals potent shortcomings. Understanding these shortcomings may shed light on better approaches to reconciling climate change and justice concerns.
- A variety of approaches could be used to allocate emission rights among nations. Allocations based on population or on redistributing wealth are generally more equitable than allocations that award permits on the basis of current emissions. In choosing among approaches, however, feasibility must also be considered. Poor nations that are especially vulnerable to climate change may have the most to lose if insistence on principle precludes agreement in practice.
- A per capita allocation, while preferable to an emissions-based allocation, would not in practice satisfy objectives of fairness and welfare redistribution. The argument that every individual person should be entitled to the same emissions rights seems intuitively compelling. But it fails along several dimensions when one considers the following:
- Not all large countries are poor and not all small countries are rich. A per capita allocation would give some rich and populous countries a large share of emission rights. Conversely, while populous countries with low per capita emissions (like China and India) would certainly benefit, some even poorer countries with small populations would lose.
- A complete assessment of the impacts of an international policy must take into account the benefits of climate-change abatement, as well as the revenue effects of permit allocation. If the aim is to equalize impacts, not just permit endowments, the different environmental benefits that accrue to different countries under the policy must also be considered. A citizen of Russia, for example, can expect to benefit less from greenhouse-gas reductions than a citizen of India (because warming is likely to be far more negative for India than for Russia). If both get an equal allotment of permits, the net result is not 'fair' because the Indian citizen benefits more from the policy than the Russian citizen.
- Transferring wealth in the form of emission rights to the governments of poor countries does not mean that this wealth will be fairly distributed to citizens of those countries. Just as foreign aid is often misused or diverted, a per capita allocation could fail to achieve intended redistributive effects, especially in countries with corrupt or ineffective governments.
- If the goal is a more equal distribution of wealth, an approach that is openly redistributive is better than a per capita allocation. From a welfarist standpoint, in which the aim is to maximize global welfare and minimize inequality, an approach that has wealthy nations pay poor ones for emissions reductions or for adaptation, or both, is superior to a per capita allocation.
While a per capita approach to the international allocation of emissions rights is often advanced on welfare and fairness grounds, neither principle is well served by this approach. Alternatives that target assistance to poor nations — and more particularly, to poor people in poor nations — must still meet the test of feasibility but would succeed far better than many current proposals in reconciling the aims of climate policy with the claims of distributive justice.
For more information about this publication please contact the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements Coordinator at 617-496-8054.
For Academic Citation:


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When Christine Knopp's son, Brendan, got a deep cut on his face, the ER doctor offered the option of a plastic surgeon for the stitches. Christine Knopp "He was bleeding from his head, so I wanted to do what was right by him." The surgeon's bill was 29-hundred dollars. Christine had assumed her insurance would cover the surgeon. Not so. Christine Knopp "We were pretty shocked. We had no idea that that was going to become our responsibility." The problem was that, while the hospital was in the family's insurance network, the plastic surgeon who stitched up Brendan was not. Consumer Reports says one of the most common causes of medical sticker shock is going out-of-network. "A PPO plan might say that it will pay 60 to 80 percent of out-of-network care. That does not mean it will pay 60 to 80 percent of the actual bill, though. It means it will pay 60 to 80 percent of what the insurance company thinks the test or treatment ought to cost." Consumer Reports found lots of examples of patients being hit with astronomical bills, including one woman who was charged 480-thousand dollars for back surgery. Nancy Metcalf "Bottom line, stay in your network. If you must go out of network, research ahead of time what your insurance company will pay." And also research what the test or procedure should cost. Two services -Healthcarebluebook.com and Fairhealthconsumer.org - let you search the cost of medical services by ZIP code. Sometimes you can use this information to negotiate with the non-network provider you want to use. And if like Christine you get a big bill, don't just complain to the insurance company. Enlist your employer and your state insurance department to help resolve the matter. ."
Health Gotchas-6/17/12
Published On: Jun 27 2012 10:22:39 AM CDT
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I'm bf'ing my 9month old. I have been having supply issues for the last 2 weeks. I've had milk supply issues before as well when I have my periods (but I was able to use the banked frozen milk during that time. But now I'm also running out on it). My supply dips quite a bit to miss around 2 feeds (around 8 oz.) of milk. Also, when I pump during this time (for almost a week before I get my periods and a week into my periods) the milk doesn't let down. It just trickles for a few minutes and stops after that. I seem to get some milk coming down only when my baby is put to the breast since her way of breast stimulation is more efficient than my pump (I use a hosipital grade pump - medala lactina pump). Since I work during the day I cannot directly nurse my baby during that time.
Is there anything I can do to make the milk let down when I pump and also to not have a dip in my milk supply for almost 2 weeks in a month? I have just started taking fenugreek since yes. day. I really don't want to supplement with formula.


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Daytona 400
I've learned over the years to trust that Tony is doing his "thing" during this race when he drifts to the back of the pack! I wonder if the car isn't handling correctly or if Tony is staying out of trouble. Turned out that he knew exactly what to do! Now, if only we can switch the engine out of that #48 car for the next race. Congrats to tony and the entire Stewart-Haas team!


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Hi everyone. I'm new to these forums, and honestly I'm glad I've joined. I've been trying to do everything myself and have had no luck. Here's my story...
I was induced at 37 weeks, 5 days (on August 1st) with my daughter due to preeclampsia. It took all weekend for the contractions to actually put me into labor and our little angel was born 3 days later (August 3rd) at 7pm. The entire time I was on Magnesium Sulfate. Due to that nasty drug, our daughter would not wake up at all for basically the first week. We were not able to breastfeed and were instructed to give her a bottle to supplement until we were able to try. BAD IDEA as she got used to the bottle and then REFUSED to take the breast. We saw several Lactation Consultants who ended up just as frustrated as we were. DC would either sleep the whole appointment or would just scream because she wanted a bottle, not the breast. I decided to try a nipple shield and actually got her to latch with it, but she would take forever eating (she would be on the breast for over an hour at a time). she eventually got frustrated because she was not getting it fat enough as she was with the bottle (even though we were giving her slow flow nipples.)
I decided to just pump and give her a bottle. Well, my milk supply took forever to come in (again mag sulfate is a nasty drug) and the pump I had was very poor. I was not able to purchase or rent a better pump at the time. My milk supply dwindled and we gave her formula. I got discouraged and even felt like I was failing my daughter. My whole pregnancy, the thing I looked forward to the most was breastfeeding. I was bitter that I felt like this was taken away from me.
Here I am, 6 weeks later, and I WANT to do this. My supply was basically nil, and I've been taking fenugreek and mother's milk tea non stop. I smell like syrup, I'm peering constantly because I'm drinking so much water trying to stay hydrated, and my supply is VERY slowly starting to come back. I've rented a hospital grade pump too. I'm hoping to get a good supply that would be the equivalent of her drinking from the bottle. I've also been doing lots of skin to skin, warm compresses, and massage. Does anyone have any suggestions of anything else I can try? I'm going to buy some oatmeal today in hopes that will help out as well.
My next issue is this: She does not like the breast. I REALLY want to breastfeed but she just gets so frustrated. I've tried the baby-led latch, and she wiggles her way to the nipple, latches for a second, then gets upset like I tricked her or something. Is there ANYTHING I can do to overcome this barrier? I honestly do not feel like a true mother because I can't breastfeed. I know that's harsh, but that's the easiest way I feel right now.
I'm sorry this is so long, but if anyone has ANYTHING at all, please share. Encouragement, advice, suggestions. I need it all at this point. TIA!


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Father arrested for killing infant in Lake Ariel
June 15, 2011 —
Pennsylvania State Police at Honesdale and the Wayne County District Attorney announced the arrest of Christopher Thomas Fitzpatrick, 20, in Lake Ariel, Wayne County. He is charged with criminal homicide, concealing the death of a child and abuse of a corpse.
Fitzpatrick is accused of taking his newborn infant daughter to a wooded area behind a business at 1178 Hamlin Highway in Lake Ariel. Once there, he is accused of striking the baby twice with a cinder block causing the death of the infant. The arrest took place on June 10, four days after the alleged killing.
The investigation started when state police were notified by the Sussex County, NJ Sheriff's Department. They were able to provide state police with information that they received from family members about their suspicions on the baby's welfare.
Fitzpatrick was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jane Farrell, Waymart. Fitzpatrick was transported to the Wayne County Prison without bail.
The mother of the child, Jennifer Barrise, 20 was also arrested and is being held without bail. Fitzpatrick allegedly told Barrise he was going to get rid of the infant because the couple could not afford to have another child. They have a one year old son.
Fitzpatrick reportedly said the Barrise, "I gotta do what I gotta do."


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Business in America News
National Small Business Week Starts TodayPosted byon May 12, 2014 at 1:29 PM EST
Ed. note: This is cross-posted on SBA.gov. See the original post here. Read the statement by the President on National Small Business Week here.
This week, America's celebrates the difference-makers in our economy as we kickoff National Small Business Week today at Twitter headquarters in San Francisco.
You can watch the live stream of our kickoff event starting at 11:40 a.m. EST at www.sba.gov/nsbw.
This year, we're hosting events in San Francisco, Kansas City, Boston, and Washington D.C., as well as a special online forum on Wednesday. Our events, workshops and panels all week long will be live-streamed at www.sba.gov/nsbw. Friday we'll announce our National Small Business of the Year in the nation's capital, so you'll want to log on for that.
This country's 28 million small businesses create nearly two out of three jobs in our economy, so we can't have a conversation about creating jobs and economic growth in America without talking about ways to support our entrepreneurs.
National Small Business Week is a time to make sure our entrepreneurs know about the services the SBA offers. And it's a week to encourage consumers to give a local business a try – or to order online from a small, Internet-based business.Learn more about
New DOL-SBA Website Encourages EntrepreneurshipPosted byon December 14, 2012 at 12:27 PM EST
Note: This is a cross post from the Department of Labor's blog. To see the original post, please click here.
The entrepreneurial spirit is what drives this country. In fact, small businesses and start-ups are responsible for creating two out of every three new jobs in the United States. And more than half of all working Americans own or work for a small business. That's why helping to create an environment where more businesses are easily able to start and succeed has been an important goal for this administration.
Today, our agencies — the Small Business Administration and Department of Labor — teamed up for another step forward on this path, announcing a new website to help states offer Self-Employment Assistance programs to those looking to create jobs in their communities. Self-Employment Assistance provides Unemployment Insurance recipients interested in starting a business with financial assistance, critical entrepreneurial training and resources to get those businesses off the ground.
On the website, you'll find model legislation that your state can use to enact these programs, as well as a new online toolkit from the Small Business Administration, which offers courses and training on how to start a business. "How to Prepare a Business Plan" and "Franchising Basics" are just a few of the courses that are offered to up-and-coming entrepreneurs. There are also courses on obtaining money for small businesses, entrepreneurship and business planning, entrepreneurial marketing, developing entrepreneurial work styles, as well as a host of other topics including accounting, marketing, legal facets, sales and taxes.Learn more about , , Economy, Startup America
A New Front Door for Immigrant EntrepreneursPosted byon November 29, 2012 at 2:20 PM EST
Yesterday marked the launch of Entrepreneur Pathways, an online resource center that gives immigrant entrepreneurs an intuitive way to navigate opportunities to start and grow a business in the United States. This new resource was announced during a visit to MIT's entrepreneurship center by Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Federal agency responsible for administering visa programs.
Immigrant entrepreneurs have always made extraordinary contributions to our Nation's economic growth and competitiveness, creating jobs and new businesses all across the country. Immigrants started 25 percent of the highest-growth companies in America, including iconic success stories like Intel, Google, Yahoo, and eBay, which together employ an estimated 220,000 people within the United States.
President Obama is committed to attracting the world's best and brightest entrepreneurs to start the next great companies here in the United States, and Entrepreneur Pathways is an important and concrete next step to facilitating that. For example, imagine that an entrepreneur from another country participates in a startup mentorship program in the United States, raises a first round of funding from investors, and wants to stay here to grow the company and hire more people. Entrepreneur Pathways explains, in plain English, which existing visa categories might be available to that entrepreneur under current law, and what evidence would be necessary to demonstrate eligibility.Learn more about Economy, Startup America, Immigration
Making It Easier for American Firms to Do Business in AfricaPosted byon November 29, 2012 at 1:41 PM EST
Editor's Note: Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank and Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Francisco Sánchez on Wednesday announced the launch of the "Doing Business in Africa" campaign at an event in Johannesburg, South Africa. This campaign is part of a larger U.S. Strategy Toward Sub-Saharan Africa, which President Obama issued earlier this year. This campaign will leverage the federal government's trade promotion, financing and strategic communications capabilities to help U.S. businesses identify and seize opportunities in Africa, and to help them overcome any challenges they face to establishing business relationships with Africa. This is a cross post from the International Trade Administration's blog.
Now is a great time to do business in Africa. Consider these stats, highlighted this week in remarks given by Acting Secretary Rebecca Blank:
- Sub-Saharan Africa is home to 6 of the 10 fastest growing markets in the world.
- Economic growth in the region is predicted to be strong – between 5 and 6 percent – in coming years.
- And – most importantly – millions of Africans are finding a path from poverty to greater opportunity and prosperity.
This progress is good news for our friends in Africa; it's also good news for American businesses. As these numbers show, the growing African market is an increasingly attractive destination for quality products and services. It just so happens that goods that are "Made in America" are the best in the world. Now, we just need to link this supply with the demand, and make it easier for U.S. firms to operate in the dynamic African market.
One important effort towards achieving this goal: the "Doing Business in Africa" (DBIA) campaign which I launched with Acting Secretary Blank in South Africa this week.
Weekly Address: Extending Middle Class Tax Cuts to Grow the EconomyPosted byon November 10, 2012 at 5:45 AM EST
President Obama says that it's time for Congress to pass the middle class tax cuts for 98 percent of all Americans. Both parties agree that this will give 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses the certainty that will lead to growth, and so there is no reason to wait. On Tuesday, the American people voted for compromise and action, and the President calls on Congress to come together in that spirit to help create jobs and strengthen our economy.
Transcript | Download mp4 | Download mp3
Administration Teams Up to Bring Jobs Back to AmericaPosted byon September 26, 2012 at 1:30 PM EST
Yesterday, the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Labor announced the Make it in America Challenge – a $40 million multi-agency competition that will help accelerate business investments in the U.S. This includes insourcing, where U.S.-based companies bring jobs back, or foreign investment, when foreign companies build factories here and hire American workers to run them.
The competition is being funded by Commerce's Economic Development Administration and National Institute of Standards and Technology Manufacturing Extension Partnership, and Labor's Employment and Training Administration. It builds upon the administration's efforts to strengthen the economy and create jobs by partnering with state, regional, and local partners.
Beginning next year, three-year grants will be available to states, cities, nonprofits, colleges and economic development districts that develop plans to help attract companies that want to build in the U.S. but might need a few more resources.Learn more about , , , Economy
Administration's Efforts to Promote Travel and Tourism Are WorkingPosted byon September 19, 2012 at 12:54 PM EST
The Obama Administration's number one priority is to strengthen our economy, create jobs, and restore economic security for the middle class. One way to help strengthen the economy is to make the U.S. the top destination for international visitors. Since the President issued an Executive Order in January and the National Travel and Tourism Strategy was subsequently released by this Administration in May, the Departments of Commerce, Homeland Security, Interior, and State have put a priority on expanding travel to and within the U.S., while remaining vigilant in protecting our national security.
Today, we learned that these efforts are working. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that international visitors spent an estimated $13.7 billion on travel to, and tourism-related activities within, the United States during the month of July--$350 million (3 percent) more than was spent in July 2011. Travel and tourism-related exports have increased, on average, more than $1.1 billion a month during the first seven months of 2012.
Also today, the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) released estimates for the second quarter 2012 from their Travel and Tourism Satellite Accounts. These accounts present a detailed picture of travel and tourism activity and its role in the U.S. economy, including estimates of spending by travelers in six categories of goods and service as well as estimates of the employment generated by travel and tourism and related industries. Today's data reveal that real spending on travel and tourism increased at an annual rate of 2.1 percent in the second quarter of 2012 after increasing 4.9 percent (revised) in the first quarter of 2012, supporting 7.6 million jobs.
Recent visitors can access the newly redesigned recreation.gov, the federal government's one-stop shop for trip planning and reservations on public lands, such as national parks, wildlife refuges, waterways, forests and recreation areas. This year alone, more than 6 million people have visited the site to learn more about exploring America's great outdoors. A key feature of the new site is suggested travel itineraries to several top destinations for international visitors - Denver, Las Vegas, Miami, Los Angeles and San Francisco. These pre-planned circuits encourage travelers to expand their itineraries by one or more days to take in lesser-known destinations. Longer visits and more expansive itineraries will translate to more tourism dollars and more jobs in the leisure and hospitality industry throughout the U.S.
Patent Reform: Celebrating the One Year Anniversary of the America Invents ActPosted byon September 17, 2012 at 12:28 PM EST
On September 16, 2011, President Obama signed into law one of the most significant legislative reforms to the patent system in our Nation's history. The America Invents Act was passed with the President's strong leadership last year, after nearly a decade of effort.
A year later, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office is implementing the legislation in a manner that makes it easier for American entrepreneurs and businesses to bring their inventions to the marketplace sooner, converting their ideas into new products and new jobs. It will help companies and inventors avoid costly delays and unnecessary litigation, and let them focus instead on innovation and job creation.
As a number of important provisions of the law go into effect this week, we can already see substantial progress towards the law's goals. Patent applications filed today will take nearly 40 percent less time to receive an initial patentability determination on their innovation compared to January 2009. The new Track One program provides a fast-track option for processing within 12 months, and offers discounts for small inventors. And the backlog of patent applications has been reduced to its lowest point in years. The USPTO's continued focus on improving patent quality will be aided by new trial proceedings that provide an affordable alternative to litigation to review the merits of existing patents. A final decision in each case will be issued in less than a year. The USPTO has also published for review a proposed fee schedule that will expand an existing 50 percent discount on patent application fees for small entities. A new program for micro-entities—individuals or very small enterprises— offers a 75 percent fee discount. A USPTO-driven pro bono program—launched first in Minnesota and now being introduced in Colorado and California, with many more locations on tap for 2013—helps cash-strapped inventors receive the legal help they need to obtain patents.The USPTO will also open new satellite offices in Denver, Silicon Valley, and Dallas-Fort Worth, in addition to the first satellite office in Detroit, Michigan that opened in July 2012. These offices will help further reduce the patent application backlog and help local innovators raise capital and get their inventions to market more rapidly.Learn more about , , , Economy, Innovations, Startup America
The Employment Situation in AugustPosted byon September 7, 2012 at 8:30 AM EST
While there is more work that remains to be done, today's employment report provides further evidence that the U.S. economy is continuing to recover from the worst downturn since the Great Depression. It is critical that we continue the policies that are building an economy that works for the middle class as we dig our way out of the deep hole that was caused by the severe recession that began in December 2007. To create more jobs in particularly hard-hit sectors, President Obama continues to support the elements of the American Jobs Act that have not yet passed, including further investment in infrastructure to rebuild our Nation's ports, roads and highways, and assistance to State and local governments to prevent layoffs and to enable them to rehire hundreds of thousands of teachers and first responders. To build on the progress of the last few years, President Obama has also proposed an extension of middle class tax cuts that would prevent the typical middle class family from facing a $2,200 tax increase next year.
Today's report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that private sector establishments added 103,000 jobs last month, and overall non-farm payroll employment rose by 96,000. The economy has now added private sector jobs for 30 straight months, for a total of 4.6 million jobs during that period.
The household survey showed that the unemployment rate declined from 8.3 percent to 8.1 percent in August.
Employment rose notably in leisure and hospitality (+34,000), professional and business services (+28,000), health care and social assistance (+21,700), and wholesale trade (+7,900). Manufacturing lost 15,000 jobs, including a 7,500 drop in motor vehicles and parts, which is partly payback for there having been relatively few seasonal auto plant shutdowns in July. Over the past 30 months, manufacturers have added more than 500,000 jobs. Government lost 7,000 jobs, as state government payrolls fell by 6,000 and local governments shed 4,000 jobs. Since February 2010, State and local governments have lost 504,000 jobs.
White House Business Council American Economic Competitiveness Forum Talks Transportation InfrastructurePosted byon August 27, 2012 at 8:54 AM EST
Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from The Fast Lane -- the blog of the Department of Transportation.
Yesterday, I joined several of my DOT colleagues for a White House Business Council forum on American Economic Competitiveness focused on transportation infrastructure. It was great to sit down with businessmen and women from across the country; listen to their concerns and ideas; and discuss the Administration's initiatives on economic development, freight and passenger movement, and infrastructure financing.
It was exciting to meet with business leaders who understand that our transportation policies affect their bottom lines, and we heard over and over yesterday that transportation is an important priority for local chambers of commerce and their members.
Without freight corridors --whether air, sea, river, road, or rail-- businesses can't get access to raw materials or move their products to market. Without adequate transportation, employees can't get to their jobs and can't travel to meet distant vendors and customers to help grow their enterprises.
International Traveler Spending On Pace For a Record Setting YearPosted byon August 23, 2012 at 10:50 AM EST
Ed. Note: This is cross-posted from commerce.gov.
Travel and tourism spending by international visitors is helping to boost the U.S. economy. The U.S. Department of Commerce released data yesterday showing that international visitors have spent an estimated $82.2 billion on U.S. travel and tourism-related goods and services year to date, an increase of 11 percent when compared to the same period last year. Many people do not know that this boosts exports – when foreign citizens travel to America and buy goods and services from American companies, that counts as a U.S. export. The new data indicate that the first half of 2012 set a new record for U.S. travel and tourism exports, and, if these trends continue, international visitors could end up injecting close to $170 billion into the U.S. economy by year-end.
These increases help explain why the Obama administration is working hard to make the United States the top destination for international travelers. The U.S. Departments of Commerce and Interior are implementing the National Travel and Tourism Strategy, which they presented to the President in May. The National Strategy is a blueprint for expanding travel to and within the U.S., setting out the goal of attracting over 100 million international visitors annually by 2021, more than a 50 percent increase over the number expected this year. These international visitors would spend an estimated $250 billion per year, creating jobs and spurring economic growth in communities across the country.Learn more about Economy, Additional Issues
Redoubling Efforts to Support American ManufacturingPosted byon August 16, 2012 at 10:00 AM EST
I just returned from the White House Business Council American Economic Competitiveness Forum on Manufacturing, where I had an opportunity to hear from a group of American manufacturers—representing businesses of all sizes from across the country—about how the Obama Administration can continue to support them as they build things here and sell them everywhere. As we have seen in recent months, manufacturing is one of the bright spots for our economy. Over the past two and a half years, more than half-a-million manufacturing jobs have been created in the U.S. – the strongest job growth in that sector since the 1990s. In fact, just last month, an additional 25,000 new manufacturing jobs were added.
In terms of production, manufacturing output is up 20 percent since 2009, and increased again in July. One manufacturing sector that has been consistently strong is the motor vehicles and parts industry, which has added 165,000 jobs since June 2009— a sector that might not even exist in the U.S. today if not for the assistance this Administration gave to the U.S. auto industry in 2009.
This matters because we know that manufacturing jobs are good jobs that pay more than average and provide greater benefits. They strengthen economic security for middle class families.
Assistance for Small Businesses Affected by the DroughtPosted byon August 8, 2012 at 11:01 AM EST
Ed note: this post was originally published on SBA.gov, the official site of the U.S. Small Business Administration
Yesterday, I attended a meeting of the White House Rural Council, which focused on our coordinated response to historic drought conditions that are affecting communities across Rural America.
Our goal at the SBA and across the Administration is making sure that these hard hit communities have the tools and the resources they need to navigate and recover from these severe drought conditions.
To date, the SBA has issued 71 agency drought declarations in 32 states covering more than 1,630 counties. These declarations allow small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and non-farm small businesses that are economically affected by the drought in their community to apply for SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL).
To find out if your county has been declared a drought disaster area, view SBA's current disaster declarations page. And to learn more about how to apply for a disaster loan, go to the SBA Disaster Assistance section of the SBA Web site.
Travel and Tourism Industry Vital to Job CreationPosted byon August 3, 2012 at 4:27 PM EST
Earlier this week I joined Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar for a dialogue with leaders within the travel and tourism industry at the White House Business Council American Economic Competitiveness Forum. We held a very useful discussion about how the Administration can continue to help support travel and tourism and the millions of jobs associated with the industry.
Travel and tourism has been a particularly bright spot in our economic growth over the past two years. I recently announced that 2012 will likely be another record year for international travel to the U.S. In fact, in May 2012 international travel to the U.S. reached nearly $14 billion – up 8% from May 2011. That caps 29 straight months of growth. Many people do not realize that international travel to the U.S. counts as an export, since foreign citizens purchase U.S. goods and services when they travel here. Hence, the travel and tourism industry has been a critical factor in the increase of export-supported jobs, which have grown by 1.2 million from 2009-2011.
We can build on this momentum by strengthening public-private partnerships with the industry, which is the core of the new National Travel and Tourism Strategy. Already, we've reinvigorated the Tourism Policy Council – a Commerce-led team involving a dozen agencies that touch on travel and tourism. Also, the Trade and Tourism Advisory Board – involving many of the people at this Forum – has never been more active. In fact, they contributed many great ideas as we wrote the Strategy.
President Obama Continues the Push for Middle Class Tax CutsPosted byon August 3, 2012 at 2:38 PM EST
President Barack Obama delivers remarks on extending tax cuts for the middle class, in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, South Court Auditorium, Aug. 3, 2012. (Official White House Photo by Sonya N. Hebert)
Unless the the House of Representatives takes action before January 1, a typical middle-class family of four will see their taxes go up by $2,200 in the coming year.
President Obama is fighting to prevent that from happening, and today, he again pushed lawmakers to get this done.
"What we should do right now is give middle-class families and small business owners a guarantee that their taxes will not go up next year," he said. "When families have the security of knowing that their taxes won't go up they're more likely to spend, and more likely to grow the economy. When small business owners have certainty on taxes and can plan ahead they're more likely to hire and create new jobs. And that benefits all of us."
Advance Estimate of GDP for the Second Quarter of 2012 and Annual RevisionPosted byon July 27, 2012 at 8:38 AM EST
Today's report shows that the economy posted its twelfth straight quarter of positive growth, as real GDP (the total amount of goods and services produced in the country) grew at a 1.5 percent annual rate in the second quarter of this year, according to the "advance" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Over the last three years, the economy has expanded by 6.7 percent overall, and the private components of GDP have grown by 9.9 percent. While the economy continues to move in the right direction, additional growth is needed to replace the jobs lost in the deep recession that began at the end of 2007
With today's report, the BEA also released its annual revisions back to 2009. While the revisions did not meaningfully change the pace of growth over that entire period, it is noteworthy that State and local government purchases were revised up in 2009, which is consistent with the Recovery Act cushioning the effect of the recession and helping to launch the recovery. Since the Recovery Act funds have been phasing out, however, declining State and local government activity has subtracted from GDP. Indeed, today's report indicates that State and local government purchases have declined for 11 straight quarters, the longest streak ever recorded since the official record of quarterly data began in 1947.
To strengthen economic growth and increase job creation, President Obama has proposed to Congress a plan that would help State and local governments retain and hire teachers and first responders, assist the construction sector and economy of tomorrow by rebuilding and modernizing our Nation's infrastructure, and would give small businesses tax cuts to encourage them to increase payroll. President Obama also proposed extending tax cuts to protect middle class families and virtually every small business owner from getting a tax increase at the beginning of next year. The Senate passed the President's plan this week and President Obama has said that as soon as the House will act he will sign it right away in order to give certainty and security to middle class families. Extending these tax cuts would provide more certainty for the economy for 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small business owners.
SBA Stands Ready to Help More Veterans Start (and Grow) a BusinessPosted byon July 24, 2012 at 4:17 PM EST
Ed. Note: This article was first published on SBA.gov
Today, more than 250,000 service members are transitioning each year from the military to civilian life. These men and women are proven leaders and they have the skills and experience needed to be outstanding business leaders. Veterans over-index in entrepreneurship. One in seven veterans are self-employed or small business owners, and about one quarter of veterans say they are interested in starting or buying their own business.
That's why all across the Administration we are focused on making sure that these brave individuals have the tools and resources they need to succeed.
In his speech to the VFW in Reno, President Obama highlighted the valor and the sacrifice of our nation's military. And the important role that we have as a nation in making sure that these men and women are able to seamlessly transition back into their communities.
An American Renaissance in Manufacturing Happening In Kansas City and Columbia, MissouriPosted byon July 23, 2012 at 5:53 PM EST
Ed note: this post was originally published on The Commerce Blog, the official blog of the U.S. Department of Commerce
I am back in my home state of Missouri today, so it is even more of a treat to witness firsthand the resurgence in American manufacturing. I visited two manufacturers today – the A. ZAHNER Company, in Kansas City, and Environmental Dynamics International (EDI), in Columbia – and had the chance to talk to some remarkable local businesses leaders and entrepreneurs in both cities.
Under President Obama's leadership, and with the hard work of businesses and workers like those here in Missouri, our private sector has now seen 28 straight months of job growth – 4.4 million jobs. Of course, there is more work to be done, but we are making progress in critical areas. Over the last two and a half years, we've seen the strongest growth in manufacturing jobs since the 1990s. Missouri alone has gained nearly 9,000 new manufacturing jobs since 2010.
On top of that, manufacturers in states like Missouri are realizing that investing here at home is both the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. Many businesses – both here and abroad – are deciding to keep jobs here, bring jobs back to the U.S., or to set up operations here for the first time—a trend called "insourcing."
We need to do everything possible to support businesses in places like Missouri that are thinking about insourcing. The Obama Administration will continue to call on Congress to pass legislation to give our companies a tax break if they move operations and jobs back.Learn more about Economy,
Kiersten-Care: Using the Health Care Tax Credit to Take Care of EmployeesPosted byon June 19, 2012 at 3:25 PM EST
Ed. Note: This was originally published on Healthcare.gov
Kiersten Firquain founded Bistro Kids in Kansas City, KS, seven years ago to provide locally sourced organic "kid-friendly" food to as many students as possible. While her chefs were cooking up healthy food for youngsters, she wanted to do something for her employees' health. The health care law tax credit for small businesses, she says, made it possible to offer them health insurance.
"We talked to our chefs and employees and asked, 'What's something you would like from Bistro Kids?' And one of the things that kept coming up was insurance," Kiersten says.
Bistro Kids qualified for about $1,500 per year in tax credits under the health care law, the Affordable Care Act, which made a huge difference to a small business like hers. For one of her chefs, Kiersten says, health insurance means a $5 co-pay for a prescription instead of a $250 cost, which her chef would not have been able to afford.Learn more about Economy, Health Care
New Visa Legislation Enables Israeli Investors to Create American JobsPosted byon June 15, 2012 at 4:36 PM EST
Last week, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3992, bipartisan legislation introduced by Rep. Howard Berman (CA28), which would further open America to direct investment by Israeli investors, provided Israel reciprocates with similar opportunities for American investors. The law adds Israel to a list of 80 countries whose citizens are eligible for E-2 investor visas.
E-2 visas are temporary visas granted to investors from a particular list of treaty countries. To qualify for this visa, foreign national investors must intend to come to the United States to develop and direct the operations of a business in which the foreign national must have invested — or be in the process of investing — a substantial amount of capital in the enterprise. In Fiscal Year 2011, the United States issued 28, 245 visas for this purpose.
Israel is a significant trade partner with the United States. In 2011, bilateral trade with Israel totaled $26.9 billion, and it is among the U.S.'s top 10 largest per capita export markets. Israel is a world leader in security and defense technologies, medicine, agriculture and clean energy. As we work to build an America Built to Last, and get our economy back on track, the Obama Administration is focused on supporting and generating investment in these and other critical industries.Learn more about Economy, Foreign Policy


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JPMorgan Credibility Cut With Fitch Downgrade
NEW YORK ( TheStreet) -- Fitch Ratings has cut JPMorgan Chase's (JPM) long term-debt rating by one notch to A+ from AA- as the nation's largest bank continues to reel from a $2 billion trading loss it disclosed late on Thursday.
The ratings cut caps a dramatic 24 hours after the trading loss was unveiled, which has humbled the bank's chief executive Jamie Dimon, one of Wall Street's most credible advocates, and reignited calls for financial industry reform. Fitch's move adds to mounting negative developments for JPMorgan that include reports of regulatory inquiries, analyst downgrades and lingering uncertainty over the magnitude of its trading loss.
|JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon
JPMorgan CEO James Dimon's announcement of a $2 billion trading loss just under 45 days into the second-quarter pushed the company's shares down over 9% in Friday trading, to a closing price of $36.96. Shares fell slightly in after-hours trading on Fitch's ratings cut.
JPMorgan's ratings cut and its tumbling shares come after the bank disclosured a trading loss to its synthetic credit positions in its Chief Investment Office. Those positions were intended to hedge JPM's overall credit exposure during periods of credit stress; however, CEO Dimon said they were poorly executed.
"Fitch views the size of loss as manageable. That said, the magnitude of the loss and ongoing nature of these positions implies a lack of liquidity. It also raises questions regarding JPM's risk appetite, risk management framework, practices and oversight; all key credit factors. Fitch believes the potential reputational risk and risk governance issues raised at JPM are no longer consistent with an 'AA-' rating," said the agency in its cut.
The agency also said it would keep JPMorgan's ratings on a negative watch, citing an expected lingering volatility of earnings that CEO Dimon said could lead to a further loss of $1 billion.In its Thursday filing, JPMorgan said a key risk measurement, value-at-risk, changed in first-quarter 2012, leading to a spike in the amount that the bank says it could lose on any given trading day. "This resulted in a near doubling of VaR to $170 million... Fitch believes this also highlights some problems with modeling related to this portfolio," said the agency in its assessment.
Fitch noted that at A+, JPMorgan's ratings reflect "its dominant domestic franchise as well as its solid and growing international franchise in investment banking and commercial banking," in addition to a strong capital base that puts it ahead of most peers and in accordance with Basel III standards.
In an unscheduled conference call on Thusday, CEO Dimon revealed that the bank's $2 billion trading loss in its synthetic credit portfolio, offset by a $1 billion securities gain, as a strategy to re-hedge the bank's overall credit risk backfired. Dimon described the trades as "flawed, poorly reviewed, poorly executed" and reflected "sloppiness" and " bad judgment."


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IEEE Standard 1800™ SystemVerilog is the industry's unified hardware description and verification language (HDVL) standard. SystemVerilog is a significant evolution of the traditional Verilog hardware description language. Its use dramatically improves productivity in the development of large-gate-count, IP-based, and bus-intensive chips. SystemVerilog is targeted primarily at the chip implementation and verification flows, with powerful links to the system-level design flow. SystemVerilog has been adopted by hundreds of semiconductor design companies and is supported by more than 75 EDA, IP, and training solutions providers worldwide.
IEEE Standard 1800™-2012 SystemVerilog LRM can be downloaded through the IEEE-SA and industry support, in PDF format, at no charge from http://standards.ieee.org/getieee/1800/download/1800-2012.pdf
Synopsys' support for SystemVerilogAs a pioneer in the development of the SystemVerilog standard, Synopsys provides comprehensive support for SystemVerilog throughout its solutions, platforms, and design and verification tools.


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Medical-grade receptacle and plug enhance safety and reliability. Certified and approved for use in patient vicinity and in a variety of healthcare settings, including offices, imaging centers, laboratories and more.
Certified to UL1363A for use in United States and Canada
Coiled cord stretches and collapses quickly; resists tangling
Easy to clean and durable all metal-housing
Medical-grade receptacles and plug enhance safety and promote reliability
Multiple installation options: integrated mounting flanges and slots allows mounting to all Ergotron carts
Equipped with outlet covers for patient safety
Switch-less design prevents accidental shutoff
Sturdy aluminum housing


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Chandler made a better pass than Douglas smh FML
STAT is quiet out there. That worries me. He used to be our leader. Now he's just quiet. He doesen't lead. He needs to step up in more than basketball and be our leader.
Chandler made a better pass than Douglas smh FML
Douglas at the point makes this team bad. great move by stat!!!
Real Talk
There you go STAT!!!!
There you go STAT. Hope he wakes him up now.
If we had a Shooting Guard that could get off a jump shot, we'd be fine Fields is only good for a pump fake
I'd rather have Bibby at the point.
I can't wait for BD to get healthy. TD makes me nervous.
Real Talk
Ok! up by 6 I'll take it. The way we've played. it could have been a lot worse.


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Soap Opera Fan's Screen Captures Of The Week.
Even with all of the drama, it's sometimes pretty hard to keep a straight face.
Welcome to our weekly screen capture gallery where Soap Opera Fan Blog pokes fun at our favorite soaps and asks you along for the ride.
Join us on Twitter @soapoperafan and Facebook. Come tweet and Facebook with us about all the other soap operas, "Dallas," "Glee," "Grey's Anatomy," "Scruples," "Vampire Diaries" and "Venice The Series!"
Photo Credit: Soap Opera Fan Blog
Fun fact! Matthew Purvis wrote this story just for you on April 30th, 2012 |


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2013 Spotts Lecture: 'Globalize and Innovate: Making of the 2020 Era Engineer'
Keng-Siang Lim, founder, chairman and chief executive officer of NextLabs, will be the featured speaker for the Ohio Northern University College of Engineering's Spotts Lecture in the Freed Center for the Performing Arts on Monday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m.
His speech, "Globalize and Innovate: Making of the 2020 Era Engineer," is free and open to the public.
As CEO of NextLabs, Lim is responsible for the company's vision, leadership, strategic direction and successful growth. NextLabs is the leading provider of policy-driven information, risk management (IRM) software for large enterprises. The company's software offers a cohesive solution for improving compliance and mitigating information risk by helping companies achieve safer and more secure internal and external collaboration, prevent data loss, and ensure proper authorization to applications and data.
IDG Demo recognized Lim at the DEMOfall 2009 with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his significant contributions to the advancement of technology. Lim is credited for his contributions to web and SOA technologies, ecommerce, SaaS, and information security software.
Lim also has been recognized by several key organizations as one of the industry's "most influential people on the Internet." ZDNet selected him as one of the "50 Smartest People" in 2000. He is widely known to be able to spot new markets and emerging technologies and is often recognized as one who is capable of creating new category-defining products. Lim is recognized as one of the inventors of the Java application server through his founding of Kiva Software, an application server pioneer. Kiva Software was the first to introduce an enterprise-class Java Application Server to market in 1996 and, in the process, coined the terms Java and Web Application Server and led to the emergence of the Enterprise Java Bean (EJB) and J2EE standards. Through his works and vision on Internet and network security, Sygate Technologies – which he helped launch in 1998 – has successfully established itself as the market leader of the enterprise endpoint security enforcement software.
Lim earned a bachelor's degree with high distinction, majoring in computer science and civil engineering, from Ohio Northern University in 1989 and a master's degree from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). He is a member of the engineering honor society, Tau Beta Pi. He is the holder of more than 30 approved and pending patents in the Internet and information security-related areas.
The Spotts Lecture series was established by the T.J. Smull College of Engineering in 1986 to bring distinguished speakers to the ONU campus on an annual basis to inform students of the probable professional conditions and challenges that engineers and computer scientists will face in the future.


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The Political Environment on Social Media
Some Americans enjoy the opportunities for political debate and engagement that social media facilitates, but many more express resignation, frustration over the tone and content of social platforms.
Cell Phones, Social Media and Campaign 2014
28% of registered voters use their cell phone to follow political news, and 16% follow political figures on social media.
Politics and advocacy in the social media era
Pew Research findings on the state of social media and its impact on grassroots and advocacy
Civic Engagement in the Digital Age
The well-educated and the well-off are more likely than others to participate in civic life online, just as those groups have always been more likely to be active in politics and community affairs offline.
Civic Engagement
Online traditional political activities are most popular among the well-educated and the financially well-off
Digital Politics: Pew Research findings on technology and campaign 2012
The growth of social media and the rapid adoption of internet-enabled mobile devices have changed the way Americans engage in the political process.
Politics + Internet/Tech: Our Research
The growth of social media and rapid adoption of internet-enable mobile devices have changed the way Americans engage in the political process. An infographic provides a summary of the latest data from national surveys taken during the 2012 campaign.
Politics Fact Sheet
Key data points on the intersection of politics and technology from the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project
Social Media and Voting
22% of registered voters have announced their vote for president on social media like Facebook or Twitter
Online Political Videos and Campaign 2012
55% of registered voters have watched political videos online this election season, and 52% have had others recommend political videos for them to watch online


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It's a first. Windmills on a drydock in Honolulu's Harbor.
It's a $500,000 investment that military contractor Navatek hopes will cut its electrical costs by half, thanks in part to narrow plasma-coated strips.
"It has been tested in the lab in a wind tunnel on short wings, but this is the first full scale wind turbine," said Navatek's Neal Fine.
Fine says the plasma works to control the flow around the surface of the blade to lower the drag and improve the lift.
Fine said, "The more lift you get on the blade the more power you can generate."
Fine says Honolulu Harbor is actually an ideal place to test out these turbines because the winds blow at about 20 mph. And the turbines are actually smaller than a lot of cranes in the area so they didn't require any special state harbor permits.
"If we can prove it at this scale, we can scale it up to industrial size at 1.5 or 5 megawatts, or maybe even the super big ones like 7.5 megawatts. That's the goal to prove the efficiency for these industrial scale turbines," said Fine.
The 100-foot-tall towers get extra lift since they are hydraulically attached on 30-foot-tall walls to get up into the air stream.
They are designed to start spinning at 12-to-13 mph, and unlike other turbines, are
actively controlled can respond to changes in the wind at any time.


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Home List of Titles The Australian Government Internet filter: its scope, and its potential civil liberties implications
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://hdl.handle.net/1959.3/224398
|Download PDF (Published version) (Adobe Acrobat PDF, 274 KB)
- Title
- The Australian Government Internet filter: its scope, and its potential civil liberties implications
- Author(s)
- Cairo, Anna; Wilken, Rowan
- Abstract
- In this article, we examine the structural elements of the Australian Government's filter policy as it has evolved over time, paying particular attention to the scope of the proposal, and the possible civil liberties implications of the proposal as it is presently formulated. More precisely, we argue that, by anchoring the proposal in the RC classification scheme, the filter will block far more than illegal material and, as a consequence, there is cause to be worried that a censorship regime is being created, as opposed to a system to protect children. We also explore the significance of civil liberties in the context of a liberal democracy and demonstrate the value they bring to Australia and show how freedom of speech, expression and information are not properly protected under Australia's Constitutional Framework creating consequences for established democratic freedoms in Australian society if the present ISP policy is to be implemented.
- Publication type
- Journal article
- Research centre
- Swinburne University of Technology
- Source
- Telecommunications Journal of Australia, Vol. 62, no. 2 (2012), pp. 25.1-25.15
- Publication year
- 2012
- FOR Code(s)
- 1005 Communications Technologies; 1801 Law; 2001 Communication and Media Studies
- Keyword(s)
- Australia; Censorship; Civil liberties; Constitutional Framework; Freedom of expression; Freedom of information; Freedom of speech; Government; Internet filter; Internet Service Provider filter; Online safety; Refused Classification Content
- Publisher
- Swinburne University of Technology
- 1835-4270
- Publisher URL
- Copyright
- Copyright © 2012 the authors. The published version is reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher.
- Full text
- Peer reviewed