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In the light of recent scientific evidence demonstrating that fluoride is a risk factor in both the development of obesity and diabetes, it is critically important to consider the wider medical implications of water fluoridation using silicofluoride industrial chemicals for all relevant diseases including obesity, diabetes and cancer.
According to a major new study[1] by State-funded health promotion group Safefood, the obesity epidemic in Ireland is costing the State over €1.1 billion in direct health costs and indirect costs such as absenteeism. This is the first time researchers have put a price tag on the cost of obesity in Ireland. The report highlights that the direct cost of treating people who are obese and overweight is almost €400 million annually. Indirect costs, in the form of illnesses, absenteeism and premature deaths, account for the remaining €700 million. Yet it is accepted that these costs are themselves conservative as they do not allow for mental health costs made conservative assumptions about the number of years of life lost due to weight-related problems. Given that the prevalence of obesity is dramatically increasing in both children and adults the costs society and the economy in future years will be significantly higher.
According to a major new study[1] by State-funded health promotion group Safefood, the obesity epidemic in Ireland is costing the State over €1.1 billion in direct health costs and indirect costs such as absenteeism. This is the first time researchers have put a price tag on the cost of obesity in Ireland. The report highlights that the direct cost of treating people who are obese and overweight is almost €400 million annually. Indirect costs, in the form of illnesses, absenteeism and premature deaths, account for the remaining €700 million. Yet it is accepted that these costs are themselves conservative as they do not allow for mental health costs made conservative assumptions about the number of years of life lost due to weight-related problems. Given that the prevalence of obesity is dramatically increasing in both children and adults the costs society and the economy in future years will be significantly higher.
In regard to obesity, the subject of the Safefood report, it is now accepted that high fat feeding and obesity induce endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in liver, which suppresses insulin production and contributes to diabetes.[2]
Recent research[3] by the Russian Academy of Sciences presented clear evidence that fluoride also induces endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a cellular compartment responsible for multiple important cellular functions including the biosynthesis and folding of newly synthesized proteins destined for secretion, such as insulin. Accumulating evidence suggests that ER stress plays a role in the pathogenesis of diabetes, contributing to pancreatic β-cell loss and insulin resistance. ER stress has also importantly been linked obesity and insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes.[4] Disturbances in the normal functions of the ER lead to cell death if ER dysfunction is severe or prolonged. Important roles for ER-initiated cell death pathways have been recognized for several other diseases, including hypoxia, ischemia/reperfusion injury, neuro-degeneration, heart disease, and diabetes.[5]
Further studies have shown that fluoride exposure may contribute to impaired glucose tolerance or increased blood glucose. [6],[7],[8] Researchers Menoyo et al.[9] and Lin et al.[10] demonstrated the effect of fluoride on glucose metabolism using in vivo and in vitro experimental models and confirmed that biologically relevant doses of fluoride result in impairment of an oral glucose tolerance test and decreased insulin synthesis.
It has also been reported that fluoride exposure regulates insulin gene expression in murine beta pancreatic cells, resulting in reduced insulin secretion.[11]
Fluoride exposure has also been implicated (Barbier et al.)in inflammatory response of the immune system including vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).
It is known that the dietary exposure of the Irish population is high due to the consumption of fluoridated water, tea and the number of bottle fed babies fed formula milk made from fluoridated water in addition to other dietary sources of fluoride such as fluoridated toothpaste and fluoride based pharmaceutical drugs. It is particularly relevant to note therefore that the countries globally with the highest incidence of obesity are also those that practice artificial fluoridation of drinking water supplies. The prevalence of obesity in the U.S is 35% for males and 36% for females, in Canada 37% for males and 23% for females, Australia 35.6% for males and 21% for females, New Zealand 25% for males and 26% for females.[12]
When one examines statistics within fluoridated countries such as the U.S. it is equally interesting to discover that the Hawaii the state with the lowest incidence of water fluoridation also has the lowest incidence of dental fluorosis, the second lowest incidence of obesity next to Alaska and is also ranked in the lowest states for diabetes and asthma, a disease characterised by inflammation of the airways.
The statistics for diabetes are particularly interesting as native Hawaiians have more than twice the rate of diabetes as Whites. The percentage of adult Whites/Asian over the age of 18 diagnosed with diabetes in Hawaii is 1.2% compared to the National average for the general public in the U.S.A of 7%.
In Ireland, based on the findings from the 2008-10 National Adult Nutrition Survey (NANS),estimated prevalence of overweight in adults is 37%, with a further 24% meeting current body mass index (BMI) criteria for obesity with 26% for males and 21% for females documented as obese. The prevalence of obesity in 18-64 year old adults has increased significantly between 1990 and 2011, from 8% to 26% in men, and from 13% to 21% in women, with the greatest increase observed in men aged 51-64 years.[13] Notwithstanding other lifestyle and dietary factors this is also the latter sub group represents individuals with the highest lifetime exposure to fluoride in the Republic of Ireland since commencement of artificial fluoridation in mid 1960's. It is also worth nothing that figures for obesity in Ireland are considerable above the EU average.
Singapore is the only other international country with a mandatory national legislative policy for water fluoridation and while the optimum level of fluoride in drinking water in Singapore is approximately half that recommended in Ireland the prevalence of obesity in Singapore is also remarkable high (16.9%) with approximately 24% of the Malaysian ethic population obese and 17% of the Indian population.[14] This is extremely high in comparison to Japan where 4% of the population are obese, the incidence for India is less 2% [15], while in Indonesian less than 10% of men are classified as obese.[16]
How does this equate to a country such as Mexico which has a obesity levels similar to the U.S.A and yet does not fluoridate drinking water. Well on closer examination it is evident that Mexico has not pursued a policy of fluoridation of water for reasons of natural elevated fluoride levels already being present in water. This is particularly evident in the fact that Mexico has one highest incidences of dental fluorosis in the world, yet mass fluoridation of salt is mandatory. Government policy provides for 250 mg of fluoride to added to each kilogram of salt destined for human consumption (table salt, cooking salt, breads and bakery products, processed foods, etc.). The current consumption of fluoridated salt per person – child or adult – is estimated at 7.14g per day[17] bringing the fluoride dietary intake from salt alone to 1.85mg similar to the dietary intake from consuming artificially fluoridated water. This may help explain the incidence of obesity in Mexico which stands at over 30% of the population, a level comparable to the USA.
Other Latin American countries with extremely high prevalence of obesity include Argentina. In Argentina extremely high fluoride levels have been recorded in groundwater with large sectors of the population exposed to very high levels of fluoride. A survey undertaken in 2003 found that less than 3% of groundwater samples had fluoride levels less than 1.5mg/l with fluoride concentrations ranging from 0.9–18.2 mg l–1, with a mean value of 3.8 mg l.[18] In addition to naturally elevated fluoride levels artificial fluoridation is practiced in parts of the country where approximately 20% of the population consume artificially fluoridated drinking water. It is not surprising therefore to find that Argentina has the highest incidence of obesity and overweight children in Latin America.[19]
Last but not least another interesting country to examine is Saudi Arabia. Why has this desert climate such a high prevalence of obesity and diabetes? The prevalence of obesity in Saudi Arabia is recorded[20] at 36.9% which is extremely high for such a hot climate. The incidence of diabetes is recorded[21] at 16.21%. As with Mexico and Argentina extremely high fluoride levels of up to 6.2mg/L are reported in drinking water in Saudi Arabia.[22] In the Hail region of Saudi Arabia it has been documented that up to 90% of children have dental fluorosis. This is associated with the high levels of fluoride 0.5-2.8mg/l found in well water in this area.[23] The city of Mecca with fluoride levels of 2.4mg/l is also known to have endemic fluorosis.[24]
It is no surprise therefore where fluoride is a risk factor in both diabetes and obesity to see such a high incidence of both such diseases in countries where water fluoridation may not practiced but where the resident populations are exposed to dietary fluoride levels similar if not higher than in fluoridated North America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or the Republic of Ireland.
The world prevalence of diabetes among adults (aged 20-79 years) will be 6.4%, affecting 285 million adults, in 2010, and will increase to 7.7 % and 439 million adults by 2030.[25]
Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. Normally, the amount of glucose is carefully controlled by the hormone insulin, which is produced in the pancreas. Diabetes mellitus is now considered to be the leading public health problem in all developed countries. It is now estimated that there are in excess of 200 million people with diabetes mellitus worldwide and is predicted to reach 333 million by 2025.
As previously identified fluoride has been found to act as an inhibitor of insulin synthesis. In Ireland, it is estimated that there are 200,000 people with diabetes and a further 200,000 who have diabetes but are unaware that they have the condition. The majority of these people will only be diagnosed through an acute medical event of the complications of long term untreated hyperglyceamia. A further 250,000 people have impaired glucose tolerance or "pre-diabetes" of which 50% will develop diabetes in the next 5 years if lifestyle changes are not made.[26]
Type I (insulin dependent) diabetes is increasing in children, particularly in under-fives while Type 2 (non-insulin dependent) diabetes is increasing across all age groups. In Ireland, the incidence of type 1 diabetes is 16.8 per 100,000, which is above the European average.[27]
The prevalence of diabetes in Ireland is now at 8.9 per cent of the population. The prevalence of diabetes in non fluoridated Northern Ireland is 3.8 per cent of the population, while the UK average is 4.45%.[28]
The differences between Northern Ireland and the Repubic are stark, how can there be greater than a one hundred percent increase in the prevalance of this disease between two geographic regions of the same island. It is known that the only difference to exposures to environmental toxins in both populations that may contribute to this disease is that public water supplies in the ROI are artificially fluoridated with silicofluoride chemicals which drinking water in NI is non fluoridated. The evidence is staring us in the face but incredibly not one health risk study has ever been undertaken in Ireland to examine the realtionship between artificial fluoridation and disease burdens in the population. Equally disturbing is that the cost of treating diabetes in now estimated to be 10% of the overall health care burget in the ROI. Thats €1.4 billion annually.
The prevalence of diabetes internationally is similar in pattern to that for obesity with typically greater prevalence being found in either naturally high or artificially fluoridated countries.
The prevalence of diabetes internationally is similar in pattern to that for obesity with typically greater prevalence being found in either naturally high or artificially fluoridated countries.
The prevalence for Canada is 10.8%, United States 10.98%, Israel 8.5%, Mexico 15.9%, New Zealand 10.2%, Singapore 11.1 per cent.[29] As noted earlier the prevalence for Ireland is above the EU average, including twice that recorded for non fluoridated Northern Ireland.
The economic burden of diabetes on the Irish health care system is now as with obesity a major challenge for the government and the HSE. Prof. J. Nolan's CODEIRE study[30] published in 2006, which examined the cost of treating type 2 diabetes in Nov-Dec 1999, suggested that 10% of the national health budget is being consumed treating the condition (49% on hospitalisation for complications and wages; 42% on drug costs; 8-9% on ambulatory care and attending non-diabetes specialists for diabetes related complications). CODEIRE remains the best available Irish source for the cost of type 2 diabetes. In 2011 the national health budget was €14.5 billion.
Taken together both diabetes and obesity account for almost €2 billion of the Health Budget for the HSE. This figure is just the direct costs to the State. If you add the indirect costs the final figure is over € 4 billion. Not taking the contribution of fluoride to cancer diseases or other medical ailments such as musculoskeletal pain, periodontal disease, skin disorders, thyroid disorders and neurological problems, the true cost of artificial fluoridation on public health and the economy is staggering.
This shows that water fluoridation is not just an issue of preventing dental decay; it is also an issue of reducing risk factors that are now known to be contributing to a deepening health crisis with catastrophic economic and social costs.
[1] The cost of overweight and obesity on the island of Ireland, Safefood November 2012, ISBN: 978-1-905767-335
[2] Décio L. Eizirik,Alessandra K. Cardozo and Miriam Cnop, The Role for Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Diabetes Mellitus, Endocrine Reviews February 1, 2008 vol. 29 no. 1 42-61
[3] Natalia Ivanovna Agalakova and Gennadii Petrovich Gusev, Sechenov Institute of Evolutionary Physiology and Biochemistry Russian Academy of Sciences, Molecular Mechanisms of Cytotoxicity and Apoptosis Induced by Inorganic Fluoride, International Scholarly Research Network ISRN Cell Biology Volume 2012, Article ID 403835, 16 pages doi:10.5402/2012/403835
[4] Muthuswamy Balasubramanyam, Raji Lenin and Finny Monickaraj, Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress In Diabetes: New Insights Of Clinical Relevance, Indian Journal of Clinical Biochemistry, 2010 / 25 (2) 111-118,
[5] Xu C, Bailly-Maitre B, Reed JC. Endoplasmic reticulum stress: cell life and death decisions. J Clin Invest. 2005 Oct;115(10):2656-64.
[6] E.A. Garcia-Montalvo, H. Reyes-Perez, L.M. Del Razo, Fluoride exposure impairs glucose tolerance via decreased insulin expression and oxidative stress, Toxicology 263 (2009) 75–83.
[7] A. Rigalli, J.C. Ballina, R.C. Puche, Bone mass increase and glucose tolerance in rats chronically treated with sodium fluoride, Bone Miner. 16 (1992) 101–108.
[8] O. Barbier et al. Molecular mechanisms of fluoride toxicity, Chemico-Biological Interactions 188 (2010) 319–333
[9] I. Menoyo, A. Rigalli, R.C. Puche, Effect of fluoride on the secretion of insulin
in the rat, Arzneimittelforschung 55 (2005) 455–460.
[10] B.J. Lin, M.J. Henderson, B.B. Levine, B.R. Nagy, E.M. Nagy, Effects of iodoacetate and fluoride on islate respiration and insulin biosynthesis, Horm. Metab. Res. 8 (1976) 353–358.
[11] E.A. Garcia-Montalvo, H. Reyes-Perez, L.M. Del Razo, Fluoride exposure impairs glucose tolerance via decreased insulin expression and oxidative stress, Toxicology 263 (2009) 75–83.
[12] International Obesity Taskforce, Obesity Worldwide 2008-2010.
[13] The cost of overweight and obesity on the island of Ireland, Safefood November 2012, ISBN: 978-1-905767-335
[14] Obesity In Singapore, Prevention And Control, The Singapore Family Physician, Vol 38 No 1 Jan-Mar 2012:8
[15] Obesity Update OECD 2012
[16] Obesity Trends, Determinants and Policy Implications in Indonesia, 2012
[17] Fluoride Class Action (http://fluoride-class-action.com/districts/mexico)
[18] WHO Fluoride in Drinking Water, 2006.
[19] Centre of Studies on Child Nutrition (CESNI) Oct 2012.
[20] Al-Nozha MM et al. Obesity in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Med J. 2005 May;26(5):824-9.
[21] International Diabetes Federation 2011
[22] Aldosari AM, Akpata ES, Khan N, Wyne AH, Al-Meheithif A.Fluoride levels in drinking water in the Central Province of Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med. 2003 Jan-Mar;23(1-2):20-3.
[23] Akpata et al. Dental Fluorosis in 12-15yr old rural children exposed to fluorides from well drinking water in the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 1997, 25(4) 324-327.
[24] Al-Khateeb et al Caries prevalence and treatment among children in Arabian community, Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology 1991, 19, 277-280.
[25] Shaw JE, Sicree RA, Zimmet PZ. Global estimates of the prevalence of diabetes for 2010 and 2030. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. 2010 Jan;87(1):4-14. Epub 2009 Nov 6.
[26] Diabetes Federation of Ireland
[27] Diabetes: The Policy Puzzle, Is Europe Making Progress? The International Diabetes Federation (2012).
[28] Diabetes UK
[29] International Diabetes Federation 2011.
[30] Nolan JJ, O'Halloran D, McKenna TJ, Firth R, Redmond S. The cost of treating type 2 diabetes (CODEIRE). Ir Med J. 2006 Nov-Dec;99(10):307-10.


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NORTHERN CAMBRIA — Blairsville topped Northern Cambria, 45-12, in a junior high girls' basketball game Thursday, improving its record to 14-1.
Rena Enterline poured in 25 points to lead the Bobcats, and Catherine Martin added 10.
Blairsville won the seventh- and eighth-grade game, 26-6, improving to 12-0.
Blairsville plays host to Purchase Line on Monday.
• MARION CENTER — Marion Center edged Ligonier Valley, 27-23.
Jackie Fetsko scored a team-high 10 points for the Stingers, and Grace Snyder added seven.
Ligonier Valley won the seventh- and eighth-grade game, 20-7.
Marion Center plays at Northern Cambria on Monday.
• HOMER CITY — Homer-Center defeated Saltsburg, 53-23, behind Lexi Newhouse's 17 points. Emily Worcester added nine points.
Isabel Satler scored 18 points to lead the Trojans.
Saltsburg won the seventh- and eighth-grade game, 21-12.
Golfers place in D6 tourney
STATE COLLEGE — Blairsville's Marissa Lawton finished 22nd and Northern Cambria's Molly Salley took 26th place out of 36 players in the District 6 Class AA girls' golf championship, played Wednesday and Thursday at the Penn State White Course.
Lawton shot a 105 and a 103 for a 208 in the two-day, 36-hole tournament. Salley shot 113-105—218.
Bishop McCort's Kayla Orr was the champion, with a 164 for the tournament.

subset: commoncrawl


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A brutal raid on the quiet coastal English village of Hookton in 1342 leaves but one survivor: a young archer named Thomas. On this terrible dawn, his purpose becomes clear -- to recover a stolen sacred relic and pursue to the ends of the earth the murderous black-clad knight bearing a blue-and-yellow standard, a journey that leads him to the courageous rescue of a beautiful French woman, and sets him on his ultimate quest: the search for the Holy Grail.
Publisher: HarperCollins e-books (March 17, 2009)
Format: EPUB
Page count: 400 pages
File size: 403 KB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


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The men in the middle
When it comes to negotiating compensation for New Territories villagers, hysterical shouts and verbal abuse often pass for discussion. Top officials usually go out of their way to tolerate such deliberate, and highly effective, antics. Vested interests and powerful forces are usually at stake, yet hidden from view.
And in the middle, one often finds the Heung Yee Kuk. On the one hand, the powerful rural group appears to help the government mediate; on the other, it represents the interests of rural residents. Whether this is conflict of interest or honest brokering depends very much on one's perspective.
One such meeting took place in October between villagers from a Shek Kong village and Eva Cheng, the diminutive secretary for transport and housing. After six months of fruitless bargaining, she finally showed up in person to face the ire of villagers at Tsoi Yuen Tsuen. The villagers were ostensibly unhappy about being asked to demolish their homes and lose their ancestral land to make way for a new high-speed rail line linking Hong Kong and Guangzhou. But cynics might observe that many were salivating over the prospect of squeezing the last penny out of the government's compensation fund. They were ready to play hard ball the New Territories way.
Cheng, a seasoned civil servant and now a minister, is more used to negotiating in gilded boardrooms with fine furniture and thick carpets. The heat and shouting quickly got to her, and she soon lost her cool. Nevertheless, she took comfort from the man who was there for her every step of the way.
Given the potentially combustible situation, the government made sure Lau Wong-fat - executive councillor, lawmaker and New Territories Godfather - was there so no villager would try to spit on, beat up or otherwise physically harass Cheng.
As the longtime head of the kuk, 'Uncle Fat' - as he is known to most people - offered better protection than a platoon of police officers could. When we called Cheng's office to ask what Lau was doing there, her public relations minders referred to him by his endearing moniker. Quite simply, everyone gives face to Uncle Fat, especially in the New Territories. As the head of the kuk, Lau, 73, has become Chief Executive Donald Tsang Yam-kuen's troubleshooter of choice. Whenever a dispute or incident in the New Territories threatens to cause embarrassment or difficulty for the government, Lau and his aides will be there.
To appreciate his importance, consider this. While Lau spoke on stage during a National Day celebration this year, eight of the government's most powerful figures - Tsang included - stood dutifully behind him, smiling appreciatively. Lau has earned the respect he commands. He was the person officials ran to when irate residents in Mui Wo objected to the relocation to their village of the Christian Zheng Sheng College, a drug rehabilitation school for young people. Lau worked his magic and the dispute quickly quietened down.
In March, truckers and their supporters at a nearby village blocked a major access road at Fairview Park in Yuen Long. They caused traffic gridlock every morning and evening. The private estate's owners and their management company tried to stop them from using the road out of safety concerns. Attempts at mediation by honchos from various government departments and district police commanders failed. Then Uncle Fat showed up one morning: magically, the blockade was lifted, the road opened and the two sides compromised. Lau and other kuk leaders may look like consummate mediators, but the solutions they have helped broker almost never come cheap - for taxpayers, that is.
The government is building a HK$100 million road, to be opened by 2012, that will provide a convenient alternative route for truckers and their village supporters in Yuen Long. Officials can argue, quite legitimately, that it is being built for all road users, not just the truckers, though the latter will likely benefit the most from the expensive road. Not so easily defensible is the HK$1.5 million road maintenance programme officials have earmarked for the Fairview Park road. Residents there said regular use by heavy trucks has damaged the road, which requires constant repair. Still, it is hard to see why public money should be spent to help resolve a private dispute. And while Uncle Fat stood beside Cheng at Tsoi Yuen Tsuen, it is not clear whose side he was really on. Already, the government has agreed to more than double the compensation being handed out to Tsoi Yuen villagers.
The kuk represents rural interests. But as an Exco member, Lau also represents the government and Exco's collective responsibility for all its deliberations and decisions, made in the interest of Hong Kong. Besides the huge land banks held by the city's largest developers in the New Territories, Lau is probably the single largest owner of rural land. According to Exco members' last declarations of assets, Lau owns 320 blocks of land and property across Hong Kong and has interest in 72 companies. He has a resort hotel and residential project in Yuen Long and property developments in Tuen Mun and Sheung Shui. He also enjoys close ties with the major developers.
The kuk has always been powerful, even before Lau took over the helm in 1980, but he has made it media-savvy. Even so, repeated requests for an interview or comment were ignored by his office.
The organisation was founded in the mid-1920s and is one of the oldest power bases in Hong Kong. However, there is a perception that its influence is on the wane as a result of urbanisation across large swathes of the New Territories. The opposite is the case, said Tik Chi-yuen, a former legislator who served as a North District councillor from 1988 to 1994, and Lau is just the public face of a very powerful group of villagers.
'It is a misconception that the influence of indigenous villagers has waned since the urbanisation in the New Territories in the past few decades,' Tik said. 'Their influence is particularly strong in district council constituencies, where hundreds of votes would be enough to secure a seat. Even in Legco elections, indigenous inhabitants are a force to be reckoned with in constituencies where the degree of urbanisation is relatively low, such as Northern District.'
He said a substantial number of appointed district councillors in the New Territories enjoy close ties with rural communities. The kuk, a statutory body, is in reality an umbrella organisation of 27 rural committees representing all eight districts in the New Territories, including the outlying islands. In recognition of their influence, chairmen of the rural committees are all ex-officio members of district councils.
The kuk's enduring power has a lot to do with the way the New Territories came to be part of British Hong Kong. When the Qing dynasty leased the 'New Territories' - or the southern part of Xinan county - to the British government in 1898, indigenous villagers led by leaders of the great clans staged an armed struggle the following year to resist the 'British barbarians'. The rebellion was suppressed by the British army as the villagers did not have the support of the Chinese government. Amid the turmoil in 1899, governor Henry Blake issued a proclamation in Chinese stating that the landed and commercial interests of all inhabitants would be safeguarded and their usages and good customs would not be interfered with.
The colonial government gradually forged an alliance with rural leaders to help maintain stability in the New Territories. Since their urbanisation starting in the 1950s, the government had been relying on rural leaders to facilitate the process of land resumption. During the 1967 riots, the kuk even sided with the colonial administration. In a statement in May 1967, it expressed 'unreserved support and praise for the government's measures to maintain the peace, law and order of Hong Kong'. Some rural leaders initiated a campaign to track down leftist troublemakers; they were later appointed justices of the peace. In its united-front offensive in the 1980s to forge an alliance to support the return of Hong Kong's sovereignty after 1997, Beijing strove to win over indigenous villagers in the New Territories.
Rural leaders, led by Lau, succeeded in convincing the Basic Law Drafting Committee to add a clause in the mini-constitution to guarantee the 'traditional rights and interests' of indigenous inhabitants in the New Territories. The 'traditional rights' include that of indigenous men over the age of 18 to build a three-storey 'small house' in their village. The 'small-house' policy, implemented in the New Territories since 1972, has caused endless headaches for the government and essentially makes urban planning impossible in many areas.
Lau was appointed to Exco in January. The move sparked speculation that the appointment of the rural patriarch was a political reward ordered by Beijing. Lau left the Liberal Party amid a row over his backing - during last year's Legco election - of a Democratic Alliance for the Betterment and Progress of Hong Kong candidate for a New Territories Legislative Council seat.
As a result, then Liberal Party vice-chairwoman Selina Chow Liang Shuk-yee lost her seat. At the time, Allen Lee Peng-fei, the party's founding chairman, claimed Lau was rewarded by Tsang with the Exco seat on Beijing's order. Both Tsang and Lau have denied the claim.
The political influence of indigenous villagers is out of all proportion to their size. They number about 400,000, less than one-seventh of the 2.9 million people residing in the New Territories. But they enjoy a greater say through the structures of the kuk, the rural committees and the district councils.
Stephen Chiu Wing-kai, a sociology professor at Chinese University, said: 'The indigenous villagers are one of the few organised forces in Hong Kong. Village representatives possess relatively strong power in mobilising fellow villagers.'
Tik, the former lawmaker, described indigenous villagers as an 'organised minority' that is often capable of imposing its will on the 'silent majority'. 'Indigenous villagers often resorted to radical actions in defending their interests. That's why government officials can't afford to turn a blind eye to their appeals.'
In a sense, Lau is not so powerful that he has control over the 27 rural committees and their leaders. Rather, he never gets in their way when their interests are at stake. Indeed, time and again, he helps to fight for them. The kuk rarely complains when villagers build illegal roads and houses, annex public areas for private use or dump waste on green land. It can even be argued that the small-house policy and the resulting eyesores dotting the New Territories work against the interests of large developers and landowners like Lau. Better urban planning and improved roads would have multiplied land value and made properties worth much more than now. But given his position at the kuk, Lau has, over the years, had no choice but to defend the policy, which villagers consider sacrosanct. This is despite the policy's legal and constitutional basis being highly questionable.
Siu Kwok-kin, a professor at Zhuhai College's department of Chinese and an expert on Hong Kong history, said indigenous villagers had never been shy about demonstrating their power. In 1994, pig farmers released chickens and ducks in Chater Road and brought traffic chaos in Central during a protest against a new waste disposal bill, which made it an offence to dump untreated animal waste. Chicken excrement was hurled and fighting erupted between police and pig farmers. In the same year, a controversial legislative amendment spearheaded by former legislator Christine Loh Kung-wai to the New Territories Land (Exemption) Ordinance provoked another round of violent protests. The amendment gave indigenous women land inheritance rights but rural leaders accused it of destroying their clans and villages. Some male villagers threatened to rape Loh for proposing the changes that would change a custom dating back centuries.
In 2006, opposition from indigenous villagers and the kuk forced the government to shelve a plan to build a central poultry slaughterhouse in Shek Wu Hui, Sheung Shui.
The Civic Party's Ronny Tong Ka-wah described Lau as a walking embodiment of conflicts of interest. 'The problem is that the government under Donald Tsang openly supports allies and is against people they believe to be hostile. So you have people like Lau, who are perceived as partners, put in positions of power regardless of their commercial and political interests,' he said. He argues the problem is a systemic one and the result of the lack of democracy and accountability. That may be so, but pan-democrats like Tong tend to idealise democracy.
The kuk has not only survived, but prospered, through the most tumultuous events in Hong Kong's history. It is a good bet its leaders will find a way to defend and further their interests even in a fully democratic Hong Kong.
Quick kuk
A brief synopsis of what the Heung Yee Kuk is and does
Founded in 1926, it represents the interests of about 700 villages in the New Territories.
The kuk advises the government on New Territories affairs.
It comprises the chairmen and vice-chairmen of all 27 rural consultative committees in the New Territories, plus several special members.
The members, together with 23 advisers and 39 overseas advisers, form an assembly of councillors to elect the kuk's chairman and vice-chairmen. The assembly also includes justices of the peace in the New Territories.
Was granted a functional constituency seat in the Legislative Council in 1991.
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Today I've activated a new VPS on Linode and worked all day to set it up to host linuxaria.com. Why Linode ?
First, it's been suggested by some friends (thanks Guillermo), second I've found only good review on the net about them and third there are a lot of useful information on their (now our) community page.
Some features of Linode are listed here
I've started also the DNS transfer so in the next days there could be some small (hopefully) problems, but I'm sure that in the end the site will be much more reliable and fast than with the actual hosting company.
And this is some detail on my new setup:
As operating system I've choose Debian 6 at 32 bit (another great thing of Linode is that has support for many Linux distributions). Debian it's in my opinion one of the best server distributions the only doubt I had was about the use Gentoo to squeeze even more every single package, but at last I preferred to take Debian, i know it and I'm sure it will do a great work without much work on my side.
A big change on the software it's the change from Apache + mod_php and Mysql to Nginx + PHP-FPM and Mysql.
For the packages i've used dotdeb.org an alternative repository for Debian that releases all the latest release of software for LAMP and LEMP.
To use it on Squeeze just add in your /etc/apt/sources.list:
deb http://packages.dotdeb.org stable all deb-src http://packages.dotdeb.org stable all
Add the correct GPG key and update your repositories with the commands:
wget http://www.dotdeb.org/dotdeb.gpg cat dotdeb.gpg | sudo apt-key add - aptitude update
After that i've installed Nginx, php5-fpm and Mysql.
The configuration took some time, but these guides helped :
Nginx and PHP-FastCGI on Debian 6 (Squeeze)
When i'll publish this article probably the name will still be on the old hosting, but in few days all should be done.
If you want some details on the configuration just drop me a line on the comment and i'll do an article with more details.
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We offer what you need to achieve success. Come explore and find out why so many students have decided to call one of the colleges in the Alamo Colleges District the pathway to their future.
Not sure where to start? Our Career Assessment Tool can help.
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Christopher Sanchez is the March 2014 La Prensa Foundation Inspirational Student of the Month. Christopher is an Engineering major with a 3.50 GPA at Northwest Vista College. He will graduate in May and plans on attending the University of Texas at Austin and major in Mechanical Engineering.In addition to his academic achievements, Christopher has served as an officer for both Phi Theta Kappa and the National Honor Society of Leadership and Success. Mr. Sanchez has also served our students as a peer mentor, student ambassador, and member of Student Activity Fee committee. He has also completed the Learning to Lead certificate program.As a mentor, Christopher has assisted first-time college students with their transition into higher education. He knows first-hand the value of starting your education off right and wants to share his own story with other NVC students. He has personally mentored over 70 NVC students. Both instructors and students alike have praised him for the genuine support and knowledge he has provided. As a student ambassador, Christopher has completed more than 80 hours of service at campus events, tours, and new student orientations.Christopher is a native of San Antonio and graduated from Sandra Day O'Connor High School in 2008. In addition to his volunteer commitments, Christopher works two part time jobs to pay for his schooling. He plans on using his Mechanical Engineering degree to join his father in managing the family's air conditioning business and eventually open his own clean energy business.Please help us in congratulating Christopher Sanchez as the Alamo Colleges – La Prensa Foundation Inspirational Student of the Month Award for March 2014.
3535 N. Ellison Drive, San Antonio, Texas 78251 (210) 486-4000


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Sleep Inn & Suites
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This Sleep Inn & Suites hotel is conveniently located less than three miles from Oklahoma City University, the...Learn More
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Book a stay at the Courtyard by Marriott in northwest Oklahoma City and enjoy easy access to some of the city's most...Learn More
Oklahoma City's Honey Lee Ranch invites horse enthusiasts to take a secluded equestrian getaway right in the heart...Learn More
Sonesta ES Suites is an all suite hotel offering extended stay and featuring spacious one and two-bedroom suites with...Learn More
Clean, friendly and affordable, the Bricktown Hotel & Convention Center is located near the popular Bricktown...Learn More
The Super 40 Inn, located on the edge of downtown Oklahoma City with easy access to I-40, features cable television and...Learn More
The Governors Suites Hotel in Oklahoma City is an all suites hotel that offers rooms furnished with a sofa, table...Learn More
The Ambassador Hotel Oklahoma City is a luxurious boutique hotel conveniently located in the heart of midtown. Stay in...Learn More


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In addition to academic training, Blue Ridge Job Corps provides career technical training in the following areas of the healthcare pathway. All lead to licensure or credentials.
To further enhance your career training, we also offer the following add-on credentials:
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When AdsblendwithContent
These days, it's not always clear where news or entertainment ends and advertisements begin. That's why the Federal Trade Commission is gearing up for its "Blurred Lines: Advertising or Content?" workshop on Wednesday, December 4, 2013. Panelists at the daylong workshop will look at advertising that resembles the content it's embedded with. Representatives from publishing, advertising, and academia, as well as federal regulators and consumer advocates will talk about changes in the way ads are presented, and how readers notice and understand advertising messages.
The workshop is free and open to the public. Registration starts at 9:15 and the event begins at 10:00 at the FTC's Conference Center, 601 New Jersey Avenue, NW; Washington, DC, 20001. You'll find the agenda, list of panelists and logistical information on the workshop page. On December 4, you can watch a live webcast of the workshop.
Nice work
What came out of the workshop?
Is FTC planning to make any further announcements pertaing to native advertising or content marketing in the near future? I am a panelist next week for a webinar focusing on native advertising and wanted to check in just in case of imminent braking news.
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IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Eastern NC Section Joint Meeting – Disaster Recovery
Jim Ray
Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EDT)
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
1. Please join my Webinar.
2. You will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended.
Or, you may select "Use Telephone" after joining the Webinar.
Dial +1 (702) 489-0008
Access Code: 117-646-798
Audio PIN: Shown after joining the webinar
Webinar ID: 628-839-793
Webinars Made Easy®
Please join us for a demonstration and discussion on disaster recovery. We will have the manufacturer of a disaster recovery solution, StorageCraft, demonstrate their product, ShadowProtect, that provides the industry leading disaster recovery technique for servers and workstations as well as representatives from the IT industry that are able to share experiences on the subject.
Building: First Flight Venture Center
Room Number: Daniels Conference Room
2 Davis Drive
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
United States
4 PM First Flight happy hour/informal networking/sponsor elevator speeches/food and drinks
5 PM Disaster Recovery demonstrations
6 PM questions/answers/breakout sessions/informal networking on back deck weather permitting
7 PM adjourn
Carolina Dip Station - A colorful, delicious dipping station to include our homemade Carolina signature dips: Sweet Potato Dip, White Bean, Bacon and Cheddar Dip, Spicy Spinach Dip and our Pimento Cheese Dip. Served with crisp Apple dippers, Carrot , Celery and Pepper Sticks, Sweet Potato Chips, Rosemary Crostini and Assorted Crackers
Chipotle Meatballs - Spicy pork meatballs merried with chipolte peppers and bacon then topped with a zesty tomato puree.
BLT Deviled Eggs - Sunrise Oak Farm Fresh eggs filled with Apple Wood Smoked Bacon, shredded lettuce and grape tomato wedge.
Honey Ham & Cheddar Scallion Biscuits - Honey ham on our famous buttermilk biscuits loaded with cheddar cheese and scallions served with creole honey mustard.
Petite Carolina Cupcakes - Our signature homemade petite cupcakes to include: Red Velvet, Blackberry Lemon and Chocolate Turtle.
IEEE Computer Society and IEEE Eastern NC Section http://sites.ieee.org/encs
Bob Coppedge, Simplex-IT http://www.Simplex-IT.com
Philip Elder, MPECS http://www.mpecsinc.ca
Jim Ray, Neuse River Networks http://www.neuserivernetworks.com
First Flight Venture Center http://ffvcnc.org
StorageCraft http://www.storagecraft.com
Sean Rich is a Sales Engineer with StorageCraft Technology Corporation. With 16 years' experience in the Information Technology field, including 12 years as an IT Manager, Sean understands the importance and value of a solid Backup and Disaster Recovery solution. He knows first-hand the daily challenges of managing the Information Technology infrastructure of an organization and can help you design/implement an effective Backup and Disaster Recovery Plan that meets your needs.
About StorageCraft:
StorageCraft Technology Corporation provides best-in-class backup, disaster recovery, system migration and data protection solutions for servers, desktops and laptops. StorageCraft delivers software products that reduce downtime, improve security and stability for systems and data and lower the total cost of ownership. For more information, visit www.storagecraft.com.
When & Where
First Flight Venture Center
2 Davis Drive
Research Triangle Park,
Thursday, June 21, 2012 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM (EDT)
Add to my calendar


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Your Cat, Your Life
The Scoop
Cat News, Politics
Meow-Out-Loud Humor
Cat Chic
Gear and Glam
Your cat loves a clean toilet -- don't we all? Catster's singing Cat Lady, Sarah Donner, explains why.
Cat Breeds
Foods & Treats
Health & Care
Behavior & Training
Cats & Cleaning
Cat of the Day
Photo Comments
A diary for me? Oh joy! I never thought I'd see the day! Thank you, Wally, for tagging me in Kazumi Joy's meme game! Now I get to have a diary too! ~bonks catputer screen in attempt to hug Wally and all Catster kitties~
Oh right! Simba told me I have to use the keys! ~bonks the keyboard~
Aw shucks. Well, if I can't hug every kitty I can play a game with everyone! Welcome to the meme game!
The Rules
Each player starts with seven random facts about themselves. Cats who are tagged need to write on their own diary about the seven things and the rules. You need to choose seven cats to tag and list their names. Don't forget to leave them a comment that they have been tagged and to read your diary.
My Seven Random Facts
1. Catster treats are yummy and sweet but real live treats aren't for me to eat. I don't like them!
2. I may not eat treats, but even on my diet food I can gain weight. That means there's more of me to love! ~bonks catputer screen again~
3. I like to make certain I'm in the litterbox so I stand right at the edge of it. That's helpful, right Mommy? ~blink blink~
4. Once upon a time, I was a street kitten. They called me feral. ~purrs~ ~nuzzles~ ~blink blink~ Were they right?
5. I wear my sunglasses at night! And during the day too. While I was on the mean streets, some kitty scratched my eye and now I have a spot on it just like a smear on sunglasses.
6. I love my brothers, but I don't play like they do. Why jump here and there and everywhere? I think about my pounces and then I pounce just once before I sit down to think again. This comes in handy while watching birdies: I am the only kitty who doesn't scare them away.
7. Before I even met my sister Simba, the ultimate Mommy trainer, I trained Mommy and Daddy. I used to roll right off the back of the futon so Mommy and Daddy would catch me. They are VERY trainable. Too bad they caught on. That's ok, Mommy and Daddy! ~hugs them very tightly~
Catster Kitties that I'm Tagging
1. Lucky Boo
2. Cooter
3. McKenna
4. Shyla
5. Maya
6. Abigail
7. Gizmo
Copyright © I-5 Publishing, LLC. All rights reserved.
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Where does a young band go after making a name for themselves with a gorgeous album like Dye It Blonde, of Nuggets-mining jangly psych pop? They dig deeper. At least, that's what Smith Westerns did on their followup, Soft Will, as they dig deeper both into the history of rock and their own songwriting talents.Read more…
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KEXP AND THE UWKEXP is an
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iTunes and KEXPYou can now find KEXP under "Eclectic" in iTunes after the demise of the "Public" category, to better represent the diversity of our daytime variety shows and numerous specialty programs.
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AuFlowID AuGetScratchFlowToBucket(server, bucket, import, status)
AuServer *server;
AuBucketID bucket;
int *import; /* RETURN */
AuStatus *status; /* RETURN */
audiolib - Network Audio System C Language Interface
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"Ooo...prototypes. Sounds like fun but unfortunately I can't make it - it's a bit of a commute from Australia. Love to see event pics though."
Welcome to the Fan Club! To take the plunge and get acquainted with all the cool things that the Looney Labs Fan Club offers, check out this webpage – chock-full of useful Looney Labs Fan Club information!
Looking forward to getting to know you! And Happy Gaming!
Drew Lupp
Fan Club Coordinator
Looney Labs


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"Where no food is a sin" is a slogan for the British version of Weight Watchers®, and this book illustrates that tenet. The recipes, arranged by type, do not sound like diet food—e.g., Bacon, Egg and Cheese Casserole, Pork and Rice-Stuffed Cabbage, Berry and Cream Cheese Open-Face Sandwiches, Fettuccine with Gorgonzola and Toasted Walnuts, and Boston Cream Pie. Mexican, Italian, German, and Moroccan are a sampling of the international flavors of the all-time favorites. The recipes that are suitable for Weight Watchers' Core Plan are marked with an icon, and POINTS® are listed for the Flex Plan. Nutritional information is also included, and each recipe is followed by a suggestion or hint. Although some of the recipes are similar to those in other Weight Watchers cookbooks, fans of the system will enjoy this new source. Recommended for culinary collections as a general cookbook with simple and fast dishes that are delicious.
—Christine Bulson, SUNY at Oneonta Lib. (Library Journal, April 1, 2008)


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SLIDESHOW: Alki Elementary celebrates 100 years of memories
Alki Elementary School celebrated 100 years with a special celebration on Mar. 28 featuring a group alumni photo, the collection of memories on video, a timeline of significant events that wrapped around the auditorium, special student made art displays comparing 1913 to 2013, some special guests and at least two commemorative cakes.
Principal Chanda Otis said, "It's amazing to feel like the Centennial Principal of such a historical school. It has been here for 100 years and we hope for 100 more. I'm proud to say I'm the Principal who is sitting her at this moment. The students are excelling at reading, writing and math. They are acting, doing musicals. We are the 2012 global reading champion. It makes it very exciting for me to come to work every day."
Superintendent Jose Banda was there and said, " I think it's just outstanding to see the community support. The folks I've talked to have memories that go way back about this school. I've always heard this is an amazing community and this really validates that." In his own background he is aware of only a few schools in California where he was born that are 100 years old. "I think about my own experience. I remember vividly the small rural country school when I was a child."
Many former students of all ages attended the event and had memories stretching back to the school's earliest days.
Elaine Wise Townsend who attended from 1932 to 1936 said, "I remember riding the street car. We lived out on Harbor Avenue. My dad had started a fuel business there. He chose that spot because it was at the end of the railroad line. He needed the railroad to deliver the coal and wood. We rented a little bungalow across the street. My mother never liked Harbor Avenue. When I was old enough to go to school I road the streetcar which let me off at 59th. It was a great place to grow up."
93 year old Phyllis Blakkestad was there to visit with everyone. She attended in the late 1920's and early 1930's.
Helen Stevens Teasley who attended from 1935 to 1941 said, "We got to ride the streetcar and it was so exciting. It cost 2 and a half cents so it cost you 5 cents for the day. They had all kinds of things for us to learn and do. We all got a good start here." Her classmate Ellen Kruller Andrews said, "I enjoyed my singing group in Miss Risser's class. I was picked to have a special part in a play we put on down at the Fieldhouse. I was the Sandman."
Elvalene Arbak Hayward who attended from 1940 to 1942 said, "I lived just a few blocks from the school. I think of a favorite teacher, Miss Foss. She was an art teacher and we did a lot of calisthenics in the room even though we didn't have a gym, especially on rainy days. She taught us how to do flower arrangements. We entered a flower show at the Civic Auditorium and all of us girls brought flowers. I did a little japanese garden in my mother's black vase and I had a mirror for a lake and I got honorable mention. I thought that was good. I remember doing an operetta in 1941 and Carol Elliot was Queen Bee. She went on to marry Clyde Dunn Jr. of the West Seattle Herald. The fifth grade girls were Canterbury Belles, the sixth graders were moonbeams, and the boys were worker bees. The whole class would walk down to the Fieldhouse to practice on the stage. Our mothers made the costumes and it was one of the biggest events i remember at the school."
Also on hand were David Dockendorf "96-'98 and Jeanne Smart '02-'05 former Alki Elementary Principals.
The event was chaired by Alki Elementary PTA member Amy Bannister.
We encourage our readers to comment. No registration is required. We ask that you keep your comments free of profanity and keep them civil. They are moderated and objectionable comments will be removed.


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This batch of brownies is as dense as fudge. The pecans and marshmallows are almost lost in the triple dose of chocolate: semisweet chocolate chips, cocoa and unsweetened chocolate.
Servings: 32 brownies
- 4 ounces unsweetened chocolate
- 2 sticks (8 ounces) unsalted butter, plus additional for pan
- 1 1/4 cups flour, plus additional for pan
- 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsweetened dutch-process cocoa powder, such as Droste
- 1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- 3/4 cup coarsely chopped pecans
- 4 large eggs
- 2 cups less 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup (2 ounces) miniature marshmallows
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Generously butter and flour a 9-by-9-by-2-inch baking pan, tapping out any excess flour.
In a small saucepan over low heat, heat the chocolate and butter, stirring frequently, until completely melted. Remove from the heat; stir until blended. Set aside to cool slightly. In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and cocoa powder. Set aside.
In a medium bowl, toss the chocolate chips and pecans with 2 teaspoons of the flour mixture. Set aside.
In a large bowl, whisk the eggs for 45 seconds. Add the sugar and whisk until lightly thickened, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Using a wooden spoon or rubber spatula, add the chocolate-butter mixture and mix just until combined. Add the vanilla extract and mix just until combined. Add the flour mixture and mix just until it is completely incorporated into the batter. Add the chocolate chip-pecan mixture and the marshmallows.
Scrape the batter into the prepared baking pan. Using a rubber spatula, level the top, taking care to smooth it into the corners.
Bake the brownies just until set, 35 to 38 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 4 hours. Refrigerate until firm enough to cut, 20 to 30 minutes. Cut the brownies into quarters, and cut each quarter into 4 squares. Store in an airtight tin.
Recipe Source
Adapted from Lisa Yockelson, whose book, "ChocolateChocolate," was published by John Wiley & Sons 3 months after this recipe ran.
Tested by The Washington Post.
Email questions to the Food Section at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Two thousand medical residency positions at Veterans Affairs Department hospitals would be created under legislation introduced by three Democratic members of Congress.
Reps. Dina Titus (Nev.), Mark Takano (Calif.) and Beto O'Rourke (Tex.) said their "Underserved Veterans Access to Health Care Act" would increase the availability of timely care for veterans, particularly in areas with physician shortages.
Long waiting times for veterans and attempts to cover-up waiting lists led to an ongoing scandal at the VA that resulted in the resignation of the VA secretary and continuing hearings in Congress.
"The VA's recent internal audit of scheduling practices at VA health facilities found that the number one barrier to providing veterans with timely access to care is the lack of providers available to see patients," said a statement announcing the legislation.
The bill "will help meet an immediate need in the VA system and take a step toward addressing the long-term, nationwide physician shortage," Titus said.
"We know that the shortage of physicians at our VA facilities plays a large part in the long wait times our veterans are forced to endure," Takano added.
"When we have a crisis in access to care we should take steps like these to address it," said O'Rourke.


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Confident Picture Is Titian.
The dispatch from Paris expressing doubt as to the authenticity of the Titian recently acquired by the Metropolitan Museum of Art resulted last night in the fact being made known that $125,000 was paid by the museum for the picture.
April 24, 1927
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The anti-glare Prism Screen Protector for iPad mini from The Joy Factory features a matte finish in order to reduce reflections while allowing high transparency. While applied, the film won't affect the sensitivity of the touchscreen of your iPad mini. The multi-layer material protects the screen, while the anti-static finish ensures it stays dust and residue-free. The kit comes with two protectors and a large cleaning cloth that can be reused and washed. To apply, simply smooth the film onto the screen with your fingertips.


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Background Information on China's Human Spaceflight Program
China's human spaceflight program, Project 921, officially began in 1992. The scheduled launch tomorrow of Shenzhou-9 is the ninth flight in the series, but only the fourth to carry a crew.
Shenzhou 1-4 were automated tests of the spacecraft; Shenzhou-8 was an automated test of rendezvous and docking procedures with the Tiangong-1 space station, which also was unoccupied. The following table provides information on the three crewed missions flown to date and tomorrow's mission.
The Tiangong-1 space station was launched in September 2011.
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Metal Lathe for Hobbyists: Buying Tips and Recommendations
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Hey oldred,
Originally Posted by
Probably the most popular lathe that fits that description is the well known 9x20 that is sold under a bunch of different brand names and different sellers, from the respected Grizzly tools to Harbor Freight. Unfortunately unless you happen onto an old American or European machine (getting harder to find all the time!) you will be stuck with a Chinese import of very poor quality such as that popular 9x20. Some larger Chinese imports are actually decent lathes but there seems to be a definite decrease in quality in anything less than the 12x36 machines and the smaller ones are more suited to softer materials like plastics. DON'T fall for "Brand Name" expecting better quality because most Chinese machines are the same regardless who sells them and a better "Brand" will not mean better quality. An example is that 9x20, The older Jet brand sold for over $1200 while the SAME EXACT machine at Harbor Freight is usually less than $700 and the only difference is the color! The newer Jet looks somewhat different than the others but it is cosmetic and a trick to make you think it is different. Grizzly, Enco and a couple of others have this lathe priced somewhere between HF and Jet.
Thanks for pointing all that out as I would've never known to be on the look out for any of those things. I will admit it was a cheapo Harbor Freight unit that originally sparked my interest in these machines, and that one is a 7x10 mini lathe for
Originally Posted by
That 9x20 is of course only one example but it is by far the most popular and I suppose if a person is willing to accept it's limitations it can be usable, I used mine (Jet) for several years but honestly IMO it is a piece of junk. If you have room for a bigger lathe I would strongly recommend at least a 12x36 because there is not that much price difference and the smaller hobby lathes are very limited in usefulness.
I was looking up the various sizes and, given the open garage space I have, a 9x20 would perhaps be the large I could do.
Originally Posted by
What do you intend to use it for and about how big did you have in mind?
Honestly I had not thought about either of those two thing until you asked. While I have no specific projects in mind, I suppose if I had access to one and played with it long enough for practice, creativity might spawn a few ideas. At this point, the most I can see myself doing is making long knurled handles for type of a cart or workout equipment something. If I ever got any good at it, perhaps work on heads. Maybe make art out of junk parts.
Originally Posted by
Also I would strongly suggest avoiding the 3-in-1 multi-purpose machines because each function is so compromised in the attempt to be able to do everything that it really does nothing very well.
Glad you mentioned that as well because I was sorely tempted to call the seller for this unit:
3 in 1 Mill/Lathe
Forgive me if my question sounds ignorant but, would playing with a wood lathe give some sense and feel of what I could do what a metal lathe? I ask because they are significantly cheaper
(a used Craftsman is going for $110 locally)
and I have been getting into some wood projects around the house so it would come in handy.
Thanks for tips and pointers Sir!
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February 2013 Vacation Week Activities
If you're going to be home this week with your children you may have visions of sleeping late (hahaha) but your children might be asking, "Can we do something fun?"
Here's a list of February 2013 vacation week activities that you and your children can enjoy. I've listed them in order of distance from Sharon MA and by category. Where possible, I've included the link to the activity and more information. You may want to call and find out what day(s) and times they expect the fewest visitors so you don't go at peak times.
Sharon Public Library
Wednesday, Feb. 20 - Ages 6 and up - 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. - "Oodles of Underwear" - Celebrate Dav Pilkey's Captain Underpants with stories, song and a craft. Pre-registration Required. Call Danielle Margarida 781-784-1578 ext. 1432
Thursday, Feb. 21 - Ages 5 to 7 - 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. - Party games and crafts with Mo Willem characters, Elephant and Piggie. Pre-registration Required. Call Danielle Margarida 781-784-1578 ext. 1432
Moose Hill Wildlife Sanctuary
Wednesday, Feb. 20 - Ages 4 to 12 - 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - Adults and Children $5/member, $8/non-member - Experience the magic of calling for owls after listening to the classic story, Owl Moon by Jane Yolen. This activity is designed for families with younger children. Pre-registration is required. You can register online or by calling 781-784-5691.
Sunday, Feb. 24 - Families with children ages 7 and Up - 3:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Free - Registration Not Required - Sunday Saunter 2 - Join Patti Austin for a relaxed, on-the-trail interpretive walk. Walks are cancelled in inclement weather; call prior to attending if the weather is questionable. Bring your nature questions and sense of exploration.
Ice Skating
Metropolis Skating Rink in Canton MA - Tel: 781-575-6660 - 2167 Washington Street (Route 138) Canton MA 02021 - Public Skating 12:00 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. from Feb. 18 to Feb. 22. Adults $3, Children $2. No skate rentals.
Winter Skate at Patriot Place, Foxboro MA - Tel: (508) 203 - 2100 - North Marketplace - Adults $8, Children 12 and under $6, Seniors 65+ $6 - Skate Rentals $4. Bring a new or gently used coat to benefit Cradles to Crayons and get $2 off your admission. On Feb. 20th get half off the price of skating (not including rentals) when you present a Patriot Place restaurant receipt with the same date.
Franklin Park Zoo - School Vacation Week Activities Feb. 18 - 22 -Tel: 617-989-2000 - Warm up in the Tropical Forest kept at a balmy 72 degrees year-round. Throughout February 2013 school vacation week, learn more about the animals that call the Tropical Forest home. There will be zookeeper encounters, daily storytimes, crafts and more.
Feb. 18 - 10:30 a.m. - Celebrate Little Joe's 20th birthday! Little Joe is a western lowland gorilla. Guests will have the opportunity to sign a giant card for Little Joe as well as draw with Jen Bradley, artist of the Ape Drawing Project. Birthday cake samples will be available on a first come, first served basis for the first 200 people!
Patriot Place Vacation Week Activities, Foxboro MA - There are so many activities to choose from during February 2013 vacation week at Patriot Place. You'll find a full calendar of events for the whole family!
Children's Museums- Click links for schedule of activities
Easton Children's Museum, Tel: 508-230-3789
Providence Children's Museum, Tel: 401-273-5437
The Discovery Museums in Acton, Tel: 978-264-4200 - This is a wonderful museum that has two separate buildings geared for different age groups. The Children's Discovery Museum is geared for ages 7 and under (approximately), while the Science Discovery Museum is geared for school age children (approximately 7 and up).
Ecotarium, Tel: 508-929-2700 - This is a very family-friendly, hands-on museum in Worcester, MA about 1 hour from Sharon MA. The museum is wonderful, but I do want to add a word of caution about the sledding slope outside the museum. It is quite steep and leads directly into the parking lot.
Larz Anderson Auto Museum - 15 Newton St., Brookline, MA - Tel: 617-522-6547, ext. 21 - Feb. 19-22 - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. - Learn what it takes to be a race car driver! Enjoy fun race car-related activities all week. From 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. each day there is a special racing activity. Adults: $10, Seniors, students, kids: $5, under age 6: Free
As an addition to this post, I want to add a link to Krysten Callina's blog post on vacation week activities. Krysten extends her list to Rhode Island and sections of MA that are further away from Sharon. Vacation week is a perfect opportunity to take the time to explore further from home!
Whatever February 2013 vacation week activities you choose, I hope you and your family have fun!
If you want to get your home sold this Spring, call Nina at 781-883-3764 for a Free Market Analysis of your home.


text: DETROIT, Jan. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Michelin, the world's leading tire manufacturer, marks a milestone at the 2013 North American International Auto Show with the announcement that, for the first time, MICHELIN® tires are the exclusive original equipment tire on the complete line-up of 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray models. (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130114/CL41589 )(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20040818/MICHELIN ) All 2014 Corvette Stingrays will come equipped with the MICHELIN® Pilot® Super Sport® ZP tire, an ultra-high performance tire that was co-developed by Michelin and Corvette through a relationship that began on the racetracks of the American Le Mans Series. Being selected as the fitment on the 2014 Corvette Stingray marks a significant achievement for Michelin after the tire giant also gained tire fitments for the 2009 Corvette ZR1 and 2011 Corvette Z06. "The MICHELIN Pilot Super Sport ZP tire exemplifies Michelin's commitment to innovation and our aim to deliver the best possible performances in every tire we make," said John Moloney, vice president of original equipment marketing at Michelin North America. "The proof is in the performance; owners of the 2014 Corvette Stingray will enjoy a tire that is tuned specifically for their vehicle and delivers the road-handling, grip, cornering ability and progressivity of drive they expect." Michelin earned the opportunity to outfit the 2014 Corvette Stingray and then worked closely with the Corvette vehicle development team to design and engineer a tire that matches the vehicle performance. During the vehicle development process, Michelin performed more than 12,000 hours in tire design using state-of-the-art computer tire modeling and completing thousands of miles of subjective test driving. Harnessing its full arsenal of experience and technology, the company developed two MICHELIN Pilot® Super Sport® ZP tires unique to the Corvette Stingray, one for the standard car and another for the Corvette Stingray with Z51 Performance Package.


text: So the google factory is starting up on the phone thing based on legal work by Tim Wu (who I just heard of now) and a bunch of notes on what the google factory has in mind for the phone with the Open Handset Alliance. Yeah, the iPhone looks cool, but I'm not paying for one of those things if it requires me to stay with ATT. No way buster. I think I can wait until 2008.


text:
Education, Higher Education, Science & Medicine, Natural Sciences, Technology, Tech NewsFollow
|Natural Sciences
|Science & Medicine
The Naked Scientists flagship science show, includes the latest science news, interviews with top scientists, hands-on science experiments and answers to your science questions.
February 28th, 2013
Episode 632 of 1135 episodes
This week, research at the extremes: We find out how the new Halley VI station was engineered to withstand Antarctic conditions, and how scientists tackle some of the harshest environments on Earth to do groundbreaking research. In the news we discover a battery you can bend, share our thoughts on open access, find out how yeast can aid in the fight against tropical disease and hear how the ozone hole is closing...
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Welcome The Vox Markets Podcast with Justin Waite A new episode is released daily, giving you interviews with CEO's, market commentators and the stock of the day as suggested by listeners to the podcast.


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Judge Will Allow Bryant Accuser's Sexual History At Trial
Ruckriegle Says Sexual Conduct 72 Hours Before Rape Exam Relevant To Case
6:50 AM, Jul 23, 2004
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In what is being called as a major blow to the prosecution and a major victory for the defense, the judge overseeing the Kobe Bryant sexual assault case ruled Friday that some of the accuser's sexual history will be allowed at trial.
Kobe Bryant attended numerous pre-trial hearings in Eagle County before the criminal case against him was dismissed.
"All evidence, whether direct or circumstantial, of the alleged victim's sexual conduct within approximately 72 hours preceding her physical examination conducted at Valley View Hospital in Glenwood Springs on July 1, 2003," will be admitted at trial, District Judge Terry Ruckriegle ruled.
All physical evidence taken by law enforcement and the nurse examiners from the alleged victim, including all items of clothing and swabs from the physical examination will also be admitted because they are relevant to help determine the source of DNA evidence and whether the woman's injuries were caused by Bryant, the judge said.
According to court documents, Bryant's defense team claims that the accuser had sex "within the two days preceding and within less than 15 hours following her encounter with Bryant" and have suggested her injuries could have been caused by someone other than the NBA star.
The defense claims that DNA from semen found inside the accuser after the alleged rape did not belong to Bryant and they want to know who it came from. They argue that the accuser had sex with someone other than Bryant after her encounter with him and before she went to a hospital to have a rape kit test, and now because of the judge's ruling, they can argue that in court.
"This could be the essential end of the case. It's hard to see how the prosecution can possibly prevail if the defense can put on evidence that she had sex after Kobe Bryant and before she went to the cops," said 7NEWS Legal Analyst Craig Silverman. "Not only is it inconsistent with the way most jurors would expect a true rape victim to act, it is inconsistent with what the alleged victim has said."
The woman and her lawyer vigorously deny that she had sex with anyone in the hours and days after the alleged rape but the accuser had acknowledged that she had sex with the hotel's bellman two days before her encounter with Bryant, and had sexual relations with her ex-boyfriend two weeks before the June 30 incident.
The judge also allowed the defense team to discuss the relationship between the alleged victim and each outcry witness, including that bellman, Bobby Pietrack.
"Such evidence may include whether sexual intimacy was and is a part of each relationship," the ruling said.
Colorado's strict rape-shield law, which generally prevents the sex life of an alleged assault victim from being admitted as evidence, does not apply to all the information Bryant's lawyers wanted to introduce, the judge said.
"This a huge ruling for Kobe Bryant's defense team. This is the kind of ruling defense attorney dream about. Throughout this case, the prosecution has said that other sexual conduct is irrelevant and it doesn't matter. Now, the court has said this is relevant and we will let a jury decide how much it matters," Silverman said.
Cynthia Stone, executive director of the Colorado Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said the ruling was discouraging but said the final decision will be up to Eagle County jurors.
"This stuff is going to be put in front of the jury along with all the other evidence -- it's just a small piece of that," she told the Associated Press. "The ultimate question the jury has to answer is whether Kobe Bryant forced this woman to have sex against her will."
Bryant, 25, has pleaded not guilty to felony sexual assault. He has said he had consensual sex with the woman, now 20, at the Vail-area resort where he stayed last summer. If convicted, Bryant faces four years to life in prison or 20 years to life on probation, and a fine up to $750,000.
Jury selection begins Aug. 27.
Friday's ruling can be found
on the court's Web site
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July 22, 2004:
Media Asks U.S. Supreme Court To Block Ruling Bryant Case
July 19, 2004:
Attorney: Online Postings Puts Bryant Accuser In Danger
July 19, 2004:
Supreme Court: Media Can't Publish Bryant Transcripts
July 16, 2004:
Bryant Jury Summonses Mailed, Man Who Made Threat Sentenced
July 13, 2004:
Bryant Accuser's Attorney Cautions Judge On Sexual-History Decision
July 9, 2004:
Bryant Attorneys Don't Want Cameras In Court
July 8, 2004:
Media Urges Courts To OK Publication Of Bryant Transcripts
July 7, 2004:
Source: Nuggets GM Meets With Kobe Bryant
July 2, 2004:
Judge: Releasing Transcripts Would Jeopardize Bryant Trial
July 1, 2004:
Eagle DA To Remain On Sidelines During Kobe Trial
June 29, 2004:
Colorado Supreme Court Asks Bryant Judge To Explain Himself
June 26, 2004:
Bryant To Go To Trial Aug. 27
June 22, 2004:
Bryant Hearing Ends With No Trial Date Set
June 21, 2004:
Kobe Hearing: What Is Consent?
June 17, 2004:
Under New Rule, Jurors Can Question Bryant Witnesses
June 1, 2004:
Judge: Accuser Cannot Be Called 'Victim' At Bryant Trial
May 27, 2004:
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May 26, 2004:
Thursday's Kobe Hearing May Set Trial Date
May 25, 2004:
Bryant Defense Claims Investigation Woeful, Incomplete
May 18, 2004:
Experts In Kobe Bryant Case To Examine Detective's Tape Recording
May 11, 2004:
Bryant Enters Not Guilty Plea
May 10, 2004:
Bryant Accuser Appears At Closed Door Hearing
May 7, 2004:
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May 5, 2004:
Bryant Defense Wants Accuser Called 'Complaining Witness'
May 1, 2004:
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April 27, 2004:
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March 25, 2004:
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March 23, 2004:
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March 15, 2004:
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March 9, 2004:
Bryant Prosecutors Argue Against Turning Over Medical Records
March 3, 2004:
Bryant's Accuser Must Answer Detailed Questions About Her Sex Life
March 2, 2004:
Appearance By Bryant's Accuser Postponed
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