text:
Canadian Heritage Committee on April 3rd, 2012
Evidence of meeting #24 for Canadian Heritage in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was museum.
A recording is available from Parliament.
On the agenda
MPs speaking
Also speaking
- John McAvity Executive Director, Canadian Museums Association
- Kirstin Evenden Vice-President of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Glenbow Museum, Canadian Museums Association
- Benoît Légaré Board Member, Director of Museology, Mécénat conseil inc.; Canadian Museums Association
- Jessie Inman Chief Executive Officer, Confederation Centre of the Arts
- Pierre Landry President, Société des musées québécois
11:10 a.m.
The Chair Rob Moore
We'll get started.
The Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage is meeting today on our study of Canada's 150th anniversary in 2017. I'm very pleased to have a great panel of witnesses with us here today.
Welcome to all of our witnesses.
From the Canadian Museums Association, we have John McAvity, executive director; Kirstin Evenden, vice-president of the board and president and chief executive officer of the Glenbow Museum; and Benoît Légaré, board member and director.
From the Confederation Centre of the Arts, we have Jessie Inman, chief executive officer.
From the Société des musées québécois, we have Pierre Landry, president.
Again, welcome to all of you.
The way we proceed is that you'll all be given some time to make your opening presentation. Usually it's ten minutes, but we can be a little bit flexible today. Then we will have an opportunity for our members to ask some questions of you.
With that, I will turn it over to John McAvity from the Canadian Museums Association.
11:10 a.m.
John McAvity Executive Director, Canadian Museums Association
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
We are very happy to be here.
I am here with my colleague, Kirstin Evenden, president of the Glenbow Museum, and Benoît Légaré from Montréal. He was the director of the Montreal Science Centre and before that he was the secretary general of the Musées de Strasbourg.
The Canadian Museums Association is the national organization for museums. We represent approximately 2,000 museums, ranging from small community museums, often volunteer-run, to large metropolitan galleries.
It's very important to mention to you how popular these institutions are. They receive about 60 million visits per year. They're extraordinarily important, not just to our tourism industry but also to the fabric of our community as educational centres, as meeting spots, as places of tolerance, and as places of respect for civilized society.
At the very beginning we'd like to point out how very pleased we were with the federal budget last week. I want to do that because the federal budget last week clearly showed the value and importance of museums that Canada and Canadians place in these institutions. We are thankful for this vote of confidence. In particular, we're very pleased to see a significant increase to the travelling exhibitions indemnification program.
We want to thank all members on both sides of this table. We've met with you. We've appreciated your support on this and we look forward to continuing that relationship.
There are, however, two specific recommendations from the federal budget that we would like to present very quickly to you.
First, we're pleased to see an increase in youth employment. In particular, we'd like to see a little bit of that money trickle down to our Young Canada Works program in museums. It's a very valuable program, which has been seriously oversubscribed. We have to turn down 50% of employers applying for jobs, and we have to turn down 90% of applicants seeking internships in museums and galleries in Canada.
Second, there was a recommendation that we've made before to the finance committee, and possibly to you, and that is an innovative way to get Canadians more involved in their heritage. This is by developing greater philanthropy and private support—a diversity of funding for our sector. We're proposing a matching donations program called "Canadians Supporting Their Heritage Fund", which would help stabilize museum funding and encourage greater long-term self-reliance. We also believe this could be a very appropriate legacy project in the context of the study you're undertaking.
Now I'd like to invite Kirstin Evenden to speak more about 2017.
April 3rd, 2012 / 11:10 a.m.
Kirstin Evenden Vice-President of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, Glenbow Museum, Canadian Museums Association
Thank you, John.
Thank you very much.
Prior to this consultation about events celebrating Canada's 150th anniversary in 2017, the CMA and its board of directors organized a series of consultations for members and museum directors across Canada. The process is ongoing, and some excellent ideas and suggestions have come out of the consultations. We want to share those ideas with you today.
Today, I would like to share three major recommendations drawn from all of the ideas our members have put forward. Then my colleague Benoît Légaré will present more detailed programming suggestions.
Firstly, in 1967 Canada celebrated its centennial year in a really comprehensive manner, from Expo '67 in Montreal to small community projects. Virtually every community participated in a way, and we saw the emergence of hundreds of new museums in our cities and small towns. Major new buildings were opened across the country, such as the Nova Scotia Museum, the Ontario Science Centre, the Manitoba Museum, and more. Small community museums were also built as legacy gifts.
The impact of what happened in 1967 should not be underestimated. It is still felt today by our children and by our grandchildren. So this is really an opportunity for us to consider the role of culture broadly in our way of life in Canada and what it can do for our country in the future.
For 2017 we do not recommend large-scale capital projects of the magnitude we saw in 1967. Given the economic climate, we believe it's just not appropriate to create new museums. However, many existing museum buildings built during that time and beyond require upgrades and expansions. Collections care is an ongoing issue from an infrastructure point of view. Some collections are housed in facilities inapppropriate to properly caring for these national treasures for the future. Our facilities need upgrading so that we can welcome our visitors in a way they have become accustomed to being welcomed throughout the world at other museums.
These issues and areas of expansion and consideration are things we should look at, if any capital funds are available to these institutions.
Secondly, we recommend the establishment of a formal multi-year grants program to begin the development and implementation of the celebratory projects as soon as possible. Additional funding from the private sector should and will be sought. Some projects can be fully funded from private sources, while others require federal investments. A multi-year grant program will ensure that the tight timelines are met and will take into consideration the ancillary anniversaries leading up to the 150th anniversary of Canada.
The Minister of Canadian Heritage has already outlined a number of these special opportunities to you, in his appearance here on October 20, 2011.
Thirdly, we would like to propose that we ensure these celebrations are inclusive for all Canadians, with special recognition given to our Canadian diversity and our aboriginal roots as a country. Museums should, with a presentation of artifacts and of our intangible cultural heritage, celebrate the people, the stories, the songs, the traditions, the ideas that continue to shape this country. These celebrations, these moments to come together, are about looking back, but they are about looking back so that we can move forward, continuing to innovate and to build Canada's cultural and heritage sector.
A legacy project like the matching donations program that John mentioned would help make that possible and would help bring buy-in to these activities across all sectors, private and public.
We would like to applaud you for this early start on the planning process at this level. We want to ensure that the results as a result of this planning process are significant and meaningful to all Canadians and all Canadians who follow us in the future.
11:15 a.m.
Benoît Légaré Board Member, Director of Museology, Mécénat conseil inc.; Canadian Museums Association
Thank you, Kirstin.
Good morning, everyone.
We have received a great number of programming concepts around the 150th anniversary from members and directors, some of which we would like to share with you today. These ideas can be grouped into overarching approaches: projects of national scope, which are implemented on a collective basis, and projects that each museum and gallery would undertake on their own in collaboration with others in their area.
Partnerships and collaboration are key to the success of all major events. For the 150th anniversary, collaboration should go beyond museums to include partnerships with crown corporations, the private sector, and existing organizations and major events, such as the Canada Day celebrations here in Ottawa and in London, England.
With respect to projects of national scope, we would like to highlight the following five initiatives, which we recommend.
The first is to offer free admission to museums for a certain period, a gift to all Canadians. Many museums already offer free admission on July 1, but for 2017, we suggest extending that from National Aboriginal Day on June 21 to July 1, a period that includes Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Funding will be needed to offset the loss of revenue because that is a busy time for museums. It is the end of the school year and lots of school groups visit museums around that time.
The second idea is to create a Canadian heritage passport that would encourage people to visit the country's museums, galleries and historic sites, and have their passport stamped at each location. The passport program would include a national ad campaign and prizes for participation.
The third idea is a national marketing campaign to promote various museum activities across the country and to raise awareness of the importance and value of our history and culture. That being said, regardless of which 150th anniversary initiatives are undertaken, I think that a large-scale campaign will be needed to coordinate major initiatives.
The fourth idea is to create major exhibits. This could mean major exhibits in larger museums or travelling exhibits that criss-cross the country by train, like the centennial train in 1967. Obviously the virtual aspect is part of it and can be developed along with strategies that constitute a nod to the past. I think that we should really focus on virtual strategies to encourage people to participate. There could be a virtual exhibit with images, archives and key artifacts from each museum, all tied together as part of the 150th anniversary, or a multimedia exhibit in partnership with CBC/Radio-Canada for example and other national media outlets to broadcast a program about 150 artifacts and artworks that define Canada.
The fifth and final idea is a national recognition program. The first element would be the creation of a medal to honour 150 museum volunteers across the country together with our colleagues from provincial and territorial associations. The second element would be the creation of a national museum of the year, art gallery of the year or science centre of the year award that members of the public can vote on, like the VotemyFundy campaign to designate the Bay of Fundy as a wonder of nature.
At local and provincial levels, suggestions include encouraging and supporting museums seeking to develop and present special exhibits that celebrate the history of their communities, such as with 150 objects, as well as offering behind-the-scenes tours so that people can see how museums work, outreach activities where museums take exhibits and programs to places like hospitals, care homes, schools, airports, tourism offices and so on.
Finally, at a professional level, the 150th anniversary represents a good opportunity for the heritage sector to invest in its future. The idea of investing in research and development, in establishing special fellowships and professional exchanges, and in exploring innovations in cross-sector partnerships and national forums will all build the museum of tomorrow and ensure the long-term sustainability of our cultural institutions.
As you can see, many good ideas are coming forward to showcase our rich heritage and culture in 2017 and throughout the many events leading up to it. The CMA is prepared to take the lead in sponsoring and managing many of these, working in partnership with our colleagues from the heritage sector.
Thank you very much. We are ready to answer your questions.
11:20 a.m.
The Chair Rob Moore
Thank you to the CMA. Thank you for your testimony.
Now we will move to the Confederation Centre of the Arts. Jessie Inman.
11:20 a.m.
Jessie Inman Chief Executive Officer, Confederation Centre of the Arts
Hello ladies and gentlemen. I am very happy to be here today.
I would like to thank this important committee for inviting me here today to talk about the 150th anniversary of our great country, and also to thank the committee for your proactive approach and early consideration for what will undoubtedly be a celebration to excite all Canadians and astound the world.
As a living memorial to the Fathers of Confederation built at the birthplace of our great nation, the Confederation Centre of the Arts pays a lively tribute to Canada's founding and ongoing development as a nation. Our representation is reflective of the achievements that began with the Charlottetown Conference of 1864, and encompass the evolution of each and every Canadian province and territory.
The dream of an architecturally stunning national arts centre located in the highly sought out national and international tourist destination came to fruition in 1964. Located in Prince Edward Island, the Confederation Centre of the Arts is a multi-functional professional arts facility.
Recognized internationally for its contributions to Canada's performing arts, the centre offers four theatre facilities that can house up to 2,500 people. The centre is also home to the Confederation Centre art gallery, with 35,000 square feet of space and a permanent art collection of over 16,000 works of art.
As a whole, the centre offers countless programs for art education and training of children and youth, including a new school for the performing arts. Volunteerism through the Friends of the Confederation Centre of the Arts, and extended through the staff in our daily practice, is our way of life.
The centre also operates a gift shop and a restaurant and services large conventions and banquets. Annually 250,000 people of all ages participate in the centre's programming.
The centre is home to the Charlottetown Festival and Canada's longest running musical, Anne of Green Gables—The Musical, which has drawn millions of visitors from around the world to P.E.I. We have toured Anne extensively across Canada, the U.S.A., England, Germany, and Japan.
The festival, which opened in 1965, has produced over 70 original theatre productions and employs actors, dancers, musicians, and artistic creators and directors from across the country.
Today the centre is governed by a national board of directors representing almost every Canadian province and territory. It is committed, through heritage and the arts, to engage and empower the imagination of our youth and their unique ability to learn; to honour and build on the vision of the founders of Canada; to strengthen our national identity; and to increase the culture and economic wealth of all Canadians. All of this culminates in a vibrant facility serving Canadian and international communities, while stimulating minds and enriching lives.
The Confederation Centre of the Arts has been a cultural leader in many of the celebrations that have taken place in Canada and abroad over the past 48 years. The first was the opening of the centre itself in 1964, a grand affair drawing international attention and a royal delegation. With funds raised from the provinces and matched by Prime Minister Diefenbaker, the centre was opened in October by Her Royal Majesty, the Queen of England, Elizabeth II, with premiers and VIPs present from all provinces, and the Prime Minister of the day, Lester B. Pearson, who stated that:
[The Fathers of Confederation Memorial Building] is a tribute to those famous men who founded our Confederation. But it is also dedicated to the fostering of those things that enrich the mind and delight the heart, those intangible but precious things that give meaning to a society and help create from it a civilization and a culture.
In 2004 the centre celebrated its 40th anniversary as Canada's national memorial to the founding. The Charlottetown Festival was a major component of the 40th anniversary celebrations. One of the highlights in July of that year was a tribute to all of the stars who were on our stages and in our galleries, including the late Norman Campbell, one of the co-creators of Anne of Green Gables—The Musical.
The same year, the centre initiated an exciting new heritage program, the Symons Medal and Lecture Series. This annual lecture features prominent Canadians focusing on national issues such as politics, business, arts and culture, and heritage.
The National Vision Committee seeks to expand Canadians' understanding of the centre's national purpose and significance and to strengthen its capacity to contribute further to the Canadian community and Canadian unity.
In 2007 our youth chorus performed in front of thousands of war veterans, dignitaries, and international media in France at the official dedication of the restored Canadian national memorial at Vimy Ridge. They have been invited to participate again in the 100th anniversary ceremonies of the battle of Vimy Ridge in 2017.
In 2008 we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the publishing of the novel Anne of Green Gables, by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Everyone went behind the scenes of the beloved musical, to meet with the cast and crew and to hear a free orchestra presentation of the musical score of Anne.
In 2010 the Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver showcased Canadian heritage, Canadian achievements, Canadian belonging, and Canadian pride, and we were thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of that amazing event. As the secretariat for what the media called the "gold medal cultural pavilion", the centre helped to lead the events management, marketing and communications, staffing and programming that helped to present Canada to the world. Hundreds of Canadian artists and artisans were featured. The centre presented on an international stage, participating in a cultural Olympiad, which was broadcast live to 30 million viewers worldwide.
In 2011, as part of the Cultural Capitals of Canada partnership, our Confederation Centre Young Company was thrilled to present the first ever all-first-nations cast at the Charlottetown Festival, The Talking Stick, written by first nations playwright Cathy Elliott.
The success of these past celebrations has some common themes; that is, the compulsion of community engagement at the grassroots level, recognition and celebration of our founders and their bold imaginations, and thinking beyond our borders, whether those borders be provincial or national or simply beyond the borders of our imagination.
The path to 2017: Contributing to the branding of Canada as an arts nation, both on the national and international scene, is interwoven through everything we seek to achieve for this very important celebration. This is our opportunity to give substantially to each other things that enrich the mind and delight the heart, those intangible but precious things that give meaning to a society and help create from it a civilization and a culture. Our vision for 2017 is a grassroots movement that inspires every Canadian by honouring our past, celebrating the present, and planning for the bold future of Canada's artistic and cultural offerings.
In 2014 the centre will be celebrating its own 50th anniversary and the 150th anniversary of the first meeting of the Fathers of Confederation at the Charlottetown Conference. Plans are under way to mark these momentous occasions and encompass all of Canada in the celebrations. Such plans are precursors to Canada's 150th birthday in 2017, and I expect they will include a new theatre pavilion, meeting national building and safety codes; the creation and production and tour of the next great Canadian musical; a national commemorative sculpture erected on the centre's plaza; enhanced presentation of CANADA ROCKS! , the hit musical revue featuring well-known Canadian performers; the expansion of the Symons Medal and Lecture Series to involve multiple Canadian leaders; a book and a television documentary highlighting the many outstanding activities carried out by the centre; and the presentation of the Confederation Players, a group of students who portray the Fathers of Confederation present during the 1864 conference. Several of these projects will come to fruition in 2014, with the objective of living on through to 2017. Others will just gain momentum in 2014, with plans to launch them during the sesquicentennial.
The 150th birthday of Canada needs to focus not only on the history of one of the world's most celebrated and beloved countries and the contributions of iconic Canadians, but also the future of the country as a nation the world looks to as a model. A theme might be "from there to here, moving forward to a bold new future". The wonderful imaginative logo created by the Governor General's Performing Arts Awards Foundation, as shown to us by Doug Knight at the Arts Summit in Banff this past weekend, should be made available as soon as possible to all Canadians so they can use it everywhere in their daily lives.
In a country that was built by the railroad, galvanized by the national highway, and now instantly linked by the information highway, the Canada of the future looks forward to new trails and inroads blazed by collaborative innovations in arts, culture, and science. For me, this logo represents all of that and more.
The possibilities and approaches to engage Canadians are vast and almost endless. Campaigns and outreach initiatives should be multi-tiered and should take place at the grassroots level and at regional, provincial, and federal levels. When history is expressed through artistic interpretation, learning becomes a pleasure. At the centre we express ourselves through the visual and performing arts. We are considering a number of theatre projects, which we are convinced all Canadians and visitors will enjoy. Among the projects being considered for 2017 are 1864: The Musical, an inventive take on the founding of Canada populated by characters like Sir John A. Macdonald and D'Arcy McGee; Remember to Keep Dancing, a tribute to innovative Canadian choreographer, director, and theatre pioneer Alan Lund; and We Are Canadian!, an extension of the series of plays written for the Confederation Centre Young Company, which celebrates the lives and cultures of all Canadians.
The Confederation Centre has undertaken a legacy project that will not only will celebrate the 150th anniversary of Canada, but will distinguish Canada as a world leader in art, music, and technology. Our project is "The Next Great Canadian Musical", a theatrical event that promises to redefine live performance in our country and around the world. It will challenge our citizens to cooperate for a productive, healthy, socially and culturally integrated future, and will honour the abundance of our natural resources. We are partnering with established playwrights, poets, musicians, technicians, choreographers, and designers to construct an original theatrical context.
We are also in the early stages of developing a major visual arts exhibition concerning architectural projects that were prepared as part of Canada's program of centennial celebrations during the 1960s. As you are all aware, projects commemorating the 1967 centennial of Confederation were sponsored by all levels of government. Despite their role as markers, these projects were not nostalgic, but rather expressed Canada's desire to be understood as a modern, progressive, forward-looking nation entering its second century. As such, they constitute an important documentary record of the national identity, values, and aspirations of the day.
Since the Confederation Centre of the Arts was the first federal centennial project to be completed, in 1964, this exhibit would help celebrate our 50th in 2014, tour nationally between 2014 and 2017, and finally culminate in an exhibition at the National Arts Centre in Ottawa, which was the final federal centennial project to be completed, in 1969.
In addition to plans in place at the Confederation Centre of the Arts, there are many initiatives that can take place on a national level.
A live concert simulcast could take place from five major Canadian cities, from the steps of Parliament in Ottawa to the steps of the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, and every capital city in the country. We should include Canadian embassies around the globe; there are 2.8 million Canadians living outside of Canada. The concert could showcase the best in Canadian talent, telling the story of Canada to date as well as visions of the Canada of tomorrow.
Educational programs could be built into school curricula to give an innovative, fresh perspective on the history of Canada, and to reinforce learning and critical thinking as part of our culture. Students of all ages could participate in an essay contest on why it's great to be a Canadian. The contest could be run across the country, with the winner reciting their essay on the steps of Province House in P.E.I. during a national broadcast.
Totem poles could be commissioned in each province, telling the history of their region. Time-lapse videos could be produced and broadcast. A possible partner might be Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada.
New Canadians, part of our proud multicultural society, could be celebrated across the country with a synchronized swearing-in ceremony. This might be a live webcast or TV broadcast. We would be happy to host it on our plaza.
Canada Day celebrations might include a national drum circle, with artists representing Canadian cultures on our plaza, each representing a different Canadian culture, whether that be Celtic, aboriginal, classic, or ethnic.
Vignettes could be produced with children telling stories that have been passed through their families dating back to the generations from the time of Confederation. The videos could be made available for all Canadians.
Volunteers from local communities will participate, as will not-for-profits and the public and private sectors across the country.
The Confederation Centre of the Arts is a national institution and is ideally suited to host activities for the 150th. Situated in the cradle of Confederation, it is not only Canada's only national memorial to the founding of the nation, it is a well-oiled machine teeming with talent and ability. We are ready to be a major participant in the 2017 celebrations. We have the experience. As host to millions of visitors for the past 48 years, we know how to host a party, whether it be in Charlottetown, another place in Canada, or any place in the world.
I sincerely thank each and every one of you for providing me with this opportunity to join you in this dialogue about how we might celebrate Canada's 150th birthday; how all Canadians can give Canada many gifts; how birthday parties in communities across the nation will take place and set us on a path that unites us, celebrates our unique heritage and culture, and our prominent position on the world stage; and how blessed we are, as we enter our next 150 years, to create a future that is innovative, transformative, stimulating, and above all, one that is Canadian.
Thank you very much.
11:35 a.m.
The Chair Rob Moore
Thank you for your presentation.
Now, finally, we'll go to Pierre Landry, from the Société des musées québécois.
11:35 a.m.
Pierre Landry President, Société des musées québécois
I first want to thank the committee for hosting us.
I'm Pierre Landry, president of the Société des musées québécois. I'm also general director of the Musée du Bas-Saint-Laurent à Rivière-du-Loup, a small institution. So my way of seeing things comes from both being president of the SMQ, and from being the head of a small museum in Rivière-du-loup, Quebec. I'd like to say that the positions of the SMQ are quite consistent with those of the CMA, as we work in the same area.
Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to begin by sincerely thanking the Standing Committee on Canadian Heritage for inviting me here today as president of the SMQ to participate in the committee's study of Canada's 150th anniversary in 2017.
The Société des musées québécois is made up of 300 museums from all over Quebec. It goes without saying that the representative of this huge network is an important stakeholder in matters concerning the many facets of our culture and heritage.
Celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Confederation in 1967 involved major infrastructure investments in Quebec and Canada, including in the cultural sector. Countless cultural centres, libraries, theatres, museums and concert halls were built to mark the centennial in a lasting and meaningful way.
However, because this is a 150th anniversary, not a centennial, and given the precarious state of public finances, I feel that the celebrations we are discussing today should be more modest. That being said, we still believe that the event should be celebrated with flair and that we should come together to express our attachment to our values and history. We think that it would be wise to ensure that a significant portion of the moneys allocated to this celebration have a lasting and significant impact on our institutions, as was the case in 1967.
Canada as a whole and Quebec in particular have hundreds and hundreds of museums whose mission is to promote culture and heritage. Whether these institutions enjoy significant funding and professional management or whether they survive thanks to the hard work of volunteers, passion and diligence are both key to their success. These museums, interpretive centres, historic sites and heritage sites are the foundation of our collective memory. They protect and promote it. People who work in these institutions protect the most precious and delicate parts of our culture while sharing knowledge and information. With deep roots in our communities, these institutions play a major role in creating a sense of belonging and promoting social integration. Moreover, each of these institutions boasts impressive expertise in heritage interpretation, exhibit creation and activities that combine play and learning.
Yet many of these institutions are having a hard time making ends meet. Either funding from various levels of government has not risen with inflation over the past few years—it was not necessarily decreased—or a number of programs have been changed or eliminated, or the private sector is not involved enough. Museums in Quebec and Canada are desperately short of funds. As a result, people are being laid off, and those who still have jobs are working longer, tougher hours. Collections and heritage buildings are deteriorating, exciting programs will never see the light of day, museum professionals are getting discouraged, and there are no new professionals coming on stream.
Canada's 150th anniversary could provide a unique opportunity to change that. Commemorative events could be combined with major investments to strengthen Canada's museum network, the flagship of our culture and heritage and guardian of our memories and communities. Combined with a sense of celebration, new funding could support research, provide financial support for exhibits or special activities related to various elements of Canada's history and culture, or pay for renovations and updates. Moneys allocated to museums would benefit the network and strengthen it. As was the case following Canada's centennial celebrations, the 150th anniversary celebrations could give people a better sense of our country, put them in a festive mood and place an entire segment of the knowledge, research and conservation industry on firmer footing so that it can contemplate a better future.
We also have to keep in mind the fact that there are many perspectives on Canada's history, which is what makes it so rich. First nations people interpret our history in a much different way than newcomers, explorers and adventurers told it. Acadians, Quebeckers and the people of Newfoundland and Labrador did not experience history in the same way as the Loyalists who populated Ontario or the Metis in Canada's West.
To reflect certain elements of that history, we think it is important to emphasize that the content should be up to the institutions that are authorized to submit proposals should there be a call for proposals and that funds should be awarded based on merit as determined by peer committees without political interference. We think that this is essential to ensuring the integrity of our institutions, the plurality of voices, free will and a critical eye, which are all values that we believe underpin any democracy.
Mr. Minister, ladies and gentlemen of the House of Commons, thank you once again for giving the Société des musées québécois an opportunity to speak here today.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
11:45 a.m.
The Chair Rob Moore
Thank you, Mr. Landry.
Thank you all for your presentations. There were some very specific recommendations in there, and those will give our committee plenty to consider as we work towards our recommendations in this regard.
Now we'll begin our question and answer time. First up is Mr. Young.
11:45 a.m.
Terence Young Oakville, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Welcome, everyone. Thank you very much for coming today. We've had some really excellent and very interesting presentations.
I wanted to ask Mr. McAvity—is that how you pronounce your name?
11:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Museums Association
That's close, and I've been called worse, let me tell you. It's "Ma-ca-vit-y".
11:45 a.m.
Terence Young Oakville, ON
Thank you for coming.
As you may be aware, the government introduced certainly the thickest budget and probably the biggest and longest budget in decades just last week. There's so much in it that a lot of it gets missed in the media. I guess they will cover a lot of it in the coming weeks.
One of the things that has been missed generally is this indemnification program for museums and galleries, etc. It's the kind of thing that sounds pretty dry, but I understand it's very important to what you do in museums and galleries. I wonder if you wouldn't mind explaining to the committee what the program allows you to do, what it does, how it works, and also how much money it might save you if you in fact had to buy insurance for everything you did. What does it allow you to do with works and with having them travelling between institutions, etc.?
11:45 a.m.
Executive Director, Canadian Museums Association
The program was established in 1999, I believe...or was it 1996? It has been a tremendous success. If anything, the problem it's had has been its own success.
Artworks have become more valuable. What it does is allow museums to get protection, not for the entire exhibition, but for most of the value of it.
Last week Mr. Flaherty raised that from $400 million to $600 million of coverage. The total that will be indemnified when all the regulations and amendments to the legislation have been put in place will be $3 billion per year. That sounds like a lot of money, but in the world of big art, of works by Van Gogh and Picasso, it isn't really that much.
This is actually tremendous news for Canadians. Canadians will have the opportunity, because of this program and the increase in it, to see works of art that they would just not normally have the opportunity to see. So it's a great news opportunity.
So far this program has really cost the Government of Canada nothing more than two, I believe, or three person-years to administer it. There has never been a claim on the program. In part that's because of the high standards the museums are able to maintain. It's imperative that those high standards stay there, because we don't want to see a big claim.
The program has been a great success. It doesn't really save the museums operating money, because these major exhibitions are financed through corporate sponsorship, through higher ticket prices, and so on, but it will effectively allow them to do more exhibitions and to bring them in.
It also gives the seal of approval of the Government of Canada to these activities, so it makes it easier to get loans from international collectors or museums. These are all very positive things. We were very pleased with the improvement to the program announced last week.
11:45 a.m.
Terence Young Oakville, ON
Thank you very much.
Madam Inman, the first time I went to the Charlottetown Festival at the Confederation Centre of the Arts was 1971. My brother was 16 years old, playing the lead in the musical Joey. We drove down east to Charlottetown to see the show. It was an unforgettable experience. It's an island paradise.
I wanted to ask you about what you are going to be doing. Your presentation was fascinating. It was full of really good ideas. There were so many I'm going to have to reread it. Thank you for that.
Specifically, what are you going to do to attract Canadians to visit the island leading up to 2017? Is it any or all of what you are describing? With regard to young Canadians, there are two things they should do for sure. One is to visit the Rocky Mountains. The other is to visit P.E.I. and our other great cities.
Leading up to 2017, what are you planning to do to attract more Canadians to P.E.I. and the Confederation Centre of the Arts?
11:50 a.m.
Chief Executive Officer, Confederation Centre of the Arts
Thank you for the compliments to our beautiful province. I'm very glad that you have been there.
Leading up to 2014, we have plans under way to attract attention to the new musical we are going to develop about Canada's abundant natural resources. We're going to cooperate with playwrights, composers, orchestrators, and artistic people from right across the country. We plan to tour that nationally between 2014 and 2017. It will start in Charlottetown in 2014, and then tour nationally so that it's available to all Canadians, not just those who visit Prince Edward Island. That's one way we're going to engage them. There will also be an educational package. We're going to take it into the schools across the country. It will not just talk about the musical itself, but the heritage of our great country and what we want to do with it. That is the content of the musical too. That's one way we are going to attract people.
Our Symons Lecture Series will be broadcast nationally and internationally over the next few years. By 2017 it will be global. We're intending for that to be part of the celebrations in 2017. There is no reason why we can't do simulcast broadcasts around the world these days with the Internet. The possibilities are endless. We'll have other campaigns that we do ourselves or with the provincial tourism department or Canadian Heritage. Canadian Heritage has been extremely supportive of the Confederation Centre of the Arts over the years. We believe they will continue to be. That helps us to get our message out to all Canadians.
I feel we have lots of work to do. There are many Canadians who are not aware of the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown, and that it is the only national memorial to the founding of the nation. I have great plans for an educational program over the coming months and years.


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Looking For A Lineup
The Columbus Dispatch - June 13, 2013 06:02 PM
With 21 players from whom he could pick his game-day 18, head coach Robert Warzycha had a challenge picking his starting lineup against Houston on June 1. When I asked if this was the toughest week to assemble a lineup, Warzycha offered a different opinion.
"I think the most challenging is when you have everybody available," he said.
Now with the top team in the Eastern Conference set to play at Crew Stadium on Saturday, the challenge of setting a lineup might be at a season-high. After the Crew's U.S. Open Cup game with Chicago was delayed one day due to weather, Warzycha was forced to make some changes to his lineup with an eye on hosting Montreal two days later. Now, with some players healing, another awaiting word on an injury that required a stretcher and fatigue spread across his roster, few things are given when it comes to this weekend's lineup.
Against the Fire, three players were in the lineup who also started the Crew's season opener when everyone was healthy – Andy Gruenebaum, Tyson Wahl and Gláuber, the latter of whom went out with a knee injury suffered in the sixth minute. Noticeably absent were forwards Dominic Oduro and Federico Higuain, both of whom made the trip and likely would have started had the game been played Wednesday night. Oduro came on in place of Gláuber and Higuain subbed on for the final 30 minutes.
Warzycha declined to specify how much the weather forced him to change his lineup.
"I changed it a little bit," he said. "We had a little bit different lineup from last night, but since the game was moved we had to prepare for our next game too. I'm not going to say who was going to start."
Those changes were compounded by Gláuber's injury, which resulted in Eric Gehrig moving from right back to center back and Ethan Finlay going from the midfield to right back.
"I thought Ethan did a great job," Gehrig said. "I wouldn't say it was necessarily hard for me. I've been used to playing there pretty much all season. Of course I was set on playing right back but the change for me wasn't bad. I wasn't worried about (Ethan) out there. I thought he held his own against talented players. Obviously it didn't go as planned, and losing a play like Gláuber hurts, but I thought the team came together well."
The Crew brought 18 players but only had 17 available for the match after Chad Barson came down with what Warzycha said was an infection Wednesday night.
Meanwhile, defenders Chad Marshall (hamstring) and Josh Williams (calf) are now likely to be in the starting lineup against the Impact. Warzycha had hinted at playing both against the Fire after having missed four and two consecutive MLS games, respectively, but neither made the trip.
"I hope they are ready," the coach said. "We didn't take them to this trip with the idea that we're going to have them available for the next game, so hopefully they are."
The same goes for defensive midfielder Danny O'Rourke.
"We can't do anything about the weather," Warzycha said. "We're going to do what's best for the team and in a short period of time we're going to have to recover and play another game. There's nothing we really can do. We had to show up today and play our game and I can't question the effort. We had a lot of opportunities. We have to make sure that we are ready. That's why (Higuain) only played 30 minutes, that's why (Matias) Sanchez and O'Rourke didn't play, that's why Oduro, the plan was not to play him that much."
Now the Crew must rest and prepare for a Montreal team averaging a league-best 2.17 points per match that will be rested after a two-week break from game action.
"This game is done and now everything is focused on Montreal," Gehrig said. "We had a good showing up there (earlier this year in a 1-1 draw). We know that if there's a place to turn it around, it's Crew Stadium in front of our fans. I think everyone knows that every game from now on is very, very important. It's balls-to-the-wall, give everything you've got – not saying we haven't done that, but now we're really starting to need to take advantage of these home games."
The Crew is one of three teams in MLS with just one home win, and its six home points is third-worst.
Gláuber will undergo an MRI tomorrow, but Warzycha was holding out hope that the center back's injury is not significant.
"He may be OK," the coach said. "Hopefully it's nothing serious and he can play the game against Montreal and the game against Chicago."
The Crew lost key midfielder Eddie Gaven in its last Open Cup game with a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear in his left knee. Gehrig said he did not get a good view of Gláuber's collision with Chris Rolfe but that it was a clean play.
"It was just a 50-50 ball," he said. "They both leaped for it. Legs were kind of high and I don't know if it was his landing or what."
Official final statistics were not kept, but a common refrain was echoed after the game: the Crew was left to lament not taking advantage of a number of scoring opportunities.
"I think that was a good effort by the players," Warzycha said. "We started the game well. We scored a goal first and then the game was probably going to overtime and the one cross changed everything. We had a good game but sometimes the result is not there."
Added Gehrig: "To be honest, I really do think we played well, especially in the first half. Missing some key players on the road, I thought it was a great start by our team. Everyone was connecting passes and there was great movements.
"I think it's the same story: we've just got to be sharper and find the back of the net. The chances are there."
Chicago's Patrick Nyarko took advantage of one of his when he headed a cross from Chris Rolfe past Gruenebaum for the game-winning goal.
"As soon as Chris got the ball I drifted to the back post because it's crowded in the middle," Nyarko said. "I think he (the defender) has a tendency as a right back to tuck in so I just drifted to the back post and I was free. It was actually a perfect ball by Chris, I really couldn't miss."
It wasn't the result he had hoped for, but today's loss marked Gehrig's first first-team experience in his hometown. The postponement limited the size of his personal cheering section.
"The weather last night hurt," he said. "There were a lot of people who couldn't come today because of work but that's the way the cards fell. I was looking forward to playing here. I still had 30 some people out there today and I was happy to play in front of them and give them a chance to see me live where I grew up. It was definitely special. Hopefully next time I come here we get a little bit better of a result."

subset: commoncrawl


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Prada's new collections are always among the first to arrive at online retailers for pre-order. The schedule has become so consistent that to me, the sight of saffiano leather and lean, structured totes feels similar to seeing that first red-breasted robin of spring, only more expensive. The non-runway bags from Prada Spring 2013 arrived at Neiman Marcus for presale yesterday, and I think the temperature outside automatically ticked up a few degrees. (That's probably all in my head.)
The new bags are all very Prada, of course, but I'm struck by how many of them are also very someone else. The Promenade Satchel is better known as a Louis Vuitton Alma, the Cervo Fringe Tote looks similar to some recent Christian Louboutin ventures and the flared gussets of the Saffiano Bicolor tote are a clear nod to the trend sparked by Celine. On the bright side, the awesome Parabole Tote, which debuted for Resort 2013, is thankfully still around (and in several new colors) and the Degrade Sequin Clutch is a perfect spring wedding option. Check out the collection's most interesting pieces below or shop the entire lineup via Neiman Marcus.


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Sort by: Viator Recommends | Traveler Rating | Most Recent
Warsaw Suggested Itineraries
By Viator, April 2015
On the banks of the Vistula River, which runs from the Carpathian Mountains to the Baltic Sea, Warsaw is a city full of history. It might look modern but it?s had to rise from the dark history of ... Read more
Communist History Tours in Warsaw
By Viator, May 2014
Poland suffered throughout the 20th century. WWII saw the country annexed by the Nazi regime and Warsaw virtually annihilated. The Red Army liberated the city in 1945, but it fell firmly under the ... Read more
Best trip ever in Warsaw
By patlus, July 2013
I've taken one of the trips of Adventure Warsaw. They show me incredible places in Warsaw that I would never seen by myself. We went to try some polish cousine in the end in a local bar, which was ... Read more


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Men's Sitting Team Beats Egypt after Loss to Russia
B.J. Hoeptner Evans
Manager, Media Relations and Publications
Phone: (719) 228-6800
E-Mail: email@example.com
View Unofficial DataVolley Statistics of USA versus Russia
View Unofficial DataVolley Statistics of USA versus Egypt
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (July 13, 2011) – The U.S. Men's Sitting Volleyball Team came back from a 3-0 loss to Russia on Wednesday morning with an evening victory over Egypt, 25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 25-15 at the 2011 Continental Cup in Kettering, England.
With the win, the United States finishes pool play in second place with a 3-1 record, and moves into the playoff round, where it is scheduled to meet Brazil in the quarterfinals on Thursday.
The United States recorded nine aces against Egypt, which finished with six, and forced its opponent into some difficult situations with superior ball placement. Team Captain Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.) led all servers with five aces to go along with eight kills for 13 points.
The U.S. side also won the blocking battle at the net 10-8, led by Dan Regan (St. Louis, Mo./Edmond, Okla.), who finished with a match-high five blocks and three kills for eight points.
Eric Duda (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Edmond, Okla.) led all scorers with 14 points on a match-high 13 kills and one ace.
Among other U.S. scorers, J. Dee Marinko (Newcastle, Okla.) finished with eight points on five kills, one block and two aces. Roderick Green (West Monroe, La./Edmond, Okla.) added six points on two attacks, three blocks and one ace.
James Stuck (New Kensington, Pa./Edmond, Okla.) scored six points on five kills and one block. Stuck led the team in receptions with 23 while Rasmussen and libero Ed O'Neil (Amherst, Mass./Edmond, Okla.) each had 10.
U.S. Head Coach Edgar Miraku (Elbasan, Albania/Edmond, Okla.) was pleased with the team's performance. "Egypt is a formidable opponent for us to take on," Miraku said. "The team did a phenomenal job of serving tough against Egypt and sticking to the game plan that we had developed going into the match."
Thursday's match against Brazil will be particularly important as the United States is preparing for the Parapan American Games in November where Brazil will be a formidable opponent in the fight for a bid to the 2012 Paralympic Games in London.
In Wednesday morning's match, the U.S. suffered its only pool play loss to Russia, 25-14, 25-17, 25-18.
Behind a hitting efficiency of 0.365, Russia maintained constant pressure on the Americans, who kept a 0.260 hitting efficiency.
The two teams tied in blocks, 5-5, but Russia scored on 11 aces while the U.S. had three.
Duda led Team USA with 11 points on a match-high 10 kills (0.389 hitting efficiency) and one block. Stuck added eight points on three kills, a match-high three blocks and two aces while Rasmussen contributed seven points from seven kills.
Miraku offered praise of the team's performance despite the loss.
"Russia is a solid and experienced team that rarely makes unforced errors," Miraku said. "For us, we were able to gain much needed high level competition while involving all of our players in the match."
2011 Men's Sitting Volleyball Continental Cup
Kettering, England
U.S. Men's Sitting Volleyball Team
Number Name (Hometown/Resident athletes at the University of Central Oklahoma are noted)
2 Dan Regan (St. Louis, Mo./Edmond, Okla.)
3 Charlie Swearingen (Gulfport, Miss./Edmond, Okla.)
4 Ed O'Neil (Amherst, Mass./Edmond, Okla.)
5 Eric Duda (Fort Lauderdale, Fla./Edmond, Okla.)
8 James Stuck (New Kensington, Pa./Edmond, Okla.)
9 Hugo Storer (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
11 Roderick Green (West Monroe, La./Edmond, Okla.)
12 Brent Rasmussen (Omaha, Neb.)
18 J. Dee Marinko (Newcastle, Okla.)
Head Coach: Edgar Miraku (Elbasan, Albania/Edmond, Okla.)
Assistant Coach/Team Leader: Dixie Collins (Marshall, Va.)
Statistician: Elliott Blake
Athletic Trainer: Brian Choate
Pool B
Pool A
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Great Britain
Competition Results and Schedule (All times local)
Pool B
July 11
USA def. China, 15-25, 25-19, 25-22, 25-20
Azerbaijan def. Russia, 25-10, 25-5, 25-7
July 12
Egypt def. Azerbaijan, 25-8, 25-17, 25-11
Russia def. China, 25-14, 25-11, 25-15)
USA def. Azerbaijan, 25-14, 25-11, 25-15
Russia def. Egypt, 25-21, 25-23, 25-21
July 13
Russia def. USA, 25-14, 25-17, 25-18
Egypt def. China, 22-25, 18-25, 19-25
4:30 p.m.: Azerbaijan vs. China
USA def. Egypt, 25-20, 25-22, 24-26, 25-15
Pool A
July 11
Brazil def. Great Britain, 25-15, 27-25, 25-17
Ukraine def. Canada, 25-9, 25-7, 25-16
Bosnia & Herzegovina def. Kazakhstan, 25-11, 25-8, 25-11
July 12
Ukraine def. Great Britain, 25-9, 25-13, 25-10
Kazakhstan def. Canada, 25-23, 25-22, 22-25, 30-28
Bosnia & Herzegovina def. Brazil, 25-11, 25-15, 25-22
Great Britain def. Kazakhstan, 25-22, 16-25, 25-20, 25-21
Bosnia & Herzegovina def. Canada, 25-17, 25-9, 25-13
Ukraine def. Brazil, 24-26, 25-14, 25-9, 25-20
July 13
Bosnia & Herzegovina def. Great Britain, 25-9, 25-6, 25-16
Ukraine def. Kazakhstan, 25-11, 25-18, 25-15
1 p.m.: Brazil vs. Canada
4 p.m.: Bosnia & Herzegovina vs. Ukraine
6 p.m.: Kazakhstan vs. Brazil
8 p.m.: Canada vs. Great Britain
Final Rounds
July 14
10 a.m. Classification 9-11: 5B vs. 6A
Noon Quarterfinal: 2A vs. 3B
2 p.m. Quarterfinal: 2B vs. 3A
3 p.m. Quarterfinal: 1A vs. 4B
4 p.m. Quarterfinal: 1B vs. 4A
July 15
10 a.m. Classification 9-11: 6A vs. 5A
Noon: Semifinal 5-8
2 p.m.: Semifinal 5-8
4 p.m.: Semifinal 1-4
6 p.m.: Semifinal 1-4
July 16
9 a.m.: 7th Place
9:30 a.m.: Classification 9-11
11 a.m.: 5th Place
1 p.m.: 3rd Place
3 p.m.: Championship


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Everyone deserves access to the outdoors, especially Latino communities that live so close the mountains.
Organized by the non-profit National Environmental Education Foundation, National Public Lands Day falls on the last Saturday of each September.
Known as the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan, the Obama administration's proposal will protect 4.2 million acres of wild and vulnerable public land while setting aside specific areas for clean energy development.
Just as you rely on wild places to rejuvenate and restore you, those places rely on you to keep them in good condition.
Planning a dedicated stargazing trip in wilderness can be fulfilling in its own right – not to mention a unique way to get into wilderness.
Public wildlands give us so much. They provide places for recreation and solitude, clean air and water—even potent symbols for our national identity. If you're looking to give back to these lands, take a look at our list below.
Black History Month is a time to remember and honor the many groups and individuals who contributed to the success and achievements of this country as well as to advancement for African Americans as a people.
These are your public lands, so be sure to make the most of them year-round.
Head south from Yellowstone's geysers and the Tetons' snow-capped peaks and you'll find an entirely different—but equally spectacular—scenic experience in southwest Wyoming's high desert.
Tell Congress to designate the Arctic Refuge as wilderness to protect it from oil and gas development.


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Stan's NoTubes Yellow Rim Tape has become the standard for achieving a proper seal when converting "normal" rims to tubeless. And by normal, we mean non-UST rims with spoke holes that pierce the outer wall of the rim. What's the big deal with Stan's Yellow Rim Tape you ask? Well, we don't know how it does what it does, but it makes the magic happen. When applied correctly, it provides a durable, long lasting seal.
Stan's Yellow Rim Tape is available in 12mm and 21mm widths and one roll is 10 yards -- just enough to do two sets of 29er wheels.
View more Tire & Tube Accessories
Reviews & Community
Go to Tape
Don't mess with other brands, this goes on smoothly with little issue. Just make sure you're tensioning the tape as you put it on.
This Stan guy is a genius
There's enough tape in a roll to seal several wheels which means now I'll have lots of extra tubes to make a variety of belts and wallets to sell on Esty.
need for tubeless
if you run tubeless this tape is a must. works so well with all the other stans products. There is a reason why stans is the gold standard with tubeless and its because their products work so well
Do it right
Pro Tip: work clean. Strip all old tape and funk off wheel. Get the right width. You can put the wheel back in the frame while you install tape to get good tension on it.
Easier than Gorilla Tape
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
After struggling to remove gorilla tape and the left over adhesive on a set of wheels, a friend mentioned using Stan's tape. It was great advice as it was just as easy to install, but WAY easier when it needs to be removed compared to gorilla tape. The only note I would say on this tape is that you need to apply a fair amount of tension when installing and to be careful when cutting the hole for the valve. All in all a bit more expensive than gorilla tape, but easier to use in my opinion.
Gold Standard
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As Advertised
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
Yep not much to this product... works great, just like you'd expect. I do like that they offer up different widths so you can get a good fit for your rim. I have used this tape for several seasons now with no issues (knock on wood!). Will keep buying it for sure.
Works like a charm
Just built up a set of rims and used this tape to set them up tubeless. The tape works as advertised.
Great Tape
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
Make sure you buy the right size for your rims and this stuff will work with ease.
Awesome Tape
If you have a certain kind of tape you already like, go ahead and use it. After all, it's just tape. That said, this stuff is great so if you're looking for what to use, you can't go wrong here.
good tape
- Familiarity: I've used it once or twice and have initial impressions
I have just started going tubeless, so I don't have a lot of experience with tape. This was easy to apply, and has worked well so far.
Thanks Stan
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
Classic tape, as you can see from the other reviews, if you are looking to go tubeless or even to just tape up those rims again to save your tubes, this is the tape for you. Easy to use, easy to apply. Make sure to get a clean seal though and get those bubbles out! *Can probably tape up about 4, 26 inch rims with this.
Tried and true.
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
Everyone and their mother runs this tape. I had a tire blow a side wall and that punctured my old Stans tape. Oh well.
Tape is tape
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
The only thing that makes this better than other tapes is that it is the most water proof tape I have experienced as a mechanic. It does the job, and does it well, pure and simple.
Great Rim Tape
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
This rim tape is absolutely great, does NOT leak air when sealed properly, best rim tape I have ever used.
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
You want to go tubeless? You want the right size tape that is easy to install? Buy this. It works great and is long lasting.
the gold standard
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
This stuff works as it should, great job sealing all rims, I use it on all my rims!
Easy to apply
- Familiarity: I've used it several times
What more should I say. It works and isn't hard to do yourself.
If You're Using Stan's Rims, Use This
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
Stan's rims are pretty lightweight and durable, but their best attribute is the ability to run nearly ANY tire Tubeless and this tape is the key. Stan's co-developed their rim tape alongside thier legendary rims to offer a flawless seal around the eyelet. When used in combination with Stan's rims and Sealant the result is a near perfect set-up.
Some tires are not compatible with Tubeless no matter what your set-up. Do a little homework on the tire, don't blame the tape.
Does Its Job
- Familiarity: I've put it through the wringer
Easy to install, and flawless sealing. Not sure what else to say, works perfectly as a rim strip for the event when you blow up your tubeless setup in the bush and have to throw a tube in. You can get a few rims setup off of one roll for 26 inch rims...at least 4 with moderate tape overlap


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This week was the IBM Pulse 2011 converence in Las Vegas, Nevada, with over 7,000 attendees. I wasn't there, and my on-the-scene correspondent was too busy running the hands-on lab to get out and attend sessions. Fortunately, I was able to watch some of the [IBM Software live stream], and here are my thoughts and observations.
Fellow inventor [Dean Kamen] was the keynote speaker. His inventions help people, making the world a better place. Here are three examples I found interesting during his talk:
- Helping third world countries
Dean started out with his favorite quote:
"A problem well defined is a problem half-solved." - John Dewey
Dean mentioned that we are fortunate, having both potable drinking water and a reliable supply of electricity, but 2 to 4 billion people on the planet do not. Sponsored by Coca-Cola, Dean and his team of innovators were able to come up with small units that can be placed in a village or town. One unit takes in wet liquid and produces potable drinking water. The other unit takes combustible materials, like cow dung, and products electricity. Each unit is roughly the size of half a standard server rack. What does Coca-Cola get out of this? New "vending machines"! By combining drinking water with flavored syrups, they can create soft drinks on demand.
Dean's opinion was that if you want something done, you need to work with large corporations, as governments are mired in beauracracy and rules. I agree. When I first joined IBM, I was introduced to [TRIZ] which was a systematic method for solving problems. IBM's best and brightest are working to solve some of the toughest computer science challenges. For more on TRIZ, see this blog post about [TRIZ in BusinessWeek].
- Helping injured veterans
Dean Kamen is well known for inventing the two-wheeled [Segway Personal Transporter], but his company, [DEKA], makes all kinds of things, mostly medical equipment. To help wounded soldiers returning from Iraq or Afghanistan without one or both arms, Dean and his team developed a robotic arm that has enough motor dexterity to pick up a raisin or grape off the table without dropping or squashing it. Dean has appeared several times on the Colbert Report, and here is a video of the robotic arm:
The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c Dean Kamen Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive
I have myself enjoyed riding a Segway. A local place in Tucson uses them to lead tourists through downtown Tucson and the University of Arizona campus.
- Helping young students to learn science and technology
Dean wrapped up his talking by talking about his passion about "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology" or [FIRST]. Modeled after sports competitions, FIRST encourages teams of kids to build robots that perform specific tasks. Every year, companies and universities sponsor teams by purchasing robot kits from FIRST. Teams compete in regional competitions, and then the best of those go on to compete in a stadium in Atlanta, Georgia, hosting 76,000 people cheering for their teams.
Unlike other school sports (Football, Basketball, Baseball, etc.) where a student is more likely to win the lottery than get a successful career as a professional athlete, every student involved in FIRST competitions can "go pro". A study of FIRST success tracked students who participated in competitions, and found a substantial improvement in percentage of those students attending college and working as science and engineering professionals.
I am a big fan of encouraging kids of all ages to learn more about science, technology, engineering and math [STEM]. Back in 2009, I blogged about my involvement with [One Laptop Per Child] and [Junior FIRST Lego League]. I've gotten a great reaction to my latest challenge, to build a Watson Jr. in your own basement, based on my [step-by-step] instructions.
If you attended IBM Pulse this week, please comment on your thoughts and observations!
technorati tags: IBM, Pulse, #ibmpulse, keynote, speaker, Dean Kamen, Coca-Cola, robotic, prosthetic, arm, DEKA, Segway, FIRST, Lego, STEM, TRIZ, Watson


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Debates of Oct. 20th, 2010
House of Commons Hansard #83 of the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was agreements.
- Question Period
- Minor Hockey
- Infrastructure
- Jacques Masson
- Spirit Day
- Responsible Care
- Government Spending
- Charitable Contributions
- Contaminated Water in Shannon
- Human Smuggling
- York Lions Club
- Immigration
- Julie Mason
- Trade
- Census
- Seniors
- Foreign Affairs
- Government Priorities
- The Economy
- Potash Industry
- Public Works and Government Services
- Potash Industry
- Foreign Affairs
- The Environment
- Rights & Democracy
- Office of the Public Sector Integrity Commissioner of Canada
- The Environment
- Status of Women
- G8 and G20 Summits
- Foreign Affairs
- Public Works and Government Services
- Taxation
- Census
- The Environment
- Status of Women
- Human Rights
- Transportation
- Public Safety
- Taxation
- Canadian Heritage
- Public Safety
- Mental Health Commission of Canada
- Employment Equity Act
- Government Response to Petitions
- Interparliamentary Delegations
- Committees of the House
- Notice During Adjournment Period
- Petitions
- Questions on the Order Paper
- Questions Passed as Orders for Returns
- Motions for Papers
- Points of Order
- Canada-Panama Free Trade Act
- Ending Early Release for Criminals and Increasing Offender Accountability Act
- Canada-Panama Free Trade Act
- Income Tax Act
- Canada Labour Code
- Secure, Adequate, Accessible and Affordable Housing Act
2 p.m.
The Speaker Peter Milliken
It being Wednesday, we will now have the singing of the national anthem led by the hon. member for Don Valley East.
[Members sang the national anthem]
Minor Hockey
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Greg Rickford Kenora, ON
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Doug Novak from Kenora.
For the past 21 years, Doug has coached Pee Wee hockey, teaching kids how to play Canada's game and giving them important transferrable skills like team playing and leadership along the way. Philadelphia Flyer team captain Mike Richards is but one example.
Doug lives and breathes hockey. He never thinks twice about volunteering countless hours of his time to Kenora minor hockey.
Recently, in the RBC's annual local hockey leaders program, Doug was one of 14 people chosen from hundreds of nominations for his volunteer service and dedication to the sport of hockey. A photo of Doug was unveiled in a permanent display honouring Canada's unsung hockey heroes at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, and $10,000 will be donated to Kenora minor hockey in Doug's name.
I ask my colleagues to join me in thanking Doug for his many years of service and commitment to families and minor hockey in Kenora. Doug is just another example of what is so great about the great Kenora riding.
Statements By Members
2 p.m.
Sukh Dhaliwal Newton—North Delta, BC
Mr. Speaker, when the Pacific gateway project was introduced under the previous Liberal government, my constituents of Newton—North Delta were relieved that truck and container traffic would no longer clog their community.
Now I have learned that the South Fraser Perimeter Road is short on funding. A first-class freeway is now being downgraded to a highway with an unsafe level of traffic lights. The upgrades were supposed to stop trucks idling at intersections. Local governments are calling this plan a recipe for disaster.
I urge the government to commit to the residents of Delta proper funding for this project to allow for a safe, efficient and environmentally friendly flow of traffic.
Jacques Masson
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
France Bonsant Compton—Stanstead, QC
Mr. Speaker, in September, Jacques Masson announced that he was stepping down as president of the Union des producteurs agricoles de Coaticook after 32 years of involvement.
As the Bloc Québécois deputy critic for agriculture and agri-food, I would like to highlight his commitment to farmers in the region. His dedication helped keep the Union des producteurs agricoles de Coaticook financially healthy, and allowed the organization to work on a number of important issues.
For example, the Union des producteurs agricoles de Coaticook got involved in the issue of access to high-speed Internet in rural areas and in an environmental project to plant trees to protect fields and waterways, for which the organization won the Jean-Paul Raymond award last year.
I wish Mr. Masson and his family the best of luck in sustaining their farm.
Spirit Day
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Glenn Thibeault Sudbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, today I am wearing purple because it is Spirit Day. New Democrats stand in solidarity with gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and transsexual youth to honour those youth who recently committed suicide due to bullying and harassment.
Some of the Canadian and American youth we remember are: Tyler Clementi, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase, Asher Brown, Cody J. Barker, Harrison Chase Brown, Caleb Nolt, Billy Lucas, Jeanine Blanchette and Chantal Dube.
We must act now to end bullying and discrimination against GLBTT youth and stand in solidarity with them, their friends and their families.
I would like to acknowledge an organization in my riding that has been a supporter of the GLBTT community since day one, Sudbury Pride. It is important to stand in solidarity with GLBTT youth and recognize the work of organizations like Sudbury Pride and the steps they take to ensure that GLBTT youth know that life gets better.
Responsible Care
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Patricia Davidson Sarnia—Lambton, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada on the 25th anniversary of Responsible Care.
Responsible Care was launched in 1975 to address the chemistry industry's concerns for the environment and the health of Canadians.
Twenty-five years later, the Canadian Responsible Care model has been adopted by more than 50 countries around the world and has been recognized by the United Nations Environment Programme for its contributions to sustainable development.
Responsible Care companies have made great strides in reducing emissions and report their progress in a transparent way to the public each year. In my riding of Sarnia—Lambton, member companies of the CAER program have also been on the forefront of emergency response.
I would like to congratulate members of the Chemistry Industry Association of Canada for showing a quarter century of environmental leadership through Responsible Care.
Government Spending
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Yasmin Ratansi Don Valley East, ON
Mr. Speaker, this government wasted $1.2 billion on the G8 and G20 meetings held in Canada. That money was spent recklessly. For example, the government built a fake lake and many other completely useless things. It also impacted the lives of thousands of Torontonians. This government is incapable of managing a nation's economy.
My constituents believe that a better way to spend money, create jobs and help the environment would be to invest in the extension of the overburdened and incomplete rail system that serves the vast majority of Torontonians.
Why does the government shy away from funding projects that will create jobs and have a lasting benefit to hundreds of thousands of Canadians instead of wasting taxpayer dollars?
Charitable Contributions
Statements By Members
2:05 p.m.
Ted Menzies Macleod, AB
Mr. Speaker, I am proud to announce that the Government of Canada and the Tim Horton Children's Foundation celebrated a significant charitable donation made on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.
A total of $300,000 was contributed to three separate charities, focusing on supporting youth, families and Canadian military personnel. One hundred thousand dollars of this donation will go toward expanding the horsemanship program at the Tim Horton Children's Ranch in the beautiful Kananaskis Valley in the riding of Macleod. This 150 acre ranch provides children from all over the country with the unique experience of living in the Rockies and enjoying many outdoor activities.
These donations are an acknowledgement of each charity's hard work and selfless service in promoting the well-being of Canadians and will help build stronger families and provide a better future for Canadians.
Contaminated Water in Shannon
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Christiane Gagnon Québec, QC
Mr. Speaker, the federal government has never acknowledged its responsibility for contaminated water in Shannon, nor has it compensated the victims. It has employed all kinds of delay tactics and unusual procedures in order to hinder legal action taken by the victims. In particular, it has attempted to prevent a class action lawsuit and force each plaintiff to file an individual suit against the Department of National Defence. At present, the federal government is again holding up their case by not providing documents that they need to prepare their suit and imposing unreasonable fees for providing them.
If his government is not responsible for the environmental and human disaster in Shannon, as he claims, what does the defence department have to hide? If he is not willing to acknowledge the harm caused by the department and compensate the victims, he should at least demonstrate good faith, transparency and justice and provide the victims' lawyer with the documents requested.
Human Smuggling
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Joy Smith Kildonan—St. Paul, MB
Mr. Speaker, human smuggling is a despicable crime and any attempts to abuse Canada's generosity for financial gain is utterly unacceptable. Our government will crack down on human smugglers and those who seek to abuse our immigration system. We will not allow human smugglers to dock their boats on our shores with impugnity.
We will send a message that Canada opens its doors to those who work hard and play by the rules, while cracking down on those who seek to take advantage of our generosity and abuse our fair and welcoming immigration system.
I would encourage members from all parties to recognize the problem posed by human smugglers and recognize it is growing and must be stopped.
Our government will take action and stand up for those immigrants who work hard and play by the rules for the opportunity to live, work and raise a family in our great country.
York Lions Club
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Alan Tonks York South—Weston, ON
Mr. Speaker, I am certain that members of the House can attest to the incredible contribution that service clubs make to community life in their ridings.
In my community of York South—Weston, the York Lions Club is celebrating its 75th anniversary. Like many clubs in both rural and urban areas, under the mantra of "we serve", the York Lions Club has made life better for youth, seniors and the disadvantaged.
Milestones in the 75 years of the York Lions Club include: the winning of the North America drum and bugle championships under the direction of the late Lion, Doug Saunders; the York Lions Steel Band under the direction of Lions Mike and Gail Stacey; and the ongoing support for the leader dog program to assist the visually impaired.
Lions Clubs throughout our country have contributed to hospitals, community centres and arenas and through their service have served as an inspiration for generations of Canadians. I know members of the House will join with me in celebrating and saluting Lions International and the York Lions Club on achieving 75 years of dedication to its motto "we serve".
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Jacques Gourde Lotbinière—Chutes-de-la-Chaudière, QC
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government will not stand idly by while Canada becomes a target for criminals aiming to profit from this country's generosity.
Canada is proud to be an open and generous society. Each year, we welcome hundreds of thousands of immigrants from around the world. These people work hard and play by the rules in order to live, make a living and raise their families in our beautiful country.
Unfortunately, our immigration system is the target of human smugglers who treat our country like a doormat to wipe their feet on. We need to fix this problem once and for all because it continues to grow.
Yesterday, our Conservative government informed Parliament of its intention to introduce a law that would keep human smugglers from abusing Canada's immigration system. I encourage members from all parties to acknowledge the fact that the problem of human smuggling is growing and needs to be stopped.
Julie Mason
Statements By Members
2:10 p.m.
Libby Davies Vancouver East, BC
Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of the NDP caucus and staff, past and present, to express sadness and grief for the loss of a great friend and colleague, Julie Mason.
As the former director of communications and then as the chief of staff to NDP leader Alexa McDonough, Julie was innovative, strategic and fierce. She always brought her commitment to social justice to every aspect of her work. Julie was a role model for women as one of the few top female political players at a time when that was difficult and rare.
Whether it was her work on Parliament Hill, or with Oxfam Canada and the Children's Bridge Foundation, or her insightful and refreshingly clear writings on living with cancer, Julie's contributions have made a positive and lasting mark.
We send our love and gratitude for sharing so much of Julie with us to Don McGregor, Julie's husband, and her sons, Glen and Brian, her family and her grandchildren whom she loved so much.
The NDP is forever thankful for the commitment and generosity of Julie Mason and the life she lived to the fullest.
Statements By Members
October 20th, 2010 / 2:15 p.m.
Ron Cannan Kelowna—Lake Country, BC
Mr. Speaker, our Conservative government is always working to expand opportunities for Canadian farmers.
Our government's free trade agenda includes talks with close to 50 countries, in addition to the eight countries with which we have already signed trade agreements. We are also working to improve the mere three trade agreements signed under the previous government.
Our top trade initiative is our negotiations with the European Union which are progressing very well. Canadian farmers are speaking up in support of a deal with the EU.
The Canadian Cattlemen's Association has said that an agreement could be the biggest single opportunity for the Canadian cattle and beef industry since the Canada-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.
The Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance said that opening the European market for Canadian agriculture and food products is critical.
It is clear that only the Conservative government can be counted on to support free trade and open markets for Canadian workers, businesses and farmers. We are getting this done for Canadians, opening jobs and creating hope and opportunity for all Canadians.
Statements By Members
2:15 p.m.
Richard Nadeau Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, today the OECD is celebrating United Nations World Statistics Day. The event serves as a reminder that government officials need good data to make informed, evidence-based decisions.
The Conservatives' decision to scrap the mandatory long form census is sabotaging its scientific nature and distorting the truth so they can manipulate it to suit their reality. They are playing up the threat of jail time for people who do not fill out the census form. Yet all opposition parties agree that that measure should be eliminated. It is important to note that no one has ever received jail time since the census became mandatory.
Over 300 organizations and municipalities, including the City of Gatineau, oppose the Conservatives' unscientific approach that will deprive them of statistics essential to the well-being of their citizens.
This dogmatic Conservative government needs to listen to reason and reinstate the mandatory long form census once and for all.


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About Us
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Join us for a fun Popcorn / Wreath Rally at WetNWild Hawaii on August 1-2! Come and hear about this fall's popcorn campaign, sample some of the new products and hear all about our Top Seller bonus awards! Choose between the Friday-Saturday Camping Overnighter Experience, or the Saturday only event! Register below!
Online registrations are required. Deadline to register for the Overnighter is July 25. Deadline to register for Saturday Only is July 31.
Overnighter Cost: $60/person. Includes a bento dinner, evening games, breakfast, lunch & admission to the park for Saturday! **We need at least 50 people to register in order for us to have an overnighter** This is a special event! Annual pass holders may not use their passes towards the overnighter!
Saturday Only Cost: $25/person. **Day only ticket - Free with annual Wet'n'wild Pass! **If you purchase your day ticket and plans change... the ticket is good until December 31, 2014! You can purchase additional tickets to be used anytime between now and December 31, 2014. Click here to purchase discount tickets only!
Saturday Orientation Only: FREE For Unit Kernels only attending the orientation then departing the park.
Event Agenda:
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**Please ensure Aloha Council has your Popcorn Commitment Form so your Unit receives updates all throughout the Popcorn Sale!
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The IBM and Dassault Systèmes Global Alliance supports the expansion of PLM in all industries. IBM brings world class services, systems, software and financing to increase the business value obtained from PLM solutions.
In April 2010 Dassault Systèmes integrated into Dassault Systèmes the IBM PLM organization that was engaged in marketing, selling and supporting Dassault Systèmes PLM software. The Dassault Systèmes portfolio consists of CATIA for designing the virtual product, SolidWorks for 3D mechanical design, DELMIA for virtual production, SIMULIA for virtual testing, ENOVIA for global collaborative lifecycle management and 3DVIA for online 3D lifelike experiences.
CATIA, DELMIA, ENOVIA, SIMULIA, SolidWorks and 3DVIA are registered trademarks of Dassault Systèmes or its subsidiaries in the US and/or other countries.
Now available on www.ibm.com
Find out more about IBM PLM in the below sections:
- IBM/Dassault Alliance web site
- IBM PLM solutions, professional services and hardware technologies
Faster time-to-market with lower development and manufacturing costs are essential.
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Now available on www.3ds.com
Find out all about Dassault Systèmes and its PLM Solutions at www.3ds.com. Do not hesitate to access directly to one of the below sections:


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Stunning 4 star graded self catering cottages situated in the Hemel-en-Aarde Valley of Hermanus. Cottages sleep from 2 to 6 guests and are fully equipped for a super self catering experience.
The Overberg offers a host of activities including a wine route, watersports, White Shark cage diving, an enormous variety of the finest restaurants and fabulous shops, museums and markets to browse.
Visit interesting coastal and inland towns in the Overberg including Baardskeerdersbos, Bredasdorp, Cape Agulhas, De Kelders, Elim, Gansbaai, Hawston, Kleinbaai, Napier, Onrus, Pearly Beach and Stanford.


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The Global Market Approach: Soli United
June 13, 2012
Mark Kaplan, CEO at Soli United, discussed how global brands can reach their next billion global consumers through traditional trade.
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Crisis Averted
U.S. Rep. Tom Reed expressed frustration Wednesday over the lack of Hurricane Sandy relief funding coming from the nation's capital.
Chautauqua County's newest congressman told reporters he was upset to see legislation designed to aid areas hit hard by the devastating storm pulled in the House of Representatives without a vote late Tuesday.
Reed said Republicans had planned to meet privately with House Speaker John Boehner regarding the bill, which is now to set be acted upon on Friday, according to Rep. Peter King, R-N.Y. Congressman King also said that Boehner has promised the votes necessary to pass Sandy aid by Jan. 15.
"I'm very frustrated. We have been putting in a lot of work with our colleagues," Reed said. However, the congressman noted "pork spending" in the proposed multibillion dollar bill that would have gone to fisheries in Alaska and other projects not tied to the hurricane.
"I know there was a lot of concern by members about pork spending that was included," he said.
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie released a joint statement criticizing Boehner and House Republicans for not taking up the legislation.
"With all that New York and New Jersey and our millions of residents and small businesses have suffered and endured, this continued inaction and indifference by the House of Representatives is inexcusable," the governors said.
"… This failure to come to the aid of Americans following a severe and devastating natural disaster is unprecedented," Cuomo and Christie continued. "The fact that days continue to go by while people suffer, families are out of their homes, and men and women remain jobless and struggling during these harsh winter months is a dereliction of duty. When American citizens are in need we come to their aid. That tradition was abandoned in the House (Tuesday) night."
Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., expressed disappointment, but optimism that the House would pass the bill.
"While it would have been far better had they passed the Senate's bill today, at least this provides a path to produce the needed $60 billion for New York and New Jersey by the end of the month," said Schumer.
Reed on Wednesday also touched base on his support for the House's fiscal cliff bill, which passed overwhelming late Tuesday night. In the 257-167 vote, 172 Democrats and 85 Republicans favored the bill, which will maintain tax cuts for those making over $400,000 annually.
"I'm happy we were able to secure those tax cuts," Reed said. "I think it's a great step forward."
However, Reed said more must be done to cut overall spending and resolve concerns over the future of Medicaid and Social Security.
"Those are some of the compromises you are going to have to make as elected officials," Reed said of favoring the bill.
Starting today at noon, Reed will represent the new 23rd Congressional District as part of the 113th Congress. The new Southern Tier district includes Chautauqua County for the first time in a decade.
The congressman also will begin operating an office in Jamestown; an open house will be scheduled for the office later this month.
"The communities and economic interests of Chautauqua County are closely aligned with the rest of the Southern Tier, and we are honored to be a voice in Washington for Chautauqua County and rural and small city America," Reed told The Post-Journal.
The congressman will be holding three of his town hall meetings in Chautauqua County starting Jan. 12. No further information regarding the meeting were made available.


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When Gina Nykerk paid off her student loans, credit card, and car, it was a major Financial Turning Point for her—and and an inspiration for several friends.
When I was 23 years old, I paid off all $16,000 of my student loan debt.
I can't tell you how empowering it is not to owe anything, financially.
After I graduated from college a few years before, I did what most college students do. I started spending all the money I was barely making. After all, $32,000 a year straight out of college feels like a lot of money after working part-time for $12 an hour.
I got an apartment of my own, a gym membership, and a weekly date at the nail salon. I hadn't even started to pay my parents back for the used-car they had given me. But life felt fun and carefree—as life after college was supposed to.
Then I met a man, my now-husband, who continually asked me why I wasn't doing more to pay down my debt. "It's only $16,000," I'd respond. I knew that it would take me years to pay it off. Most people had much more debt than I did, walking away from a private university. Shouldn't he have been impressed that I wasn't in more debt?
After months of prodding from him— followed by a night with my calculator and my bills laid out in front of me—I had an epiphany. I realized that by the time I paid off my debt using only the minimum payment the government required of me, I'd pay nearly as much in interest as the principal of the loan.
That $16,000 would nearly double by the time it was all said and done. I was furious.
I decided then and there to take action. I was on a month-to-month lease at the time, so I called my landlord and told him I'd be out by the end of the month. I searched on Craigslist and found a roommate, and for the next eight months we shared a small house in a fun part of town.
Within a week, I'd arranged to cut my monthly expenses by more than half.
Having a roommate wasn't my favorite prospect, but I knew it was required to seriously, diligently tackle my money goals. So with the money I was saving monthly, I first paid my parents back for the car. Within four months, I owned it outright. That felt incredible.
I then took the money I had been paying my parents and paid off about $3,000 in credit card debt.
After that, I tackled my student loan. I wrote the amount I owed on a piece of paper, and stuck it next to my bedroom door. That way, every single day, I was reminded what I was working for.
That helped me to make better choices: Every day I decided not to buy that coffee, or not to have that extra glass of wine. Every day, I worked to save my money to make a larger payment than the payment before.
Thankfully, I also got a raise during that time—one that came with the occasional bonus. Every extra dime from my growing paycheck went toward my loan repayment.
I gave myself a year to get out of my $16,000 debt—an aggressive plan—and I managed to do it in eight months.
While I'm proud of my story and what I was able to accomplish, I'm much more proud of how my story has affected those around me.
Now 28, I've been watching some of my friends start to climb the financial ladder—and do nothing to pay off their debt with their newfound stash of cash. But for each person I've told my story to, each one has made a change to their own finances. Two of my friends even gave themselves a challenge similar to mine—and are now living debt-free as well.
I believe that the norm in the U.S.—particularly among the millennial generation—is that debt is expected, and therefore acceptable. Our debt numbers are often so big, so daunting—so humbling—that we feel powerless to do anything about it.
My challenge to my peers is to do more: to challenge the norm of having debt, and to take back your finances. Give yourself financial freedom, and take back your life.
It is such a lovelier life, after all, when you aren't worried about the payments you'll be making for the next 30 years.
Inspired by this story? Read more Financial Turning Point stories about what happens when you give too much—and when you decide to get your life together.


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jb wrote:trsteve1 wrote:Cabrera and Choo will bring in some blue chip prospects to restock our empty system
You really think so?
They may bring in some middle of the roaders we might get lucky on, and I mean "prospects" not quad A Lillibridge crap. But "blue chip" for Jhonny the Second (can haden get him some adderal?) and a good but not great versitile corner outfielder with one year left on a contract?
Never know what they may get.
Got a lot more for Ben Broussard, Eduardo Perez, Austin Kearns and Mark DeRosa than they got for Cliff Lee and CC Sabathia.
Gotta take a shot. At least maybe somebody that can become a blue-chipper.


text: Camp Scrubs, hosted by The University of Arizona Medical Center-University Campus and Arizona Youth University, introduces seventh and eighth graders to the nursing profession. Activities include shadowing working nurses, meeting with members of the local fire department, safety training and CPR certification. Students also hear from a variety of UAMC nurses to gain a better understanding of the wide range of specialties available in the nursing career field.


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"This ruling is more in the spirit of Nero Caesar than in the spirit of Thomas Jefferson," said Russell D. Moore. "This is damaging not only to the conscience rights of Christians, but to all citizens."
Moore, the president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, was responding to the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal to rule on a case involving Elane Photography and its owners Jonathan and Elaine Huguenin. According to the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), Elaine received an email in 2006 asking her to photograph a "commitment ceremony" between Vanessa Willock and her same-sex partner. Willock asked if Elaine would be "open to helping us celebrate our day . . . ." Elaine politely declined to use her artistic talents to express a celebratory message at odds with her deep convictions. (Elaine had previously declined requests from others for things such as nude maternity photos.)
Willock, a licensed attorney who has served in various paid "diversity" positions, filed a complaint with the New Mexico Human Rights Commission. After a one-day administrative trial in 2008, the commission ruled against the Huguenins and ordered them to pay $6,637.94 in attorneys' fees. The case made its way through the state court system, with the New Mexico Supreme Court ultimately affirming the commission's coercive decision. In an ominous concurring opinion, one justice wrote that the Huguenins "now are compelled by law to compromise the very religious beliefs that inspire their lives," adding "it is the price of citizenship."
ADF attorneys representing the Huguenins are presenting only one claim to the U.S. Supreme Court—that the punishment of Elane Photography violates the constitutionally protected freedom "not to speak," known as the compelled speech doctrine.