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By Gussie Fauntleroy
Issue 149, September/October 2005
Medical journals and mainstream publications caught the world's attention in recent years with headlines such as this one, from the December 24, 2007 issue of Time: "Circumcision Can Prevent HIV." The magazine honored this dramatic claim with the top spot on its annual list of "medical breakthroughs." The New York Times, the Manchester Guardian, Medical News Today, and scores of other newspapers, magazines, and online news and medical information sources echoed the news. The World Health Organization (WHO) used the phrase "compelling evidence" to describe the development.
The source of all the excitement was a pair of research studies from Africa whose results were reported in the British medical journal The Lancet in February 2007.1, 2 According to the researchers, randomized trials conducted in Kenya and Uganda, and a similar, earlier one from South Africa, indicated that circumcision of heterosexual men could reduce the risk of HIV infection by 53 to 60 percent.
This attention-getting assertion quickly resulted in action by WHO and the United Nations' AIDS advocacy organization, UNAIDS, both of which recommended expanding programs of male circumcision in sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV rates are highest. These recommendations represent a "significant step forward in HIV prevention," according to Dr. Kevin De Cock, director of WHO's HIV/AIDS Department.3
In the US, the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concurred, stating that "several types of research have documented that male circumcision significantly reduces the risk of HIV acquisition by men during penile-vaginal sex."4 (At the same time, however, the CDC's own research has yielded contradictory results among American black and Latino homosexual men.5) In addition, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), established by Congress in 2003 to fund health initiatives in developing countries, last year asked beneficiary governments to draft policies encouraging male circumcision as part of their HIV prevention plans.6
What about American babies?
What does all this mean for American parents who may wonder whether to have their infant sons circumcised? How does the claim of HIV protection relate to neonatal circumcision in the US and the developed world?
The short answer: It doesn't. Short-term trials involving heterosexual adult males in Africa cannot be applied to babies in the US because the two populations have too little in common, experts say. In addition, a number of scientists and scholars are raising serious questions about the African studies themselves, in terms of methodology, statistical results, confounding factors, ethics, and other issues.
Marilyn Milos, founder of the National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers (NOCIRC), addresses the question of HIV risk protection succinctly in a pamphlet designed to clear up confusion on the issue: "Circumcision cannot prevent the spread of HIV; circumcised men contract HIV, transmit HIV, and die from AIDS. Transmission of HIV infection is caused by risky behaviors, such as multiple sex partners, failure to use condoms, and contaminated instruments or needles. Anyone who engages in high-risk behavior, whether circumcised or intact, is in danger of contracting HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases."7
Milos goes on to point out that the US has the highest rate of medically unnecessary, non-therapeutic infant circumcision in the world—about 56 percent of male babies today undergo the procedure,8 down from almost 85 percent in the 1960s9—and yet the HIV infection rate in North America is twice the rate in Europe,10 where circumcision rates are low. Even in Africa, the correlation between circumcision and HIV in various countries and regions does not support the premise that intact men are more at risk for the infection. Some geographic areas where the practice is part of the culture have higher HIV rates than areas where circumcision is rare; in other places, the situation is reversed.11, 12
Weighing in on circumcision in general for American babies, the American Academy of Pediatrics statement, reaffirmed in 2005, asserts that the data on the potential medical benefits of circumcision are "not sufficient to recommend routine neonatal circumcision."13, 14 Physicians' organizations and AIDS advocates in other countries, including Australia, have made similar statements.15, 16
What's behind all the fuss?
The two randomized trials that have aroused so much discussion were initiated in Uganda and Kenya in early 2006, and were funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which is part of the National Institutes of Health. Additional support for the Kenyan trial came from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Leading the Kenyan trial were Robert Bailey, PhD, of the University of Illinois, and Stephen Moses, MD, of the University of Manitoba, in Canada. The Ugandan study was headed by Ronald Gray, MD, of Johns Hopkins University. Both trials were similar in structure and outcome to one conducted the previous year in South Africa—which researchers brought to an early conclusion.17, 18
In Uganda, researchers began with a total of 4,996 men and randomly divided them into two groups, medically circumcising one group (2,474 men) and leaving the other group (2,522 men) intact. After 24 months, both groups were tested for HIV infection. Of the circumcised men, 22 tested positive, while 45 in the uncircumcised group tested positive. Researchers derived a 55 percent risk-prevention figure from the difference in results between the two groups. Similarly, the Kenyan trials began with 2,784 men and randomly divided them, with 1,391 undergoing circumcision and 1,391 left intact. Two years later, testing showed 22 new infections among the circumcised men and 47 among those left intact. In both studies, the men were given extensive counseling on the use of condoms. Significantly, researchers made no attempt to determine the HIV status of any of the men's female partners, a startling omission that effectively negates the findings, critics say.
Equally important were the findings of a major 2007 research investigation that sought to determine whether male circumcision had any effect on the risk to heterosexual African women of acquiring HIV from their male partners. Analyzing data from 4,417 Ugandan and Zimbabwean women enrolled in their study, the researchers concluded that "male circumcision status was not significantly associated with women's risk of HIV acquisition in any group . . . [and we] did not observe a significant protective effect of male circumcision overall or for any subgroup in [their] cohort."19
The results of the Ugandan and Kenyan trials were released to the media in early December 2006 in conjunction with UN World AIDS Day, two months before the studies were published in The Lancet. This unusual move produced worldwide publicity that was heavy on eye-catching headlines and light on details because—in the absence of the published studies themselves—few journalists took the time to dig beyond the press releases made available to them.
"Mutant statistics"
After the articles appeared in The Lancet, a number of scholars and scientists began questioning the studies' methodology and statistical relevance. Charles Geshekter, an African studies specialist and Emeritus Professor of History at the California State University at Chico, has served on the executive council of the American Association for the Advancement of Science/Pacific Division. Geshekter cautions that the statistically small number of new infections in each group raises major questions about extrapolating such results to larger populations. In the Ugandan trial, 0.8 percent of the circumcised men tested positive after two years, while 1.7 percent of the non- circumcised men tested positive.20, 21
"Keep in mind that of all the participants, a total of 1.3 percent tested HIV positive; the other 98.7 percent remained HIV-negative," Geshekter points out. Likewise, in Kenya, the claim of a 53 to 60 percent rate of risk reduction is based on 1.5 percent of circumcised men becoming infected, compared with 3.3 percent of those left intact. "These are microscopically small studies," Geshekter contends. An economic historian, he describes the use of such numbers as "mutant statistics" that "take on a life of their own and can have a remarkably long shelf life. The more they get repeated, the longer their shelf life." This is extremely important, critics observe, because policy decisions affecting millions of lives are based on headline-grabbing figures that may not reflect the reality on the ground.
A related issue that has raised scientific eyebrows is the African trials' short duration, with initial results presented as definitive less than two years into the studies. "Any time you have a short time span and then extrapolate, small differences become amplified," observes pediatric specialist Dr. Robert S. Van Howe, of Marquette General Hospital, Marquette, Michigan, who for many years has studied the issue of infant circumcision.22
Confounding factors
Emphasizing that HIV infection is "driven by behavior, not by biology," Van Howe suggests that behavioral factors could have influenced participants in the African studies, producing results that may not be replicated in a widespread circumcision of men, even within the same African countries. The Kenyan and Ugandan men—more than half of whom were unemployed when they signed up—were eager to join the studies, for which they were paid to take part in. The men received two years of free health care, as well as thorough and continual instruction in the importance of condom use. For these reasons, their experience was not reflective of the broader population in many parts of Africa, where a powerful stigma continues to be attached to HIV/AIDS and many are reluctant to undergo even routine testing, Van Howe and others note.
While the African studies' claim of 53 to 60 percent risk reduction is based on the assumption of infection transmission through heterosexual activity—a broadly accepted assumption among most of the AIDS community—some researchers point to other highly probable but little-acknowledged sources of infection. In an article in the October 2007 issue of the International Journal of STD and AIDS, the authors state that an exhaustive review of studies linking HIV to sexual behavior among African adults accounts for only about a third of HIV infections. The rest, they argue, is likely transmitted through unsafe medical procedures, including injections, transfusions, and other contact with infected blood.23 In fact, a March 2007 article in Annals of Epidemiology, the official journal of the American College of Epidemiology, suggests that some HIV infections may result specifically from circumcision procedures.24
Other scholars go further, positing a possible overreliance on the HIV and AIDS labels themselves. These critics, including some African leaders, question the accuracy of using HIV/AIDS terminology to define medical conditions among millions of people—especially in rural, impoverished parts of Africa considered at "high risk" for HIV infection—whose disease symptoms potentially have nothing to do with the virus. "The available medical literature cites over 60 pre-existing medical conditions, including pregnancy, influenza, tuberculosis, hepatitis, and malaria, that can trigger a false positive test result," Charles Geshekter warns.
Where should funding be going?
Adding to these concerns are questions about the testing methods themselves. Geshekter explains, for example, that there are ten proteins said to be characteristic of HIV-infected blood. Yet depending on the country of origin, the medical authority in charge, and the location of the laboratory analyzing the test results, detection of as few as two of these proteins may be considered sufficient to earn the HIV label. He adds that HIV testing kits themselves, from all manufacturers, include a packet insert with a disclaimer stating that such kits cannot be used to conclusively detect HIV infection in human blood.25 Mathematician and former HIV researcher Rebecca Culshaw calls the HIV-antibody tests "some of the worst tests ever manufactured in terms of standardization, specificity, and reproducibility."26
As a result, critics say, large numbers of Africans suffering from diseases common among impoverished populations may be tossed into the "AIDS epidemic" pot, producing overly high figures. Although many in the AIDS advocacy field are motivated by a genuine desire to relieve suffering, some critics point out that most well-established AIDS-related research careers and professional reputations—and associated funding—remain inherently dependent on claims of an ever-increasing number of AIDS cases.
Many AIDS advocates contend that, rather than encouraging widespread circumcision, international funding would be much more effectively spent on an intensive, ongoing, continent-wide, and culturally sensitive educa-tional push involving proven methods of risk reduction, especially condoms. The cost of one circumcision in Africa ($70) is enough to buy 3,500 condoms—enough condoms for one man for every day for ten years, notes Dr. Robert S. Van Howe. Concern about widespread circumcision is particularly strong when it is described as a "virtual vaccine," as it has been in some publica-tions. The fear is that, among newly circumcised African men, an unfounded belief in lifelong protection from infection could cause some to abandon any commitment to measures known to provide substantial protection, such as condoms, limiting sexual partners, and abstinence. Under-scoring this point, Thailand and Uganda have seen significantly reduced HIV/AIDS rates in recent years as a result of intensive educational programs, reduced visits to sex workers, and strong encouragement for 100 percent condom use among sex workers.27 A 2000 US Census Bureau paper also counts Senegal as a "success story," noting that "programs put into place early in the epidemic have kept HIV prevalence rates low."28
Back in the USA
Whatever the case in Africa, public health professionals emphasize that studies on African men cannot be applied to American infants. The two populations share little more than the male biology, differing substantially in areas such as culture, conditioning and behavioral patterns, health risks, and access to medical care. Another key difference is that, in the US, there is no evidence of an AIDS epidemic through heterosexual transmission. The CDC, estimating 40,000 new cases of HIV infection each year in the US, puts the rate of new AIDS cases among males in 2004 at 25.6 per 100,000, and among females at 9.0 per 100,000. "Almost all 'heterosexual female AIDS cases' in the US are actually intravenous drug users," Charles Geshekter maintains. "Heterosexual non-IV-drug users in the US almost never contract AIDS. This was pointed out by a definitive survey published in 1994.29 But the mainstream AIDS establishment ignores all of that."
For parents considering whether to have a son circumcised for purported health benefits of any kind, physicians and public health officials stress that, even under ideal medical safety conditions, the surgery comes with inherent health risks, some quite serious. Among them are pain, hemorrhage, infection, complications of anesthesia or analgesia, damage to the penile shaft or the urethra, surgical mishap, and possible death, as well as postsurgery interference with breastfeeding and normal sleep patterns. There also may be physical complications such as skin tags, skin bridges, or extensive scarring of the penis, as well as loss of penile sexual sensitivity.
Increasingly, another risk has begun looming large on the public-health radar screen: infection by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), commonly known as a superbug. This staph infection frequently is spread in hospital newborn nurseries by parents and caregivers whose skin or nasal mucosa may carry the bacteria.30, 31 The risk is compounded by circumcision, which produces on an infant's penis an open wound through which the life-threatening infection may enter.32 Moreover, newborns' immune systems are immature and thus less resistant to infection.
Foreskin: A barrier to HIV?
On the other side of the health and circumcision equation, recent studies suggest that the presence of a certain type of cell in the foreskin of intact males may actually serve as a protective agent against HIV and other pathogens.33 Langerhans cells are known to exist in mucosa and on the skin's surface, and are especially concentrated on the inner lining of the foreskin. In laboratory studies using an amputated foreskin, the HIV virus appears to attach itself to Langerhans cells, leading researchers to believe that they serve as "target cells," providing the infection with a gateway for absorption into the body.34 Based on this research, the CDC has postulated that the "inner mucosa of the foreskin . . . is more susceptible to HIV infection."35
However, more recent studies offer another view of the role of Langerhans cells. According to a roundup of the relevant research published in March 2007 in the Journal of Cell Biology, it appears that, "rather than transmitting the virus . . . [Langerhans cells] trap HIV-1 and thus act as a barrier to infection."36 That is why intact men also have a lower incidence of some types of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). However, experts suggest that when the cells are overwhelmed by a heavy viral load, their ability to protect against HIV decreases. As Dr. Robert S. Van Howe puts it, Langerhans cells are "the bouncer at the door. If the crowd is too big, sometimes infection slips in."
The bottom line
As parents struggle to sift through the conflicting "facts" of circumcision and HIV, it is instructive to know that many research studies and published papers claiming circumcision's medical benefits have been written by physicians and others, primarily North American, known to be advocates of circumcision.37 Likewise, whole-baby advocates point out that many of the recent news releases on the issue have been actively channeled to media outlets by some of the same circumcision supporters.
One thing is clear: Existing evidence worldwide does not support non-therapeutic infant circumcision. And despite the media frenzy around this issue, the African studies do not provide scientific data convincing enough to undermine or contradict this conclusion. As for protection against HIV, we know that neither circumcised nor intact men, or their partners, are free of this risk. Well beyond babyhood, responsibility rests with parents and society to instill a solid, commonsense approach in children, adolescents, and adults, and to create an environment of open discussion and reliable education about high-risk behavior
1. R. H. Gray et al., "Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in Men in Rakai, Uganda: A Randomised Trial," The Lancet 369, no. 9562 (24 February 2007): 657-666.
2. R. C. Bailey et al., "Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention in Young Men in Kisumu, Kenya: A Randomised Controlled Trial," The Lancet 369, no. 9562 (24 February 2007): 643-656.
3. WHO press release, "WHO and UNAIDS Announce Recommendations from Expert Consultation on Male Circumcision for HIV Prevention" (28 March 2007): www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2007/pr10/en/index.html.
4. CDC Fact sheet, "Male Circumcision and Risk for HIV Transmission and Other Health Conditions: Implications for the United States" (updated February 2008): www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm.
5. Gregorio A. Millett et al., "Circumcision Status and HIV Infection Among Black and Latino Men Who Have Sex with Men in 3 US Cities," Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 46, no. 5 (15 December 2007): 643-649. The discussion in this study states: "We found no statistically significant evidence of a protective effect from prevalent HIV infection among circumcised black or Latino MSM (men who have sex with men)."
6. Edwin Musoni and Florence Mutesi Kigali, "Rwanda: Draw Circumcision Plans, U.S. Tells Govts," The New Times (29 November 2007): http://allafrica.com/stories/ 200711290124.html.
7. National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers, Answers to Your Questions about Circumcision and HIV/AIDS, Pamphlet no. 11 (September 2007): www.nocirc.org/publish/11-HIV.pdf.
8. Chaya T. Merrill et al., "Statistical Brief #45: Circumcisions Performed in U.S. Community Hospitals, 2005," AHRQ, Nationwide Inpatient Sample (2005): http://hcup-us.ahrq.gov/reports/statbriefs/sb45.jsp.
9. E.O. Laumann et al., "Circumcision in the United States," JAMA 277, no. 13 (1997): 1052-1057.
10. Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and World Health Organization, AIDS Epidemic Update (2007): 7.
11. V. Mishra et al., "HIV Testing in National Population-based Surveys: Experience from the Demographic and Health Surveys," Bull WHO 84 (2006): 537-545.
12. Scholars note that attempting to correlate HIV infection rates with geographic regions is extremely problematic. In some cases, figures from populous cities are extrapolated to rural areas (see J. Chin, The AIDS Pandemic: The Collision of Epidemiology with Political Correctness [Oxford: Radcliffe Publishing, 2007]), while other studies are based on circumcision data collected decades ago (see J. Bongaarts et al., "The Relationship Between Male Circumcision and HIV Infection in African Populations," AIDS 3, no. 6 [June 1989]: 373-377).
13. American Academy of Pediatrics, "Circumcision Policy Statement," Pediatrics 103, no. 3 (March 1999): 686-693 (Reaffirmed in 2005): http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/full/pediatrics;103/3/686.
14. Also, the American Academy of Family Physicians notes, "Limitations to the studies from which these risk ratios are derived include poor sampling, a low rate of acquiring the disease, and not controlling for confounders such as the number of sexual partners or other sexual practices." American Academy of Family Physicians, "Circumcision: Position Paper on Neonatal Circumcision" (Board Approved: August 2007 Reaffirmed): www.aafp.org/online/en/home/clinical/clinicalrecs/circumcision.html.
15. Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations briefing paper, "Male Circumcision Has No Role in the Australian HIV Epidemic" (23 July 2007): www.afao.org.au/library_docs/policy/Circumcision07.pdf.
16. Canadian Paediatric Society, "Circumcision: Information for Parents" (November 2004): www.caringforkids.cps.ca/babies/Circumcision.htm.
17. In a letter published in The Lancet 368 (7 October 2006), Edward Mills of the Centre for International Health and Human Rights Studies in Toronto, and Nanci Siegfried of the Clinical Trial Service Unit at the University of Oxford's Department of Medicine, wrote, concerning the 2005 RCT in South Africa: "The inferences drawn from the only completed randomised controlled trial (RCT) of circumcision could be weak because the trial stopped early. In a systematic review of RCTs stopped early for benefit, such RCTs were found to overestimate treatment effects. . . . The circumcision trial . . . is therefore at risk of serious effect overestimation."
18. Victor M. Montori et al., "Randomized Trials Stopped Early for Benefit: A Systematic Review," Journal of the American Medical Association 294, no. 17 (2 November 2005): 2203-2209.
19. Abigail Norris Turner et al., "Men's Circumcision Status and Women's Risk of HIV Acquisition in Zimbabwe and Uganda," AIDS 21 (2007): 1779-1789.
20. This and subsequent references: personal communications (15 January-3 March 2008).
21. See Note 1.
22. This and subsequent references (except Note 25): personal communications (11-26 February 2008).
23. Ibrahim Alkatout et al., "Sexual Behaviour as the Limiting and Linking Factor in HIV- Infected People in Rural Zimbabwe," International Journal of STD & AIDS 18, no. 10 (Octo-ber 2007): 688-691.
24. Devon D. Brewer et al., "Male and Female Circumcision Associated with Prevalent HIV Infection in Virgins and Adolescents in Kenya, Lesotho, and Tanzania," Annals of Epidemiology 17, no. 3 (March 2007): 217-226.
25. An insert in the HIV/ELISA test from Abbott Laboratories states: "At present there is no recognized standard for establishing the presence or absence of antibodies to HIV-1 in human blood."
26. Rebecca Culshaw, Science Sold Out (Berkeley, CA: North Atlantic Books, 2007): 36.
27. D. Low-Beer, R. L. Stoneburner, "Behaviour and Communication Change in Reducing HIV: Is Uganda Unique?" African Journal of AIDS Research 2, no. 1 (May 2003): 9-21.
28. Karen A. Stanecki, Chief, Health Studies Branch, International Programs Center, Population Division US Census Bureau, "The AIDS Pandemic in the 21st Century: The Demographic Impact in Developing Countries," prepared for presentation at the XIIIth Interna-tional AIDS Conference, Durban, South Africa, 9-14 July 2000: www.usaid.gov/press/releases/2000/censusfinal.doc.
29. Robert T. Michael et al., Sex in America: A Definitive Survey (New York: Warner Books, 1994): 216-218. The authors state that after more than 12 years of being warned that everyone was at risk, few Americans changed their sexual behavior, yet AIDS cases did not spread. They conclude that "there is not and very unlikely ever will be a heterosexual AIDS epidemic in this country." They also acknowledged that it could be "more difficult to raise research funds for a disease that is not a threat to most Americans."
30. V. Hurst, "Transmission of Hospital Staphylococci Among Newborn Infants: Colonization of the Skin and Mucous Membranes of the Infants," Pediatrics 25 (1960): 204-214.
31. J. L. Zeller et al., "MRSA Infections," Journal of the American Medical Association 298, no. 15 (October 2007): 1826.
32. R. S. Van Howe, W. L. M. Robson, "The Possible Role of Circumcision in Newborn Outbreaks of Community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus," Clinical Pediatrics 46, no. 4 (May 2007): 356-358.
33. L. de Witte et al., "Langerhans Cells Limit HIV Invasion," Journal of Cell Biology 177, no. 1 (March 2007): 5.
34. B. K. Patterson et al., "Susceptibility to Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 Infection of Human Foreskin and Cervical Tissue Grown in Explant Culture," American Journal of Pathology 161, no. 3 (September 2002): 867-873.
35. Centers for Disease Control, "Male Circumcision and Risk for HIV Transmission and Other Health Conditions: Implications for the United States," CDC Fact Sheet (February 2008): www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm.
36. See Note 33.
37. "The principal authors of the three randomized controlled trials (RCTs) all were on record as being in favor of circumcision to prevent HIV infection prior to the commencement of the trials. None had a neutral viewpoint," notes George Hill, vice president of bioethics and medical science for the Seattle-based organization Doctors Opposing Circumcision. Hill adds, "A review of the cited references of the three RCTs shows an overwhelming bias in favor of male circumcision." In making this point, he cites the following papers previously published by the principal authors of the three African studies:
a) R. C. Rain-Taljaard et al., "Potential for an Intervention Based on Male Circumcision in a South African Town with High Levels of HIV Infection," AIDS Care 15, no. 3 (June 2003): 315-327.
b) S. Moses et al., "The Association Between Lack of Male Circumcision and Risk for HIV Infection: A Review of the Epidemiological Data," Sexually Transmitted Diseases 21, no. 4 (July-August 1994): 201-210.
c) R. H. Gray et al., "Might Male Circumcision Be More Protective Against HIV in the Highly Exposed? An Immunological Hypothesis," AIDS 19, no. 18 (2 December 2005): 2181?2182.
d) D. T. Halperin, R. C. Bailey, "Male Circumcision and HIV Infection: 10 Years and Counting," The Lancet 354, no. 9192 (20 November 1999): 1813?1815.
Gussie Fauntleroy is a Santa Fe-based writer whose work has appeared in national magazines including Orion, Art & Antiques, Southwest Art, American Craft, and Native Peoples. She is the author of three books on visual artists and has written on a wide variety of topics for local and regional publications.


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The United States IS the most productive nation in the world. BUT, we are going to lose our lead BIG TIME unless we wake up to the fact that our competitive edge is slipping as a result of political bickering, flawed assumptions and outdated thinking by many top decision-makers in education, government and business.
We are productive for many, many reasons. Our skilled and knowledgeable workforce continues to show that we can take old plants and make them very competitive. We can take advanced manufacturing practices and leap so far ahead of our competition that it will take them years to catch up-then we'll be just that much further ahead. We can take up a challenge and rally to win in light of seemingly hopeless odds. To do so, however, we have to consciously choose to do things differently.
I recently have seen textile plants and furniture factories in the U.S. that outperform their peers and continue to defy the odds of plant closings and outsourcing. I have seen auto manufacturing plants and suppliers all over the U.S. outperform many of their "Big Three" peers. I have seen young people excited about their jobs in manufacturing and industrial maintenance. I have seen plants where a "can do" attitude prevails, where "whatever it takes" is the motto and where there is real "hustle" in the way people work.
We CAN do it! There is living proof all over America that we can create productive workplaces with meaningful and rewarding careers when:
Yet, we continue to be sabotaged by our troubled vocational-technical education system and fl awed perceptions about careers for our younger generations and those who are already working.
Our education system
Many school boards, administrators, teachers and counselors, state and federal education departments, government agenicies, politicians, institutions of "higher learning" and our society as a whole are missing the point. They seem to have lost sight of what it took to build-and will take to maintain-our "Most Productive Nation" status.
Look at our junior-high and high-school programs today. In fact look at these programs for the past 20 to 30 years. What has happened to career education, industrial arts and vocational education for the trades? We, as a nation, have almost completely gotten away from promoting careers in manufacturing. We have avoided discussing careers in industrial maintenance.
Time and again, our news media focuses on "manufacturing job losses" in ways that sound like plant closings rather than productivity improvement and up-skilling of jobs. When manufacturing jobs are transferred (outsourced) to domestic contractors, they are removed from the "manufacturing" roles and added to the "service industry" roles-which makes them appear to be lost manufacturing jobs. This has happened for years with engineers, accountants, information technology (IT) staff and maintenance. Consequently, we are largely becoming an unsustainable "service economy" by default. In turn, our educational leaders respond by de-emphasizing jobs in manufacturing and maintenance, to name but a few.
A college education
In general, our society has assumed and testified that "a college education is essential to get anywhere in life" BUT, at the same time, it has failed to recognize the fact that a post-secondary vocational- technical education, or a certifi cate- or degree-granting program also is a type of "college education." What's wrong here? We focus intently on making sure a generation of children and young adults can pass a test showing the effectiveness of their teachers and their schools, yet many colleges and universities have had to establish "remedial"
classes to compensate for the shortcomings in our
public school programs.
Societal influences
Plato's concept of a fair and just society was one in which all people were able to achieve their potential. Look at how our society promotes that "a college education is the key to success in life." About half of our high school students, however, are NOT "college bound," not prepared for college and will not benefi t from a solid career preparation before they graduate from high school. Thus, this "forgotten half" is being robbed of their true potential. Career education, industrial arts, vocational education classes that prepared many of us "Baby Boomers" (and many of our parents) have almost disappeared. Emphasis on "no child left behind" and college tracks has left little room for educational preparation across the full spectrum of successful, rewarding, meaningful careers.
Let's reflect for a moment on the insights of John W. Gardner, who served as secretary of Health, Education and Welfare in the Johnson administration and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, our nation's highest civilian honor. He once said:
"We must learn to honor excellence in every socially accepted human activity, however humble the activity, and to scorn shoddiness, however exalted the activity. An excellent plumber is infi nitely more admirable than an incompetent philosopher. The society that scorns excellence in plumbing because plumbing is a humble activity and tolerates shoddiness in philosophy because it is an exalted activity will have neither good plumbing nor good philosophy. Neither its pipes nor its theories will hold water." (Published in the Saturday Evening Post, December 1, 1962.)
My own pressure for a "college education" was launched almost half a century ago. In 1962, I made the decision to defy my high school counselors (oops, I dated myself). They were pushing me into "college preparation courses," but I chose BOTH college prep AND shop classes, forgoing recommended electives and study halls. I subsequently received my college degrees and then went into teaching students in vocational-technical subjects as a career.
What about today's "humble activities"-our jobs in manufacturing and maintenance? How would you explain what these jobs are, what it takes to be successful and what the rewards are? I guarantee that you and I would most likely answer these questions differently than many of our educators and counselors, politicians and business leaders would.
Occupational outlook
Let's look at the jobs of "Industrial Machinery Mechanics and Maintenance Workers," as defi ned by the 2006-2007 U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Occupational Outlook Handbook. Here, we fi nd the following statement:
"Highly skilled mechanics usually learn their trade through a 4-year apprenticeship program (usually sponsored by a local trade union), while lower skilled maintenance workers receive shortterm on-the-job training in order to perform routine tasks such as setting up, cleaning, lubricating, and starting machinery. Employers prefer to hire those who have completed high school or technical school and have taken courses in mechanical drawing, mathematics, blueprint reading, computers and electronics."
You and I probably would dispute the DOL job description, as well as the education and training requirements it notes, as we refl ect on our own advanced manufacturing practices, equipment reliability problems and/or the shortage of skilled maintenance people in the local labor pools. Trade unions have been in decline for over 30 years. Apprenticeship training programs, union or not, in mechanical maintenance also have declined over the past 30 years. Does that mean that most of our "Industrial Machinery Mechanics and Maintenance Workers" have been trained(?) as "lower skilled maintenance workers with shortterm OJT?"
Following people around and picking up on their knowledge and their methods is unacceptable in today's competitive environment. However, OJT can be very effective, as long as it is formal, structured on-job learning with a skilled coach or trainer and related studies in concepts and theory.
Unfortunately, our 2005-2006 "Status of Maintenance Training in America" survey indicated that most employers listed "informal OJT" as the most used training method measured by "informal performance assessments by supervisors" for maintenance job roles with "no formal skills and knowledge identified."
Most small employers (under 500 employees) seem to struggle with the available time and fi nancial costs of formal workplace training. The largest group (47%) of employed Americans work in establishments ranging from 20 to 249 employees where training budgets largely have been decimated over the past decade or two. (By the way, most manufacturing plants and utilities are considered "small" operations.)
We must prepare for the future success of America now! We must bring formal, structured education and training into the workplace. We must change the course of our public school systems. We must do this to retain both our standard of living and our "Most Productive Nation" status.
The future we are creating for our children and grandchildren is at risk because we are not paying attention to our revenue-producing capital assets and our national infrastructure. Four of the occupations having the "largest numerical growth between 2004 and 2014," according to the U.S. Department of Labor, are Maintenance & Repair Workers, Electricians, Auto Service Technicians and, yes, most defi nitely, Plumbers. Not one of these occupations requires a "college degree" in the traditional sense. So what? The more that these workers are formally prepared, educated and trained, the more successful they and their employer companies will be-and the more secure our Nation and our standard of living will be.
The time for action is now! Let us know what you are doing to meet the challenge.
Brady Worldwide Inc. is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect premises, products and people. Our products include high-performance labels and signs, safety devices, printing systems and software, and precision die-cut materials. Along with being a global leader in industrial and safety printing systems and solutions, we have been the company you trust when performance matters most since 1914. We serve customers in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, education, medical and a variety of other industries.
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subset: commoncrawl


text:
Greenwood Avenue Market
Food Retail/Catering Leader 1
4:30pm - 1:00am, Mon.-Fri.
Who May Apply:
This position is open to any classified employee at UW-Platteville not serving on a limited term or project employment basis who has the same Class Title as the vacancy. In the event that the vacancy is not filled by transfer, we will fill the vacancy in accordance with the Wisconsin Statutes.
Anyone interested in applying for this position must complete a Unit Transfer Application (
MS Word format
Acrobat format
) and submit to the Office of Human Resources by close of business on
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
. For additional information, contact Human Resources at 342-1176.
University of Wisconsin-Platteville:
University of Wisconsin-Platteville
, founded in 1866, enrolls about 8,000 students in primarily undergraduate programs in 40 majors, including institutional emphasis areas of agriculture, criminal justice, education, engineering, and technology management. The university is recognized as a cultural and educational center for the tri-state region of Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin.
The University of Wisconsin-Platteville, an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer, seeks to build a diverse faculty and staff and encourages applications from women and persons of color. The names of nominees and applicants who have not requested in writing that their identities be kept confidential, and of all finalists, will be released upon request.


text:
Here are two BMW M235i coupes, spotted in Mineral Grey and Estoril Blue II.
The F22 2 series sightings have increased in frequency with its auto show debut just 2 weeks away. Here we see a 2 series 220i in Black Sapphire as well as a M235i in Mineral White.
The F22 2 Series coupe has begun appearing in print advertisements in major automotive magazines. This one, titled "GLORY" is from the latest issue of Car and Driver.
We have uploaded the latest 2014 M235i and 228i Pricing and Ordering Guide. The most notable change is that M Sport Brakes are now a standalone option.
Please see inside for the full guide (in PDF).
Have a look at the BMW M235i coupe in Mineral White.
Here are the official final specs released for the BMW M235i Racing car.
Here are the official final specs released for the BMW M235i Racing car.
Length: 4,454mm
Max. width: 1,862mm (without mirrors)
Height: 1,380mm
Wheel base: 2,690mm
Max. track width: 1,608mm
Straight six-cylinder petrol engine
BMW M Performance TwinPower Turbo
Capacity: 2,979ccm
Output: 245kW (333bhp)
Torque: 450Nm
Racing exhaust with racing catalytic converters
Steering wheel with shift paddles
BMW M Performance limited-slip differential
TANK Motorsport safety tank
KW dampers
H&R suspension springs
Front: H&R anti-roll bar (2-way)
Rear: H&R anti-roll bar
Front: High-performance motorsport braking system -
Performance Friction (PFC); 4-pot fixed calliper
Rear: BMW M Performance 2-pot braking system
BMW Motorsport specific racing application
18×10 inch alloy rims
Cage with DMSB certificate and FIA approval
6-point racing harness from Schroth
Racing seat RECARO Pro … CONTINUED
Here's a new video promo ad for the BMW M235i Coupe.
We have posted for your reference the 2014 U.S. pricing guide for the BMW M235i coupe and 228i coupes.
BMW Motorsport is adding a new car to its customer racing range, which is spearheaded by the BMW Z4 GT3, in the form of the BMW M235i Racing. At a price of 59,500 Euros (plus VAT), this car helps to make motorsport affordable on an entry-level basis. Customer feedback has been very positive so far. No wonder, as the new car is a true beauty.


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I'm pretty convinced that The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings will take the award for best RPG of 2011 and sure to be a candidate for game of the year. The only thing that makes me hesitate a little is that even have to leave TES V: Skyrim, but we're talking about an RPG, Sandbox, which has great features and many virtues, but usually TES lack the strength and consistency of a script like The Witcher 2 and the charisma and character of its secondary characters. (...) The Witcher 2 and CD Projekt RED have no rival.
Update 1.3 Changes:
New FREE DLC � �A Sackful of Fluff� is a new quest in Chapter 2 of the game. To start the quest, visit the eccentric Elthon, who inhabits a solitary hut near the quarry outside Vergen. The quest will prove most rewarding to those who demonstrate patience.
Game now supports 4:3, 5:4, 16:10 aspect ratios.
Item storage has been added. Players can now store items from their Inventory at inns. To leave items in storage or collect previously stored items, talk to innkeepers.
A �Junk" panel has been added to Inventory to provide greater clarity in item classification.
New menu option added in �Extras" - enables players to view in-game animated sequences (flashbacks, memory flashes, dreams stolen by harpies) outside of the game.
A �Quickload" option has been added under the F9 key.
The game's HUD can now be hidden in order to produce HUD-free screenshots! On newly installed game copies, the option to hide/show the HUD is available by default under the 'H' key. Users who have modified the key assignments on their installations should go to the 'Input Settings' dialogue of the Witcher 2 Configuration Tool to assign a key to this option. Please note that the game cannot be played with the HUD hidden.
Issue involving the game not running at 2560x1440 resolution has been resolved.
Issues with nVidia 3D Vision technology have been resolved. Players no longer need to uninstall the related drivers.
Key bindings have been corrected to enable configuration of mouse buttons for use by left-handed players.
Assorted key binding options have been added to facilitate configuration of controls and quick access to various in-game panels.
Issue related to game settings being reset to defaults upon patch installation has been resolved. Patches no longer reset game settings.
The configuration file is no longer over-written when the launcher/configuration tool is patched and over-written.
The launcher now closes while the game is being patched, thus eliminating the resulting game patching error.
The launcher now closes completely and no longer continues to operate in the background.
�Installed game version is invalid or incomplete" error in updater when free space on system drive is insufficient � message has been corrected to reflect more accurately the nature of the error.
Mutagens are now alchemy ingredients. Minor mutagens drop more frequently than do major mutagens, though the overall mutagen drop rate has been reduced.
Corrections have been made in the mutagen drop rate and in Thorak"s store.
�Dragon" section of Prologue does not become available until after all assault-related sections have been completed, thereby softening the difficulty curve at the start of the game.
During the fight against the kayran, when the bridge collapses, a map pin appears at the end of the bridge to facilitate player navigation and quest completion.
Map pins have been corrected in many quests.
Quen Sign slightly de-buffed � Sign dissipates 20% faster after foes land a blow. Assorted minor balance issues related to this Sign have also been resolved.
Issue with Dragon"s Dream bombs has been resolved. Damage to bosses from cast daggers has been reduced by one-half.
Several optimization improvements have been made in the tavern in Vergen.
Problem with music accompanying �stealth" sequences has been resolved.
Issue related to arm wrestling Bart Bargee has been resolved. Players can no longer win coin from this character endlessly.
Option to fist fight woman praying at a statue in Vergen has been deactivated.
Mini-game contestants at one of the in-game taverns now switch positions correctly without blocking one another.
Problem involving Fenn"s sword in combat has been resolved.
Problems with herbalist"s gloves have been resolved.
In the Prologue, Geralt retains his steel long sword throughout, i.e., he is no longer automatically equipped with his default sword for the �Assault" sequence.
Problem with some nekkers being immortal has been resolved.
Issue with triggered black screens blocking game progress has been resolved.
Interactions no longer appear on nekker nests after these have been destroyed.
The �Scent of Incense� quest no longer shows up as failed after being completed successfully.
Sudden switch to gameplay just prior to cut scene involving Cynthia and Philippa has been eliminated.
Triss, Roche and Iorveth are now de-spawned before the final credits roll.
Guard pacing cycles have been corrected.
The Redanian messenger in Henselt"s tent can no longer be killed, preventing him from re-spawning.
Elf woman in Vergen no longer strikes a T-pose.
Rotfiends feeding on corpses no longer re-spawn after corpse is burned.
Several fixes have been made in the functioning of in-game populaces.
Numerous problems with cameras in dialogue sequences have been resolved.
Assorted corrections have been made in dialogue sequences (including King Foltest"s gestures on the town walls in the Prologue).
A progression break in the �In the Claws of Madness" quest has been eliminated.
One of the best qualities of Witcher 2 is its robust combat system. Not only does it involve the player�s thinking-prowess, but it also keeps the player on their toes as enemies provide different challenges to the player. Ample preparation is also encouraged as there are times when players have to drink concoctions to remove disadvantages. Enemies in Witcher 2 tend to swarm the player with their numbers, and if lucky, a bid bad boss appears.
Witcher 2 is a graphic marvel. Be it in the consoles or the PC, the game is a sight to behold. The Red Engine employed by the developers made use of the lighting, the blurs, and the overall textures of the surroundings. Music is exceptional during times of exploration, but mostly gets drowned in combat.
Witcher 2 is undoubtedly one of the best RPG games to date. The large number of game-significant decisions and the combat system is a sure win. The story is intriguing and can be comparable to a hard-to-let-go novel. The only thing bad about this game is its steep learning curve and initially hard gameplay in the first few levels. But as you play and go along the game, you�ll get bewitched by Witcher 2.
RPGSite: In the same year as your on screen debut you also began voice acting, which is an area that seems to have dominated your career ever since. How did you first get involved with voice acting and what is it that draws you to that particular field?
Doug: Getting into voice over acting was another very lucky accident in some ways. Honestly, I had never really thought of doing voice over work seriously. When I first moved to England I talked my way into the role of the Gentleman Caller in The Glass Menagerie at York Theatre Royal. Great production! It starred Honor Blackman as the character Amanda.
Through that production I got the interest of an agent who was based in Sheffield. She put me forward for a game called Independence War II: Edge of Chaos. The voice production was being recorded in Harrogate by a fairly new company called Outsource Media. I went to the studio and auditioned and they offered me the lead character Cal! So that was how it started.
Since then I�ve worked a lot with Outsource Media on many games and I don�t think even half of them are on IMDb or my CV! I�ve also done some radio plays and readings for BBC Radio and that has been good fun.
RPGSite: Recently you were working on The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, in which you reprise your role as Geralt of Rivia from 2007�s The Witcher. When did the role first come to your attention and when did you start working on the original game?
Doug: I knew nothing of The Witcher until I was called in to audition for it. Mark Estdale at Outsource Media knew me pretty well and suggested me to the UK production team. They liked what they heard and suddenly I was playing Geralt! I think we started on the first Witcher in 2006, but I don�t remember what time of the year. I seem to remember it being cold!
RPGSite: The Witcher games are based on the short stories and novels of Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski. Were you at all familiar with his writing before working on the games?
Doug: I had never heard of Geralt or of Sapkowski so it was all new. But the character image told me a lot and the production team from CD Projekt were pretty clear about what they were going for so realizing the character was really a team effort.
They just don�t make RPGs like they used to.
I wish I could find a game that wouldn�t coddle me and teach me how to do everything.
Games these days are too simple / easy.
I love to get lost in a game for hours.
I just dropped $600 on a video card and have nothing to use it on.
I like boobs.
Combat and alchemy vary from the RPG norm, and are established as well as the setting (which is to say, not at all). They�ll throw you right into the deep end in The Witcher 2, providing little in the way of tutorial or explanation. If you can bear to read an instruction manual in this day and age or tolerate a little experimentation, you�ll find your footing quickly enough. However, if you�re accustomed to the way modern games walk you through mechanics, prepare to be confused.
Witcher 2 controls similarly to other PC action RPGs like Gothic, though there are some quirks that take a while to get used to. Combat controls are mostly tight, though occasionally you�ll wait for Geralt to finish up a flourishing attack before you can evade or move. Inventory screens are a little uncomfortable, too (though they sure do look pretty). Often handy information is either extremely hard to get to or absent entirely. Comparing equipment is awkward, and you have to wait for the item description to slowly scroll down to see the ingredient lists for any item-crafting schematics in the vendor window. Picking up items in the game world is finicky too. Using your Witcher pendant will temporarily put a glow around anything lootable, but finding the right place to stand to actually loot them can be difficult.
If you have a seminal RPG void in your heart that wasn�t filled by Dragon Age II, you�ve found the perfect surrogate. The Witcher 2 improves universally over the original, and also manages to be the best looking PC game at the same time. If you�re a fan of meaty RPGs or if you�ve been desperate to stretch your computer�s technical legs, you need to play The Witcher 2.
THQ announced an agreement to publish CD Projekt RED�s revolutionary role-playing game, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings, for the Xbox 360 video game and entertainment system from Microsoft. Under the deal, THQ, through its THQ Partners program, will market and distribute the anticipated title in Western Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.
The Xbox 360 version will be an enhanced adaptation of the PC game released to instant international acclaim and commercial success in mid-May. It will incorporate numerous improvements and enhancements, of which details will be announced in the coming months.
CD Projekt RED Studio Head Adam Badowski said, �Adapting The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings Xbox 360 is a massive endeavor for us, and we�re committed to delivering one of the most complex and mature games ever to Xbox 360 players. We believe that with the marketing strength and distribution network of THQ we will be able to make the game an incredible success in Europe and around the world.�
Tim Walsh, VP of THQ Partners said, �We are excited to work with CD Projekt RED to bring this unique role-playing game to Xbox 360 gamers. THQ Partners� mission is to work with world class game creators who want to bring their games to market utilizing THQ�s best-in-class global distribution channels.�
But The Witcher 2 goes much deeper than this basic premise, leading its protagonist on a wild journey filled to the brim with political intrigue, conspiracies, warring factions, supernatural forces and a whole host of superbly written characters, all with their own real, corrupt and existential motives. It can be hard to grasp everything happening in Geralt�s world, particularly when characters regularly reference various names and locations, mixed in with The Witcher�s own slang and fantasy dialect. Even if you�ve played the first game it can be bewildering at times. However, the in-game journal features an encyclopaedic history of pretty much everything and anything in this sprawling world, and you�ll eventually learn to appreciate its idiosyncrasies.
If there�s one misstep it�s that the final chapter feels rushed and it�s over all too quickly. A lot of loose ends are wrapped up but there are still many unanswered questions, leaving the door open for a sequel or any number of expansion packs. It�s a brisk and anti-climatic end to what is a memorable story.
The Witcher 2�s visual fidelity is second to none.
And that persistent quality exerts itself throughout The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Its story isn�t afraid to delve into an often bewildering world of complex politics, but at its core it�s a character tale. Backed by superb fantasy writing and a fantastic sense of moral ambiguity seeped into the choices you make and the ramifications they have on the world and the narrative. It�s a smart, refreshingly dark take on RPGs, complemented by action-oriented and tactical combat with a surprising amount of depth. It has its flaws but they�re only minor in what is a landmark title and a series we can only hope will long continue.
In this world dwarfs and elves are a persecuted minority treated not entirely unlike Jews in Eastern Europe 100 years ago. While a few nonhuman merchants and craftsmen are tolerated, pogroms are common, and a few human radicals wouldn�t mind getting rid of the nonhumans altogether. In this universe human children are basically taught that elves want to eat them, and battles rage in the woods between men and elves. The elves say all they want is an independent homeland and to be left alone, but if they have to kill human civilians to accomplish that, they will.
You, the player, will be thrust into this conflict, as well as into the political machinations among no fewer than five human kingdoms jockeying for influence in the strategically vital Pontar Valley. It all evokes Europe on the brink of World War I, with you, the Witcher, a force that can tip the balance of history.
For all that, the game�s technical interface could use some serious sprucing up. I shouldn�t have to spend several hours installing third-party modifications to do simple things like figure out which way is north. But a few rough edges can�t obscure the brilliance and importance of The Witcher 2.
I like a good challenge, especially when a game introduces a well balanced difficulty curve. My problem with the Witcher 2 was that it got the difficulty curve the wrong way around. Whilst the challenge was mildly refreshing, the prologue is tough. Tough to the point where it would likely put off a lot of console players who just want to jump in and get on with them game. (...) I�m not sure if this is yet another element of properly hardcore PC gamers, but us console guys aren�t clairvoyants. The Witcher 2 throws you right in at the deep end and expects you to be able to magically divine how the game should be played.
I had very little issue with the story and narrative in the Witcher 2, something that will seem odd to those who are used to my usual rants. The weakest element of the Witcher 2 was actually the combat. There were just a few things that need balancing and changing. The main irritant is the lock on system. Without it Geralt winds up losing his target and swinging wildly at regular intervals, and with it nothing seems to change at all. There is also the generally repetitive nature of the proceedings. The whole �light and heavy attack� system is over-used and, without any combos to keep things fresh, the Witcher 2′s combat tended to fall a little flat. Fix the targeting and add in some basic combos and 360 players will be happy.
With a few hours of play under my belt, I�d begun to understand the intricacies of the Witcher�s world and lore. For the first few hours of the Witcher 2 however, I was pretty lost as to what was going on. With the Witcher 2 taking place directly after the events of the first, console gamers who haven�t played the first game will be left at a disadvantage. With it seeming unlikely that the original Witcher will get a console re-release, CD-Projekt will have to find another way to bring console players up to speed with the continuing adventures of Geralt or Rivera.
Like its predecessor, The Witcher 2 is a great-looking game, probably the best-looking RPG I've played from an engine capacity standpoint. The change from Aurora to the RED Engine is noticeable not just in how good buildings and characters look, but also in the additional flexibility given to map design - The Witcher 2 offers us large and multi-leveled maps, where you can move or climb up and down. It doesn't seem like a major advancement, but it's a bit of a relief after The Witcher's tendency towards flat maps and cutting you off with knee-high fences.(...)
Like much of the game's setting, the graphic design is all about the bleak realism of this game's medieval fantasy setting. This design can be seen in the equipment and weaponry, which are all directly believable.
While we're on talents and crafting, it's worth taking a moment to talk about the game's interface. The Witcher 2 is console-friendly relative to the first Witcher game. The camera is always stuck in an OTS view with no options to zoom out, and the interface screens for selecting signs or items to use are easily adapted to console. It's not too blatant and still works fine on PC, though the camera is a bit of a pity, as the combat could have done with a top-down overview but the targeting system doesn't really allow for it. One odd design decision here is that because you can only level up and drink potions outside of combat � which is fine � they put both actions under the meditate screen, which is a bit annoying. The frequent act of selecting and drinking potions becomes more awkward than it needs to be, as I need to perform multiple actions and watch Geralt go through repetitive motions every time I do so.
This lack of balance is a major part of The Witcher 2's difficulty curve. Because contrary to first impressions, this is not a difficult game, at all. Yet the first time I played it I kept getting beaten up in the prologue and Act I, before coasting on through the final two acts. There's two reasons for this: One, The Witcher 2 does have a reverse difficulty curve, much like the Gothic games, meaning it's more difficult at the start as you have fewer skills and inferior equipment and gets easier as you progress. This is unusual in cRPGs, but I'm a big fan of it since it really makes you experience your character's progress. Two, the game does a terrible job teaching you how it's supposed to be played. The prologue acts as a tutorial of sorts but given the complexities of the combat system its short pop-up screens are simply inadequate, at best just telling you how the interface works rather than how combat works. Much of the difficulty of the early game stems from not knowing what you're doing, and this is not a fun way to be challenged. The lack of a proper tutorial or gameplay instructions is probably the game's biggest flaws, and inflates the difficulty artificially.
GB: We know that well over 100,000 copies of the game were pre-ordered, but what sort of sales numbers are you seeing since the game's release? Are the numbers meeting your expectations? How does the sequel's sell-through rate compare to the original game's?
Tomasz: We�re glad to tell you that the final pre-order total was over 150,000 units, which is one of the highest numbers in recent memory for a PC-only game. The sell-through figures so far have been very satisfactory.
GB: The RED Engine has to be one of the most impressive engines we�ve seen on the PC, particularly for a role-playing game. Do you have any plans to license it to other developers or perhaps even to develop other non-Witcher titles in-house with the technology?
Tomasz: While ideas like the ones you mentioned have come up, we have been completely focused on getting The Witcher 2 out the door. So we have not taken any steps in either direction.
GB: At this point, I doubt there are any Witcher fans who wouldn't want to see a third installment to the series. Are there any roadblocks that would keep you from developing The Witcher 3? Are there further negotiations that would have to take place in order to give you the green light to pursue such an endeavor?
Tomasz: The main potential roadblock is the obvious one; i.e. if The Witcher 2 somehow fails to warrant a third game. It�s still a bit early to be certain, but the indications so far are pretty favorable. Pre-sales were very solid, the sell-through so far looks strong, and the feedback from our players and from the game media has definitely been positive.
The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a huge, delivering a staggering amount of content. Its main quest line may be significantly shorter than that of the original, but it�s no less absorbing. Journeying through many locations, meeting many characters and taking sides on many occasions, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a series of continuous events tied together with questionably good deeds. Geralt is by no means a bad guy in this story, but there are some unusual events that cast a layer of doubt upon the worth of other character�s kinship. And that�s the important thing to remember about The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings: it�s not in the way your decisions affect the game, but in the way they affect the characters and your relationship to them.
e Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is a very well designed game, with skin textures and draw distances that are never less than wholly convincing. It�s a believable world held together by some dramatic and detail environments. The greatest limitation of the game�s visual quality is in its animation: by no means a poorly animated Electronic Theatre Imagegame, The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings does bring its characters to life in a very hit-and-miss fashion. The opening sequence shows Geralt stumbling about in a very unconvincing manner, followed by a scene in which the story is delivered in more detail through the facial expressions of two opposing characters than any amount of words could ever do. Thankfully however, when things do get a little overly wordy, the voice acting in The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings is as openly worthy of commendation as the character design itself.
The Xbox 360 version looks surprisingly nice, given how battered and bruised Witcher 2 leaves even bleeding-edge PCs. Can you say how many frames-per-second you�re shooting for?
-We need to be certified by Microsoft, so there are restrictions for this. But I think 30 FPS is what�s bound to happen. More? Quite possible, yeah. And obviously, we�re running a pre-Alpha version of the game, so it�s definitely more of a tech demo than anything that reflects the final product.
Similarly, I feel like a lot of choices in modern games are merely elaborate arrangements of smoke and mirrors. For instance, dialog options are always fun, but what�s the point when glorified NPC talkboxes spew out the same automated spiel regardless of your responses?
-You�re right, but please bear in mind that � in our case � we�re a developer that stresses [choice] the most. It�s the most important feature of our game. So we do these extra stretches � extra work, extra locations � because we know we want to invest in it, because it comes back to us in a way that we planned for. Maybe some developers don�t put that much stress on it. I don�t know. Dragon Age, for example. Dragon Age II. They probably invested more than us in their combat system. So it all depends on your priorities, I would say.
I don�t know whether they earned ten million dollars or half-a-million on that game, but they had to be confident in what they do. Some people definitely want to be sure that they don�t lose money. I mean, this is business. It became a serious business. So that might be a second reason. I would compare it to the 20s, when movies came out of the silent era. That�s where I think we are with games.
While developing the game, what was the hardest issue(s) that you came across?
-Developing an RPG is such an enormous project that this might be a question every member of our team would answer in a different, personal manner. Building the engine was definitely a huge task.
So was designing and creating the detailed, living game world. It would be a major omission not to mention writing the story and all the associated characters. And those are just the first three things that come to mind.
What was your "best moment" during development?
-This is another question many of us would answer differently due to our individual roles and responsibilities during the development period. However, I think a lot of people would put the day The Witcher 2 went gold high on their respective lists.
Were you able to incorporate all of the ideas that were proposed?
-Certainly not. We have a lot of creative thinkers on our team, and trying to implement all of the ideas that were put forward probably would have meant never finishing. We have announced that we�ll provide free downloadable content, so registered players will see some of these ideas.
(...) the developers really wanted to emphasize the fact that they are not trying to make a simple port of the game. It was certainly made clear that they are trying to handle not just the graphical elements and that they are working really, really hard, with a team of around one hundred people at CD Projekt. The dedication that the team had shown at the demo was impressive and really made an impression on me on how much they really do care about their fans, wanting to to best job they can to make the game as enjoyable on the Xbox 360 as it was on the PC.
The game will have a targeting system of course and the developers also mentioned that will not miss out if you have not played the first game or read the books if you Witcher 2. Witcher 2 also is the first game to use the new RED Engine making it a loading free game. As far as an expansion for both versions of the game, the developers were keen on hinting at a strong possibility of the game getting more content, but did not commit to a solid yes. If it does come though, they mentioned that they will want any DLC to free for both the console and PC version.
Q: Do you think gamers will ever have the opportunity to play the first game on consoles.
A: As much as we would love to do that and would be willing to if the circumstances were right, there are no plans for that right now.
Q: Do you think console market will receive the game as well as the PC market did?
A: We can only hope so and we will work even harder for this project to make sure that happens. We also think that we are not necessarily doing an old school type of an RPG, but we do believe there is an audience for this type of game.
Q: Will the games achievements stay the same (Steam to Xbox 360)
A: There is Steam Achievements and some of them will definitely be there, but I am quite certain we�ll of something new.
Down one path, I found out that the elf was a pathological liar that wanted to lead me into a trap, because of the hatred she had received at the hands of the humans. Of course, I could have left her be, but she would have ended up killed by the humans that fostered guilt just because she was an elf. Or, I could have bought her freedom and maybe redeemed the human race, but at the cost of humans hating me for being a dirty, rotten, no-good elf lover. Each path ended with a decision that harmed my reputation or health no matter which path I followed.
The world of The Witcher 2 shows off the dichotomy of the rich vs. the poor and the strife in-between the two worlds. In the beginning, you see the regal nature of how royalty live, with clean castles and the majestic colors that surround you. Compare that to the muddy, rundown town of Flotsam, the first city that you visit in the world. Flotsam feels dirty and run down at every turn, with the lowest class of the world seeking to make a meager existence. You never feel sterility in Flotsam and it is beautiful for that. The world feels alive, with NPC characters that work, relax and tell stories about things they have heard or witnessed.
First and foremost would be the steep curve learning the combat system. The Witcher starts you off with very little in the way of skills and overwhelms you with enemies. Routinely, I would find myself in the middle of three to five men and dead within seconds. Strategy becomes first and foremost for your survival in the game. Combat for me in The Witcher 2 would have me attacking, rolling around to dodge, luring one away to fight and then repeat as needed. It is only the first main chapter where this is a big occurance, but you never want to scare people away at the beginning with such a steep learning curve.
Combat is further complicated by the complete lack of training that The Witcher 2 provides to the player. There are a few context sensitive items in the intro, but you are left high and dry as to what things do, or how they work. I played the first Witcher title, and while it was difficult, I never felt lost within the controls. But in the sequel, I was like a deer caught in the headlights.
While The Witcher 2 is not perfect, it does pack in a beautiful, living and breathing world, complete with compelling characters, witty dialog and quests aplenty. Combat and tutorial mechanics bring the game down a slight notch, but at the end of the day, The Witcher 2 stands out leaps and bounds beyond the traditional RPG affair for the PC.
The combat looked fairly smooth and for originally being a keyboard and mouse based title with lots of different options, everything seemed fairly accessible with the 360 controller, although they didn�t get too crazy with the potential combat options. The movement and controls seemed to respond quickly and everything really had a nice flow to it.
A couple of issues did arise though, at one point Geralt and the two enemy guards he was fighting got stuck on opposite sides of an open doorway with neither able to deal damage or cross over. Another problem was that while the game looked alright, it really didn�t compare to the PC version of the game. That is, if you have a good PC that can actually run the game of course.
The developers did make it a point to remind all of us during the session that the game is still early in the console development stage and that many of the bugs and such that we saw will be fixed and the game will be much better quality once it reaches the finished stage.


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Hello everyone!
I have been a chocolate enthusiast since I can remember and the time has now come for me to deep dive into a pool of dark shiny melting chocolate!
Firstly, I'd like to share my larger vision. It is to build a strong chocolate movement in India - more awareness, more options and creation of more reasonably priced products - and build a product that ensures the lowest carbon footprint for a population as large as ours, with an in-built social and economic balance.
The purpose of this forum is to understand and discuss a range of topics revolving around chocolate in India from the viability of starting a new venture in India in cocoa farming, manufacturing, supply chain, the limitations posed by climate, new innovations, sustainability and costs, holding conferences with experts in-country to even using chocolate as a medium for experential learning in schools!
Basically, anything that interests you and will benefit the group.
There are many questions on farming, manufacturing, sustainability whose answers would enable me and I believe, others to understand the scope of developing cocoa and chocolate products in India.
With a huge sense of possibility, I request you all to share your expertise and your questions on this forum, and come together for living the chocolate life, as Clay calls it!
To begin the discussions, one of the first questions I'd like to post is:
Are there opportunities to apprentice with chocolatiers and cocoa farmers in France/India/Belgium/elsewhere and what are the nitty-gritties involved?
Looking forward to many lively discussions here!
Views: 1150
Wow Chitresh!
This sounds super fun and great for learning! Would love to hear more about the progress of your experiment. let's connect? my email is firstname.lastname@example.com.
Agree with comments below'Wow chirag' Pls fwd me pic's or progress of how your chocolate comes out ...chocolate is easy to fall in love with . firstname.lastname@example.com
Thanks Devika
will surely send u pics n update you of my progress.. and i totally agree, chocolate is very easy to fall in love with
Looking forward to the pics! :)
I recently joined this forum and surely would love to be part of building a big chocolate movement in India.
Creating awareness about real high quality chocolate is a big challenge... but i strongly feel that this platform can help us in realising our dream.
hi chirag from where you studied hotel management? very good to hear that you are experimenting chocolate at home.:) good brother.I study hotel management from India pune.Presently i am at New Zealand working in chocolate factory.I used be a pastry chef.let me know your progress if you need any help write me email@example.com
thanks and regards,
mahesh joshi.
hi are you in interested in chocolate?? write me firstname.lastname@example.com
hi Subhashini it is nice to hear that you are working on chocolate.I am presently atNewzealand working in chocolate factory.I am from India,Pune.lets connect email@example.com
Hi Chirag,
So happy to learn that you have attempted to make chocolate from cocoa beans - AT HOME ! You are an adventurous innovator ! But you did not let us know how the result .....was your chocolate smooth and tasty ? Regards Rajendra Mangharam ( www.makechocolates.com )
hai chirag.,
I am Anish Pallivathukal from kodaikanal. I am very happy to know that your trying to make chocolates from indian orgin cocoa beans. In india majority of cocoa bean grows in kerela , as far as i know this beans are little acidic , so major stubling block is to alkalise the cocoa beans.
Carry on Chirag success is not reached on an easy road. I am a cacao bean farmer from the Philippines and has been trying hard to learn how to make chocolate from bean to bar.
Glad to connect with the group. I am a Chocolate enthusiast as well and have been predominantly working with chocolate compounds and covertures for my creations. Looking to know the availability of any Indian chocolate bars or covertures that I can use in my creations :)
© 2014 Created by Clay Gordon.


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The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division's free After-School Program, for ages 6 to 17, is offered annually at six neighborhood parks in communities in unincorporated Broward County. The program runs from 2 to 6 p.m., Mondays through Fridays, starting on Monday, August 19, 2013, and running through Friday, June 13, 2014. As space is limited, preregistration is required.
Activities include cultural programs, youth sports, arts and crafts, time for homework, game-room activities, field trips, computer access, and more. For more information, call or visit the park of your choice.
Watch After-School Program participants march against bullying during National Anti-Bullying Month here.


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Maybe there isn't sincerity as far as the eye can see.
One parent is speaking out online against the Halloween classic program, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," claiming the animated favorite actually condones bullying in an age where such an act is taken seriously in school systems nationwide, according to a report on WCVB.com.
The TODAY Show's Moms Blog reported this week that in a recent blog post on Babble.com, blogger DadCamp wrote that the show sends the wrong message to children because of its "continuous teasing and bullying":
"The show is riddled with the kids calling each other stupid, dumb, and blockheads," DadCamp wrote. "Charlie Brown is supposed to be the hero. Instead, he is kicked and demeaned at every turn, even by the adults giving out candy."
Bishop goes on to argue the Charlie Brown specials have nothing of value to offer today's children, save a sense of nostalgia for most parents.
But what do you think? Does "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" send the wrong message and condone bullying? Or is the claim taking an extreme aim at a children's classic? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.


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Manufacturing of API and Pharmaceuticals
As a global pharmaceutical company, EMD has vast experience in drug research and production. This experience drives the high quality safety standards of and innovations in our pharmaceutical products and services. EMD offers a unique combination of raw materials for formulation, preparative chromatographic resins, both for biopharmaceutical and chemical API recovery on a large scale. A wide range of biochemicals and additives that are specially produced to meet pharmaceutical industry regulatory requirements complements this perfectly.


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Quick View
Vermont Creamery
CoupolePerfection is this 'dome' shaped, hand-ladled treat from Websterville, Vermont. Bright, fresh chevre gets sweet and creamy just beneath the velvety, edible rind.Plus it reminds us of Honeydew from the Muppets. 2011 American Cheese Society Winner Read More
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The Mozzarella Company
Hoja SantaThe stars at night are big and bright, and this little package from deep in the heart of Texas offers a big, bright, minty flavor from its namesake leaf wrapping. Handmade by women at a ladies-only company on the borderland. 2011 American Cheese Society Winner Read More


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Hornady Ammunition 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire (HMR) 15.5 Grain NTX Lead-Free Box of 50
Product #: 588382 Hornady #: 83171 UPC #: 090255831719
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You must be 21 years or older to order ammunition. Ammo must ship UPS ground. Due to Department of Transportation regulations, we cannot accept returns on ammo. Please check local laws before ordering.
Product Information
Designed around the hard-hitting performance of the famous Hornady V-Max bullet, this ammunition is specifically designed for supremely accurate long-range shooting for customers who aren't permitted to shoot lead bullets in their home states. NTX, or Non-Toxic Expanding bullets from Hornady deliver the same accuracy and performance as their popular V-Max bullets. The lead-free core, made of proprietary metals, is formed through a unique compression process at Hornady's bullet lab. This ammunition is new production and non-corrosive.
Technical Information
Caliber: 17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire
Bullet Weight: 15.5 Grains
Bullet Style: NTX
Ballistics Information:
Muzzle Velocity: 2525 fps
Muzzle Energy: 236 ft. lbs.
Technical Information
Ballistics Information:
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The statements and opinions expressed within Customer Reviews reflect each author's personal perspective and do not imply endorsement by MidwayUSA, its Employees or any other organization. Customers should in no way infer that MidwayUSA has validated review information as safe, accurate or appropriate.
NOTE: Prices, specifications and availability are subject to change without notice.
We reserve the right to correct typographic, photographic and/or descriptive errors.
We reserve the right to correct typographic, photographic and/or descriptive errors.


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1827 Central Ave-Luxury Beach Home Block from Beach in Ocean City
- bedrooms 3
- baths 2
- sleeps 7
- pool no
- hot tub no
- pets allowed no
- type Condo
- community
rates (USD)
/ night
$ 2,000 - $ 4,000 / week
$ 7,000 - $ 10,000 / month
Ocean City Condo deals
stays between: 8/30/14 & 9/6/14
deal expires in: 18 days
ONLY One-Week Remains Open for the 2014 Summer Season
$500 Discount for the Labor Day Holiday Week (August 30 to September 6).
- $3,200 $2,700/week ($500 off)
- Beach Tags ($120)
deal# DREQPU
vacation rental description
Relax! This is beach living on a grand scale: spacious, inviting, and sun-lit.
Three-Bedroom Two-Bath Second Floor Luxury Victorian One Block From Guarded Beach and Upper End of Boardwalk
Living Room with Vaulted-Beamed Ceiling and Skylights, Marble Fireplace and Deck Adjoined to Dining Room and Kitchen with Vaulted Ceilings and Floor to Ceiling Windows
Master Bedroom with Vaulted Ceiling Adjoined to Master Bath with Jacuzzi and Separate Cornered SPA Shower Enclosure
Two Additional Bedrooms with Full Bath
Separate Laundry Room with Washer and Dryer
Neiman Marcus Designer Linens in Bedrooms
Equisite Desiger-Selected Furniture, Lighting, and Artwork
MacKenzie-Childs Accents in Every Room
Interior Designed by Planning & Design Collaborative of Philadelphia
Security Deposit Protection Plan is Offered through CSA Insurance for $50.00
Tenant will be covered up to $1,500 for any accidental damage to the property.
Otherwise a $1,500 Security Deposit will be charged to Tenant..
vacation rental location
property availability
- dates with deals
- unavailable dates
Last modified on 02-24-2014 at 3:01 PM.
email owner view full calendar
Donna Hammaker
condo rental amenities
Designed with the amenities to provide you and your family an unparalled shore lifestyle vacation.
Three Bedrooms, Two Full Baths, Master Bath with Jacuzzi and SPA Shower Enclosure
1 Queen Bed
4 Single Beds with 1 Futon
Dining Room Seating for 8 with Two Different Settings of China and Crystal
NEW Gas Stove and Microwave
Central Air Conditioning and Living Room Ceiling Fan
High-Speed Wireless Internet
3 Televisions
NEW 42" HD Flat-Screen Television in Living Room with Blu-Ray Disc Player
NEW 24" HD Flat-Screen Combo Television-DVD in Master Bedroom
NEW 22" HD Flat-Screen Television
Cable Service-Comcast
Pandora Internet & Radio Subscription Service
Netflix Subscription Service
VCR and CD Cassette Players
Private Sun Deck with Custom Sisal Rug and Awning
Deck Furniture with Custom Cushions
NEW Commercial Size Washer and Dryer in separate Laundry Room
Gas Stove & Microwave
Garbage Disposal
Fully Equipped Kitchen: Coffee Maker, Espresso Maker, Smoothie Blender, Toasters
Outside Storage Facility with Beach Gear, including Several Boogie Boards for Surfing
Beach Chairs and Beach Umbrella
NEW Enclosed Outdoor Showers
Family Board Games from Hammacher Schlemmer: European Monopoly, Sudoku, Chess-Backgammon, Chess Computer, Two Bridges
Gas Heat-NEW Furnace
Gas Fireplace
Our home is furnished for light housekeeping with dishes, cookware,
silverware, glassware, pillows, and bedspreads.
Bed and bath linens are NOT included.
Everyday cleaning and paper products are provided, such as,
dishwasher soap, dish detergent, toilet paper, paper towels, laundry
Green Certified Housecleaning Service
Private Parking
activities and attractions in Ocean City New Jersey
The possibilities for family activities and attractions are as limitless as the sand, sky, and sea.
6 Beach tags are provided.
Ocean City's summer season begins on Memorial Day weekend and ends
gradually from Labor Day through the end of September. Peak season
is from July 4th until Labor Day. Discounted rates are available
both before and after this time period. During April October
through the end of November, most boardwalk merchants, all of the
downtown area, and the numerous restaurants are open for business
as usual.
vacation rental rates
*** One Week in Peak Summer Season Remaining for 2014 ***
Minimum Rental Period - SEVEN DAYS
DEPOSIT: One-Third the Full Weekly Rental is Required to Reserve Each Week.
Reservations Can Only be Guaranteed By a Fully Executed Lease.
Check-in Saturdays after 2:00 PM and Check-out Saturdays by 10:00 AM
05/02/2014 $1700
05/09/2014 $1700
05/16/2014 $1700
Season Begins
05/30/2014 $2000
06/06/2014 $2300
06/13/2014 $2500
08/30/2014 $3200 Less $500 Discount / Labor Day Holiday (Monday, 09/01)
Season Ends
09/05/2014 $2300
09/12/2014 $1700
09/19/2014 $1700
09/26/2014 $1700
10/03/2014 $1700
10/10/2014 $1700
10/17/2014 $1700
10/24/2014 $1700
May (05/02/2014 to 05/27/2014) $5000
September (08/29/2014 to 09/26/2014) $7000
October (09/26/2014 to 10/24/2014) $7000
Donna Hammaker
accepted payment methods
Prior to paying a reservation deposit, always verify payment instructions by calling the phone number displayed on this listing page. By contacting the owner directly and paying by an approved method - credit card, paypal, check or bank transfer - your reservation payment will be protected up to $1,000.Learn more in our Security Center
Top things to do in Ocean City
- Hang out at our guarded beach
- Rent an ocean kayak for the day
- Enjoy fresh seafood at our restaurants
- Bike on the boardwalk and see the sun rise over the ocean
- Go shopping at our island boutiques
Top things to do on a budget
- Enjoy the sun, sand, and the ocean waves at the beachl
- The beach and boardwalk are one block from our home
- Rent a beach bike and cruise around the island
- Simply read and relax on our private deck
- Play golf at the local course
Top things to do with a family
- Build sand castles and play volleyball or frisbee at the beach
- Go on a dolphin cruise – they run daily
- Play cards and board games in our spacious living area
- Go to the boardwalk water park for the day
- Rent jet skis for the day
Donna Hammaker , owner


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Call us: 516 305-5023
E-mail us: email@example.com
Bras > Full Figure Bras >
For those who want to embellish their cleavage without looking bigger, Simone Perele created this ultra feminine bra with soft cups. Perfect for those seeking ultimate comfort, fit and natural shape. The Simone Perele Andora collection is designed to offer both elegance and support, and is embellished with guipure and embroidery. The Simone Perele Andora Lined Molded Bra is a sophisticated and alluring every day bra.
- Contour shaped underwire bra
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- Full stretch, back adjustable straps
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- Great fit for fuller bust
Join our mailing list for exclusive discounts:


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Join our TPP Twitter Storm. Everyone with a Twitter account can participate. The Twitter storm begins on Tuesday at 9pm Eastern!
One day after a top Obama administration official deflected a congressman's call for executive action to raise labor standards for contractors, activists Wednesday announced the filing of a new Department of Labor complaint over alleged wage theft in a government building. The complaint alleges that dozens of workers in D.C.'s government-owned Union Station are owed over $3 million in back pay and damages for rampant failure to pay minimum wage or overtime.
It is that time to pause and think about the incredible life and contributions of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., oftentimes referred to as MLK. He was named Michael King Jr. after his father who later changed both their names to Martin Luther, in honor of the religious reformer.
At a press conference today, a bipartisan group of legislators – including by Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), John Conyers (D-Mich.), and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) – will announce the introduction of The Voting Rights Amendment Act of 2014 in Congress.
Hundreds of Moral Monday demonstrators gathered on the steps of the Capitol this week to protest Governor Nathan Deal's refusal to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, more than 400,000 people in Georgia will be denied Medicaid coverage by state leaders.
"Healthcare and access to healthcare—preventative services as well as treatment—is a civil right, a human right, and a moral right," Otis Brawley, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society and a physician at Grady Hospital, said to WABE 90.1 FM.
Since Jan. 9, when a chemical used to process coal leaked into West Virginia's Elk River, images of beleaguered Charleston residents lining up for bottles of water from National Guard tankers have dominated the headlines. With some restrictions on water use lifted on Jan. 13, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin declared, "We see light at the end of the tunnel."
After drawing thousands of protesters to the state legislature and inspiring the arrests of more than 900 people for nonviolent civil disobedience, North Carolina's Moral Monday movement challenging the extreme conservative agenda of the state's Republican-controlled legislature and administration is gearing up for more actions in 2014.
Winning praise from civil rights advocates, the U.S. Department of Education released new federal guidelines Wednesday aimed at stopping an explosion in student suspensions, expulsions and referrals to the criminal-justice system.
Despite roadblocks by industry and state officials, well water contamination found in four states
The Associated Press has confirmed what residents have long known and the oil and gas industries have sought to hide: the controversial process of hydraulic fracturing, as well as conventional oil and gas drilling, is polluting and contaminating well drinking water supplies.
U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern says the "War on Poverty" has shifted from helping the poor to fighting them.
McGovern, a Democrat who represents the 2nd district, spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives Wednesday about hunger in America and potential cuts to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) in the proposed Farm Bill.
Citizens United is not just the default reference for US Supreme Court decisions—including the 2010 Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling—that have ushered in a new era of corporate dominance of American elections. It's the name of the conservative group that encouraged Chief Justice John Roberts and the most activist Court majority in American history to tear the heart out of what were already weak campaign finance laws.
PITTSFIELD -- Their signs read "Get Big Money Out of Politics," "Democracy Is Not For Sale" and "This Is What Plutocracy Looks Like." About a dozen of them stood in Park Square on Wednesday evening, one of 130 "rapid response events" coordinated nationwide to protest that morning's Supreme Court decision in McCutcheon v. FEC.
Any doubts about the determination of an activist United States Supreme Court to rewrite election rules so that the dollar matters more than the vote were removed Wednesday, when McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission was decided in favor of the dollar.
Sam Bell is in the third year of a PhD program in geology at Brown University. Geology as in rocks. But Bell also moonlights as the the state coordinator of The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats, the state affiliate of the 10-year-old Progressive Democrats of America. And in his work with The Rhode Island Progressive Democrats, Bell was instrumental to the investigation that ultimately led to the National Rifle Association paying the second largest campaign finance fine in the state's history.
Postal workers are giving it their all this holiday season, as cards and packages and returns must be collected and delivered amidst ice storms, snowstorms and wild temperature drops.
They deserve our thanks in 2013.
And our support in 2014.
Thanks to a loophole that subsidizes CEO pay, McDonald's, Yum Brands, Wendy's, Burger King, Domino's, and Dunkin' Brands trimmed $64 million from their tax bills in 2011 and 2012.
The fast food industry is notorious for handing out lean paychecks to their burger flippers and fat ones to their CEOs. What's less well-known is that taxpayers are actually subsidizing fast food incomes at both the bottom — and top — of the industry.
In December 1972, I was part of a nationwide campaign that came tantalizingly close to getting the U.S. Senate to reject Earl Butz, Richard Nixon's choice for secretary of agriculture. A coalition of grass-roots farmers, consumers and scrappy public interest organizations (like the Agribusiness Accountability Project that Susan DeMarco and I then headed) teamed up with some gutsy, unabashedly progressive senators to undertake the almost impossible challenge of defeating the cabinet nominee of a president who'd just been elected in a landslide.
Progressive voices were heard loud and clear at Saturday's Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) State Committee Meeting in Maricopa, Arizona.
Unlike some past ADP meetings where progressives were ignored or where progressive resolutions were tabled and not heard by the full ADP membership, the Maricopa meeting was dominated by progressives.
Tucson is one of the most impoverished cities in the country—for many reasons. The Arizona Legislature—driven by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and short-sighted, "small government" ideology—has routinely swept funds earmarked for counties and cities to "balance" the state's budget or fund pet projects like lower corporate taxes. Beyond the Legislature's negative impact on Baja Arizona, the Tucson economy is not diversified enough. Manufacturing is nearly non-existent in Southern Arizona. There is an over-reliance on defense spending, University of Arizona spin-offs, tourism, low-wage service jobs, and growth/development.
Enter your zip+4 and find your elected officials. This link provides name, address and phone number


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Ira Joseph "Peppy" Altieri, 63, a former resident of Elkins, and more recently a resident of Buckhannon, departed this life peacefully early Wednesday morning, Jan. 16, 2013, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Buckhannon, in the arms of his wife. He had been in declining health fighting a courageous three-year battle with lung cancer.
The family will receive friends at Lohr & Barb Funeral Home of Elkins from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Today, at 2 p.m., a funeral service will be conducted with Michael Y. A. Joseph as the Celebrant. Interment will follow in Saint Brendan Cemetery at Elkins where full military honors will be accorded by members of the H.W. Daniel's Post 29 American Legion, Tygart Valley Post 3647 Veterans of Foreign Wars and the West Virginia National Guard Honor Guard.
The family suggests that expressions of sympathy be in the form of contributions to your favorite charity, in "Peppy's" memory. Lohr & Barb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements for Ira Joseph "Peppy" Altieri. Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.lohrbarbfuneralhome.com.


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