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|August 29, 2012
Volume 14, Issue 18
|Midwifery Today E-News
"International Issue"
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Bring natural remedies into your midwifery practice
Sign up for the full-day Herbs, Homeopathy and Alternative Practices class with Lisa Goldstein. This class includes slides for plant identification and demos for making herbal tinctures, oils, salves and homeopathic solutions. Plus, you'll be given an extensive reference book to take home. Come and learn new tips and uses for your favorite remedies. Part of our conference in Bad Wildbad, Germany, this October.
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Attend the full-day Spinning Babies Workshop with Gail Tully!
Gail Tully will discuss how you can spot a long labor before labor begins and turn it around to a shorter labor. You'll learn about the 3 Principles of Spinning Babies: Balance, Gravity, and Movement in pregnancy and in labor. You'll compare anterior and posterior fetal position and practice labor progress techniques appropriate to the level of descent. Part of our conference in Eugene, Oregon, April 2013. Plan now to attend!
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In This Week's Issue
Quote of the Week
Birth is as safe as life gets.
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The Art of Midwifery
After the cause of hemorrhage is recognized and differentiated, herbs can be used to act on the cause. In TCM (traditional Chinese medicine), herbs are described in terms of categories with certain actions such as blood quickeners, wind-heat resolvers, qi boosters and so on. Herbs can also have a taste. Pungent herbs are usually dispersing, sweet herbs are supplementing, and bitter herbs are cooling. Herbs have property, which is their temperature. They have direction: dispersing, moving up and out, contracting, moving in and down, descending and ascending. And finally they have functions, some primary and some secondary.
— Valerie Hobbs, excerpted from Birth Wisdom, Tricks of the Trade, Vol. III, a Midwifery Today book
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Jan's Corner
When we look at the condition of birth practices around the world there does not seem to be much hope. I am generally quite an optimistic person, so I want to talk about the hope that I see. We all know the horrifying situation of birth practices so I won't spend any words now on that.
Let's look at China for an example of hope. It seems the government there wants to lower the cesarean rate and also do more natural birth. The places I have visited in China don't seem to have a problem with the epidural epidemic but they do with the cesarean epidemic, so it is very hopeful that they want to lower that rate. We discovered one reason for their high cesarean rate—if we could change that one thing, it would lower the rate. They do cesareans for cord around the neck of the baby, which is discovered a lot since ultrasound is used so pervasively. About 33% of babies have a cord around the neck, which is generally protective because then the cord won't wash down in front of the baby's head in what is known as a cord prolapse. So getting the information out that there is no need to do a cesarean for cord around the neck is really important. Carol Gautschi and I were able to that when we went to Guangzhou to do a five-day training. There were 150 midwives, mostly heads of maternity units, in attendance. Great ideas will go to eight different provinces in China via those attendees!
I also have experienced the strength of activists in many different countries, from Bulgaria to Croatia. Nearly every country has these activists spreading the word about great motherbaby-centered birth. When we are at a conference like the upcoming one in Bad Wildbad, Germany (October 17–21, 2012), we will meet many more. These beautiful seeds—planted all over the world, from Australia to Zimbabwe—give us great hope. We birth watchers are seeing a revolution happening. Look at the proliferation of birth websites, blogs and social media users. On my Facebook page we ask questions and we receive answers from all over the world immediately. The responses are often brilliant.
There are projects in India, Philippines, South Africa, each European country, and almost every country I have been privileged to meet midwives and activists from. There are many plans that have not yet been manifest, but if we encourage each other to "just do it" there will be many more.
In the USA there are so many midwives, doulas, childbirth educators, birth networks, Facebook pages and Twitter users. There seems to be a shaking of the earth with the idea that we need good births. As Jeannie Parvati-Baker said, "Peace on Earth Begins with Birth." Our calling has far-reaching effects. I encourage you to keep up the good work you are doing for motherbaby. We are all needed to help manifest better births everywhere. The speed of social media enables us to share ideas instantaneously. Use it to brainstorm projects. Let everyone know what you are doing and how they can help. With hope in our hearts and minds and the hard work each of you are doing, we can change the world of birth.
— Jan Tritten, mother of Midwifery Today
Jan Tritten is the founder, editor-in-chief and mother of Midwifery Today magazine. She became a midwife in 1977 after the amazing homebirth of her second daughter. Her mission is to make loving midwifery care the norm for birthing women and their babies throughout the world. Meet Jan at our conferences around the world, or join her online, as she works to transform birth practices around the world.
Jan on Twitter: https://twitter.com/jantritten
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News and Research
Flood at Mercy In Action, Philippines
After a disaster flood in the Philippines, the Mercy In Action clinic and birth center in Olongapo was mostly destroyed. Everyone on the Mercy In Action team is alive and safe, but many of the center's supplies were damaged or destroyed.
Mercy In Action is in the planning stages of purchasing a house on a large piece of land much higher off the river where it will not flood. They desire to purchase this land in order to construct a new birth center and have more living space for staff and visiting interns.
Please consider donating to the building program. The land and existing house at the new location (where it will not flood in the future) is being sold for US $84,000.
One of the Mercy In Action staff members wrote, "And during the mucking out and cleaning up phase this morning, wouldn't you know it, a woman from the resettlement camp arrived in labor! Our amazingly dedicated and hard-working midwives cleared the mess aside enough for her to deliver a healthy baby girl. Amidst the chaos, life goes on."
You can go online to donate to Mercy In Action at http://www.mercyinaction.com, or you can send a check to:
— Mercy In Action Newsletter. 2012. "Devastating Flood at Mercy In Action Olongapo, Philippines."
Live your dream and become a Nurse-Midwife at Frontier Nursing University
Frontier Nursing University's nurse-midwifery program is the longest-running midwifery program in the United States, was the first to offer distance education, offers one of the only ADN-MSN online bridge options and educates more certified nurse-midwives than any other program in the country. The community-based distance education program allows you to complete your coursework online and clinical work in your own community.
Featured Article
Hospital Birth
Editor's note: For this international edition of E-News, we asked Midwifery Today's country contacts the following question: What does hospital birth in your country look like?
In Belize, private hospitals charge 1500–3000 Bz (750–1500 USD) for prenatal care and delivery. A c-section costs about 5000 Bz (2500 USD). Patients receive good, close-to-American care, plus extra benefits, such as the husband can attend the birth, they have access to private rooms, etc.
At public hospitals, women labor in a ward with 4–6 beds with curtains in between. The family can attend until late labor (7 cm or more) when the laboring woman is moved to a smaller room to prepare for delivery in a delivery room. Sometimes the family can accompany the birthing woman, but most often not.
Women deliver flat on their back on a small short bed with no pillow—since stirrups are used for all births, legroom is not needed on the bed.
For first-time moms, episiotomies occur 90% of the time, and the cord is clamped and cut in fewer than 30 seconds. Active management of third stage is the norm. Baby and mom room together at all times unless baby needs special care. The cost for public hospitals is 75 BZ up to 300 BZ if a c-section occurs.
The time involved to transport to a regional hospital (not all hospitals have an operating room) is usually around 1–3 hours. Patients bring their own supplies, such as a towel, a face cloth, diapers, pads, toothpaste, shampoo, toilet paper, soap and extra food.
— Gail Johnson
The rate of neonatal death in India is so high that the government has been encouraging hospital birth in recent years. They have also started a scheme called The Golden Hour, which is a country-wide project that trains anyone in the birthing world for free to do simple steps to promote good motherbaby-friendly care. This is an excellent initiative and I attended the course to update my knowledge and learn the current procedures here. Things taught included immediate skin-to-skin contact, no separation of motherbaby unless medically indicated, no routine suctioning and delayed cord-cutting. The majority of people on the course were pediatricians, although it was aimed at the grassroots crowd and was a simple but very good course with visual aids, role play and repetition of information.
Due to the overpopulation of urban cities, the government-run hospitals are swamped. That means:
The doctors are exhausted and the medical workers are overworked and overtired. When nurse midwives are at births, they do the same things: episiotomy, fundal pressure etc.
— Lina Duncan
In Portugal there are two systems: public and private. The number of cesareans in a private hospital is about two out of three births.
In the public system, you have to go to the hospital; there is no infrastructure that gives you any choice outside the hospital.
Things are changing a little bit, but still laboring women are given no food, no drinks, no company of their choice and the room is filled with bright lights. Sometimes women are shaved and receive enemas. The hospital is paid by the amount of interventions they do.
According to protocol, women will have a vaginal exam every two hours and will be in a room with other women until they reach 7 cm dilation. Fathers-to-be have hardly space to move; there is no privacy. When women reach 7 cm of dilation, they are wheeled into a birthing room and push with their legs in stirrups (this is with 10 cm of dilation, not with pushing contractions).
Breastfeeding is not on demand, and mother and babies are separated. Vitamin K is given by injection and so are some vaccinations, which are done in the very first days (tuberculosis and hepatitis B). After three days you are allowed to go home. If you want to go home sooner, the baby has to stay at the hospital. Informed consent is unheard of.
The hospitals that are meant for rich people are quite clean and even a little kind, but the birth process is nearly always on a high table, often with stirrups and surrounded by strangers. Episiotomies are given and the umbilical cord is usually cut immediately. Baby is then taken away from mother.
However, things are changing since the CNN Heroes event last December. I have had many appearances on Indonesian and Filipino TV—gentle birth is all the buzz. I met with more than 900 Filipino midwives and promoted gentle childbirth, loving birth and long, long delay of umbilical cord cutting on International Day of the Midwives in May. Usually more than twice a week I teach groups of graduating Indonesian midwives (called Bidan). These groups come 30 to 100 at a time by bus and airplane from many islands to learn about loving, gentle childbirth. Last week I taught a group of 1500 midwives in Jakarta. I am supposed to inspire them, but they inspire me with their potential for making birth better and gentler for the mother, baby and family. These are amazing times and the midwifery-to-mother model of care is just getting better and better in Indonesia.
Please, midwives, delay delay delay cutting that umbilical cord. Bumi Sehat delays by a minimum of three hours, and we are doing a lot of full lotus births.
Love from Bali, Indonesia,
Featured Products
Website Update
You may check out the table of contents for the newest issue of Midwifery Today magazine here. The theme is Shoulder Dystocia.
Read this editorial by Jan Tritten from the brand-new Autumn 2012 issue of Midwifery Today, Autumn 2012:
Read these reviews from the Spring 2012 issue of Midwifery Today magazine now on our website:
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Wisdom from the Web
Perineal massage does not "lengthen" the tissues of the perineum. However, it does increase the stretch in two ways. First, perineal massage is done with cold-pressed oil, which lubricates the tissue making it softer, more supple and improves flexibility. This makes it easier for the tissues to stretch as the baby is born. Second, perineal massage familiarizes the mother with the stretching sensations she will feel as the baby is born. This helps her learn to keep her perineal area relaxed during the stretching of crowning which can help prevent tears.
— Birthing Naturally, a free source of information about pregnancy and birth
Unrefined, real sea salt is almost gray in color and slightly damp in feel. It contains trace elements and minerals that act as electrolytes and keep the correct balance of fluids in the bloodstream. "Good" salt actually attaches itself to water and pulls it back into the bloodstream, instead of letting it leak out into the extremities—the pathological swelling of pregnancy that is so typical and normal for so many pregnant women. Unfortunately for these women, the swelling only gets worse and worse and more painful as the pregnancy progresses and they follow the low-salt recommendations of their doctor.
— Indie Birth, a website dedicated to providing "intellectual fuel for free-thinking mommas"
The lactation system inside your breasts resembles a tree. The milk glands (the leaves) are grapelike clusters of cells high up in the breast that make milk. Milk travels from these glands down through the milk ducts (the branches). These ducts then widen beneath the areola (the dark area surrounding the nipple), forming milk sinuses (the tree trunk), which then empties into the approximately twenty openings in your nipple (like the channels going down to the roots of the tree). These milk sinuses are located beneath your areola.
— Ask Dr. Sears, a trusted resource for parents
If you'd like to share a bit of wisdom from the Web, please send a 4–5 sentence excerpt, accompanied by a link, to email@example.com.
Conference Chatter
Byron Bay, Australia
We found a great place for a conference—Byron Bay, Australia. As you know, we have wonderful, healing conferences around the world, and my hope is to strengthen Australian midwifery. This location is amazing and I thank my friend Sue Cookson for suggesting it and helping me find it. We are thinking of having a conference there November 3–9, 2014. We wanted to have a full moon party on the beach! This location is one of the top places to go in the world—a beautiful long beach is located right next to town. The time is perfect for excellent swimming weather. Don't play too much hooky while you are there because the conference classes will be excellent with our roster of amazing teachers. The location of the conference has restaurants and shops all around. A grocery store and many great accommodations in all price ranges are within a few steps of the venue. This is a conference that has us really excited, and we hope you will mark the days to join us!
— Jan Tritten
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With my third baby, I called all my relatives to join us! When I got to the hospital, my labor absolutely stalled out. I signed a waiver to leave and went to the hotel across the street. My family all helped me to get labor going the next day—it was very funny and ridiculous. Finally, late the next night, I lay down with my exhausted husband to get some rest, when contractions gripped me like nobody's business! I gave birth to my daughter unassisted in the Courtyard Marriott, across the street from the hospital. They named the suite after her.
— Angela Kirsch
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Midwifery Today: Each One Teach One!


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The World Series of Poker
Our Gambling Expert's Trip to the Big Leagues Ends With a Lesson in Hardball
(continued from page 4)
For many years I have written about the World Series of Poker, the biggest poker tournament on earth, where, in the World Championship Main Event, players put up $10,000 each and play until one person has all the chips. And a $1 million cash prize. For years I have played in poker tournaments around the world, events you've probably never heard of, losing many, placing in the money in some, and winning a few. Like the minor league baseball prospect who has just enough success at Double-A ball to think he might get a crack at the big leagues, I've always won enough (and learned enough) to think I might one day be worthy of a shot at the Main Event. Every year I've trekked to Binion's Horseshoe in downtown Las Vegas and chronicled the exploits of the world's best poker players. With every passing year I've come closer to convincing myself that I am one of them. That I should be huddled with the living legends of the game, the Johnny Chans and Stu Ungars and Doyle Brunsons, betting, raising and folding in quest of the most revered prize in poker.
But I've always had this rule: If you can't win your way in, you're not good enough to compete. Fact is, anyone who wants to play in the Main Event can simply pay $10,000 cash and take a seat, and every year about a third of the field does. But the majority of players, me included, play in satellite tournaments (Cigar Aficionado, April 1998), the poker equivalent of Monday qualifiers on the PGA Tour. Like their golf brethren, poker satellites are long shots--typically 200 or more players vying for a few spots--but, every night during the three weeks leading up to the Main Event, someone converts a $220 entry fee into an invitation to the big dance. Satellites are difficult to win, terribly difficult, but if you do beat the long odds, you've instantly created for yourself what gamblers call an "overlay," where your long-term expectation is greater than the equity you've invested. To play in a $10,000 buy-in poker tournament for a few hundred dollars is about as big of an overlay as you'll ever find in a casino.
On the night I arrive at the Horseshoe, five days before the Main Event, I play in the first of what I expect will be many satellite tournaments. Thanks to sharp play, good judgment and, it must be said, some extraordinarily good luck, my first satellite tournament of the 1998 World Series of Poker has the desired result. Eight hours after I arrive in Las Vegas, I've won a seat in the Main Event.
As the final hand is dealt, eliminating the last player standing between me and my poker dream-come-true, I sit dumbly in my chair, staring blankly at the dealer. All around me there is much hooting and hollering and backslapping. But I am speechless. Then I realize: in five days I'm going to be playing for the World Championship of Poker. Then I do something you should never do at a poker table: I cry.
Like a boxer preparing for the ring, I spend the next few days getting ready. But instead of road work and hours on the heavy bag, I review oft-read poker textbooks and play a few more satellite tourneys down the street at the Union Plaza (winning again!). I focus my every thought on No Limit Texas Hold'em, the game that is used to decide the World Championship. (The game is a variation of seven-card stud in which each player is dealt two "hole," or down, cards and shares five "community" cards, dealt up, with his opponents; you pick from all seven cards to try to make the best five-card hand. "No Limit" means you can bet any or all of your chips at any time.) Finally, I conduct a feverish debate with myself over the importance of having lucky talismans wedged in my pocket when the Main Event begins. Now, I'm a longtime gambling writer; I know holding on to locks of hair from my dog, cat and girlfriend will have no effect whatsoever on the cards I am dealt; I know.
But I figure, what the hell. They can't hurt.
The morning of the World Championship, I rise early and complete what is supposed to be an hour-long jog in 20 minutes. I eat about four bites of what is supposed to be a nourishing fruit-plate breakfast. My digestive system is not working well.
You might say I'm nervous.
What worries me most, I come to understand after an impromptu therapy session with my girlfriend, is failure. Not the failure of losing the $1 million--or, for that matter, the $687,500 second prize, or $25,000 27th prize--but of failing to play well. I'm scared of playing like an idiot, of giving my chips away, like a hopeless old lady in thrall to a televangelist. I'm scared of not belonging in this competition--and scared that my play will confirm my fears.
An hour before game time, I'm lying in my hotel bed, with the shades drawn, silently reassuring myself that the only way I can fail is if I don't enjoy myself.
It works. I feel swell. I'm ready. Only problem is, so immersed am I in deep-breathing exercises, positive visualization and various other affirming rituals I am too embarrassed to describe that I arrive late, missing the tournament's first two hands and the poker equivalent of "Gentlemen, start your engines!": tournament coordinator Jack McClelland's famous direction of "Shuffle up and deal!"
When I float in, carried along on a buoyant current of newfound equanimity, the scene is electric, pulsing with a potent mixture of anticipation and dread. Four days from now, someone, one of the 350 players congregated at Binion's Horseshoe, will be crowned the World Champion of Poker. Someone will have survived.
And everyone else will have perished. This scene of an accident waiting to happen draws a large crowd of onlookers, a menagerie of media types, curious bystanders taking a break from the slot machines, and legions of crestfallen poker players who didn't make it into the field. I know how they feel, because for many years I stood exactly where they stood, wishing I were inside the ropes, not outside looking in.
Dashing to Table 50, I take my seat--the 8-seat, two to the dealer's right--check that my $10,000 stake is intact, and look around to get my bearings. Matt Damon, doing publicity for his upcoming poker movie and, thus, surrounded by a swarm of television cameras, is two tables away. The legendary Doyle Brunson is at Damon's table, waiting to suck in the young actor's loose, movie star money. Huck Seed, a former World Champion I've previously written about, is at a table over my left shoulder, as is Berry Johnston, another all-time great former titleholder.
At my table, the only table in the universe that matters to me for now, are the eight other fellows with whom I hope to be spending the next eight hours. I've played with all but two of these guys, and none of them are soft. There aren't any World Champions here, but several have come breathlessly close. In the 2-seat is John Spadevecchia, who finished third three years ago; next to him is Hans "Tuna" Lund, who has finished second in the Main Event and first in numerous other poker tournaments; and beside the big fish is my friend Blair Rodman, a fierce competitor who finished high in the money last year and who, coincidentally, played golf with me two days earlier. But there will be no "gimmes" today.
My game plan--to fold everything for the first hour unless I'm dealt aces, kings, queens or ace-king--becomes obsolete within five minutes. Like a hound on the scent of a squirrel, I can't countermand my instincts. My poker conditioning has become so acute that when I see a good opportunity to "pick up" (steal) a tiny pot, I pounce, like the old hound. That I have nothing worth playing in my hand doesn't make any difference. My position--last of the players to act--is perfect, and based on the betting and body language of my opponents, I can sense, I'm certain, nobody is going to call my modest raise. The fear I thought might cripple me, the kind of fear that paralyzes and robs judgment, never materializes. I had envisioned myself hyperventilating the first time I tried to play a pot in the World Championship, like a fledgling actor gripped with stage fright; but when I say "raise" and toss my chips into the pot, it feels just like any other of the hundreds of poker tournaments I've played in, only with much more at stake.
Everybody folds, the dealer pushes me the pot, and, simple as that, I'm no longer a World Series of Poker virgin. I've won my first pot on the eighth hand of the tournament. My heart did not suffer any unusual palpitations. My palms did not start secreting a cold, viscous liquid. I did not soil myself. Everything is fine. Now I can forget my apprehension and play.
Over the next 90 minutes, I build up to $11,400 without ever having a showdown. A little pot here, a minor bluff there--no major confrontations, no high drama. Just solid, positional poker. The kind that can get you in the money, yet seldom wins first place. For now, that will do nicely. I'm just relieved not to have made a premature exit. I want to live a little before I die.
At the end of the first level, several big-name professionals are out, including the brilliant Phil Hellmuth Jr., another of my profile subjects, a man of whom I have written admiringly in the past. How strange--how wonderful, I must admit--to be in the running while he is not. I feel like a young boy who has just discovered, after many years of practice and instruction, that he can finally drive his golf ball past his dad's. I feel as if I belong here.
The "blind" bets--a form of anteing--double in size during the second level, as they will continue to do for the rest of the tournament. Steadily escalating stakes force you to play, you can't merely sit and wait to be dealt miracle cards. But you can't be reckless, either. Success in any poker tournament, especially the World Series of Poker, is contingent on many factors--skill, timing, luck--but the key element may be picking your spots and, unless you know you have by far the best of the battle, avoiding big confrontations.
During the tournament's second level, almost three and a half hours after the first hand has been dealt, I still haven't shown down a single hand. That is to say I haven't turned over my cards once. Yet I've managed to build my bankroll to a healthy $15,000, mainly by betting aggressively when I'm committed to a hand and foldingit when I'm not. No raising wars, no final card heroics--just solid, well-modulated poker. The largest pot I win, about $1,800, comes to me when my opponent, Spadevecchia, who had called a series of raises before and after the flop, decides he can't call my $2,000 bet on the end.
Almost concurrent with my emerging belief that I'm playing wonderfully well, I make two big blunders and blow off a big chunk of chips. Two bad bluffs and I'm down to $7,800.
Immediately returning to form, I grind my way back to $12,400, never showing down a hand. After four hours of play, nearly 100 contestants have already departed. But the 250 or so of us who remain should now have proportionally more chips among us. In a poker tournament, you need to be like a whale swimming through an ocean of plankton, slurping up as many chips as you can get your jaws around. Paul "Eskimo" Clark, a top tournament player who, as you might imagine, looks like an Eskimo, is the king of the sea at this point. Every time I turn around to check the tables behind me, his stack of chips has grown another inch or two. The $45,000 or so he's accumulated makes my wee twelve-and-change feel like a country cottage compared to his burgeoning skyscraper.
During the next two hours of play, the third level, I play poker about as well as I ever have. Without putting too many chips at risk, yet betting aggressively enough to shake the confidence of my opponents, I steadily build to $18,600 in chips without losing a hand. My competitors, I can feel, are starting to fear and respect me--the ideal result, according to my U.S. Marine Corps upbringing. After six hours, I know I can play with anyone at my table, including the almost-World Champions.
And even better, I can see that they know it, too.
At the fourth level, we're playing with $100 and $200 blind bets, as well as a compulsory $25 ante, and players are starting to drop out quickly. The field is down to 225 or so, and our table has already had a few victims. Each time somebody gets eliminated, tables are consolidated and another player is brought in to fill the seat. (Sometimes two players in a row get eliminated from the same seat; it then becomes known as "the electric chair.") When the player to my immediate left loses the last of his chips, a stranger comes to town, taking the empty seat. That's when the trouble begins.
I know the man--his name is Larry--as I've played in many tournaments with him before. But I can't remember his style of play, if he's a loose cannon or as tight as a miser. I can't recall if he can be induced into making bad calls, or if he's impossible to bluff. To me, at least, he's a cipher.
Ideally, I'd like to watch Larry play for a few rounds. But two hands after he sits down, before I can get a line on his play, I'm dealt the best cards I've seen since the World Series of Poker Main Event began. I peek at my pair of red kings, and I know I've got to play.
I'm first to act--"one off the blinds," in poker parlance--and I raise the pot $600, requiring anyone who wants to play his hand to put in $800. Larry, the next to act, pauses momentarily and, to my surprise, calls. Everyone else folds.
Unless he has aces--and I don't think he does, or else he probably would have reraised me--I've got the best hand before the flop. I figure him for something like ace-king, possibly of the same suit. As long as the dealer doesn't put an ace on the board, I figure I'm good.
The flop comes 10-6-4, with two hearts. It's a flop I like. Not wanting to give my opponent a "free" card, a chance to improve his hand at no cost, I bet $1,600.
Larry thinks for a moment, looks at his pile of $24,000 in chips, and says, "I raise." He matches my $1,600 bet and puts another $3,000 in the pot.
Before I do any analysis, my first instinct is to fold. There's an old saying in poker: "If you can't sometimes fold the best hand, you'll never be a winner." I think I probably have the best hand--but I'm not sure. Given my position (first to act), Larry can exploit my uncertainty. I have about $18,000 in front of me. I can fold, accept my $2,400 loss and live to fight another battle, when I am sure of where I stand.
But. And yet. However. . .This is the best hand I've seen in more than seven hours of poker. I may have Larry drawing dead to two or three cards, making me a big favorite to take down a monster pot. On the other hand. . .
I run through the possibilities:
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subset: commoncrawl


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Our Productions Theatre Co. & Theatre FMPAT Present PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES, 12/13-23
The roof will be raised with toe-tappin' tunes as Our Productions Theatre Co. & Theatre FMPAT presents PUMP BOYS & DINETTES by John Foley, Mark Hardwick, Debra Monk, Cass Morgan, John Schimmel and Jim Wann. The show runs December 13 - 23 in the Black Box Theater at the MCL Grand, 100 North Charles Street in Lewisville.
On Highway 57, somewhere between Frog Level and Smyrna, stands a gas station. Across the blacktop is a roadside eatery called the Double Cupp Diner. The four guys at the station, Jim, Jackson, Eddie and L.M., have been known to do some auto repairs, but only when aided by quantities of time and beer. The Cupp sisters, Prudie and Rhetta, celebrate their home cooking with the same zeal they bring to being neighbourly with the boys. This is their musical tribute to life by the roadside!
Playing and singing cast members include Mark Mullino, who also directs, Doug Jackson, Angie McWhorter, Rick Norman, Stephanie Riggs, and John Venable. The piece is produced in conjunction with Samuel French Musicals and Actors' Equity Association, with sponsors including The Town of Flower Mound and The Texas Commission on the Arts & The National Endowment for the Arts.
Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 p.m., Fridays & Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., and Sundays at 2:00 p.m. December 13 - 23. All seats for Thursday, Friday and Sunday performances are $25, and Saturday nights are $30. There is a $3 discount for seniors, students, and children. Groups of 10 or more save 10%.
Purchase your tickets in advance for best seating at www.ourproductionstheatreco.org, click 'Tickets'. Mastercard or Visa is required. Cash/Check sales are only available at the box office, which opens one hour prior to curtain the night of each performance. Parking, directions, and other information is also available at the website.
Our Productions Theatre Co./Theatre FMPAT is a professional non-profit theatrical charitable organization 501 (c) 3 whose mission is to develop cultural growth in North Texas. Beginning its' 20thSeason, Our Productions/Theatre FMPAT challenges audiences through presentation of new, diverse, and classic theatrical productions for both adults and children; raising awareness of important issues through performance; fostering the educational development of future artists; and preserving the heritage of live theatrical performance for both current and future generations. It has been the only professional company, using Actors' Equity Association contracts, in Denton County since 1993. Our Productions/Theatre FMPAT is a resident company at the new Lewisville Center for the Creative Arts/Medical Center of Lewisville Grand Theatre (MCL Grand) Black Box, located at 100 North Charles Street in Lewisville. For additional information visit www.ourproductionstheatreco.org on the web or call 972-724-2147.
Pictured: Rick Norman, Mark Mullino, Stephanie Riggs, John Venable, Angie McWhirter, and Doug Jackson are the Pump Boys & Dinettes. Photo Credit: Scott Kirkham.


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Baltimore vs. San Francisco is the best possible Super Bowl match-up that can come out of this weekend's conference championships games.
We'd get the Harbaugh Bowl – coaching brothers John of the Ravens and Jim of the 49ers– along with Ravens linebacker Lewis' farewell and the return to full glory of the storied 49ers. I'm not sure we can take much more of Lewis' dancing or Jim Harbaugh's whining to referees, but it'd be a worthy showdown of quality teams.
Alas, I don't think that's what we'll get on Feb. 3 in New Orleans.
My hunch is it'll be Patriots vs. 49ers after this weekend shakes out, and that brings some intrigue, too. I don't see Brady and the Pats losing a conference title at home to a Ravens team that, for all of Lewis' hype, is average on defense. The 49ers ravaged the Packers last week while the Falcons hung on despite themselves and survived against the Seahawks. The hotter team prevails there.
Here's how I'd rank the potential Super Bowl match-ups, from best to worst:This would be tough for the Harbaughs. Imagine figuring out a game plan to beat your brother's game plan. Imagine the reality that one brother will have a great night and offseason and the other will be stuck with "what ifs". Imagine poor brother-in-law Tom Crean trying to figure out what to say at the next family reunion.
In all seriousness, you know the brothers had to have talked football over the years, sibling rivalry or not. Would one be tempted to stage a schematic or play-calling surprise?
Beyond that, I love the idea of the young, emerging Kaepernick leading an offense against the allegedly retiring Lewis. (Great athletes always have a tougher time actually walking away than planning to walk away.) The Ravens pride themselves on disrupting quarterbacks, and they found a way to rattle longtime nemesis Peyton Manning last week.
Lewis, with his bionic-appearing arm, has been a beast the first two playoff games with 13 tackles against the Colts and 17 against the Broncos. Do I hear 20 coming up?Here's another potentially great coaching showdown without the family angst. Let's go "Star Wars." Bill Belichick is Darth Vader. Jim Harbaugh is Yoda. Or maybe he's Luke Skylwalker. No, Han Solo …oh forget that analogy. Belichick is the gold standard of coaches, always looking for and often finding an edge. Harbaugh is changing the view that a college guy just can't win in the NFL. He can, if he's a pro at heart.
Belichick has lost his last two Super Bowls, but Kaepernick is not Eli Manning. He's actually harder to pursue.
Between the lines, the 49ers have a more balanced team, capable of playing at a high level on offense and defense. The Patriots are offense first, second and third. And when you've got Brady, you've got a chance.
It would be somewhat fitting for Brady to seek his fourth Super Bowl ring against Joe Montana's former team.There's a reason why the Falcons are in my bottom half of best potential games: They're pretty good, but pretty boring. They have no standout superstar to generate pregame hype. Matt Ryan is a solid quarterback, above average or better in almost every category. If he reaches the Super Bowl, he'll have two big playoff wins under his belt.
Playoff success would push him up in the quarterback hierarchy, and beating Brady would raise his profile even more.
Atlanta coach Mike Smith has the second-best record for his first five years of any coach in history, yet doesn't garner much respect from media or fans. Most believe Belichick would outsmart him. So there'd be something to see in whether Smith could prove Belichick wrong. But if this showdown never happens, I won't miss it.No one outside of their fan base is hoping for this showdown, featuring Joe Flacco vs. Ryan in a battle of the underrated quarterbacks.
The Lewis farewell would generate some interest, as would the dramatic suspense over whether Falcons running back Michael Turner would gain 3.5 or 3.8 yards per carry over the course of the game. I would not look forward to hearing grown analysts call Matt Ryan "Matty Ice," the single dumbest nickname in sports history.
Oh, well, even with Ravens vs. Falcons we'd still have an overblown halftime show, featuring Beyonce's legs, and plenty of new commercials. And nachos. Don't forget the nachos.


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LOUISVILLE - Just about every emotion imaginable was in play on Saturday from jubilation to frustration as local cross-country programs took part in regional meets at two different locations in Jefferson County.
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HOUSTON - Crime statistics released by Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Houston Police Chief Charles McClelland show Houston's overall crime rate is down nearly eight percent under their leadership.
The numbers are based on a comparison of a Uniform Crime Reports for the three years before and after the start of 2010. There were declines noted in each of the seven categories of murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, theft and auto theft.
Here is a look at the numbers for 2007-2009:
Murder: 940
Rape: 2,267
Robbery: 33,449
Aggravated Assault: 38,290
Burglary: 85,270
Theft: 220,473
Auto Theft: 49,275
Total: 429,964
Here are the numbers from 2010-2012:
Murder: 684
Rape: 2,148
Robbery: 26,888
Aggravated Assault: 35,273
Burglary: 82,013
Theft: 211,155
Auto Theft: 38,167
Total: 396,328
"These numbers provide a clearer indication of overall crime trends in Houston than the usual one-year snapshot or the nightly news," said Parker. "I believe there are contributing factors including the commitment of our hard-working men and women in blue, greater citizen awareness that is the result of the global cyber village in which we live today and an improving local economy."
"Fighting crime is a team approach between citizens in our community and the police. I want to thank the men and women of HPD, from every rank - patrol officers to investigators to commanders to my command staff," said McClelland. "Their outstanding efforts each and every day have met and exceeded my expectations in making this one of the safest cities in America."
According to the report, in 2011 the local murder rate dropped to its lowest point in more than four decades.
Copyright 2013 by Click2Houston.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


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Ryback might win the Rumble and go for the World Heavyweight Title. But I think the Royal Rumble should close the show, just because it's the Royal Rumble.
Last edited by Wrestling_Deluxe_08; 01-19-2013 at 01:28 AM.
<span style="font-family: Comic Sans MS">
This is where I post recent videos. This week's video:"WWE Summerslam 2014 Preview and Predictions"
Don't worry Daniel, I also have a great admiration for AJ aswell!
Divas to believe in.


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This game was classified by the community with the following category scores - Violence=0/3, Sex=0/3, Mature Content=0/3. Be the star of the show, with your own music, in Avatar Superstar! Use your headset microphone or Kinect to sing to your own favorite songs, and see how you measure up to your favorite artists. Sound like a real pro with "SuperTune" automatic tuning technology. Are you the next Avatar Superstar?
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InterContinental GENEVE5 Self rated
7-9 Chemin Du Petit-Saconnex, Geneva, 1211
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The magnificent InterContinental Geneve, redesigned by famed architect Tony Chi, offers amazing views of Mont Blanc, Lake Geneva and Geneva. It is within a three-minute walk of the Botanical Garden, the United Nations office and International Conference Centre Geneva (CICG), and just five minutes by bus to Palexpo Exhibition Centre or to the Luxury Shopping Area. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, a Business Center, a gourmet restaurant, two bars, an outdoor Pool, a Fitness Center and a Spa.
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A unique, wind-driven kinetic sculpture will be erected outside CU-Boulder1s new Integrated Teaching and Learning Laboratory at the College of Engineering and Applied Science on Friday, Feb. 21, weather permitting.
The 10-foot-by-10-foot steel-framed sculpture will be made up of 10,000 small mylar disks that move freely on rivets, allowing the wind to generate a variety of individual patterns on the sculpture's face. The sculpture also will be interactive, allowing people to push a lever and create their own artistic patterns with the mylar disks, said ITLL Exhibits Director Steve Davis.
The sculpture was designed by noted San Francisco artist Ned Kahn, formerly of San Francisco's Exploratorium Museum. Kahn's sculpture, which will cost about $38,000, is being funded by the state of Colorado's 1 percent tax for the arts. Kahn's sculpture was the unanimous choice by the CU engineering judges in a competition for an outdoor ITLL exhibit.
The 800-pound sculpture will be mounted with a crane by the northeast door of the new ITLL facility, which opened this semester adjacent to the main engineering college. The $20 million undergraduate facility was designed to allow thousands of students to gain hands-on experience daily in designing and building real-world engineering projects.
The new facility will be officially dedicated on April 24.
For more information, contact Davis at 492-4676 or Jim Scott in the CU-Boulder public relations office at 492-3114.


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NetWellness is a global, community service providing quality, unbiased health information from our partner university faculty. NetWellness is commercial-free and does not accept advertising.
Tuesday, September 26, 2017
Cause of infertility
dear doc, i m trying for conception since 1.5 years. almost all my reports are good other than thyroid.i do suffer from TSH of 5.01 ulU/ml,T4 of 9.40 ug/dl.my gynac wants my level of TSH to be down till 3 and recently increased my thyroid dose for this. recently, i went through HSG which shows both my tubes to be open and uterus of normal shape.my husband sperm count is good.(as told by my gynac). my gynac has denied tht i shd go for laproscopy and wait for 3 months in which she has prescribed some homonal tablets to increse my egg size(to be taken during my periods). i am confused doc bec, through my follicular study, my egg size was quite normal and since i am very desperate for pregnancy so shd i force her to do laproscopy to diagnose any further problems. recently i read about restless leg syndrome and it affects fertilty also.i do suffer from painful & stiffness in legs. dnt knw if it is the reason for my infertilty. please advice .
From your email, it is not clear what is stopping you from becoming pregnant. Common problems that are often difficult to detect include cervical mucus problems, subtle ovulation problems, and endometriosis (which can only be accurately diagnosed by laparoscopy). However, the most important missing information is your age. If you are in your 20's, then trying ovulation induction pills for three months is reasonable. If you are over 35, then you might want to be more aggressive. Those in the middle need to decide how fast or slow to move on to high-tech treatments. If you think that your evaluation and treatment is going too slow, tell your gynecologist. You can ask her to send you to a fertility specialist, if one is available in your area. Most gynecologists are glad to send you to a fertility specialist when you are ready. They usually are happy to more ahead more quickly.
William W Hurd, MD
Professor of Reproductive Biology
School of Medicine
Case Western Reserve University


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Spacious Three bedroom apartment Prague Central Residence is located two minutes walk from Narodni trida. It consists of 3 bedrooms, living room with kitchen corner and bathroom. Kitchen is fully fitted and WiFi connection is free of charge. min. age for check-in: 18
Ideal location! Apartment was very big and comfortable. We had a problem with a plumbing but as soon as we reported it someone came and fixed it.
Thank you!
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Ambulance bosses are again appealing for people in the Bradford district to use the emergency service wisely as they continue to receive record numbers of 999 calls from people across the region.
During December the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust responded to 3,000 more patients than the same month in 2011 and also saw a 15 per cent increase in the number of people calling with a potentially life-threatening illness or injury.
David Williams, deputy director of operations at the Trust, said the deployment of extra resources had helped them cope with the excessive demand, but warned 999 calls for trivial incidents and minor conditions were potentially putting those with life-threatening illnesses and injuries at risk.
He said: "We continue to urge members of the public only to call us when someone requires immediate medical assistance for a condition such as a heart attack or stroke and ask that people who simply need advice or treatment for minor illnesses and injuries or transport to hospital consider the other services available.
"The 999 service should only be used for serious medical emergencies and to ensure that our valuable resources can reach those most in need quickly. We need members of the public to play their part and use the service responsibly."
The ambulance service prioritises 999 calls to ensure they are able to reach the most seriously ill and injured patients first and all other calls are categorised as per the national guidelines, which means a target response of between 20 minutes to an hour.
Those with the most minor conditions will receive telephone advice or be redirected to a more appropriate service such as a walk-in centre or pharmacy.
Mr Williams added: "Most of all remember that the 999 number should only be used in serious medical emergencies."
People who require treatment or advice for a minor condition should consider the variety of other healthcare services available to them and only to call 999 when someone is in need of time-critical help.
On New Year's Eve the ambulance service ran various initiatives across the county to ensure people with alcohol-related illnesses and injuries didn't place too much pressure on the service and on emergency departments in Yorkshire.


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Exercise-shy people will have no excuses when it comes to getting into shape after the launch of a "fantastic" new campaign.
Harrow and Brent's director of public health, Andrew Howe, is challenging residents to take part in his new Fab 'n' Fit programme and take up a new sport.
Championed by Barnet Borough Council, the free scheme supports people of all ages - regardless of age and disability.
For those who do not want to be cooped up in an indoor gym, outdoor exercise equipment has been installed in parks across the borough.
Others can sign up for a range of unique activities - including cheerleading, Nordic walking and fencing.
Dr Howe threw down the gauntlet to get more people exercising when they launched the campaign in Edgwarebury Park, Edgware, last week.
He said: "It's a fantastic idea and a great way to get people moving. Your health matters, exercise matters - that's the message we're trying to tell people.
"Most don't realise the benefit of regular exercise until it's too late, but it's never too late to start exercising.
"It can help ward off so many health problems later in life and it's the best way to tackle obesity. This is a fun and free way to do that."
The challenge follows a survey which shows 11 per cent of Barnet residents do no form of exercise at all.
Just under 49 per cent admitted they do not do the recommended levels of 150 minutes per week, by 71 per cent said they would like to do more.
It also showed people are more likely to participate in activities that are outdoor rather than indoor, and are not organised classes or activities.
Under the project, marked and measured walking routes of 1km, 2.5km or 5km have ben pre-plotted in parks across Barnet - including Edgwarebury Park.
Edgware councillor Helena Hart said: "People are put off by the process of going to the gym, but the outdoor equipment gives them a chance to experience the great outdoors.
"It will give people the freedom and opportunity to exercise in whatever fashion suits them so it's a very exciting project. I'd like to see everyone taking up at least one new sport this year."


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SAT 1/5/13 — Starbright & The Looking Glass Signing w/ JONATHAN LUNA (THE SWORD, GIRLS, ULTRA)
November 5, 2012
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Tote Bags
Promotional tote bags are among the most popular and versatile promotional products. They provide a large area for your logo and most styles can be used for many purposes. As trade show totes, promotional beach bags, shopping bags, and general carry-alls, these promotional tote bags will give you lots of exposure and value. At Empire we have a huge selection to fit your audience, your theme and your budget.


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TuesdayTrick brain teasers appear difficult at first, but they have a trick that makes them really easy.
How should you pronounce the second day of the week? Tee-use-day, or Twos-dee
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Whoever it is, I'm glad we can be having this conversation.
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Whoever it is, I'm glad we can be having this conversation.
Why are you so concerned which wing position he plays?
The 3rd year seems to be the year where young players take off, so my money is on Paul George.
How about all 3 of them have a breakout year. Now that would be a delight.
I'm a Beast
Offensively he's limited in what he can do going against smaller quicker players every game. At SF he'd have the advantage in speed in quickness against everyone not named LeBron and Iggy.
Defensively we're taking him away from the rim when he's chasing perimeter players, and I believe if he was given 36 minutes at SF, doing Danny's job, he'd lead our team in rebounding. He's probably our second best shot blocker, too.
His chances of becoming an all star player at SF are much higher than at SG imo.
btw i expect D. West to breakout...
If all three of these guys have what could be called a breakout year we win the NBA championship. As of now I would say we need Paul George to have a breakout year more than the other two, so I will be cheering for that. Although I could see it being Hibbert.
I am sure Hibbert will improve. Hill might end up being the same player, would like to see some improvement. And yes Paul George could very well "get it" and be a force to be reckoned with night in and night out. We saw it in flashes last year.
Something important to remember is that Vogel has yet to have a real training camp to work with any of these guys. And George because of the lockout hasn't had a training camp since he was a rookie. He hasn't had the benefit of experience and being able to be coached.
I could definitely see Paul George being the second leading scorer on this team, something like 16-18 ppg behind Danny at around 18-20. Nice to have three young guys who could all develop into something really special.
Also last season, they had to add everything on the fly. The compressed schedule made it near impossible for them to work on anything outside of games.
Personally, I will be happy if Hill is the same player with a better entry pass. I think Paul George will appear most improved, but it will be a tossup between he and Hibbert.
I think some of us are discounting George Hill a little bit. A lot of the things he brings to the court (leadership, clutch play, good teammate) don't show up in a box score. With that said, he still averaged 14 and 4.5 as the starter last year. This was during his first year with the team, without a full training camp, playing with the second unit for most of the season, and after missing time with his shoulder injury. The guy is only 26 years old and already has a rather mature and heady game. I don't think it'd be out of the question for him to average 14-15 ppg and about 5 assists per game, on good fg%.
Roy always comes back better than the season before, and I expect him to continue to be a defensive force for this team in the lane. He'll never be a dominant low-post scorer, but he doesn't have to be. His presence in the middle gives us a chance against every team in the league (when he's playing well of course) He also provides good intangibles off the court as well.
PG excites me and scares me at the same time. We all see is potential, both offensively and defensively. It's just a matter of putting it all together and becoming consistent. At this point, I see him upping his ppg by a few points by simply becoming more aggressive and getting to the FT line. I don't ever expect him to average over 21 ppg, but at the same time, I never expected Danny to average nearly 27 PPG either With the equally athletic and offensive minded Gerald Green coming in, I hope it pushes PG to be more aggressive. For some reason though, I still think he's a year away from TRULY breaking out, which means next year we'll see his play go up, but not fully to the potential of what he'll ultimately become.
I expect all 3 to have really good seasons, adding onto what each were able to do last year. I'm actually going against the grain and saying that G.Hill will be the "most improved" out of the 3 simply because he'll be consistently playing starter minutes for the first time in his career focusing primarily on one position.
I expect a big season out of David West. It's a contract year. Nuff said.
We really are looking at a situation where 7 of our 8 main guys have a legit chance to come in and play better than they did last year. That combined with a full training camp to learn defensive schemes like the zones Dallas used on Miami can make us a really scary team. And if Paul George and Hibbert can become the players we have seen flashes of next summer could become a particularly good time for Indiana basketball.


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Committee on Professional Ethics
American Sociological Association
(Approved by ASA membership in spring 1997)
Policies and Procedures
Part I. Responsibilities and Authority of COPE
Part II. Operating Rules of COPE
Part III. Enforcement of the Code of Ethics
- Jurisdiction
- Filing of Complaint
- Preliminary Screening of Complaint
- Notice of Complaint; Informal Resolution
- Response to Complaint
- Initial Determination of the Chair
- Investigation and Recommendation
- Determination of Violation
- Sanctions
- Notice of Determination
- Appeal of Termination
- Confidentiality
These Policies and Procedures describe the responsibilities of the Committee on Professional Ethics (COPE) of the American Sociological Association (ASA), the general operating rules of COPE, and the policies and procedures related to the submission and resolution of complaints of violations of the ASA Code of Ethics.
COPE has been established by the Council of ASA in order to promote ethical conduct by sociologists at the highest professional level through development and sponsorship of educational activities for ASA members and other sociologists, investigation of complaints concerning the ethical conduct of members of the ASA, and imposition of sanctions when a violation of the Code has occurred.
COPE is authorized to:
(b) Educate the members of ASA and other interested persons concerning the ethical obligations of sociologists under the Code of Ethics through articles, seminars, lectures, casebooks, or other materials.
(c) Recommend to the ASA Council changes in the Code of Ethics and these Policies and Procedures.
(d) Provide to individual members of the ASA on an informal and confidential basis advice regarding their ethical obligations under the Code of Ethics.
(e) Seek to resolve allegations of unethical conduct of members of the ASA informally through mediation or other means.
(f) Investigate allegations of unethical conduct of members of the ASA, determine violations of the Code of Ethics and, where appropriate, impose sanctions.
(g) Adopt such rules and procedures governing the conduct of all matters within its jurisdiction as are consistent with the Constitution and By-Laws of the Association, the Code of Ethics, and these Policies and Procedures.
3. Responsibilities of the Executive Office
(a) Works with COPE in the administration of 2(a)-(g).
(b) Reports to COPE on an annual basis the number and types of complaints received, the number recommended for informal resolution, and any other pertinent information regarding the involvement of the Executive Office in ethics inquiries.
The members of COPE shall be appointed in accordance with the By-Laws of the Association. After the end of his/her term of office a member of COPE may continue to participate in the investigation of a matter to which he/she was previously assigned, and such member may participate in reaching the findings and recommendation of the Investigation Panel with respect to that matter.
The Chair and Co-Chair of COPE shall be appointed at the Council meeting held during the Annual Meeting of the Association and shall serve a term of one (1) year beginning on January 1 of the next calendar year. Prior to the Annual Meeting, COPE shall deliver to the Council its recommendations for the Chair and Co-Chair for the succeeding year. The Chair shall have primary responsibility for carrying out the mandate of COPE. The Co-Chair shall have the authority to perform all of the duties of the Chair when the latter is unavailable or unable to perform them, and shall perform other tasks as delegated by the Chair.
A regular meeting of COPE shall be held annually in connection with the Annual Meeting of the Association. Additional meetings may be held, upon the call of the Chair, from time to time in person or by telephone conference call.
A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of COPE shall consist of a majority of the members then in office. All decisions shall be by majority vote of the members present at a meeting.
Any action of COPE which could be taken at a meeting may be taken upon the affirmative vote, in writing or by electronic communication, of a majority of members then in office.
No member of COPE shall participate in the deliberations or decision of any matter with respect to which the member has a conflict of interest as outlined in the Code of Ethics.
(a) COPE shall have jurisdiction to receive and determine any timely complaint of the violation of the ASA Code of Ethics by a current member of ASA in any category of membership whatsoever. In the event that a complainee resigns from ASA subsequent to the filing of a complaint against him or her, COPE shall have discretion to resolve the complaint as if the complainee were still a member.
(b) In the event that a complaint alleges conduct which is, or may be, the subject of other legal or institutional proceedings, COPE may, in its discretion, defer further proceedings with respect to the complaint until the conclusion of the other legal or institutional proceedings.
(a) Any member or non-member of ASA who perceives that an ASA member has violated an ethical standard may file a complaint with COPE.
(b) A complaint may be initiated by COPE on its own behalf.
(c) Initial telephone contact with the Executive Officer or his/her designee is encouraged to clarify whether concerns about a possible ethical violation are covered by the Code. If it appears that a potential complaint may be covered by the Code, a copy of the Code and a complaint form shall be sent to the potential complainant. Informal dispute resolution and use of other venues of investigation will be encouraged.
(d) A complaint may not be accepted or initiated if it is received more than 18 months after the alleged conduct either occurred or was discovered. A complaint received after the 18-month time limit set forth in this paragraph shall not be accepted unless the Chair of COPE determines that there is good cause for the complaint not to have been filed within the 18-month time limit. No complaint will be considered if it is received more than five years after the alleged conduct occurred or was discovered.
(e) A complaint shall include the name and address of the complainant; the name and address of the complainee; the provisions of the Code of Ethics alleged to have been violated; a statement that other legal or institutional proceedings involving the alleged conduct have not been initiated or, if initiated, the status of such proceedings; a full statement of conduct alleged to have violated the Code of Ethics, including the sources of all information on which the allegations are based; copies of any documents supporting the allegations; and, if necessary, a request that the 18-month time limit be waived. Anonymous complaints shall not be accepted. If material in the public domain is provided anonymously, COPE may choose to use such material in support of its own complaint.
3. Preliminary Screening of Complaint
(a) The Executive Officer or his/her designee shall screen each complaint to determine whether the complainee is a member of the ASA and whether the alleged conduct is covered by the Code. If the complaint does not include the information required by 2(e), the Executive Officer or his/her designee shall so inform the complainant, who will be given the opportunity to provide additional information. If no response is received from the complainant within 30 days, the matter will be closed and the complainant so notified.
(b) If the complaint is complete as set forth in 2(e), the Executive Officer or his/her designee shall notify the Chair of COPE and provide relevant materials regarding the complaint. The Chair of COPE and the Executive Officer or his/her designee shall evaluate whether there is cause for action by COPE. Cause for action shall exist when the complainee's alleged actions and/or omissions, if proved, would in the judgment of the Chair of COPE and the Executive Officer or his/her designee constitute a breach of ethics. For purposes of determining whether cause for action exists, incredible, speculative, and/or internally inconsistent allegations may be disregarded. If cause for action exists, a formal case is initiated, as set forth in 4(a). If cause for action does not exist, the complaint will be dismissed at this stage and the complainant so notified.
4. Notice of Complaint and Informal Resolution
(a) If cause for action is found, the Executive Officer or his/her designee shall provide a copy of the complaint and all supporting materials, and a copy of the Code of Ethics and these Policies and Procedures, to the complainee and encourage a settlement through informal means. If a method of informal dispute settlement is not otherwise available to the complainant and complainee, a mediator who is not a member of COPE may be recommended by the Executive Officer or his/her designee. Mediation services will in most cases be by written correspondence or telephone. If informal dispute resolution is declined, the members of COPE shall not be informed which party declined.
(b) Any person appointed to serve as a mediator shall agree to maintain the confidentiality of the proceedings as set forth in the Code of Ethics and these Policies and Procedures. The mediator shall report to the Executive Officer or his/her designee only whether or not a matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.
If either or both the complainant and complainee decline informal dispute settlement or if informal dispute settlement fails to resolve the complaint, the Executive Officer or his/her designee shall notify the complainee that the case will go forward in accordance with these Policies and Procedures. Complainee shall have 30 days after receipt of this notice to respond in writing to the complaint. An extension may be granted by the Executive Officer if good cause is shown, but the extension shall not exceed 90 days.
6. Initial Determination of the Chair
The complaint and response shall be submitted to the Chair of COPE for an initial determination whether there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the case. The Chair may, in his/her discretion, request additional information from the complainant and/or any other appropriate source before making the initial determination, provided, however, that the Chair shall not rely on such additional information unless it has been shared with the complainee, and the complainee has been afforded an opportunity to respond. If the Chair shall decide that there is insufficient evidence to proceed, the matter shall be closed and the complainant and complainee notified in writing.
7. Investigation and Recommendation
If the Chair determines that there is sufficient evidence to proceed with the complaint, he/she shall appoint an Investigation Panel composed of the Chair or Co-Chair and two members of COPE to investigate the complaint. The Panel may communicate with the complainant, complainee, witnesses, or other sources of information necessary to carry out its functions. The Panel shall conduct as much of its business as is practical through written correspondence or verbal communication. Although complainants and complainees have the right to consult with attorneys concerning all phases of the ethics process, the complainant must file and the complainee must respond to charges of unethical conduct personally and not through legal counsel or another third party, unless the complainant or complainee provides good cause as to why he or she cannot respond personally. The Panel shall submit a written report of its findings and any recommendation for sanction to the full Committee within ninety (90) days, unless a longer period is necessary in the opinion of the Chair or Co-Chair. A copy of the Panel's findings and recommendation shall be provided to the complainant and complainee, who may submit a response in writing within a time frame of not more than 30 days.
COPE shall determine whether a violation of the Code of Ethics has occurred on the basis of the complaint, the response, any other information provided to the Investigation Panel, the recommendation and findings of the Panel, and the responses of the parties thereto, provided, however, that COPE may hear the testimony of witnesses where in its view it is essential to the fairness of the proceeding. COPE may return any matter to the Investigation Panel for further investigation. Upon completion of its review, COPE shall issue a determination of whether one or more violations of the Code of Ethics have occurred, including a summary of the factual basis for this determination, and of the appropriate sanction.
In any case in which it has determined that a violation of the Code of Ethics has occurred, COPE may impose no sanction or one or more of the following, as appropriate:(a) Private Reprimand. In cases where there has been an ethics violation but the violation did not cause serious personal and/or professional harm, an educative letter concerning the violation, including any stipulated conditions of redress, may be sent to the complainee. Failure to comply with stipulated conditions of redress in a reprimand may result in the imposition of a more severe sanction.
(b) Public Reprimand. Where COPE determines that the seriousness of the violation warrants more than a private reprimand, it may direct that a copy of the letter of reprimand be made public in an appropriate manner.
(c) Denial of Privileges. In appropriate cases, COPE may determine that a complainee shall be denied one or more of the privileges of ASA membership and/or the opportunity to participate in ASA-sponsored activities including but not limited to appointment to the editorial boards of any ASA publications, election or appointment to any ASA offices and committees, receipt of any ASA awards, publishing in or serving as an editor of one or more ASA sponsored journals, presenting a paper or otherwise participating at one or more meetings sponsored by ASA, or receiving research or scholarship assistance from any program sponsored by ASA.
(d) Termination of Membership. In cases where there has been an ethics violation and the violation caused serious personal and/or professional harm, the ASA membership of the complainee may be terminated for a period to be determined by COPE. Eligibility to renew membership at the expiration of this period may be automatic or may be conditioned on a future determination by COPE that eligibility is appropriate.
The Chair of COPE shall notify the complainant and complainee of the decision of COPE. If a sanction is imposed under 9(c) or 9(d), COPE shall instruct the Executive Officer to take the appropriate actions called for under COPE's determination, except that such notice shall be postponed if an appeal is filed as set forth in paragraph 11.
A complainee who is found by COPE to have violated the Code of Ethics and who receives a sanction under 9(b) through 9(d) may appeal this determination by filing a Notice of Appeal and Statement of Reasons no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of the Notice of Determination. If an appeal is filed, the President of ASA shall appoint a three-member Appeal Panel of past members of COPE to review all information considered by COPE and, within 90 days, make a decision to uphold or reverse the determination. The Appeal Panel may set aside COPE's determination that a violation has occurred or it may determine that the sanction imposed by COPE is not appropriate and impose a less severe sanction. The decision of the Appeal Panel shall constitute the final decision of ASA with respect to all matters subject to this paragraph.
(b) The Committee may disclose such information when compelled by a valid subpoena or by a final court order.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, COPE may publish reports of its determinations in order to educate the membership about the requirements of the Code of Ethics, but will not make the identity of the parties public unless otherwise provided for in Part III, section 12(b).
(d) Initiation of legal action against the ASA or its officers or employees shall constitute a waiver of confidentiality by the person initiating such action.
(e) Records relating to the investigation of complaints of violations of the Code, whether or not COPE determined that a violation occurred, shall be maintained in a secure place indefinitely. These records should always remain confidential, unless otherwise provided for in 12(b) and 12(d). Permission to use these materials for research and educational purposes may be granted by the Executive Officer within the first 50 years of the closing of the complaint, as long as the materials do not identify the individuals involved. After 50 years, these materials are available for research or educational purposes without special approval as long as the commitment to confidentiality is honored and the materials do not identify the individuals involved.
Note: These Policies and Procedures replace Section V of the 1989 edition of the American Sociological Association's Code of Ethics.


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Figure and Packaging Design Inside...
What started off as an ingenious convention exclusive has now morphed into its own mini action figure series. Following NECA's SDCC13 Exclusive Friday the 13th Jason ('89 Video Game Appearance) (HERE) and recently released Nightmare on Elm Street Classic Video Game Appearance Freddy Krueger (HERE) comes the 1989 NES title Robocop.
Pictured top is the retro game box art, err, action figure packaging for this cool throwback toy. Loving the "Part Man, Part Machine, All Toy". Like the garish video game accurate color schemes of Freddy (bright orange) and Jason (purple), the Robocop figure is painted a lovely blue (with a hint of cel shading). The figure is based on NECA's popular 7" spring-loaded holster Robocop figure and includes his Auto-9 Pistol. Limited to only one production run, Video Game Robocop is tentatively scheduled for release in February 2014.
Source: NECAonline.com
To insure your action figure collection, get in touch with Collectibles Insurance, the official insurance company of the Figures.com network. Say "Figures.com" to get 5% off your first term premiums.
To buy action figures, take a look at BigBadToyStore.com, AlterEgoComics.com, Toynk.com, BriansToys.com, ToyWiz.com, and MonkeyDepot.com.


text:
Hewlett Packard
18 Jan 2013 at 16:35
Mickey this is the birthplace of computers and one of the starting points to the silicon valley. This garage is where HP's founders Bill and Dave started HP. HP is a global business, but every business must start small. Hey Mickey you are flat, can you fit under the garage crack?
With Mickey


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retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Dan,
And not to shoo you away of course, but don't forget...
Dharma Wheel (Mahayana and Vajrayana forum)
Thanks, Retro, but for the moment I am all forumed out..
retrofuturist wrote:Greetings Dan,
And not to shoo you away of course, but don't forget...
Dharma Wheel (Mahayana and Vajrayana forum)
Mexicali wrote:It's hard to deny, say, Shinran's compassion when he says that he wants to be reborn in hell to help the suffering, but it doesn't change that many of Shinran's "reforms" were directly contrary to the Buddha's teachings.
I view vajrayana as mostly unnecessary and potentially dangerous, but most vajrayana Buddhism still has at root the noble truths, noble path, dependent arising, anatta, and self-effort.
floating_abu wrote:Being an Arahant is no big deal, but do heed Luang Por Chah's advice on the matter. Best wishes in all.
Certainly it sounds like it's not Mexicali's personal path.
Members are expected to self-moderate, being mindful of the adage that 'behaviour breeds behaviour'. Mutual respect and friendliness should be the basis of all interactions. For the Buddha's teaching on this see the Saleyyaka Sutta.
Mexicali wrote:Zen has many of the same problems that Tibetan Buddhism does, in terms of encouraging unethical behavior and promoting teachings the Buddha specifically spoke against, in the name of an esoteric doctrine.
Stating from 2008, Chan (Zen) Master Sheng Yen's compassion for humanity was further revealed in "the Six Ethics of the Mind Campaign". They are Workplace Ethics, School Ethics, Family Ethics, Living Ethics, Environmental Ethics and Ethics between Ethnic Groups.
He believed that in today's society, chaos in all its manifestations springs from a lack of ethical and moral standards in interpersonal relationships among all walks of life. Thus, everyone scrambles for their rights while forgetting their obligations and duties. "Ethics" means doing one's duties and observing one's role and "morality" means respecting and caring for each other in interpersonal relationships.
Mexicali wrote:Seung Sahn's "beyond lust" excuse for his behavior sits comfortably with the excuses for keeping sacred concubines in Tibet. Zen's support for Japanese nationalism and warfare finds an analogue in Tibet's support of the landed gentry's right to keep slaves.
Mexicali wrote: The 'crazy wisdom' commonly found in both has encouraged a lot of people to reject ubaya in favor of seeking some kind of "higher wisdom".
Mexicali wrote:People like Osel Tendzin and Richard Baker aren't representative of some kind of fringe cult, they were very mainstream figures working from very orthodox teachings.
I don't think that the gossipy or official versions of what happened are right, but I feel definitely that if I were back in the situation again as the person I am now, it wouldn't have happened. Which means it's basically my fault. I had a kind of insecurity and self-importance, which I didn't see for a long time, that was a bad dynamic in the community.
Mexicali wrote:Dan
You're sanctimonious and passive aggressive. I'm not sure if those are considered "wrong speech" per se, but I find it obnoxious. Someone disagreeing with you doesn't mean they're "harming themselves" or that your oh-so-noble words "fell on deaf ears". You want to address what I specifically said, feel free, but get over yourself.
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text: Play shall begin on each hole with the player throwing from within the teeing area. When the disc is released, at least one of the player's supporting points must be in contact with the surface of the teeing area, and all the player's supporting points must be within the teeing area. If a tee pad is provided, all supporting points must be on the pad at the time of release, unless the director has specified a modified teeing area for safety reasons. If no tee pad is provided, all supporting points at the time of release must be within an area encompassed by the front line of the teeing area and two lines perpendicular to and extending back three meters from each end of the front line. The front line of the teeing area includes the outside edges of the two tee markers. Running up from behind the teeing area before the disc is released is permitted. Following through in front of the teeing area is permitted provided there is no supporting point contact outside the teeing area when the disc is released


text:
Lightweight and compact, backpacking filters are good options for hiking or traveling. Most are pump-operated and designed to fill your personal water bottle.Shop Backpacking Water Filters
Basecamp filters are ideal for providing clean water for larger groups with a fixed campsite. Most use gravity to force water through the filter so you don't have to expend energy pumping.Shop Basecamp Water Filters
The most important difference between water filters and water purifiers is that water filters do not eliminate viruses. Water filters rely on either gravity or a manual pump to force water through a filter with pores usually about a few tenths of a micron across. While this is small enough to block bacteria and protozoa, viruses are small enough to pass through.


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Dear Straight Talk: I'm 16, sharing a room with my 13-year-old sister because our single-parent mom can't afford otherwise. My sister snooped, found my hidden condoms and now she's blackmailing me. I have to pay her from my part-time job, which barely covers my expenses, make her bed and clean her part of the room.
If she tells, I'll be grounded and probably unable to see my girlfriend anymore. My girlfriend and I both turn 17 this year, have over a B average and have never been in trouble. You might say we shouldn't be having sex at our age, but it's not uncommon and I'm writing about the blackmail.
-- Blackmailed in Sacramento
Brie, 22, San Francisco: Your sister is watching too much "Gossip Girl." Tell your mom yourself. I was sexually active at 16, as are many others. You're being safe, you're earning your own money. Being honest shows additional responsibility. This warrants a sit-down talk, not grounding. Take the high road and don't tattle on your sister. She sounds stressed and open communication with your mom will set a good example. I hardly told my mom anything in high school and I regret that. Parents can be surprisingly understanding.
Nicole, 23, Santa Rosa: Sounds like the perfect opportunity to start an honest, adult relationship with your mom. I believe she should respect your relationship. If you do get grounded at least you were doing the right thing (by telling). Regarding the condoms, just buy more.
Taylor, 16, Santa Rosa: I'd be tempted to dig up a secret about her, LOL. But, no, don't add to the game. Chances are she's bluffing, so just tell her you can't afford to pay anymore, which is true. If she does tell, big deal. Your mom knows you're having sex. She probably did, too, at your age. You're grounded for a while, then it's over.
Katelyn, 19, Azusa: Your sister isn't after getting you into trouble or she would've tattled already. And if she does tell, the blackmail gives you something to tell, too. Don't let her boss you around any longer. Getting grounded is no worse than being blackmailed. Yes, your mom will know about your sexual relations, but there was always that chance.
Gregg, 22, Los Angeles: Haha! Your sister is torching you! I'd probably just tell my mom about it, including my feelings for my girlfriend. It's that or keep paying Sis.
Savannah, 19, Boston, Mass.: Why would your mom be so angry? Is she extremely religious? It's the 21st century, and if sex is committed and consensual and you're not too young, there shouldn't be a problem. Tell her yourself. I wouldn't be surprised if she understands and your sister is in more trouble than you.
Ochatre, 23, Kampala, Uganda: Man-up and share your story with your mom. She will either appreciate or scorn you, but it will be better than blackmail.
Dear Blackmailed: Telling your mom yourself is the unanimous advice from the panel -- and they do consider questions independently.
I always encourage minors to wait as long as possible before having even safe sex -- and if they are sexually active, to tell parents.
Anyone who's had an accidental pregnancy, debilitating heartache, or a STI understands why I encourage this. That said, Taylor's advice to call your sister's bluff will probably work. Enlighten her that blackmail is a felony and age-of-consent violations such as yours aren't even charged.
If she tells, put your best foot forward and show your maturity.
-- Lauren
Straight Talk TNT.Org is a nonprofit that tackles youth's toughest issues with youth's wisest advice. Ask a question, or go deeper in today's conversation by clicking www.StraightTalkTNT.Org or writing PO Box 1974 Sebastopol, CA 95473. Please join our effort with a contribution!


text:
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