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Recipe 6.5. Centering Data
You need to center a data series before further analysis.
Use basic spreadsheet techniques and Excel's built-in formulas to center the data.
Centering in this context refers to the process of removing a bias or offset in a series of data so that the resulting series values fluctuate approximately about 0. Centering is often required before processing data using forecasting techniques, and can be accomplished quite easily in Excel. There are a number of ways to center a data series, and here we'll use the standard approach of subtracting the average of the data in the series from each data item in the series.
Figure 6-17 shows an example spreadsheet I set up.
Figure 6-17. Centering example
The first column contains the month label, while the second column contains the original data series before centering. This series represents average monthly temperatures.
To center the data, I first computed the average of all the temperature values in the original data series. Cell D27 contains the formula =AVERAGE(D3:D26) that computes the average of all temperatures.
The column adjacent to the original data series contains the centered data (column E). The formulas in this column are of the form =D3-$D$27. All this does is subtract the average temperature contained in cell D27 from every temperature value in the original series. The result is a centered data series with the offset removed.
I set up a few plots so you can see the difference. Figure 6-18 shows the original data series and Figure 6-19 shows the centered data series.
Figure 6-18. Original data series
Figure 6-19. Centered data series
The original data series oscillates about the average temperature up in the 60s, while the centered data series oscillates about the 0 axis.
This isn't the only way to center data. Some techniques involve computing a weighted average of the data and using the result to center the series.
Recipe 6.6. Detrending a Time Series
You're working with a data series that exhibits a clear trend and before processing the data further you need to remove the trend from the data. This is called detrending .
Construct a trendline in Excel using one of the techniques discussed in Chapter 8 (see Recipe 6.2 for an introduction to trendlines in Excel). Use the resulting trendline to detrend the original data as discussed in this recipe.
Time series data is often thought of as being comprised of several components: a long-term trend, seasonal variation, and irregular variations. (Some models assume a fourth, cyclic, component.) When analyzing time series data (e.g., when making forecasts based on historical data), it's often desirable to decompose the time series into its various components. To this end, additive or multiplicative models are often used.
Let Y represent the ordinates of a time series such that Y = f(t), where f is some function of time. Then, we can decompose Y as follows:
In these equations, T represents the long-term trend component, S the seasonal component, and I the irregular variation component of the total time series, Y. The first equation is a multiplicative model, while the second is an additive model. Which model you decide to use largely depends on the nature of your data and which model yields the best results. For example, when forecasting you might try both models and use whichever model yields the most accurate predictions. In this and the remaining recipes in this chapter, I'm going to use the multiplicative model; however, you can apply the additive model using very similar Excel techniques.
Figure 6-20 shows historical average annual temperatures for the state of Louisiana from 1970 to 2000. This series exhibits a clear upward trend, highlighted by the linear trendline superimposed over the original data.
Figure 6-20. Annual temperatures from 1970 to 2000
If you were going to make a forecast using this historical data, one of the first steps you'd take would be to detrend the original series to remove the long-term trend component.
Using the multiplicative model, divide both sides of the equation Y = TSI by T to yield Y/T = SI. This means the detrended series, Y/T, consists only of the seasonal and irregular variation components. To actually compute Y/T, you must first compute a trendline as shown in Figure 6-20 (see Recipe 6.2 or Chapter 8). Then compute the trend value for each year in the series. Next, divide the original series ordinate (Y) by the computed trend value (T) to yield the detrended series (SI). Figure 6-21 shows a portion of the spreadsheet I set up to perform these calculations for the example temperature series.
Figure 6-21. Detrending example spreadsheet
Column B contains the year while column C (under the heading Y), contains the original temperature series.
The formula for the trendline shown in Figure 6-20 is T=0.0446x-22.061, where x is the year. (This trendline equation was determined using Excel's chart trendline feature; see Recipe 6.2.) Column D (under the heading T), contains this formula for each year. The cell formulas in column D are of the form =0.0446*B40-22.061. This series represents the long-term trend component for the original time series.
Finally, column E (under the heading Y/T = SI), contains the detrended series. You simply divide each value in the Y column by the corresponding value in the T column to yield Y/T. The cell formulas in the Y/T = SI column are of the form =C40/D40. Figure 6-22 shows the resulting detrended series.
Figure 6-22. Detrended series
If you were to construct a linear trendline for this series, it would simply consist of a horizontal line. The variations shown in Figure 6-22 are around the long-term trend, and they consist of both seasonal components (if present) and irregular variations. Further analysis (e.g., when forecasting), would probably require you to decompose this series even further to remove the seasonal component. This process is called deseasonalization and is covered in the next two recipes.
See Also
There are other methods of detrending a time series besides using the least squares linear trendline used in this example. Sometimes higher-order trendlines are used, while at other times linear trendlines are computed using only the two series values at each end of the time series. Consult a standard text on time series analysis for more detailed information on these and other detrending methods.


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United Arab Emirates
This summer, commuters may have another option for moving around Dubai as a pilotless drone is prepared to shuttle passengers around the city.
Building a new eco-friendly city in the middle of a country so reliant on fossil fuels is no easy task, but development is well underway for Masdr City to rise in the UAE
Public Square
The Address Downtown hotel, a 63-story, mixed-use high-rise very close to the world's tallest building, went up in flames on Dec. 31, raising questions about other high-rises that use the same heavy cladding material building on the exterior.
Millions of dollars donated by the United Arab Emirates are being used to fund the rebuilding of Joplin, Mo., which was devastated by a tornado in 2011. The handouts represent a "remarkable shift in global economic power."
The Washington Post
The Dubai Executive Council has approved the Dubai Urban Development Master Plan 2020, and will establish a 'Supreme Urban Planning Council,' to streamline the process.
Constuction Week
The revitalization master plan for two older neighborhoods in Abu Dhabi includes creating "new roads, clinics, schools, police stations and neighborhood centers" and making them easily accessible to residents.
The National
Officials in Dubai have announced plans to extend the emirate's 75-km rail system to more than 250 km.
Emirates 24/7
Nicolai Ouroussoff, architecture critic for The New York Times, offers this lengthy look at the state of development and design in Abu Dhabi and Doha.
The New York Times
Kiran Stacy looks at some of the challenges facing what is intended to be the world's first carbon-neutral city.
Financial Times
After decades of rapid urbanization, the emirate is now contending with a wide range of challenges to its environment and infrastructure.
The New York Times
With property values now half their boom-time peaks and a flood of additional supply on the way, the emirate's residential market may not recover in the foreseeable future, says Angela Shah.
Feasibility studies underway in Abu Dhabi predict that a new light rail tram network could be operational by 2014.
Arabian Business
Once the site of a seemingly endless string of outlandish building projects, Dubai has shaken off the dust from the market crash and resumed building less flashy projects at a steadier pace.
The New York Times
Joshua Hammer describes his visit to the financially straitened emirate where he found "deserted highways, empty hotel rooms, miles of unsold residential and office space."
The New York Review of Books
The new "Sex and the City" movie was set -- but not shot -- in Abu Dhabi. Now officials there are trying to decide whether or not to release the film to local audiences, as the city tries to control its brand and image.
Associated Press
This oped from The National calls for increased attention to the streetscapes of the United Arab Emirate, specifically the lack of non-palm trees and seating.
The National
The world's tallest building is now open in Dubai. Christopher Corbett takes you up to the 124th floor.
All the architectural wonders of Dubai don't overshadow the city-state's poor urban planning, according to Chicago Tribune architecture critic Blair Kamin.
Chicago Tribune
The Burj Khalifa has opened in Dubai. Now, locals say, the development of the city's public life must begin.
The National
Burj Dubai (now renamed as the Burj Khalifa), the world's tallest building, opened today in Dubai. But with the recent credit crunch and economic recession, the extravagant monument to boom times sits mostly empty.
Los Angeles Times

subset: commoncrawl


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NASCAR Authentics Collector Pack: '13Chevy #10GoDaddy/#24AARP
Danica Patrick (#10) is the first woman to ever win a pole for a NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Race. Paired with the legendary Jeff Gordon (4-time Sprint Cup Series Champ), these two drivers will forever be in the NASCAR history books. Now you can celebrate their NASCAR achievements with the Authentic Memorable Moments Collection. Featuring


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Well-known NFL agent Drew Rosenhaus does not work for the Miami Dolphins. However, Rosenhaus is based in Miami and has a lot of strong ties to South Florida.
That is why you cannot entirely dismiss Rosenhaus' comments Monday, when he claimed (with confidence) that the Dolphins will draft an offensive tackle in the first round later this month.
"At this point, that's what I'm hearing from everyone," said Rosenhaus, according to Ben Volin of the Palm Beach Post.
Rosenhaus has had direct talks with Miami recently, because his client Eric Winston is on the team's radar. Talks have stalled with the free-agent right tackle, because Miami wants to further what's available in the draft.
The Dolphins' interest in a first-round offensive tackle makes sense. The position is very deep in this draft and Miami lost four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jake Long in free agency. It's possible the Dolphins can move 2012 second-round pick Jonathan Martin to the left side. But Martin had mixed results at the position last year.
Some offensive tackle possibilities for the Dolphins at No. 12 are Oklahoma's Lane Johnson and Alabama's D.J. Fluker.


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First regular post of 2014! I can't wait to share some recent trends with you all. After surviving from the extreme freezing cold, we finally got a regular winter for the new year. Fellow Fashionistos, what's your 2014 fashion resolution? Compared to Fashionistas, it is easier for Fashionistos to stay chic. Keeping concise and classic, you will automatically stand out of crowds with a smart casual look. A hint ahead: less is more.
I spotted this Fashionisto outside the NYU bookstore. He gives us a winter staple look with a touch of urban chic. First, a duffle coat is a forever-trendy choice. If you usually prefer a jacket to a duffle, it is time to refresh your closet with a refined duffle. The slightly rough and heavy texture is right for winter. The streamline cut easily creates a minimalist chic style. For Fashionistos, one well-cut coat is better than five eye-popped accessories.
A classic look with classic garments will never fade, like the duffle coat. If you get bored with black, khaki green and blue is the perfect replacement. His green duffle has a sense of vintage. To finish the look, you can accessorize it with a cozy beanie and a pair of boots or oxfords. It adds a touch of preppy to your already sleek and classic look. A last piece of advice, you'd better keep less than four colors in your overall look.
Hint: To imitate his look, a fine and polished duffle is the essential. For accessories, a pair of classic Dr. Martens lace up oxfords is a good choice. Topped off with a classy beanie, you look finished.


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Key Statistics RF Asencio 2-4, 2B, 2 RBIs; 3B Jones 1-3, 2B, 2 RBIs; SS Peterson 1-3, 2B; LHP Garces 6.0 IP 4H 2R 2ER 2BBs 6Ks; LHP Alger (W) 0.2 IP 2Ks; RHP Stites (S) 1.0 IP 3Ks.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – In The Opening round of the Eastern Division Championship series, the Fort Wayne TinCaps defeated the Lake County Captains, 4-3, in front of 2,310 fans, the largest Midwest League playoff attendance this season. Both Yeison Asencio and Duanel Jones had two RBI, and Leo native Brandon Alger earned his first win in a TinCaps uniform.
Lake County (2-1) took a first-inning lead when leadoff man Jose Ramirez hit a Frank Garces fastball over the fence in right field. Garces settled in to retire the next eight batters in a row.
Fort Wayne (3-0) countered with a first-inning offensive that would put them in the lead for most of the game. Jace Peterson hit a wind-aided, one-out double to left field, which was followed by a Yeison Asencio RBI double to right field, which tied the game at one. Jeremy Baltz then drew a four-pitch walk, bringing Duanel Jones to the plate. Jones flied a ball to right field and Captains right fielder Jordan Smith lost it in the sun, allowing both Asencio and Baltz to score, and Jones to end up at second base having put the TinCaps in front, 3-1.
Garces scattered three hits over the remainder of his six innings. The lefthander walked two and struck out six. He turned things over to Johnny Barbato, who worked a perfect seventh, but allowed a game-tying solo home run to Lake County shortstop Francisco Lindor in the eighth. Barbato left, and Alger struck out back-to-back hitters to end the half-inning.
In the bottom of the frame, Travis Jankowski led off with a double to right, and a Peterson sacrifice bunt moved him to third with one out. Asencio then stepped to the plate, grounded the first pitch he saw to center field to score Jankowski, and the TinCaps had a 4-3 lead. Matt Stites closed out the game in the ninth for his third postseason save in three tries, bringing Fort Wayne one win away from a trip to the Midwest League championship series.
In the three playoff games the TinCaps have played, the pitching staff has struck out 36 batters and walked seven. Fort Wayne has outscored the opposition by an 18-11 margin.
Game two of the Eastern Division championship series is scheduled for Sunday night at 6:05 at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio. The scheduled starters are Erik Cabrera for Fort Wayne and Elvis Araujo for Lake County. The game can be heard on 1380 ESPN and ESPNFortWayne.com, with coverage set to begin at 5:45 PM.
Courtesy of Mike Couzens, Media Director of the Fort Wayne TinCaps


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EVANS SHOWS ELITE SPEEDEvery time Jawun Evans stepped on the court at the Reebok Breakout Classic, he was the fastest player on the floor. That type of speed at the point guard position is game changing. Just as he's done for majority of the spring, Evans used that speed to positively impact the game for his camp team. "Being a fast player, I can get past anybody at will and I can get up and down the court," Evans told Scout.com. Evans impressed with his ability to make plays in transition and get by the first line of defense in the half court set. He even took pride in his defense, which you don't see much during camp ball. "I think I'm playing very well," Evans told Scout.com. "I'm just playing defense." One area Evans has improved is his decision-making. Multiple college coaches mentioned this in the stands and it is clear he's getting more and more comfortable as a facilitator and passer. On the recruiting front, Evans is down to eight schools – Clemson, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, USC, Texas, Oklahoma State and Illinois. "The next step is trying to see where I'm going to take my visits," Evans said. At this point, Evans doesn't have any visit dates set up.
Day Two Top PerformersDerryck Thornton, PG: The past three weeks have been quite successful for this 6-foot-1 lead guard out of Henderson (Nev.) Findlay Prep. He's playing with supreme confidence and that's evident. He has total command of his team, creates for his teammates and puts his passes on the money. He's also starting to hit from mid-range with consistency. On the other end, he moves his feet well and is making life difficult for the opposition. He's clearly an elite player in 2016 and is making a run at the No. 1 point guard spot. Derrick Jones, SF/PF: Jones broke out during the second game of the day going for 31 points. A 6-foot-6 forward with wide shoulders and long arms, Jones used his athleticism in transition. In the first half alone he scored five buckets at the rim with the majority being dunks. Jones also connected on a pair of runners. He's tough to stop in transition, as he's an elite athlete and has terrific body control. The southpaw isn't known for his shooting, but the form on his shot is fine and he did manage to connect on a three-pointer in his morning and afternoon game.
|Donovan Mitchell has big day


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QUEBEC-RESEARCH-L ArchivesArchiver > QUEBEC-RESEARCH > 2005-11 > 1131745791
Subject: History Facts
Date: Fri, 11 Nov 2005 16:49:51 EST
"After the accomplices of American assassin John Wilkes Booth had been
hanged, their cadavers were placed in coffins, together with small bottles
containing their names."
"In 1790 Renwick Williams was imprisoned for six years, having been caught
stabbing women in a part of their bodies that gallantry and manhood considered
( I 'll bet it was
their........................................................ear lobes......)
"Mme Tussaud started her sculpting career by making death masks of those
guillotined during the French Revolution."
This thread:


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Happy Sunday!! If you are here visiting from Laura's Blog, WELCOME and thanks for stopping by! If you haven't been by there, go check out my friend Laura at Mommy Run Fast! Her blog is a great read for running/fitness inspiration, recipes and much more! I am honored to be featured in her "Purposeful Running" series this week.
Alright friends, let's talk cycling!
There is a long-standing tradition in some cycling circles that when someone has a milestone birthday, they must ride the same # of miles for the number of years of the birthday. Well, my good tri friend, Phil, turned 50 yesterday and there have been emails going around for WEEKS planning the torture that would mark his big day!
The one thing that was certain from the beginning? We would complete a 50 mile ride with 5,000 feet of climbing! If you aren't familiar with cycling, the best way I can describe this is that it is A LOT OF FREAKING climbing 🙂
After many, many emails, and tons of route debates, the secret ride was planned and Phil was only told that he was going on a ride with a few friends before an afternoon bbq!
A small group of us met early to take a nice, easy warm-up ride over to the official meeting location. We wanted to use those miles to get our legs ready for the climbing that would start nearly immediately after we rolled out.
Phil is a popular guy! 14 riders showed up for the torture that was his birthday celebration! Before riding out, we presented Phil with his polka dot "King of the Mountain" jersey…not so much representing that he was the best climber in the group but to let the world know that he was over the hill 🙂
P.S. Is it just me or does Phil not look a day over 40?! Friends, I think this is what being a two-time Ironman will do for you!
I was feeling super strong early in the ride and really enjoying the company of new and old riding buddies and the amazing views that we were rewarded with as we headed into the mountains.
It wasn't long before we hit our first major climb, Hogback Mountain. It is by far the longest, hardest climb that I have ever done. It was completely exposed to the hot, midmorning sun and it seemed to go on FOREVER. My heart was exploding out of my chest, my climbing legs were on fire and I am sure my
breathing panting could be heard for miles. FINALLY, we made it to the top and were rewarded with even more absolutely amazing views. The iPhone camera definitely doesn't do it justice!
Not only was the climb brutal, but the descent was terrifying. It was extremely technical, with a ton of switchbacks and sharp curves and the road was in pretty rough shape, making for a bumpy ride. My shoulders and hands were screaming by the time I got to the bottom because I was so tense and was squeezing the brakes the entire way down.
Side note: I realize that being tense and riding the brakes is definitely NOT the ideal way to descend, but I just couldn't get my upper body to relax and I definitely wasn't confident in my ability to make those turns without slowing to a more controlled speed.
Fortunately the next stop was at the Tryon bakery and I refueled with a yummy home made granola bar and filled my bottles with more Nuun before heading out again.
We did two more major climbs before finally, rolling back to our cars nearly 55 miles and several hours later. Neither of the remaining climbs were as long or tough as the first, but my legs were absolutely shot and by the third steep ascent, I was falling toward the back of the pack, my legs were shaking and I was REALLY ready to be off of my bike.
CHECK OUT THIS ELEVATION PROFILE!!! Definitely no joke!
My legs are absolutely shot and the 10 {running} miles that are coming up this morning may be tough!! But it was an awesome day and I am so proud that I made it through it in one piece!


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Supreme Court Upholds Affirmative Action Ban In College Admissions.
April 30, 2014
In a non-employment discrimination case, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of Michigan voters to determine whether racial preferences should be considered in the admissions process at state universities. Michigan voters passed Proposition 2, banning race-based preferences in the admissions process of state universities. In Schuette v. BAMN, the Supreme Court noted that the case was not about the constitutionality or merits of race-conscious admissions policies in higher education. The Court has previously held that such policies are permissible under certain conditions. This case, rather, concerned whether and in what manner state voters may choose to prohibit racial preferences in state university admissions. The Court found that the voters have a right to enact laws as a basic exercise of democratic power, and bypass state officials unresponsive to their concerns about race-based preferences. The exercise of this right did not inflict hurt or injury on racial minorities, which otherwise would have required redress by the courts.


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Exercise your right to VOTE!!!
8-18-1920… On this day the Nineteenth Amendment to the Constitution was ratified, giving women the right to VOTE!! For me no matter how futile the process can often feel I know how hard our sisters fought to get us the right.For that effort alone I will always embrace my right to make my voice heard..whether it's a shout or a small quite plea for change. I hope you're with me.


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Baroness Ashton of Upholland: I shall be very brief. As the noble Lord, Lord Lester, knows, our concern with the amendment has always been to ensure that human rights cases are brought before our courts only by specific and identifiable people whose rights have been infringed. That was one reason why the victim test was put in the Human Rights Act. It is also why the European Court of Human Rights does not allow pure public interest challenges. The purpose was to enable people who could bring a claim in Strasbourg to bring that claim before the domestic courts.
We have always been wary of undermining the commission's role in promoting awareness and good practice in relation to human rights. However, the noble Lord has made a forceful case for adopting a limited exception allowing the commission to bring cases under the Human Rights Act in the public interest. My noble and learned friend the Lord Chancellor and I are reviewing and considering the noble Lord's arguments to give them the best possible consideration, and we will come back to him before Report.
There are a couple of unintended consequences in the way in which the amendment is structured, but I shall not go into them as the noble Lord does not
11 Jul 2005 : Column 977
intend to press the amendment this evening. On the basis of what I have said, I hope that he will be able to withdraw it.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill: I am very grateful. The Minister mentioned the victim test under the European human rights convention. It is for an international procedure, and there is no reason why we should allow a European international treaty to stultify good English and Scottish domestic procedures before administrative courts. We want to blend human rights into the fabric of our legal system; I am sure that that is not contentious. I am most grateful for the generous way in which the Minister replied, and am now in a state of excited suspense.
Baroness Ashton of Upholland: I knew that I was on a sticky wicket trying to deal with issues of human rights.
Lord Lester of Herne Hill: I beg leave to withdraw the amendment.
Amendment, by leave, withdrawn.
[Amendment No. 142 not moved.]
Clause 33 [Public sector duties: assessment]:
[Amendments Nos. 143 and 144 not moved.]
Schedule 2 [Inquiries, Investigations and Assessments]:
[Amendments Nos. 145 and 146 not moved.]
Baroness Ashton of Upholland moved Amendment No. 147:
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Baroness Ashton of Upholland moved Amendment No. 148:
"14A (1) Where a person is given a notice under paragraph 10 he shall disregard it, and notify the Commission that he is disregarding it, in so far as he thinks it would require him
(a) to disclose sensitive information within the meaning of paragraph 4 of Schedule 3 to the Intelligence Services Act 1994 (Intelligence and Security Committee),
(b) to disclose information which might lead to the identification of an employee or agent of an intelligence service (other than one whose identity is already known to the Commission),
(c) to disclose information which might provide details of processes used in recruiting, selecting or training employees or agents of an intelligence service,
(d) to disclose information which might provide details of, or cannot practicably be separated from, information falling within any of paragraphs (a) to (c), or
(e) to make a disclosure of information relating to an intelligence service which would prejudice the interests of national security.
(2) In sub-paragraph (1) "intelligence service" means
(a) the Security Service,
11 Jul 2005 : Column 978
(b) the Secret Intelligence Service, and
(c) the Government Communications Headquarters.
(3) Where in response to a notice under paragraph 10 a person gives a notice to the Commission under sub-paragraph (1) above
(a) paragraphs 13 and 14 shall not apply in relation to that part of the notice under paragraph 10 to which the notice under sub-paragraph (1) above relates,
(b) the Commission may apply to the tribunal established by section 65 of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 for an order requiring the person to take such steps as may be specified in the order to comply with the notice, and
(c) the following provisions of that Act shall apply in relation to proceedings under this paragraph as they apply in relation to proceedings under that Act (with any necessary modifications)
(i) section 67(7), (8) and (10) to (12) (determination),
(ii) section 68 (procedure), and
(iii) section 69 (rules).
(4) Where the Commission receives information or documents from an intelligence service in response to a notice under paragraph 10, the Commission shall store and use the information or documents in accordance with any arrangements specified by the Secretary of State.
(5) The recipient of a notice under paragraph 10 may apply to the High Court (in England and Wales) or the Court of Session (in Scotland) to have the notice cancelled on the grounds that the requirement imposed by the notice is undesirable for reasons of national security, other than for the reason that it would require a disclosure of a kind to which sub-paragraph (1) above applies."
On Question, amendment agreed to.
[Amendments Nos. 149 to 152 not moved.]
Schedule 2, as amended, agreed to.
Clause 34 [Public sector duties: compliance notice]:
Baroness Ashton of Upholland moved Amendment No. 153:
"(5A) Paragraphs 12 and 14A of Schedule 2 shall have effect (with any necessary modifications) in relation to a requirement imposed by a notice under this section as they have effect in relation to a requirement imposed by a notice under paragraph 10 of that Schedule."
On Question, amendment agreed to.
Clause 34, as amended, agreed to.
Clause 35 [Equality and human rights enactments]:
Baroness Gould of Potternewton moved Amendment No. 154:
The noble Baroness said: Amendments Nos. 154 and 155 are probing amendments to illustrate that the work of the EOC in particular is not only concerned with the Sex Discrimination Act and the Equal Pay Act but also draws upon key pieces of employment legislation, particularly in respect of maternity and paternity leave, part-time work and employment rights. The statutes listed in these amendments are not the only relevant legislation, but they illustrate the position.
11 Jul 2005 : Column 979
In the view of the Equal Opportunities Commission, if the commission's remit is interpreted strictly according to the enactments listed in Clause 35, then key elements of its work would not be covered. This is because an increasing amount of discrimination legislation that it currently covers, or the legislation that has implications for discrimination, is covered in employment law. For example, of those cited in this amendment, the Employment Rights Act 1996 requires employers to issue a written statement of terms and conditions of employment. The way that the Maternity and Paternity Leave etc. Regulations 1999 operateand any proposals to reform maternity leave provisions as set out in the Government's recent work and families consultationis of material concern to the EOC. And the regulations of 2000 on part-time work for male and female workers apply to all aspects of pay and conditions of employment, contractual and non-contractual, and will require that the part-time worker should be paid and receive other benefits on a pro rata basis.
The key point is what the Equality Bill allows the commission to do in relation to employment legislation. For example, under Clause 15 the commission will be allowed to issue codes of practice in connection with a matter addressed by the equality enactments. That will cover the kinds of legislation cited here, and that is welcome. But the commission will not be able to exercise its enforcement powers in relation to anything other than the equality enactments. That means, for example, that it will not be able to investigate why many employers do not carry out health and safety assessments of pregnant women and take enforcement action in connection with that.
Similarly, the denial of access to training is a fundamental issue for many male and female part-time workers, but it would not be directly covered by the commission's enforcement remit. It would therefore be difficult for the commission to take enforcement action in relation to it.
Access to flexible working for fathers and rights for those with unpaid caring responsibilities are also issues with which the EOC is concerned, but they often fall outside the scope of the Sex Discrimination Act. The Government are proposing to extend the right to request to those with caring responsibilities, but as that is not a sex discrimination issue it would not fall within the scope of the commission; nor would it be covered by any other organisation.
I believe that it is crucial that all these equality enactments continue to be covered by the commission. I should be grateful if the Minister could clarify how they will be covered in the new legislation. I beg to move.
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text: Lele - Unregistered June 11, 2012 9:10 AM I had the pleasure of spending some quality, off-track time with the young lad the past few days in Misano. Along with the family that follows him around and keeps him very honest and humble, he's a really jolly good character when not in race mode, and the cameras can hardly convey that. Thanking him after the race for the mad spectacle he put up during the two races was the most simple of affair, the lad winking, and then lowering his eyes in genuine humility. May he stay this uncluttered and genuine for long years to come! 6 agree 0 disagree


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Contract Dispute Act
Locate a Local Business Lawyer
What Is the Contract Dispute Act?
The Contract Dispute Act of 1978 is a highly specific act that governs claims that involve U.S. Federal Government contracts. The Act defines various procedures that are to be followed if the federal government has any claims against an independent contractor.
An example of this is where the federal government claims that the contractor engaged in fraud when working on a contract duty. Under the Contract Dispute Act, federal claims against contractors must be submitted to a special review conducted by the U.S. Contracting Office.
What Are Some Provisions in the Contract Dispute Act?
Under the Contract Dispute Act (CDA), claims for contract disputes with contractors need to be submitted in writing. Most provisions revolve around the amount of money being disputed. For claims submitted by contractors above $100,000, the claim needs to be made in good faith. The claim should be supported by accurate data and must represent a reasonable estimation of the amount that the government owes.
For claims less than $100,000, similar requirements are enforced. Also, the government is then required to respond with a decision within 60 days of receiving the complaint. Appeals can sometimes be made under the Contract Dispute Act, depending on the nature of the contracting dispute at hand.
Are There Any Alternative Avenues for Relief Under the Contract Dispute Act?
Under the Contract Dispute Act, the parties may be able seek alternative dispute resolution procedures for handling conflicts, especially if there is a possibility that the parties will be able to cooperate closely in the process. There are also mechanisms for streamlined (faster) hearings for claims involving smaller amounts. Issues with government contractor immunity can sometimes be a factor in such decisions.
Do I Need a Lawyer for Help with Issues Involving the Contract Dispute Act?
Government contract agreements often involve highly specific laws such as the Contract Dispute Act. Such laws contain very specific instructions for how to file a legal claim for breach of contract or other disputes. You may wish to hire a qualified and experienced lawyer for help with legal issues with such contracts. Your attorney can provide you with expert legal advice and guidance on these specific topics of law.
Consult a Lawyer - Present Your Case Now!
Last Modified: 01-20-2014 02:24 PM PST
Link to this page


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Queensland Corrective Services encourages prisoners to maintain strong links with their family and friends during their time in prison.
You are invited to visit your family member or friend while they are in prison, but you must follow some simple rules and regulations.
The number of persons allowed to visit and the length of time of the visit varies from prison to prison. As a general rule, most centres allow either one two-hour or two one-hour visits per week. Please contact the appropriate prison for further information.
Before visiting a correctional centre for the first time, a personal visitor must apply for approval using a Form 27 Application to Visit a Prisoner (Personal Visitor).
This form can be obtained:
Once this form has been sent to the correctional facility, centre staff will undertake a security check on you, which can take a few weeks.
Make sure you declare ANY convictions you may have on this form. You must return the Form 27 to the correctional centre along with photocopies of appropriate identification, which must be signed by a Justice of the Peace or a Commissioner of Declarations.
Accepted proof of identification is:
EITHER A current driver's licence or passport
OR Any three (3) of the following:
You will not be able to visit the centre until a security clearance and criminal history checks have been done on you.
The correctional centre keeps a register of all people who have received security clearances, which includes information on:
Each visitor's security clearance will be updated every 12 months.
Once clearance is granted by the correctional centre, you will be able to make a visit booking. All personal visits to a prisoner MUST be booked in advance during nominated booking times.
Don't forget, you will need to bring approved identification with you EVERY time you visit the correctional centre.
There are very strict rules about what you can wear when visiting a prisoner. You must wear proper shoes or sandals (no thongs), and your clothes must be clean and in good condition. You will not be allowed to wear clothes with obscene or offensive words diagrams or gang related symbols on them, or clothes that are revealing.
You are allowed to wear your wedding or engagement ring, but please remove all other jewellery before you come to the prison.
As every prison has its own system for visiting prisoners, please make sure you ring the relevant prison for additional information about bookings procedures and regulations.
Please make sure that you arrive at the prison at least 45 minutes before your visit starts – each centre has specific arrangements, so please refer to the visitor fact sheet for the centre you wish to visit.
If you are late, you may not be allowed to enter the prison.
When you arrive, go to the reception desk in the visits area to confirm your booking. If you have not already done so, complete an application form and show your identification. If you do not have the right identification, you will not be allowed to enter the prison.
In many prisons, you may be subject to security screening with electronic drug detection devices or passive alert detection dogs. If you refuse to submit to a scan or search, or return a positive result, you may be refused entry to the prison or be limited to a non-contact visit.
A police officer who reasonably suspects that a visitor is attempting to take a prohibited item into a prison or attempting to remove anything from a prison or attempting to interview or photograph a prisoner or part of a facility may stop, detain and search the visitor. If contraband is found, a visitor may be charged with an offence.
The search may, at the discretion of the police officer, be a general search or may involve the removal of all clothing. Additionally, if a police officer reasonably suspects that a vehicle may have in it evidence of the commission of an offence as previously described, the officer may stop, detain and search the vehicle. If contraband is found, a visitor may be charged with an offence.
Inappropriate behaviour by you or the person you are visiting will not be tolerated and may result in the termination of your visit.
Smoking is not permitted in any prison in Queensland.
If the prisoner visits area does not provide toilets, facilities will be available before or after your visit in the administration building where you first signed in. If the prisoner visits area does provide toilets and you need to use them, in order to reduce the likelihood of contraband entering centres, the remainder of the visit may continue as non-contact or the visit may be terminated.
Please make sure you keep an eye on your children at all times and ensure they do not interfere with or disturb other visitors or prisoners during the visit period.
People who are believed to be under the influence of a substance will not be allowed to enter the prison.
Any visitor or prisoner who fails to maintain an acceptable level of behaviour, after being cautioned, will have their visit terminated and their visiting privileges will be reviewed.
Queensland Corrective Services has a strict prison visitor booking and processing system to ensure community safety and crime prevention standards are upheld. In particular, it must consider the best interests of children who visit a prisoner in a corrective services facility.
Visitors should note the following conditions, which may apply to any visitor (new or existing):
b) Two of the following:
If you are not happy with the decision of the person in charge of the facility regarding your application to visit, you may seek a review of the decision. . These conditions have been made to ensure that the security of the facility and the safety of visitors is not compromised and to ensure everyone can enjoy their visit without unnecessary disruption.
A visit is not the time or place to be giving money, papers or personal items to prisoners. However, property items that have been approved prior to the visit can be given to the Visits Processing Officers at the time of your visit.
Property items include things such as socks, singlets, underclothes and clothes for court. Items such as cards, letters and photographs can be sent to a prisoner through the mail or left with the Visits Processing Officers BEFORE your visit.
In many correctional centres, all incoming property for prisoners must be pre-approved. The approved items and hand-in forms must be handed to visits staff BEFORE the visit starts. If you do not have a hand-in form, the items will not be accepted.
If you wish to deposit money into a prisoner's trust account, please have the correct amount and give it to the Visits Processing Officers BEFORE your visit.
No toiletries, food items, tobacco or cigarettes are allowed to be taken inside correctional centres for prisoners.
In accordance with regulations, you may NOT bring the following items into a correctional centre, without authority:
Last updated: 03 December 2014


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Angelo Bend, alias Angle Man was an Italian master thief who used his special Angler to escape authorities as Angle Man. He was caught by Donna Troy while trying to steal an ancient artifact from a museum. Even though Donna, as Troia, was trying to stop the villan, Angle Man formed a bit of a crush on the Amazon. He became so enamored with her that he instinctively transported himself to Themyscira seeking Donna's help when he was attacked by a Fury possessed Barbara Minerva. Later it was learned that he had been hired by Barbara, the previous Cheetah, who had lost her powers to Sebastian Ballesteros and needed the stolen artifacts to regain them. He was also seen grieving at Donna Troy's funeral after she was briefly killed by a Superman robot, and most recently has become a member of the latest Secret Society of Super-Villains. Whether he and the Cheetah have buried the hatchet or not remains to be seen.
He was among a large team of super villains formed by Devastation. An enemy of Cassandra Sandsmark, Devastation formed the group to battle the now disbanded Young Justice.
In the DC Universe One Year Later, Selina Kyle has given up her mantle as Catwoman after having a child. Her associate and friend Holly Robinson has taken over the Catwoman persona.
Bend became obsessed with Catwoman and bent on revenge. He targeted Holly Robinson, her successor, not realizing that he was going after the wrong person. He has since been defeated by Holly once, but has been approached by a new villain calling himself the Film Freak.
Powers and Abilities
The Angler allows Angle Man to teleport and alter space, gravity, and perceptions.
- 30 Appearances of Angelo Bend (New Earth)
- 2 Images featuring Angelo Bend (New Earth)
- 1 Quotations by or about Angelo Bend (New Earth)
- Character Gallery: Angelo Bend (New Earth)
|Wonder Woman Villain(s)
This character is or was primarily an enemy of Wonder Woman and the Amazons in any of her various incarnations. This template will categorize articles that include it into the "Wonder Woman Villains category."
Flash Villain(s)


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The Spanish Major
The Spanish major consists of 30 hours of course work at the 2000 level and above with a minimum of 12 hours at the senior level and includes two writing intensive courses. The National CLEP exam is available to students to try and test out of Spanish up to 16 credit hours. Six of the credited hours count towards a major while 11 can count towards a minor. Courses are offered in language, culture, and literature. At least 9 upper level hours must be taken at TTU; 6 hours of advanced courses must be writing intensive. Each major is tailored to the student's individual needs.
Courses offered in Spanish – consult catalog for prerequisites
- Span 2301 A Second Course in Spanish I
- Span 2302 A Second course in Spanish II
- Span 2607 Intensive Spanish - Second Year
Intermediate Courses – minimum of 9 hrs (including 1 WI)
- Span 3303 Intermediate Spanish Conversation
- Span 3305 Intermediate Spanish Grammar
- Span 3306 Introduction to Hispanic Life and Culture
- Span 3307 Introduction to Hispanic Literature (writing intensive)
- Span 3343 Spanish Language Development (study abroad)
- Span 3344 Mexican Life and Culture (study abroad)
Advanced Courses – minimum of 12 hrs (including 1 WI)
- Span 4303 Advanced Spanish Conversation
- Span 4305 Advanced Spanish Grammar
- Span 4307 Advanced Composition (writing intensive)
- Span 4308 Business Spanish
- Span 4309 Spanish Language Studies-Special Topics
- Span 4320 Masterpieces of Hispanic Literature (writing intensive)
- Span 4321 Hispanic Prose (writing intensive)
- Span 4324 Hispanic Drama and Poetry (writing intensive)
- Span 4325 Hispanic Short Story (writing intensive)
- Span 4327 Hispanic Literature – Special Topics (writing intensive)
- Span 4332 Civilización Hispanica: Hispanic Civilization
- Span 4335 Internship in Spanish (writing intensive)
- Span 4337 Cultural Topics – Hispanic World
- Span 4343 Advanced Language Skills (study abroad)
- Span 4344 Contemporary Mexico (study abroad)
- Span 4346 Spanish Life and Culture (study abroad)
- Span 4360 Mexican American Literature (writing intensive)
- Span 4361 Spanish for the Southwest
- Span 4373 Capstone Conversational Spanish
- Span 4392 Play in Spanish
For the Spanish major students generally will take a minimum of 9 hrs at the Intermediate Level and 12-15 hrs at the advanced level. A minimum of 12 hrs MUST be taken at the advanced (43..) level
Classical & Modern Languages & Literatures
AddressTexas Tech University, Foreign Language Building, Lubbock, TX 79409


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Have You Seen Ariana's New Music Video??
I love it!! Did anyone get a flashback of Britney Spears in "Oops I Did It Again"??? I use to love that music video!! Also...does anyone else want to hear a broken down version of this song, I think it would sound amazing really slow and acoustic!! Anyways I love that Ariana did something a bit different this time!


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Trainers will serve it up to southerners, says O'SheaChris Roots
Published: October 11 2012 - 3:00AM
SUPERSTARS Pierro and More Joyous will spearhead Sydney's assault on the Melbourne carnival at Caulfield and John O'Shea says Sydney trainers could clean up in all nine races on Saturday.
''It is feasible that Sydney trainers could win every race on the card,'' the Randwick horseman said. ''Gai [Waterhouse]'s team is flying and Pierro and More Joyous just stand out. Then there is a couple from Gerald Ryan, including Snitzerland, and mine are not going bad either.''
O'Shea has Ashokan, Steps In Time and Hoss Amor heading to Caulfield and said ''Hoss Amor is probably my best of the day''.
Waterhouse, who is coming off a group 1 double at Randwick last weekend, will again be the centre of attention. Pierro, which is unbeaten going into the Caulfield Guineas, and More Joyous are odds-on in group 1s on Saturday.
''He is the best colt they have seen down here for a long time,'' Waterhouse said of Pierro, which shoots for his fourth group 1.
Punters agree: the TAB's Glenn Munsie said Pierro was $1.35 to $1.20 in the past couple of days.
''It is gazetted he is going to win the Guineas, the number is in the frame and the photo has been taken as far as punters are concerned,'' Munsie said.
''Sydney horses seem to be able to go to Melbourne and win a lot easier than horses coming the other way. You just have to look at the feature races from the past couple years at carnival time down there. This year, if anything, it is more of a Sydney carnival than ever before.
''At the moment Sydney has the favourites for the Caulfield Guineas, Thousand Guineas, Caulfield Cup, Cox Plate, [Victoria] Derby, Melbourne Cup and [VRC] Oaks. If that is not dominance I don't know what is and the favourite for the other two races we are betting on pre-post, the Manikato [Stakes] and Patinack Classic is a Queenslander in Buffering.''
The sprinter, who has chased Black Caviar and Hay List for most of his career, gets his chance to shine and after winning the Moir Stakes resuming will be top pick in the Schillaci Stakes on Saturday, where his main dangers are the Tim Martin-trained Pampelonne from Sydney and fellow banana bender Temple Of Boom.
''Pampelonne was the first horse we wrote a bet for when we put up at that race,'' Munsie said. ''In the Caulfield Stakes, they have only wanted to back Ocean Park and Sincero, it is hard to get anyone interested in backing a local.''
Surprisingly, More Joyous has been $1.65 to $1.90 to win her second Toorak Handicap after taking it out two years ago.
''They have wanted to back every other horse in the race other than her,'' Munsie said. ''We can't write a ticket for her and she just keeps blowing, I don't know if it is the weight [60 kilograms] or the fact there is a bit of rain around.''
Brenton Avdulla, who grew up in Victoria, is on a couple of Sydney gallopers considered outside chances, Ironstein in the Herbert Power Handicap and Mahisara in the Weekend Hussler Stakes. However, he warned not to underestimate either of them.
''When our horses go down there, they are there because they are in good form,'' Avdulla said. ''Mahisara is a last-start winner on the limit and just needs a little luck.''
However, it is Ironstein which carries the 21-year-old's cup hopes for the spring and put the writing on the wall with a fast-finishing third in the JRA Cup last start.
''He probably needs to win a race to get into the Melbourne Cup and I don't see any reason why it wouldn't be on Saturday,'' Avdulla said. ''If he can win the Herbert Power it gets him in the Caulfield Cup, which would great, but I think he will be a better hope in the Melbourne Cup. Remember he won Queen Elizabeth Stakes on the final day of the carnival last year and I think he is going better now than he was back then. He is going to improve from that last run and keep improving.''
This story was found at: http://www.smh.com.au/sport/horseracing/trainers-will-serve-it-up-to-southerners-says-oshea-20121010-27dl9.html


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Model Mayhem Admin
Amanda MModel Female Ridgefield Park, New Jersey, US
Mayhem # 12522
About Me
Hey Guys! Welcome to my MM page. I am currently looking for paid assignments, but I will consider select test shoots with extroadinary photographers who will greatly improve my portfolio. Don't hesitate to drop me a line, tag, or comment! I love to hear feedback! <3 always, Amanda
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The perfect Mother's Day
Mother's Day in Australia is celebrated on the second Sunday in May. Mothers everywhere just want a day off for mother's day.
Next month I celebrate my 7th birthday as a mother. Seven years of feeding, cuddling, hand holding, patting, crying, soothing, folding, shoe lace tying. Seven years of pegging out other people's smalls. Seven years wearing my heart on my sleeve (and sometimes dribbling down the back of my shoulder).
It also means I've had my share of Mother's Days. The most ideal Mother's Day we've celebrated came a month before our son was even born. Still inside my belly, I smugly celebrated with a fancy lunch, and a long lazy snooze. I was showered with love and my swollen frame soaked up every ounce of affection that came my way. Of course I was completely high on pregnancy hormones by this stage, floating like a bubble on the breeze.
We all know what happens to bubbles, don't we?
Which leads me to Mother's Day when you have real, live children. The more you pump up the Mother's Day bubble in your head, the greater your chance of disappointment. I really believe less is more when it comes to expectations for family celebrations, whether it be a birthday party, Christmas Day or that sacred cow of celebrations, Mother's Day. Perfection, be damned.
Don't get me wrong: I love me some love. I think where the whole thing comes undone is that you can't prescribe the way other people choose to show their love to you, and this is how many of us approach Mother's Day. We shape these elegant expectations in our heads, loading up Mother's Day like a Christmas tree with too many baubles, and then we get all mopey when the branches start to sag. We wish too hard for it to be ideal, like a montage from a Disney film. The expectations say "this is how much I need you to love me".
What some of us really want on Mother's Day, ironically, is a day off from being a mother. Without hiring a nanny or running away from home, as long as you spend time with your family, you will never get a clean break from being 'mum'.
Even though you can't get a day off, you can make mother's day dance to your tune. In order to do that, you have to pull the strings yourself, like a master puppeteer.
Why not just buy your own present (using your partner's money)? Alternatively, direct your partner and kids to a shop you love, have them do the choosing and have the store gift wrap it (this worked for us last Christmas, and the boys were very proud of their efforts. Even the biggest boy, Mr Karen).
If you don't want a gift, tell them. If you'd like lunch out, tell them. If you're hanging out for a drawing from your children, just ask. Make your hints big and obvious, in the shape of a written list of instructions. And don't pout about having to ask. If you wanted a partner who could choose and wrap an elegant gift for you, you should have partnered up with a woman.
Be specific about how you want to spend the second Sunday in May. This is what my day will look like (sprinkled with little boy fart jokes, cuddles and squabbles):
1) Coffee in bed with the newspaper
2) Lunch out somewhere nice and kid friendly – we're thinking a picnic in Sorrento
3) Take away for dinner so I don't have to cook. This is my idea of a day off.
Not crowding your day with expectations will leave the day wide open for your family to show you, in their own way, what you mean to them. You mean everything.
And remember, the sun never gets a day off either.
How do you plan to spend your Mother's Day?


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Fatal stabbing at Trinidad RV park; Defense arguing suspect acted in self-defense
EUREKA- The suspect accused of killing a 24-year-old Trinidad man with a pocket knife sat in court Tuesday morning. The lead detective for the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office took the stand on the first day of the preliminary hearing that revealed the details of the fatal stabbing.
Larry Clinton Morrow, 33, plead not guilty previously in court to stabbing Jessie Ruiz at the Greenview RV Park on the morning of Jan. 10.
In court, Detective Jennifer Turner of the Humboldt County Sheriff's Office gave her account of interviews with witnesses at the scene of the incident and details of the interview with Morrow before his arrest.
According to witnesses Morrow had seen Ruiz earlier that night hanging out of a truck encouraging people in the RV park to fight him. Morrow told detectives he had met Ruiz months before and had known him to carry a knife for protection.
In Turner's testimony she said the two had started the evening in separate RVs. According to multiple witnesses Ruiz had been drinking at one RV residents house when he was asked to leave for being 'belligerently' drunk and eventually left.
During the time Ruiz was gone Morrow came to hang out at the same RV. Morrow claimed in the interview that he was consoling the resident who had lost her dog and was upset after Ruiz left.
According to Morrow's interviews with witnesses, Ruiz started to knock on the door of the RV saying he had left his coat there. Morrow told Ruiz to leave and the two began arguing through the closed door. The resident of the RV opened the door to leave when the two got into a fight that resulted in Ruiz being stabbed.
The defense argued that Morrow was attempting to protect the resident of the RV and claimed Morrow was fearful of Ruiz.
Detective Turner will continue her testimony Wednesday for the second day of the preliminary hearing.


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|Kevin Kline
|Howard Brackett
|Joan Cusack
|Emily Montgomery
|Matt Dillon
|Cameron Drake
|Debbie Reynolds
|Berniece Brackett
|Wilford Brimley
|Frank Brackett
|Bob Newhart
|Tom Halliwell
|Tom Selleck
|Peter Malloy
|Deborah Rush
|Ava Blazer
|Lewis J. Stadlen
|Ed Kenrow
|Gregory Jbara
|Walter Brackett
|Shalom Harlow
|J. Smith-Cameron
|Trina Paxton
|Kate McGregor-Stewart
|Aunt Becky
|Shawn Hatosy
|Zak Orth
|Lauren Ambrose
|Alexandra Holden
|Chris L. McKenna
|Locker Room Guy
Upon winning an Academy Award, actor Cameron Drake honors his high school teacher, Howard Brackett, who he announces, before millions of viewers, is gay. This comes as news to Brackett's parents, his principal and especially his fiancée . As a media blitz descends upon on his small Indiana town, Brackett attempts to convince everyone that he's your average straight American male.


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The wife of Atlanta Braves Head Athletic Trainer Jeff Porter was killed on Saturday morning in a car accident when the family's vehicle collided with a Georgia State Patrol cruiser, as released by braves.com.
"The Braves family is deeply saddened and shocked to learn about the tragic accident today involving the family of Head Athletic Trainer Jeff porter and the death of his wife Kathy," said the team in an official statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jeff and Kathy's family, their son David and all of their friends and loved ones."
Porter, who joined the Braves in 1985 and was named Head Athletic Trainer in 2003, and his son David were both treated for minor injuries after the crash.Tags: Atlanta, Atlanta Braves, Jeff Porter, MLB


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The Greater Indianapolis Adult Hockey Leagues (GIAHL)is designed to provide a safe and sportsmanlike environment in which hockey players of all abilities can enjoy the competition and camaraderie of organized hockey. The Greater Indianapolis Adult Hockey Leagues (GIAHL) is based upon respect for ones opponent, the officials, and the game. A cooperative effort between the league, its players, its teams and its officials is essential in creating an atmosphere conducive to fair play and the well being of all participants. By offering multiple levels of competition the league provides an appropriate venue for every adult player and/or team.
We offer the following levels of league play
SILVER / GOLD "A" - High level of Competition
INTERMEDIATE "B Tier I" - Medium level of Competition
"Plays at Arctic Zone From Sept Thru March and Carmel Ice Skadium April Thru August"
INTERMEDIATE "B Tier II" - Medium level of Competition
BRONZE "C"- Low level of Competition
$10 per person, must be 18 or older to play
Check the calendar for specific dates and times


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The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or CFPB, is officially up and running -- but still without a director, a vacancy that limits some of the agency's enforcement authority.
The Senate Banking Committee had scheduled a hearing the first week of August to consider President Barack Obama's nomination of Richard Cordray for the position, but the committee then adjorned for the day -- and the August recess -- without moving forward on the matter. Instead, the hearing was postponed until Sept. 6, according to the Dodd-Frank tracker website run by the American Bankers Association, or ABA.
Consumers groups have supported the nomination, but 44 senators have vowed not to install him -- or anyone else -- in the post. Instead, they want the CFPB to be run by a board of many, rather than one director. They also want the agency to be subject to the Congressional appropriations process, among other demands.
The postponement of the hearing is a loss for consumers since the CFPB won't be fully operational in its declared role as the "new cop on the beat," looking out for their interests in financial services, until a director is in place.
That said, the hearing wasn't likely to accomplish much as long as the boycott of sorts against any nominee as chief consumer protection cop remains in effect.
What's more, the U.S. House of Representatives has found a way to make sure the president won't be able to appoint Cordray or any other nominee during the recess, an option that would have avoided any hearings.
The House accomplished this objective through an announcement that it will hold "pro-forma" sessions throughout August in what the ABA website called "a procedural move" that will force the Senate to hold these sessions as well.
Cordray, a former Ohio state attorney general, is currently chief of enforcement at the CFPB.
So far, he's the only witness scheduled to testify at the Sept. 6 hearing, according to the announcement on the Senate committee's website. But as the website notes, "additional nominees may be added at a later date."
Follow me on Twitter: @marciegeff


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Recognized as one of the top producing agents for Sotheby's International Realty, Jill Sassi-Neison has negotiated for buyers and sellers since 1999. Her areas of expertise range from second homes, high end townhomes and condominiums at the Four Seasons Jackson Hole to executive luxury estates. She is also well educated and has proven experience in the building process and development site opportunities in the Jackson area. Helping buyers and sellers achieve their ultimate goal is her priority.
With changing market trends, Jill has stayed educated and on top of working with a multitude of complex transactions such as bank owned properties and seller distressed properties. Customers and clients rely on her market knowledge, negotiating style and unparalleled work ethic. She truly listens to her clients and finds the right fit for them. This is why past clients and customers refer family and friends to her when they are considering a Jackson Hole home or investment property.
Having relocated from the east, Jill appreciates the uniqueness that the Jackson Hole lifestyle offers. She is an avid hiker and skier and enjoys living next to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Park. She and her husband Scott, welcomed a son in 2009, Rocco. They are excited to watch him grow up in such a vibrant community.
Jill has volunteered with Teton Literacy program and is a member of the Education for our Future board. She also serves on the BRAVO committee which promotes the Grand Teton Music Festival.
Professionally she is a member of the National Association of Realtors and locally, the Teton Board of Realtors in which she has served as secretary from 2006-2010.
Jill earned a Bachelor of Science in English and Education from East Stroudsburg University in Pennsylvania.
Wyoming Real Estate Licensee.


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All the action as it happened from the Tour de France (All times BST).
1616: The sprinters stretch their legs for the first time in a few days and McEwan and Cooke take 10th and 11th places, ahead of a peloton containing all the major players, except for Joseba Beloki, who has been airlifted to Spain following his horrific crash on Monday.
1610: The big city of Marseille has been brought to a virtual standstill for the arrival of the Tour. And the patient fans will be treated to their glimpse of Armstrong and the other stars soon.
1600: Although the yellow jersey of Armstrong is well back on the stage, the Texan will preserve his lead of the Tour when the peloton finishes in about 15 minutes.
1555: Jakob Piil holds off Fabio Saachi in the final sprint to take the stage victory.
1554: Piil is constantly looking behind him with Sacchi on his wheel as the sprint is on.
1552: Sacchi and Piil shake hands as they enter the final 2km straight to the finish.
1550: Padrnos is back on his bike and chasing the back of the peloton after his fall.
1548: Unless De Groot can make a decisive surge, the stage appears to be between Sacchi and Piil, who are nearly a minute ahead of the Dutchman with 5km to go.
1545: US Postal rider Pavel Padrnos falls in a crash in the peloton, which is still around 23 minutes behind the leading group.
1540: Sacchi retakes the lead as the leading pair, who now appear to be working together, extend their lead to 45 seconds over Bram De Groot and 55 seconds to the other five.
1538: Piil and Sacchi are now around 35 seconds ahead of the rest of the leading riders, as they approach the 10km left mark.
1534: Dane Jakob Piil (CSC) takes the lead ahead of Saachi as Gutierrez drops back.
1532: Saachi catches and passes Gutierrez, allowing the group to bunch up behind him.
1530: Gutierrez appears to have reached his limit as Italian Fabio Sacchi (SAE) launches an attack from within the chasing group.
1526: Gutierrez, who launched his attack with 49km to go, sees his lead reduced to 15 seconds going into the final 19km.
1522: The chase is on as the eight-man group narrows the gap on Gutierrez to 20 seconds.
1520: With the leading nine riders on the streets of Marseille, Gutierrez retains a 25-second lead on his pursuers.
1516: The Euskaltel team of the third-place rider in the overall classification - Iban Mayo - is leading the US Postal team at the head of the main peloton.
1512: Gutierrez, winner of the final stage of last year's Criterium du Dauphine Libere has a 35-second lead as he enters the final 35km of the stage into Marseille.
1500: Gutierrez opens up a 33-second gap on the other eight riders in the leading group.
1455: Acosta's solo bid fails, but Jose Enrique Gutierrez, who started the stage 47 minutes behind Lance Armstrong, flies off the front of the lead group.
1450: With thoughts of the stage win beginning to fill the minds of the lead nine, Garcia Acosta launches an attack.
1440: Eventually the peloton frees itself and continues on its way, waiting for stragglers to catch up. All of this has played into the hands of the leaders, whose gap is steadily growing.
1438: The riders are forced to wind their way through a mass of people converged on the road as security guards try to clear the way.
1435: Protestors block the path of the peloton, causing chaotic scenes as the race grinds to a temporary halt.
1427: As the sun continues to beat down, the group of nine leaders stretch their lead still further. Their considerable efforts will not change the overall classification, but one of them should be rewarded with a precious stage win.
1412: The peloton, with Lance Armstrong near the front, are now 21:30 behind the leading group.
1405: The escape group picks up the pace again to stretch their lead past the 20-minute mark.
1359: Damian Nazon (BLB) wins the second intermediate sprint of the day after 138.5km in Rians, with Bram De Groot (RAB) collecting four points and Fabio Sacchi (SAE) two.
1355: The biggest leading margin of the nine-man escape group appears to have peaked at 19:30, as the US Postal-led peloton reduces the arrears to 18:55.
1352: The average speed for the third hour is 42.0kph, making for an average speed over the stage so far of 44.0kph.
1350: The 15-year-old spectator hit earlier by Spanish rider Alberto Lopez de Munain is declared OK after being tended to by race doctors.
1344: The escape group's lead hits 19 minutes.
1342: The nine-man escape group move into a lead of 18mins and 48secs - the biggest of any attack so far in this year's Tour.
The previous best lead - featuring Stuart O'Grady and Anthony Geslin on stage six - peaked at 18:05.
1338: With points on offer for the first 25 in this stage, points leader Baden Cooke and green jersey rival Robbie McEwen are expected to move into position in the peloton, although US Postal riders fill the front eight berths.
1332: The Spaniard suffers a cut arm in the fall but is back on his bike and trying to regain touch with the peloton as the spectator is treated by race medical staff.
1329: There is a fall in the peloton as Euskaltel rider Alberto Lopez de Munain appears to hit a spectator.
1325: The best placed rider in the overall classification among the leaders is Spaniard Jose Enrique Gutierrez.
But he started the stage in 61st place, over 47 minutes behind race leader Lance Armstrong, explaining why the peloton are happy to let the escape group stretch away.
1319: As the riders begin the second half of the stage at 109km, the leading group stretch their lead to 17:26.
1308: On the last stage before the first rest day, only seven of the 22 teams retain a full complement of nine riders.
They are: US Postal, iBanesto.com, CSC, Quickstep, Bianchi, Lotto-Domo and Brioche La Boulangere.
1305: The peloton is now 15:30 behind the nine-man leading group.
1302: Frenchman Philippe Gaumont, of the Cofidis team, collects five points for winning the climb, ahead of Bram De Groot (RAB) and Damian Nazon (BLB).
1259: The leaders near the first climb at Cote de Villedieu, where points are awarded for the first three at the summit.
1257: As the peloton passes through the feed zone, their deficit to the leading group is 14:45.
1248: The average speed for the second hour is
42.2kph, down from an average of 47.8kph for the first hour.
1245: The leading group pass through the 88.5km mark with a 13:10 advantage over the peloton.
1242: It emerges that Stefano Garzelli, the Caldirola rider who finished second in this year's Giro d'Italia, cited a bronsore throat for his retirement from the Tour before the 10th stage.
1240: The leading group reach the feed zone of Les Pourcelles, at the 86km mark, 11:30 ahead.
1232: The escape group stretch their lead to 10:40.
1219: The peloton, still being led by the US Postal team, appears happy to let the leading group escape as it extends its advantage to 9:35.
1214: As they pass the 60km mark, the leading group, which formed after 16km, is now 8:40 ahead.
1208: The peloton is now 7:40 behind as they pass through Les Bons-Enfants - 57km through the stage.
1203: This will be the first stage to finish in Marseille, France's second largest city, since 1993.
1200: The escape group of nine riders extends its lead to 6:25 as the peloton passes through the 50km mark.
1150: The average speed to date is 47.8kph as the leading group move 4:20 clear of the peloton.
1144: Two former stage winners in the escape group - Vincente Garcia Acosta of the iBanesto.com team, and Serge Baguet of the Lotto-Domo team - help extend their lead to 3:20.
1140: The leading group continue to push out their lead, which now stands at 2:35.
1133: Nicolas Portal is caught by the peloton, which is now 2:05 adrift of the nine-man escape group.
1130: The leading group is now 1:20 ahead of Portal, and 1:45 ahead of the peloton, with US Postal at the head of the main pack.
1127: Nicolas Portal of the AG2R team breaks out of the peleton in an attempt to reel in the escape group, which is now 1:18 ahead.
1122: The leading group move 1min 5secs clear at the 30km mark.
1119: The nine riders in the attack extend their advantage over the peloton to 56 seconds.
1112: FDJeux.com and Lance Armstrong's US Postal team move to the head of the chasing peloton.
1110: The escape group - which features Garcia Acosta (BAN), De Groot (RAB), Sacchi (SAE), Gaumont (COF), Piil (CSC), Jose Enrique Gutierrez (KEL), Baguet (LOT), Damian Nazon (BLB) and Haselbacher (GST) - is now 20 seconds ahead of the peleton.
1108: A group of nine riders is now 12 seconds ahead of the peloton, which is being led by the Telekom and Credit Agricole teams.
1105: News filters through that Joseba Beloki, who crashed out on Monday's ninth stage, is being transfered by air ambulance to a hospital in Vitoria in Spain.
1103: Australian champion Stuart O'Grady is at the head of a group of 10 riders which has escaped the peloton at the 14km mark.
1100: McEwen collects six points for winning the first sprint, after 10km, with Cooke second and Jean-Patrick Nazon third.
1058: Australians Robbie McEwen and Baden Cooke are going head-to-head in the first intermediate sprint for points in Tallard.
1055: After a fast-paced start, a small group attempts to escape the peloton in the 5th km.
1052: Van Bon and Krivtsov's escape is caught by the FDJeux.com-led peloton at the 3km mark.
1050: The first attack is launched by Lotto's Leon Van Bon, who is joined by Yuriy Krivtsov.
1048: The 10th stage begins without Caldirola's Stefano Garzelli, who has abandoned his third Tour.


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I'm not satisfied too much with webGUI:
1) there are no place, where is some like this: xl0=WAN xl1=LAN xl2=OPT1,
but xl# are used in firewall log. I think, that "Status: Interfaces" is best
place for assignment info
2) log entries: table width is not enough for long lines (they are wrapped)
But: thank for you great work!
PS: sorry for my bad english


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November 23, 2007 at 17:01:10 Nov 23, 2007 @ 17:01
fit isn't so bad except for denim. hot bag though.
This pictures pisses me off to no end. AHH! His face makes me want to knock him out or somethin.
ill be in NY again in march helgen lochness i want you to help me find the chrome pants guy i wanna thai kick him in the face
Originally posted by Inactive Userall these females fits are straight to me..nyc shorties have more swag then guys do...simple and clean.
I met that dude with the chrome pants at a outlaw rave once, and he was always trying to chill with me. I saw him on SoHo once when I was dressed retro, but I was killing it on all his homies because my shit was ACTUALLY old school, and they was like "yo what you doing, wait!" and I was with a chick and type power walking because I didn't want to hang with him and his female friends LOL. (They were males actually.)
That chinese kid lives on my block, and if it wasn't for me, nobody on my whole street would rock gear like that now. I guess they look up to me being that I'm so diverse with my style and they always ask me about kicks and gear. That's all good though. They're sitting at my old elementary school, P.S. 63.
please help me find him in march so i can hit him! im dead serious
Inactive User
comments in this thread are funnier than the pictures, which are hilarious by the way. thanks
Inactive User
I see these kinds of kids on the bus all the time, shame. SMH
+++ Supreme. 19CM-MIJ. Vans.
can u make it bigger
Inactive User
This is HBs favorite pastime.
This thread is ginormous in a matter of days.
If HB can bond over one thing. Its making fun of people.
please help me find him in march so i can hit him! im dead serious
can u make it bigger
Inactive User


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Brad Scott said the only message his North Melbourne players were interested in sending was to each other, and they now had a reference point for shared intensity and commitment after a stirring seven-point win over Port Adelaide.
The Kangaroos trailed by 21 points late in the third quarter, and by 10 at the last change at Etihad Stadium against a team renowned for running out games. The nature of the win, against a team Scott felt was fielding close to its best 22, made the coach proud.
"It washes off us, it honestly does," Scott said of criticism of North Melbourne after a heavy opening-round loss to Essendon and a grinding win over the Bulldogs.
"It's not a bad thing to rely on your best players - most clubs do. But you want some players to step up when they're down, and our guys did that today.
"I think it's a really good reference for our guys that we played a really good side. I thought they [Port] played well, I thought they outplayed us for periods of the game, but we were able to wrestle control back and give a really, really good running side a good start in the last quarter but come back and get the job done. It was pretty impressive."
Ben Cunnington and Levi Greenwood were superb in a midfield without captain Andrew Swallow and vice-captain Jack Ziebell. "They were fantastic. All it did was really confirm what I've always thought about Ben Cunnington. He's just a terrific player in the contest, I thought he was enormous for us today.
"For North supporters ... I've said for a while, you'll be really proud to watch Ben Cunnington play.
"Levi Greenwood's just the player you love to coach because he's a natural competitor, he knows no other way other than 100 miles an hour at the ball. He's a good athlete, I thought he was fantastic for us."
Scott also praised "the next wave" coming through, including Brad McKenzie, Shaun Atley and Luke McDonald, and said veteran Brent Harvey, who kicked two last-quarter goals, exemplified a maxim preached among the playing group of being "up for the moment".
He said the win over the Bulldogs, in which both teams kicked only two goals to half-time, had been vitally important from a coaching perspective. "We took that into today's game and built another layer on top of it.
"We really had the mentality today that we had to limit what they're good at, but in a lot of ways try and get the game on our terms and play our way, because we couldn't just be defensive and chase them around all day, because that's very difficult to do against Port Adelaide. While we weren't perfect, I thought our effort was."
Jamie MacMillan was subbed off with a leg injury and immediately taken to hospital for scans, putting him in doubt for next Sunday's clash with Sydney at the SCG. He said Ziebell was a good chance to return, but it would be the coach's duty to "protect him from himself" if he was anything less than 100 per cent.
Scott also praised Drew Petrie, who went goalless and had only three possessions, saying his key forward had been double-teamed yet played a valuable role in allowing North to use the ball to plan. "I thought he was absolutely fantastic, a rock of our forward half."
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said his team hadn't handled the pressure as well as the Kangaroos, especially in close at stoppages. "They were just more efficient,'' he said. "Some of their good players stood up and kicked crucial goals when they needed them to. 'Boomer' [Harvey] and [Nick] Dal Santo kicked really good goals.
"It was their pressure, and we didn't handle it quite as well as we would have liked.''
Hinkley tipped that Angus Monfries could be missing until after Port Adelaide's bye in round nine after a severe hamstring strain ended his night in the third quarter, but denied that Chad Wingard rolling his ankle had restricted the Power as the game wore on.
"We still had rotations left, it wasn't that restrictive for us, they just outworked us in the last quarter," he said. "I thought their intensity was really good all day, they were up for the challenge. I don't think anyone would be surprised to say the Kangaroos are a pretty handy side when they get going at their best."


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Undergraduate VSFS Thesis Archives
This page serves as an archive to store the ongoing VSFS student webpages. Please click a link to find the thesis documents or student topic information of theses from that year.
Miekle Thesis: "Visual and Instrument System Enhancement"
Scamps Thesis: "System Development and Motion System"
Rickard Thesis: "Autopilot and Variable Stability Interfaces"
VanBronswijk Thesis: "PC9 Propeller Power Effects"


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Lisa Schiffren at the National Review's group blog The Corner says something interesting and true, a rare enough thing at the Corner these days to warrant comment.
In "Canada or Galt's Gulch" she cites a spoof article in Slate devoted to the fate of Obama supporters in the event he loses (an imaginary exodus to Canada) and says:
Of course conservatives don't threaten to leave the U.S. as a rule. However, on more or less the same subject, I haven't heard so much about John Galt since ...well, ever. (And objectivists were thick on the ground in D.C. during the Reagan administration.)
(For the record, they were thick at the pinnacle, too, up to and including President Reagan's Chairman of the Federal Reserve, Alan Greenspan.)
Continuing, she explains:
I suppose, with all the projections of the Obama administration and its confiscatory tax rates on people and businesses, subordination of the productive to the dependent, public schools turned into training camps for radicals and legions of speech/thought police — i.e. — the end of liberty as we knew it — it might be time to start thinking about the mechanics of Galt's Gulch.
John Galt, for those not familiar, was the mysterious quasi-protagonist of Ayn Rand's hyper-libertarian/radical individualist tome Atlas Shrugged. Galt's great task was to inspire the self-motivated, self-actuating, self-reliant, self-proclaimed and self-deluded "producers" of Ayn Rand's hallucinated political economy to refuse to produce as a protest of the use of the goods of productive impulse being expropriated for the collective benefit.
I say "hallucinated" because when I read the book decades ago (I read 'em all, We The Living is far and away the best, but Atlas was a great read too except for the worthless 50-page polemic embedded near the end), I had to laugh at Rand's juvenile understanding of how the railroads in this country were built. As if some visionary entrepreneur was responsible. Yeah. Right. I wonder if anyone ever mentioned to Rand the fact that the land upon which the railroads were built was, um, originally public, much of it literally granted free to the railroads out of the common weal?
But I digress.
As I said, Schiffern's claim about hearing so much about Galt lately is in fact, true. If you follow the grass roots conservative movement, as I do, by way of friends and acquaintances, am talk radio, periodicals, blogs and comment threads, you do in fact hear more and more talk of a Galtian "strike." That raises two issues, one of which is serious.
The first goes straight to Schiffren's suggestion about the "mechanics" of Galtian protest. Surely, she jests? No, it appears she isn't joking, and I suspect most of the dispirited conservatives whispering about John Galt aren't joking either. But come the heck on. What does Schiffren think life would be like in Galt's Gulch? That she'll whittle her Corner items into planks of hand-hewn lumber and float them down some stream otherwise used to produce Coors beer to a breathlessly awaiting audience of other Galtian protestors?
Is she going to remain in place on whatever coast she lives on but protest by withdrawing from the dollar economy by way of the barter-, gold- or under-the-table economy? What's she going to do, trade Corner items with Jonah Goldberg, then sell them for gold at some flea market? Or in the parking lot of some Virginia gun show?
The reason why the threats of leaving the country by the Hollywood liberal/left were so easily mockable is that there was a degree of plausibility to the shrieks, unlikely as it may be that they'd have followed through. They are, after all, financially independent and their occupations do not require physical presence in the United States of America (in fact, frequently the opposite). But the threat of withdrawing from the American political economy is simply too ridiculous on its face to effectively mock, especially for right-wing blog posters whose primary occupation is right-wing blogging. What possible transaction is there that acquires, say, FOOD in return for, say, having written "Obama is a socialist" arguments that are not also inextricable from the formal political economy?
But seriously now.
The Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sarah Palin spent most of the past week excoriating Senator Obama for purported socialism. Although I don't know if she ever actually used the term "Nanny State," CNN attributed that sentiment to her without objection, based on this statement in North Dakota on October 25th:
It leads to government moving into the role of taking care of you, and government and politicians and, kind of moving in as the other half of your family to make decisions for you," she said. "Now they do this in other countries where the people are not free. Government as part of the family, taking care of us, making decisions for us. I don't know what to think of having in my family Uncle Barney Frank or others to make decisions for me.
What is so remarkable about that statement is that she made it less than twenty-four hours after making a substantive policy speech regarding policy proposals relating to "Special Needs Children" aka "Mentally Disabled Children," aka "Retarded Children." And what she was calling for in that speech was Socialism. Pure, unadulterated, concentrated Socialism. To anticipate a counterargument, "But Jack, we're talking about retarded kids here. Even if it is technically Socialism, no one is going to begrudge retarded children a claim on the public purse," I'd like to wait a bit on that. Quit interrupting and I'll get to that later.
To continue. Sarah Palin's "Special needs" speech is Socialistic on three grounds, as a practical public program, as an expression of philosophical premises, and as a deep moral First Principle.
As a practical program, I brainstormed with my family this week about the extent to which my brother, of whom I have written previously, absorbed resources from the public sector during his life, career and now his institutionalization. I have a better idea than what I'm about to report, but the question I asked was simply: Over or under a million dollars? Way over? Starting with special education fifty years ago, then job training, sheltered workshop, subsidized private-sector wages, subsidized housing, group home, Supplemental Social Security . . . the list went on. Consider this, which is probably true for almost all Special Needs folk: There was probably not a weekday of my brother's life from entering school at age five and for the fifty years afterward that he did not ride the "short bus" somewhere for something. All that diesel and gasoline adds up. On the one hand, the family provided some care that other families just left to the state, but on the other hand we were pretty rigorous about utilizing whatever programs were out there, so let's say those two tendencies roughly offset. As I said, I won't be too specific, but seems like over a million dollars is reasonable estimate.
Those resources are simply beyond the means of the vast majority of American families. There is NO WAY that an ordinary family can take the approximate lifetime earnings of the parents and devote them entirely to one special needs child with nothing leftover for the other children, mortgages, food, clothing and the other elements of living. For almost all of us, those expenses have to be literally "socialized" because the individual financial expense is just too great.
"But Jack," I can hear you again, "That's what I'm trying to tell you. That level of socialism for that purpose is okay." I told you to quit interrupting. Let me finish.
Next. In philosophical terms, the notion of Socialism has commonly been reduced to the aphorism "From each according to their abilities, to each according to their needs." Special education and related programs entail almost a perfect exemplar of that principle because the needs are so great relative to the abilities of the subjects. In many cases, even the term "disability" is too mild. We're talking "inability." Special education and affiliated public sector programs require major investment of resources for minor or sometimes negligible returns. The thing is, there's in truth just about as much education going on in Special Education as there is Olympics going in during the Special Olympics.
Which is not to say that either of those enterprises are not worthwhile. It's just that we value them not by the ordinary metrics of "Education" or "Olympics," but by genuinely subjective humane values. I don't remember for what event my brother won that Gold Medal pictured above (running?) but I doubt his achievement would have registered on a stopwatch. The idea is to create fulfillment and human dignity, not to achieve athletic excellence measured objectively or, in the case of education, to teach them valuable skills to be net producers in society. Even when my brother was in an employer-tax-credit subsidized private sector job, the objective reality was that a stoned fifteen-year-old would have more efficiently emptied the supermarket parking lot of shopping carts.
"But, Jack--" Okay, okay. Enough with the interruptions already. I'll respond now.
Socialism in this instance also vindicates and validates a moral First Principle. In Sarah Palin's case, she has won much praise from her supporters in the Pro-Life movement (even from her harshest critic in public commentary, Andrew Sullivan) for maintaining her moral doctrine that life begins at conception and that abortion is by definition evil--equivalent if not exactly murder--and choosing therefore to bear and raise her son Trig rather than to terminate the pregnancy once doctors told her he was suffering a genetic defect.
Consider. In her speech last Friday, Palin called for "full funding" Of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. According to Sara Mead at the New America Foundation:
IDEA "full funding" is determined by a formula that multiplies the number of children with special needs, by the average per pupil expenditure in the United States, by 40 percent. For fiscal year 2008, fully funding IDEA would cost more than $25 billion dollars--more than double the roughly $11 billion the federal government spent on IDEA Part B grants this year. "Fully funding" IDEA next year would require roughly $15 billion in additional federal education spending ....
This means a couple of different things. First, after campaigning all year against Congressional earmarks, the sum total of which is about $20 billion, in one fell swoop in one little-remarked-upon speech, and with one Vice-Presidential earmark, Palin put back into the Federal budget at least 75% of the "savings" that might be generated in the unlikely event that all Congressional earmarks were eliminated.
Moreover, while at first glance it seems quite gratifying and uplifting to know that Special Needs children might have an "advocate in the White House," as Palin suggested in her nomination-acceptance speech, and it seems as if that is especially so because Palin is herself the mother of a Special Needs child, as you think a little deeper you realize that there is an aspect of self-interest to Palin's proposal. After all, does she not have a child certain to be a nominal beneficiary of the proposed large increase in federal funding?
Yes, a special needs child is more heart-warming than, say, a driver in Boston whose daily commute time is reduced because of Federal Funding of the Big Dig (for about the same $15 billion) but the principle is the same.
But there's an aspect deeper than that. Whether the presence or absence of Federal Special Education funding had any effect of Palin's decision not to terminate her pregnancy is so unlikely that I feel confident setting that probability at zero. If you're anti-abortion as a matter of metaphysical certainty, it's not like an incremental increase in the flow of federal money to local Special Education programs is going have any effect whatsoever on your decision. However, that Federal funding does have an effect on the consequences of that decision because Special Education is socialized. That is, society bears some portion of the financial cost of that decision. This is not, by the way, intended to argue that society should play even the slightest role in making the decision not to terminate. That is an area of intimate family conduct to which the state should have not the slightest claim. It is, however, to argue this: If Senator Obama is a Socialist, then so is Governor Palin. The difference is, his Socialism is the ordinary and banal sort ostensibly intended to support "poor people." Her Socialism supports "Those who hold to the doctrine that life begins at conception and that abortion is murder." Thus, the Special Needs children themselves are not the sole beneficiaries of socialized Special Education funding.
In fact, I would argue that the child is at most a secondary beneficiary, maybe even only the token beneficiary. To see why, I refer you to another little-noted statement by Sarah Palin last Friday. She sat down for an interview with the Chicago Tribune and discussed both her son Trig, afflicted with Down Syndrome, and her nephew Karcher, afflicted with autism. Autism is much more variable in its expression in terms of a person's ability to function and she does not directly say how functional Karcher is but, reading between the lines, it seems like his case is severe. The reporter's description of Palin's emotional response and the concern she attributes to her nephew's parents is heartbreaking:
Palin's eyes well up as she talks about her sister's son, Karcher, who has autism
"My sister and I have talked a lot about this. It makes me cry thinking about it," Palin said. "She asked with tears in her eyes, she says, 'What happens when Kurt and I, though, are elderly, then what happens to Karcher?' "
I know well the concern expressed by Sarah's sister not from a lifetime of experience, but from a lifetime of witness. I know that it is a burden--an unbearable burden in some families, bearable in others, but it is always a burden. Lifting that burden even a small bit is an incalculable benefit. And Socializing that burden is both humane and essential. But let us not fool ourselves, it is not the Special Needs child to whom that benefit accrues. How do they know what their families are worried about decades from now? The greatest, enduring socialistic benefit of Special Education goes not to the child, but to the family around the child. From Grandparents to the youngest sibling. When I think about Piper Palin fifty years from now ....
I wonder what John Galt would say about that?