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Meteorite over Russia
Posted 27 March 2013 - 06:53 PM
Posted 27 March 2013 - 07:13 PM
I have purchased about a dozen samples from both US and Russian dealers. My only advice is to buy from an experienced dealer. If you are looking at an offering please feel free to ask us if we think it is a legitimate offer. If you are looking for an inexpensive sample Galactic Stone & Ironworks would be a safe source.
Posted 28 March 2013 - 10:01 AM
Posted 28 March 2013 - 11:37 AM
Here is a link to Dr. Svend Buhl's theory about the red crust.
Posted 28 March 2013 - 04:40 PM
You can watch on line:
Good show, a little sensationalist in places; shows some of the meteorites that were collected within weeks of the fall. Some of the SEM micrographs suggest why this meteor produced "peas."
Posted 01 April 2013 - 11:41 PM
Posted 02 April 2013 - 08:23 AM
I'm hoping in the future, when prices stabalize to pickup a nice speciman. Right now, I'm fortunate that I have a large micromount of it!
Posted 02 April 2013 - 12:18 PM
Posted 02 April 2013 - 12:44 PM
Posted 02 April 2013 - 07:05 PM
I would have preferred a show at college science level, with some detailed science. but it's at high-school level. So they skipped over the how of the science, and went to the conclusions. Still, I learned some. For example, the asteroid did not hit the Earth. The Earth hit the asteroid.
And, nope, no new fantastic video footage. On a grade school level, I learned I would like a job creating sound effects of meteors hitting the Earth!
Posted 02 April 2013 - 09:14 PM
Posted 03 April 2013 - 10:30 AM
Posted 03 April 2013 - 11:42 AM
Posted 03 April 2013 - 08:42 PM
Posted 03 April 2013 - 10:58 PM
Yes, a very nice little meteorite! Do you have an image of the second one?
Thanks for the kind words Carol and I'm glad you were able to pick up a nice micro! I think anyone purchasing this fall right now, myself included, are paying a premium to have the most pristine pieces although the prices have been trending way down as material floods in. My first piece cost a whooping $70 a gram but it does have some nice flowlines and evidence of orientation as well as rock solid provenance. A couple of weeks later, I picked up my second stone, also a fresh and complete individual, for around $25 a gram. I predict $10 a gram by years end but I am still happy to have a couple of the early specimens from this incredible fall and have no regrets about my purchases.
EBAY prices are down. Some are around $10 per gram.
Posted 04 April 2013 - 08:29 PM
Posted 05 April 2013 - 10:21 PM
Looking forward to see it.
Thank you for the the compliment. My second specimen is en route from a reliable Russian source and I will post a photo as soon as it arrives. And it appears that the price has dropped to $10 a gram much quicker than many thought, likely the result of a flooded market. I believe it was Mike Farmer who commented that this fall has the potential to produce as much or more than the Gao fall so I expect material will continue to be found for years to come.
What do you think about this EBAY auction:
It does not look as a meteorite to me, and this one is probably not a meteorite from the same seller
Posted 05 April 2013 - 10:40 PM
The auction in your first link is for a beautiful oriented meteorite. If it was a larger sample I would bid on it.
The second link is most likely a legitimate meteorite it looks as if it is mostly melt (formally known as impact melt). The melt samples are not as pretty, however they are less common.
Posted 05 April 2013 - 11:14 PM
No problem. By the way, I agree with Littlegreenman about the sound effects. Cheesy.
Cheesy is exactly why the Little-Pink-Boy in me (maturity level age 7 or so) is impressed and wants to have a job making them!
It's my cross to bear: every TV show or even channel that I like on an intellectual level, over time has moved down 30 IQ points. Adding sound effects to what was obviously silent footage such as war shots is part of the problem. That is one reason I like Mythbusters: they started off 30 IQ points down to begin with, and they always blow something at the end. No sound effects needed.
Back to the topic, meteorites and the Russian Meteor. I have never collected meteors. I have some meteorite material? oxide? I bought when I was about 10 years old in 1961 at Meteor Crater Arizona, and that's all I have. This event has perked my interest. Growing up some neighbors had a chunk that was supposed to be a meteor, metallic, fist sized, and looked like one, but who knows?
Posted 06 April 2013 - 05:53 AM
Congratulations you have been a meteorite collector longer than most of us. Your sample from Meteor Crater may not be rust, back in the day the sold solid samples(bye the see shore).
Posted 06 April 2013 - 09:41 AM
Hi Peter, thanks for your comment.
Hi Oblako,
The auction in your first link is for a beautiful oriented meteorite. If it was a larger sample I would bid on it.
The second link is most likely a legitimate meteorite it looks as if it is mostly melt (formally known as impact melt). The melt samples are not as pretty, however they are less common.
If you are to scroll down at this ended auction http://www.ebay.com/...e-6-Grams-Ca... you will see a very nice oriented meteorite. BTW did you bid for this one? The shape of the one I linked to earlier does look like a meteorite with a roll-over lips, but the fusion crust looks rather funny. As a matter of fact I have not seen any Chelyabinsk meteorite or any other meteorite for that matter that looks like that. The other one has no fusion crust but lot's of sharp edges. I'd be surprised, if it were a meteorite.
Posted 06 April 2013 - 09:45 AM
Your little crater specimen is a keeper. Back in the day, Nininger sold a lot of souvenirs and touristy items to help keep his work going. In that respect, Nininger was a pioneer in many ways. He was one of the first commercial meteorite dealers to offer affordable specimens to the general public. Up until Harvey starting doing that, only a few advanced collectors with deep pockets indulged in meteorite collecting. And he caught a lot of flack for it from some old-guard elements of the scientific community....heck, we still see some of that today, although the situation has improved since Nininger's time.
At any rate, keep that original crater souvenir oxide. If it has any kind of display card, specimen card, packaging, flyer, brochure, or receipt - keep those also. Anything Nininger-related is very desirable to some collectors.
FWIW, I have been on a quest for a couple of years now to acquire one of Robert Burnham Jr's meteorites from his personal collection. It is well known that Burnham collected meteorites and had a special fondness for pallasites. I would give my right arm for one of them. Sometimes the value of specimen has much more to do with provenance than the meteorite itself.
Best regards and clear skies,
Posted 06 April 2013 - 10:44 AM
The crust on these meteorites varies greatly. Some rocks exhibit the "classic" black fusion crust. Some have "bubbly" crust. Some have areas of a dusty reddish crust. Some have a black flaky crust. Here is a photo of a sample that has the flaky crust:
Attached Files
Posted 06 April 2013 - 11:12 AM
Posted 06 April 2013 - 12:17 PM
I seen this on PBS... The Russians were very lucky the asteroid came in with a shallow trajectory.
10,000 Tons, 65 feet in diameter.. :o


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The debate on regional arts funding: data, capacity and postcode pedantry
Filed under: Arts and Society
The debate about arts funding distribution across England and the unfairness of allocation decisions bubbles up from time to time. Last week three arts professionals, Peter Stark, Christopher Gordon and David Powell independently and through self-funded means published a report 'Rebalancing Our Cultural Capital' with the intention of bursting the bubble on the debate so that radical change might happen once and for all. Read more
The acceptable face of creativity: how Media Diversified creatively challenges the "ubiquity of whiteness" in the media
Filed under: Arts and Society, Fellowship
A couple of months ago, I was watching music videos with friends when a band made up of Cambridge graduates came on the TV. As images of the musicians flashed in front of our eyes, someone made a "joke" about one of the non-white band members: 'he can't have gone to Cambridge, he's black'. While it's easy for some to dismiss this as a harmless aside, this one comment tells us a lot about British society. Even if a minority ethnic person succeeds at their creative endeavour (whether academic or musical), the focus is not on their talent, but the colour of their skin. Read more
Vulnerability is not a weakness
Filed under: Arts and Society, Education Matters
In her brilliant TED talk 'Listening to shame' Brené Brown claims that 'vulnerability is the birthplace of innovation, creativity and change'. While we might think of vulnerability and weakness synonymously, Brené argues against this myth stating that vulnerability is all about pure courage, emotional risk, exposure and uncertainty.
I heard Grayson Perry, Turner Prize winning artist and 'transvestite potter' talking at the Women of the World festival where he also talked a lot about vulnerability. His lecture Men! Sit down for your rights proposed a Bill of Rights for Men, which included the Right to be Vulnerable, and the Right to be Uncertain. Grayson thinks that the 'Right to be Vulnerable' would be a part of giving men a new model for masculinity at a time when the current constructs of manliness feel dated.
Following her own 'vulnerability hangover' (but let's face it we all have them) Brené observed that in fact vulnerability is actually essential to whole hearted living and so I was uplifted to read a blog from an English teacher, '5 things that scared me'. An honest portrayal of a challenging week at work where the lesson learnt was 'always do what scares you, only when out of your comfort zone will we truly learn and become our best selves'.
I think this is a really important idea. Embracing our vulnerabilities comes down to asking ourselves to think differently and in turn this requires empathy to allow others to be open. Being out of your comfort zone is difficult and many of us might identify with Brené's epiphany: that whilst being frustrated at not being able to get her work out to the world, she realised a part of her was engineering to stay small, to stay under the radar.
However if the implications of showing our vulnerability are innovation, creativity and change then we need to make it a more socially acceptable behaviour, in our working relationships, personal relationships and our friendships.
And how might you embrace vulnerability in adolescence? It strikes me that this is a time when most of us feel particularly awkward, out of place and unsure of ourselves. Do schools have a role in addressing vulnerability head on? Can you allow space for vulnerability? How can you do this safely and appropriately? Is it just about taking chances, leaps of faith?
Joe Hallgarten and Selina Nwulu with RSA Fellow Barbara Hearn are working on a project called Rethinking Adolescence. They are starting from the idea that adolescence is an under-utilised asset, that this time is valuable and not just a phase in life to get through. There is a perception that young people are 'citizens in waiting' and that adolescence is a time of 'vulnerability of personality' (Verhellen, 2000) because changes are so rapid. It is a chapter when we experiment, push boundaries and start forming the kind of person that we want to be (or perhaps don't want to be) so if we had the scope to express our vulnerability more, what might this lead to? And not just for adolescents. Vulnerability is often the grist for artists' creativity so there is every reason to think that this would generate everyday innovation and change if vulnerability was allowed to flow.
As a last point I thought I'd share a personal story to illustrate the title of this blog in a small way. I've started to play the ukulele. I've got carried away with the idea of me playing the ukulele. I've talked about it a lot. I'm also not very good it but my basic ability to strum out a tune found me announcing to my parents one evening that I was going to give them a rendition of Maggie May.
Having verbally committed to the performance I found myself on the sofa, ukulele in hand with an expectant but somewhat uncomfortable looking audience. I realise my enthusiasm has set the expectation bar high and I can't remember the last time we all sat round for a jolly sing song. The Von Trapps we are not. In that moment a gulf of awkwardness sprang up. There was nothing for it but to plunge in vulnerable and exposed. Strumming then singing, tentative sound filled the room.
I still wasn't very good but I was out there, a chorus in and committed when out of nowhere my dad started singing. Finding something of Rod the Mod we belted out 'Oh Maggie I couldn't have tried anymore' and a rather beautiful thing happened. We looked at each other, smiled and in that brief moment something changed. There wasn't a vulnerability hangover in sight.
I like it. What is it?
Filed under: Arts and Society, Design and Society, Social Economy
The first ever unMonastery launched this month in the city of Matera, in Southern Italy. Doing something new is messy. The path is unclear, doubt is a killer, and it's somehow never easier to quit than when you are on the verge of something real.
2014 could be the year of unMonastery, and my mission, gladly accepted, is to help shape evaluation models and metrics that help us understand what it is and if it is working.
UnMonastery is place-based social innovation that throws a group of people into one place – currently Matera – and sees what happens. It takes issues facing the whole of Europe – youth unemployment, mismatched skills, brain drain to major cities, under-utilised buildings, depleted public resources –and offers up a secular, 21st century version of the monastery. People with skills and projects to offer are housed, fed and work out of a building that would be otherwise left empty.
Best suited to areas suffering brain drain and a lack of home-grown opportunities, the 'unMonasterians' are tasked with working with people from the local area to develop locally specific projects that respond to local needs and assets. For me the key question will be measuring whether the project is one that both preserves the sanity of its protagonists, and can be mapped to really engage with and become embedded in its local area. Without the wellbeing of those working in it, it becomes a workhouse, without local embeddedness it becomes a fun working holiday for some super-skilled Europeans.
The Matera unMonastery is situated in the 'Sassi' of Matera, a ridiculously picturesque setting in the labyrinthine ancient part of the city, where, since the troglodyte era, houses have been built into the local 'tufo',a calcarenitic rock that comes from marine sediments. Whilst fantastic, this setting will actually prove to be one of the first challenges for the unMonastery: Matera, the people, is not Matera, the beautiful and touristy Sassi.
The team
The Matera unMonasterians were selected through an international open call in which people were encouraged to apply for residencies in Matera with projects that responded to local needs and interests, as had been set out following a series of co-production workshops. The final team comprises of projects that take us from building functional solar-panel trackers with local young people, to setting up water-filtering systems for urban farming. The skill-set of the unMonasterians spans coders, graphic designers, illustrators, engineers, social scientists, artists. Over the next four months their projects will focus both on Matera, and on unMonastery as a venture in its own right. UnMonastery favours total, brutal, transparency: you will able to follow its progress, with everything from project plan updates to budgets available online. If at all curious, you can meet the team and ask many questions today (!) from 10am UK-time, by following the hasthtag #unmon on twitter.
Progress so far?
The first week has been slow, taken up with the difficulties of setting up when much is out of your control: internet down, heating variable, furniture arriving after the people.
Due to the iterative nature of building unMonastery, it was always hard to know what it would end up being. Born as an idea in the first EdgeRyders conference in Strasbourg, it only became real when Matera – currently a candidate for European City of Culture 2019 – stepped up as a host and funder. First Materans shaped unMonstery in their understanding of what Matera's assets, resources and needs were; then the unMonastery applicants shaped unMonasery through the projects they proposed. And now, Matera and unMonasterians – sometimes the same thing – will shape each other.
So, how will we know if it is working?
Without the wellbeing of those working in it, #unMonastery becomes a workhouse; without local embeddedness it becomes a fun working holiday for some super-skilled Europeans
The job of the unMonasterians is now to work hard and be nice to each other – not too light a request when living and working in the same space as up to ten people for up to four months.
Using metrics developed in the RSA's Connected Communities work, I am helping them develop ways of measuring how things are going, inside and out.
1. How are you? Social change is messy, and burn-out is often the cost. The unMonasterians will be asked to measure their levels of wellbeing, and make sure they have routines that allow for some version of the five ways to wellbeing and proper sleep.
2. Do you feel part of a community? RSA Connected Communities work has really highlighted the importance of feeling part of a community, of feeling accepted where you are.
3. Do you feel supported? It is important to know that you can go to others when you need, and our social connections are often the first thing to suffer when we move around. Even for those who live in Matera full-time, their new focus could disrupt those social connections that currently help them feel well.
4. How are you and your project linking in to the local area? This is the big mama of the questions. Even if our unMonasterians are happy, bright eyed and bushy tailed, without real local engagement unMonastery is a spring-break, not a new way of working. Using social network analysis, and possibly linking to unMonasterian Lucia's walking ethnographies, we will be tracking who the unMonasterians are working with, how this changes, and if this goes beyond the existing contacts of our contacts. Everywhere is a bubble: a key question will be whether we can burst ours.
2014 could be the year of the unMonastery, and unMonastery could be the start of something really excellant. Please do follow unMonastery on twitter, keep up to date with what they are doing here, and join them for an online twitterstorm at 10am today!
Calling all @unmonastery enthusiasts: Twitterstorm Monday 11am CET to meet the team! http://t.co/cXF3fO00z0 #unMon #portaMateranel2019
— Edgeryders (@edgeryders) February 8, 2014
Gaia Marcus is a Senior Researcher on the RSA Connected Communities project.
She is an an Edgeryder and an UnMonk advisor, founded the RSA Social Mirror project and is ¼ of the ThoughtMenu.
You can find her on twitter: @la_gaia
The fabulous poster images are all by Anthony Burrill.
The problem with power is patriarchy
Filed under: Arts and Society
It's relatively easy to talk about the diffusion of power when you're a man. Because looking at recent news – from the lack of stories about sports presenter Charlie Webster to the proliferation of those about Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard – it's clear that patriarchal power isn't showing any signs of waning.
Over three-hundred years ago, Edmund Burke offered a sage piece of advice to the world when he said, 'the greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse'. Burke's forewarning may seem obsolete in light of a recent talk given by Moisés Naím at the RSA where he proclaimed that power is no longer concentrated but is diffuse. Or, as Adam Lent puts it, that power is dying. However, Naím's theory falters when we turn through the pages of world history and pay close attention to an overarching constant: it is predominantly men who wield power. Meanwhile, when women manage to grasp the reigns of power, they do so on the condition that they perform conventional maleness – think of Britain's first and only female Prime Minister, the so-called Iron Lady. Therefore, even if we accept Naím's thesis, the ability to possess power is predicated on performing conventional masculinity, consequently it tends to remain in the hands of men who do so. And, as Burke suggests, with their great power, men commit dangerous abuse.
It's not new to suggest that power and traditional masculinity are closely woven together, but despite our awareness of this fact, the close bond between the two is not showing any signs of loosening. We need look no further than our own legislative branch of government to see unapologetic patriarchal power strutting around Westminster with full plumage on show. An investigation into a number of sexual harassment accusations against Liberal Democrat peer Lord Rennard has found that while allegations cannot be proven 'beyond reasonable doubt', 'the evidence suggests that Lord Rennard's behaviour has caused distress to a number of women'. Despite this damning indictment, Lord Rennard refuses to apologise because, he explained in a statement yesterday, he doesn't believe an apology for something he 'had not done' is appropriate. Although he has been suspended from his party, Lord Rennard's apparent lack of regret for causing offence and, perhaps more startlingly, his absence of an attempt to feign the lamentation that is usually shown by politicians when the public glare is shone on their alleged gross misconduct, shows the power that he feels he's entitled to as a wealthy, white man. His attitude seems to say, women feel they have been assaulted, but it's simply not my problem.
Should we really be surprised? Men dominate the public sphere and are, more often than not, seen as superior to women. Alongside concerns over the nature of the inquiry into the allegations against Lord Rennard, consider the fact that it was Alistair Webster QC who was at the head of the investigation; whether women were involved in the process, the final say was left to a man. This gendered hierarchy is mirrored throughout society, a quick glance at organisations across the country and it is more likely that you will see men, not women, at the helm.
The inequalities between men and women are not limited to formalised structures of power. Abuse revelations go far beyond Parliament's grandiose corridors. At the other end of the spectrum from the ostensibly 'softer side' of abuse claims, sport presenter Charlie Webster revealed that she was sexually abused by her male coach when she was 15 years old. Webster, who yesterday embarked on a seven-day 250 mile marathon to raise money for Women's Aid, a charity working to end domestic violence, explained that the reason for her disclosure was to break the taboo surrounding abuse. Webster struggled to admit to her abuse because, she says, "I didn't want my world to break down". Often it's hard to admit that our system is irreparable because it means that we have to shatter it entirely to form something new. Indeed, society's desire to shy away from the damaging effects of patriarchal power has led to Webster's admission receiving relatively scant amount of news attention. This reflects an underlying trend; for all of our proclamations of progress and civility, we aren't properly addressing why gender abuse is commonplace, why 2 women are killed week in England and Wales as a result of domestic violence.
The causal factor: patriarchal power that is woven into the fabric of our everyday. Following on the heels of Lord Rennard's refusal to apologise, Nick Clegg's former aide, Bridget Harris, has castigated the 'intellectual sexist culture and endemic sleazy culture of Westminster'. Sexism is a way of being in the hallowed halls of the Commons, Harris explains. And, again, so it is beyond Westminster. The tapestry of routine abuse displayed on Laura Bates' Everyday Sexism shows how derogatory views of women have become normalised. These views act as a gateway for men to think, even if unconsciously, on a day-to-day basis that they are worth more than women, which can and often does clear the way for gendered abuse.
Consequently, while efforts to address gender imbalances such as all-women shortlists are laudable and certainly needed, these measures only attempt to solve the surface problems of masculine power. Simone de Beauvoir explained that to delve deeper and truly achieve gender equality, 'the point is not for women simply to take power out of men's hand…it's a question precisely of destroying that notion of power'. To do so, we have to start publicly questioning men and their automatic entitlement to power. For many this is an uncomfortable idea, fear is palpable in jokes we often hear, like "what are you going as for Halloween, a feminist?". Such reactions are understandable. For those who benefit from and fully invest in patriarchal power, a form of feminism that seeks to undermine conventional constructions of masculinity in order to establish a power paradigm based on true gender equality is a very scary indeed.
Another creative resolution? Read more fiction
Filed under: Arts and Society, Education Matters
When was the last time you read a good literary book? Or recommended one? Though a staple for some, reading a good novel increasingly feels like a luxury not all of us can afford in the midst of busy schedules and digital distraction. Additionally, in a time where literary novel sales are declining and libraries are closing, it's clear that our appreciation for the literary masterpiece is waning. It also seems as if children are beginning to mirror our increasing disengagement with literature; according to the National Literary Trust, only 40% of children aged 8-16 read daily in 2005, a figure which dropped to 30% in 2011 and by a further 2% in 2012.
However, a study in Science journal connects reading literary fiction with Theory of Mind; the ability to emphasise, imagine and understand the mental states of others. As part of the study, one group were given excerpts of literary fiction, while other groups read popular fiction and non-fiction. When finished, participants were asked to take a test to assess and understand other people's thoughts and emotions. Interestingly, there were stark differences between those who had read literary fiction and those who had read non-fiction. Those who read the literary fiction excerpts exhibited increased levels of empathy, social perception and emotional intelligence. Participants who had read excerpts of popular fiction were also deemed less able to connect empathically.
The differences between literary fiction and popular fiction stir a series of old rivalries between 'highbrow' and 'lowbrow' interpretations of literature, but I think what is most important is the potential for literature to enable a person to think and feel creatively. Good literature gives space and time for the reader to delve more creatively into the psyche of their protagonist and to explore human complexities and behaviours. But as we become increasingly embroiled within the world of social media, everyday communication is often whittled down to 140 characters and appreciation in the form of 'likes' and retweets has become a normalised endeavour. Our thoughts are increasingly becoming condensed and immediate for social media consumption as are our reactions. Though clearly beneficial in certain respects, the world of social media often provides a somewhat one dimensional approach to communication, often bereft of emotionally sensibilities.
Reading literature, it seems, is fast becoming the equivalent of 'slow' food – wholesome and most probably good for you but without the immediate gratification and universal appeal of faster alternatives. Tellingly, on speaking on Radio 4's Front Row earlier this month, writer Ruth Rendell connects the belated literary success of John Williams' novel Stoner, a novel in which a young farm man falls in love with literature, with our literary nostalgia and claims the novel reminds us of a love of literature that we as a society seem to be gradually forgetting. But in thinking more widely about this loss, we need to consider and examine the detrimental effects of the increasing absence of literature, particularly when considering its role in the development of empathy and emotional intellect.
In contemplating the RSA's current discussions on 'the power to create', it's clear that reading fiction is certainly not the only way to delve deeper into what creativity at the heart of RSA might look like (if only!). But it's interesting and important to consider our collective levels of empathy and emotional intelligence when thinking about channels of power and creativity. And while recent debates are still at the forefront of the RSA psyche, maybe reading literature is not a bad start…
Creativity: the stuff of freedom
Filed under: Arts and Society, Innovation
Adam Lent, head of the Action & Research Centre here at the RSA, recently wrote about the crucial role of creativity for the 21st century. Of his four arguments, I want to elaborate on the first—on creativity as the realisation of freedom. Paraphrasing John Stuart Mill, Adam wrote that "taking the great historical gift of freedom in order to remain passive, ineffectual and conventional" is "horribly wasteful."
Among the values of this focus on creativity is its reminder of the responsibilities that freedom and self-governance place on us. "A deeper happiness has got to come from using our freedom to be creators as well as consumers", Adam wrote. I contend that this applies not just to economic and cultural activity, but to freedom itself.
This past December, UK audiences were spared one of those cookie-cutter free-speech 'controversies' that played out in the US. Someone on a reality TV show made an offensive comment about homosexuality, and the network—doing the right thing, and not wanting to lose audiences—removed him. Then the Republican clown car flew right off the tracks, with the likes of Sarah Palin and Bobby Jindal saying things like "this is a free country and everyone is entitled to express their views… I remember when TV networks believed in the First Amendment." The network—doing the right thing, and not wanting to lose audiences—then rescinded the guy's suspension.
People often seem to mistake 'the right to free speech' for 'the right to have a TV show'.[1]
This episode illustrated a few things. First, politicians say things that don't make sense. Second, TV networks are feckless. Third, people like to make a sport of saying offensive things.
But that's the easy critique. The outraged talking heads' misunderstanding of the First Amendment goes much deeper. The First Amendment isn't about free speech, although it appears so on the surface. Freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion are all just foreplay to the main event: the right "peaceably to assemble" and "to petition the Government for a redress of grievances".
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
- US Constitution, First Amendment
The First Amendment is not about free speech. It's about responsible citizenship.
It's not just that we are free to speak and write and worship in the ways we choose. It's that we have the responsibility to do all of these things, and to do so in the service of good and legitimately democratic self-governance. And while most other rights do not require action, this is the most demanding of the ten entries on the Bill of Rights, justifiably coming first. The provenance of power it describes was an absolutely radical break from monarchical and authoritarian rule. It mandated that laws reflect the will of the people rather than dictate it. It placed the onus of responsibility onto citizens, not the government, to behave – to speak, to write, to worship – in ways worthy of the dignity of their freedom. The quality of our society was to become only as good as the creativity we exercised.[2]
This is why people who like to 'test' their freedom of speech, and thereby beg others not to take them seriously, are not serious citizens. They abdicate their responsibility to take part in sincere dialogue, to behave responsibly and inclusively to create and refine the substance of a free society. Serious citizens produce freedom, rather than consume it. That, in my view, is the democratic essence of the Power to Create. It reminds us that we live in a society that is political to the core, and though there are rules and laws and competing interests, we as citizens are at the centre. Creativity is the realisation and perpetuation of freedom. Creativity is responsible citizenship.
Emerson once asked, "Are you for man and for the good of man; or are you for the hurt and harm of man?" This is not a question that can be left to any higher authority. Citizens must answer this for themselves—and then act.
[1] Madison was to quill this as the Eleventh Amendment, but succumbed to his crippling fear of prime numbers.
Creativity? That's not for me.
Filed under: Adam Lent, Arts and Society, Education Matters
In Adam Lent's recent blog 'Why is creativity the most important political concept of the 21st century' he outlines the broadest definition of creativity as being 'an act that is unique to an individual's own capacities or vision'.
Why is it then that you'll frequently hear people recoil in trepidation asserting 'oh, but I'm not creative'?
Is it fear that they'll be asked to draw? Or worse still, sing? Is it that someone way back told them they were no good at something and it's stuck? Is it an excuse to get out of doing something? You're creative, you do it. Is it an underlying lack of confidence in themselves? Is it a lack of birth right or sense of status?
Lent goes on to explain that creativity is important for four reasons:
- It's good for us
- It's economically more important than ever
- It's the only solution to long term austerity
- It is under threat.
Do read his blog for more on this, am oversimplifying here to provide context, with this in mind I'd like to add two different thoughts.
Firstly, and perhaps crucially, does it matter then that people claim not to be creative? And often vociferously so. Is it because they default to the narrow association of creativity = art? Who are these people? And what implications does this have for our growing mission of the 'power to create' and the broadest definition of creativity.
Secondly, and perhaps fundamentally, I have to throw into the concept driven mix that creativity is FUN! Don't we all want to be more creative? Personally and professionally?
Creativity enables us to solve problems, to meet people, to feel more human, to relax, to use our hands, to express ourselves, to experiment, to get dirty, to learn a new skill, to be brave, to get something wrong, to have a laugh, to feel fulfilled, to innovate, to feel a sense of achievement, to take a risk, to grow inside, to allow us to think a bit bigger.
But in case you were wondering , think you are not creative? Oh yes you are. It is in us all, it is innate. Embrace it. Follow it. See where you go.
"Cracking good job, Gromit!"
Filed under: Arts and Society, Fellowship
Bristol, and indeed the west region, was taken over by Gromit fever over the summer. Eighty different 5ft high giant Gromits were painted and situated all over the city, creating an art trail and the opportunity for people to explore Bristol whilst searching for the Gromits.
It's not exaggerating to say Bristol went crazy over these Gromits, Bristol Evening Post reported "The city's museums have seen a 65 per cent increase in the number of visitors through their doors this summer compared to last, shops and restaurants have seen a rise in customers while Bristol's tourist information centre has seen more than double the number of people through its doors.
Most of the businesses and organisations that are seeing a boost in visitors are crediting the Gromits."
The Gromit's were finally brought together in the Royal West Academy for a week and the queues were insane – up to 6 hours queuing to see them altogether, it caused chaos.This chaos was good however as the Gromit's were auctioned off to raise funds for Bristol Children's Hospital and over £2.3million was raised.
My question is why this fever for the Gromit's, a similar trail was around last summer with gorilla's and although popular it didn't cause this kind of fever, not seen since the Banksy exhibition at the Bristol Museum. Was it because they were Gromit's (Nick Park's Aardman Animations is based in Bristol and therefore it has a close connection to the city), was it because the Evening Post featured photos in the paper? Was it the gamification of the gromit's and the fact you had to follow a trail to find them? Was it social media – so many photos were posted on facebook, twitter…. I'm not sure but it is something I would like to explore in the West region.
We recently saw how the focus of a key theme can bring Fellowship together (at the RSA Yorkshire conference) focusing around the Incredible concept, spearheaded by Pam Warhurst (FRSA), see blog about it from Matthew Taylor. I would like to find what could ignite the Fellowship interest in the West – our key themes have been identified as environment, health and education – how can we create a Gromit effect for Fellowship? All ideas gratefully received!
Lou Matter is the Programme Manager for West and South West. You can follow her @loumatter
What might work? Making the case for a Cultural Endowment Foundation
Filed under: Arts and Society, Education Matters
Today the RSA and Arts Council England will launch Towards Plan A: A New Political Economy for Arts and Culture. This series of four papers which examine how the arts sector might play a full role in the UK's economic and social renewal. In the papers:
- Martin Smith asks for a new industrial strategy for the arts, to make the most of ' the prickly, sometimes antagonistic but always necessary relationship between art and commerce';
- Alex Jones asks for cities to be more honest about their capacity to be so-called creative hubs – not all cities can be – and more intelligent about the way they understand the impact of cultural spending on regeneration;
- Mandy Barnett and Daniel Fujiwara argue that 'the cultural sector needs to agree a single framework within which to talk about value, whilst disentangling the social from the cultural in the process'; and
- Sue Horner (chair of RSA Academies), in calling for a 'grand partnership' between education and cultural sectors, suggests how both sectors need to step up to harder-edged collaborations.
John Knell's excellent introduction also offers recommendations to inform future policy and practice. This includes the idea that: "ACE should commission, in partnership with DCMS, DfE, AHRC, key trusts and foundations, and the sector learning network, at least one 'high burden of proof' study – involving if appropriate randomised controlled trials – which would explore the impact of particular arts interventions in a key impact area (for instance health and well-being, education or community cohesion)."
Having spent several years leading probably the largest ever 'high burden of proof' study ever undertaken in the arts, the Creative Partnerships learning programme in thousands of schools across England, it would be tempting to show John my wounds and medals. As, over the years,the quality of our research, evaluation and outcomes improved, it actually became more difficult to make the case for continued investment. However, I think John is onto something, and his proposal could be even more ambitious.
Could the cultural sector create something similar to the Education Endowment Foundation – a body dedicated not just to commissioning rigorously evaluated projects, but also to improving the way that evidence is built and used across the education system? Importantly, the EEF exists and is funded through an endowment – from the DfE – which secures both its independence and its long term stability. Although it is too early to judge the impact of individual projects (and my prediction is that only a few will show statistically significant impacts on closing the attainment gap), the Foundation's processes and toolkits are already informing school decisions. Many schools are finally moving from a culture of data use to a culture of evidence use.
A Cultural Endowment Foundation, perhaps funded through a small percentage from the recent 4G auction, should be entirely independent from Government and Arts Council England. ACE is too invested in demonstrating rather than understanding the impact of its spending. It should support programmes to be externally evaluated against cultural as well as social or economic outcomes, possibly using Mandy and Daniel's single framework, so that the arts are not just the servants of other public policy masters. Finally, it should be prepared to go public when the cultural sector engages in poor quality, advocacy-heavy evaluation processes – I've got a few favourite worst evaluations, which I won't name and shame here. Understanding value should not be a compulsory activity for all in the arts sector – some will just want to get on with making great art for everyone, to use ACE's mission statement. A Cultural Endowment Foundation could help cultural organisations make the choice between either doing evaluation properly or not doing evaluation at all.
Joe Hallgarten Director of Education @joehallg

subset: commoncrawl


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These instructions will configure ClamAV to use the clamd daemon:
That's it. If you don't feel confident doing any of this yourself, or if you get into a horrible mess, we offer a cheap package to do it all for you, and more, over here.
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New Jersey Obituaries - 1899 - Mrs. Rebecca (Foster) Montanye
Mrs. Rebecca Montanye, widow of Charles Montanye, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Joseph
Franklin, at Hightstown last Sunday. Death was caused by cancer, with which she had suffered a
long time. Mrs. Montanye was 61 years old. Previous to the death of her husband several years
ago she lived at Port Monmouth. The daughter with whom she lived at the time of her death was her
only child. She leaves two brothers and one sister. They are Wm. M. Foster of Atlantic Highlands,
Harry H. Foster of Belford and Mrs. Spencer S. Morris of Atlantic Highlands.
Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, May 31, 1899
Source: Red Bank Register, Wednesday, May 31, 1899


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Hey everyone!
Just wanted to know one thing . . .
How do you listen to ATC?
Do you have to buy a radio or something else?
Thanks for all the replies!
DC-10 Levo
ATC = Air Traffic Control?
Please check your spelling (press "Check Spelling" above)
©Copyright 2016 Demand Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved


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By Michael Bradshaw, University...
global warming blog
Gerrit van der Lingen
David Wojick
David E. Wojick
- Ph.D. "The Logic of Science", specializing in Mathematical Logic and Conceptual Analysis, University of Pittsburgh (1974).
- B.S., Civil Engineering, Carnegie-Mellon University (1964).
Wojick is a journalist and policy analyst. He holds a doctorate in epistemology, specializing in the field of Mathematical Logic and Conceptual Analysis.
Peter Dietze
Peter Dietze
- Civil Engineer (Studied electrical and control engineering). [1]
Peter Dietze is an independent energy advisor from Bavaria, Germany. He is an electrical engineer. According to one profile, Dietze studied electrical and control engineering and his professional work was in "software development for power system control."
Jack Barrett
Jack Barrett
- Ph.D., Physical chemistry, Manchester. [1]
Barrett is a former chemistry researcher at King's College in London.
Richard S. Courtney
Paavo Siitam
Paavo Siitam
- M.Sc., Agronomist and chemist. [1]
Paavo Siitam is a plant scientist and has been a teacher and chemist for the sugar industry. One profile lists him as a Marine Biology and Chemistry teacher in Cobourg, Ontario, Canada.
Douglas Leahey
Douglas Leahey
- Ph.D., Air Pollution, Meteorology, New York University, New York, NY, (1971).
- MSc., Meteorology, McGill University, Montreal, PQ, (1966).
- BSc., Physics (Honours), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, (1963).
Source: [1]
Art Robinson
Arthur (Art) B. Robinson
- Ph.D., Chemistry, University of California at San Diego. [1]
George Taylor
George H. Taylor
- M.S. Meteorology University of Utah (1975).
- B.A. Mathematics U.C. Santa Barbara (1969).
Source: [1]


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Writing Challenge: Group Anthology
Posted by elainemcooper on November 9, 2012
Posted by Elaine Marie Cooper
I have done all kinds of writing—novels, short stories, magazine and newspaper articles, poetry, blogging, devotions—you name it and my pen has likely visited that format. But this week, I participated in a brand new venture: A group anthology.
As a writer of Colonial American fiction, I belong to a group known as Colonial American Christian Writers. About two dozen writers interested in Early America participate in this group, where we share research, support, and enthusiasm for each other's work. Our fearless leader, Carrie Fancett Pagels, has also started a blog called Colonial Quills, which features a variety of posts including virtual tea parties for book launches (sorry, you must provide your own tea!), research info, and other pieces of interesting facts with that consistent theme of Early America. I love participating with this great group of ladies. You may have even read some of their novels.😉
This year our creative Carrie came up with an idea that has apparently been her dream for sometime: An anthology of chapters from several different authors who are following the same central story line with recurring characters. Talk about both intriguing and challenging. At first I thought, "How fun!" but then I panicked.
How was I going to do this?
The first thing that had to be established was the year and location. It turned out to be in the South (I write about New England) and set in 1753 (a year I had not yet researched).
Gulp! What did I get myself into??
Well, it turned out to be a challenge but really enjoyable. I was already used to researching history, so I just had to search out information about the particular time and place. In doing so, I found some treasure chests of information. I, personally, learned more about the important role (then) Major George Washington had in the initiation of the French and Indian War. He was all of twenty-one years old at the time.
With Carrie setting up the central location in a fort called "Providence," she introduced her characters that would be recurring in the chapters that each of us writers would add to the anthology. It has been a cooperative and amazing effort and I hope that this innovative work blesses our readers!
The first segment written by Carrie ran on Monday, November 5, and subsequent chapters will run every Monday through the holidays. If you'd like to read the first segment, here is the link: Part One of "A Forted Frontier Holiday."
If you sign up for the Colonial Quills blog, the chapters will be e-mailed directly to your in-box and you will not miss a single episode.
Click here for the page at Colonial Quills with the schedule, including titles of chapters and the authors.
Hope you enjoy our group's effort to produce Colonial Quills' first ever Christmas anthology!
This entry was posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:00 AM and is filed under Authors, History - American Revolution. Tagged: A Forted Frontier Holiday, Anthology, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Colonial American Fiction, Colonial Quills, Early America, Elaine Marie Cooper. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
4 Responses to "Writing Challenge: Group Anthology"
April W Gardner said
Great idea! That Carrie's a smart lady.
Elaine Marie Cooper said
Carrie is one smart cookie! And she's a real treat to get to know.
November 9, 2012 at 12:25 PM
This sounds really interesting Elaine. I'd love to read the chapters/ I hope that since I get these weekly I will get the chapters.
Elaine Marie Cooper said
They'll come to your in-box every Monday, Pat. Hope you enjoy the series!
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.


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May 31, 2016
Employees at Bonita Lakes Mall kicked off the holiday season with the arrival of the big, jolly man, Santa Claus.
Santa arrived at the mall Friday at six in the evening. He was welcomed with the 'Santa's Arrival Parade'.
Kids were welcomed to participate in the parade and follow Santa to his toy shop in the JCPenney court. Every child who took part in the fun, received a special surprise from Santa.
"We're at Bonita Lakes Mall for a season of good wishes and hearing all of the little boys and girls bringing their wish list to Santa and Santa's elves,"describes Santa Claus.
Your children can get their picture taken with Santa Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Click Here to access the online Public Inspection File
Viewers with disabilities can get assistance accessing this station's FCC Public Inspection File by contacting the station with the information listed below. Questions or concerns relating to the accessibility of the FCC's online public file system should be directed to the FCC at 888-225-5322, 888-835-5322 (TTY), or email@example.com.


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An inauguration with meanings beyond the moment
WASHINGTON For all the banners and bunting, the hoorays and hoopla, the celebration of Barack Obama's inauguration is imbued with meaning that extends far beyond the historic ascension of the nation's first black president. A country mired in crisis seems to be reaching for something beyond the man or the moment.
Obama himself recognizes the importance of Tuesday's swearing-in and a long weekend of inaugural goings-on. This is his opportunity to set what he hopes will be an enduring narrative for his new administration.
From Saturday's whistle-stop tour carrying the president-in-waiting from Philadelphia to the nation's capital, to Wednesday's presidential prayer service in the soaring, gothic sanctuary of the Washington National Cathedral, Obama wants to send a clear and high-minded message: His administration will knock down barriers between government and the governed and usher in a new era for the country in a time of great tumult.
"Only a handful of times in our history has a generation been confronted with challenges so vast," Obama said Saturday as he launched the inaugural pomp from Philadelphia's grand-but-gritty downtown train station. He laid out the problems in stark relief: A faltering economy. Two wars. A planet warming from unsustainable dependence on oil.
As an antidote, he offered up a measure of his unfailingly hopeful resolve: "While our problems may be new," he assured, "what is required to overcome them is not."
As he has throughout his nearly two-year quest for the White House, Obama is infusing his inaugural celebration with references to Abraham Lincoln, so closely associated with Obama's home state of Illinois and his race-transcending quest for the presidency. A retraced train route into the nation's capital. A shared Bible. Even the giant limestone-and-marble Lincoln Memorial figures repeatedly in Obama's inaugural festivities.
Obama's constant linkage could have as much to do with Lincoln's signature call for the country to choose unity over division as with his Emancipation Proclamation that ended slavery.
Black Americans seem naturally at ease with a black president who ran for office while seldom emphasizing issues of race.
"I'm pretty sure he's going to try to help the black community," said Lance Major, a 42-year-old student mentor who considered the promise of Obama's presidency over a half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl on a recent day in Washington. "But, you know, he can do that for us because he is not at all focused on skin color."
In a time of extraordinary challenges, Obama's promises of a fresh approach to leadership – not to mention his youthful demeanor and postcard-perfect family – give Americans a reason to hope.
Polls show that people have a higher level of confidence in Obama at the outset of his presidency than for any recent commander in chief – even Ronald Reagan, who also won a landslide victory during a period of economic uncertainty. According to an Associated Press-GfK poll, 65 percent of Americans think Obama will be an above-average president or better. More than 70 percent believe the economy will improve during his first year.
For many blacks, Obama's victory is their victory, shattering a painful racial ceiling. And for many whites, it is a bit of redemption to have said as dramatically as can be said in the United States that skin color no longer has to hold a person back.
Obama used his radio address Saturday to preview the themes of his inauguration, certain to be expounded upon in his much-anticipated speech on Tuesday.
He took particular note of the peaceful transfer of power from George W. Bush's administration to his, a transition that saw the outgoing and incoming teams work cooperatively, often literally side-by-side, in ways never seen before.


text: Worried about your hair loss, but not sure what your options are? Get the information you need to make an informed decision on the hair loss solution for you, by requesting a free DVD and information kit, and by scheduling a free, private and in-person consultation with Bosley today. Since 1974, Bosley physicians have performed more hair restoration procedures than any other practice in the world and have transformed the lives of hundreds of thousands of patients. They are experts at creating permanent and completely natural-looking results.


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The recent bank holiday led us to discover some fresh new adventures right on our very own doorstep. Within a 15-20 minute drive from our home lay some quiet spots of beauty which we had previously discarded in favour of spots of beauty further a field.
First we enjoyed a secluded walk in the woods. Sticks and flowers, rivers and hollow trees. A little boys land of adventures for his imagination to run wild.
A little further up to road lies a breath taking working windmill. We knew that this was here and we have admitted it from afar but it seems that by not venturing closer we have been missing out on a restoration of history.
Hidden at the foot of this spectacular windmill is a miniature railway and an old fashioned sweet shop. There are nooks and crannies, wishing wells and hidden paths. I am sure that when we return we will discover even more hidden around the grounds.
What undiscovered delights are you missing that are on your doorstep?


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TEDxFlint 2011
"The 16th Letter" is the theme for the 2011 TEDxFlint event Oct. 22 in the Kiva on the campus of the University of Michigan-Flint.
TEDxFlint is back for a second year!
Scheduled for Oct. 22, the theme for 2011 comes from the very last talk given at the 2010 TEDxFlint event by David McGhee. The phrase "16th Letter," in this context, comes from the belief that when approached with logic, many of life's critical issues are tied to a word that begins with the letter "P." Therefore, this year's talks will be related to the 16th letter, such as Passion, Purpose, Plan, Pride, Pedagogy, Progress, Perseverance, Politics, or Preparation.
In order to attend TEDxFlint, individuals must apply on www.tedxflint.com and receive a confirmation. If you are not able to attend, the event will be webcast on www.tedxflint.com. Like all TED-style events, space is limited for this event to 150 people and there is an application committee that chooses applications to ensure the people attending the conference are as interesting as the people presenting.
Organizers have set up a digital suggestion box using the "all our ideas" site that the public is invited to cast votes in answer to the following question: "Which is the most important idea associated with the 16th letter?" Visit http://www.allourideas.org/tedxflint2011ideas to participate create, contribute and discover through the digital suggestion box.
This independent TEDx event is operated under license from TED.com. The event is being produced locally by Kevin Simpson, Daniel Kurin, Doug Melton, Natasha Thomas-Jackson, and Alex Benda.The host for this year's TEDxFlint is Joel Feick, a former local TV anchor-man.
Speakers for this year's event include:
- Tom Crawford
- Matt Gaidica
- Alexis Harvey
- Doug Knight
- Tamika Lamison
- Matt Langdon
- Josh Linkner
- Tara Michener
- Elexis Nelson
- Bill Newman
- Neil Sheridan
- Catalina Talero
- Terry Wisner
Entertainers include:
- Tunde Olaniran
- Brave New Voices Poetry Team
- Embers
- Hannah Fralick
- Vertical Ambition Dance Company
- Flint Public Art Project
- Rolando Calip Jr.
More information about the speakers, performers and organizers is available at: www.tedxflint.com.
After a full day of inspiring ideas, join the official after party the "TEDxFlint Reception," where anyone can mix and mingle with the TEDxFlint speakers, entertainers, sponsors, and attendees to keep the conversation going! The reception will be in the UM - Flint Michigan Rooms from 6 to 8 p.m., cost is $10 per person at the door and includes food and beverages (non-alcoholic).


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The outpatient wound care and hyperbaric medicine center provides patients with chronic or acute wounds with the most comprehensive, advanced care available in Austin.
These people are my family and I love them.
View All Patient Testimonials »
Contact us to learn more about our rehabilitation programs or to set up a tour at our hospital.
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Dan and Audrey of Uncornered Market have been traveling and writing for years, documenting it all on their site. They keep returning to Berlin for their stretches of in-between time in the summer, where they can relax and catch up on other work. And thankfully for us, they've just posted a beginner's guide to Berlin.
We have found ourselves in Berlin this year for the third summer in a row. Berlin draws us in, like the school kid who may not be the best looking in the class but has the magnetic personality that everyone wants to be around.
Berlin for us is a place of openness and open space, physical and mental. The history of the city is one of destruction and creation. From our first visit over 10 years ago, it has always felt like a place in flux, in full evolution, always trying to figure itself out, reinventing along the way. This is what leads to its entrepreneurial feel, its inimitable style.
For more, see their full post here.
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About Contact Join Donate
August 25, 2014, at 4:27 PM
By Kathryn Zagrobelny |
Earlier this month Brian Corbin, an alumnus of The Catholic University of America (CUA), began his new role as senior vice president for social policy at Catholic Charities USA. "My job is to help shape the Catholic Charities' social policies and to be chief liaison between our agencies and Congress and the administration," Corbin explained to The Cardinal Newman Society in a recent interview.
In his new position, Corbin said he sees how all his studies and experiences are coming together as a culmination of years of preparation." This is incredible," he said, "this is what I've been training for or hoping to do and I'm thrilled to be part of it."
Corbin, who received his undergraduate degree from CUA 1984, went on to share how his experiences with Catholic higher education have shaped his work.
"A Catholic university really opens up vistas on understanding the Church, the Church life, the Church intellectual history, the Church in history, and the role the Church has played in the intellectual life of the world," Corbin related. It allows one to "dive in deep" to understand how the liberal arts, theology, philosophy, and the humanities "make you an excellent citizen of the world," he continued. "Only a religious school can do that."
The time Corbin spent studying philosophy and public policy at CUA provided him with tremendous formation through priests, religious, and lay professors as well as "incredible" internship opportunities. Corbin recalled, "I got to know the intellectual tradition of the Church and its engagement with the world on an intellectual, philosophical, human reasoning perspective."
For Corbin, the most impactful moment occurred when writing his senior thesis. Through his research, he saw theology, public policy, and philosophy come together, which made him get "really excited."
One of the strengths of a Catholic university, related Corbin, is how the institution's liturgical and spiritual life assists in the integration of the "mind, body, and spirit" of its students. In addition it gives students a place "to explore and some really good people to guide you in your journey."
Such people, he continued, "lead you in the path to integrate what you're learning, what your physical being is telling you, and your spiritual quest for God" and "help you through those moments of doubt, crisis, darkness, as well as joy and happiness."
According to Corbin, students can certainly be "good and faithful" at another type of institution, but a Catholic college is the best choice if "you really want to find your faith and deepen it."
Corbin, who had planned from an early age to study philosophy and public policy as well as earn advanced degrees, was drawn to CUA's strong philosophy program and D.C. location. He was also drawn by the potential to take graduate classes as an undergraduate." To be in a Church organization in Washington with a strong philosophy background and a graduate school, CUA was just a no brainer for me," he related. "It was one of the best decisions I ever made."
After completing his CUA studies, Corbin brought his knowledge to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology where he pursued a doctorate in international political economy. Being at a secular institution, he said, "I thought for sure that people would kind of snicker at me because I went to Catholic U," he remembered. Instead, he described how non-Catholic and non-religious professors recognized the value of being formed within the Catholic intellectual tradition and encouraged him to speak up and use his knowledge. That experience served as a moment of affirmation, he recalled.
"Engage in the world. They might attack you, they may not like it, they may disagree with it, but they want to engage so let's engage," he asserted. "That to me opened up a whole new world."
In addition to his work with Catholic Charities, Corbin taught at Walsh University in North Canton, Ohio, for 10 years as part of the University's theology and business faculties. Corbin related his practical approach to interested students by describing how the Church runs institutions and addresses issues such as corporate responsibility, poverty, labor unions, and company management. "We have the practice and we have the theology," he explains to students.
Corbin's work with Catholic Charities started at age 16 when he became the youth representative to Catholic Charities Maine and the state's Catholic Youth Organization Respect Life coordinator. He recounted how that experience "opened my eyes to the incredible work of the Church in the field in charity and justice and how our life message was incredibly thought through and also we were committed to it." He continued, "Our sleeves were rolled up, we got our feet dirty, our shoes were dirty. We actually worked in the world; we help take care of people's lives, no matter who they are."
"Yes, that's what I want to be part of," he said.
The Catholic University of America and Walsh University are both recommended in The Newman Guide for their strong Catholic identity.
Catholic Education Daily is an online publication of The Cardinal Newman Society. Click here for email updates and free online membership with The Cardinal Newman Society.
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Blog: Attention Audi Fans Near NYC: We've Got Passes for an Exclusive Audi Forum NY Event This Weekend
Uncheck a tag to remove it. Tags in bold were added by you.
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I currently have a 1991 Cannondale hybrid (H600 I think). Sturdy bike, been great for years with little maintenance. I'm looking for something new, thinking disc brakes, and like the sturdy features of the cyclocross I'm seeing. I just cannot get over the drops.
Can anyone recomend a straight bar cyclosrosss, hybrid or mountain bike to look at? I do not want front or back suspension, want quality components (Apex or 105 style above). Is putting a straight fork on a Cannondale CX1 my best option? Locking out the front fork is not what I want to do either. I will go offroad with it occasionally too.
CD SL1 and Trek 7.7 seem too roadbike like to me - am I wrong?
I keep thinking about how great a Tricross with straightbar would be, but probably not a big market for that style bike.


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Image Collection:
Childhood Skin Problems
© Scott Camazine / Phototake -- All rights reserved.
Poison ivy, poison oak and poison sumac are plants that contain an irritating, oily sap called urushiol. Urushiol triggers an allergic reaction when it comes into contact with skin, resulting in an itchy rash, which can appear within hours of exposure or up to several days later. A person can be exposed to urushiol directly or by touching objects -- such as gardening tools, camping equipment and even a pet's fur -- that have come into contact with the sap of one of the poison plants.
The rash that results from the poison plants is a form of allergic contact dermatitis. (Dermatitis is swelling and irritation of the skin.) Skin is not automatically sensitive to urushiol. Sensitivity builds up after the skin is exposed to the substance. When initially exposed to urushiol, the skin alerts the immune system of the presence of the irritating chemical. (Usually, no visible reaction will occur the first time a person comes in contact with a poison plant.) The immune system then prepares a defensive reaction for the next time the skin encounters the substance. This sensitizes the skin so that new contact with urushiol causes an allergic reaction. Read more about poisonous plant allergies.
Anti-Aging: It's Never Too Late
Maximize your skincare routine to look younger now.


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San Antonio, Texas ?? Following his record-setting performance last Saturday against Tennessee, University of Alabama senior wide receiver DJ Hal has been chosen this season's eighth recipient of the AT&T All-America Player of the Week award, the only major college football award chosen exclusively by fans.
Hall caught a school-record 13 passes for 185 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Crimson Tide to a 41-17 win over No. 20 Tennessee last Saturday at Bryant-Denny Stadium. Hall's 16-yard pass from John Parker Wilson with 11:16 left in the second quarter gave the Tide a 17-14 lead it would never relinquish. He also added a 2-yard touchdown grab with 12 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Tide a 24-14 lead. Hall later added a pass reception on a two-point conversion as UA built a 38-17 lead in the fourth quarter.
Hall received 54 percent of the votes to beat out University of Oregon running back Jonathan Stewart (24 percent), Tulane University running back Matt Forte (12 percent) and UCLA corner back Alterraun Verner (10 percent).
"AT&T congratulates Hall on winning the AT&T All-America Player of the Week," said Dave Garver, executive director of Business Development and Wireless Sponsorships for AT&T's wireless unit. "Fans have only five more weeks to make their voices heard and help select the AT&T All-America Player of the Week in the only fan-determined national college football award."
Fans can register to vote for the AT&T All-America Player of the Week throughout the season by text messaging VOTE to 87654 from a wireless phone. The four candidates for the award are revealed each Sunday on the 9 a.m. ET ESPN "SportsCenter," via text message alerts and on the Web at www.espnallamerica.com. Fans then have until 11:59 p.m. ET on the following Wednesday to participate in the voting. The winner is announced at halftime during Thursday's ESPN College Football Primetime Presented by Applebee's college football game.


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News: Father surprises son serving US Army in the Republic of Korea
Story by Staff Sgt. Junius Stone
DONGDUCHEON, South Korea - With behind the scenes coordination by Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, Benjamin Eugene Rankin Jr. surprised his son, Pvt. Benjamin Eugene Rankin III, for his 25th birthday.
Pvt. Rankin, a Campbellsburg, Ky., native, serves as a tank crewman in Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 72nd Armor Regiment, 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division at Camp Casey, South Korea.
Pvt. Rankin shares his birthday with the Army's birthday, June 14. The reunion had been planned for several months by his family without his knowledge but also allowed for father and son to be reunited for Father's Day. Benjamin Eugene Rankin Jr. is a former soldier and after this special surprise the two will spend the time catching up and touring some of Pvt. Rankin's favorite places in South Korea.
Pvt. Rankin was working in the battalion's motor pool before the surprise and believed he was being interviewed by the brigade public affairs office about his role in the tank crew, his choice of job specialty in the military and some of his experiences as a soldier stationed with the Army's only remaining forward-deployed division, the 2nd Infantry Division.
This is Pvt. Rankin's first duty station since joining the Army and he has been stationed in Korea since January 2013.
Connected Media
Surprise moment and follow on interviews with Mr....
This work, Father surprises son serving US Army in the Republic of Korea, by SSG Junius Stone, identified by DVIDS, is free of known copyright restrictions under U.S. copyright law.
Date Taken:06.13.2013
Date Posted:06.13.2013 06:22
Location:DONGDUCHEON, 41, KR
Hometown:CAMPBELLSBURG, KY, US


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can help you build that special summer place for you and your family to get away from it all - a special house overlooking the lake or coastal waterway. But the lake house as a weekend or vacation getaway is only one use of the contemporary cottage.
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are equally appropriate as a permanent residence. The smaller house plans are a perfect home for young married, empty nesters and retirees. The larger house plans provide ample space for a large family.
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Common Myths About Acid Reflux
Since the beginning of the year, I have been undergoing treatment for heartburn. Over the course of this time, I've spoken with many people about my condition. Some are simply curious about this process, some have suffered from the condition themselves and others want to offer advice. In fact, many people are convinced they know of the best way to treat my heartburn. Unfortunately, not all health advice is created equal, so I'll be sticking to the recommendations made by my doctor, Jamie Koufman. Below is a list of some of the myths and misconceptions I've encountered most frequently.
Myth #1: Apple Cider Vinegar Can Cure Your Reflux
Apple cider vinegar has been proclaimed as a miracle cure-all for a number of conditions. I won't go into it's dubious use as a weight-loss supplement here, but I will discuss how it affects acid reflux.
There are a number of different theories behind why taking a table spoon or two of apple cider vinegar before a meal will prevent reflux. One theory suggests that it can balance your blood's pH. One theory is that it causes the sphincter to tighten. Another theory claims that if you drink apple cider vinegar before a meal, it will trigger to your body to know that it has "enough" acid and will cut off further acid production.
None of these theories are particularly well grounded in biology or science. "There's no doctor that I know of that advocates apple cider vinegar," says Dr. Jamie Koufman, one of the foremost experts in clinical otolaryngology and the author of Dropping Acid. Apple cider vinegar is in fact, very acidic. Consuming something acidic is likely to make reflux worse. "You would think if there was really something behind it, someone would have studied it," adds Dr. Koufman.


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USCIS official: Technology oversight causing its own waste
The balance between resources for oversight and formalities and those devoted to actual software development has tilted too far to the former, said the chief information officer of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.
"There are a lot of steps there that are adding dollars to the process for the sake of mitigating the risk on the dollars" spent on actual coding, said Mark Schwartz, who spoke May 1 during an AFCEA Bethesda event.
Between the time that needs arise and solutions are deployed, agencies have to wait for a critical mass of those needs to form into a program and for appropriators to fund the program, then endure the long procurement process, bid protests, oversight from inside and outside the agency, the code development itself and security reviews.
"There's a little piece where we actually do stuff, and there's a lot of wait time," he said. "I think the ratio is way off."
USCIS plans to finish its "transformation" project – to move immigration services from a paper-based process to an electronic one – in 2017. The agency began the project in 2006 when it first put the project's requirements on paper, but as Schwartz noted, the needs addressed by the project date back even further, before they formed a critical mass and became a project.
Schwartz joined USCIS in 2010 after a career in the private sector. At the event, he reminisced about a model he saw used there called continuous delivery, which empowers developers to push out code improvements quickly and frequently.
He also described how the federal bureaucracy makes it difficult to do A/B testing, where an organization produces two versions of the same program that vary in only one way, to see which version of a feature performs best.
USCIS could use A/B testing to determine where some people give up on the E-Verify self-check service, which lets individuals see if the system considers them eligible to work.
But before they roll out a new user interface, even one that's just part of A/B testing, the design must go through public comment, Schwartz said.
"But actually, this kind of testing is a kind of public comment. You're actually seeing how people use the system," he said.
Related Articles:
Usability tests put the brakes on data.gov redesign
USCIS transformation behind schedule, over budget
Head of DoD EHR procurement: 'I'm an acquisition guy, not a doctor'


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National reports of a recovering economy seem to be reflected at local cash registers in downtown Frederick.
Some merchants are seeing an increase in foot traffic into their businesses, but they also worry that increasing gas prices could limit or stop any sign of recovery.
A survey released Tuesday by a private research group reflected a more upbeat attitude for the nation as the economy picks up, according to The Associated Press. The nation is far from a full economic recovery but optimism has risen, the AP said.
Business has been rising steadily over the past year at Dancing Bear & Toys on North Market Street in downtown Frederick, business owner Tom England said.
Compared to last year, business is up by 48 percent year to date and from 2010 to 2011, business increased by 25 percent.
England attributes more business to an increase in consumer confidence.
"Everyone is a little more confident about spending," England said. "Momentum in the housing market is a good sign that the economy is picking up, but it all boils down to consumer confidence."
Sales have been gradual but steady at McGuire Fine Arts in downtown Frederick over the past 18 months, General Manager Jon Thames said.
"I think people who were hunkered down got tired of the constant bad news and decided to start shopping again," Thames said. "I don't think the recession was as deep for us as it was in other areas."
If business partners Angelique Hoffman and Saule Smariga had paid attention to the "doom and gloom" from economic analysts, amplified by sensationalized news reports, they wouldn't be in business today, Hoffman said.
Not only did Smariga and Hoffman open Silk & Burlap when the economy wasn't great, they expanded the vintage and modern goods store about a year ago and the business is growing, Hoffman said.
"We're seeing a really nice increase in our sales and our growth is steady," Hoffman said. "People tend to overreact to reports from market analysts and the media have a tendency to blow it out of proportion."
Frederick is receiving media attention as a destination with a lot to offer, and as a result, many of Silk & Burlap's customers come from Baltimore and Washington, Hoffman said.
The numbers are up over the same time last year at Hunting Creek Outfitters, but co-owner Murray Friedman said he is not about to say the economy is fixed.
The increase in foot traffic into downtown stores might have more to do with unusually mild winter temperatures, which gets people out of the house, Friedman said. "We hope the trend continues," he said.
Several merchants said the rise in gas prices could be a positive or a negative for business.
"Things are looking better, but I have concerns that if consumers have to pay $80 to fill up their tank versus $60, that's fewer bucks they have to spend in my store or someone else's store," Hoffman said.
Alternately, higher gas prices could mean more people will choose to stay at home or make day trips into local stores, Hoffman said.
Sure, you could grill another hot dog. Or, you could try one of these 30 recipes for foods you never knew you could cook on the grill.


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+1 (well I do have wrists and a couple of Swiss watches). Let's face it watches have the same problem as cars; the people who design them basically have bad taste (in fact car designers are usually heavily into watches) and what makes a watch being rated higher by aficionados is ugly stuff that mess up the design (complications).
It seems that in the case of cars and some watches, the principle of "form follows function" has more or less been thrown out the window.
Although, speaking of the intersection between cars and watches (and also of sub-$1000 watches), I happen to think these are rather beautiful.


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Should you find your hotel room, with the same booking conditions, at a lower rate on the internet after you have booked, we'll match it. Just contact us within 24 hours of booking, with details of the website.
Note: No Best Price Guarantee if you book a hotel room through or in combination with Membership rates, Frequent stay, Loyalty points or other 'reward' type programs or special promotions of the hotel you booked.
How to book hotel Cabinas Catarino
1.Choose the preferred dates of staying
2.Filling reservation form
3.Immediate number reservation
4.Getting supporting documents
5.Payment for booking to hotel
50 metros oeste del Bar Lizard
|Check in/out
|Check-in from 15:00
Check-out until 13:00
Cabinas Catarino is located 100 metres from Coco Beach and 4 km from Ocotal Beach. It features free Wi-Fi throughout, a garden and a terrace. Private bathrooms also come with a shower. Extras include a fan. At Cabinas Catarino you will find a 24-hour front desk. A variety of restaurants are located 100 metres away and convenience stores are within 300 metres. The property is 14 km from Culebra Bay and 24 km from Daniel Oduber International Airport. Playa Panamá is 15 minutes' drive away.
It is the responsibility of the hotel chain and/or the individual property to ensure the accuracy of the photos displayed.


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Originally Posted by Dogar The Brave
Well fucking duh you cock loving ass pounders! I am a douche and a dick and proud of it, you two are terrible posters, and seem proud of that. You're both horrible and I'm sick of this shit. Get the fuck off my forum!
your not a mod so what power do you have
Salamence's PokePet Destroyer the level 50 Salamence!
Forum Rules


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Super-Mini Cars. The five-door Toyota FT-Bh super-mini concept (above) weighs less than 1,764 pounds with emissions 50 percent lower than the average production model in its class. (FT-Bh stands for "Future Toyota B-segment Hybrid.") Toyota has said the 1.0-liter 2-cylindar car is the future of its hybrid design and technology. It has a lithium-ion battery pack half the size of the nickel-metal-hydride battery pack employed in the Prius's Hybrid Synergy Drive system. Did we mention it gets 112 miles to the gallon?
Photo: AP


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Alasdair Drysdale, professor of geography and Senior Faculty Fellow in the College of Liberal Arts, has been appointed associate dean, effective Aug. 26.
Women leaders dealing with "glass ceiling" and "sticky floor" barriers to the success will have the chance to learn about the latest strategies to address these issues as the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics kicks off its fall Women's Leadership Development Program Sept. 16, 2013. The intensive, three-day program focuses on the critical capacities of women leaders, cultural and institutional challenges they may face, and strategies and techniques for driving career transitions.
A new UNH study challenges the view that online predators are a distinctly dangerous variety of sex offender, requiring special programs to protect youth.
The study from the UNH Crimes against Children Research Center finds that sex offenders who target teens increasingly use Internet and cell phone communications to lure teens into sexual relationships. In crimes that involve such communications, offenders who meet and recruit youth online operate in much the same way as offenders who meet and know youth in ordinary offline environments.
Granite State social entrepreneurs now have the opportunity to participate in a statewide competition that also challenges New Hampshire college and university students to find innovative, market-based solutions to pressing social and environmental issues at the state, national or global level.
Cooperative Extension is accepting registrations for its Agriculture and Natural Resource Business Institute (ANRBI). Those interested in starting or expanding an agricultural or natural resource business are encouraged to attend the 13-week course, which starts Sept. 11.
Learn about the marine environment and give back to your community by becoming a UNH Marine Docent. An informational meeting for those interested in becoming a docent will be held on Thursday, Aug. 22 at 10 a.m. at the N.H. Sea Grant office, 122 Mast Road in Lee.
The UNH Marine Docent program is a group of more than 170 volunteers who educate the community about coastal resources, teaching up-to-the-minute marine science in classrooms and at sea aboard the University's research vessel.
New research from UNH finds that most people think future Arctic warming will affect the weather where they live.
The research was conducted by Lawrence Hamilton, professor of sociology and senior fellow at the Carsey Institute, and Mary Stampone, assistant professor of geography and the New Hampshire state climatologist. Their study, combining surveys with weather data, is presented in the article "Arctic Warming and Your Weather: Public Belief in the Connection" in the International Journal of Climatology.
The New Hampshire Institute for Health Policy and Practice (NHIHPP), a research institute at UNH, has received a $150,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to identify New Hampshire's myriad sources of public health funding with an eye toward improving the funding and delivery of public health services in the state.
Pete Erickson, professor of dairy cattle management, has received Land O'Lakes/Purina Teaching Award in Dairy Production, the nation's highest award for dairy science teaching.
The Department of Theatre and Dance has added a universal ticket price of $8 for all shows for youth, 17 and under.
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Working girl
Movies | A sweet script and a solid title character carry Pettigrew
Given the title Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day one might at first assume the film (rated PG-13 for partial nudity and innuendo) concerns the pious Miss Pettigrew learning to fling away her stifling virtues in favor of the loose-living mores of the showbiz society she wanders into. But while this 1930s-era comedy of manners could hardly be called deep, it is too thoughtful to fully embrace a theme so shallow.
After being sacked from a series of positions, impoverished governess Guinevere Pettigrew (Frances McDormand) wrangles an interview with lounge singer and aspiring actress Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams). Once there, Guinevere finds the job entails not caring for children but keeping Delysia's many lovers out of each other's paths. Under normal circumstances her moral objections would mandate she refuse the post. But a day spent homeless and hungry on the bread lines convinces Guinevere to relax her standards-if only for a while.
And so, for the next 24 hours Delysia teaches Guinevere the value of lipstick and good, supportive undergarments, and Guinevere teaches Delysia the value of sincerity and real love. Though her outer appearance changes dramatically, Guinevere's outrage at how lightly the socialites bestow their affections reveals that her simple, vicar's-daughter heart remains steadfast. Instead of being transformed by the people around her, her wisdom and sharp wit subtly begin to transform them.
If there is a weak link in Pettigrew, it is Adams as Guinevere's wiggling, giggling employer. Even for a genre that is supposed to trade in stock characters, Adams comes perilously close to Betty Boop territory. This might be less bothersome were it not stacked up against a smart and soulful performance from McDormand.
However fanciful the happy endings are (and there must always be happy endings in this type of production), thanks to McDormand and a sweet, snappy script we believe and celebrate every moment of them.


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Has life thrown you a curve ball to the point you just felt like giving up? Throwing in the towel? Flushing it all down the drain? Pulling your hair out? The answer is probably "Yes!" because it can all be summed up in one all-powerful four-letter word…LIFE!
Choices must be made, mistakes will happen. That's inevitable. With wrong choices that leave us with the feeling of giving up comes the need for change. Life demands change yet with one thing definitely for certain: You just don't give up…remember, it's life! There are no guarantees and Life IS a Bed of Roses…
"With the beauty of the rose comes its thorny stem.
Life captures the essence of the rose for it too is beautiful
but filled with many thorns." ~catnipoflife
Give up giving up! It may take once, twice, three times a charm but pick up that towel, give it a quick snap stepping forward into life's next day. Remember, Life = Risk! that often leads to failure and the felling of giving up. So, when a stone is thrown in the midst, that stone just may be the 'stepping stone' to the success that lies ahead!


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Here are some of the best food stories we came across this week:
- Acts of Kindness by NYC Restaurants Post-Sandy – Many restaurants and food purveyors across New York's five boroughs have reached out to residents and offered free food, storage and delivery of emergency supplies in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. On Tuesday, Clean Plates-approved Northern Spy Food Co. cooked their remaining usable food and served it to their neighbors for free.
- Urban Farms Destroyed by Hurricane – Many New York City rooftop plants, bees and birds were able to withstand the gale-force winds, but very few urban gardens that experienced flooding on the ground survived. In the aftermath of the hurricane, grocery stores are struggling to restock shelves; communities with surviving gardens are faring better due to their local access to fresh food.
- What Food Can Be Saved in a Power Outage? (Video) – When the power goes out, it can be unclear at which point food becomes unsafe to eat. A good general rule of thumb is that food can last four hours at 40°F, and much longer at lower temperatures. After four hours at 40°F or higher bacteria will flourish and proteins — including tofu — must be tossed (don't trust your nose). Butter and hard cheeses can be saved, along with whole produce and fruit juices.
- One Junk Food Meal Can Hurt Arteries – The University of Montreal-affiliated EPIC Center of the Montreal Heart Institute compared the effects of a junk food meal (one high in saturated fat) and a typical Mediterranean meal of salmon, almonds and vegetables cooked in olive oil on the vascular endothelium, the inner lining of the blood vessels. Endothelial function is closely linked to the long-term risk of developing coronary artery disease.
- Higher Risk of Stroke for Sugary Beverage Drinkers – Women who imbibe sugary soft drinks almost every day are 83% more likely to have a certain type of stroke than women who rarely drink sodas and other sweetened beverages, according to a new study from Osaka University in Japan. Nearly 40,000 people answered a dietary, health and lifestyle questionnaire in 1990, in 1995 and 2000. Soft drinks were considered sugar-sweetened sodas and juices, not diet sodas or 100% fruit juices.
What did we miss? Let us know in the comments below, and follow us on Facebook and Twitter for links like these all week long.
Photo courtesy of Northern Spy Food Co.


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Time for solutions on the lower Snake River
Any day now, Federal District Judge James A. Redden of Portland, OR is expected to issue his ruling on the 2010 Biological Opinion (BiOp) for the Columbia and Snake rivers. The BiOp, also known as the federal salmon plan, governs operations of the federal dams on the Columbia and Snake rivers and includes actions intended to address the harm the dams inflict on threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead. This is the third salmon plan on which Judge Redden has been asked to rule – he struck down the 2000 and 2004 plans.
Those seeking to restore salmon runs are not merely trying to avoid extinction. Our goal is to recover wild salmon populations to commercially harvestable levels – not pre-Columbian levels but a population that can support the needs of tribal treaty obligations, coastal fishing fleets, and recreational economies. From our point of view, the science is clear that the most effective way to get there, with the least cost, is to remove the lower four dams on the Snake River.
The debate around these dams is complicated by volumes of technical facts, significant financial implications, and loud and powerful voices on both sides. Lost in the complexity is what this is really all about. Everyone involved is fighting to preserve or restore a way of life. People want to fish, farm, recreate, transport goods, and power their homes and businesses.
We have been painted as myopically focused only on the destruction of the dams. Perhaps at times our rhetoric has created that misimpression, but that is clearly not our interest. What motive would we have simply for the destruction of infrastructure?
That is like suggesting that the motivation of those opposed to dam removal is simply preservation of the dams. It isn't the dams that people want but the services they provide. If we were to roll up our sleeves and focus on trying to meet all of our collective interests, remaining open to all means of getting there, I think we could find a solution that works for everyone. The Obama administration and Pacific Northwest elected leaders have an opportunity to modernize dam, salmon, and water management in a way that works for the whole region, including farmers, fishermen, and energy producers and consumers.
Throughout this process, we've argued that fish recovery can be best achieved by removing dams, but that before removing dams, the services they provide must be replaced with cost effective alternatives. Power from the dams can be replaced through a combination of energy efficiency, new renewables like wind, and perhaps changes in the operation of the region's other dams. Grain currently transported on lower Snake River barges can be moved over upgraded railroads, highways, and Columbia River barges.
Irrigation is only provided from the lowermost of four lower Snake River reservoirs, and that water could also be pumped from a free-flowing river. In addition, dam removal would bring with it substantial recreational benefits, reduce the risk of flooding in Lewiston, Idaho, and reduce or even eliminate pressure on Idaho farmers to forgo irrigation for the benefit of downstream salmon. Dam removal would also likely be cheaper in the long run for taxpayers and electricity ratepayers, as it would reduce mitigation costs for the rest of the Columbia River dams.
If someone can put forward a credible alternative plan for achieving recovery of harvestable salmon and steelhead runs that protects these other values, we are ready to evaluate and even embrace it. None has come to light so far, which is why we find ourselves forever in court. As other river and water management settlements around the West have demonstrated, it takes hard work to chart out a win-win solution, but such outcomes can be and have been achieved.
In the Columbia-Snake basin, a win-win solution will be one that restores abundant, harvestable wild salmon, fosters investment in new renewable energy, ensures sufficient water supplies and transportation infrastructure for farms and communities, and reduces risk of flood damage.
Whether or not American Rivers and our allies are successful in our legal challenge, in the wake of Judge Redden's decision we will need strong leadership from the White House, Northwest governors, and the Northwest congressional delegation. These leaders should encourage and even demand that Columbia Basin stakeholders get together to forge a comprehensive plan to restore imperiled salmon and protect and enhance the region's economy and quality of life.