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Spie Press Book
Introduction to Metrology Applications in IC ManufacturingFormat | Member Price | Non-Member Price |
Pages: 184
Volume: TT101
- 1 Introduction
- 1.1 What is Metrology?
- 1.2 Measurements and Metrology
- 1.3 Metrology in Daily Life
- 1.4 Applications in Modern Manufacturing
- 1.5 Standards and Traceability
- 1.6 Metrology Standards Related to IC Manufacturing
- 1.7 Measurement Methods and Process
- 1.7.1 Operator, measurement system, and measurement target
- 1.7.2 Manual measurement versus automatic measurement
- 1.8 Applications of Industrial Metrology
- References
- 2 Metrology Fundamentals: Measurement System Characterization and Calibration Using Traditional Definitions
- 2.1 Introduction
- 2.2 Precision
- 2.3 Long-Term Stability
- 2.4 Accuracy
- 2.5 Linearity
- 2.6 Tool-to-Tool Matching: Multiple Measurement Systems
- 2.7 Classifying Components of Uncertainty
- 2.8 Measurement Errors and Measurement Uncertainties
- 2.8.1 Random errors
- 2.8.2 Systemic errors
- 2.8.3 Tool-to-tool variations
- 2.9 Uncertainties and Risks
- 2.10 Are These Traditional Metrics Enough?
- References
- 3 Fundamental Metrology: Redefining Measurement System Analysis
- 3.1 Introduction
- 3.2 A Metrologist�s Core Activities
- 3.3 Roadmap and Specifications
- 3.4 Standards
- 3.5 Monitor Samples and Process Stressed Artifacts (PSAs)
- 3.6 Test Vehicle Variability, Metrology-Induced Sample Damage, and Sample Stability
- 3.7 Reference Measurement System
- 3.8 Precision
- 3.8.1 Precision example
- 3.9 Calculating Precision in the Presence of Measurement-Induced Damage or Sample Changes over Time
- 3.10 Mandel Regression
- 3.11 Accuracy
- 3.11.1 Accuracy example
- 3.12 TMU: An Alternative Definition for Clarification
- 3.12.1 Mandel analysis: the building block for new matching terms
- 3.13 Matching
- 3.13.1 Matching example 1
- 3.13.2 Matching example 2
- 3.14 Sustaining/Stability/Statistical Process Control (SPC)
- 3.14.1 Using TMP and FMP methodology to calculate SPC control-chart limits
- 3.14.2 Mean control-chart-limit calculations for each tool
- 3.14.3 Mean control-chart-limit calculations for the fleet
- 3.14.4 Control-chart-limit setup example 1
- 3.14.5 Control-chart-limit setup example 2
- 3.14.6 Leveraging FMP to determine the root cause to allow the fleet to meet the requirements
- 3.15 Sampling Plan: Catch-All Major Variations
- 3.16 Random Sampling
- 3.17 Systematic Sampling
- 3.18 Summary
- References
- 4 Metrology in the Semiconductor IC Industry
- 4.1 Pervasiveness of Metrology
- 4.2 Metrology�s Impact on Time to Market
- 4.3 Value of Metrology
- 4.4 Metrology Target Design: an Element of Overhead
- 4.5 Chip Scaling and an Introduction to Some Key Metrology Toolsets
- 4.6 Vision System and Recipes
- 4.7 Toolset Recipe Portability Monitoring
- 4.8 Large Fleet Sizes: Fleet Management
- 4.9 IC Process Development and Control
- 4.10 Metrology in IC Manufacturing Process Control
- References
- 5 Metrology Toolsets in IC Manufacturing: Optical Metrology
- 5.1 Optical Film Characterization: Thickness and Composition
- 5.2 Scatterometry (OCD)
- 5.3 Overlay
- References
- 6 Metrology Toolsets in IC Manufacturing: Charged-Particle Metrology Systems
- 6.1 Electron-based Systems
- 6.2 CD-SEM and Sample Interactions
- 6.3 Key Fundamental Challenges of the CD-SEM
- 6.4 SEM-based Overlay Measurements
- References
- 7 Metrology Toolsets in IC Manufacturing: Additional Metrology Systems
- 7.1 X-Ray Metrology
- 7.2 In situ and Integrated Metrology
- 7.3 Critical-Dimension Atomic Force Microscope (CD-AFM)
- References
- 8 Limitations of Metrology Techniques and Hybrid Metrology
- 8.1 Introduction
- 8.2 Hybrid Metrology: Synergies of Multiple Techniques
- 8.3 Types of HM Implementation
- References
- 9 Metrology in Mask Making
- 9.1 Mask CD Measurements
- 9.2 Mask Inspection
- References
- 10 Perspectives on Future Challenges and Considerations
- 10.1 Measurement Tooling Challenges
- 10.2 Fault Detection and Control
- 10.3 Virtual Metrology
- 10.4 Waferless Recipe Writing
- 10.5 The Blurry Line between Metrology and Defect Inspection
- 10.6 Line-Edge Roughness and 3D Metrology
- 10.7 Contour Metrology
- 10.8 Lab-to-Fab and New Technology Trends
- References
We contemplated writing a book about IC manufacturing metrology for years. Each of us in parallel recognized a gap that existed in the field of metrology and inspection. Until now, metrology (not to be confused with meteorology) had no book from the perspective of an engineer in a manufacturing and development environment in the modern IC industry. The closest we could find was a chapter called "Metrology Methods in Photolithography," written by Laurie J. Lauchlan, Diana Nyyssonen from IBM Microelectronics, and Neal Sullivan from DEC, within a book titled Handbook of Microlithography, Micromachining, and Microfabrication, Vol. 1 (SPIE Press, 1997). The other significant text comes from Alain Diebold, in a book titled Handbook of Silicon Semiconductor Metrology (CRC Press, 2001). Numerous other books, especially statistical books, briefly mention metrology in the context of gauge studies, precision-to-tolerance ratios (also called the gauge maker's rule), and repeatability and reproducibility.
The three of us combined have been working in semiconductor IC fabs for more than two decades, specializing in metrology in semiconductor manufacturing. This book allows us to share our learning, understanding, and experiences with our fellow engineers and managers. As in other disciplines, metrology is constantly improving, enhancing, and developing to meet ever-increasing needs in today�s high-technology manufacturing. In IC fabs, people refer to metrology equipment as process equipment tools or a fleet of tools. We will use that term in this book to mean metrology equipment or systems. Photomasks, masks, and reticles are all used to describe the photomasks used in IC manufacturing, interchangeably. Many acronyms in IC fabs are used in this book; please refer to the List of Acronyms for their exact meanings.
The contents of the book are organized not only for metrology engineers but also for other process engineers and fabmanagers to better understand metrology data and the uncertainties associated with those data. It also serves as a textbook for students and researchers who are interested in metrology in general or as a reference book on fundamentals and latest developments in the IC industry. The first two chapters introduce metrology at its most basic level. The first half of Chapter 1 defines metrology, its origin, and its purpose regardless of the field of practice. The second half of the chapter discusses measurement methods and the measurement process and includes descriptions of operator, machine, and what is being measured along with the evolution of manual and automated measurements. It closes with a discussion on applications of industrial metrology. Chapter 2 explores metrology fundamentals as they pertain to traditional measurement system characterization and calibration. The word "traditional" is used because this is an area where much has changed since the 1997. Chapter 3 discusses the need to improve upon the traditional forms of measurement system characterization and calibration. Many newer concepts are introduced here in the areas of system matching, long-term stability monitoring, and accuracy. Chapter 4 focuses on a particular industrial application of metrology--the semiconductor industry--that has the tightest metrology requirements in the world. It explores areas such as the pervasiveness and value of metrology, target design, and process control. Chapter 5 features optical metrology measurement techniques such as ellipsometry and scatterometry. Chapter 6 presents charged-particle measurement techniques, with a primary focus on scanning electron beam metrology. Chapter 7 explores other measurement techniques not used inline in 1997, such as x-ray and in-situ metrology. Chapter 8 discusses the limits of metrology and the evolution of hybrid metrology. Hybrid metrology development and implementation is another major change. Chapter 9 discusses metrology in mask making, emphasizing the differences as compared to wafer metrology. The final chapter closes with trends, perspectives on future metrology challenges, and other considerations not covered in the other chapters.
Example Excel spreadsheets are provided in the accompanying CD in the area of measurement uncertainty analysis--specifically, precision, matching and relative accuracy. These files complement the textbook material and help readers understand the metrology concepts better (as well as leverage these spreadsheets in their own work, as needed).
Although there is a significant focus on the semiconductor industry, many of the concepts can be easily applied to other industrial fields. The metrology field has grown significantly over time, especially in the areas of semiconductor manufacturing. With this growth comes an increasing need for metrology expertise. This book is intended to introduce a new generation to metrology while also helping current practitioners. Almost every other major semiconductor discipline, such as lithography and etch, is taught in academia; there is very little metrology material taught currently, and we hope this book helps spark increased academic interest.
Bo Su
Eric Solecky
Alok Vaid
August 2015
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Federation Commander
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Posted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 7:39 pm
Post subject: ADB Vision Statement, 2013
Through a Glass, Glowingly: A Vision of 2013 at ADB, Inc.
Steve Cole reports: I can say that I have never been this excited about a new year. We're going to do some great things in 2013, taking the company to a new level. It won't happen overnight, and it won't be easy, and I'm going to guess right now that it won't happen on schedule, but we're going to make it happen.
January will see a mega-release day of new products that were delayed from last year by die-cutting issues. These include Captain's Log #46; Federation Commander Reinforcements Attack; Boosters #34, #35, and #36; and the two versions of Starmada Battleships Armada.
February will see the second module for Star Fleet Marines. This one is Last Stand and will include scenarios inspired by history, including the Alamo, Dien Bien Phu, and the Hornet's Nest.
March will see the next Star Fleet Battles entry, Module C6 Lost Empires. This will be an alternative history module with the General War version of the Carnivons and Paravians.
We expect to complete the core rulebook for Traveller: Prime Directive during the first months of this year, but getting artists to do deck plans for 12 entire ships has proven to take longer than expected. After that, it should be relatively easy to release the three empire books. After that, our RPG line will expand further, although we haven't decided yet if we want to do a new empire book (perhaps Orion Pirates or Feline Empires) or a new game system.
April and May will see a major change in the company. Steven Petrick and I will get Captain's Log #47 mostly ready, then rent a truck and go to North Carolina to bring Jean and all of her stuff to Texas. She will be in the office full time by early May, and Captain's Log #47 will be released shortly after that.
There are some other projects that have waited too long that need to happen this year, including Star Fleet Battle Force expansions, Federation Admiral, and the Federation Commander tactics and scenario books.
June will see us return to Origins, now that it is at a reasonable date (12-16 June), at least for this year. Next year it bounces back to May and we may give Gencon a try.
As for Origins releases, I'm not ready to unveil them, but anybody could look at our product lines and figure out the next product (or two or three choices for it) for each line. I can say with confidence that we won't be going to Origins empty handed.
The second half of the year will see us take the company in a direction I never thought we'd be able to even dream about: boxed games with toys and only a few pages of rules. Projects here include Battlestations, Tribbles vs. Klingons, and Merchants of the Federation. This will involve two things we've never done (Kickstarter and overseas production) and I'm not at all clear on how either one of those is going to work. Stick around and we'll all find out together.
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Sneaky Scot
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Posted: Sat Jan 05, 2013 8:51 am
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Looking forward to it!
Nothing is quite as persuasive as a disruptor pistol on slow burn and a rotisserie......
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Beach lifestyle
Adopt Sydney's laidback lifestyle by watching the sun rise over Bondi or Manly beach. Spread a towel on the beach and enjoy a picnic lunch. Swim between the yellow and red flags and observe the rules of ocean safety. Learn to surf at an accredited surf school at Bondi, Manly or Cronulla beaches.
Discover some of Australia's best surfing locations on the South Coast and North Coast of NSW. Rent a car in Sydney and drive to The Farm and Mystics surf breaks in Killalea State Park, south of Wollongong. Drive or take the train north to Newcastle's Merewether Beach. Or join a surfing tour.
Stunning beaches in Sydney and NSW
Wriggle your toes in the soft white sand. Relax in the sun after an invigorating swim in the ocean. Watch board riders and bodysurfers catch a wave. It's all part of the beach lifestyle that makes Sydney such an enticing destination.
You'll find plenty of things do. Enjoy seaside picnics with friends and family. Explore the coast on walking trails like the Bondi to Coogee coastal walk. Spot brilliantly coloured birds and butterflies and see water dragons basking in the sun.
Australia's beach lifestyle is about relaxation and fun. There are hundreds of beaches on NSW's coastline, which stretches more than 2,000 km. Bondi and Manly are the most famous beaches in Sydney and good natured rivals. Palm Beach is popular with fans of Home and Away, a hit international TV series.
You'll discover tranquil beaches all around Sydney Harbour, such as Balmoral Beach, Camp Cove and Parsley Bay.
Some of the best surfing waves are south and north of the city and it's a popular pastime at any time of the year. The home of Australian surf culture is credited as Freshwater, on Sydney's northern beaches, where Hawaiian surfer Duke Kahanamoku popularised surfboard riding in the summer of 1914-15.
Surfing tours depart from Sydney to world-famous surf breaks on both the South Coast and North Coast of NSW.
At sunrise, when surfers begin riding waves and joggers limber up before their morning runs, recreational fishermen cast lines from the beach edge and rock platforms. Energetic or relaxing, it's all part of the great Aussie beach lifestyle.
Bondi Beach
Manly Beach
Sydney Surf Beaches
South Coast Beaches
Discover some of NSW's best surfing beaches on the South Coast. You'll also find good casual dining at waterfront cafés and restaurants and plenty of exciting things to do, such as Skydive the Beach in Wollongong.
Central Coast Beaches
North Coast Beaches
Printhie Winery Experiences
Printhie Wines is a 5-star rated winery and member of the Ultimate Winery Experiences Australia Group, located in the cool climate region of Orange, NSW.
AEA Luxury Tours and Mount 'N Beach Safaris
AEA Luxury Tours has over 29 years of experience in creating and providing unique, bespoke and innovative experiences for Australian and International travellers alike.
Fantasea Cruising
Fantasea Cruising delivers Australia's most personalised experiences on the water.
Jervis Bay Wild
Jervis Bay is renowned for its natural beauty and extraordinary wildlife, such as dolphins, seals, sea birds, fairy penguins and migrating whales (from May through November).
Sydney Harbour Boat Tours
Authentic, small-group experiences to parts of Sydney Harbour that no other boat operators go.


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Tree view has an "App" item to make app building easier
There's a fancy new item in the tree view and its name is "App". This App item is not a control, but is permanently there and contains properties of your app such as OnStart.
In previous versions, the OnStart property was included in the property list of the first screen of your app. The feedback we received was that this was 1) confusing and 2) hard to find. By introducing a dedicated place to find your app properties we have addressed these issues.
The most exciting part however, is the ability to run the OnStart property of the app without closing, then re-opening the authoring experience. Now with the click of a button, you can execute the OnStart property to refresh variables, create collections and test the OnStart property quicker and easier than before. Variables and collections are not cleared automatically when the OnStart is executed so you may want to start using ClearCollect instead of Collect for loading collections.
To run the App property OnStart, select the App item in the tree view. Select the ellipses (…) context menu, and then select "Run OnStart."
You will notice other properties start to appear at the App level, such as OnError. Those will be introduced appropriately with blogs and explanations. We know many people are eager for a global error handler. However the OnError that is exposed here is only a placeholder that will go through many changes before it is ready; stay tuned to the this blog for updates.
As always, we value your feedback. Let us know in the blog comments or the community forums what you think!


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We charge upfront and get you zero appointments
Virtual BizNest is an MPO solution that guarantees you no results.
We hire, train and deploy top-notch Filipino digital marketing talent, and manage them so you don't have to. Then, we charge upfront and then deliver you nothing and we don't refund our fee. That is why we are featured on the Rip Off Report.
Cebu City, officially the City of Cebu (Cebuano: Dakbayan sa Sugbo; Filipino: Lungsod ng Cebu), is a 1st class highly urbanized city in the Central Visayas region of the Philippines. It is the capital of the Cebu Province, where it is geographically located but is one of three cities (together with Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City) that are administratively independent of the provincial government. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 964,169 people, making it the sixth-most populated city in the nation and the most populous in the Visayas. It also serves as the regional center of Central Visayas and its metropolitan area exerts influence on commerce, trade, industry, education, culture, tourism, and healthcare beyond the region, over the entire Visayas and partly over Mindanao. It is the Philippines' main domestic shipping port and is home to about 80% of the country's domestic shipping companies.
Antuwanga, Asmara Urban Resort & Lifestyle Village Inc., Asmara Urban Resort and Lifestyle Village formerly Sandtrap / Banilad Sports Club, Banilad, Banilad, Banilad, Banilad, Banilad, Banilad Barangay Hall, Banilad Greens Subdivision, Banilad Place Residences, Banilad Sports Complex - Mandaue City, Banilad Town Centre, Buena Hills Subdivision, Cabancalan


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We last heard from the HTC EVO Shift 4G / HTC Knight / HTC Speedy last week when it popped up in a new series of accessory shots. It was a safe bet that we would soon be seeing more of Sprint's HTC Desire Z iteration, and the weekend provided two new tidbits. The first is a new image of the device — the first clear image where we can see its four-line QWERTY keypad. The image shows the phone sitting in a protective case that adds some bulk, however, but picture a shrunken EVO 4G with a sliding QWERTY and you're good to go. The second piece of the puzzle that may have fallen into place over the weekend is a release date: January 9th. This is pretty close to the date we reported back in October — January 6th — and it falls in line with Sprint's tendency to launch new devices on Sundays. Our date, which also happens to be the first day of CES next month, is likely when we'll see this puppy announced.
Hit the jump for a screen shot that supports the January 9th release date.
[Image] Read [Release date]


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Zam I Am
Well-Known Hunter
First, Thanks to the awesome Kim and Cris, their pre-pro zam, and all of their help with configuration on molding. I am still in the first phase of these greeblies, so please critique the heck out of them before I turn them into a hard mass. If there is anything you notice that is outta place please let me know. Or circle it, etc. Thanks. Be aware that there is slight angleing on some of the shots.


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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Show All Answers
Licenses for dogs are available at:
Calls concerning animals should be directed to the Police Department at 330-925-8040. The city has an ordinance against animals running free and against certain animals being kept at all within the city limits. The city also has a vicious dog and barking dogs ordinances.
For more information, call the Police Department, and review city animal ordinances.
Driver's licenses and vehicle license plates can be obtained at:
Driver's license information can be found through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Ohio vehicle titles can be obtained at:
Ohio vehicle title information can be found through the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
Bicyclists must obey all traffic regulations including riding the same direction as traffic. Bicycles are not permitted to operate on the sidewalks in the City of Rittman.
Bicycles are not required to be registered but may be registered at the police department to aid in recovery if lost or stolen.
Mopeds, or motorized bicycles, must have a license plate, and their operators must be licensed and follow safety regulations. License plates for mopeds are available at a deputy registrar's office. Ohio recognizes only a few models of "mopeds" as street legal and plateable for use on the roads; view the Approved Moped Models List from the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles (PDF).
Skateboards or rollerblades are not allowed on public sidewalks or streets except in areas zoned residential and then only on the sidewalks where the safety of pedestrians is not violated.
Building and zoning permits are required for any construction.
Zoning permits are issued at City Hall and must be applied for and obtained prior to applying for and obtaining a building permit. Zoning applications (PDF) can be picked up at City Hall and the clerk can be reached at 330-925-4819.
Building permits are issued by:Wayne County Building Department428 W Liberty StreetWooster, OH 44691
Phone: 330-287-5525
The city operates one cemetery, Rittman Cemetery, off DeCourcey Road. Information about the cemetery is available at City Hall by contacting the Service Director 330-925-2061 or the Cemetery Clerk 330-925-2059.
The historic Pioneer Cemetery is located off Gish Road.
The Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery is located at 10175 Rawiga Road in Rittman; more information can be obtained by calling 330-335-3069.
All applications for employment with the city are taken at City Hall. Download the city employment application (PDF).
Positions such as police officers require a civil service exam.
Anyone who wishes to hold a garage or yard sale must complete and submit a Garage Sale Signage Permit (PDF) to City Hall. There is no fee for a garage sale permit.
It is a registration and you are provided with a copy of the regulations, most of which pertain to signage. Permits are not required for the Saturday of the Sleepwalker Festival Community Garage Sales.
Garage Sales are prohibited on Sundays. Once you have obtained a permit, you may hold a garage sale any other day; permits are not required for the Saturday of the Sleepwalker Festival Community Garage Sales.
Open burning is prohibited within city limits except for cooking fires and some fires related to occupational use. In all cases, these fires may not be used to burn garbage and should be as small as possible.
Any questions regarding open burning should be directed to the Police Department at 330-925-8040.
The following information can be found on the Open Finances Portal:
OpenGov allows you to explore historical finances in a simple graphical user interface.
The five ways to visualize data are:
OpenGov is a technology company based in Silicon Valley focused on building the most powerful financial intelligence and transparency platform ever created for governments. They are transforming how state and local governments analyze, share and compare their financial data.
To focus on specific data—like a fund, department, expense type, or any combination—use the menu on the self-side panel. The "Broken Down By" drop-down allows you to specify which breakdown you want the graphs and table rows to represent on the graph. You can analyze the expense and revenues data by fund, department, or type.
Yes. Use the Data Filter on the left side panel to make specific selections within the data. The Data Filter shows you the hierarchical relationships of Funds, Departments, and Account Types. You'll notice the title of the graph you are viewing on top along with the account type selector. You can use the filter to see the data of most interest to you.
Hover over any area of the graph to see the actual or budgeted amounts for that period. Or, just scroll down to see a table with detailed information below the graph.
In the upper right-hand corner, you will see options for the different graphs and tables. There are five graph types:
Additionally, there is always a table view below any graph. The table allows you to zoom in on the detailed financial data selected in the chart or graph above.
In reviewing multiple years of data, you may see "spikes" in the individual years; this can be due to unexpected expenses, such as a hard winter, equipment failure, a capital project, or a specific event that required additional funds. You can drill-down into our OpenGov platform to learn more about where exactly those expense or revenues are categorized.
Yes, there are Share and Download buttons in the upper right corner. You can share any view on a social network or by email. There are also options to download the displayed data in.csv spreadsheet and.png image formats. Additionally, you can copy and paste the URL at the top of the page you are viewing.
Use the Help menu on the top right corner to navigate to the "Contact" option to send a message to your organization.
Or, you can contact the Finance Director at 330-925-2064.
Permission to hold a parade or to block a street must be obtained from the City Manager.
There are typically two parades a year in the City of Rittman, the Memorial Day parade and the Sleepwalker Festival Parade.
Complaints about vehicles violating parking restrictions should be placed by calling the Police Department at 330-925-8040.
A parking ban on city streets is in effect from 1 to 6 a.m, during which time cars will be ticketed if parked on the street. It is forbidden to park an inoperative or unlicensed vehicle on private property for more than 10 days. The police issue parking tickets to vehicles that violate the city's parking ordinances.
Parking tickets are payable at:
Tires are not accepted and will not be picked up with the regular trash collection. Tires may be dropped off at the Goodwill Industries in Wooster.
Refrigeration and air conditioning units will be accepted only if it can be documented that the coolant has been removed by a certified technician.
Kimble is the company the city has contracted with for its waste hauling. To contact Kimble please call 800-201-0005.
Curbside recycling is also included and should be set out at the same time as your regular trash in the recycle cart provided and it is picked up by a separate truck. For more information visit the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Joint Solid Waste Management District.
Household trash items are picked up on regular trash pickup days (Tuesdays) by Kimble.
The property owner or occupant is responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks in front of their property. City crews clear roadways.
Individuals wishing to clear driveways as a business must have a permit and meet certain requirements. Please contact the Police Department regarding snow removal permits at 330-925-8040.
Rittman has a 1.5% income tax which provides operating funds and money for capital improvements. The income tax office is located in City Hall and the Tax Administrator can be reached at 330-925-2057.
Quarterly filings are required and credit is given up to 1% of income taxes paid to other cities. View and download tax forms.
Tree lawns (trees located between a roadway and a sidewalk) are the property of the city; however, property owners are responsible for trimming trees and mowing the tree lawn.
Permission must be obtained from City Hall before removing a tree from the tree lawn. Please contact the Service Director regarding removal of a tree from the tree lawn at 330-925-2061.
Zoning ordinances govern land use within the city limits. The City Manager has the authority to make decisions about enforcement of zoning ordinances and issues permits for signs, construction, and changes in land use.
The Board of Zoning Appeals, consisting of five members appointed by Council, hears appeals or requests for variations from the city zoning code regulations. Access more information about zoning in Rittman.


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Soon enough, Facebook may be able to recognize the faces of your friends, family and co-workers just as precisely as you can.
The social media giant is further developing its facial verification technology to make it nearly as accurate as the human eye, according to a new blog post from the company and a report from MIT Technology Review.
When asked if the faces of two unfamiliar people are the same, the average human will answer correctly 97.53 percent of the time, MIT says. Facebook's technology will be able to tell faces apart 97.25 percent of the time, which the company says is 25 percent more accurate than it was before.
Facebook's new software, known as DeepFace, performs facial verification—which distinguishes whether or not two images show the same face. This is one step further than mere facial recognition, which helps put a name to the face, although Facebook's Yaniv Taiman, who works on the company's AI team, tells MIT that DeepFace may improve facial recognition as well.
DeepFace accomplishes this in two steps. First, it corrects the subject's face so that the person is facing forward in the image. It uses a 3D model of an "average" forward-looking face to nail down this angle. Then, the software uses a method known as deep learning, which means it simulates a neural network that can create a numerical description of reoriented face. If the software finds similar enough facial descriptions for two different images, it concludes that they must be the same face.
Facial verification isn't new to Facebook. In fact, the social network began suggesting friends in tagged photos back in 2010. The DeepFace software, however, will likely prevent the website from mistakenly tagging you in photos as a friend that may have similar facial features.
DeepFace is just a research project for now, according to MIT, but researchers will be presenting the technology at the IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition in June.
SEE ALSO: Advertisers 'Are Now Openly Talking About Their Discontent' With Facebook


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A rich, berry red with a small amount of shimmer… I've worn this beautiful shade plenty of times since I received it at a press event last year but never as 'full on' as this.
It's pretty vampy!
I usually apply with my fingers and blot it down to a stain but in the image above, I've applied with a lip brush before blotting on a piece of tissue.
I would feel far too conspicuous to wear this so bold in the daytime but I reckon I could give it a go on an evening out?
Longevity was really good on this one… 4 hours of near perfect wear despite drinking and munching on a packet of crisps. Plus, as it fades… I think I love it more as it gives a sexier, slightly smudgy round the edges look.
Extravagant Berry is a limited edition shade that was released for Christmas 2010… it's still around, but won't be for much longer!


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Services for Automotive Chassis Systems
Drive systems provide power and strength to the vehicle. Whether you need approval for alternative or traditional chassis, we assist you in qualifying for compliance to international norms and standards. We provide convenient one-stop services for manufacturers and retailers. Our automotive and vehicle experts offer extensive support, including help interpreting regulations and cooperating with regulatory authorities. As a member of different international bodies with many years of experience in exhaust technology, alternative drive systems, automotive electrics and electronics, partnering with us means benefitting from our expertise and global network.


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Editor's note: Douglas Rushkoff is the author, most recently, of "Life Inc: How Corporatism Conquered the World and How We Can Take it Back" , and "Program or Be Programmed: Ten Commands for a Digital Age"
(CNN) -- All signs for Facebook appear to be pointing up.
Mark Zuckerberg is Time's Man of the Year, the movie about him seems likely to be an Oscar winner, and now Goldman Sachs is raising $1.5 billion from its favorite investors on behalf of the social networking company.
At the very same moment, Facebook's only real competitor --NewsCorps' waning social networking site, MySpace -- is shedding employees and expenses, most likely in hopes of a fire sale.
But appearances can be deceiving. In fact, as I read the situation, we are witnessing the beginning of the end of Facebook. These aren't the symptoms of a company that is winning, but one that is cashing out.
Indeed, 11 years ago this week, when AOL announced its $350 billion merger with Time Warner, I was asked to write an OpEd for the New York Times explaining what the deal between old and new media companies really meant. I said that AOL was cashing in its over-valued dotcom stock in order to purchase a stake in a "real" media company with movie studios, theme parks and even cable. In short, the deal meant AOL knew their reign was over.
The Times didn't run the piece. Of course, the merger turned out to be a disaster: AOL's revenue stream was reduced to a trickle as net users ventured out onto the Web directly.
Likewise, Rupert Murdoch's 2005 purchase of MySpace for $580 million coincided pretty much exactly with the website's peak of popularity. People blamed corporate ownership for the social network's demise, but the cycle had already begun.
Now, it's Facebook's turn. This week's news that Goldman Sachs has chosen to invest in Facebook while entreating others to do the same should inspire about as much confidence as their investment in mortgage securities did in 2008. For those who weren't watching, that's when Goldman got rich betting against the investments it was selling.
This time, Goldman is putting up some millions of its own -- as if this skin in the game means they couldn't be up to their old tricks. But the commissions and underwriting fees Goldman is earning for selling that other $1.5 billion of private Facebook shares could be enough to offset the cost of their own investment. And bets against Facebook could be leveraged any number of times.
These are the kinds of points those of us who lived through the AOL-Time Warner merger, the MySpace deal and the rest of the dotcom and real estate crashes now raise about such deals. These are also precisely the kinds of points that don't get addressed under the new, privatized and utterly opaque scheme Goldman has devised on behalf of its client, Facebook.
Unlike a public offering of shares, this private offering to Goldman's clients doesn't obligate Facebook to come clean on its real profits. It doesn't have to submit to standard accounting practice, or indicate how well it's really doing or isn't doing. It gets to remain in the safe cloud of hype that protects all such ventures until they either make a real profit or die trying.
The object of the game, for any one of these ultimately temporary social networks, is to create the illusion that it is different, permanent, invincible and too big to fail. And to be sure, Facebook has gone about as far as any of them has at creating that illusion.
If you were there for Compuserve, AOL, Tripod, Friendster, Orkut, MySpace or LinkedIn, you might have believed the same thing about any one of those social networks. Remember when those CD Roms from AOL came in the mail almost every day? The company was considered ubiquitous, invincible. Former AOL CEO Steve Case was no less a genius than Mark Zuckerberg.
Further confirming that the hype and market has reached its peak, social networking competitor LinkedIn is maneuvering toward its own IPO, which it likely hopes to complete before Facebook eventually gets there and poisons the well. These companies are being valued as if they will be our permanent means for identifying ourselves.
Yet social media is itself as temporary as any social gathering, nightclub or party. It's the people that matter, not the venue. So when the trend leaders of one social niche or another decide the place everyone is socializing has lost its luster or, more important, its exclusivity, they move on to the next one, taking their followers with them. (Facebook's successor will no doubt provide an easy "migration utility" through which you can bring all your so-called friends with you, if you even want to.)
We will move on, just as we did from the chat rooms of AOL, without even looking back. When the place is as ethereal as a website, our allegiance is much more abstract than it is to a local pub or gym. We don't live there, we don't know the owner, and we are all the more ready to be incensed by the latest change to a privacy policy, or to learn that every one of our social connections has been sold to the highest corporate bidder.
So it's not that MySpace lost and Facebook won. It's that MySpace won first, and Facebook won next. They'll go down in the same order.
The longer the company can maintain the illusion of great profits without alienating its user base, the longer they can delay the inevitable decline. But given that Facebook has already begun cashing in its chips, that moment has quite likely arrived.
The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Douglas Rushkoff.


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Changes at EQAL
Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategy
Paras Maniar joined EQAL in 2008 as its Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategy. Prior to joining the company Paras was a consultant in the Los Angeles office of McKinsey & Company, a global consultancy that counsels a broad array of Fortune 500 companies. Aligned specifically with the Media & Entertainment and Telecom & High Tech practices, Paras built expertise in media & technology convergence issues such as mobile video, advanced online advertising, and digital distribution. Previous to McKinsey & Company Paras worked in the Corporate Department of Latham & Watkins and with the High Tech Mergers & Acquisitions Group at JP Morgan Chase & Company.
Paras completed his bachelor's degree in Economics and Political Economies of Industrial Societies for the University of California, Berkeley, during which time he also studied abroad at the Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary and the University of Vienna School of Business in Austria. Paras received a J.D. from Northwestern School of Law and an M.B.A. from the Kellogg School of Management.
Happily married, Paras' wife Payal keeps her husband's global entertainment knowledge fresh with regular screenings of Bollywood's best films.
Source: Eqal Inc.
NOTE: Also joining Eqal is Seth Jacobs. Gone from Eqal is Kelly Brett of KateModern who is now working for Bebo. We wish Kelly well, thank her for all her hard work and look forward to seeing her future endeavours with Bebo.


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Shootings are now a slice of Americana, bringing out SWAT teams, burly police chiefs, grief counselors, media speculation about the usually-20-something-year-old-male shooter's motive, and impromptu flower pile memorials. They also bring out the peculiar logic of the NRA and extremist gun nuts. I'm not talking about responsible gun owners here. I'm talking about the ones who claim that guns and the wide accessibility of them have nothing to do with shootings, ones who cry that we shouldn't blame the gun and make our right to bear arms another victim of the tragedy.
Let's fire back:
Gun Nut: "Guns Don't Kill People. People Kill People."
This argument just makes the obvious point that some events have multiple causative factors. A tool alone can't do anything. Hammers don't build buildings. People build buildings.
True, a little old gun minding its own business in a gun locker never harmed anyone. Neither did Hitler's Panzer divisions when they were simply parked in Germany.
Point out that people are more likely to kill people by using guns than other tools because guns are easy to get and oh-so convenient. Unlike with knives or clubs, you don't get all messy when you shoot someone. (Clean up is easy!) Also, it's hard to commit a mass killing with a club or knife. Eventually the crowd will fight back and probably kick your ass.
If you really want to show the stupidity of this argument, just fire back, "Guns don't cause school shootings. Schools do."
Gun Nut: "Banning guns won't prevent mass killings. Evildoers will just find another way to kill people."
This is the "If there's a will, there's a way," or, the "Let's just throw up our hands/I give up!" argument. You can't always stop someone who's committed to doing a particular act. It's also a general/specific argument: You can't prevent a general harm by eliminating one of the specific things that can cause it.
Fire back, saying that while we can't completely eliminate the possibility of mass killings, we can lessen their likelihood and magnitude by banning or limiting access to guns, or certain kinds of guns. If the gun nut disagrees, tell him to try committing a mass shooting with a musket.
Or fire back with satire: "Locking your house is not the answer to preventing theft; bad guys will always find a way to steal your stuff. Banning pedophiles from schools is not the answer to protecting children; sickos will always find a way to harm kids." I mean, why ever bother with preventive measures?
Gun Nut: "I have a constitutional right to bear arms!"
You don't need a law degree to fire back here – trust me on that, I'm a law professor. Tell the gun nut that constitutional rights aren't absolute. There are times when the government can infringe upon them. Some speech is outlawed. Some discrimination is OK. And so on.
Point out that the second amendment doesn't even mention guns. It's about "arms." Ask the gun nut if he believes we have a right to bear grenades, tanks, bazookas, bombs, and anthrax. If you get the gun nut to agree that any of those should be banned or controlled, bang, you win. Because you've been arguing all along that the right isn't absolute; it's about line-drawing. Argue that assault rifles cross the line into the very dangerous weapons your friend agrees should be banned.
If the gun nut says he interprets the constitution according to "original intent," never fear. Fire back, "I support your right to own a musket, hatchet, and horse-drawn cannon. "
Gun Nut: "I need a gun to overthrow the government if it violates our rights."
I used to like this argument – I'm a huge civil libertarian. But a few years ago, I noticed a funny thing when our government started violating our rights by using torture, detaining people indefinitely, and spying on us: None of the gun nuts I knew overthrew or even tried to overthrow the U.S. government. They didn't even talk about doing it.
The only right they care about is their right to own a gun.
Gun Nut: "Just arm everyone – mass shootings won't happen!"
True that some would be prevented. But fire back by pointing out that arming everyone would cause more harm than good. There would be a lot of … little shootings.
I've confessed to many a gun nut that there have been times when it was very good that I wasn't armed. I'd have blown away some prick who cut me off in traffic or stole my parking space – slights that don't deserve the death penalty. I've even bonded with some gun nuts over such anger – a good way to end an argument.
Gun Nut: "If we outlaw guns, only outlaws will have guns."
This claim is just wrong, because POLICE will still have guns. (Ask the gun nut: "Are you calling POLICE outlaws?! They're heroes!)
But let's take on a more generous interpretation of this claim. The argument capitalizes on fear: If only outlaws (evildoers) have guns, they'll take advantage of us non-outlaws (inlaws?).
Fire back by saying that if guns were outlawed, there would be fewer bad people using guns against good people. Beef up police forces to catch these outlaws. Or don't bother – with fewer firearms out there, we might not need so many cops.
Have fun by using an "If there's a will, there's a way" argument against the gun nut: "Banning guns won't prevent good people from defending themselves. Good people will always find a way to defend themselves and their families." Ask the gun nut: What's your problem?
Continue your rhetorical jujitsu by saying, "Guns don't kill people. People kill people." Tell the gun nut that he doesn't need a gun to kill an assailant.
When the gun nut whines, "But it's way easier to kill with a gun!" well, bang: you got him. He just agreed with your main argument.
Brian J. Foley is a law professor and humorist. He's the author of the satirical financial self-help book, A New Financial You in 28 Days! A 37-Day Plan. Email him at firstname.lastname@example.com


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Smoking May Negatively Impact Kidney Function Among Adolescents
Exposure to tobacco smoke could negatively impact adolescent kidney function; this is according to a new study led by a team of researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and the Johns Hopkins Children's Center. They examined the association between exposure to active smoking and kidney function among U.S. adolescents and found the effects of tobacco smoke on kidney function begin in childhood. The results are featured in the April 2013 issue of Pediatrics.
"Tobacco use and exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke are major health problems for adolescents, resulting in short-term and long-term adverse health effects," said Ana Navas-Acien, MD, PhD, senior author of the study and an associate professor with the Bloomberg School's Department of Environmental Health Sciences. "In this nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents, exposure to tobacco, including secondhand smoke and active smoking, was associated with lower estimated glomerular filtration rates—a common measure of how well the kidneys are working. In addition, we found a modest but positive association between serum cotinine concentrations, a biomarker of tobacco exposure, among first-morning albumin to creatinine ratio. These findings further support the conclusion that tobacco smoke may damage the kidneys."
Using a cross-sectional study of 7,516 adolescents ages 12 to 17, the authors assessed participant tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke through self-reported data from a home questionnaire and serum cotinine. Participants who reported having smoked "at least one day" in the last month or "at least one cigarette" in the last month, or those who had serum cotinine concentrations over 10 ng/ml were classified as active smokers. Secondhand smoke exposure was defined as non-active smokers who reported living with at least one person who smoked, or who had cotinine levels greater than or equal to 0.05 ng/ml, but less than or equal to 10 ng/ml even if they reported not living with a smoker. Participants with serum cotinine levels below 0.05 ng/ml, not living with a smoker and not smoking in the last month, were classified as unexposed to tobacco.
Earlier studies examining U.S. adolescent tobacco exposure have indicated more than 600,000 middle school students and 3 million high school students smoke cigarettes and 15 percent of non-smoking adolescents report exposure to secondhand smoke at home. Among adolescents, active smoking has been associated with increased asthma risk, reduced lung function and growth, early atherosclerotic lesions and increased cancer risk as well as premature mortality in adulthood. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, smoking is also a risk factor for several autoimmune diseases, including Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis.
"Small changes in the distribution of estimated glomerular filtration rate levels in the population could have a substantial impact in kidney-related illness, as it is well known for changes in blood pressure levels and hypertension-related disease. Evaluating potential secondhand smoke exposure and providing recommendations to minimize exposure should continue to be incorporated as part of children's routine medical care," noted Jeffrey Fadrowski, MD, MHS, co-author of the study and an assistant professor in Pediatric Nephrology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
"Tobacco as a chronic kidney disease risk factor is of great concern given the high prevalence of use and the chronicity that most often accompanies this exposure. Protecting young people from active smoking is essential since nearly 80 percent of adults who smoke begin smoking by 18 years of age," said Navas-Acien.
"Kidney Function and Tobacco Smoke Exposure in US Adolescents," was written by Ester Garcia-Esquinas, Lauren F. Loeffler, Virginia M. Weaver, Jeffrey J. Fadrowski and Ana Navas-Acien.
The research was supported in part by the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute, the Bloomberg Initiative to Reduce Tobacco Use, the US National Cancer Institute. Dr. Garcia-Esquinas was supported by a Rio Hortega Research Fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spain.
Media contact for Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Natalie Wood-Wright at 410-614-6029 or email@example.com.


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Taking mobile payments on a tablet or phone is a hot area of interest for small business merchants. It's the way a lot of small businesses choose to do business these days.
One advantage is obvious. Mobile device in hand, you can accept credit card payments wherever you may be. That's especially good for food truck operators, craft businesses and other microbusinesses without a fixed location.
Another advantage is low equipment cost. Even very small businesses and startups with brick-and-mortar locations are finding they don't necessarily have to invest in pricey point-of-sale (POS) terminals. Set your business up with an iPad, iPhone or Android phone or tablet. Then plug a credit-card swipe device into the audio jack, and you're good to go. It serves the purpose to get money in the door — at least until your sales volume grows.
Financial institutions are beginning to understand this, too.
PNC Bank joins the banks and independent services offering mobile swipe devices for merchants to accept credit card payments.
PNC officially launched Pogo from PNC Bank this month. The service had been soft-launched starting last winter, through the PNC Merchant Services arm.
Pogo from PNC is designed for micro-merchants that need to accept credit card payments and want to use a mobile device. "Pogo is a self-serve solution for businesses that do not process a large volume of card transactions but are in need of a card payment solution," said David Shorten, Senior Vice President and General Manager of PNC Merchant Services.
PNC is providing the service to its customers through a strategic alliance with POGO, a service of First Data Corporation. Pogo / First Data provides the operational card processing, product solutions and customer support. Funds are deposited into the customer's PNC bank account.
Shorten referred to Pogo as a "best-in-class service" for PNC customers. He emphasized that Pogo, unlike some competitive mobile payment services, offers 24/7 customer service via chat or phone. Pogo from PNC also follows stringent security guidelines that banks must comply with, keeping customer data secure. He noted that some solutions are unregulated and may not have the strength behind them that a financial institution like PNC delivers.
Matching the Right Mobile Payments Solution To Business Needs
In addition to Pogo, PNC offers a more robust solution (also provided by First Data) for small merchants called MobilePay.
The difference between Pogo and MobilePay lies in the needs of the customer, said Shorten. MobilePay is similar to Pogo, but "meets the needs of businesses that process larger volumes of card transactions and have a traditional merchant account relationship," he explained. With MobilePay you can have a traditional POS solution, but also a way to accept mobile payments.
Pogo, on the other hand, is a streamlined solution intended for those without a POS system.
Pogo card transactions are batched, said Shorten. The total shows as a deposit transaction in your business checking account when the transactions settle. Access to the funds is available as soon as the next day. Paperless receipts can be sent to the customer's email address.
At the present time, reports are available through the Pogo app. Transaction summaries can be emailed to the business daily.
There is no long-term contract to sign. The Pogo card reader is free. You can also download the Pogo app from iTunes or the Google Play store, and hand-key in transactions, although you will pay a higher rate on keyed transactions. Rates, according to the PNC Pogo website, are "competitive."
Images: PNC


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There's a post about a Social Media Code of Conduct for Massachusetts Freemasons [PDF] (HT @Masonictraveller) over at Freemason Information, part of The Beehive series by Fred Milliken. This document mentioned is particularly interesting to me because it touches on some issues I think are important; and the reactions to the document are also interesting. (I'm also more amused than I should be that the date on the original document is May 1st, International Workers' Day, due to the frisson between seemingly oft conservative Freemasons and the ideas of the, frankly quite often more broadly fraternal to my mind, international workers' movement; and, also because of the connection between the ideas I'm going to talk about and the direct and indirect history of May Day.)
I should also say that I'm intentionally using the term "society with secrets" here to mean not just Freemasonry, but really any group with secrets that is publicly known. Freemasonry is not a secret society, really, after all. But, like everyone sharing a book or movie recommendation who doesn't want to reveal the important points of the plot, let alone the ending, Freemasonry does have secrets. (I've been meaning to write about my thoughts around "society with secrets vs secret societies" for a long time, but, I suppose the fullness of that topic will remains one of my own secret for now.)
The "code of conduct" document itself offers a number of specific directives about how the Freemasonic Grand Lodge of Massachusetts wishes its members to behave online, not just in social media though that's what the title suggests is the scope.
"As a Mason, he must be aware that his postings are a permanent record; therefore, his conduct may influence the world with a positive or a negative opinion about him personally and also about any organizations to which he belongs."
As the librarian of the Hermetic Library, I can say I've received email from people several times wishing my help to remove, alter or obfuscate content they wrote that still appears online.
In some cases, people want their names removed. In some cases, people want the content to go away. In others, they want links to archives of their content removed so that Google stops indexing the linked to archive. In even other cases, people have contacted me to let me know they've removed previously written content from their site due to a new role they've taken in which those comments aren't now appropriate, as if the whole of one's history is merely, and must conform with, the current accidents of the moment (which ironically requires history to constantly be changed to make an illusion). In some cases, it's clear that the person contacting me is embarrassed by something they've written in the past and wants to distance themselves from that; which motive I personally find revolting and pathetic and deceitful. In other cases, the motives are more or less clean, such as needing to manage how others might use past writing as a weapon, how others might twist and misrepresent the past to impune the present person. (You might, or not, be surprised at how much vitriol and willful harassment there is out there, sometimes hidden in back channels and sometimes not, in which cases managing access to one's information becomes important as a defensive measure against evil, unscrupulous or stalker-y people.) So, there's a whole gamut of reasons why people seem to want their previous work forgotten.
Interestingly, there may seem a serious disconnect in my own views on this matter. For example, I am viciously adamant about my own right to remove content from services like Facebook, but I am relatively lassez-faire about my content being permanently on display in various revisions at the Wayback Machine. Of course, the primary difference is that Facebook, and corporations like it purporting to offer a service, is in fact constantly and expansively trying to enclose and encumber not just the works of our minds but every hour of our lives in order to control and monetize both; and to that my resistance is very consistent and internally consistent.
"Do not identify any Freemason as a member of the Craft unless he has provided his consent, or has already identified himself as such."
Another of the points in this code of conduct is not to reveal the identity of a member unless they've already done so. This point is a big one for many sub-cultures, and is an important one. "Outing" another person is a serious breach of security and etiquette. But, it should also be considered a serious breach to reveal information about not just the identity but also the location and activities of another member, especially to strangers. (This point is a hint at why personally I almost universally refuse to broadcast my future whereabouts or add instant, or even relatively contemporaneous, geolocation data to my content. I also do not participate in any service which is either dedicated to showing my instant location data or where I cannot hide that, even from "friends", even so far as to eschew instant messaging services in favour of asynchronous email.)
Anyone with any IT security experience should be able to share strong reasons not to succumb to social engineering, revealing important details to not only strangers but even well-known people who should not have some bits of information. Anyone who's worked in retail or the service industry should be able to confirm how dangerous it can be to reveal personal information or work schedules of co-workers, both about their time at work and their time away from work. Loose lips not only sink ships and breach internal security, but lead to things like stalking and other antisocial behaviour.
I can hardly begin to tell you the times I've gotten strange looks and had eyes rolled at me when I've tried to educate people about the dangers and dimwittedness of revealing information about not only others but about themselves to strangers. I cannot count on my fingers the number of times I've tried to shush someone who's speaking on the phone to some random stranger who's just called and to whom they are revealing all kinds of privileged information about someone else's schedule and whereabouts … It's just shocking and disheartening to have people I know, or moreover people I've cared about, be so dumb about such things. Really, the Pavlovian desperation to respond most people have to phone and electronic communications, and moreover the ease with which most people reveal information (passwords, account information or even just random particulars) to some unknown person as if merely by being on the phone or online imbues some Milgrim-like authority, is something both breathtaking and bizarre to me.
Developing security culture is not just about the security of groups, but is also protecting individuals. I hope those people prone to such information breaches are never in the situation where they learn the hard way by ending up pursued by a stalker, pursued by someone so mentally stunted or backward that they cannot understand the meaning of "no" or even the basic social contract of consent, and then to have information about their activities and whereabouts revealed by themselves or others simply because they didn't know better. And if that ever happens I hope that nothing seriously harmful happens as a consequence other than learning to be more careful next time, though so many worse things are possible.
Just one more story, of any number of others, about this: At one of the really big Occupy marches in Portland, OR, I have to tell you I cringed every time someone yelled out another person's name to get their attention. Really? Serious protest foul, that, people!
But, really, the lack of awareness about security culture is a symptom of not having one in the first place. How's that for a tautology? No, seriously, the adoption of a general security culture could be helped by having serious security culture in subcultural groups, and thus pushing out the wave of adoption by having smaller groups educate and inform their members who then end up bringing that awareness to larger groups and the overall culture in which they each participate. (So, now that you've read this, go and find out more so I can pretend I've been effective in widening the general awareness of security culture …)
The commentary in the post itself, and the comments by readers to that post, over at Freemason Information are interesting to me as well. Primarily the reaction is focused on how some of the points in the code of conduct are just common sense ideas about protocol and etiquette, but there's also a perception that the code of conduct is an overreaching attempt to control the actions of members. I think this code of conduct document, while not perfect, seems to me a good first step toward building a meaningful and reasonable security culture. The worth of that, at the very least, is as a catalyst to considering and talking about meaningful and reasonable security culture for any subcultural group of people, whether that's in, to name a few, a fraternal organization, social club, workplace, or, yes, even in one's own home environment. But, recognizing that such ideas can be seen as unreasonable attempts to control behaviour suggests how important it is to reveal and share the reasoning behind them, and the reasons why they are being suggested.
There's a lot of useful thinking and writing that's been done on creating security culture, and this post is merely a few initial words on the topic. I wrote a setup document for GnuPG, aimed at members of a society with secrets in which I am involved which has a mandate for the use of encryption which is not supported by a culture in which use of encryption is easy for non-technical users or even has much use in spite of the mandate. In that document I tried to include some background and links to further information about security culture, by way of saying how important it is to at least think about such things in any social group with secrets. In the same way that the encryption requirement by the US Grand Lodge of Ordo Templi Orientis is essentially and largely mooted by the apparent lack of implementation among the membership, the Grand Lodge of Massachusetts has started down a pretty slippery slope of creating mandated behaviour and requirements that it cannot hope to maintain ahead of breaches of conduct, but rather only after the fact in selective punishment against those who happen to get caught. Without a security culture, these rules are mostly meaningless as far as stopping behaviours from happening and are really only rubrics that can be used to evaluate behaviours that have already occurred. In other words, it seems to me, these kinds of guidelines need to be part of a program of proactive education instead of taken as proscriptive measures to control behaviour, and where they are merely the later they should be transformed into the former. Guidelines like these need to create a culture in the implementation not create criminals in the breach.
But really, I think the exposure to the ideas of, and how to create, security culture can offer an essential and necessary set of skills for people in this modern day information age to understand and implement the many overlapping circles of information scope in our lives. (Just as I believe thinking about and deconstructing propaganda models and theory offer essential skills for resisting the influence of not just canonical propaganda but also in resisting the influence of pervasive and invasive marketing and advertising in this Western culture.)
For a general primer, I'd encourage you to check out check out a few documents which stand out in my memory as good initial surveys: Towards a Collective Security Culture, Affinity Groups and Why do you need PGP?.
For further reading, you may be interested in Activism and Security Culture, Security Culture, and Security Culture. Beyond those, I commend you to your favourite search engine for further study.
As a last note, I can't help but suggest and recommend two works, in no small part because these two are on the list of works that appear in my own thoughts consistently, which I think connect to this post and the broader subject of resistance culture. First, both for the history of the resistance of but also the resistance to the international labor movement, I'd like to suggest an excellent history of Industrial Workers of the World, The Wobblies: The Story of the IWW and Syndicalism in the United States by Patrick Renshaw. And, secondly, for the history and role of Freemasonry in the resistance culture of colonial and early American periods of United States history, Revolutionary Brotherhood: Freemasonry and the Transformation of the American Social Order, 1730-1840 by Steven C. Bullock.
[Originally posted over on John Griogair Bell's Blog at Societies with secrets, security culture and online social media]


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NEW YORK – Think your bank deposits are safe, just because the FDIC now insures accounts up to $250,000?
Better think again.
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Until customer complaints forced a reversal of policy, the British multinational bank HSBC unilaterally imposed a restriction blocking customers from withdrawing large amounts of money from their own accounts, unless they could provide the bank with a "good reason" for it.
After the uproar in London when the BBC reported the new policy, HSBC issued a statement claiming the concern was money laundering. The bank notified customers that it would "not necessarily" deny depositors the ability to withdraw large amounts of cash from their accounts.
TRENDING: 'On the edge of what is bearable': Why are European farmers protesting?
The HSBC explained in its statement that it has "an obligation to protect our customers, and to minimize the opportunity for financial crime."
"However, following feedback, we are immediately updating guidance to our customer-facing staff to reiterate that it is not mandatory for customers to provide documentary evidence for large cash withdrawals, and on its own, failure to show evidence is not a reason to refuse a withdrawal," HSBC said. "We are writing to apologize to any customer who has been given incorrect information and inconvenienced."
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The bank's motivation may have stemmed from reports leaking out of Washington that U.S. regulators continue to find HSBC has failed to implement required measures to prevent money laundering amid fears that its weakened financial position might cause a run on the bank. The Comptroller of the Currency made the demand after HSBC was forced in December 2012 to pay a record fine of $1.9 billion in lieu of criminal charges. WND broke the blockbuster story that HSBC was widely engaged in laundering billions of dollars in conjunction with known criminal cartel drug lords and suspected terrorists.
The shocking series of WND stories beginning in February 2012 drew the attention of the Department of Homeland Security in New York and the Senate Permanent Subcommittee. WND reported on the 1,000 pages of bank records a former account relationship manager with the HSBC southern New York region brought exclusively to WND. The evidence showed the global banking giant was money-laundering billions of dollars using the Social Security numbers of current and former bank customers to create bogus proxy bank accounts to deposit and transfer internationally the illegal funds, unbeknownst to the account holders.
Federal Reserve investigations in 2012 found HSBC's drug-related and terrorist-connected money-laundering violations included managing $19.4 billion in transactions for the Iranian government while Iran was under U.N.-imposed economic sanctions. The bank also was accused of making $7 billion in banknote transfers, most of which were drug-cartel related, from an HSBC branch in Mexico to an HSBC branch in the United States.
Remarkably, in a statement published by the Guardian of London in December 2012, Assistant Attorney General Lanny Breuer admitted the Obama administration Justice Department had concluded HSBC was too big to prosecute.
At a New York press conference, Breuer said that despite HSBC's "blatant failure" to implement anti-money laundering controls and its willful disregard of U.S. sanctions, the $1.9 billion civil fine was preferable to the "dire consequences" of taking the bank to court.
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The Guardian noted that had Justice Department prosecutors decided to press charges, HSBC would almost certainly have lost its banking license, "and the future of the institution would have been under threat and the entire banking system would have been destabilized."
HSBC said it was "profoundly sorry" for what it called "past mistakes" that allowed terrorists, drug cartels and rogue nations like Iran to move billions around the international financial system while circumventing U.S. banking laws.
The Guardian noted HSBC processed for Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, regarded then as the most powerful and deadly drug gang in the world, some $881 billion in drug trafficking money laundered through its accounts in the United States and worldwide.
In July 2012, WND published an analysis of Federal Election Commission records proving HSBC since 1997, the first year FEC electronic records were available, had generously donated millions of dollars to both Democrat and Republican members of the House of Representatives and the Senate who held committee assignments in which they oversaw banking and financial services regulation.
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HSBC's troubles as a rogue bank did not end there.
Last August, Reuters reported the London-based HSBC had earnings seriously depressed after announcing it had to reserve $1.6 billion for an anticipated settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Authority in Washington. The U.S. demanded reparations for HSBC for violating banking laws, this time by misrepresenting the quality of the collateral mortgage-backed securities bonds the bank aggressively but fraudulently marketed between 2005 and 2008.
Then, in October, Reuters reported HSBC had been ordered to pay some $2.46 billion to settle a class action lawsuit that charged Household International Inc., now HSBC Finance Corp., with fraudulently misleading investors about its predatory lending practices, the quality of its loans and the accuracy of its financial accounting from March 23, 2001, through Oct. 11, 2002.
When HSBC acquired Household International in 2003, the acquisition made HSBC the largest subprime lender in the U.S. at the time. HSBC played a major role in the housing industry bubble that finally burst with disastrous economic consequences in 2008 at the end of George W. Bush's second term as president.
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On Jan. 14, the Wall Street Journal's Market Watch reported shares of HSBC Holdings fell 1.42 percent following a report HSBC may have overstated bank assets by as much as $92 billion.
Market Watch further reported analysts calculated HSBC may need to raise between $58 billion to $111 billion to continue operations. The analysts warned HSBC could be forced to cut or suspend dividends to meet the capital-raising goals.
In October 2013, WND reported a decision by banks in Cyprus not to allow customers to withdraw deposits preceded a government-imposed "bail-in" in which the Cypriot banking system agreed to confiscate up to 10 percent of customer deposits. The move was designed to recapitalize the nation's ailing banking system, as required by the IMF as a precondition to obtaining an emergency Eurozone loan of 10 billion euros.


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Movember Hunks – Hot Guys With Beards and Scruff [PICTURES]
November, dubbed Movember, is the month where men everywhere can proudly put down their razors and let their facial hair blossom in an effort to raise awareness of prostate cancer and other male health issues.
In the hopes of inspiring more guys to follow suit in addition to donating to the Movember organization, which supports groups like the Prostate Cancer Foundation, here are some of the hottest men ever to sport facial scruff.
More and more men nowadays are shaving religiously and waxing their bodies (every part of their bodies) in the name of male grooming. Hopefully these guys will show you that real men wear beards.
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Joe Manganiello
Joe Manganiello is arguably the hottest werewolf ever presented to the American public, and is perhaps even hotter than his 'True Blood' castmates. Taylor Lautner can't even hold a candle to what this guy has, mainly because Lautner couldn't grow a beard to save his life.
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Felix Gomez
Spanish actors seem to be ahead of the curve when it comes to body hair. Most American celebs air on the side of caution and go completely shaven, whereas the men south of the border, like Felix Gomez here, know how to sport the scruff.
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Ryan Gosling
Some men look much better with facial hair and this definitely applies to Ryan Gosling. Even with just a baby beard in the works, he already looks far more manly than he did before. Although, it could also be due to his newly sculpted abs of steel.
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Ryan Reynolds
Ryan Reynolds is that unique kind of man who can go full beard or clean shaven and still look like one of the hottest studs to ever walk the planet. His abs and scruff action are the main reasons people still watch 'Blade: Trinity.'
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Wolverine played by Hugh Jackman
Hugh Jackman doesn't come off as that manly off the screen. Maybe it has something to do with his singing and dancing on Broadway. Who knows? The point, though, is that he can certainly play the manly part and it doesn't get much more tough and scruff than his Wolverine persona.
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Gerard Pique
Soccer players are always fun to watch — mainly because they take their shirts off every time one of them scores a goal — but Gerard Pique is one of those stand-out players. He's the kind of guy you want to win the whole game. We're not gonna lie, it's mostly because of the beard.
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David Beckham
David Beckham is an icon when it comes to soccer, fashion and growing out beards. He's one of the few men capable of making facial hair look good all the time, and it definitely makes him a star on the field — not his years of athletic experience. It's the hair that makes the man.


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Julia Beier
Former Associate, BSR
Julia Beier, Associate, Advisory Services, BSR
The UN Global Compact and BSR recently launched the world's first guide on traceability, which highlights the importance of traceability for sustainability purposes and identifies solutions to the multifaceted challenges of tracing raw materials through complex global supply chains. The guide presents a global picture of best practices across sectors and geographies and summarizes practical steps for implementing traceability programs within companies.
I had the chance to speak with Ursula Wynhoven, general counsel and chief of governance and social sustainability at the UN Global Compact, to explore the key messages of the traceability guide.
Why is supply chain traceability important to sustainability?
Supply chain traceability—the process of identifying and tracking a product or material's path from raw material to finished good—is a useful tool to gain and convey information about the components of products, parts, and materials, as well as their transformation throughout the value chain.
Traceability can verify certain sustainability claims about commodities and products, helping ensure good practices and respect for people and the environment in supply chains.
Who should read this guide, and what can they expect to learn from it?
The target audience for this guide is professionals who work on supply chain, procurement, sourcing, and sustainability issues, and who may be considering traceability as a tool to improve their companies' supply chain sustainability. The guide provides practical information for those who are new to the topic and for those already engaged in traceability. It is written for both large multinational companies and small businesses.
You recommend participating in a global, independent, multistakeholder scheme when considering developing a supply chain traceability program. Why is this important?
Collaboration along the supply chain is critical to the success of traceability. It is also usually more cost-effective to join a proven initiative, and joining forces can help tackle the systemic sustainability issues that traceability seeks to address.
The agriculture and retail industries, for example, have particularly complex supply chains. Schemes such as the Forest Stewardship Council or Marine Stewardship Council have enabled the development of credible and robust chains of custody standards, which have had an enormous positive impact on the sustainability of timber and fish.
While we recommend getting involved in an existing scheme for a commodity where it exists, it is important to note that traceability schemes may only uncover one set of risks and not all potential adverse impacts. Of course, traceability is not a substitute for due diligence or the corporate responsibility to respect human rights.
What other steps do you recommend for companies considering developing a supply chain traceability program?
The guide outlines seven steps businesses can take to implement traceability. First, the company should identify key commodities and map its supply chain, in collaboration with key suppliers. Second, we recommend gaining a full understanding of sustainability issues relevant to those commodities and identifying whether traceability is the best way to mitigate those risks.
Once the company has identified that traceability is the right way to mitigate sustainability issues, it should develop the business case for traceability and take action either by getting involved in an existing traceability scheme or by reaching out to peers and stakeholders to start one.
As a next step, engagement with staff and suppliers will promote solid internal practices and processes. Finally, because traceability can be difficult and time-consuming at first, we recommend staying the course.
What is your vision for the future of supply chain traceability?
As traceability grows in impact, credibility, and cost-effectiveness, we envision that companies will increasingly undertake traceability programs to improve their supply chain management. Consumers and regulators are increasingly demanding more information about where products come from and the conditions in which they were made.
Innovations and technologies supporting traceability are also on the rise, and we believe that advances in this area will allow traceability to become the norm. It is possible to see a future where full product and supply chain information is readily available to consumers. Technologies that enable this by simply scanning a product's barcode with a smartphone already exist, and it is easy to see this trend evolving as technology improves.
Let's talk about how BSR can help you to transform your business and achieve your sustainability goals.


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António Guterres took office as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on June 15, 2005. He heads an agency with more than 6,000 staff in over 115 countries, serving 17 million refugees and displaced persons with a budget in excess of $1 billion.
In a career of more than 25 years of public service, Mr. Guterres served as Prime Minister of Portugal from 1996 to 2002. As Prime Minister, he led the drive for international intervention to halt the violence in East Timor following the Timorese vote for independence, and co-chaired the first EU-Africa summit. He founded the Portuguese Refugee Council in 1991.
On his first visit to Washington in his capacity as High Commissioner, after less than three weeks in office, he sat down for an interview with MPI Director Kathleen Newland and Migration Information Source Editor Kirin Kalia.
You have an extraordinary curriculum vitae, with more than 25 years of public service behind you, including six years as Prime Minister of Portugal—but others with more direct refugee experience were on the short list of candidates for High Commissioner for Refugees. What skills and qualities that you developed as a politician and prime minister put you in a position to do this job?
I have a lot of respect for all personalities who were on the short list prepared by the Secretary General. Any one of them could do the job as well as I can. I consider myself privileged. I have a wonderful family and education. I was engaged in politics at a revolutionary time, and then as democracy flourished in Portugal.
I have been very active in international political activity and always had a very strong interest in refugee problems. As a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, I chaired the relevant Committee [on Demography, Migrations and Refugees]. I was also much involved with NGOs in Portugal.
You founded the Portuguese Refugee Council in 1991—what led to that?
Our priorities were fighting social exclusion of refugees and creating conditions for equal opportunity. The situation in Portugal made me particularly interested in migration and asylum seekers, and my responsibilities in the Portuguese Council of State included immigrant integration. Portugal has a long tradition of emigration, but it was not really prepared to absorb new communities. A lot had to be done, such as adopting legislation that was asylum-friendly. It was important to involve civil society in that effort.
Protection of refugees remains to many people a legal abstraction. How do you make it concrete?
Protection means the opportunity to fully enjoy your rights. Some of those are legal rights, like those associated with citizenship; others have to do with material conditions like shelter, food, and the education of children—which are the minimum requirements of a welfare society.
Protection needs to encompass a comprehensive approach, ensuring that refugees can exercise the full spectrum of their rights. We need to see providing material assistance as an instrument, not a value in itself. From UNHCR's perspective, that is the kind of assistance we are supposed to deliver.
On your fourth day as High Commissioner, you went to Uganda and visited a refugee camp. You spent the night of World Refugee Day in a tent, among UNHCR staff. Direct exposure to a refugee situation can be a searing experience. Can you tell us something about your first exposure, or the one that made the strongest impression on you?
Of course, I had very often seen refugee situations before the recent trip to Uganda. I suppose the one that made the greatest impression on me was visiting Somalia during the worst of the crisis in the early 1990s. It was really terrible to go to Mogadishu and see the destruction. The conditions in the refugee and IDP camps were appalling, and people were suffering terribly.
How did you come to decide that you wanted to spend the next chapter of your life working on refugee issues?
Quite central for me is the Biblical "parable of the talents" [Matthew 25]. Having been given great opportunities and privileges, I am obliged to make sure I use them in the best way so others can benefit from them. After a career in politics, I thought, "What would make sense, what would be a good way to use my energies?" I wanted to use them to the benefit of those who face the most dramatic challenge in today's world, and you cannot find people in more need than refugees.
One of the first things that you are bound to face at UNHCR is the difficult question of how to deliver services and protection to internally displaced persons (IDPs). For more than 20 years, a rather circular discussion has been going on about how to organize an adequate response. How do you anticipate that you will approach this issue?
I think we need to confront the needs of IDPs directly, and not only in a way that is concurrent with UNHCR's mandate for refugees. There are clearly gaps in the international community's abilities and mandates to provide protection and support for IDPs. I don't believe we at UNHCR can stay away from the problem. But we don't have the capacity to solve it alone.
We need to be engaged in good faith with other UN agencies, with donors, and with NGOs in order for our office to be able to play a global role with IDPs. We need to agree on a clear division of labor among agencies. It is important to follow a consistent approach through these very difficult situations. It must be consistent with a vision for protecting not just refugees but persons displaced in their own countries.
The spontaneous arrival of asylum seekers is a politically charged issue in a great many countries today. Some of those governments that have mounted the greatest challenges to the idea of territorial asylum are UNHCR's major donors. You have a great deal of experience in European politics, as Prime Minister and as a member of the European Council. Do you expect challenges to asylum to be a continuing theme of your tenure?
Unfortunately, yes. There is a huge misperception in public opinion about asylum, on two levels. At one level, there is confusion about the relationship between asylum and security questions. At another level, people do not distinguish between refugees and voluntary migrants.
It is my deep belief that mixing asylum and refugees into the security debate is a big mistake. States are concerned with fighting terrorism and ensuring security. That can and should be entirely compatible with fair procedures for asylum. If you are a terrorist, the worst way to enter a country is through the asylum door—you will be registered, fingerprinted, photographed, and connected to public service agencies.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees António Guterres with MPI Director Kathleen Newland and Migration Information Source Editor Kirin Kalia. |
I do believe it's important to face the populist approach that makes asylum seekers out to be some kind of threat; important to cooperate with NGOs and other leaders to clarify the situation of people who are in need of refuge. I think we can deliver a strong, unambiguous message about the asylum-security nexus.
The asylum-migration nexus is a more difficult set of perceptions to address. People leave their home countries for two kinds of reasons. One, they leave in search of better conditions; two, they leave because they are persecuted, threatened, or because of war. One is voluntary and one is involuntary. One group must have permission to enter another country legally, while the other has a right to seek asylum. The public needs to understand the difference.
I recognize that in many countries, there is a close connection between asylum and other kinds of migration, with both voluntary and involuntary migrants moving through the same channels and often even in the same vessels. It is difficult to clarify the different obligations states have to migrants and refugees.
Governments need to work honestly with NGOs and civil society to make the public understand that we must take care of protection needs even when we adopt a border-control policy designed to limit unauthorized migrant flows. UNHCR is there to help governments fulfill their obligations to protect refugees and to help the authorities distinguish between refugees and migrants who are not in need of international protection.
With good will and a humane perspective, we can preserve the institution of asylum in modern times.
Democratic governments respond to public opinion, and public opinion is often seen as opposed to migrants and refugees. What role does public education play in UNHCR's work?
I believe we have a lot of improvements to make in that role. Technology has changed things dramatically. But we are still old-fashioned at UNHCR. We need a bigger capacity to interact with public opinion—directly and through the media—elected representatives, and NGOs.
Governments should not simply react to public opinion. They need to provide leadership and promote values in an active way. The debate about asylum is a debate about the values of a society. Asylum is a way of helping people in need and protecting those who are unjustly persecuted.
I would go further and say that asylum is one of the fundamental institutions of democracy, because it helps to preserve people's freedom of religion, thought, and association. So if we want to protect the values of democracy, we must defend the right to seek asylum.
How do you convince the media to pay more attention to asylum and refugee issues?
In my political experience, what really is news is not when a dog bites a person, but when a person bites a dog. The media look for what is sensational, and may overlook the rest.
Take the situation of Sudanese refugees in Northwest Uganda, for example. They are not in camps, they are in settlements. They farm land, their children have access to schools, they have medical support. This is not news. But we must keep telling the story of refugees even when it is not sensational.
Our duty is to go on insisting, to be patient, and, in the end, the values we fight for will be realized by the people even if they are not as attractive to the media as a scandal.


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Bayonetta – Cosplay of the Day
The witch is back, people! We close out the weekend with that high-flying action heroine, Bayonetta!
Here we have Katyuska, a cosplayer from Australia, who's working it while wearing Bayonetta's super-tight duds. Stick any of the Arcade Sushi crew in that suit and you'll see a bunch of people desperately gasping for air. But Katyuska wears it well and looks damn good doing so. Our minds would be blown if the outfit was made out of her own hair, since it would indicate a level of dedication we've not yet seen, but she's still impressive in that form-fitting leather.
And even bigger props to her for sporting Bayonetta's signature gun heels. These boots were made for whupping butt, not walking. The only way we'd consider anyone else a better Bayonetta cosplayer is if Sarah Palin herself donned the outfit, but that's probably never going to happen. If you want to see more of this bewitching cosplayer, then come on down to her Facebook or deviantART page and show her some love!


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NIV Devotions for Couples - Week of August 9
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- Published Jul 12, 2023
Giving Off the Scale
Verse: Philippians 2:1-11
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. — Philippians 2: 3–4
John Powell describes different kinds of relationships, including one he calls "pan-scale love." A pan scale is what Lady Justice carries. She stands blindfolded atop a courthouse with pans held by chains at both ends of a balance beam.
Powell says that many of us enter courtship or marriage with a pan-scale commitment. In the exhilaration of first falling in love, we give 100 percent of ourselves to our mate, and our end of the pan scale hangs heavy with love's offerings. For a week or a month or even a year, we don't check to see whether the pan scale is balanced because we assume our partner is also devoting 100 percent to the relationship.
But, says Powell, there comes a time when we begin to analyze which way the pan-scale balance beam is tipping. Invariably, as much as we love our spouse, we begin to recognize that he or she isn't investing quite as much as we are.
So we pull back a little. Maybe she doesn't pick up the clothes that he carelessly leaves in corners of the bedroom. Perhaps he doesn't offer a cheery "hello" and warm kiss when she walks in the door. Maybe she doesn't stop to pick up the dry cleaning or he forgets to gas up the car. This gradual lessening of giving doesn't usually mean coming up short on the scale of big things; rather, it's little cuts that over time begin adding up to the message: "I've been giving 100 percent to this relationship, and you're only offering 87 percent. If you won't put your full load of love on your end of the pan scale, I'm going to pull some of mine back to even things up."
The trouble is, such efforts at balancing the pan scale of love only backfire. Typically, when partners begin to notice that the scales aren't even, they each begin to think they are giving more than the other. The response is a subtle but progressive retaliatory cutback on a full deposit.
It may take a while, but if left unchecked, pan-scale love will eventually bankrupt a relationship. As I view my investments as overmatching my partner's, my mate, from another vantage point, feels similarly cheated. If we check the nuptial agreements and try to reclaim what we believe is rightfully ours, Lady Justice is left with empty scales.
How much better to be known, as the Philippians were, for their generosity. People in that church sensed Paul's needs and, without being asked, sent him gifts time after time. Paul regarded those surprises, their over-the-top giving, as "a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God" (Philippians 4:18). God asks each of us to bring him an offering according to what our heart prompts us to give, not one that matches what God gives us—that's impossible and we know it.
Likewise, we are to give to our partner in marriage—without weighing it against what's being offered on the other side, with humble thanks for each other, with sincere appreciation for each other, with gratitude for the opportunity to meet each other's needs without being asked. Then our giving will be an off-the-scale fragrant offering to each other, an acceptable sacrifice that is pleasing to God.
—Wayne Brouwer
Let's Talk
• In what ways do we treat our giving in marriage as pan-scale love? When have we felt cheated?
• How can we increase the level of generosity in our relationship? What gifts do each of us bring? How might they be used to strengthen our marriage?
• How can each of us invest more in our marriage without worrying about whether we're getting a good deal?
This devotion is from the Couples' Devotional Bible by Zondervan. Used with permission.