text:
Let's start the year off with a (big) bang!
We're on the cusp of closing the door on another year, and you know what that means. After relaxing and stuffing our faces over the holiday, that unsettling feeling is starting to sink in again: it's time to buckle down and get to work on setting resolutions for next year!
Whether it's hitting the gym thrice a week or limiting social-media use to 15 minutes a day, this annual tradition can be one of the toughest—especially since it lasts all 365 days.
Luckily, The Big Bang Theory is here to help!
Okay, yes, sometimes the gang serves as a better cautionary tale than a prime example, but you can bet Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, and the others all know a thing or two about self-improvement!
So, let's get off on the right foot for 2017 with these handy suggestions for how you can make this upcoming year the best one, ever!
Watch The Big Bang Theory on Thursdays at 8/7c on CBS and CBS All Access.


text:
The Peshawar High Court has set aside its earlier order calling for the immediate suspension of the director general of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for having failed to comply with its orders about conducting safety audits of all passenger aircraft of the PIA and private airlines.
However, the decision has strings attached: the director general of the CAA will not interfere or influence investigations being carried out into the AirBlue and Bhoja Air crashes. An affidavit in this regard was submitted to the court by attorneys for the CAA.
Counsel for the CAA Shakoor Paracha and Obaidur Rehman Abbasi informed the PHC's division bench that Nadeem Khan Yusufzai had only been appointed as CAA Director General a couple of weeks before the Bhoja Air crash, after which all court orders issued into the AirBlue crash and inspection of all Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) fleet by international experts had been complied with.
The attorneys went on to add that Yusufzai had served as a pilot and his appointment was meant to improve the CAA's services. However, Chief Justice Dost Mohammad Khan seemed unimpressed by their arguments.
"We always hear that flights are delayed without any reason. Outside the country, whenever a flight is delayed, the airline apologises with the finest words possible.
"Two people at the helm of affairs, the PIA chairman and the director general of the CAA, should have reached the Bhoja Air crash site," the chief justice said.
Counsel for the defense ministry, Afnan Kundi, informed the court that a summary regarding the suspension of Yusufzai had been sent to Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani, adding that they were waiting for his approval.
Kundi told The Express Tribune that two officials of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAO) had been nominated for conducting an independent inquiry into the AirBlue crash.
Meanwhile, counsel for the AirBlue crash victims, Umer Farooq Adam, interrupted court proceedings by asking why the CAA's counsel were seeking a review into the court verdict when Yusufzai was still in his office.
Talking to The Express Tribune, Adam said Yusufzai's appointment orders were issued by the defence secretary; therefore, suspension orders were also supposed to be issued by her.
"If I appoint anyone, then it's my job to suspend him or her. If the defence secretary appointed Yusufzai, it's her job to suspend him, not the prime minister's," Adam said.
The chief justice observed that the suspension orders had adversely affected various operations of the CAA.
"We would, therefore, impugn orders and conditionally recall orders of the suspension of the director general of the CAA with a clear warning that the undertaking given to the court, that the director general would not directly or indirectly interfere with experts investigating the AirBlue and Bhoja Air crashes, and if found involved, the court would pass a more serious order," the chief justice said.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 24th, 2012.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I'm not sure how much of an impact Jonathan Levine's "Warm Bodies" is going to make when it opens early next year, because frankly, it's probably a little too kooky for today's audiences. But I dug the book that the movie is based on, and from the looks of things, Levine's really stuck to the text when he adapted the story. So that's cool.
Until the film opens next year, check out five new character posters for "Warm Bodies". Hey, just cause he's dead doesn't mean he still can't appreciate a hottie like Teresa Palmer.
A funny new twist on a classic love story, WARM BODIES is a poignant tale about the power of human connection. After a zombie epidemic, R (a highly unusual zombie) encounters Julie (a human survivor), and rescues her from a zombie attack. Julie sees that R is different from the other zombies, and as the two form a special relationship in their struggle for survival, R becomes increasingly more human – setting off an exciting, romantic, and often comical chain of events that begins to transform the other zombies and maybe even the whole lifeless world.
Starring Nicholas Hoult, Teresa Palmer, Rob Corddry, Analeigh Tipton, John Malkovich, Lizzy Caplan, Dave Franco, Cory Hardrict, Justin Bradley, and directed by Jonathan Levine.
Being dead and loving it February 1, 2013.
Get more images and videos in our "Warm Bodies" preview page.
Via : Facebook


text:
Your donations keep RPGWatch running!
The Banner Saga - Update #6
by Dhruin, 2012-04-06 23:39:24
As The Banner Saga passes $400k in their Kickstarter efforts, Stoic has posted a huge update with some star-studded talent coming onboard. Austin Wintory will will provide music (Journey), Kpow Audio (L.A. Noire) will provide sound, Powerhouse Animation (Epic Mickey) will do some work, iPad and Linux clients are confirmed and more:
- We've done the concept work for each of the major characters in our first release, some of which you can see in the above piece of concept art. This is the sort of production piece you'll see in the collector's edition art book. We'll be talking more about the history of these races soon!
- Now that design is done we'll be spending the majority of next week filming character animations and getting them ready to be animated into the game.
- We continue to refine our many interface elements and adjust numbers in combat for our working prototype.
- Now that we've gotten the green light on working with all these incredible artists we're setting up the framework to integrate their work (no small endeavor) and let them work at their full potential!
Newsbit options: Add / View Comments (0) | Forward this newsbit | Link to this Newsbit
Information aboutBanner Saga
SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released


text:
Ground zero in the Republican Party's fight to define its future is on the opposite side of the country from Washington, D.C., amid snow-covered mountains and the Snake River canyon, in a House race that pits the business community against the tea party.
It's here in Idaho's 2nd District where Rep. Mike Simpson, an Appropriations Committee chairman and ally of House Speaker John Boehner, is fighting for re-election against fellow Republican Bryan Smith, a lawyer and political novice aligned with the limited-government movement.
Multiple tea party groups back Smith, who says Simpson doesn't reflect the district's "conservative values." The threat to Simpson has awakened national and local business groups and Idaho companies with little or no history of getting involved in primary contests, and is a top priority for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
"Extremists haven't proven themselves to be very sympathetic to the needs of business," said Alex LaBeau, president of the Idaho Association of Commerce &Industry. "It is more populism than conservatism."
The association formed a super political action committee, which allows it to raise and spend unlimited sums on campaign messages, late last year after learning of Simpson's challenger.
The outcome could change how the House operates in 2015. Last year's partial government shutdown was led by the tea party caucus in the House, and business groups were stunned when some of those members resisted raising the government's debt ceiling while discounting a default's economic impact.
A shift in the number of tea party allies could determine Boehner's flexibility in avoiding such faceoffs and passing other business priorities, including infrastructure spending.
"Business entities in Idaho have a long history with Congressman Simpson," said Mike Reynoldson, the Idaho government affairs manager for Boise-based Micron Technology Inc., the largest U.S. maker of memory chips and the employer of almost 6,000 people in the state. "In this race in particular, we saw a number of out-of-state interests were recruiting candidates and raising money and decided we needed an Idaho- based solution to offset the noise."
Similar dynamics are playing out in U.S. Senate races, where seven of the 12 Republican incumbents up for re-election this year face primary challengers, most aligned with the tea party. These showdowns also may act as a proxy for the party's direction heading into the 2016 presidential campaign season.
In the House, races pitting business against the tea party are also developing in Michigan, Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
Simpson's Idaho district covers most of the state's southern half and is home to a robust potato crop and one of the nation's most concentrated Mormon populations.
It's also one of the most heavily Republican districts. Mitt Romney, who has endorsed Simpson, won 64.5 percent of the vote in the 2012 presidential election. The victor of the May 20 primary will almost certainly win the seat, which explains the early entry by advocates on both sides.
The U.S. Chamber, the nation's largest business-lobbying group and a traditional Republican supporter, has already run ads boosting Simpson. Defending Main Street, a super-PAC affiliated with the Republican Main Street Partnership and its call for policy "pragmatism," plans to spend as much as $1 million to help the incumbent even though the group would rather focus on competitive open seats.
"We have to go in and defend him," said Sarah Chamberlain, the partnership's chief operating officer. "That will be our No. 1 seat."
tea party allies are also making the race a testing ground. The Club for Growth, a Washington-based group favorings spending cuts, is backing Smith, as are the Washington-based small- government advocates FreedomWorks and the Madison Project.
Smith, 51, dismissed the importance of the business groups backing Simpson, 63, and said he'll have enough campaign money and support from outside groups to be competitive.
"Congressman Simpson's values do not reflect the values of the district," he said during an interview at his Idaho Falls law office. "This is a very conservative district and Congressman Simpson has a moderate voting record."
Simpson is out of step with the rest of the state's four- person delegation, Smith said.
"He's the odd man out on many of these important votes," he said, citing Simpson's votes on increasing the federal debt ceiling and last week's $1.1 trillion funding bill, which passed the Republican-led House on a bipartisan vote of 359-67.
Smith cites tea party-aligned lawmakers in Washington as his political role models, including Representative Justin Amash of Michigan and Senators Mike Lee of Utah, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas, the architect of the strategy that led to the partial shutdown of the government in 2014. Smith calls Cruz a "Republican hero."
Disappointment with Simpson among tea party activists was on display when about 40 Smith supporters gathered last week in a meeting room at the public library in Idaho Falls.
"This has become a very, very important race not just for Idaho, but for the nation," he said. "You deserve a congressman who isn't afraid to stand up for conservative principles in Washington."
Simpson's counter to Smith is that he's represented their values in a more productive manner.
"Being conservative doesn't mean you just go vote no on everything," he said in a telephone interview. "It means you try to find conservative solutions."
Simpson, seeking a ninth term, has cast several votes in recent years that have angered tea party activists.
He was the only member of the current Idaho congressional delegation in 2008 to back the $700 billion Troubled Asset Relief Program bailout of financial markets. Simpson also was one of just 16 House Republicans in March 2012 to support a budget plan that would raise revenue as well as cut spending.
"The tea party has the same goals as the Chamber of Commerce as do many other organizations," Simpson said. "It's the tactics of how you achieve those goals."
Still, he is taking his challenger seriously. Simpson, who had fundraising assistance from a personal August visit to the district from Boehner , R-Ohio, raised $460,977 during the fourth quarter of 2013, more than twice as much as he collected during the same period two years ago, a Federal Election Commission filing shows. He had $787,424 in the bank in January.
Smith raised $111,066 during the same quarter and had more than $375,000 cash on hand, according to a Jan. 9 campaign news release.
Ann Burt, one of those who attended Smith's meeting at the library, isn't persuaded by Simpson's assertion that the party rift is simply about tactics and remains troubled by his record.
"He totally sells us down the river with almost every vote," said Burt, 52, a personal assistant working from home.
Burt said she isn't concerned about the infighting within the Republican Party, locally or nationally.
"I would rather fail, fighting within my party, than go lock step with things I don't agree with," she said.
—With assistance from Greg Giroux in Washington. Editors: Jeanne Cummings, Robin Meszoly
To contact the reporter on this story: John McCormick in Chicago at jmccormick16bloomberg.net
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Jeanne Cummings at jcummings21bloomberg.net


text:
19 September 2012
PDF version [1714KB]
Peter Hicks
Economics Section
New Zealand
Preventing transmission of fire blight
Trade since August 2011
Use of streptomycin in NZ orchards
Preventing transmission of fire blight
Trade since August 2011
Use of streptomycin in NZ orchards
United States
State of the Australian apple industry
Other developments
Other developments
In March 2007, Australian quarantine authorities announced that apple imports from New Zealand (NZ) would be permissible.[1] Imports from NZ had been banned by Australia since 1921 due to the plant disease fire blight becoming established there and concerns about its possible spread to Australia.
Local apple growers had lobbied for the ban to be maintained. Fire blight infection can affect blossoms, fruit, leaves, branches, trunks and root systems and devastate fruit production through the death of blossom, shoot, limb and fruit. Sometimes the entire tree can die. Fire blight is presently found in Europe, Asia, Egypt, Bermuda, Canada, Guatemala, Mexico, USA, and New Zealand. Fire blight entry potential, establishment potential and spread potential have been rated as high.[2] Fire blight was previously detected in Australia in an area isolated from commercial orchards and was eradicated. If established, fire blight can be economically devastating to commercial growers.
The long running ban on apple imports from NZ had been a significant bilateral issue which culminated in a dispute in the World Trade Organization (WTO) won by NZ.[3] Consequently the Australian Government was required to revise the biosecurity arrangements for the importation of NZ apples and since these were finalised in August 2011 16 tonnes of apples have been imported from NZ. While the quantity may seem paltry the development is highly significant.
However, NZ is not the only country from which apples can be imported. Imports from Japan have been permissible since 1998 and in June 2010 quarantine authorities announced apples from China could be imported subject to a strict regime of biosecurity measures.[4] More recently, the prospect of imports from the United States (US) has emerged.[5]
The biosecurity issues associated with possible apple imports from all sources, but especially those resulting from NZ's market access request in 1999, have been the subject of ongoing parliamentary and public interest. There have been specific Senate inquiries as well as regular and extensive canvassing of the issue at Senate Estimates.
A further indication of the level of contention associated with this issue was the announcement on 6 July 2011 by the Shadow Minister for Agriculture and Food Security, John Cobb, that he had circulated the Quarantine Legislation Amendment (Apples) Bill 2011 as a Private Member's Bill.[6] The Bill sought to make permits issued by the Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service (AQIS) for the importation of apples disallowable by Parliament and represented an approach to biosecurity in Australia which was without precedent.[7]
A 2010 report by the Centre for International Economics (CIE) prepared for the apple industry's peak grower organisation Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL) forecasts that, under a worst case scenario, imports would have a significant impact on the domestic apple and pear industry.[8]Currently apple production averages about 274 000 tonnes annually compared with 316 000 tonnes 20 years ago.[9]
This Background Note summarises the situation regarding apple imports from each of the above-mentioned countries. Primarily the paper outlines the significant stages and processes that have led to the present situation. However its scope does not include consideration of the technical issues covered by Biosecurity Australia (BA) in the respective import risk analyses; inspection and testing arrangements for imported foodstuffs; nor the management and administration of Australia's biosecurity regime or associated WTO arrangements.
Imports of Fuji apples from Japan have been permissible since 1998 although as of August 2011 no trade had occurred.[10]
On 30 June 2010, Australia's Director of Plant and Animal Quarantine (the Director of Quarantine) announced that the importation of fresh apple fruit from China would be permitted subject to the Quarantine Act 1908 and the application of phytosanitary measures specified in the final import risk analysis (IRA) report for fresh apple fruit from the People's Republic of China.[11] [12]
The quarantine measures include:
To support these measures an operational system that maintains and verifies the quarantine status of consignments to Australia, through inspection by AQIS, is required. An AQIS officer must be present in China under a pre-clearance arrangement to inspect and verify all consignments prior to export.
China's agricultural quarantine agency submitted a market access request for fresh apples to BA in 2001. Initially only two provinces were covered by the request but in 2004 two more provinces were specified. In 2005 the request was extended to all commercial apple production areas of China.
An indication of the extensive and comprehensive nature of an IRA process, including the consultation elements, is reflected in the schedule of significant dates for this IRA which included:
The first commercial imports of apples from China arrived in early 2011.[16] Information provided to Senate Estimates hearings in February 2011 by the Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) was that 24 consignments of apples had arrived from China, as of 18 February 2011. With each consignment weighing around 22 tonnes, those imports totalled about 528 tonnes.[17] According to a July 2011 media report, apple imports from China had reached 670 tonnes.[18] For the 2011-12 season 13 shipments amounting to 225 tonnes of apples were imported from China. All lots were inspected in China by Australian authorities with none rejected.[19]
In March 2007, Australia's Director of Quarantine announced[20]that imports of apples from NZ would be permitted subject to a regime of specific quarantine measures. This announcement concluded a formal process of consideration of a market access request for apples from NZ which was initiated in 1999. It also ended Australia's ban on the importation of apples from NZ which had been in place since 1921.[21]
In response to the announced policy, the NZ government initiated a WTO dispute which went before a disputes panel for a ruling. The WTO panel found that the quarantine measures by Australian authorities for apples being imported from NZ were not justified and hence ruled that Australia was in breach of its WTO obligations. A subsequent appeal by Australia to the WTO Appellate Body against the finding was unsuccessful. As there are no further avenues for appeal within the WTO system, Australia is required to implement the reports of the Disputes Panel and Appellate Body and adopt quarantine measures for apples from NZ which comply with its WTO obligations.[22]
As part of the WTO compliance process, BA announced on 7 December 2010 that it had initiated a review of existing policy for apples from New Zealand.[23] This review is also referred to as a non-regulated analysis as it does not meet the criteria for an IRA.[24]Nevertheless it was conducted to the standard of an IRA and considered the pests which were the subject of the WTO dispute: fire blight, European canker and apple leaf curling midge (ALCM). Evidence not available at the time of the original risk analysis in 2006 as well as the WTO decision were taken into account.[25]
The draft report of the NRA was released on 4 May 2011 for the requisite 60 day consultation period.[26] BA received 65 submissions in response to the draft report.[27]
Although completion of the final report for the NRA was not subject to a legislated timetable, Australia and NZ had previously agreed that the WTO recommendations and rulings would be implemented by 17 August 2011. This allowed Australia to be in a position to issue import permits for NZ apples from that date, based on any conditions that might arise out of the NRA.[28]
On August 17 2011 BA released the final report[29] of the NRA and the associated policy determination[30] for the importation of apples from NZ. Australia's import conditions for apples from NZ require:
As a result of the NRA BA has concluded that Australia can be adequately protected from fire blight. It notes that:
In addition, NZ apple growers note that both NZ and the US, where fire blight is also present, have successfully exported large quantities of apples to Taiwan for over thirty years without transmitting fire blight.[33]
In August/September 2011 BA undertook pre-shipment inspection in NZ of 13 lots of apples proposed for export to Australia. The lots totalled just 23 tonnes. No quarantine issues were detected with 10 lots – some 18 tonnes. The other 3 lots (5 tonnes) were rejected due to detection of:
1) a single live ALCM and leaf trash
2) a live ALCM and
3) a small piece of leaf trash.
1) a single live ALCM and leaf trash
2) a live ALCM and
3) a small piece of leaf trash.
Consequently these lots did not leave NZ and in total 16 tonnes of apples were shipped to Australia.[34]
In addition to concerns about the risk of fire blight being present on apples imported from NZ, there has been the associated issue of possible human health and safety risks due to the use of the antimicrobial agent streptomycin on apple orchards in NZ to control fire blight. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) which administers the Food Standards Code undertook a risk assessment and concluded:
The consumption of apples imported from New Zealand poses a negligible increased risk to Australian consumers from potential exposure to antimicrobial resistant organisms. [35]
Key points noted in the FSANZ review included:
On 17 March 2008, BA announced the commencement of an IRA for apple fruit from the US grown in the Pacific Northwest (PNW) states of Idaho, Oregon and Washington.[37] This IRA is being undertaken as an expanded IRA, requiring completion within 30 months from announcement. This compares with the maximum time frame for a standard IRA of 24 months.
Key dates for this IRA thus far include:
The draft report proposes that the importation of apple fruit be permitted, subject to quarantine measures for the pests of quarantine concern.[39] The combination of risk management measures and operational systems proposed for the importation of fresh apple fruit from the PNW states includes:
In May 2012 DAFF advised they were still waiting for the above mentioned additional information.[40] Once the requisite information is received from US authorities the revised draft IRA report will be finalised and submitted to the Eminent Scientists Group (ESG) for review in accordance with the legislated requirements for expanded IRAs.[41] BA will notify stakeholders when the clock is restarted.
The market environment for the Australian apple industry has changed considerably in a relatively short space of time with imports now possible from Japan, China and NZ. Also, should the final IRA report on apples from the US confirm the proposal to allow imports from that country, further competitive pressure is expected. Some major findings of a 2011 report on the economic situation of the apple industry in relation to imports include:
Although there has not been competition from other countries in the domestic fresh apple market for some 90 years this has not prevented significant structural change occurring in the industry. A good indicator of the extent of this change is the decline in the number of apple growers. In 1973–74 the Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded there were 4742 holdings with more than 0.4 ha of apples.[43] By 1993–94 the number of apple and pear farms had fallen by around 70 per cent to 1378.[44] The sharp contraction in farm numbers has continued in recent years with a further decline of 60 per cent to leave 545 apple and pear farms in 2010.[45]
As concerning as the rapid reduction in grower numbers would be to the Australian apple industry it may well be that this is only the symptom of a greater problem—namely that the industry is uncompetitive by international standards as concluded by a recent report by the CIE, which observed:
- Australian growers lag behind international competitors on a number of indicators of orchard productivity
- product quality is inconsistent, which reduces demand in both domestic and export markets and lowers the price received by growers and
- the supply chain is highly fragmented preventing Australian producers from taking advantage of economies of scale in packing and marketing.[46]
The apple industry had already taken steps to improve its competitive position prior to the CIE report through the adoption of the Future Orchards 2012 program.[47] This APAL managed program ran from July 2006 to June 2011 and was designed to lift the productivity of Australian apple and pear orchards to world competitiveness. The CIE also prepared a transition plan for the apple industry 'to support the industry in undertaking critical actions to deliver long term sustainable improvements to the productivity, perceived and actual product quality, and international competitiveness of the apple industry'.[48]
APAL was unsuccessful in obtaining funding in the 2012 Federal Budget for an investment package of $21.9 million 'to help growers become internationally competitive by transitioning them to best practice orchard management techniques'. APAL argues that 'Without additional funding from the government the industry could face widespread job losses, which would have a devastating impact on many rural communities.'[49]
The issue of apple imports from NZ has generated a degree of rancour on both sides of the Tasman. One of the Australian Senators who visited NZ in June 2011 claimed '…they would not talk to us about apple blight, they would not allow us to meet with apple producers and they would not allow us to go on to orchards. They were almost insulting.' [50]Another delegation of Federal Parliamentarians visited several orchards in the Hawke's Bay area of NZ in November 2011. Their visit attracted rather unflattering comments from NZ's peak industry body including a reference to the Australian MPs of '…not coming to New Zealand with an open mind…'[51]
NZ apple growers have indicated that the very stringent quarantine conditions required by Australia have made exporting not commercially viable and hence they will be seeking changes to the current protocols. This is despite those conditions having being agreed to by NZ under the WTO settlement. They are looking at 'another three to five years to create a commercial relationship and a commercial business with Australia.'[52]
To date there has been no indication from Australian authorities that any changes are being considered or have even been requested by their NZ counterparts. Any such request would need to comply with internationally agreed procedures and be reviewed by BA in accordance with established science based risk assessments. Thus it remains to be seen whether or not the changes sought by NZ growers will eventuate.
A further tension has arisen between the Commonwealth and Tasmanian government with the latter reportedly imposing its own ban on apple imports.[53] Under WTO arrangements sanctions can be applied to a member country like Australia if a sub-national jurisdiction such as a State Government is found to be in breach of WTO rulings. A similar situation arose in 2000 when Tasmania banned the importation of Canadian salmon. In this case the WTO ruled that Australia was in breach of its WTO obligations as the Tasmanian Government's ban was not based on a risk assessment and not supported by scientific evidence. It is highly likely a similar conclusion would be reached regarding apples from New Zealand.
Australia's apple industry is very familiar with change, the factors which drive it and the harsh realities which can result. However the advent of apple imports and the prospect of strong competition from other suppliers, especially NZ, herald an era of pressures and adjustment which may be unlike anything experienced previously. Although it appears there will be at least several years before the full competitive pressure of imports manifests itself, past experience suggests the industry faces a major challenge if it is to achieve its vision which is to 'be world class in satisfying consumer demand for its products and be achieving sustained profitability' by 2015.[54]
[1]. J Cahill (Chief Executive Biosecurity Australia), Biosecurity policy determination – importation of apples from New Zealand, media release, Biosecurity Australia, 27 March 2007, viewed 20 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/176523/2007-07.pdf
[2]. Plant Health Australia, Fire blight: Apple and Pear industry biosecurity plan, 2004, http://www.planthealthaustralia.com.au/pidd-docs/090%20-%20Fire%20blight%20PRR%20-%202005.pdf viewed 17 September 2012
[3]. A summary of the WTO apples dispute between NZ and Australia and the relevant key documents are available at: World Trade Organization, 'Australia – measures affecting the importation of apples from New Zealand', WTO website, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds367_e.htm
[4]. C O'Connell (Director of Animal and Plant Quarantine), Policy determination on the importation of fresh apple fruit from the People's Republic of China, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, 28 June 2010, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1688311/Policy_determination.pdf
[5]. See: Biosecurity Australia, 'Apples from the USA', Biosecurity Australia website, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/ira/current-plant/apples_usa
[6]. J Cobb, Labor crumbles over apple imports , media release, 6 July 2011, viewed 20 June 2012, http://www.nationals.org.au/News/LatestNews/tabid/94/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/6589/Labor-crumbles-over-apple-imports.aspx
[7]. The Bill was not introduced into the Parliament and on 23 August 2011 Mr Cobb announced he would not proceed with his Bill 'at this time' and he would consider information learned on his imminent visit to NZ before taking any further action. Source: J Cobb, Coalition to inspect New Zealand Apples, media release, 23 August 2011, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.johncobb.com.au/news/default.asp?action=article&ID=646
[8]. Centre for International Economics, 'Part 2: economic impact statement', Adjusting to apple imports, prepared for Apples and Pears Australia Limited, Canberra & Sydney, December 2010, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.apal.org.au/assets/content/3917/Final%20CIE%20Economic%20Impact%20Statement%20%20-%2016%20December%202010.pdf; A Dick, 'Imports to hit apple industry core', The Land, 7 July 2011, viewed 27 June 2012, http://theland.farmonline.com.au/news/state/horticulture/fruit/imports-to-hit-apple-industry-core/2218317.aspx
[9]. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Agricultural commodities Australia 2009-10 (and earlier issues), cat. no. 7121.0, ABS, Canberra, 11 April 2011, p. 12, viewed 26 June 2012 http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/Ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/20042E8A21DCF545CA25786C0015898B/$File/71210_2009-10.pdf; and Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE), Commodity statistical bulletin 1991, ABARE, Canberra, 1991, p. 151.
[10]. Biosecurity Australia, The import of apples from New Zealand Questions and answers, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, 17 August 2011, p. 2, viewed 25 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1984798/QA_NZ_apples_17_August_2011.pdf
[11]. The term 'phytosanitary' refers to plant health. Biosecurity Australia, Final import risk analysis report for fresh apple fruit from the People's Republic of China, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, June 2010, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1686471/Final_IRA_report__for_apples_from_the_Peoples_Republic_of_China.pdf
[12]. Even prior to China's market access request for apples, Australia had an existing quarantine policy permitting the importation of fresh pears from China, the Republic of Korea and Japan. Pears have been imported from China since 1999.
[13]. In accordance with international standards, IRAs conducted by BA use the international definition of pest being 'Any species, strain or biotype of plant, animal, or pathogenic agent injurious to plants or plant products' as set out in: Secretariat of the International Plant Protection Convention, Glossary of phytosanitary terms, ISPM no. 5, International standards for phytosanitary measures, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2010, p. 12, viewed 27 June 2012, https://www.ippc.int/file_uploaded/1273490046_ISPM_05_2010_E.pdf
[14]. Biosecurity Australia, Final import risk analysis report for fresh apple fruit from the People's Republic of China, June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/ira/final-plant/apples_china/baa_201008-provira_apples_from_china
[15]. Biosecurity Australia, Policy determination 28 June 2012 (attached)
[16]. Biosecurity Australia, Draft report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for apples from New Zealand, op. cit., p. 3.
[17]. L van Meurs (Acting Executive Manager, BSG Plant Division, DAFF), 'Additional estimates', Hansard, evidence given to the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Canberra, 21 February 2011, p. 64, viewed 27 June 2012 http://parlinfo/parlInfo/download/committees/estimate/13574/toc_pdf/7955-2.pdf
[18]. Dick, op. cit.
[19]. Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, Answers to Questions on notice, Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio, Additional Estimates 2011–12, 13 February 2012, Question 190, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/rratctte/estimates/add1112/daff/index
[20]. Biosecurity Australia Policy Memorandum 2007/07 27 March 2007 (attached)
[21]. J Cahill, Biosecurity policy determination – importation of apples from New Zealand, op. cit.; the information on NZ contained in this section draws heavily on: Biosecurity Australia, 'Non-regulated analysis apples from New Zealand', Biosecurity Australia website, viewed 27 June 3012, http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/reviews/final-plant/non-regulated_analysis_apples_from_new_zealand and related sub websites.
[22]. WTO Dispute DS 367 Australia — Measures Affecting the Importation of Apples from New Zealand viewed 17 September 2012
[23]. Biosecurity Australia Advice 2010/38 7 December 2010 (attached)
[24]. More information about the difference between an IRA and a non-regulated analysis is provided in the Import Risk Analysis Handbook at p. 12.
[25]. Biosecurity Australia, Draft report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for apples from New Zealand, op. cit., pp. xv-xvi.
[26]. CJ Grant, Non-regulated analysis of existing policy for the importation of apples from New Zealand, Biosecurity Australia advice 2011/06, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/1906510/BAA_2011-06_Draft_NZ_apples_reviewsigned.pdf
[27]. Biosecurity Australia, 'Submissions to the draft report', Biosecurity Australia website, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/reviews/final-plant/non-regulated_analysis_apples_from_new_zealand/submissions_draft_report_0711
[28]. WTO, op. cit.
[29]. Biosecurity Australia Final Report for the non-regulated analysis of existing policy for apples from New Zealand August 2011
[30]. Biosecurity Australia Advice 2011-14 17 August 2011 (attached)
[31]. The 600 unit inspection regime routinely adopted by Australia for quarantine purposes is based on standards set by the International Plant Protection Convention which is the international body responsible for plant health standards. For more information see International Standards for Phytosanitary Measures No. 31 Methodologies for sampling of consignments available at https://www.ippc.int/file_uploaded/1229532867492_ISPM31_2008_E.pdf viewed 25 June 2012. The issue of determining sample size is covered in Section 5.
[32]. Biosecurity Australia, The import of apples from New Zealand Questions and answers, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, 17 August 2011, p. 2, viewed 25 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1984798/QA_NZ_apples_17_August_2011.pdf
[33]. Pipfruit New Zealand, Ignorant Australian Politicians Inspect NZ, media release, viewed 25 June 2012, http://www.pipfruitnz.co.nz/News_and_Events.aspx?cms_584_param_detail=1457
[34]. Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Committee, Answers to Questions on notice, Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry Portfolio, Additional Estimates 2011–12, 13 February 2012, Question 134, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Senate_Estimates/rratctte/estimates/add1112/daff/index
[35]. Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), Treatment of apple trees with streptomycin and potential risk to human health, FSANZ, May 2011, p. 1, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.foodstandards.gov.au/_srcfiles/Streptomycin_apples_FINAL.pdf
[36]. Ibid. p. 1.
[37]. J Cahill (Executive Director Biosecurity Australia), Commencement of an import risk analysis for apple fruit from the USA, Biosecurity Australia advice 2008/06, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, 17 March 2008, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/592345/ApplesfromUS_BAA2008-06.pdf
[38]. See: Biosecurity Australia, 'Apples from the USA', Biosecurity Australia website, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/ba/ira/current-plant/apples_usa
[39]. Biosecurity Australia, Draft import risk analysis report for fresh apple fruit from the United States of America Pacific Northwest States, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Canberra, October 2009, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.daff.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/1335651/2009-26_BAA__Draft_US_Apples_IRA.pdf
[40]. D Barbour, (Acting Assistant Secretary, Biosecurity (Horticulture) Branch, DAFF), 'Estimates', Hansard, evidence given to the Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Canberra, 21 May 2012, p. 93, viewed 20 June 2012, http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22committees%2Festimate%2Fed7222c7-70d3-4be9-8805-0fd5a65c360d%2F0001%22
[41]. The Eminent Scientists Group (ESG) is a high level review group which provides external, independent, scientific and economic scrutiny of expanded IRAs. It reviews the draft IRA report, as revised by BA after consideration of stakeholder comments but prior to final publication. The ESG review takes account of any relevant new information brought to its attention and assesses conflicting scientific views. For more information about the ESG see: Biosecurity Australia, Import risk analysis handbook, op. cit., p. 36.
[42]. Horticulture Australia Limited, The economic impact of apple imports from China, New Zealand and the USA on the Australian apple industry, Summary of CIE report commissioned by Horticulture Australia Ltd at the request of Apple and Pear Australia Ltd, 2011, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.apal.org.au/assets/content/3919/CIE%20Economic%20Impact%20Summary.pdf
[43]. Industries Assistance Commission (IAC), Fruitgrowing Part B: apples and pears, IAC report, IAC, Canberra, 16 January 1976, p.27.The report also notes that the methodology used by the then Bureau of Agricultural Economics (BAE) for its farm surveys classified apple growers as 'specialist'—generally having more than 4 ha—'or small'—having under 4 ha. BAE estimated that there were about 3000 growers in 1974: 800 small and 2200 specialist.
[44]. Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Agriculture Australia, 1993-94, cat. no. 7113.0, ABS, Canberra, p. 15, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/free.nsf/0/AA77F73FC851EEA7CA257225000739AB/$File/71130_1993_94.pdf
[45]. ABS, Agricultural Commodities Australia 2009-10, op. cit.
[46]. CIE, op. cit., p. 6.
[47]. Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), 'Future orchards 2012', APAL website, viewed 27 June 2012, http://www.apal.org.au/future-orchards.cfm
[48]. CIE, op. cit., p. 12.
[49]. APAL, Budget announcement rotten for apple growers, media release, 9 May 2012, viewed 28 June 2012, http://www.apal.org.au/assets/content/4146/Budget%20announcement%20rotten%20for%20apple%20growers.pdf
[50]. Senator C Back 'Estimates', Hansard, Senate Rural Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee, Canberra, 17 October 2011, p. 89, viewed 27 June 2012, http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22committees%2Festimate%2Fa7cdb3b9-e677-4168-a173-14b7a26ba4cd%2F0001%22
[51]. Pipfruit New Zealand, op. cit.
[52]. 'False start', Landline. Transcript, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), 24 June 2012, viewed 28 June 2012, http://www.abc.net.au/landline/content/2012/s3532047.htm
[53]. 'Federal Government stews over apple ban', ABC News website, 11 January 2012, viewed 26 June 2012 http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-01-10/federal-govt-stews-over-apple-ban/3765702
[54]. APAL, 'Annual report to industry 2010 –2011', APAL website, viewed 25 June 2012, p. 2 http://www.apal.org.au/assets/annual-reports/2010-2011-Annual-Report.pdf
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text: Yea I was very happy I got $550 back out of the billy goat and $150 out of the smaller backpack, so I was able to get some new hand tools and pay on some bills. Yea I plan on running my leaf loader till the end of may. I always get monstrousity spring cleanups.


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Chances are you know someone who has had cancer, such as an older relative or someone in a friend's family. But sometimes cancer affects teens and when the person affected is you, the word cancer takes on a new meaning — one that can feel personal and frightening.
If you've been diagnosed with cancer, you should know that although it's unusual for people to have cancer during their teenage years, you're certainly not alone. The good news is that most teens who get cancer survive and return to their everyday lives.
Read on to learn about how to cope if you or someone you know has cancer.
The word cancer actually refers to many diseases, not one. What these diseases have in common is that the body's cells (tiny units that make up all living things) behave abnormally. In someone who has cancer, cells grow and divide uncontrollably and eventually form tumors.
Many people with cancer (or who know people with cancer) find that learning more about it is a good way to understand and feel more in control of their situations. Knowing more about the disease also allows people to feel knowledgeable enough to ask relevant questions and take charge of their medical options.
Cancer has its own language, and doctors can sometimes forget that non-medical people may not understand its terms and phrases. If there's anything you don't understand, ask for explanations. Most doctors are happy to explain things in a way that makes sense to their patients. People with cancer usually have a specially trained medical team working with them to fight the disease. So if a doctor's not around, an oncology nurse can probably answer any questions.
Another way to make sense of cancer is to read. You can find tons of information and resources in public libraries, bookstores, and on the Internet. Remember, though, that you may come across information (especially on the Internet) that is incorrect or outdated. If you find information in your research that is different from what your doctor is telling you, be sure to ask your doctor about it.
People who are living with cancer and their families often find it helpful and comforting to share their experiences and learn what others have gone through. A variety of supportive environments are available for this — everything from Internet chat areas on cancer sites to local support groups where people meet face to face. Ask your doctor to recommend some cancer support resources. Although no two patients have the exact same cancer experiences, it can sometimes feel good to know you're not alone.
Since you were a little kid, you've probably heard again and again that eating right and getting rest are two of the most important things you can do to stay healthy. For people who've been diagnosed with cancer, getting proper nutrition and plenty of sleep are good ways to stay as healthy as possible during treatment.
People who are having chemotherapy or radiation therapy may need help eating right because the side effects of these treatments can include loss of appetite and nausea. It may help to consult with a dietitian, a professional who can create a nutrition plan geared to your specific needs.
Exercise can also help a person stay healthy during recovery. If you're being treated for cancer, a doctor can let you know whether you should exercise, how much, and whether physical therapy might help.
Once you are able to exercise, find out which types will help to increase your strength and stamina. Even gentle walking can go a long way to helping people with cancer feel better about themselves.
It's natural for people who have learned they have cancer to feel many emotions. Anger, fear, sadness, and anxiety are common reactions to having a serious illness.
Feelings and worries can seem overwhelming if they get bottled up inside. It's important to get help in sorting out your emotions. Some of the professionals you can talk to are social workers, clergy, and psychologists and psychiatrists. You can also share your feelings with trusted adults, such as relatives or members of a cancer support group.
It can really help to get to know other teens who have cancer. You can exchange information and ideas and learn how others your own age have managed to cope. There are also many medical organizations devoted to cancer support, and some have websites as well as toll-free telephone numbers to make it easy to contact them.
Above all, remember that although you may have cancer, you're a person first and a patient second. Cancer is not your identity; it is simply an illness you are trying to overcome.
If a friend or relative has cancer, the most important thing you can do is to be yourself! Many people who have cancer say that the people they love suddenly treat them differently or stay away completely.
It's natural to feel frightened, anxious, or even angry when someone you know has cancer, but don't let that keep you from being there for your friend or loved one. You may need help dealing with your strong emotions, and you can find it in many places. Hospitals often have counseling groups for families and friends of people with cancer, or you can talk to a trusted adult for support and reassurance. You can also visit websites related to cancer.
Another way you might help a person with cancer is to consider volunteering at a hospital or clinic that treats people with cancer. Volunteering is an excellent way to show your support.
A friend or family member with cancer might be on an emotional roller coaster. Being in the hospital or having to stay home a lot to rest can be isolating and make someone feel lonely. Most people with cancer like having their friends and family around, even if the visits are short and there isn't much to say. If you're not sure whether to visit, ask.
Even if your schedule is very busy, you can keep in touch in other ways, like using social media, sending cards, talking on the phone, texting, or using email. It will do a lot to lift the spirits of someone who is dealing with cancer.
Keep in mind that the person you care about is simply sick. Despite the cancer, he or she is still the same person you've always known and loved.
Reviewed by: Jonathan L. Powell, MD
Date reviewed: April 2013
|American Childhood Cancer Organization ACCO provides support and information for children and teens with cancer.
|OncoLink OncoLink provides patients and professionals with cancer information, support, and resources.
|American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is the nationwide community-based voluntary health organization dedicated to preventing cancer, saving lives and diminishing suffering from cancer through research, education, advocacy, and service. Call:(800) ACS-2345
|Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation for Childhood Cancer A unique foundation that evolved from a young cancer patient's front-yard lemonade stand to a nationwide fundraising movement to find a cure for pediatric cancer.
|2bMe.org This site helps teens with cancer deal with the appearance-related side effects.
|Cancer Basics Get the basics on cancer and cancer treatments in this article.
|Steroids and Cancer Treatment If your doctor prescribed steroids as part of your treatment for an illness, don't worry. It's not the illegal, doping scandal kind of steroid. Get the details in this article for teens.
|Cancer: Readjusting to Home and School If you've just finished a long hospital stay, you may have questions about reconnecting with friends and family. Get answers in this article for teens.
|Can I Have Children After Cancer Treatments? When chemotherapy and other treatments attack cancer cells, they can affect some of the body's healthy cells too. As a teen, you'll want to know what this can mean to your fertility.
|Cancer Center Visit our Cancer Center for teens to get information and advice on treating and coping with cancer.
|Types of Cancer Teens Get While cancer is rare in teens, some types are more likely to affect young people. Learn about these types of cancer, including warning signs, symptoms, and treatments.
|My Friend Has Cancer. How Can I Help? It's hard to know how to respond when someone you love — someone your own age — is diagnosed with cancer. Here are some thoughts on dealing with feelings and helping your friend.
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May 9, 2011 BY Aaron Hope
Stefan Janoski has been teasing us with a ton of preview images from his Nike SB signature line in recent weeks, many of the posts taking on his playful persona with their wacky captions. But for the latest Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoski Mid, he just called it 'Wow', and that seems pretty accurate for the dope brick red leather getup. These joints are kinda like the Team Red suede lows' big brother, their tonal laces and brown piping leading to a more mature finished product when compared to the aggressive bred lows. Click through to see more, let us know how these compare to the other Nike SB Zoom Stefan Janoskis we've seen in recent weeks and stick with Sneaker News for word on the US release date.
Filed under: Nike SB Skate Upcoming Sneakers


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Tate Liverpool
17 March 2001 – 24 February 2002
The most immediate and intimate of subjects for works of art have often been the people who are emotionally closest to the artist. Drawn from the Tate Collection, this display examines the relationships between artists and their models, families, friends and lovers through their representation in painting, sculpture and photography. It includes key works by Pierre Bonnard, André Derain, David Hockney, Leon Kossoff, Edvard Munch, Pablo Picasso and Thomas Struth.
Who are the most important people in our lives? What emotional networks are we embedded in? Who relies on us, and whom in turn do we rely on for love, friendship, support and understanding? Who do we talk intimately with, and about? Why are we so interested in the way other people's relationships with friends, family and partners work? What happens when these relationships break down? These are some of the questions this display raises and attempts to answer through the work of these artists.
This display covers a range of works and subjects from David Hockney's intimate family portrait My Parents to images of lovers and companions, as in Pablo Picasso's Dora Maar Seated. The artists in this exhibition examine what lies at the heart of relationships between lovers, brothers, sisters, fathers, mothers, children and friends, picturing how we co-exist with one another and as part of a social group. The range of emotions evoked in these artists' works charts the richness of human sociability along with all of the possibilities and problems we face in being with one another.
Emotional Ties is on display at Tate Liverpool from 17 March 2001 until 24 February 2002. Admission is free. The gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00am to 5:50pm, closed Mondays (except Bank Holiday Mondays). For recorded information, please telephone 0151 702 7402, or visit our website at www.tate.org.uk/liverpool/.


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WHEN the Suozzi administration took office in January 2002, it tackled Nassau County's budget crisis by reducing the county workforce by 1,100, enacting efficiencies that saved $100 million and negotiating labor contracts that it said held the line on costs. But almost two years of budget-tightening could be undone by huge increases in state-mandated pension and Medicaid costs. In 2002, the county paid $13.6 million into the state pension system. In 2003, that figure rose to $55.3 million, and in 2004 it is projected to rise to $87.8 million.
''Within two years, there will have been an increase of 546 percent,'' said Arthur A. Gianelli, the deputy county executive for budget and finance. ''So in the midst of trying to recover the county's finances, we'll have to add $74 million to the budget to pay for employee pensions. We had structured the budget conservatively to account for unforeseen circumstances, but the pension increase absorbed nearly all of the funds that would have been available for contingency purposes.''
The county's Medicaid bill is also rising. In 2000, it was $178 million. It rose to $206 million in 2001 and $234 million the following year. It is projected to cost $240.8 million in 2003 and $260 million next year.
''Expenses are going through the roof,'' said Thomas R. Suozzi, the county executive. ''And our health insurance is going up by $20 million next year. People say cut expenses. I have. But I have no control over pensions and Medicaid costs.''
Nassau County is not alone. Soaring pension costs are a challenge for municipalities throughout Long Island and the rest of the state, and the Medicaid increase is facing Suffolk and other counties. Some municipalities have been able to budget for these soaring expenses, others have been forced to borrow, and still others are considering tax increases.Continue reading the main story
Alan G. Hevesi, the state comptroller, said the average employer contribution into the statewide public employees' pension fund, which currently covers 964,000 state, county, town and village employees outside New York City, was about 18 percent of payroll for non-uniformed employees during the 1970's and '80s. The contribution for police and firemen was about 29 or 30 percent, he said, because the contracts for uniformed employees exempt them from contributing to the fund.
But he said that during the economic boom of the 1990's, the pension fund's investments yielded such high returns that governments were able to cut their pension contributions to 2 percent or 1 percent of payroll. Some even contributed nothing.
''It was a huge financial gift,'' Mr. Hevesi said. ''But the stock market soured in 2001 and 2002.'' He said there is a two- to three-year lag in the stock market's effect on pension fund contributions. To help municipalities deal with increasing pension costs, the State Legislature this year approved changes that Mr. Hevesi said will save $1.6 billion through the 2004 fiscal year.
Under the pension reform law, local governments were assessed only 4.5 percent of their payroll this year instead of the 11 percent that would have been required for full funding. Although the 11 percent rate will be in effect when the 2004 payment is due next December, the law allows municipalities to pay only 7 percent and to borrow the rest for five years. And in the future, local governments will be informed of their rates a year before the money is due to permit them to budget for it. Contributions, however, will never drop below 4.5 percent to help stabilize the pension fund.
Local governments have complained, however, that although the pension reform law helps them in the short term, it does nothing to help them in the future.
Robert C. Bortzfield, Suffolk's budget director, said the county's pension costs rose from $16.4 million in 2002 to $51 million this year and an estimated $131 million next year. And Medicaid costs rose from $169.2 million in 2000 to an estimated $236.4 million this year, $283.8 million next year and $332 million in 2005.
''It just grows in leaps and bounds and is something we have absolutely no control over,'' he said. And the new law, he said, ''did not lessen the impact, it only pushed it back.''
There were some years during the 1990's when the county paid nothing into the employee retirement system and used the savings to reduce property taxes, Mr. Bortzfield said, adding, ''Now we are going to get whacked.''
Suffolk budgeted for this year's $51 million in pension costs, but Mr. Bortzfield said the county has taken steps to pay only 7 percent of next year's $131 million pension bill and to borrow the remainder. But in 2005, the entire $131 million will be due, plus payments on the loan.
''The county will be hard pressed to cover these costs without some kind of an increase'' in taxes, he said. ''The 2005 budget will be hit big time. We're looking at having to address about a $200 million budget gap.''
Similar gloom pervades town halls across the Island. The pension bills for Babylon Town are a ''big shock to our system,'' said Douglas F. Jacob, the town's director of finance. He said the bill rose from $689,070 to $1.04 million this year, an estimated $2.5 million next year and $3.2 million in 2005.
''From 2000 to 2004, the Town of Babylon has seen a 300 percent increase,'' Mr. Jacob said. ''That is staggering.''
To pay for this year's pension contribution, he said the town withdrew about $500,000 from its $7.5 million in reserves. And to avoid raising taxes next year, Mr. Jacob said the town plans to withdraw another $900,000 from the reserve fund and borrow to the limit allowed by the new law.
Mr. Jacob said he favors the new law's requirement that municipalities pay a minimum of 4.5 percent of payroll in the future. ''It's a smart thing to do,'' he said. ''It's hard to manage multimillion-dollar swings. This is better for our planning and for our taxpayers.''
But John A. Mastromarino, the comptroller of Hempstead Town, questioned that move.
''We are playing catch-up, but if the market turns around, why must there still be a contribution of 4.5 percent?'' he asked. ''When there is a normal reserve and an excess reserve, there is a temptation to use that reserve to increase the benefits to all retirees, which is what the previous comptroller did. We are now living with those enhanced benefits.''
In fact, although former Comptroller H. Carl McCall advocated changes in the pension system, it was the State Legislature that improved pension benefits, including providing a cost-of-living adjustment. Governor Pataki signed the changes into law. Hempstead Town paid $567,222 into the pension fund in 2001 after paying nothing the previous two years. The contribution rose to $1.07 million in 2002 and $5.4 million this year. It is estimated to jump to $16.5 million next year. The town budgeted for $10 million next year and intends to borrow to cover the rest, Mr. Mastromarino said.
William F. Glacken, the mayor of Freeport, called next year's required contribution ''draconian,'' saying it would actually cost his village 17 percent for police employees and nearly 12 percent for all others.
''If implemented,'' he wrote in a Dec. 8 letter to Mr. Hevesi, ''they would have a devastating impact on every municipality and school district in the state, and, incidentally, on the state itself.''
Mr. Glacken said it was his understanding that as of the end of this year the retirement system would be fully funded at $114 billion. And he questioned why contribution levels could not be held to 7 percent for the police employees and 4.5 percent for all others.Continue reading the main story


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Personhood, property rights, and the permissibility of abortion
- 74 Downloads
The purpose of this paper is to argue that the tactic of granting a fetus the legal status of a person will not, contrary to the expectations of opponents of abortion, provide grounds for a general prohibition on abortions. I begin by examining two arguments, one moral (J. J. Thomson's 'A Defense of Abortion') and the other legal (D. Regan's 'Rewriting Roe v. Wade'), which grant the assumption that a fetus is a person and yet argue to the conclusion that abortion is permissible. However, both Thomson and Regan rely on the so-called bad samaritan principle. This principle states that a person has a right to refuse to give aid. Their reliance on this principle creates problems, both in the moral and the legal contexts, since the bad samaritan principle is intended to apply to passive refusals to aid; abortion, however, does not look like any such passive denial of aid, and so it does not seem like the sort of action covered by the bad samaritan principle. In defense of the positions outlined by Thomson and Regan, I argue that the apparent asymmetry between abortion and the usual type of case covered by the bad samaritan principle is only apparent and not a genuine problem for their analyses. I conclude with a defense of the morality of the bad samaritan principle.
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Zumiez, 8200 PERRY HALL BLVD.; Ste. #2490, BALTIMORE, Maryland, 21236
Store Hours of Operation, Location & Phone Number for Zumiez Near You
8200 PERRY HALL BLVD.; Ste. #2490 BALTIMORE MD 21236
Hours(Opening & Closing Times):
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Tuesday 10:00 am - 08:00 pm
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Thursday 10:00 am - 08:00 pm
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Saturday 10:00 am - 08:00 pm
Sunday 11:00 am - 06:00 pm
Phone Number: (410) 931-3847
Customer Service Email or Contact:Correct this information
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Established in 1978, Zumiez maintains a network of retail stores with an action sports theme. The retailer provides quality clothing, footwear, accessories, gear, and DVDs to men and women with skate and snow athletic lifestyles. Primarily found in shopping malls, Zumiez operates more than 400 stores nationwide. Headquarters for Zumiez reside in Lynnwood, WA. The company trades on the NASDAQ as ZUMZ and earns over $400 million a year.
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SYDNEY, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Former Australian Tourism Minister Merri Rose, in prison for using threats to get an unspecified benefit, was released early, a report says.
A Corrective Services spokesman said Rose was released from Numinbah prison with no special conditions placed on her, The Australian reported.
Rose, who was a minister in the Beattie government, served three months of an 18-month sentence for using threats to demand a benefit. The nature of the threat has never been made public, The Australian said.


text: Audie Cornish The Man Who Would Own All The World's 'Speed' — But Only On VHS By Audie Cornish • Apr 24, 2014 Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Transcript MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: Ryan Beitz feels a need for speed. Specifically, he wants to get... RYAN BEITZ: All available VHS copies of the hit 1994 action-adventure film "Speed," starring Sandra Bullock, Keanu Reeves and Dennis Hopper. The Wonders Of The Year 2014, As Told By Isaac Asimov By Audie Cornish • Apr 22, 2014 Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: A moment now remember how the future looked 50 years ago today. (SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, "FUTURAMA") AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: Months Of Training And A Moment Of Silence As Marathon Draws Near By Audie Cornish • Apr 15, 2014 Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: Letters: Athletic And Academic Demands In College By Audie Cornish • Apr 7, 2014 Melissa Block and Audie Cornish read letters from listeners about the demands made on students and student-athletes in college. Putin Speaks, Decries U.S. For 'Experimenting On Rats' In Ukraine By Audie Cornish • Mar 4, 2014 In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin defended his position on Ukraine. In a news conference, Putin denied that Russian troops are in Crimea but reserved the right to use force in Ukraine. Obama Announces Task Force To Help Young Minority Men By Audie Cornish • Feb 27, 2014 Transcript MELISSA BLOCK: This is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. I'm Melissa Block. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: And I'm Audie Cornish. Hopes Dim For Long-Term Extension To Jobless Benefits By Audie Cornish • Jan 14, 2014 The Senate is still struggling to find a way to pay for an extension of unemployment benefits for those out of work for 26 weeks or more. Majority leader Harry Reid agreed to bring up five Democratic and five Republican amendments in hopes to winning enough Republicans over to get to the 60 votes needed for passage. Christie Delivers Statewide Address Under Increased Scrutiny By Audie Cornish • Jan 14, 2014 Transcript AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: Embattled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie was back in the spotlight today. The annual State of the State speech came at an awkward moment for Christie. The Republican governor had not spoken publicly since apologizing last week for politically motivated lane closures at the George Washington Bridge. Christie acknowledged the unfolding scandal at the start of his speech. Explanatory 'Verticals' Give Big-Name Journalists More Power By Audie Cornish • Jan 3, 2014 Copyright 2017 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: Federal Appeals Court Stays Ruling Against NYPD Stop-And-Frisk By Audie Cornish • Oct 31, 2013 The court also removed Judge Shira Scheindlin from the case, saying she violated the appearance of impartiality, among other reasons. Twitter Reveals User Numbers, Financial Info Ahead Of IPO By Audie Cornish • Oct 3, 2013 Transcript MELISSA BLOCK, HOST: From NPR News, this is ALL THINGS CONSIDERED. I'm Melissa Block. AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: And I'm Audie Cornish. Twitter is revealing more details about its planned initial public offering. Late this afternoon, the company announced its intention to raise a billion dollars by selling stock, and revealed detailed information about its finances for the first time. We're joined now by NPR's Steve Henn to discuss this peek behind the Twitter curtain. Hey there, Steve. STEVE HENN, BYLINE: Hey. Unemployment Claims Drop To Pre-Recession Levels By Audie Cornish • Aug 22, 2013 More than 330,000 people filed new claims for unemployment insurance benefits last week. That sounds like a big number — and is a slight increase over the previous week — but it's being taken as some very good news. For a month, now, fewer new people are asking for unemployment insurance than at any time since November, 2007. That's before the Great Recession. Fukushima Nuclear Plant Leaking 300 Tons Of Tainted Water Daily By Audie Cornish • Aug 8, 2013 Copyright 2014 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/. Transcript AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: Former Goldman Sachs Trader Found Liable For Fraud By Audie Cornish • Aug 1, 2013 Transcript AUDIE CORNISH, HOST: You're listening to ALL THINGS CONSIDERED from NPR News. In New York City today, a victory for the Securities and Exchange Commission: A federal jury held former Goldman Sachs trader Fabrice Tourre liable on six of the seven counts against him. The SEC had accused Tourre of intentionally misleading investors about a mortgage-backed security just as the housing sector was beginning to collapse. The investment created huge losses. White House Proposes Major Changes To Corporate Tax Code By Audie Cornish • Jul 30, 2013 President Obama traveled to Tennessee on Tuesday, another event in his recent push to emphasize jobs and the economy. Pages« first ‹ previous … 3 4 5 6 next › last »


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CONCORD – Speaker Bill O'Brien must give a full accounting of his participation in the DJ Bettencourt and Bob Mead scandals, Democratic House leaders said.
"Speaker Bill O'Brien is a public official and he owes the public answers. The Speaker's administration apparently misused public funds for political purposes and attempted to cover up a major deception by his second-in-command," said Rep. Terie Norelli, House Democratic Leader. "These are not issues that can be just swept aside for political purposes. Speaker O'Brien must give the people of New Hampshire, and the members of the House, a full and clear accounting of his role in both of these scandals."
The media has reported that an aide in the majority office, Bob Mead – who is also a close associate of Speaker O'Brien's – billed taxpayers for mileage on trips to recruit Republican House candidates, and apparently spent taxpayer-funded time on "Republican outreach." O'Brien's office said they were too busy to answer questions about what Mead was doing for his taxpayer-funded salary.
Then this weekend, O'Brien's second-in-command, D.J. Bettencourt abruptly resigned when it was discovered that he had apparently falsified internship reports to the University of New Hampshire Law School. Bettencourt at first claimed he was resigning to take a new job – with a foundation created by O'Brien.
In today's Foster's Daily Democrat, Republican Representative Julie Brown, said she believed there should be an investigation into the Speaker's role in attempting to cover up Bettencourt's alleged frauds. The Concord Monitor today called on Speaker Bill O'Brien to answer a number of questions about his role in the Bettencourt scandal. And today's Union Leader blasted O'Brien for being unclear about the Mead scandal – and said of the Bettencourt scandal, "While it is unclear just what the Speaker knew about this fiasco and when, he might do his party and the House a favor by reflecting on his own future as a leader.
In response to questions, O'Brien sent around an email to Republican representatives calling on them to close ranks and stonewall questions.
Democratic Rep. Steve Shurtleff of Concord said, "In his pursuit of his extreme, far-right agenda, Bill O'Brien has created a culture of corruption in the New Hampshire. O'Brien, Bettencourt and their team have stomped on anything that gets in their way, including House rules, the New Hampshire Constitution, and the people of New Hampshire. It's time Bill O'Brien face the music and tell the people of New Hampshire the full story behind both these scandals."


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"I think it was my upbringing. Just learning from my mama to always treat people the way you want to be treated. I think (it is) just what she instilled in me, just that humble attitude that no matter what you do, you can always be brought down. So, I think I owe that to her."
Related quotes
"Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people - your family, friends, and coworkers, and even strangers you meet along the way."
"Mama and Daddy King represent the best in manhood and womanhood, the best in a marriage, the kind of people we are trying to become."
"My mama always used to tell me: 'If you can't find somethin' to live for, you best find somethin' to die for."
"Mama exhorted her children at every opportunity to 'jump at the sun.' We might not land on the sun, but at least we would get off the ground."
"My son is going through a Daddy thing. It's always Dada, Dada, Dada. I'm like, 'What about me? Mama! I carried you around for nine months.' What did Tim do? He just had sex with me. It was all fun for Tim. All gain."


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UUP/Tory link-up gives voters new choice: Nicholson
European election hopeful Jim Nicholson has told of his pride at being the first candidate jointly endorsed by the UUP and Conservative Party.
He said: "For far too long Northern Ireland's voters have been semi-detached in terms of input and influence, having little or no impact on Westminster or European politics because their representatives have belonged to small regional parties rather than to strong national parties.
"But I have worked very closely with Conservative MEPs for a number of years and I have seen at first hand the crucial extra influence that comes from that sort of relationship. I am proud to be the first candidate jointly endorsed by the Ulster Unionist Party and the Conservative Party and proud to be able to offer a new choice and a new voice for Northern Ireland's electorate."
Mr Nicholson also said there were major challenges ahead for Northern Ireland.
Belfast Telegraph


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Ask the Experts
enlarged lymph nodesI discovered a week ago that my right axilliary lymph node was wnlarged. On Tuesday i went to see my doc who confirmed the enlargement and she ordered a chest x-ray and ct scan. I had the x-ray done on wednesday and got the results on firday which...
Response from Benjamin Young, M.D., Ph.D.
Rocky Mountain CARES...thanks for your post.It's good to hear that your follow up tests (chest XR and CT) were normal. The concern in HIV+ persons with enlarged lymph nodes ("glands") is that they could represent things other than the more common infections (including... Read more »
enlarged lymph nodesI discovered a week ago that I have a painful lymph node under my right armpit. I went to my Doc... Read more »
enlarged lymph nodes behind my earsi have been positive for about a year, and have swollen lymph nodes that go down occasionally, but... Read more »
Candidiasis (Thrush)... What Is Thrush? Can It Be Prevented? How Is It Treated? Natural Therapies The Bottom Line What Is Thrush? Candidiasis is a common Read more »
The Faith in Prevention Training Manual: Tools for Your HIV/AIDS Ministry...exposure to the virus. This illness, called Acute HIV Syndrome, may include fever, headache, tiredness, nausea, diarrhea and enlarged lymph nodes (organs of the immune system that can be felt in the neck, armpits and groin). These symptoms... Read more »
Fluconazole (Diflucan)...skin lotions or creams. It works against several different types of fungus, including the yeast infection called candidiasis or thrush. Many germs live in our bodies or are common in our surroundings. A healthy immune system can fight them off or... Read more »
What Is AIDS?...(Cytomegalovirus), an infection that usually affects the eyes, see Fact Sheet 504 ; and Candida, a fungal infection that can cause thrush (a white film in your mouth) or infections in your throat or vagina, see Fact Sheet 501 . AIDS-related... Read more »
Connect With Others
enlarged lymph node next to adam's apple
Posted by Anonymous, 1 ReplyI noticed enlarged lymph node next to adam's apple.. I have the same under my chin .. this week is 8th week.. isn't it too late for ars?.. Read more »
Enlarged Lymph Node
Posted by Anonymous, 2 Replies...other symptom that I believe could cause it. I do have pretty bad post nasal drip constantly but I don't think that causes enlarged lymph nodes. I wish I could just get up the courage to go and get tested but I just feel way too scared to. Read more »
What was I thinking????
Posted by Anonymous, 3 Replies...also HIV(not worth squat, too early) The nurse told me not to worry, I was at low risk. asked about my tongue she said it wasnt thrush and not to worry. Next I got a stye in my eye and went to the DR also was told not to worry about my tongue. 1... Read more »
does any one know where to send blood
Posted by chrisbadmushroom, 6 Replies...other weird strains of HIV I have many symptoms but continue to test negative even though I have stuff like persistent oral thrush, OHL Epstein bar low testosterone vitamin B12 defcency low cd4's from what i understand OHL can only happen with... Read more »
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The enduring appeal of Johannes Vermeer-a new exhibition of his paintings has proved a runaway success at the Metropolitan Museum in New York City and transfers to London's National Gallery in June-is based on an enigma. The master of precision, mood and detail, Vermeer nevertheless avoided all that is discordant and jarring-what Anthony Bailey, in his engrossing new book A View of Delft (Chatto & Windus; 272 pages), terms "the messiness of life."
What takes Bailey's book beyond the narrow confines of art history is his ability to see Vermeer in the context of life in mid-17th century Holland. To survive, an artist needed wealthy patrons-and the more the better. Vermeer had few benefactors, and he gained no more than a quarter of his income from painting; most came from his mother-in-law and his work as an art dealer. While contemporaries like Rembrandt and Frans Hals specialized in large canvases, lively down-to-earth realism and volume-40 or 50 paintings a year-Vermeer concentrated on interiors and demure women, and managed only a couple of works annually: small, frozen-in-time images with what Bailey calls, "the reality of dreams."
The son of an innkeeper, Vermeer was the father of 15 children, a Roman Catholic-leaning Protestant and a home-towner who rarely left Delft. But this is about all we know; no character descriptions or other salient facts exist. In his short life -born in 1632, died in 1675 of unknown causes although his wife, Catharina, blamed "decay and decadence"-he was never particularly successful. It was not until 1866, when a radical French critic named Th�ophile Thor� wrote three articles about him, that the art world beyond Holland took much notice.
What Thor� recognized was the revolutionary in Vermeer-his emphasis on a perfected state of life without external intrusions and noise, his stress on form rather than function and his extraordinary command of perspective. Thor� was writing at the dawn of photography, which helped artists see in a new way. Vermeer had broken the mold two centuries earlier.
Of course today Vermeer is acknowledged as one of the leading artists of the past 500 years. His influence extended to the Impressionists, Marcel Proust-even crime. Many of his 35 works have been stolen (one, The Concert, is still missing), and in the 1930s and '40s a forger named Hans van Meegeren made millions of dollars with at least six high-class fakes before being caught and imprisoned.
The man from Delft might have smiled at Van Meegeren's efforts. Few of his own subjects were original, he was ruthless in his pursuit of objectives, strove for perfection over volume and borrowed ideas liberally. But there any comparison must end. In a Vermeer painting serenity prevails and, as Bailey notes, a viewer is taken into a room and invited to walk around and talk to those present. It is this unique intimacy that ensured Vermeer's reputation over time, and that continues to enthrall.


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So Why Attend A Exit Strategy Presentation?
Apr 22, 2011
Someday you WILL exit your business. While most business owners accept that intellectually, it is unfortunate that few take the initiative to act upon that realization. It may come as a surprise when the owner finds that it is easier to get INTO their businesses than it is to get out of it.
An unexpected event could result in an owners unplanned exit from their business. But for those who manage to survive the ups and downs of the economy and business cycles, advance preparation, the earlier the better, will greatly increase the chances of achieving their desired lifestyle after the business.
Why attend a seminar on Exiting Your Business, Protecting Your Wealth? For those that may exit their business in the next 5 to 10 years, the following may have an appeal:
- I've thought about exiting my business and I'm concerned that I don't have a written plan.
- Most of my net worth is tied up in my business and I'm frustrated that I don't know how to get it out.
- I'm not really ready to sell my business but I would like to begin to reduce the time I have to spend at the business. I am a little troubled that I don't know what options are available to me.
- I have employees that have stuck with me in the bad times as well as the good and I'm worried that they won't be protected if I sell my business. How can I ensure they are taken care of?
- Frankly, I'm a little nervous that I won't be able to maintain my current lifestyle if I exit my business.
- I'm worked hard and invested considerable time and money into my business. I would really be angry if taxes ate up my nest egg.
- There may be other reasons that owners might benefit from this seminar.
For many it is sobering to find that 80% of the businesses put up for sale will NOT sell. Early preparation can enhance the chances of you being one of the 20% that do sell. But selling is just one option, not the only option. The best option for you is one that enables you to achieve your goals, whether it is travel, leaving a legacy, providing an opportunity for your children or other desires.
Consider a couple of questions:
- If you could get a check in the mail every month, how much total net income AFTER taxes do you think you would need to be able to live comfortably?
- If you could create the perfect calendar and you could live the lifestyle you really want; if you could spend you time , talent and resources doing whatever your want to do, whenever you want to do it; if you could get rid of all the activities that you don't want to do, what would that perfect calendar look like?
These are not easy questions, but these are exactly the kind of questions we help our customers work through to define their ultimate long term vision for their future beyond the business. Several excellent resources are available to help you begin the process. Exiting Your Business, Protecting Your Wealth, by John Leonetti, The Wright Exit Strategy, by Bruce R. Wright and Built to Sell, by John Warrillow are three excellent resources.
We specialize in helping business owners craft an Exit Strategy with an emphasis on preserving their wealth. The truth is, however, not every business needs a comprehensive Exit Plan. Some are simply not in a condition favorable for an owners exit. In those situations, B2B CFO can help the owner identify and implement the changes necessary to prepare the business for the owner's successful exit.
Is B2B CFO right for you? Maybe yes, maybe no. Would it make sense for us to talk further to determine whether there is a fit? If you desire further information and getting together makes sense to you, please give your local B2B CFO Partner a call or send him an email.