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Skip to comments.VA AG Fears DC Law May Relocate Rehabilitated Rat Families To Virginia
Posted on 01/13/2012 7:23:11 PM PST by afraidfortherepublic
CNSNews.com) -- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli says he is worried that a new District of Columbia law that governs how pest control operators must handle rats may result in entire rodent families being relocated across the Potomac River into Virginia by D.C. pest control personnel.
Lately, there have been reports of growing rat infestations around the Occupy DC protests at Freedom Plaza and McPherson Square.
Cuccinelli said D.C.'s new rat law--the Wildlife Protection Act of 2010 (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf) --is crazier than fiction because it requires that rats and other vermin not be killed but captured, preferably in families; no glue or snap traps can be utilized; the rodents must be relocated from where they are captured; and some of these animals may need to be transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator as part of their relocation process.
The law does not allow pest control professionals to kill the dang rats, Cuccinelli told CNSNews.com. They have to capture them--then capture them in families. [Not sure] how youre going to figure that out with rats. And then you have to relocate them. That brings us to Virginia. Now, if you dont relocate them about 25 miles away, according to experts, rodents will find their way back. Well, an easy way to solve that problem is to cross a river, and whats on the other side of the river? Virginia.
So we have real concerns about this ridiculous--ridiculous!--law and weve been pretty genial about dealing with D.C. on it, said Cuccinelli. But when you see an article like the Rats Occupy Occupy DC, it points up the problem that were going to have in Virginia because of that--and because D.Cs really outrageous--outrageous!--treatment of these varmints who, for those who dont remember their history, carried things like bubonic plague. I mean, these are true vermin.
While the law exempts commensal rodents--varieties of which most people know (or have seen) as common rats or house mice--the rice rat and deer mouse, which are found in the District, are not defined as commensal and apparently are not exempt from the law. In addition, the new law expands the definition of wildlife and sets the rules for handling it to include raccoons, squirrels, skunks, and other animals that can carry disease, such as rabies. The law applies to trained animal control officers, not to homeowners.
The law (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf) specifically says that wildlife shall include any free-roaming wild animal, but shall not include: (A) Domestic animals; (B) Commensal rodents; (C) Invertebrates; and (D) Fish." Commensal rats include the House mouse (Mus musculus), the Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus), and the Roof rat (Rattus rattus).
In an e-mail to CNSNews.com, Brian Gottstein, communications director for Attorney General Cuccinelli, said, While certain commensal rodents are exempted from the law, the rice rat and the deer mouse are species that wildlife control experts note are within the District that are NOT defined as commensal rodents, so they would appear not to be exempt from the law.
In addition to these particular rats and mice, raccoons, squirrels, skunks and other animals known to carry rabies, Lyme disease, and other diseases are not exempt from the law, said Gottstein.
Gene Harrington, governmental affairs director for the National Pest Management Association, told CNSNews.com in an e-mail that he could not say with any degree of accuracy how prevalent the deer and white-footed mouse and rice rat are in the District but that the largest deer and white-footed mouse populations likely live in Rock Creek Park, and that during the colder months they make their way into homes and other structures near or adjacent to the Park. He later said that the deer and white-footed mice would likely be found in Ft. Dupont Park, the National Zoo, and the surrounding properties in D.C.
Harrington further said, I suspect once the Occupy DC protesters eventually leave there will be an overly aggressive squirrel population that has gotten too used to being fed by humans. Under the Wildlife Protection Act, the only legal method pest and wildlife management professionals can use to manage these squirrels will be to live-trap them. Since the squirrels will associate humans with food there is really no place to relocate them where they would not eventually become a nuisance.
Also, keep in mind that a pest management professional's use of snap traps at the Occupy DC camps to control the rats comes with its own legal pitfalls because squirrels or chipmunks could be attracted to the same peanut butter put out for the (Norway) rats, said Harrington.
He continued, Basically, federal and local government regulations have tied legal District rodent control practices in knots and made the management of such a problem much more complicated than it should be.
The Wildlife Protection Act was sponsored by D.C. City Council Member Mary M. Cheh. It was introduced in 2009, passed in December 2010 and went into effect in March 2011.
Some of the laws rules state (Wildlife Protection Act of 2010.pdf):
(c) Traps used by a wildlife control services provider shall be set in a manner designed to catch the target animal and in the manner likely to avoid capture of and harm to non-target animals.
(d) Wildlife shall be captured, handled, and, when permissible, transported, in a manner to ensure against causing unnecessary discomfort, behavioral stress, or physical harm to the animal, including providing protections against weather extremes.
... (f) Captured non-target wildlife shall be released immediately at the site of capture. Captured non-target wildlife that pose an unreasonable risk to the health and safety to persons or domestic animals or that are injured and need veterinary care and rehabilitation shall:
(1) With permission of the property owner, be relocated to a suitable location where nuisance problems are unlikely to occur;
(2) Transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator, if the animal is sick, injured, or abandoned; or
(3) Euthanized if relocation or rehabilitation are not feasible.
(g) Captured target wildlife shall be:
(1) Released at the site of capture;
(2) With permission of the property owner, be relocated to a safe location where nuisance problems are unlikely to occur;
(3) Transferred to a wildlife rehabilitator, if the animal is sick, injured, or abandoned; or
(4) If none of the other options are feasible, euthanized.
... (i) A wildlife control services provider shall make every reasonable effort to preserve family units using humane eviction or displacement and reunion strategies and shall not knowingly abandon dependent young wildlife in a structure.
... (k) Captured wildlife shall be transported in covered, secure containers in such a way as to: (1) Minimize stress to the animal and its exposure to the elements by covering the trap or vehicle with appropriate material;
(2) Ensure that the covering is of such material that the animal has an adequate supply of air to prevent overheating; and
(3) Minimize potential hazards to the general public. (l) A wildlife control services provider shall not use sticky or glue traps to control any wildlife.
This is one of those real-life-is-crazier-than-fiction laws D.C. has passed, Cuccinelli told CNSNews.com. I found out about it because our pest control people in Virginia were very concerned . [A]nd Ill tell you, the order of required dealing with these rats, raccoons, and various vermin of all types is you are now only allowed to trap them alive. No more glue traps. No more crushing traps. No more snap traps. Nothing like that. Now remember, these are mice, rats, raccoons, vermin.
And then your options are to release them on site, he said, adding, Oh yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
Or animal control can relocate the rats, said the attorney general, or transfer them to a wildlife rehabilitator--I kid you not!--a wildlife rehabilitator, or last and least, you can kill them but only with things like a relatively high-tech gas chamber, other nonmembers, methods-- excuse me--that are just outrageously expensive.
When asked what a wildlife rehabilitator is, Cuccinelli said, Thats a darn good question! But I understand, if there are any functioning in D.C., there are darn few of them. And Im not aware that there are any.
These are creatures [rats, mice] that carry pestilence, said Cuccinelli. And in Fairfax and in Loudoun, Prince William, we have a really bad, really long-term and tremendous outbreak in Lyme disease. And thats something you get from ticks carried on deer, as well as these other vermin. I wouldnt put deer in the vermin category but those are the kinds of public health hazards that come along with these creatures.
Squirrel. (AP Photo)
Commenting on further aspects of the law, Cuccinelli said that D.C. Councilwoman Mary Cheh had sided with rats over human health.
CNSNews.com also asked Cuccinelli, Are you concerned at all that rats are pretty much a protected species in D.C.?
He said: Absolutely. And thats a good way to put it. So are raccoons. So are squirrels. Im not as worried about the squirrels as I am the rats and the raccoons because theyrethe rats in particular breed like crazy and they carry such pestilence and diseaseits a very bad situation not just for D.C. but for those of us, given how small D.C. is, that border it.
When CNSNews.com called the attorney generals office for the District of Columbia, the communications office there said it was unfamiliar with the new rat law.
D.C. Council Member Mary M. Cheh (AP Photo)
In another e-mail to CNSNews.com, Gene Harrington, with the National Pest Management Association, said D.C.s Wildlife Protection Act is the perfect example of lawmakers putting special interest concerns and goals above those of its citizens. It is not as if there was an issue with cats getting caught in rodent snap traps or on non-toxic snake glue boards. Rather, the law was passed in the form it was because it had to meet the pure doctrine of the Humane Society of the United States and that ideology dictates that lethal control methods should never be utilized, regardless of whether the animal in question is Willard the Rat, Carl the Copperhead, or Bambi the Deer.
In addition to the practical challenges that the new law poses, Harrington said that EPA regulations on rodent pesticides could conflict with the Wildlife Protect Act.
As for the rat infestations at the Occupy DC camps, treatment of those problems is also made more difficult by new EPA restrictions prohibiting the use of rodenticide products further than 50 feet from buildings, he told CNSNews.com by e-mail. The new EPA restrictions also limit the use of rodenticides to commensal rodents, so the only [way] pest management professionals can legally manage non-commensal rodents, such as deer and white-footed mice in the District, is to live-capture them or build a completely rodent-proof structure."
"Live capturing these mice species brings its own risks for pest control operators because of diseases transmitted by such rodents and having to handle the pests," said Harrington.
Just unbelievable.
Does this qualify for your outdoors ping list?
LOL! I thought he was afraid a lot of DemocRATs would be moving to VA from DC.
Maybe the Plague will knock some sense into the idiots in D.C.
Release them in the Capitol Building.
I thought the same thing, at first. But this is even worse. And then the hoops she has the pest control people jump through.
How dumb can the District of Columbia be. Can you imagine folks running around the park trying to catch all the rats? The overtime hours racked up etc. My head hurts.
Congresscritter Protection Act.
Quit whining VA. They could be re-locating the rats and their two legged cousins.
Show they can be useful for once.
surely there are Chinese restaurants in DC????
Sure this wasn't from the Onion?
Solution: since the law only applies to the control officers, it will be up to private citizens to set snap traps and put out poison at every home in VA. That should pretty well take care of the problem. We are going to learn to go around the stupid government and take care of ourselves.
Northern VA is the *perfect* place to relocate the rats.
They'll feel right at home.
What could go wrong? Besides the bubonic plague thing.
Silly to talk about bio-warfare between states of the US in the 21st century, but if someone in 100BC got caught importing live rats into Rome, the rats would be snuffed, and there would be a spectacle at the collosium later this evening.
I was thinking Maryland - already full of rats.
This is satire, right?
Looks like the Virginia legislature will have to make it a crime to transport rats into the Commonwealth.
When necessary a mouse trap works perfectly dealing out a swift and permanent final solution to any mice and a few rats at the Nana house...
Come and get me, G-Man...
I know some reptile farms, er, ecosystems where the rats would be welcome guests.
Willard is going to take care of those rats when he gets to DC!/s;)
Maryland -- completely overrun by RATS.
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#15: re rats in No. Va. I have 5 cats. My driveway was littered with dead mice today. A couple rats, last week.
The racoon has been around for over 10 years and his predecessors for the past 25 years, along with a nice possum. Chipmunks aren't here due to the cats, but they do catch moles and voles, and ocassionally a neighborhood kid.
The snake is very happy.
The squirrels usually stay "high" in the trees and fences. The snake is not happy. There goes my neighbor's white rat dog. Less noise pollution.
Now about that speeder the other day. Let's see. My son's K9 is hungry. Yes, we have a solution.
Bon appetit.
Re Cheh and her law. She's the rat. Downtown DC from Pennsylvania Ave NW between 9th to 6th is loaded with them, in alleys, on the main and side streets, under trees and in gardens, etc. And those are just the DemoRats. The gray critters are also everywhere but at least they can't vote.
We don't use poison. Our Rat Terriers get the job done quickly and efficiently. We have a Jack Russell/Rat Terrier cross too. He is fast as lightning.
I thought this article was about the VA Primary, where only Romney and Paul qualified. No kidding.
Let me see if I have this right.
Rats in DC can't be slain and must be relocated as a family.
According to the 'experts' it is unconstitutional to require an ID to vote.
So we can pass laws to make sure the 'rat family' stays together but not make sure one is eligible to vote.
Will the 'rat family' have a vote?
Guess shouldn't give the idiots any ideas.
This would make a great example for Newt to bring up in his debates. LOLOL!!!!!
Cats! Dogs!
Not surprising. I remember well the "Ho Walk" across the 14th St. Bridge a number of years back.
So this is in line with past DC practice.
Whew this caught me off guard at first because I thought they were speaking of relocating democratic families. I had already called a friend of mine whose family resides in the D.C. area and told him that if he needed to bunk up for a few days in Tenn. he would be more than welcome but just for a few days and he told me to read the whole article and they were speaking of varmint's. I was so embarassed.
We keep wondering that, and just when we think they've done the dumbest thing possible they keep managing to find something even dumber.
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I was prompted to write this article after a question was posed to me by one of my students, "What are some of the typical behaviors we see in those who care for an autistic child or adult?" Nothing like a good question to get the observational juices flowing. This question is significant because what caregivers experience, sometimes alone, merits our understanding, but also our validation. Selfishly I wanted to explore this also because much of the literature deals with the autistic individual, but little I found is written about the experience of those that care for them.
In order to answer the question, I had to go beyond my own comfort zone of mere observation into one where I had to ask questions of those who understood this topic the most: the parents, siblings, and the care givers of autistic children and adults. What I learned made me realize that by examining this question, I was validating their experiences (some public, but mostly private) that for many are at best challenging. For this task, I was fortunate to be joined by one of my nonverbal communication students from Portugal, Pedro Lamy. As the older brother of two autistic sisters, Pedro was able to give me considerable insights and encouragement.
To gather the information, we both went out and talked with those we personally knew - who care for or are the parents or siblings of autistic children or adults. We asked them to just talk to us about their experiences while we observed their nonverbals in public and private with their autistic children present and at times not present.
Immediate Reactions
When asked, "What was your reaction when you were notified by the doctor that your child or sibling was autistic?" the participant's answers varied, but not to a great extent. The parents we spoke to expressed relief in finally knowing but they also remarked on the sudden heaviness of responsibility. A heaviness that was not just of the mind, but also of the body, as if suddenly overcome by gravity. They explained this was partly because of the realization that they faced a lifetime of challenges and that this condition was not simply going to go away.
Other participants said, that their immediate reaction was to cry. A weeping that was so profound, that years later they still remember how they cried – viscerally. And while they cried, they sunk lower and lower in their chairs, the weight of the situation registering on their bodies.
One father reported exhaling for such a long time (a cathartic exhale) that he still remembers the moment. He reenacted it by blowing up his cheeks and pursing his lips exhaling as he did so. He can still recall the sound of that air escaping for what seemed an eternity. When he stopped, he looked at his wife, and she was stiff as a board, grasping the arms of her chair as if flash frozen for what seemed like minutes: her eyes unblinking, staring into eternity, eerily silent upon receiving the diagnosis that their daughter was autistic. According to the father, it took her a long time to snap out of it, but when she did, she turned to him, still grasping the arms of the chair, and unleashed a torrent of things that had to be done to ensure the best for their child.
There were obviously a variety of reactions from participants we spoke to. And then one family told us what it had been like for the grandparents of the autistic child, which prompted me to explore further with other families. For the elderly grandparent, there was a ready acceptance of the diagnosis, a relic perhaps of a generational belief in the infallibility of the medical profession. They also experienced bewilderment as they pondered the disorder, because none of them remember anyone growing up in the 30s, 40s, or 50s, with this malady. Bewilderment was then followed by noticeable insecurity as they considered what they could do to make things better or help. Over time, the families reported a certain detachment and sadness that came over the grandparents even as they lovingly tried to understand.
This sadness is not just experienced by the grandparents. All the families and individuals we spoke with report a certain sadness they can "see" in family members. It was described as a sort of "knowing" sadness, no doubt driven by the realization that there is not much they can do for their sibling or child to extricate them from this malady.
It was also noted that while they observe a certain sadness in themselves, they are also sensitive to how well they handle things. When caregivers have a bad day, their failure to live up to their own expectations gets them down. They want to be patient, they want to understand, but at times they don't succeed and that failure weighs on them.
Noticeable Tension
As we spoke to the siblings and parents in the presence of the autistic child or adult we noted a certain amount of tension in the face and the neck muscles including furrowing of the forehead.
We observed many of the customary nonverbals of psychological discomfort and social anxiety including lip biting, lip compression, facial stroking, and leg rubbing. These were often repeated behaviors that of course serve to pacify and soothe. We also noted ventilating behaviors (pulling of clothing away from body at neck, shoulders, or chest or running of fingers through hair). In a few cases, nail biting was severely visible. And in a couple of cases, hyperhidrosis (hands become very sweaty) was observed, even leaving marks on the pants. All of these behaviors confirm the underlying psychological discomfort, stress, anxiety, or tension that is being experienced at different times by those with whom we spoke.
It is notable that in the two cases of hyperhidrosis previously mentioned, the siblings report that it started when they began to go out with their autistic sibling in public, even as they themselves were children. Years on, they still get sweaty palms, to the point of embarrassment, even in situations that have nothing to do with their autistic sibling. Severe sweating and wetness of the skin has seemingly become their default response to any social anxiety or stress.
We also noted that even when talking about their autistic child or sibling, without them being present, there was n increased amount of wringing of the hands or interlacing of the fingers (a reserved behavior to deal with a high degree of stress). It should be noted that not only did we see these behaviors; family members and caregivers also report seeing these behaviors in each other.
Parents and siblings report of tension, nervousness, and anxiety experienced while caring for an autistic child or adult. But in at least four cases we heard about transient intestinal discomfort that occurs regularly when they are responsible for the autistic child or adult. This is probably a psychosomatic response caused by stress or anxiety. Coupled with this is the feeling of a dry mouth (usually caused by nervousness), lip licking, and a lot of lip biting and lip compression.
Also noted, when they were anxious about their autistic sibling or child, was the interlocking of ankles around the legs of the chair. When the autistic child or adult acted out, there was frequent eye blocking (covering of the eyes with hands or the eyelids come down and stay down longer than usual) on the part of the caregiver, even when others were not present. Eye blocking is often used as a mechanism to symbolically block out negative thoughts, events, or emotions. Neck touching or covering of the supra-sternal notch (neck dimple) was also noted when the autistic child was acting out or when we discussed instances of the autistic child acting out.
Our inquiry in time led us to also hear about the experiences of the care givers and family and what that experience is like. We share these here because it was an eye opener for me and for my writing partner, it validated many things he had experienced with his own autistic sisters.
Role Assumption
Having been notified of the diagnosis, parents, siblings, and caregivers report finding themselves fulfilling roles that are complex and for many, difficult. Difficult because at once they are thrust into numerous roles: risk managers, public relations, healthcare provider, and bodyguard. Their task is often demanding because as they readily admit, they are not prepared or qualified to fill these significant roles that they must now master quickly.
The individuals we spoke with report having a necessity to always be hyper-vigilant. They find that they cannot take their eyes off the autistic child or adult or they are so focused that they ignore others who may be talking to them. This often leads to the misperception that they are not interested in what others have to say or are not social, when in fact they are merely occupied with one of the four roles described above.
This need to be vigilant does impact on the caregiver's interactions and on their ability to focus. They report being distracted to the point where social gatherings are interrupted, events are missed, and not surprisingly, their memory is affected. They report forgetting passwords or PIN numbers with greater frequency. Some reported even struggling with words at times because they are so distracted or focused.
It is interesting that no one reported the extra vigilance as a burden, but the task of being attentive, they reported, does evidence itself in their energy level, their faces, and in their bodies because they are admittedly more "fatigued." They report of being tired and tense while caring for the autistic child or adult. This is particularly true in large gatherings where the crowds, distractions, and noise which is often too much stimulation for some autistic children and adults.
Virtually everyone we spoke to reported a constant self awareness and consciousness of others, observing how they react to the autistic individual. This no doubt is part of the hyper vigilance of which they so often speak. The caregiver tends to stand more erect, on alert for those who are coming into visual range but also assessing those that are close by who may react to the child as they act out. Having said that, those we spoke to also mention that when they are not on alert, they tend to sit as though collapsed or fatigued in their chairs from the strain of being hyper alert.
Risk Avoidance
Out of necessity they become "risk managers" or specialists of social situations. They feel a need to determine ahead of time where they are going, who will be there, how long the event will be, what they must do while there, and whether there is anything to look out for that will be a problem (e.g., availability of bathrooms, food, noise levels, too many people). Because they are dealing with an individual who may be sensitive to sounds, crowds, colors, or distractions, they need to be highly cautious.
Also, because they have in their care an individual who is in some ways beyond their control, who may be constantly moving, or who may be dramatic in their gestures or outbursts, that alone makes for a very "taxing experience." Consequently, they report that you have to be "on" at all times when you are caring for the autistic child or adult. The dramatic aspects of the behavior are often the most noticeable, but sudden quietness can also be troubling. In one instance, that quiet led to the parents finding their older autistic daughter quietly in the corner of a room exploring a container housing rat poison – fortunately, this time, the non-dramatic activity alerted them to something amiss. Out of necessity, eavesdropping becomes ritualized for the caregivers to make sure everything is OK.
Even when you are just a visitor in the home of an autistic child, you are drawn in to the need to care for their well-being — aware and cautious should something happen. Most people don't realize that as a caregiver, the need to continually manage or attenuate the situation so that, for example, the TV volume is not too high, so that people don't crowd, so that sharp objects are not handy, or so that circumstances don't get out of hand. At the same time, they speak of the need to constantly assuage and pacify the autistic child with hugs, kisses, or a stroke of the head or hair, or even by humming a soft melodic sound. But there are naturally times of course when the caregiver is not immediately there to pacify or soothe and the autistic child may engage in repetitive behaviors that end up hurting them such as banging a hand on a sharp object.
Beyond assessing for risks and situations to avoid, those we spoke with report that they find themselves making phone calls ahead of people coming over or forewarning visitors or public spectators that their son, daughter, or sibling may act out. They feel compelled to forewarn, notify, or do a preemptive "just in case" as one of their duties. If the autistic child acts out (making odd noises, screaming, thrashing about), caregivers report feeling as though "electrocuted" (their term) by social anxiety – dreadfully shocked, stiff, with a need to both act immediately to deal with the autistic individual while at the same time needing to calm themselves down. At such times, they become even more aware of the desire to notify others so that they don't become alarmed or as in one case, at a train station in Washington DC, so that authorities are not needlessly called. It is at times like these that passersby and spectators stop and stare or become alarmed that they must rise to do active public relations.
Perception Management
Of necessity, the family and caregivers find themselves doing a lot of social kowtowing. They refer to the need to be extra polite, humble, or overly supplicant because there are often times when they seek sympathy, understanding or forgiveness from others. They so count on others to understand that at times they feel they have to be obsequious in order to achieve their objective of being understood.
Surrogate Parent
Whether they like it or not, the siblings of an autistic child often take on the role of a surrogate parent. It is a responsibility that frequently leaves the non-parent provider a little overwhelmed or stressed, as they note, because they feel inadequate (they themselves are young), lack professional training, or they have to make significant decisions or take actions that they feel only a parent should be doing. As one male sibling reported, the mere act of having to go into a woman's bathroom with his older autistic sister can be anxiety producing on so many levels.
Seeking the Acceptable
From a social perspective, the family of autistic children often find themselves seeking out those that are empathetic and avoiding those that don't understand or who are simply unpleasant, rude, or intolerant. In social settings they try to avoid those who may appear to have negative sentiments to protect the autistic child or adult, but it may also serve to spare themselves those looks that are disappointing or hurtful.
Some of those we interviewed revealed losing friends over time for a variety of reasons, including their friends' inability to understand, to adapt, or because their friend wasn't comfortable any more in coming over. For some, this becomes a defining moment as to who really is a friend. At least for many, those friends who continue to come over are those they can trust and count on.
Invariably, family members report of the frustration they often encounter when they are pleading with the autistic child or adult for attention or a change in behaviors and are ignored. For many, this disconnect between the way most people would respond and the lack of recognition or response by their autistic child or sibling can be very frustrating. It is something many caregivers struggle with, even years later. They also express frustration in not being able to interpret the autistic child or adult's needs, desires, intentions, or true emotions because they display these so radically differently at times or not at all.
Needed Break
Almost all comment on how welcome it is when they get a break, even for a few hours, to stand down. In one instance, the autistic children go to a special camp for two weeks, that gives the family, what they describe as a "break." And yet, there is a longing for their autistic relative. No sooner than the autistic child is gone than the family is talking about missing them and wanting them back. You can see the alacrity in their eager faces to have their child or sibling back. It is notable that though they show the visible signs of tiredness and fatigue, they don't talk about their responsibilities as being a burden. In fact they talk of having a tremendous emotional payback for having the child in their life.
Hardening of the Care-Giver
We cannot say there was a consensus, but it certainly was hinted at by some or expressly stated by others that caring for an autistic child or adult, "makes you tough." It makes you sensitive to the needs of the autistic child or adult, but it also hardens you to those who are ignorant, narrow minded, truculent, or just plain nasty. There is a duality that is often described by those who care for the autistic child of being simultaneously warm and sensitive, as well as tough and cold. The pendulum moves swiftly depending on the immediate needs of the moment and circumstances.
Dealing With Myths
The family and caregivers of autistic children also speak about the false impressions others have based on ignorance, popular culture, or the movies. The misconception that the autistic child is a "genius or savant," or that they can do clever acts of memory, or have extraordinary if esoteric gifts. Strangers at times may even ask if they can do some particular trick as they have seen on the screen such as in the movie "Rain Man." These inquires are of course irksome and offensive, but they also attest to the ignorance that is out there and they too cause a weariness that is at times exasperating.
In talking to families with autistic children, one of the things that they highlighted was the strain that they experience with their spouses and the higher than normal divorce rate. This is one area we didn't plan to discuss but it was brought up by some of those we interviewed. We can contribute little here and find there are already plenty of articles out there dealing with this topic.
Any quest is educational and this certainly was for me. Working with my co-author, Pedro Lamy, certainly made this task easier, as well as instructive, as he lives this experience every day. It should not be a surprise that receiving a differential diagnosis of autism is stressful. That stress is highly visible in varying degrees on the face of those we interviewed who care for the autistic child or adult. The most prominent displays were: lip biting, lip compression, neck touching, hand wringing, ventilating, eye blocking, self soothing, and fingernail biting.
Unfortunately, popular culture and movies have not been helpful, misrepresenting what life for an autistic child or adult is like and what it is to care for someone who is autistic. The role of caregiver, as a parent or a sibling of an autistic child or adult, is much more demanding then most people understand. As those we interviewed indicated, they must take on the role of risk management, public relations, healthcare provider, and bodyguard all at once. Not an easy task, requiring patience, decorum, understanding, and acting skills – to deal with the autistic child while at the same time making strangers more comfortable.
Obviously we cannot really know what it is like if we are not caregivers or the family of an autistic child ourselves. In writing about this subject, I have so much more appreciation for what my co-author Pedro experiences daily. Love, it is said, is a wonderful coping mechanism – our interviews are a testament to that. While the task for caring for an autistic child or adult is at times difficult, no one stated that this was a burden; even though at times their faces attested to daily challenges that most of us will never endure. Love seems to overcome much adversity and that is a lesson for us all here.
* * *
Pedro Lamy, has been student of nonverbal communications for four years and is a human resource manager for a large European company. He currently lives in Portugal. He can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com
Joe Navarro, M.A. is the author of What Every Body is Saying, as well as Louder Than Words. For additional information and a free nonverbal communications bibliography please contact him through www.jnforensics.com or follow on twitter: @navarrotells or on Facebook. Other articles by Joe Navarro in Psychology Today.

subset: commoncrawl


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Press release
Ernst & Young LLP recognized as best overall consultancy by Operational Risk & Regulation four years running
New York, 22 April 2013
Ernst & Young LLP announced today that for the fourth year in a row it has received the award for best overall consultancy by Operational Risk & Regulation and a group of financial services industry experts. The firm was singled out for its innovative and practical operational risk management services, integrated financial services advisory practice and deep regulatory knowledge.
"This award is a credit to our outstanding team of dedicated risk professionals that have contributed to developing Ernst & Young LLP's distinct enterprise risk management framework," said Hank Prybylski, Global Financial Services Risk Management Leader, for the EY organization. "We see the needs of a global client base becoming increasingly complex, and in order to deal with the rising tide of new risk, EY will continue to invest in the expansion of our capabilities and innovative risk service offerings."
One key initiative underpinning EY's industry leadership in risk management was the formation of the Global Regulatory Network. Since the financial crisis, the agenda at most financial services firms has been driven by the new financial regulatory landscape. Recognizing the linkage between global regulatory reforms and the risk management priorities of many clients, the global EY organization brought together an executive team of former senior regulators from around the world to advise clients on regulatory themes impacting global banks, including capital, liquidity, recovery and resolution planning, risk governance and other emerging topics.
Additionally, EY has provided a breadth of risk management services to the world's largest and most complex financial institutions, including operational risk management, enterprise risk governance, capital management, data management and reporting and anti-money laundering and regulatory compliance services.
Prybylski added, "There is no doubt that the past few years have challenged the ability of banks, asset managers and insurance companies to respond to the new regulatory environment. But we believe that financial institutions have moved their focus to developing strategies for growth. Success in the future financial services industry landscape will hinge on understanding an evolved and rapidly changing customer agenda, leveraging analytics for competitive advantage, as well as developing efficient and forward-looking risk management capabilities that will support and enable sustainable profitability."
The Operational Risk & Regulation Awards aim to recognize companies and individuals that have demonstrated innovative thinking and provided useful solutions to the operational risk challenges faced by the financial industry in addition to excellence in operational risk management across the financial sector.
About EY
EY is a global leader in assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services. Worldwide, our 167,000 people are united by our shared values and an unwavering commitment to quality. We make a difference by helping our people, our clients and our wider communities achieve their potential.
EY refers to the global organization of member firms of Ernst & Young Global Limited, each of which is a separate legal entity. Ernst & Young Global Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, does not provide services to clients. For more information about our organization, please visit www.ey.com.
EY is a leader in serving the global financial services marketplace
Nearly 35,000 EY financial services professionals around the world provide integrated assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services to our asset management, banking, capital markets and insurance clients. In the Americas, EY is the only public accounting organization with a separate business unit dedicated to the financial services marketplace. Created in 2000, the Americas Financial Services Office today includes more than 4,000 professionals at member firms in over 50 locations throughout the US, the Caribbean and Latin America.
EY professionals in our financial services practices worldwide align with key global industry groups, including EY's Global Asset Management Center, Global Banking & Capital Markets Center, Global Insurance Center and Global Private Equity Center, which act as hubs for sharing industry-focused knowledge on current and emerging trends and regulations in order to help our clients address key issues. Our practitioners span many disciplines and provide a well-rounded understanding of business issues and challenges, as well as integrated services to our clients. With a global presence and industry-focused advice, EY's financial services professionals provide high-quality assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services, including operations, process improvement, risk and technology, to financial services companies worldwide.
It's how EY makes a difference.
This news release has been issued by Ernst & Young LLP, a US client-serving member firm of Ernst & Young Global Limited.


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Marcy Rylan Out At The Young And The Restless.
Last studio date.
Update on October 22:
Rylan will last appear as Abby on Tuesday October 23.
Previously Reported on October 2:
Last night Rylan posted on her Twitter that today October 2 would be her last day in the studios. As of yet no final air date for Abby has been announced.
Tomorrow is my last day of work in Genoa City! I want to take home copies of my very best Abby episodes! Any suggestions?One I might forget?
— Emme Marcy Rylan (@EmmeRylan) October 2, 2012
Previously Reported on September 14:
Soap Opera Digest is reporting that "The Young And The Restless" has let go of yet another actress. Not only is Genie Francis out at Y&R Marcy Rylan has been let go as Abby Newman – a role she's played since 2010 – allegedly due to budget cuts.
Rylan took to Twitter to react and stated…
I had a blast at Y&R and I'm taking all those awesome memories with me! I am so excited to see what will come next! Love you all! XOXOXO
— Emme Marcy Rylan (@EmmeRylan) September 14, 2012
Should Abby be recast? Vote in Soap Opera Fan Blog's poll…
Are you the ultimate fan blogger? If so, ABC is looking for you! Details in Soaps.com's Reality TV Rush. Vote what you want to see next for "B&B's" Hope in our Soap Opera Polls.
Join us on Twitter @soapoperafan and Facebook.
Fun fact! Amy Mistretta wrote this story just for you on October 22nd, 2012 |


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The Moab area offers challenging trails amidst world-class scenery. The characteristics of the area that make it a special place for outdoor recreationists also make it extremely important to follow safety procedures.
Carry lots of water and high energy foods. Take two large bottles and a reserve supply in a water bladder or other container. Eating at intervals provides an opportunity to rest and the energy needed to complete the trail. During the hotter months, you should carry at least 1 gallon of water per day. Avoid drinking untreated water unless your life depends on it.
Stay found. Grand County has the highest incidence of search and rescue in Utah. The high costs of these operations is typically the responsibility of the rescued party. If you are lost, do not continue on in hopes of finding your way. Retrace your route back toward the trailhead until you pick up the trail or find someone who knows the area. If you cannot retrace your route, stay put, conserve energy and water, make yourself visible and await rescue. Carry trail maps and use them to track your position. Great trail maps and guidebooks are available at bike shops, the Moab Information Center, bookstores, and other locations in town. Check the alignment of the route and key junctions. Moab is surrounded by a maze of deep canyons and towering cliffs. Never try to cut cross-country to shorten a trail. Be prepared in case of emergency. Don't venture into remote areas with nothing but a t-shirt and shorts. Carry a windbreaker, sunscreen, sunglasses, maps, matches or lighter, repair kit, first-aid kit, and extra food, water and clothing. Travel with someone else and stay together in case of problems. Discuss your situation calmly and make a plan to improve it. Let someone know of your plans. Check your vehicle frequently. Moab trails can cause vehicle failure or damage. Frequent inspections reduce the possibility of injury when mechanical systems fail.. Develop basic skills on the easier trails. Trails like Porcupine Rim, Pritchett Canyon, and Behind the Rocks are not suitable places to learn or teach basic skills. Try easier trails like Gemini Bridges or Monitor & Merrimac. When cycling, dirt biking, or riding ATV's, wear a helmet. Most trails are very rocky. Even the best riders can get tired and make mistakes. Helmets can prevent or reduce the severity of head injuries. Medical professionals say that the average cost of treating a major head injury is over half a million dollars. Watch out for lightning. If you see lightning approaching, take cover in a vehicle or crouch in a low, dry spot. Avoid metal objects and never take shelter under a lone tree, at the base of a cliff, or in a shallow cave. Avoid swimming and diving into the river. The Colorado, Green, and Dolores Rivers look calm but there are whirlpools and currents you cannot see. If you insist on swimming in the river, wear a life jacket. Judging the depth of the river is very difficult because the water is not clear--NEVER dive into the river. Be careful when camping or hiking in dry washes. Even when the skies are blue above, flash floods can come down dry washes. Remember that water can travel many miles down drainages. Don't rely on your cell phone. There is no cell coverage in many portions of the Moab area. Please do not rely on your cell phone to call help. Leave your pets at home. Do not leave your pet in the car when temperatures are above 65° F. Pets can die from heat exhaustion in a very short time. Leaving pets tied up outside your vehicle is also not a good idea. Pets often knock their water over and are left with no water until you come back. Temperatures during the summer months are often above 100° F. Respect the desert. Tread lightly when traveling (don't leave vehicle tracks off trails) and leave no trace of your camping. Help keep the Canyon Country clean by taking your trash home and picking up after the less aware. Protect and conserve scarce water sources for wildlife by not polluting or bathing in them. Allow space for wildlife by maintaining your distance, and leave historic sites, rock art, ruins, and artifacts untouched for the future. Have fun and learn about the special features of the area. Great trails are not the only reason Moab has become an international destination. Take time to enjoy the scenery, study ancient Native American rock art, or marvel at the harmony of a cryptobiotic soil garden.
Canyon Country Minimum Impact Practices


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Aldrin Calimlim
| February 7, 2013
Show Swampy And Perry Some Love In Where's My Valentine?
In December last year, just in time for Christmas, Disney launched Where's My Holiday?. Now, just in time for Valentine's Day, the popular entertainment company has launched Where's My Valentine?. Actually, Where's My Valentine? is just the newly updated and rebranded version of Where's My Holiday?. I reckon Disney has decided on making this game something like Angry Birds Seasons, but for Where's My Water? and Where's My Perry?. Where's My Holiday? offered 12 holiday-themed levels. Unsurprisingly, Where's My Valentine? offers 12 Valentine's Day-themed levels. Half of these levels feature Swampy the showering sewer alligator, while the other half feature Perry the stranded secret-agent platypus. All of these levels include heart-themed gameplay elements, which are hinted at by the "hearty" puns in the levels' titles. [caption id="attachment_380680" align="aligncenter" width="270"] Where's My Valentine?[/caption] Compatible with iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad running iOS 4.3 or later, Where's My Valentine? (formerly known as Where's My Holiday?) is available now in the App Store for free. To play the Where's My Water? levels, just tap the heart-shaped box containing Swampy. And to play the Where's My Perry? levels, just tap the heart-bearing teddy bear containing Perry. If you want more such levels, albeit not "heart-filled," you're encouraged to simply buy the full versions of Where's My Water? and Where's My Perry? for $0.99 each. [gallery link="file" order="DESC"]


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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jim Johnson got pulled in the ninth inning with a sellout crowd booing,
hardly the kind of Oakland debut the reigning AL saves leader had hoped for last night.
Johnson (0-1) surrendered a go-ahead sacrifice fly to Nyjer Morgan and Nick Swisher's RBI single as the Cleveland Indians sent the Athletics to their major league-record 10th straight opening-day loss with a 2-0 victory.
"I would have booed me, too. I (stunk) today, I'll admit it," Johnson said. "That's fine. I deserved it. I expect that. The next time they're probably going to be cheering."
In the sixth, crew chief Mike Winters became the first umpire to initiate a review under the expanded replay system, making the call after a collision at the plate.
Winters requested the review on a close play that kept Cleveland from breaking a scoreless tie. The call was confirmed in 59 seconds.
"Basically with the new rule I just wanted to confirm what I saw that the catcher did not block the plate unnecessarily," Winters said. "He was in fair territory, he gave the runner plenty of plate to go to. I just wanted to be sure."
Winters wanted to see whether A's catcher John Jaso had illegally blocked the plate under baseball's new rule regarding home-plate collisions. With Michael Brantley on third and one out, Asdrubal Cabrera hit a comebacker that ricocheted off pitcher Sonny Gray's foot.
Gray quickly retrieved the ball and fired home to Jaso, who tagged a sliding Brantley. Cleveland manager Terry Francona came out to discuss the play.
Francona said, "I appreciated him checking."
"Bob (Melvin) went over all the scenarios with the replay with the team so I knew exactly what was going on," Gray said. "I thought it was a clean, fair play."
Oakland's Josh Donaldson hit a single off the top of the wall near the 400-foot sign in center in the eighth, but Daric Barton held up at second waiting to tag in case the ball was caught, and the A's failed to score the go-ahead run.
Cody Allen (1-0) then struck out Jed Lowrie and retired Brandon Moss on a grounder to first.
In the ninth, Melvin knew he had to remove Johnson in that situation.
"He walks the first guy. He's always the type of guy who's one pitch away from getting a double-play ball, but it just didn't happen for him today," Melvin said. "It just wasn't his day."
Justin Masterson and Gray dueled in a scoreless games before the bullpens took over to decide it. Masterson allowed three hits, struck out four and walked one in seven scoreless innings, lowering his ERA on opening day to 0.86.
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Jim Johnson got pulled in the ninth inning with a sellout crowd booing,
hardly the kind of Oakland debut the reigning AL saves leader had hoped for last night.


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We're in the heat of the party-family-togetherness season and introverts may be starting to feel the strain, so I thought it would be useful to collect all the relevant posts I've written over the past couple of years into one Introverts' Corner Holiday Survival Guide. And remember that the comments, thanks to the wonderful readers of this blog, are full of ideas and insights.
We Gotta Fight For Our Right Not to Party
Solitude vs. Socializing: When To Say Yes, When To Say No
Fear Of Missing Out: Why We Say Yes When We'd Rather Say No
Party Survival Tactics for Introverts
Plug Energy Drains With These Magic Words
There Must Be 50 Ways To Leave A Party
And please check out this post on my other blog, Real World Research: Fear of Parties: One Good Reason.
Happy Holidays, One and All!
My book, The Introvert's Way: Living a Quiet Life in a Noisy World, is available for pre-order on Amazon. It will be released December 4, just in time for party/festive/family-togetherness season. You know you need it.
Please join me on Facebook and visit my other blog, Better Living Through Pithy Quotes.
Studio Party / Blvd. des Capucines by Stephen Longstreet/Yale University Art Gallery


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Meeting Annie
March 26, 2014 —
Lately, I realize I take a lot for granted: everyday things such as the warmth of a sunny day, the laughter of children and the first bloom of the forsythia indicating the birth of another spring. When I first met Annie, I was moving into the last car of the train and noticed she was the only one in the car. Strange for the car to be empty, I thought, I would have passed without a second notice except she spoke to me saying hello and asking if Harriman was next. She had a pleasant voice and was looking right at me, hard to ignore and just walk on. I told her it was and was about to walk on when she asked, "Don't you love the smell of the snow?" Smiling, I answered that I had never really thought about it. Annie asked,"Why are your smiling? Is it a silly question?" She then put out her hand and said, "Hi, I'm Annie, What's your name?" When I shook her hand and told her my name, she said "Nice to meet you, Tom. Have a seat." So down I sat.
To best describe Annie is to picture a "librarian," proper matching hat, dress and coat, articulate with a quirky smile. Next to her was a shopping bag full of books, with a loaf of bread sticking out, and I could see the wine was red. Turned out, she was up for the winter break to visit her folks in the country. She told me she would miss her students but was glad to get away. Living in the East Village, close to the school where she taught, she missed the smell of the snow. There it was again, this odd description of a sense experience I have never made the connection to.
We have been snowbound now for months in the Upper Delaware River Valley; the pines look beautiful covered in white, I listen to see if the plows are going by before rising in the dark morning, the sting of the cold on the car door has my fingers feeling numb. Yet I never noticed the smell of the snow. I am sure it is because my nostrils have been frozen for months, or maybe I have taken it for granted.
On Annie's lap was a large book and I asked her what she was reading. "The New York Times Magazine," she replied, I thought it odd to be so large a book. "We are running a bit early today," she said. It was then I noticed the face of her watch was open, and she was tracing the dials with her fingers. "I get the magazine section of the Times in Braille from school, and this should keep me busy for a few days." Then she added, "I could tell by your silence you thought it odd." Oh no, not only could she smell snow, but she could read minds, too!


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West Jefferson Church, new pastorcomment (0)
January 17, 2013
Paul S. Hicks is the new pastor of West Jefferson Church. He holds a bachelor's degree from Samford University in Birmingham, a master's degree from Beeson Divinity School at Samford and a doctor of ministry from New Orleans Seminary. He previously served as the associate pastor of North Gardendale Church, Gardendale. He also has served as pastor of First Church, Irondale; Northside Church, Cullman; and Westside Church, Warrior. He and his wife, Christy, have two children.


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Pumpkin Cheese Pie
|4 Teaspoon
|Firmly packed light brown sugar
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs)
|Part skim ricotta cheese
|1 Cup (16 tbs)
|Canned pumpkin
|1 Cup (16 tbs)
|Lemon juice
|2 Tablespoon
|Grated lemon peel
|1 Teaspoon
|Ground cinnamon
|1⁄2 Teaspoon
|Ground ginger
|1⁄8 Teaspoon
|Ground nutmeg
|1⁄8 Teaspoon
|Evaporated skim milk
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|2 Tablespoon
|1 Dash
To Prepare Crust:
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In bowl combine zwieback crumbs and margarine, mixing thoroughly.
Using back of a spoon, press crumb mixture over bottom and up sides of 9-inch pie plate.
Bake until crisp and brown, 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove from oven to wire rack to cool.
To Prepare Filling and Bake:
In large mixing bowl beat egg yolks with 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons brown sugar until well combined; add cheese, pumpkin, lemon juice, lemon peel, and spices and stir to combine.
In small bowl or 1-cup measure combine milk and cornstarch, stirring to dissolve cornstarch; stir into pumpkin mixture.
In medium bowl, using electric mixer on high speed, beat egg whites with salt until soft peaks form; beat in remaining 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon sugar and continue beating until stiff peaks form.
Gently fold whites into pumpkin mixture; pour filling into cooled crust and bake at 350°F for 35 to 40 minutes (until a thin-bladed knife, inserted in center, comes out clean).
Set on wire rack and let cool completely.
Rate It
Nutrition Rank
Nutrition Facts
Serving size: Complete recipe
Calories 1449 Calories from Fat 483
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 54 g83.6%
Saturated Fat 18.6 g93.1%
Trans Fat 0 g
Cholesterol 526.4 mg175.5%
Sodium 866.6 mg36.1%
Total Carbohydrates 188 g62.6%
Dietary Fiber 9.6 g38.2%
Sugars 91.7 g
Protein 61 g121.7%
Vitamin A 815.1% Vitamin C 51.2%
Calcium 123.2% Iron 55.9%
*Based on a 2000 Calorie diet


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After a short layoff, the UFC returns tonight with UFC on Fox 4, featuring "Shogun" Rua vs. Brandon Vera.
Tonight's card will feature prelims on Fuel TV as well as the main card live on Fox.
For those who'll be enjoying the fights with a nice cold one tonight, we'll give you ever better ways to enjoy your drinks as we feature the UFC on Fox 4 drinking game!


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MBB: Mavs close out WAC season on road
March 6, 2013
UT Arlington (17-10, 11-5) at Denver (19-8, 14-2)
The Last Meeting
December 31, 2012
Arlington, Tex.
DENVER, Colorado - UT Arlington finishes off its one and only Western Athletic Conference regular season on the road this week. The first stop is Denver for a Thursday night showdown with the second-place Pioneers. The trek ends Saturday at New Mexico State.
UT Arlington is on a six-game WAC winning streak and is 9-2 over its last 11 games. The Mavericks are in fourth place in the WAC and have clinched a first-round bye in the conference tournament. UTA fell to Denver at home, 50-35, on Jan. 29.
The Mavericks come into the game allowing only 60.7 points, good for second best in the WAC. Pioneers lead the league at 55.2.
"It's going to be a battle of two of the best defensive teams in the WAC," UT Arlington coach Scott Cross said. "We only scored 35 on them in the last game and they scored 50 on us. Both teams struggled on the offensive end.
"We're looking for ways that we can attack them a little bit better. They're a great basketball team. There is a reason they're in second place. We're going to have to play our best basketball and be ready to defend for 40 minutes, and hopefully play fast in transition."
UTA is one of the nation's stingiest defensive units. Mavs are fourth in the country and first in the WAC in defensive field-goal percentage at 37.3 percent. UTA has held 18 of 27 opponents to less than 40-percent shooting.
The Mavericks have won 21 of their last 27 road or neutral site games. That includes a 18-6 record in true road games. UTA is 10-3 on the road this season. School record for road wins is 11 set in 1980-81. The Mavs started 3-0 on the road for the first time in the program's history.
The Pioneers have won eight straight, 15 of 16 and 18 of 21 games. With a 14-2 WAC record, Denver is in sole possession of second place and is two games behind Louisiana Tech (16-0) for first place.
The radio broadcast is on 730 AM in the DFW Metroplex with Doug Anderson on the call.


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Weekly Celebrity Twitter Roundup : Father's Day Sheen-o-grams!
It was a more quiet week on Twitter, with celebrities busy with release launches (and CD leaks), baby births and other things, but the web was not altogether silent. Here's this week's celebrity chatter from the Twitter-Sphere:
Happy Father's Day! Send your Pops the most unique Father's Day gift for under $5. A personalized #celebcall from ME! http://t.co/NGtTjL3jEN— Charlie Sheen (@charliesheen) June 16, 2013
(Just what any proud dad needs - a Sheen-o-gram. Now you know for next year folks. #Tigerblood)
OK. Wrapping up Fathers Day here. My wife is 10 weeks away from her due date. It's all coming together. #slightlypissingmypants— ABFoundation (@ABFalecbaldwin) June 17, 2013
And a special Happy Father's Day to my Dad! Thanks, Dad -- "Lisa" is a much prettier name than "Accidental Leakage"! I love you!!! XO— Lisa Lampanelli (@LisaLampanelli) June 16, 2013
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TG stories. Original Transgender, Crossdressing, Transvestite Fiction and Stories.
New Stories added every week. Below is just a sample of the stories that you will only find at TGstories!
By James J. Craft
Illustrations by Mignon
Chapter One
Max wasn't taking school as seriously as he should. Like most freshmen, he had spent most of his first year partying and drinking and partying some more with his new friends and dorm-mates. Almost everyone single one of them had flunked out before the end of the first year. Max knew why. He had blown so much of his student loan that by the time his sophomore year came around things were looking financially bleak. Even with his having worked all summer (at one job or another) it was looking more and more like he would not be able to afford to pay the rent of his dorm room, at least the half that had been his.
Max's roommate suggested that he consider finding a cheaper place in the city…or as he had put it "stick it to the oppressive authoritative school administration that strives to forever enslave us to the banks of the world by charging outrageous rent on a room built by the taxpayers". Regardless of the rhetoric, Max understood his point. He could likely find a cheaper place to live off campus.
By the second week of September however, Max's search for affordable housing seemed to be taking a back seat to his old ways. Though he knew he shouldn't be, he was once again spending his money rather irresponsibly. Max had had to find himself a new crew to 'hang' with, and as almost all of the guys he had hung with had either dropped out or smartened up, he had taken it upon himself to be something of a 'mentor' to a new crop of Freshman slackers. And that could only mean one thing…boys night out.
And plenty of them. There were guys nights out at the pub, boys nights out at the club, boys night out at the frat-house keg parties…even a boys night out at the strippers (that one really cost him). And on top of that there was this girl. Not just any girl, but (in his opinion) the prettiest girl in his finance class. A pretty girl name Jessica. He tried in vain on several occasions to make small talk with her. Asking her stupid questions about class…about the weather…even sports (which he knew pitifully little about). His classmates, even his posse of first year students…told him to forget her, that she was bad news…out of his league, etc., etc.
And if not for that one Monday morning in mid-September, he likely would have forgotten all about her and moved on to better 'kill'. But that wasn't how it happened at all. That cool autumn morning as they were filing out of the finance lecture Max heard a voice from behind him, "Are you going to the Omni-Beta-Gamma-Yamma-Nano party on Friday?"
It was Jessica. He'd recognize that voice anywhere. He sputtered once or twice before regaining his composure and turning around…cool as cool can be…to respond to her query.
"I dunno…maybe"
Is that the best you could do?? He silently scolded himself for such a lame line.
"Ah, come on. You should go…it'll be fun."
She handed him an admittance ticket and winked before turning and walking off.
The party at the OBGYN sorority would be packed with girls, it was a veritable bachelor buffet…but Max was only interested in one of them...Jessica. He watched her walking slowly away from him in her snug fitting Capri pants and heeled sandals and smiled. She was totally hot – and she didn't even know it. He looked forward to seeing her on Friday.
The rest of the week flew by, and Max soon found himself at the front door of the OBGYN sorority house on the far side of the campus. After handing his ticket to the campus security guard he started scanning the room to find Jessica. But it wasn't an easy task at all. The house was packed. He would catch the occasional glimpse of her here and there, but by the time he made his way through the crowd to where he thought she was – she was gone. The entire night was beginning to look like a waste of time.
He grabbed a beer and flopped down on one of the sorority's house's sofas next to another guy who looked equally frustrated.
"Girl Trouble?" the stranger asked.
"Yeah," Max replied before pausing to sip his beer, "Among other things,"
"Oh?" The other guy chuckled as he took a swig from his own brown bottle, "Like what?"
Max had already finished about four beers before the one in his hand, which caused the filter that screens out what is appropriate to tell someone you've just met at a keg party, to become temporarily disabled. So after taking a short pause to gulp down several more mouthfuls from his bottle, he began to unload his life story…the abbreviated version…on the stranger…who listened carefully and intently.
"So you need a place to stay?" The stranger summarized Max's story.
Max looked at him strangely, wondering how much exactly he told the young man.
"Uh, yeah"
The stranger put a business card in Max's hand with a smile, "Give me a call tomorrow and we'll talk. My roommate just left so…" he paused to shrug his shoulders, "I'm kind of looking for a new one."
Max couldn't believe his good fortune.
"Yeah…." He smiled as he put the card into his pocket, "Okay…I will."
He took another drink, looking down at his bottle, then was about to ask the other guy more about his life, but when he looked over, discovered that he was already gone.
Max shrugged his shoulders and emptied the last few ounces of suds into his mouth.
Things were certainly looking up.
The next day he called the number on the card. Apparently the stranger's name was Eric, and he was a 'freelance' photographer. He must get all the chicks, Max thought as the phone rang.
"Hi is this Eric?"
"It is."
"This is Max. Uh, Max from the party last night."
"Oh hello Max. How are you feeling this morning?"
Max chuckled, "A little hung over actually."
"I guess so. You chugged that beer pretty quickly as far as I could tell."
"Yeah…uh…I guess." Max struggled to remember the details of their conversation, the five beers that he had consumed afterwards was preventing much of that from happening.
"Anyhow, you had said that I could call you about…that you um…you needed a roommate?"
"I did, yes."
"So…do you still need one? A roommate?"
"I do, yes."
"It is, yes"
"So um, can I come down at see the place?"
"You can, yes"
Max was feeling that the conversation was a little weird, but continued none-the-less.
"Can I come today?" He asked.
"You can, yes"
"Is it the address on your card?"
"It is, yes"
"Well okay…how about an hour so…" Max inquired, "Would that be okay?"
"It would be, yes"
Max thanked Eric for meeting with him then hung up the phone, thinking all-the-while…what a strange dude.
Later that day when Max came downtown to see what the accommodations would look like, he avoided striking up too much conversation with his potential roommate. He didn't need to be friends with the guy, they were just going to share a common living space.
And what a space it was. The loft-style apartment that Eric lived in was huge. It contained two bedrooms, a kitchen/common room and a very large studio for Eric's photography business.
Max also learned that Eric wasn't quite as creepy in real-life as he had been earlier on the phone. Especially when Eric told him what his rent would be. At that rate, Max figured that no matter how weird Eric was…it was an offer that was too good to pass up. So he accepted Eric's offer and moved in the following day.
The days and weeks continued to pass, and although he was paying less then half of his previous rent, Max's financial situation had not drastically improved. Sure, he would now have enough money to last the remainder of the school year (hopefully) but it wouldn't leave him with much in the way of 'fun money'. How was he ever going to get the attention of Jessica, if all he could afford to do is stay in his room and watch TV (Eric's TV) and surf the net (Eric's internet). Max was bemoaning that very fact to his roommate as the two of them shared a couple of beers (Eric's beer) one day. He was complaining to Eric how he had been invited by a hot girl he liked from his class to attend a really upscale club…she had even gotten him onto the VIP list…but he really needed a nice new outfit to wear. He couldn't, after all, be seen at the club in his everyday school clothes.
Eric agreed that Max was indeed in a bad situation, "So is Jessica pretty hot?"
Max nodded as he took another swig of his beer. Did I tell him her name? He wondered to himself, Must have. "Yeah…real hot. Hottest girl in the class…easily."
Eric took a gulp of his beer and nodded, "So you really want to impress her then."
"Yeah, but I'm seriously broke"
"Well," Eric began as he took another swig, "I might be able to help you."
Max's eyes lit up, "You could? Seriously? You'd loan me the money? That'd be awesome! I'd pay you back right away I…"
Eric interrupted Max's monologue, "Hold one there. I said I might be able to help you, not loan you money."
"Oh." Max's smile dissolved.
"You see…I have this client looking for some pictures, but I don't have a model, and…"
Continued in the site....!!!
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Hey guys! Finally have things back on track a bit, my laptop will be gone for a couple weeks getting repaired so I had to hook up my desktop, so I did and couldn't guess my password lol fail I know!
So we did a new re-install of windows and then I realized I didn't have a SD card reader! /facepalm
But I have one now and I can edit pictures I take etc! My SD card only had about 1200 D: A lot to do!
So we did a new re-install of windows and then I realized I didn't have a SD card reader! /facepalm
But I have one now and I can edit pictures I take etc! My SD card only had about 1200 D: A lot to do!
But on to the post! Today I'm posting about another indie brand called Sparkles by Julie!
Check out her cute labels!
Peachy Jelly Belly
"A Peach colored Jelly Belly! This polish is pink/orange/peachy toned with a gold shimmer, packed with orange, gold and holographic glitters. If you're a girly girl and love Jelly Belly's, you need this in your collection!"
I used two coats for full opacity above.
"A beautiful gold shimmering white nail polish, kinda inspired by my pet mouse Lilly, and a bit inspired by the beautiful Water Lily's that magically float around on the murky waters of the world. This polish is packed with gorgeous glitters in gold, holographic, black and a little bit of blue for good measure, do I hear Wedding Bells?"
I wore this alone as well as two thin coats over white (swatches are over white!)
I really prefer this over white, but it builds up easily alone in two coats.
The formulas on both polishes were very good, smooth and a great consistency.
Metallic and heavy shimmer shades with glitter in them seem to appear lumpy in photos but these weren't whatsoever.
I'm not a very big fan of polishes like this (shimmers with glitter) considering though these are nice.
Just not my thing, but great quality polishes!
Julie's polishes are priced at $8.00 ea. in her Etsy shop!
*Products in this post were sent to me for the purpose of a 100% honest unbiased review.*


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Britain is an economic dictatorship. A rich and powerful economic elite makes all the key economic decisions, disenfranchising millions of employees and consumers.
Our country's democratic political transformation - pushed forward by the Levellers, Chartists and Suffragettes – has never been matched by a corresponding economic democratisation. 'One person, one vote' has been won in the political sphere (albeit imperfectly) but not in the realm of economics. Britain's democratic revolution, begun four centuries ago, remains unfinished.
It is time the labour movement followed the lead of the Green Party and put economic democracy on the political agenda; to bring the economy into democratic alignment with the political system.
Extending the economic franchise is about democracy and justice. It can help create a greater plurality and diversity of economic power, and also lay the foundations for a more equitable and productive economic partnership between all those who contribute to wealth creation and to the provision of public and private services.
Whatever people think of the current economic system, one thing is indisputable: it is characterised by an absence of democracy, participation, transparency and accountability. Employees and their representative bodies - the trade unions - are frozen out of economic influence and decision-making.
Big business rules. The captains of industry, commerce and finance have almost total power. They run their enterprises on totalitarian lines. All decision-making is concentrated in the hands of a tiny, privileged cabal of major shareholders, directors and managers. They alone determine how the company operates. Employees - without whom no wealth would be created and no institution could function - are powerless and disenfranchised. They are little more than serfs of the moneyed classes and government.
Not much has changed in two centuries of capitalism. There have been no major democratic reforms of the economy. Although millions of people bought shares in privatised public enterprises like BT, their individual holdings are minuscule and marginal. They have no real influence. Big corporate interests retain the decisive economic power. This power is as centralised and autocratic as ever. A few determine the fate of the many.
The advent of nationalised public industries, utilities and services changed nothing. They have been run in much the same centralised, dictatorial manner as their privately-owned counterparts. There was never any economic democracy in the state-run railways or coal mines. The system of ownership changed but not the system of management. The bosses of public utilities and nationalised industries were almost as powerful as the captains of private enterprise. Their employees remained locked out of the decision-making process. It was state capitalism, not socialism. Labour and the trade unions made a huge mistake in over-emphasising public ownership, to the neglect of public control.
The same applies today in the NHS and other public services. They are administered according to the classic capitalist model of top-down command and control. NHS big-wigs have almost as much power as private medical bosses. Doctors, nurses and ancillary staff are excluded from policy-making in both public and private medicine. Their years of accumulated hands-on, frontline-service knowledge is disregarded when it comes to policy-making.
Wherever we look, in all sectors of the economy, the democratic deficit is universal. Power is concentrated and wielded in ways that is contrary to the democratic, egalitarian spirit of twenty-first century Britain.
The idea of something different - economic democracy - is nothing new. It was big in the 1970s, in the hey-day of Labour's left-wing revival, when much of the party was idealistic and visionary. In those days, we wanted to redistribute wealth and power. Some of us still do.
There are three proposals for economic democracy from four decades ago that are worth reviving: industrial democracy, trade union control of pension funds and the transfer of stock ownership into employee share funds.
A system of industrial democracy, broadly based on the 1973 Bullock Report and Labour's Programme of 1976, would require the boards of all public and private enterprises with 50 or more employees to establish equal representation and joint control between management and elected staff representatives. Under an independent chairperson acceptable to both sides, these boards would have full access to all corporate information and the final say over all corporate decisions, including investment, technology, wages, prices and so on. Although imperfect, this system of co-determination would produce a major extension in workplace democracy. It would shift the balance of economic power; constraining the remit of capital and expanding the influence of labour; forging a more co-equal partnership. It would also be good for the economy because worker directors would offer independent oversight of corporate operations and bring to the boardroom practical, often cost-saving, insights from their direct day-to-day experience. Not motivated by the profit motive and private gain, they would be more likely to blow the whistle on reckless risk-taking and on decisions that damage the consumer and the environment.
Trade union control of pension funds, which total around £900 billion, is another way to decentralise, diversify, and democratise the economy. It could be accomplished by legislatively re-assigning the administration of pension fund assets to financial experts appointed by, and accountable to, individual trade unions who would act as trustees of the funds on behalf of their members all across the country. Or, alternatively, the funds could be placed in the hands of a regional union pension fund, acting for all the trade unions and their members in a particular region. This would localise and decentralise investment decisions and allow the funds to be used to meet particular local needs. Either version of this pension fund scheme would give organised labour direct power over a massive wedge of public and private investment capital. It could then direct these funds into specific enterprises corresponding to the interests of union members and to broader social needs, such as the development of renewable energy and the conversion of arms industries to socially-useful civilian manufacture.
Perhaps the most radical proposal for economic democracy involves the progressive transfer of share ownership into trade union-administered employee share funds. This is a variation on the 'wage-earner funds' proposed by Rudolf Meidner of the Swedish trade union federation, the LO, in the 1970s. It would obligate all private share capital companies to assign to a union-controlled fund a proportion of their annual profits in the form of a new share issue. This would gradually, over many decades, give employees, through their unions, a controlling interest in their firms - transforming them into self-governing workers' co-operatives. The great strength of this scheme is that it incentivises and rewards employees for economic success. The more productive and profitable a company, the more shares it has to issue to the employees' funds and the sooner employees gain a controlling stake.
In contrast to Labour's traditional reformist economic doctrines of Keynesianism and Welfare Statism, which merely seek to redistribute wealth more fairly within the confines of the existing free market, private ownership, bosses-rule system, these three models of economic democracy are mechanisms for the structural transformation of capitalism. If implemented, they would alter, fundamentally, the distribution of wealth and power, in favour of organised labour and working people.
Economic democracy should be a central plank of progressive politics - a high priority for the labour and trade union movement. Alas, under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, the gap between the rich and the poor widened, the rights of employees were constrained and there was no attempt to democratise economic decision-making. Ed Miliband has shown no inclination to democratise the economy.
The trade unions are little better. They have no agenda to change the system. At best, they fight defensive struggles for a better deal within the status quo. At worst, they actively sabotaged the industrial democracy proposals of the 1970s.
A new left revival requires new thinking. We need to make the left relevant again by offering both radical and practical solutions to the economic crisis – a crisis that has arisen, in large part, from concentrated and unaccountable economic power. This means challenging the system of economic dictatorship and setting out a new model of economic participation, accountability, decentralisation and transparency. The interests of employees, consumers and the wider public welfare demand it. The time for economic democracy is now.
* For more information about Peter Tatchell's human rights and social justice campaigns: www.petertatchell.net
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Jacob Richter 7 December 2011, 06.47
"The advent of nationalised public industries, utilities and services changed nothing."
Sure it did. It may not have introduced economic democracy, but it at least introduced a sort of economic republicanism (res publica: the public thing). The "new big idea" on the reformist left (though I'm critical of it) should combine economic democracy and economic republicanism.
Kudos for mentioning Meidner BIG time! Anyway, some economically radical demands are more important than others, among them the proposals of left economists Hyman Minsky and Rudolf Meidner, and I feel these should be discussed (also as an out-of-the-box means of discrediting what remains of social democracy):
1. Universalisation of annual, non-deflationary adjustments for all non-executive and non-celebrity remunerations, pensions and insurance benefits to at least match rising costs of living.
2. Fuller socio-income democracy through direct proposals and rejections – at the national level and above – regarding the creation and adjustment of income multiple limits in all industries, for all major working class and other professions, and across all types of income.
3. The realization of zero unemployment structurally and cyclically by means of expanding public services a) to fully include employment of last resort for consumer services and even b) to fully socialize the labour market as the sole de jure employer of all workers in society, contracting out all labour services to the private sector on the basis of comprehensive worker protections.
4. The increase of real social savings and investment by first means of mandatory and significant redistributions of annual business profits, by private enterprises with more workers than a defined threshold, as non-tradable and superior voting shares to be held by geographically organised worker funds.
5. The implementation of economy-wide indicative planning based on extensive mathematical optimization.
6. Enabling the full replacement of the hiring of labour for small-business profit by cooperative production, and also society's cooperative production of goods and services to be regulated by cooperatives under their common plans.
Peter Tatchell 8 December 2011, 01.41
Thanks Jacob. Some interesting ideas from you too. Appreciation.
I am amazed that I seem to be one of the few left-wingers promoting the idea of economic democracy and the structural reform of capitalism. Even the far left is obsessed with routine trade union struggles within the system, to the exclusion of any serious ideas about how to change the system. Bizarre. And frustrating.
The Greens, to their credit, are debating these ideas. Are any other progressive parties or movements even thinking about them? I am sure some are. So why don't we hear them pushing for economic democracy? It is a simple, accessible and potentially popular idea that resonates with mainstream democratic values.
Charlie Naylor 26 December 2011, 08.10
Great article.
Many in the Labour movement see economic democracy as being 'far left' and not an election winner, and no doubt the right wing press would demonise it's advocates. Yet aspects of what you are advocating is the norm in Germany…….through Works Councils. There is an attitude that these are simply an effective and quite a normal, and well established way of doing things. It would be foolish to argue that there is full economic democracy in Germany, but at least there is an element of worker participation.
Yes economic democracy it is so simple and accessible, and it works. It is bizarre that Labour leaders reject it.
mat 30 December 2011, 10.59
You aren't alone in promoting economic democracy(see the Spirit Level authors for example) though a lot of people seem weirdly uninterested in it. See this article: http://idealoblog.blogspot.com/2011/12/i-live-in-democracy-but-i-spend-half-my.html
I think economic democracy would be genuinely transformative though it is not a universal panacea
david Hirst 30 December 2011, 11.45
Peter, Thanks very much for this, and I agree entirely with your diagnosis. The lack of accountability and democracy in the running of our corporations is undoubtedly responsible for many current injustices and unhappiness as well as our economic ills, and leads to a very strange culture of management. There is no limit to the profit sought, whereas, to my mind, profit should be a discipline, necessary to reward those who provided capital, but not the key driver of the institution.
However, I cannot accept that the Trade Unions (or employee ownership) are sufficient to counter the imbalance. There are wider interests, both of society and the environment that also need a voice. It can help to extend the franchise to the customers and suppliers of corporations, but we need more than that. It may not be appropriate to have Greenpeace on the board, but the well-being of the planet does need a voice. So to do the wider interests of society, for example in reducing inequality, encouraging sound diets, and ensuring appropriate freedoms to all.
Widening the franchise will make visible the conflicts between these interests, so more internal effort towards conflict resolution, and shared decisions, will be needed. This will also need transparency, so a press that, rather than being sycophantic towards corporations and their barons, engages in real criticism of their weaknesses and self-serving decisions.
One business that aspires to this wider democracy is http://www.riversimple.com and I commend this to you.
Martyn 31 December 2011, 22.45
An interesting article, but the idea of industrial democracy goes back much further than the 1970s – it was what the 'syndicalist revolt' of the period 1910-1914 and 1919 was all about. However, its purpose was not to establish self-managing co-operatives within a capitalist framework, but as a way of re-organising society so that workers received the whole product of their labours and planned and managed the economy.
Hopefully this article will kick-start a a long overdue debate on how to create a libertarian socialist society.
E Ringlein 28 November 2012, 20.29
See the BBC presentation of the Mondragon Experiment for a little background on Worker Cooperatives success on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCB33DEC7A0444F1E
Michael H 6 December 2012, 20.31
This International Monetary Fund working paper details a solution to the international debt crisis, and also a more democratic money supply system. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2012/wp12202.pdf
se 3 January 2013, 09.16
I think replacing the current taxes with an asset tax could be the most effective way towards economic democracy. If there is less wealth inequality; then individuals' own financial means allow economic democracy.
Comments are now closed on this article.
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With another episode of Raw in the books, WWE fans are yet again left with a number of questions unanswered.
Tonight's episode was highlighted by more attacks by the Shield, the return of Brad Maddox and a lie detector test for WWE Champion CM Punk.
We also witnessed an appearance by Mr. McMahon, who forced Vickie Guerrero to announce matches and stipulations she certainly wasn't pleased with.
With just two weeks left until TLC, the only match added was Cena versus Ziggler in a ladder match with the Money in the Bank briefcase on the line, but that will not be addressed here.
Then what are the top seven questions left unanswered after Raw? There is only one way to find out. Let's get started…


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Reading garden dedicated to memory of teacher
HOLDEN – Close to the playground at the Davis Hill Elementary School, is a brand new spot that will help kids wind down while stretching their imaginations – a fitting tribute to an educator who spent much of her life doing the same.
The Memorial Reading Garden, created in memory of Bonnie Christenson, a first grade teacher who lost a long battle with ovarian cancer in May 2010, was dedicated Friday, June 3. The garden was planned as a quiet, restful spot where children can read and be read to.
There were many facets to Bonnie's character, Principal Mark Aucoin told an assembled group of Christenson's family, friends and co-workers.
"She was a family member, wife, friend and mother. As a teacher, she knew her stuff, I'll tell you," he said. "She knew how to open the minds and hearts of children."
Christenson taught first grade at Davis Hill for four years. Before she taught at the school she was long familiar there as a parent, volunteer and substitute teacher. She and her husband Gary brought their family up in Holden — sons Giles and David and three adopted daughters, Lily, Iree and Callie. Another daughter, Keisha, predeceased Christenson.
Gary Christenson said his wife loved teaching children and she loved reading.
At home it was not unusual to see Bonnie at the stove, stirring away at a big pot, immersed in a book that took her to some faraway place only to be brought back by the smoke detector, he said.
At one point in her treatment, Gary offered Bonnie a trip around the world with her daughters. She turned it down in favor of sticking with teaching.
Daughter Lily remembered meeting her adoptive mother for the first time in China.
"Who is this blonde, blue-eyed stranger, I wondered," Lily related.
She learned that Bonnie was a loving mom with a great enthusiasm for life and for reading.
The garden is set with pavers in a circular pattern, a center stone chiseled with the motto," Reading gives us a key to the past and a path to the future."
Stone benches are set beneath shade trees and plantings were planned around Bonnie's favorite color, purple with pink and white accents, Chris Sauderman, a member of the Holden Garden Club and Davis Hill parent, said.
The garden includes irises, Shasta daisies, cat mint, cranesbill geranium, phlox, butterfly bush and mallow, she said.
"We planned to have flowers that would bloom in spring and late summer when the children are here," Sauderman explained.
The hardscaping was done by Chris King of Ideal Landscaping, also a Davis Hill parent. The patio he laid out is large enough to allow a whole class to gather.
Reflecting on the garden designed for readers, Gary told friends and family, "She is here. She's in our hearts."


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It's an event celebrating the contributions and achievements of women in Hawaii history. KITV4 Morning News was joined by Jamie Conway, Director & Founder of Distinctive Women in Hawaiian History.
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