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Last week, Ghostcrawler made some comments about the odd state of prot paladin gearing, in particular our love of haste. In a blue post, he gave us the following tidbit:
Ghostcrawler said: For Protection, we do have plans to try and lower the value of haste relative to dodge and parry. We don't want to make haste terrible for paladins, but we agree that it's odd for it to be better than more traditional tank stats. It might require a nerf to Shield of the Righteous to do this, but our goal is not to nerf survivability overall. We just wanted to provide you some context if you see odd changes to tanking abilities.
And later elaborated on their reasoning:
Ghostcrawler said: The game just isn't currently designed to support it. It creates potential problems such as:
– A Prot paladin competing with a Frost DK or Ret paladin over gear, meaning there isn't enough DPS plate to go around.
– A Prot paladin considering a tier set with dodge and parry on it to be "garbage" because it doesn't stack all haste.
– A Prot paladin looking at a Ret 2pc set bonus that she normally wouldn't touch because now the stats aren't that bad either.
In a world where tanking plate didn't exist or every loot system used the personal LFR one or 100% efficient reforging then it might work.
We understand that having a lot of haste feels fun and visceral and is more dependable than dodge and parry. We'll try to come up with a solution that keeps that in mind.
As you may have noticed, this sparked a lot of uproar amongst prot paladins. There are almost as many different opinions on the topic as there are players discussing it. Some love our new haste paradigm and want to keep it, others are somewhat ambivalent, and yet others are extremely anti-haste.
If you want my opinion (and if not, why would you be coming to my blog in the first place?), I think the haste paradigm is fun, but sort of silly. Several of Ghostcrawler's potential problems are things I've seen in game. And I'd even add one to that list – having to re-spec to Ret after a boss kill to use coins, because my ideal tanking gear is actually on the Retribution loot table.
From a design standpoint, it's sort of strange that haste is more attractive than traditional tanking stats. If "tank plate" is going to be a gear category, it should be attractive to all three of the plate tank specs. So far they're 2/3, since Death Knights and Warriors are on-board. We're the oddballs that steal DPS gear. Of course, they could eliminate tank plate entirely, but I don't think they want to do that for homogenization's sake, so let's assume that's off the table.
We here at Sacred Duty feel partially responsible for this conundrum. See, we've been ringing the "all tanks need similar haste scaling" gong for quite a while, because in Cataclysm we were the only tank that didn't get extra resource generation from haste. Mel made the point in a post in December 2011, and it's an argument we repeated in other venues as well all throughout beta. While I don't know that we can take credit for getting Sanctity of Battle during beta, we were championing the cause before it was cool.
And then, in an ironic twist, warriors lost their haste scaling in beta, leaving them as the only tanks without some sort of haste-to-resource conversion. So.. sucks to be warriors?
In any event, it's clear that our affinity for haste is causing problems.If we have 20% haste, it means we have 20% more resource generation and Shield of the Righteous uptime, which is big. It grants resource generation to other tanks (well, except warriors), but it's not strong enough to make them favor it. Bears gain more rage from auto-attacks, but that's only a portion of their resource generation, not all of it. A similar argument could be made for warriors back when they
were cool got rage from auto-attacks. Faster energy regeneration gives a monk more Jabs, but not more Keg Smashes, and the global cooldown limits how many Jabs you can fit in around Keg Smashes and Blackout Kicks. A Death Knight would seem to get the most linear scaling with haste, as 20% faster rune regeneration ought to directly lead to 20% more Death Strikes. It's actually a bit of a mystery to me why they don't value haste the way we do, but their mechanics have inherent synergy between avoidance and active mitigation (Blood Shield) that may tip the scales in favor of mastery and avoidance.
In my opinion, the problem with haste and protection paladins is twofold: haste is too strong, but more importantly avoidance is too weak. First, let's look at haste and what can be done about it; then we'll discuss the problems with avoidance.
Haste Makes Was… wait, I've already used that pun
First, let's clear up some confusion. Haste is not an "amazing" stat for protection. A lot of people seem to have come to this conclusion based on my results. But if you look at my posts, it's not really that impressive. It's a terrible stat for total damage reduction (TDR), and has been since beta. And it's not even that great of a smoothing stat all by itself. That early simulation showed it strictly behind mastery in all categories.
It wasn't until we discovered how strong hit- and expertise-capping was that haste really came into its own. And even then, if you read through any of the follow-up posts that analyzed the topic in more detail, the control/haste gear set didn't show a significant survivability advantage over the control/mastery or control/avoidance sets.
Hit and expertise are really amazing stats for survivability. But haste is not. It just happens to be about as good as the more traditional tanking options after you've already maxed out hit and expertise.
Haste also has an ace up its sleeve that mastery, dodge, and parry do not: DPS. Sanctity of Battle makes haste a passable survivability stat, but simultaneously makes it a beastly DPS stat. Because our entire rotation scales with haste, 10% extra haste is 10% more DPS. In fact, once Vengeance is considered, haste is generally a better DPS stat than strength.
It's worth noting that we're the only tanks that get such a significant DPS bonus from haste. Death Knights, Warriors, Bears, and Monks are all limited by the GCD, so even with 20% higher resource generation, they won't get a full 20% increase in DPS. At best they reduce the number of empty GCDs they have, or manage to replace a few more fillers with resource spenders. It's only thanks to Sanctity of Battle that paladins aren't subject to the same 1.5-second-GCD constraint.
And that's really the problem with haste: it becomes a "king stat" for smoothing once hit and expertise caps are reached. We're given a choice between three stats that all give roughly equal amounts of survivability, but one is also a significant DPS boost. We don't lose anything by choosing to focus on haste instead of mastery or avoidance; that extra DPS doesn't cost us anything. There's no trade-off involved.
If haste is going to give us a huge DPS boost, it can't also be our favorite survival stat. We have to lose something in the survivability department by choosing haste over mastery or avoidance, which means haste ought to be less effective than mastery or avoidance at spike mitigation. It's not enough for it to be dead last for TDR – in fact, I suspect that over-reliance on TDR metrics for tank balance is what put us in this situation in the first place.
So how can Blizzard fix the "haste problem?" The most obvious solution is to nerf or eliminate Sanctity of Battle. If they took that ability away, it would take haste completely off of our radar. Curiously enough, in that situation we would still have better haste scaling than warriors because we'd get more Seal of Insight procs and Sacred Shield ticks at higher haste values. But it would be a small enough effect that we would ignore it for gearing.
Removing Sanctity of Battle completely has some downsides, though. It would re-create the problem we had in Cataclysm, which was that we scaled incredibly poorly with encounter-specific raid buffs like Essence of the Red. Partially nerfing the effect instead, such as reducing cooldowns and GCDs by 50% of your haste instead of 100%, would allow for the benefit of haste to be tuned more finely.
But either of those solutions risks making the haste gear that players have spent time collecting and valor points upgrading irrelevant. And the valor upgrade issue is a particular problem, as it's a finite resource. If haste suddenly becomes significantly worse, players that stacked haste may feel like the victims of a particularly cruel bait-and-switch.
Since Blizzard has already suggested that they may try to fix the haste problem by nerfing Shield of the Righteous, let's consider how they might do that.
- They could nerf the duration of SotR (say, from 3s to 2s). This would indirectly nerf all of our active mitigation stats: hit, expertise, mastery, and haste, while leaving avoidance more or less untouched. I don't think this is likely though, as it would also encourage the "boss swing timer addon" issues that were complained about in beta.
- They could let the duration of SotR be reduced by Sanctity of Battle, such that at 10% haste the duration was divided by 1.1. This would keep the DPS benefit of Sanctity of Battle and keep the "fun" part of the hasted gameplay, but eliminate the survivability benefit. It would also make timing SotR to boss swings a pain in the ass, and probably isn't all that simple to implement from a technical perspective either. And in practice, I don't think we'd stack haste if it gave no survivability benefit, so this solution would feel sort of backwards. Removing Sanctity of Battle would be a simpler and more logical way to get the same effect.
- They could nerf the magnitude (mitigation percentage) of SotR. There are a few ways they could go about that nerf.
- The least likely is to nerf its mastery scaling – that would hurt all four active mitigation stats, but it would hurt mastery much worse than the others, and probably wouldn't do anything to reverse the gearing paradigm. It would just make us like mastery even less.
- The more likely way is to reduce the base mitigation of SotR. For example, dropping the base mitigation from 30% to 20%, but leaving the mastery scaling untouched. That would reduce the smoothing effects of hit, expertise, and haste, but would leave mastery more or less unchanged apart from second-order synergistic effects.
- And of course, they could do both (nerf base mitigation and mastery scaling). Again, I don't think that's likely, as it would be doing a lot of damage to mastery for no apparent reason.
- They could buff the duration of SotR but reduce its magnitude. For example, if the buff duration was increased to 4.5 seconds, but the mitigation reduced significantly (i.e. 50% or more) to compensate. The mitigation reduction could be in either the base amount or the mastery scaling, though I think base is still more likely. This would mean we'd have much higher uptime on SotR in general, but the effect would be much smaller.I don't think this is very likely either, just because it may end up having the opposite of the intended effect. In theory, having high uptime favors mastery over haste, because you're getting an extra swing of mitigation out of that mastery. However, if we can build up enough haste to keep SotR up 90+% of the time, that's probably more advantageous than increasing the mitigation value. It's the SotR equivalent to block capping, and I'm pretty sure they'll want to avoid that situation based on prior experience.
Obviously that's not an exhaustive list, but it covers the most likely ways they could go about nerfing SotR. A more major overhaul of the system could completely change the paradigm too, but that seems pretty unlikely in the middle of an expansion.
I think the bigger problem facing the developers isn't what to do with haste, it's what to do with avoidance. As we've seen, haste isn't a great stat, it's just better than the alternatives. And the problem is that the alternatives, in this case dodge and parry, are far too weak to compete. Unfortunately, it's difficult to pinpoint a single reason that explains why dodge and parry perform so poorly. It's a fairly complicated problem, which also makes it hard to fix.
First of all, when you start out with low avoidance, adding more avoidance doesn't do much for you. It's obviously great for TDR, but going from 20% avoidance to 25% avoidance isn't going to have an appreciable effect on the smoothness of your damage intake. And the diminishing returns equations intentionally keep avoidance from becoming too attractive once you have a lot of it. So right from the outset, you're discouraged from even attempting to go down the avoidance path.
Damage models also have a pretty large effect on avoidance's value. The game has embraced the triage model of damage and healing, such that we expect to be able to survive 3-4 hits from most bosses, even on heroic modes. That makes stochastic effects like dodge and parry strong for total damage reduction (TDR), but it still doesn't help them in the smoothness department. They're still not controllable, so you can't, for example, use them to guarantee that you won't take 5 hits in a row.
If the game were balanced such that healers risked running out of mana healing a tank, then TDR would be more attractive and stats like dodge and parry would have more room to shine. But in my experience, that 's not really a risk in progression raiding, and hasn't been since the first few weeks of Cataclysm. Healers definitely run out of mana from excessive raid healing, but rarely do from a simple tank healing assignment. And more often than not, cleaning up execution on the fights does more for mana efficiency than gearing will. A healer can't heal you much differently at 25% avoidance than at 20% avoidance, because it's hard to notice that difference on the fly. The spikes they'll be reacting to are going to be very similar, just slightly less frequent.
And in a tanking system that revolves so heavily around active mitigation, stats that contribute to the active mechanic tend to be far more interesting than passive stats. That's one reason we focus on hit, expertise and haste. The synergy between those three stats and mastery serve to make all of them better, while dodge and parry have no such interaction. In fact, dodge and parry get weaker as you stack more active mitigation stats, because the average hit size being avoided goes down.
So dodge and parry are beset from all sides. Theyr'e great at TDR, but we don't care much about TDR as tanks. They can't compete with active mitigation stats for smoothing incoming damage because they're stochastic and unpredictable. By gearing for active mitigation and smoother damage, we actually make dodge and parry less attractive. And perhaps the final nail in the coffin, they're boring. Players don't get excited about dodge and parry because they're passive, set-it-and-forget-it stats. The function they perform happens in the background, with no input from the player, and lacks a feedback mechanism to make the player care about them. They're reminiscent of the era where a tank's survivability was primarily determined outside of the raid instance, while they were optimizing their gear. And that's not the environment we live in anymore.
To paraphrase Mel: "Dodge and parry have been bad and irrelevant for three full expansions now, it's not news that they're garbage. They just used to be garbage floating to the top of a sea of garbage." And I think he's right. We haven't been excited about dodge or parry since at least the Burning Crusade, if then. Dodge/parry have consistently been poor stats since the start of Wrath. We just never had a very strong alternative to compare them to until active mitigation made hit, expertise, and haste "good."
I think any real "fix" avoidance will have to address not only their numerical inferiority, but their psychological inferiority as well. Dodge and parry are just too passive to be much fun. They don't have to become active mitigation stats, but they need to interface with our active mitigation in a way that makes them interesting and exciting. Some small effect that makes us care about avoiding an attack would make an incredible difference in how dodge and parry are perceived.
Warrior's Revenge is a good example of this. Avoidance isn't just a passive background mitigation effect for warriors because avoiding lets them do something more often. That's the sort of effect that will turn avoidance from a dump stat into something we look forward to, or even prioritize.
It's not hard to come up with mechanics that would do just that. Here are a few examples:
- Change Grand Crusader's trigger from CS/HotR to avoidance. Thus, avoiding an attack would have a chance to refresh the cooldown of Avenger's Shield and grant holy power. That might be too similar to Revenge, but it covers all the bases: gives us something active to do and ties into our active mitigation through resource generation.
- Chance to generage 1 holy power every time you avoid an attack, with a 3-5 second internal cooldown to limit income during AoE tanking (the same could apply to the previous idea, of course). This is similar to an early beta version of Glyph of Blessed Life or Honor among Thieves. Passive resource generation that scales with avoidance.
- Avoiding an attack could grant a buff that increases the duration of the players next SotR by 0.5 seconds, perhaps stacking up to ~3. Or a 1-second increase that doesn't stack. The stack limit would naturally keep AoE tanking from becoming too trivial.
- Avoiding an attack could increase the mitigation of your next SotR by ~5-10%, with a similar stacking mechanism.
- Avoiding an attack could reduce the cost of the next SotR by 1 holy power. This puts a natural limit on the resource generation effect, and has the potential to mix up the rotation a bit since we'd be able to cast SotR at 1 or 2 holy power on occasion.
I could go on, but you get the idea. Something – anything – that makes avoidance matter to us is an improvement. Especially if it does so in a way that requires attention on the part of the player. Otherwise, avoidance is doomed to remain the low-priority, boring stat that it has been for the last 5 years.
The TLDR version of this post is that the problem we're facing isn't just a case of haste being too strong. It's good, but it's not really all that strong compared to the defensive alternatives. Hit and expertise are strong, but haste, mastery, and avoidance are all fighting for a distant third place trophy. Haste just has better fringe benefits than the others.
The real problem is that avoidance is too weak, too passive, and too boring. And to add insult to injury, it's anti-synergistic with active mitigation stats. So if we choose gear to make our active mitigation better, it makes avoidance even less attractive to us.
Reducing the value of haste so that there's a legitimate trade-off between DPS and survivability is a good, and in my opinion necessary, first step. But the root of the problem really lies in the lackluster state of avoidance. If "tank gear" is going to continue to be a thing, then something really needs to be done to make it attractive to paladin tanks.
And the way to do that is to make it both numerically worthwhile and fun. What will it take to make avoidance fun? We need to get rid of the anti-synergy and add some real synergy between avoidance and active mitigation. Nobody likes their gear to work at cross purposes. We need it to be interactive, so that a player gets clear feedback that makes an avoided attack exciting and enjoyable. We need it to empower or enable us in a way that impacts our rotation.
And for avoidance's sake, we need it yesterday.


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Browsing Working Papers (ICM/IKL) by Title
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Leander, Anna (København, 2008)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: This paper explains, or perhaps better rationalizes, why I have ended up thinking that so called "practice" theory provides the most adequate entry point for theorizing about business in/and global governance.1 But more than this the key ambition is to spell out what it means to work with practice theory and what kind of leverage it gives for understanding the role of business in global governance. The paper therefore begins by an account of two major difficulties thinking in terms of practices are useful for circumventing. The general thrust of that section is to underline why it may be useful to think in terms of practices in the first place rather than sticking with some of its admittedly more parsimonious and less labor intense alternatives. The rest of the paper then tries to outline what it means (in my view) to work with practices. The second section focuses on how we know whose/what practices matter. It emphasizes the importance of allowing for contextual differentiation when mapping activities and their hierarchies. It also underscores the significance of remaining open about who and what is important. It points to the centrality of different forms of capital (economic, social, cultural and symbolic) in defining whose activities matter. But even more strongly it links up with actor-network-theory's insight that also objects and technologies "act" in social relations. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7024
Files in this item: 1wp 2007-6.pdf (235.8Kb)
Reflecting and Reinforcing Neo-Liberal GovernmentalityLeander, Anna (København, 2006)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: This article argues that the role of Private Security Contractors in Darfur reflects and reinforces neo-liberal governmentality in contemporary security governance. It is an argument (in line with other articles in this special issue) which is more interested in discussing how the privatization of security alters security practices (including those involving states) than in thinking about their impact on an idealised public monopoly on the use of force. To make its point, the article begins by drawing on Foucauldian work to clarify the meaning of neo-liberal governmentality in security. It underlines that governance is increasingly taking place through a set of (quasi-) markets, it is marked by entrepreneurial values, and a hands off approach to governance. We then discuss the way this overall change is reflected in and reinforced by the role of private security contractors in Darfur. Drawing on a framework of analysis inspired by Bourdieu, we show that neo-liberal governmentality is reflected in the dispositions of security actors as well as in their relative positions. The resulting security practices reinforce dispositions and positions that reproduce neo-liberal governmentality. Looking at these processes is necessary to understand the role of private security contractors in Darfur. But more than this, practices in Darfur entrench neo-liberal governmentality in security more generally. The managerial and 'de-politicizing' approach to security in Darfur displaces alternative views not only in the Darfuri context. It is taken into other contexts where it bolsters neo-liberal governmentality. This spiralling neo-liberal governmentality rather than diminished state control and authority is, we argue, the most significant consequence of the presence of private security contractors in Darfur. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/6989
Files in this item: 1darfur_working_paper.pdf (140.3Kb)
the political, cultural and social dimensionTorp, Jens Erik; Rekve, Peter (København, 1995)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7006
Files in this item: 1wpnr.02 1995.pdf (164.5Kb)
Leander, Anna (Frederiksberg, 2009)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: The integration of private international security into Security Studies reflects the relatively recent nature of the market. The literature on the topic revolves around the basics of placing private international security on the agenda (1a); explaining and understanding the market (1b) and problematizing its relationship to central questions in international security (1c). The current trend in the field is to face the—still largely open—challenge of taking research further, both by completing, refining and updating current research efforts (2a) and by expanding and enriching the research agenda to more fully explore the politics of market development (2b). Paradoxically, as this entry concludes, this is leading scholars to abandon the focus on "privatization" and instead pushing them to formulate research agenda in new terms such as commercialization, commodification, governance or governmentality. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7967
Files in this item: 1
The Rebranding of Georg JensenKarmark, Esben; Csaba, Fabian Faurholt; Beckmann, Suzanne C. (Frederiksberg, 2015)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/9143
Files in this item: 1GJ_case.docx.pdf (475.2Kb)
Thinking International Relations through Fields, Habitus and PracticeLeander, Anna (København, 2006)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/6970
Files in this item: 1fihp_working_paper.pdf (260.2Kb)
The Power of the Private Security BusinessLeander, Anna (København, 2007)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/6948
Files in this item: 1reconfiguring security praxis-wp88.pdf (113.1Kb)
keywords in British political discourseWerther, Charlotte (København, 1997)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7021
Files in this item: 1wpnr.21 1997.pdf (81.41Kb)
Leander, Anna (København, 2006)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: This paper focuses on the way PMCs shape security policies and more generally political priorities. Linking up with classical thinking about "civil-military relations", it suggests that preoccupation with security professionals' role in shaping politics is as important when these professionals are privately organised in PMCs as it is when they are enrolled in public armed forces. The paper shows that existing regulation has not been adjusted to account for this fact and that the significance of regulating PMCs' role in shaping politics is profoundly underestimated. It therefore argues that putting the issue of regulating "civil-PMCs relations" on the agenda is essential. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7019
Files in this item: 1pmc_regulation_working_paper-2.pdf (238.0Kb)
Lange, Dr. Bastian (Frederiksberg, 2009)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: The paper aims at discussing the issue of governance in respect to creative scenes, a central structural element of the creative economy, exemplifying the case of Berlin. Berlin has a fast growing creative industry that has become the object of the city's development policies and place marketing. The core question is: What are the spatial-organizational driving forces of creativity in Berlin - can they be steered by public administration? I am using Berlin as a reference case to articulate the gap between 'state-led planning' on the one hand and the organisational practices of self-governed creative scenes on the other. I attempt to demonstrate why a perspective change in terms of re-scaling is necessary, in order to respond to the particular practices of emerging industries and their societal form "scenes". By re-scaling I mean the conceptualization of governance in different non-hierarchical organisational as well as spatial scales, based on the observation that scenes are considered to be a central element of the functionality of creative industries. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7981
Files in this item: 1
The Case of the CIA "Killing Program"Leander, Anna (Frederiksberg, 2009)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: "Risk" has become a major theme in the social sciences over the past two decades. It has been argued to reshape social and political life not only by placing new issues on the agenda but also by generating new "governmental rationalities". These debates have in various forms also began to influence international studies. It has already been shown that the introduction of risk has altered strategic rationality. An uncertain imagined future of Rumsfeldian "unknown unknowns" has become integral to military strategic thinking. In the process technologies used to wage war and the actors involved have also evolved. Continuing the discussion, this article moves on to look at the implications of these changes for legal and political boundaries in one specific area of international politics; it traces the link between the spread of risk rationality (or governance through risk) and the development of apolitical and unaccountable military markets. Risk rationality creates what I will tentatively term a preventive imperative that tends to spread across areas and is assisted in the process by the rapidly expanding ranks of risk professionals. The preventive imperative is key to the rapid growth of private military markets as well as to the difficulty of politicizing—in the sense of creating a critical public debate—about the market as opposed to about the a given scandal (e.g. Nisour Square incident) or firm (e.g. Blackwater). The difficulty of politicizing the market has strong implications for the (non-)working of accountability. It creates what I will dub an accountability paradox where the way accountability is pursued reinforces the impunity of markets and of specific market actors. The reason is that it pre-empts serious consideration of the public/private enmeshment which is the "blind spot" of present legal instruments and it positively reaffirms existing "regulation" in all its defectiveness. Neither security professionals nor lawyers are susceptible to resolve this paradox. Reference to the CIA "Killing Program" anchors and illustrates the argument. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7965
Files in this item: 1Risk_working_paper.pdf (145.5Kb)
Moral authority and corporate mobilisationBlasco, Maribel (København, 2003)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: The paper looks at initiatives taken by the Mexican Employers' Confederation (COPARMEX) aimed at promoting collaboration among civil society associations around the issue of public safety. Insecurity in the form of robbery, assault and kidnapping causes huge losses to business in Mexico. It is argued that business leaders are seeking to create consensus and form alliances among civil society around the topic of insecurity, both to combat crime but also as a strategy to strengthen links with civil society and improve the image of business, which has suffered due to the increasing resonance of anti-capital and anti-globalisation discourses in the region. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7040
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Leander, Anna (København, 2007)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: On September 16 2007 the employees of the U.S. security firm Blackwater became involved in a shooting incidence in the Nisour Square in Baghdad. They were escorting a U.S. State Department delegation, which according to the firm, came under attack. According to by-standers, the Blackwater employees opened fire unprovoked, shooting in all directions and seemingly at anyone moving, including those trying to flee or help those wounded. 17 Iraqis civilians died in the incidence and at least twice as many were wounded. President Al-Maliki immediately came out to "revoke Blackwater's license" for operating in Iraq and Iraqi authorities engaged the process of ending contractor impunity in their country. However, it soon became clear that there was no license to revoke and that the Iraqi government may not have the authority to deny Blackwater the right to operate in Iraq, let alone decide the fate of private contractors more generally. On their part, the U.S. authorities promised to open their own investigation and expressed regret at the civilian casualties but did not end their contracts with Blackwater in Iraq or elsewhere. The incapacity of the Iraqi government to impose its authority and right to control the use of force on its territory, to hold Blackwater and/or its employees accountable for the incidence, made Jeremy Scahill conclude that: "nothing gives a more clear indication to the Iraqis that they don't have a sovereign government" (2007). Scahill is right in pointing to the limitations of the Iraqi government's role as the ultimate authority deciding on laws on Iraqi territory. However, it does not follow that the Mansour incidence is illustrative of the extent to which the private markets for force have undermined sovereignty generally. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7033
Files in this item: 1wp 2007-5.pdf (162.5Kb)
A Contested CommodityLeander, Anna (Frederiksberg, 2009)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: This paper argues that security belongs to a specific category of commodities: "contested commodities" around which there is an ongoing and unsettled symbolic struggle over whether or not they can and should be though of as commodities (section 1). The contested nature of commodification has implications for how markets function; market practices tend to be defined and organized in ways that minimize their contentiousness and obfuscate their expansion. The paper looks at the implications of this argument for the conceptualization of the security. It focuses on the three central articulations of contestation: the discussion about whether the use of force can be left to the market, whether it can be so in the international realm and the discussion about whether or not markets trigger increased insecurity. It shows how this specific articulation of contestation has produced markets where the practice/definition of security is as public rather than private (section 2), as inside rather than outside (section 3) and as a responsible reaction to a threat rather than as something contributing to the constitution of threats (section 4). Conceptualizations of private security consequently have to be devised to capture these practical consequences of contested commodification; they need to capture the private in the public, the inside in the outside and the securitizing in the response to threats. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7964
Files in this item: 1Contested_Commodity_working_paper.pdf (152.8Kb)
on the art of duality in learning partnershipsMorsing, Mette; Vendelø, Morten (København, 1995)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/6967
Files in this item: 1wpnr.03 1995.pdf (199.7Kb)
a narrative approach to the study of international acquisitionsSøderberg, Anne-Marie (København, 2003)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: Most studies of mergers and acquisitions have a managerial tilt and are founded on short visits to the companies investigated. This essay is based on a longitudinal study of a company that experiences a series of international acquisitions, giving voice to a wide range of organizational actors at different hierarchical levels, interviewed at different points of time over a period of six years. The collected narrative interviews are viewed as retrospective interpretations of change processes in the acquired company, made by organizational actors as parts of the plots they are continually constructing and revising to make sense of the course of organizational actions and events. Greimas' actantial model is used to systematize the different plots that can be seen as results of both individual and collective processes of selection, hierarchization and sequencing of organizational actions and events. It is argued that a narrative approach is well suited to clarify changing patterns of identification and justification and to display different modes of storytelling. The narratological analyses moreover illustrate that even central actors within an acquired company often have such different work-views and world-views that it may be problematic or even counterproductive if upper-level management introduces corporate storytelling through conscious efforts without any negotiation of the different versions of stories told by the employees. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/6962
Files in this item: 1wp67.pdf (333.5Kb)
A Reflection on Historical Sociology and IRLeander, Anna (Frederiksberg, 2009)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: In 2004 I published an argument to the effect that "taking Tilly seriously" could help International Relations (IR) scholars understand some of the processes and mechanisms involved in state-building (Leander, 2004: the chapter is pasted in at the end of this statement). This short statement is a reflection on why, if I were to write that piece today, it would be written differently. I would still argue that we should all engage the Historical Sociology of State-Building (HSS) in a serious way (go beyond the folklore as I termed it in 2004) but my inclination today would be to be far more explicit about to the pitfalls of not going beyond the folklore as well as about the importance of studies of practices (in anthropology, ethnography, geography, regional/area studies or even IR, sic!) in signposting these pitfalls. This change in tone has less to do with any particular idea or argument in historical sociology, and even less with the work of any particular historical sociologist (seen the focus of this workshop Tilly will figure as the recurring reference point) than it does with the way the HSS is read, feeds into and shapes IR discussions (section 1). The way HSS has been integrated into IR has led scholars deeper into the pitfalls which hamper their understanding of contemporary state-building. More specifically it has perpetuated a misconstrued understanding of the inside/outside, it has obscured the nature and role of the private/public, and that it has devalued contextually specific articulations of politics and governance (sections 2-4). This "misunderstanding" is not only a scholastic matter as it translates into policies that are ineffective, inadequate not to say positively harmful (section 5). As the statement concludes, the implication is that IR scholars who decide to walk the terrain chartered by HSS would do well to observe the warning signposts set up by observers of political practices around these pitfalls. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7968
Files in this item: 1
Leander, Anna (København, 2008)[More information][Less information]
Abstract: This paper analyses one influential Hollywood documentary, Edward Zwick's movie Blood Diamond as if it were an advertising campaign. Drawing on a business school textbook: Sign Wars: The Cluttered Landscape of Advertising, it poses the kinds of question an advertiser would: namely how the brand image is established, how it is made superior to other images and how good it is at capturing would-be-consumers. The paper suggests that Blood Diamond fares well on all three accounts and it traces why this is so. Specifically, it emphasizes the extent to which the film has contributed to establish and solidify the link between blood and diamonds in a process of "cultural cannibalism". Second, it underlines role of "Hollywood authenticity" in establishing its very particular picture of politics as superior to alternatives. This certainly is more an unintended "collateral damage" than a part the producers'/directors' intention. Finally, the last section suggests that Blood Diamond effectively captures the spectator by the reassuring, but illusive, plurality of images and by its visual fetichism. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7031
Files in this item: 1wp 2008-1.pdf (207.4Kb)
warfare, workfare, welfare?Wad, Peter (København, 2001)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7004
Files in this item: 1wp 58 2001.pdf (233.2Kb)
Schramm, Jette; Faradonbeh, Heidi Aakre (København, 2001)[More information][Less information]
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10398/7011
Files in this item: 1wp nr. 53 2001.pdf (142.9Kb)
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text:
Rays Already have a Viable Power Option In-House
The Rays have been searching high and low for a formidable power bat option throughout the Major Leagues, and somehow have skipped over the current Triple-A Home Run Derby Champ in their own farm system backyard. What is it that this mystery ballplayer has done to make the Rays Major League scouting department forget his name, stats or his dramatic flair for the game? It is like he is a ghost in the machine right now. How else do you explain hitting one of the most memorable Home Runs in Rays history, then not being on your team's Spring Training invite list the following season?
Sure you might have developed double vision at one point in your past MLB career when you got suntan lotion in your eyes before an afternoon contest, but you have rebounded and proven you can be a power hitter and a consistent bat in the line-up. But then this same Rays front office sent you on a Japanese vacation as you played for the Yokohama Bay Stars in 2009 like a baseball castaway. So you somehow got were sent farther out of sight and out of mind. But then these same Rays front office folks signed you in January 2010 for $500,000 and you again thought you had an honest chance to prove your worth in the Major Leagues. But again you were met with a career roadblock, and off to Triple-A obscurity you go again.
And during the 2010 Triple-A season you have gained a solid reputation for timely hits and huge Home Runs, but still you still sit in the Durham Bulls locker room waiting for that mystical call to "The Show". You might have guessed by now, I am talking about Durham Bulls power slugger Dan Johnson. It has been a weird year for him, but what does Johnson have to do to show his willingness and abilities are just what the Rays need in their line-up without the Rays resorting to a trade? Does he have to hit 3 HR in a game? Steal a base? Or maybe Johnson just has to sit silently and watch as the parent team ache and pain for a talent like his without muttering a single word.
I consider it a crime against great Major League talent here. Are the Rays so stockpiled with talent in their minor league system that Johnson has somehow slipped through the cracks without a head nod or mention as a in-house power option? It saddens me to think that a talent like Johnson has been relegated to being a second class citizen mired in the minors when he has the abilities to not only help the Rays, but produce runs, provide depth and bring a bit of fear back into the Designated Hitter's spot. Currently there has to be no American League pitching staff that is in fear of the Rays trio D H force of Matt Joyce, Willy Aybar or John Jaso. But could Johnson the ointment needed to finally provide some relief to that burning lack of production in the Rays line-up, or are the Rays just seeing him as another quick fix bandage?
Considering Johnson's statistics with the Bulls this season, you have to think he is the hidden treasure trove of multiple talents the Rays have been searching for during this seasons Trade Deadline. Johnson has played in all 83 games for the Bulls. Moving around the infield from his customary first base slot and playing third base, which provides more depth and versatility to his resume'. Could his "new position" be a viable reason Johnson is being stonewalled from being brought up?
Johnson is hovering at a .295 batting average with 24 HR and 80 RBI., but Johnson also has 87 hits, which currently leads the Bulls roster. Then there was his recent show of dramatic power during Monday night's Triple-A Home Run Derby where Johnson blasted out 25 Home Runs, and ultimately won the title. But in the event finals, Johnson and Lehigh Valley Ironpigs slugger Andy Tracy each posted 10 HR each in the final round. So it came down to a HR shootout format and Tracy did not connect on any of his five swings. It took Johnson only one swing of his bat to decide the Home Run Derby, and proved once and for all, he still has a dramatic flair to his hitting style.
But this was not the first time drama had entered Johnson's Rays life when it came to hitting the long ball. Most Rays fans remember the Coons Rapids, Minnesota native for his improbable Home Run during a September 9,2008 contest against the Boston Red Sox. Johnson was called-up earlier in the day by the Rays and was inserted into the starting line-up, but plane delays and slow meandering cab rides brought him to Fenway Park at 6:50 pm that evening. Johnson might have been scratched from the starting nod, but he got another chance to project his broad shouldered persona on the Rays as he went to the plate as a pinch hitter in the 9th inning against Boston closer Jonathan Papelbon.
Johnson had been called-up to the Rays after posting a .307 average with 25 HR and 83 RBI since the Rays claimed him off waivers on April 18th from the Oakland A's. Johnson stood at the plate with the game on the line and put a Papelbon fastball clear into the stands above the Red Sox Bullpen in right-centerfield for the first pinch-hit Home Run of Johnson's career. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was the first time in the last 50 years that a player had hit a September Home Run in the ninth inning (or later) in his first at bat for a first place team. Johnson had made an immediate impact on his new Rays teammates, even before formally meeting most of them.
But why is it that the scouts and the Rays front office do not find Johnson so alluring right now for their slumping DH spot? Johnson is a guy who has toiled and done his time in both the minor leagues and abroad to show he has the innate ability and the broad confidence to hit both for average, and for power in dramatic settings. That is the type of player who is now being sought after by the Rays through the Major League grapevine. But it is really a tragedy that we have a proven asset sitting just up the Atlantic Seaboard Coastline in North Carolina who would not cost the team another single penny or a player from their packed farm system.
The Rays are actively doing their window shopping around the Major League right now looking for the same option they have in-house and who is ready for the phone call. It seems a bit illogical to send talent or even money to bring in a high cost alternative to hit for the Rays when you already have a proven commodity right in your system. Hopefully within the next few days, the Rays brass will somehow rediscovery Johnson and his talents because I would love to see him hit the ball "out of sight", and if the Rays forget about this great player, and let him fester in the minor leagues, then they are "out of (their) minds".
- Posted on July 17, 2010 at 4:19 pm
- Permalink
- 2 Comments
- Filed in: Dailies
- Tags: Dan Johnson, Durham Bulls, John Jaso, Matt Joyce, Rays, Rays Renegade, Tampa Bay Rays, Trade Deadline, Willy Aybar
2 Comments
Well, I've learned that the Rays sure know talent when they scout it… so I'll store Dan's name away for the future, when that big bet is ridin' on him and no one knows who he is. I hope :-)
Seriously thought the Rays would have brought him up after they released Pat Burrell on May 15th, but they brought the crybaby up instead.
Dan Johnson is capable bat that can swing for the fences or hit for average, unlike Carlos Pena.
Even if they pushed him towards the third base side of the diamond, he can still play first base, and could be apossible 2011 option…..
Rays Renegade


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text:
Yahoo's Editor-in-Chief Jai Singh has left the company, the latest departure since the firing of Yahoo's chief operating officer Henrique De Castro earlier this week, according to the Re/Code.
Yahoo chief Marissa Mayer announced that the media unit will be managed by chief marketing office Kathy Savitt. Mike Kerns, senior vice president of homepage and verticals will be managing the two execs who handle Yahoo's entertainment, games and sports, along with news and finance.
Singh came to Yahoo in 2011 by way of the Huffington Post and CNET Networks. Recently, Yahoo has been adding to its editorial team, including hiring New York Times alums tech columnist David Pogue and political writer Matt Bai to beef up its content.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
So what is Yahoo's endgame here? Does Mayer have a different goal in mind for Yahoo's content and its current executives are getting in the way? Time will tell, especially when we get to see the new hires that will be taking over the positions.


text:
It's mitten season. My vintage copy of Mittens and Gloves is open to the charts providing
instruction for mittens knit of worsted weight yarn that fit children, teens, men and women. Piled in a basket near my favorite chair are yarns I pulled from my stash and deemed mitten-worthy — a hodge-podge of worsted weight wool, several skeins of wool that started life at a spinnery in Italy and what I refer to as "mongrel" yarn — balls and skeins that have lost their labels, probably acquired at a thrift shop, or maybe the transfer station exchange shed, a.k.a. the dump.
I also threw into the pile a skein of charcoal gray chunky yarn. Generally speaking, I don't like working with chunky yarn, but it was so pretty and every time I held it in my hand I could feel its woolly warmth. So I gave it a try. Using No. 5 double-point needles, the ones I inherited after my sister died, I cast on 32 stitches, the number required for mittens to fit a small child had I used knitting worsted. I knew the "right" thing to do was knit a swatch and do the math, but I opted to "knit on the edge," so to speak, to take a risk and see what happened. I figured it really didn't matter what size the mittens turned out to be. I'd find someone they'd fit. As it turns out, the mittens fit my hands. The mittens are dense and cushiony and I like how they feel on my hand.
I have a feeling they will become my favorite snow shoveling mittens.
I prefer to knit plain mittens. I don't want mittens cluttered up with cables, colorwork or stripes (though in the past I have knit all those). I like simple mittens because that's the kind my sister, mother and grandmother made. They were down-to-earth women and saw no reason to pretty-up the mittens they knit. For them, a mitten was strictly utilitarian, meant to keep hands warm. Period. They wanted the knitting to go smoothly and quickly without having to pore over written instructions.They often chose earthy colors for mittens — gray, brown, navy blue and tan. But sometimes when they were feeling especially pert they chose bright red, or added two narrow stripes of a different color to the cuff.
In winter, my grandmother brought mittens to knit when she came to spend the day with my mother. In her daily life at her home, my grandmother knit mittens when there was a lull in her day. My mother knit mittens during the day when her brood was at school. My sister knit mittens in the evening while she was watching a program on television, and that has become my habit, too.
Neither my mother nor my grandmother used a pattern when they knit mittens because they had committed it to memory — indeed, they may never have had written instructions, the pattern passed on by showing, rather than writing.
I have a photo of myself decked out in a red snowsuit my mother made for me when I was 5. I also am wearing a pair of red mittens she knit. The last thing she ever knit for me was a pair of red gloves, which I still have. The last thing my grandmother ever knit for me was a red sweater. And I still have the last pair of mittens, in charcoal gray worsted wool yarn, my sister knit for me.
My grandmother, mother and sister are long gone, but they are with me every time I knit mittens — making me a strand in the sturdy thread of knitting tradition they left behind.
Call Ardeana Hamlin at 990-8153 or email firstname.lastname@example.com. Don't forget to visit her blog at byhand.bangordailynews.com.


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text:
Edson, a public school teacher in Atlanta, also is the Pulitzer-Prize winning author of the play Wit, about a scholar of English literature who is in the hospital and dying of ovarian cancer. (There's a current production of the play on Broadway at this writing.) Edson, herself a Smith graduate, uses the occasion to speak about what happens in classroom teaching. She uses anaphora, the rhetorical device that repeats a word or series of words at the start of a series of sentences--in this case, to tell us that classroom teaching is all about nothing, for both teachers and students:
We bring nothing into the classroom -- perhaps a text or a specimen. We carry ourselves, and whatever we have to offer you is stored within our bodies. You bring nothing into the classroom -- some gum, maybe a piece of paper and a pencil: nothing but yourselves, your breath, your bodies. Classroom teaching produces nothing. At the end of a class, we all get up and walk out. It's as if we were never there....Classroom teaching expects nothing. There is no pecuniary relationship between teachers and students....Classroom teaching withholds nothing. I say to my young students every year, "I know how to add two numbers, but I'm not going to tell you." And they laugh and shout, "No!" That's so absurd, so unthinkable. What do I have that I would not give to you?
This is a speech by a lover of language, but even its eloquence is not the most remarkable thing about it: Edson never looks at her notes during this commencement address. That's because there are no notes. The speech, all 18-plus minutes of it, is entirely delivered without a script or notes of any kind. Here's what you can learn from this famous speech, which engages the audience in three ways:Read the transcript of the speech here [link corrected], and do watch the video below, listening for the words she enphasizes vocally. What do you think of this famous speech? (Photo from Smith College)
- Set up a clever contrast to make your point: Edson spends several paragraphs telling us about the "nothing" of classroom teaching, underscoring that it yields nothing tangible. Along the way, you realize that this "nothing" is yet substantial, meaningful, rewarding. Then Edson carries that line of thinking through and transitions it to the future that lies ahead for the graduates: "If you can point to something, you might lose it, or you might break it, or someone might take it from you. As long as you store it inside yourself, it's not going anywhere -- or it's going everywhere with you." Suddenly, that nothing sounds pretty good.
- Sly humor suggests they're all in on the joke together: Edson builds a bond with her audience from the start, using the typical salutations to honored guests and her hosts humorously (speaking of her own class, she deadpans, "when the history of the college is written, the record will note that this class was the best looking"). She pokes fun at trite honorifics, gently, and uses an exaggerated tone to suggest she, too, finds some of the pomp a bit much. For college graduates and faculty who've heard one too many commencement addresses, it's just the right touch.
- Speaking without notes: Whether you use notes or not is up to you and the speaking situation--there's nothing wrong with it. But here is a lovely example of what speaking without notes can do for a speech, particularly a commencement address with a big crowd to engage. The lack of notes lets her address the audience while looking at it directly, something every audience craves. As a result, she connects with this audience in a way many commencement speakers never do.
2008 Smith College Commencement Margaret Edson from Smith College on Vimeo.
Looking for famous speeches by women? Check out The Eloquent Woman Index of Famous Women's Speeches, with a wide variety of women speakers, types of speeches and topics to inspire your next speech. Each one comes with lessons for speakers, plus video or audio and a transcript, where available.


text:
On Thursday morning I had a chance to sit down with Rapids legend Pablo Mastroeni to talk about his decision to return in 2013 after missing most of 2012 with concussion symptoms.
The two-time U.S. World Cup midfielder, nine-time MLS All-Star (seven with Colorado), and 2010 MLS Cup Champion talks about his decision to return, what he went through with his health concerns last season, his analysis of the 2012 team, his endorsement of the direction of the club for 2013, and how he sees himself playing next year.
Watch here or CLICK FOR YOUTUBE VERSION.


text:
WINTERSET, Ia. – Two weeks away from the tenth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, presidential candidate and Texas Rep. Ron Paul says that U.S. intervention in the Middle East is a main motivation behind terrorist hostilities toward America, and that Islam is not a threat to the nation.
At a campaign stop on Saturday in Winterset, one man asked Paul how terrorist groups would react if the U.S. removed its military presence in Middle Eastern nations, a move the candidate advocates.
"Which enemy are you worried that will attack our national security?" Paul asked.
"If you're looking for specifics, I'm talking about Islam. Radical Islam," the man answered.
"I don't see Islam as our enemy," Paul said. "I see that motivation is occupation and those who hate us and would like to kill us, they are motivated by our invasion of their land, the support of their dictators that they hate."
Regarding 9/11, Paul said that attacks against the U.S. from Middle Eastern groups at home and abroad can be traced to the foreign presence of U.S. troops, as well as America's relationships with dictator regimes.
Paul referred to a military base in Saudi Arabia, the birthplace of Islam, as a key motivator in the Sept. 11th attacks. Osama bin Laden viewed it as an American desecration of holy land.
"After 9/11, (people said) 'Oh yeah, it's those very bad people who hate us,' but 15 of (the hijackers) came from Saudi Arabia," said Paul. "One of the reasons they attacked us, is we propped up this Sharia government and the fundamentalists hated us for it."
The congressman particularly decried U.S.-led bombings in foreign nations, saying that "almost always those individuals that they are trying to kill did not have any direct relationship" with threats to the U.S.
Accordingly, his expectations for the rebels in Libya, who were assisted by American-led bombing efforts, aren't very bright.
"Remember 'Mission Accomplished'? That's probably about where we are right now," Paul told The Des Moines Register, "and (the U.S.) better be very cautious about bragging about anything."
The crumbling of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime wouldn't amount to a significant victory because al-Qaeda forces would arise there soon, Paul said.
"As bad as Gadaffi was, he didn't like the al-Qaeda," Paul said. "He kicked those people out."
Paul cited a University of Chicago professor, Robert Pape, whose research argues that most of the suicide terrorism in the past 30 years was caused by military occupation. Pape's research, funded by the Defense Department, shows that suicide bombings in Afghanistan went up one third after the Obama administration surged 30,000 troops into the country.
"(9/11) was one of the main motivations for getting your attention on why they hate us and want to kill us," he said. "You could send 20 million people over there and all it would do is make our problems worse."
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text:
In 2007, Brad Pitt created the Make It Right foundation to build houses for those in the Lower Ninth Ward whose homes were lost in Hurricane Katrina.
Make It Right, costing almost $45 million, has put up about 90 homes that are pretty impressive. Unfortunately, Make It Right has been struggling to fill them. The Ninth Ward is now a "retirement-community version of its former self," writes the New Republic.
U.S. & World
Make It Right is struggling to finance the remaining 150 homes it has promised. And now, it seems the homes will be open to buyers who didn't live in the neighborhood before Katrina. But because the population is so small, the area has been unable to attract everyday stores and services, like supermarkets or fast food restaurants. Because Make It Right is forcing the city to provide utilities and roads, it's turning out to be a costly albeit well-intended endeavor.
Will filling the zone with residents just take some time? Read the full story on the New Republic and see what you think.
Copyright LXTVN - LXTV


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The Doña Ana County Sheriff's Department has scheduled at least three checkpoints and saturation patrols during the month of February. These activities are part of an ongoing effort to reduce DWI-related crashes, injuries and deaths.
Checkpoints and patrols will be conducted Feb. 14-28 at various undisclosed locations throughout Doña Ana County. Checkpoints are usually set up between 6 p.m. and 4 a.m. Deputies will be looking for all types of violations, with an emphasis on intoxicated drivers.
The Doña Ana County Health and Human Services Department offers county residents a low-cost taxi ride home through Project HOME (Helping Others Make it home Every time), which is available on Fridays, Saturdays and holidays from 5:30 p.m. to 3 a.m.
The project is a collaborative initiative with Las Cruces Shuttle and Taxi by which a person or group who has been drinking any amount of alcohol can call (575) 524-TAXI to be picked up for a discounted ride home. Project HOME will only take people from a bar or party to the rider's residence.
For up to two people, the taxi fee is a flat $5 to any destination within Doña Ana County. For up to four people, the flat fee is $10. Grant funding pays the balance of transportation charges.
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I am pleased to be here with you today to discuss the Fiscal Year 2012 proposed budget for the Department of Children and Families.
I would like to first take this opportunity to thank the New Jersey Legislature for your continued support for the critical work of the Department. Your ongoing commitment clearly demonstrates that children and families are a priority in New Jersey.
I would also like to take this opportunity to introduce a few of the members of the DCF leadership team accompanying me today: Barbara Rusen, Chief of Staff, Robert Sabreen, Chief Administrator, and Doris Windle, Budget Director.
I want to thank them, as well as our entire DCF staff- and our front line caseworkers – who are the backbone of the work we do every day. Their commitment and dedication to protecting and improving the lives of children and families throughout the state is not only admirable, but vital to our continued success.
Overall, I am both pleased and thankful for DCF's Fiscal Year 2012 proposed budget-as it conveys a good news budget for the Department. The DCF proposed budget reaffirms the Governor's commitment to child welfare reform, continues to provide the level of service required to meet the needs of the children and families we serve, and strengthens our ability to meet the benchmarks set by the Modified Settlement Agreement.
This recommended budget is responsible, is based on data and provides the fiscal resources that support the Department's work. The Department's progress in selected areas of the reform, as supported by the Federal Monitor's report, is symbolic of the significant efforts we have made "managing by data."
These efforts have allowed us to successfully build our child welfare system from the bottom up, improving performance and enhancing our capacity toward long-term stability.
This is key, considering the fiscal reality that New Jersey and many other states are currently facing. Today, the children and families we serve can be comforted- and assured- in the fact that New Jersey's Governor and Legislature have provided the strongest level of support possible.
On their behalf – I sincerely thank you.
With your historic and steadfast commitment, New Jersey's child welfare system has been able to truly focus on its core mission – that is, achieving the safety, permanency, and well-being for the state's most vulnerable children and families.
While we remain a federally monitored state, our emphasis in managing by data, using performance based measures, and incorporating best practices is transforming New Jersey into the paradigm in which other states are looking to as a national model.
In fact, the most recent Federal Monitor's Report highlighted that New Jersey has made significant strides over the course of the last five years –meeting and in some cases surpassing many of the Modified Settlement Agreement's (MSA) benchmarks- gaining even more positive outcomes for children and families.
This is a strong indication that the state's continued investment in the child welfare system has –and continues to- yield significant progress- some of which I am very excited to share with you today:
First, we continue to reduce the number of children in out of home placement. Currently we serve 7,181 children in out of home placement (as of February 28, 2011). This compares to 7,900 only one year ago, and more than 12,000 during 2004 and 2005- a total reduction of 42 percent.
In addition, our efforts in foster parent recruitment and licensure of resource families, which include kinship, foster and adoptive caregivers have established New Jersey as a national model for other states to emulate. DCF continues to strengthen this area-expanding and maintaining a diverse pool of loving families able to meet the needs of our kids. In Calendar Year 2010, we licensed 1720 homes and, as was true for CY09, almost 50 percent of the newly licensed families during this past monitoring period were relatives. This is in comparison to CY07 when 28 percent of our resource families were relative families. As I mentioned we currently have 7,181 children in out of home placement; however we have a total capacity to serve more than 17,300 (17,378) children in out of home placement. I am so proud to share with you that our work with relative families is so strong, that we were recently asked to provide technical assistance to another large, northeastern state struggling with their practice in this area.
In CY 2010 we successfully finalized 1,171 adoptions. During the month of November alone almost 300 adoptions were finalized, largely coordinated with family celebrations of National Adoption Month across the state. We have taken real strides in achieving permanency for children regardless of age and finalized adoptions for 91 teens over the age of 14 during 2010.
These are very positive results for New Jersey, but we want to do more in this area. Finding a forever family for a child is our primary mission, regardless of a child's age. Since my appointment, many of our stakeholders, including the Monitor, had recommended that we place a greater focus on our aging out population, and we agreed. In response, DCF elevated the status of the DYFS Office of Adolescent Practice and Permanency to a department level office. This new office is solely focused on improving services and outcomes for older youth.
As you can see engaging stakeholders is an integral part of the work that we do and helps to ensure that our work remains on the right path. This is why DCF has launched a new department level Office of Advocacy to better address constituent concerns across the department and gain additional stakeholder feedback.
We have also substantially reduced the number of children receiving behavioral health care out of state. In fact, as of February 28, 2011, 15 youth were placed in DCHBS out of state facilities, down from 31 this time last year – and down from 327 in March 2006. I need to take a moment to point out that this is another area where New Jersey's practice has become a model for other states, and as a result we have presented at national conferences and provided technical assistance to other jurisdictions.
Statistics convey that children thrive most when placed in family like settings and we continue to make this a priority for the children we serve by implementing best practices. To this end, DCF has made the decision to close the DYFS operated residential treatment centers. I would like to assure you that this was not a budgetary decision- but one based on the principles of best practice and the needs of the youth being served- as well as being a critical element to the state's overall child welfare reform plan.
DCF is also leading the nation in providing access to health care to children in out of home placement through our Child Health Units, co-located in each of our local DYFS offices. Specifically, in 2010 more than 94 percent of children age 2 and above are up to date with their annual well child exams and 92 percent of the youngest children are up to date. This far exceeds the national average, which ranges between 60 percent and 64 percent. Further, 87 percent of children were up to date with semi annual dental exams, surpassing the national average of 60 percent for these important preventative exams. Lastly, more than 95 percent of children in out of home placements were up to date with immunizations.
Through our Division of Prevention and Community Partnerships' network of 37 neighborhood-based Family Success Centers, we were able to serve more than 45,000 families in Fiscal Year 2010. The prevention work of our Family Success Centers not only provides services to children and families, but empowers and strengthens families every day.
In Fiscal Year 2010, we served 4,000 families through the home visiting programs alone.
We have also continued to achieve remarkable progress in maintaining manageable caseloads for caseworkers serving our most vulnerable children and families.
Finally, we have continued training supervisors and staff on the Case Practice Model- the cornerstone of our work, and the state's guide as to "how to" engage families in the process. Our university partnerships have also allowed us to meet our need yielding an improved workforce that has begun to integrate case practice throughout DCF.
I hope that you are as encouraged- as I am -by what we have accomplished together so far. Our achievements demonstrate that we are on the right path. New Jersey is continuing to make sustained progress toward creating an effective, integrated child welfare system.
While we recognize our successes, we must also be clear -that much work lies ahead. I am confident- however, that with the State's continued support, DCF's dedicated staff, and our partners in the community- we will be able to achieve much more.
Moving forward, one important aspect of the child welfare reform is our ability to establish an effective self-monitoring system that will not only ensure improved outcomes for children and families in New Jersey, but ultimately- represent the catalyst for our successful exit out of the Modified Settlement Agreement lawsuit and the Federal Monitor's oversight.
That being said, I would like to take a moment to share with you some of the steps we have taken in the last several months in our continued practice change efforts and toward our goal of becoming a learning organization.
One critically important step has been the establishment of a brand new Office of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) that will be the centralized lead relating to all of our "managing by data" initiatives.
We have also developed a number of "managing by data" initiatives with the goal of building and supporting a robust internal review process that will help us produce positive outcomes across all areas of our work.
For example, we recently implemented Quality Reviews – QRs – which other states, like Utah, have used effectively to improve outcomes. The Quality Reviews enable us to identify the practices that are working in certain areas in order to replicate those same effective practices across all of our offices. An important feature of these reviews is that the review teams are composed of DCF staff and our community stakeholders.
In January, we launched the DCF Fellows program. The DCF Fellows Program, developed under the aegis of the federally funded Northeast and Caribbean Implementation Center (NCIC), is designed to give a group of DCF experienced staff in-depth exposure to a wide range of tools and help them become our internal experts on utilizing that information to improve case practice and outcomes for children and families. Fellows will learn about best practices with respect to measuring safety, well-being and permanency, including an in-depth understanding of the internal and external measures utilized to assess our agency's performance.
Today-thanks to the support of the state legislature- New Jersey has a statewide automated child welfare information system SACWIS, also known as NJ SPIRIT. As you may know, NJ SPIRIT is DCF's case management and financial system designed to support the daily work of caseworkers and supervisors. With NJ SPIRIT now being fully operational, we have access to a wide range of information and reports. The system helps us identify where gaps exist in our daily work so that we may shift focus and adapt new strategies to help better inform policy decisions as reflected in the Fiscal Year 2012 proposed budget.
The better we are at collecting and documenting reliable data, the better we are able to serve children and families. Our integration of NJ SPIRIT into the daily work of caseworkers as well as our work around data has already transformed New Jersey into one of the nations' leading go-to-states for technical assistance. Finally, I just need to add that surprisingly this is yet another area of strength for the state and as a result we are now providing technical assistance to other states struggling with full implementation.
DCF is committed to being one of the most effective and efficient child welfare organizations in the country. We trust that our successes, structural changes, as well as our managing by data initiatives will result in even greater improvements for the children and families we serve. With your support of the FY'12 proposed budget, you are ensuring that the state's child welfare system has the vital tools necessary to successfully meet the needs of New Jersey's most vulnerable children and families.
Thank you again for this opportunity, and I would be happy to answer any of your questions.


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When is Royals FanFest?
The 2020 Royals FanFest is Friday, January 24 and Saturday, January 25, at Bartle Hall at the Kansas City Convention Center Center in - you guessed it - Kansas City, Mo. Since we don't know where each of you are coming from, visit http://www.kcconvention.com/ for specific directions. The event will be open on Friday from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. for Season Ticket Members and 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. to all fans. On Saturday, the event will be on from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. for Season Ticket Members and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. to all fans. Please note that this information is subject to change. Look forward to seeing you there!
Can I buy tickets in advance or do I have to wait until the event?
We would love for you to buy your FanFest tickets in advance! Not only is it easier for us to sell tickets online at royals.com ahead of time, but it's less hassle for you on the day of the event. No one likes standing in ticket lines. So, if you can, buy your tickets online at royals.com/fanfest. If you do wait, it's not a problem and you'll be able to purchase your tickets at the Kansas City Convention Center.
Is this a kid-friendly event?
Royals FanFest is completely kid-friendly - in fact, we have FanFest attractions designed just for our young fans. So, have fun with the little tykes!
How much is admission?
You won't miss a moment of the FanFest fun by purchasing tickets in advance at royals.com/fanfest, by calling (816) 504-4040 or visiting the Kauffman Stadium Box Office during business hours (Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Tickets may also be purchased at the event.
|January 24 Pass
|January 25 Pass
*Please note that youth prices are for children ages 6-17. Children five and under will be admitted for free.
In addition, all 2020 Royals Season Ticket Members will receive exclusive access to attend a special FanFest preview just for Season Ticket Members from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday. If you are a Royals Season Ticket Member, you will receive an email to participate in the exclusive previews closer to the event date. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].
I attended a previous FanFest event (which rocked!), so will there be any reason for me to come this year?
Definitely! The 2020 FanFest will feature a spacious Bartle Hall in downtown Kansas City, Mo with a heavy focus on kids activities!
Can I bring in my own items to be autographed?
Of course! But, keep in mind that you will be limited to one autograph per player as you go through line. Now, we don't do this because we're mean. We do this because we want as many fans as possible to have the opportunity to meet their favorite players, coaches and alumni. It's a great experience that we want all our fans to enjoy!
Also, we will have a lot of great Royals merchandise and memorabilia for sale at the event. Maybe the players can sign your new purchase!
Am I guaranteed an autograph at FanFest?
During this year's FanFest, there are many opportunities for you to meet and hear from your favorite players, coaches and alumni. Just remember that there are a lot of you - our loyal fans - and only a certain number of Major League Baseball players. So, if meeting a player, coach or alum is really high on your FanFest to-do list, make sure you come prepared and bring a smile with your patience!
Will I have a chance to purchase a season ticket package for the 2020 season?
Actually, you don't even have to wait for FanFest to sign up for a season ticket package. You can call a Royals season ticket representative at (816) 504-4040. However, we will also have all our season ticket reps alert and ready to answer your questions and make you a Royals 2020 Season Ticket Member!
Where can I park? And, how much does it cost?
Let's get to the really good answer first: There are many parking spots available in privately owned parking lots in close proximity to the convention center. The cost of parking will vary per parking garage or parking lot (parking owners reserve the right to change rates as per specific events).
If we want to make it an all-day family event, is there a place where we can relax and grab a bite to eat?
You're coming to the right place! Ballpark-themed food will be available, so you can fill up all the nachos and other stadium favorites your stomach can handle. We will also be adding additional seating areas this year, so you can rest your weary bones after a few rounds in the batting cages.
Can we enter and exit the event throughout the day?
To help ensure everyone's safety, the Kansas City Royals have a no re-entry policy at FanFest (including smoking). Once a guest has exited from the show floor, they are not permitted back into FanFest unless it is an emergency situation or valid excuse approved by Event Management before leaving.
If my favorite Royals t-shirt is dirty, can I still get into Royals FanFest? Can I get a new T-shirt while I am there?
We prefer you come decked out in your favorite Royals gear. However, if not, we've got you covered! In addition to a team store that will have all the latest Royals apparel and goodies, we will also be offering unique items at the Royals Authentics Store.
Back to autographs...when are the autograph sessions and who exactly will be signing?
Great question. While we will not reveal the complete autograph schedule - we have to keep some surprises for the event! We will be updating the list of participants scheduled to appear. In addition, we will plan to give a sneak peek at our Main Stage events, along with the FanFest floor layout, on royals.com/fanfest.


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Already in the 8th century CE, some mystically-minded Muslims started to read the Qur'an with a view to discovering and extracting its secret (esoteric) meaning. Such individuals existed both among the Sunnis and among the Shia (Shiites). Whereas the Shia considered their imams of Alid extraction to be keys to the esoteric (batin) aspect of the Qur'an, mystically-minded Sunnis believed that any righteous Muslim can gain access to it by cleansing him/herself of the drives of his animal soul and mundane concerns and by engaging in special spiritual exercises and meditative practices. The latter trend has laid the groundwork for what has grown into a highly variegated and sophisticated tradition of Sufi exegesis that is still alive today.
"The Qur'an in the World: The Qur'an in Historical Context and Qur'an and Community in the Modern World" lecture series is sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, Institute for the Humanities, International Institute, and LSA.
Alexander Knysh, Professor of Islamic Studies, Department of Near Eastern Studies, U-M


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Audio Enhancers FSC65 10" 01-03 F150 Super Crew Sub Box101297
42 in stock
- For 2001-2003 Ford F150 Super Crew Trucks (Not crew cab)
- Custom-fit under rear driver-side seat
- Upward-firing
- Enhanced Mounting Depth Power Pocket (PP) - See detailed feature description BELOW
- Simple Installation - Easily slides under rear drivers side rear seat.?á Note: for 2003 model: bar under seat needs to be removed.
- Note: Recommend using a Grill for sub to help protect your subwoofer
- Gray automotive-grade carpeting
- Built with MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard)
- Platinum Spring-Loaded Terminals (10 AWG Wire)
- Mounting Depth: 5-7/16"
- Internal Volume: 0.65 cubic feet
- Dimensions: 25" W x 6-9/16" H x 11-5/8" TopDepth x 11-3/16" BottomDepth
Enhanced Mounting Depth Power Pocket (PP)?á The Power Pocket is a CNC-milled pocket in the shape of a full or half-moon in the rear of the inside of enclosure. This innovative design allows more mounting depth, creating greater flexibility in speaker selection. The Power Pocket will add a 1/2 inch of mounting depth to 3/4-inch enclosures and a 3/8 inch depth to 5/8-inch enclosures. The additional mounting depth translates into more power from the same speaker enclosure (because you can fit a larger subwoofer).
Audio Enhancers Information:
Audio Enhancers aims to ?ǣBuild a great box through excellent Craftsmanship, Quality and Unsurpassed Customer Service.?ǣ?á As the leader in the automotive speaker cabinet industry, Audio Enhancers has been building a comprehensive selection of Competition-Grade, Award-Winning speaker enclosures for decades.
Audio Enhancers utilizes the latest technology in the wood working industry. Using CAD/CAM/CNC assures precise parts to 0.002 of an inch, time after time.?á Audio Enhancers sets the bench mark for quality, offering only American-made products that meet their rigorous standards. These enclosures utilize superior materials and workmanship which aid in delivering consistently high quality boxes. Expertly crafted and acoustically correct; these speaker cabinets help deliver unparalleled sound quality.
Audio Enhancers enclosures are backed by a solid, companywide commitment to provide unsurpassed customer service.?á They?ÇÖre so certain their products will please, that every custom-made speaker cabinet they build features a 100%-satisfaction guarantee.
You'll find that these enclosures offer the highest value on the market for a quality product.


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Premium mobile service providers are again under surveillance by the communications regulator over getting away with misleading practices.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority has lodged a new Mobile Premium Services Industry Code, which outlines tougher rules for the advertising and provision of premium rate SMS and MMS services.
The new code, effective from 1 June, has the power to take service providers to the Federal Court for non compliance with the threat of a pecuniary penalty of up to $AU250,000.
The MPS Code operates in conjunction with two service provider determinations which give customers the choice to bar access to all mobile premium services and require all service providers to be listed on an industry register. The ACMA is currently reviewing the operation of these rules to ensure they are effective.
The previous code was originally put in place in mid 2009 following an explosion of customer complaints about mobile premium services. The ACMA reports that while complaints have fallen 90 per cent from their peak, requirements in the new code will make the prices, terms and conditions of these services even clearer to consumers.
The new code also introduces a requirement for mobile carriers to monitor and report to the ACMA on content providers' compliance with the code. ®
Sponsored: Webcast: Discover and secure all of your attack surface


text: Well I'm sure there's a Batman joke in there somewhere but I can't think of one. Today's target for the Borderlands 2 Loot Hunt is Rakkman who's kind of close to yesterday's target. You'll be in The Fridge once again, though this time the western part of it. Use today's weapon drop the Veruc to take down some Field Rats. A total of 200,000 will get you one step closer to this week's Community Challenge reward.


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Dear Blog readers,
Greetings from Bhagalpur!
My name is Joachim Hansdak. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to acquaint you of the journey I have been taking to visit families for the last two years. There is wonderful mixture of hardship and thrill in this work, and the work itself is very much fulfilling. It is my pleasure to give you the real stories, photos and other related information.
I have not deliberately avoided writing about hardships in this entry, lest the readers are moved with sympathy, but honestly I can say the eastern half of the project is relatively safe and smooth when traveling. The western half of the project is bit of concern, though to date nothing untoward has happen. But when I read newspapers, I do find some mishaps in these very places and roads I had just crossed. I just believe ìGodís work done in Godís way will never fail,î and perhaps this is the reason I have yet to come across any hardships.
Challenges in reaching out to families
Traveling to the subproject office does not pose much of a problem, but when I visit individual sponsored childrenís family home, it is. Further it also depends on what part of the year one is traveling. May and June are scorching months with temperatures soaring as high as 38 degrees Celcius or 101 degrees Fahrenheit.
|Some of the roads Joachim must travel can be very narrow and bumpy, which can make traveling difficult and time-consuming.
Most of the villages are situated in rural, hilly and forest area. The path leading to these villages gets narrower and narrower. Majority of sponsored families are living scattered in this forest and hilly areas. So reaching the sponsored familiesí homes is very difficult, difficult in the sense that it is time consuming.
Monsoon commence from mid-June to mid-September. Since the roads are not concrete the motorcycle can get stuck in the loose soil. The families are engaged in cultivation so I avoid visiting for this period of time. Still if urgency is there I visit the family come what may, sometimes I leave my motorcycle in one village and walk to reach the concerned family.
Hospitality is warm as ever, and I forget the tiring journey I have just taken. I get to see elderly people working in the field, double or triple my age. Nothing can be more embarrassing than to say I am tired from the journey. There are some times I donít find them at home because information of my visit failed to reach them. Also, some people do some unskilled jobs, which may happen to be available on the very day I visit, and people cannot resist a handsome wage of Rs 80.00 (US$1.77).
Mode of transport
Most of the visits I have made to the subprojects have been by motorcycle, with occasional walking. But when we travel in group we take our office jeep. Of course there is a big cost difference between journeying by motor cycle and Jeep.
Traveling time
The furthest subproject Chirkee (CKI) is around 264 Kilometers and time taken to reach it is six hours. By the time one reaches there, one will have visited or passed by no less than a dozen subprojects. Motorcycles give one a liberty to choose multiple routes, and that can reduce the cost, but time spent traveling is more or less the same.
Frequency of visit
Apart from urgent visit, on average I visit all the subprojects twice in a year. Apart from my personal visits, I join the team visits also. The subproject staff usually do most of the family visits as and when required.
Safety concern
Without being immodest, on my personal visits, safety has never been a problem. I have grown up with bad roads, rain, thunderstorms, scorching heat, chilling temperatures, traffic jams, noise and pollution. My own family members and others in my village work under these trying condition. As a young boy just few years ago, I had also worked in the field under these very conditions. Yes, I would say I am ill at ease for safety reasons when I have traveled with Ilene (a CFCA-Kansas staff member) or for that matter traveling with mission awareness trip participants. Now that cell phones are operational everywhere, my concerns have eased somewhat. As I noted earlier, the western half of the project continues to be challenging. I make sure that journey is completed before dusk.
In the end, I would like to ask what is a Pilgrimage? Who do I see the in the form of poverty-ridden and needy person? Who do I visit in hospitals? For whom do I devout my time and energy? What is "living oneís faith"? Come and see a piece of heaven created here.
Each new trip taken unfolds a new experience, a new facet like a well-cut diamond: whichever way one views it, there are new colors to behold.
Joachim Hansdak
Bhagalpur field staff


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Ninja Mail
November 20th, 2008
Here at Amu's World we can't get enough of Ninja. There's hardly enough Ninja in the world. That's why when Google launched Gmail Themes today, we were pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of a Ninja theme. If you've got Gmail (which, really, you should) then change your theme and MAKE IT NINJA!


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I created a small image of Debian Buster/Sid PPC64 today. I recommend to use it if you have any problems with Adrian's ISOs. Please increase the partition with GParted after you copied the image to an empty partition. I had to decrease the partition a little bit and after that I was able to increase the partition.
Download: debian-9.0-ppc64.img
root (password "amigaone")
amigaone (password "amigaone")
First steps
- Configure your network device with dhclient
- Check the network device with ip a
- Update the package index with apt-get update
- Install Xorg with apt-get install xorg
- After that you could install the MATE desktop with apt-get install mate-desktop-environment-extras
- Then you could install a display manager for example "lightdm" with apt-get install lightdm
- Afterwards reboot your AmigaOne


text: "Guys, please help me! This dress is white and gold or blue and black?". Thus began the controversy that takes care of the internet since the night of Thursday (26) and is among the topics most discussed Twitter in Brazil and the world, on the morning of Friday. The question arose in a picture posted by a netizen on your Tumblr and quickly spread in social networks. Twitter was divided between those who think the dress is #black and blue who think he is # white and golden and the 'fight' spawned countless jokes and comments.