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Complementary to Pragmatic Approaches from the July 2010 issue, Joe Funicelli, CEO/president, Unifoil Corporation, and Mark Ormiston, director of research and development, Anomatic Corporation, talk about increased demands for sustainable innovation in packaging from both consumers and retailers.
What have been your efforts toward sustainability, in terms of both production and products offered?
Funicelli: Unifoil Corporation launched significant sustainability efforts long before being "green" was fashionable. In the 1990s, we developed nonlaminated "film-free" silver metallic paper and paperboard for a progressive consumer packaged goods company (CPG) that wanted an environment-friendly package for its pantyhose without compromising shelf appeal. That endeavor led to the successful launch of Unilustre materials and spawned a new generation of packaging that offered a superior reflective finish and recyclability. Eventually we developed multi-dimensional Holographic Unilustre and added security and anti-counterfeiting options.
The science behind Unilustre drove the development of our new Ultralustre process which is used with flexible and rigid plastics. Ultralustre for IMD (in-mold decorating) and IML (in-mold label) applications is gaining popularity because it brings environmentally sensitive highly decorated finishes to a basically white and clear world. End users especially appreciate the fact that it can be used on plastic that is recyclable and regrindable.
The proprietary process employs a water-borne, solvent-free chemistry. The carrier film used during production is100% recycled, with significant source reduction as a result. Unilustre and Ultralustre are manufactured without heat or thermal drying and therefore demand less energy to produce. Also, fewer pallets and shipping containers are used, and that translates into even greater cost savings. Moreover, we recycle in-house and are currently exploring the use of alternative energy sources for power.
Ormiston: As far as production, we have spent quite a bit of both capital and research work on reducing raw material consumption, both through recycled and reused technologies and utilization of new technologies that eliminated the need for use of some carbon based fuels. And, as far as products offered, we are offering a new aluminum alloy that has a guaranteed percentage of post consumer recycled stock in it that customers have asked for and I think that's probably the two main areas that we have focused on in the last 18 months.
How do these efforts impact brand owners?
Funicelli: They impact brand owners in substantial ways. Most important, they help build brands by differentiating products by a triple "wow!" factor. A recyclable material that has reflective shimmer and simultaneously communicates to the consumer a message of environmental friendliness, and supports the manufacturer's sustainability initiative, packs a powerful force. Brand owners also appreciate the source reduction and reduced shipping costs. We're seeing both big brands and private labels choose these materials. We're also seeing them rethink how they want to communicate on their packaging their message about sustainability.
Ormiston: Some of the premier brands are quite excited about the proactive stance of offering the recycled aluminum, our stewardship for the environment and not negatively affecting the environment to do so. Also, our efforts on sustainability mean a lot more than recycling and re-using, what it means overall is you're going to be here tomorrow, you're financially solvent, you have a good human rights record, you have a good environmental record, you have a good legal record and you have a good customer service record; so all of those things together mean you have a sustainable growing enterprise.
How well has the beauty industry, in general, embraced these efforts and translated them effectively into consumer products?
Funicelli: The beauty industry has always adhered to a decorative aesthetic. Packaging that pleases the eye and stirs the emotions is key in wooing the beauty product customer. Now environment-friendly innovations are also of interest, and the industry is more curious than ever before.
What many are learning is that today's packaging advances offer exciting options. We think Unilustre and Ultralustre are "sweet spot" materials in that they have irresistible "bling" and are eco-friendly. A lot of educating still needs to be done about the environmental advantages of nonlaminated products. Some CPGs are ahead of the pack in their knowledge, and some are still sorting through the misconceptions and greenwashing. It's important for the supplier to provide data that gives them the facts so they can make an informed decision.
Ormiston: I think the Aveda brand, from its inception, has been pretty good about recycling. They use recycled fibers in their packages, their closures a lot of times have recycled wood fibers from chopped up pallets and that sort of thing, soy based inks instead of hydrocarbon based inks, high recycled content to the aluminum cases they use, they anodize aluminum rather than metalizing a piece of plastic. It gives it an elegant look, but is also better for the environment. They've worked pretty well with using a fairly good percentage of what we call regrind plastic, which is plastic that's been cut up and re-melted again, you can only do that to a certain percentage and they've been pretty good about that.
Some of the other brands, if you go look on the store shelves, are not being very conscious about their use of virgin materials; some of their packages don't have a single bit of recycled material in them, its all the marketing. When today's youth starts to get older and starts to purchase more, things will have to change. They are really going to demand it, even in the luxury goods like cosmetics; that there's stewardship.
In the last year and a half, however, part of this has been driven by the European community regulations that have been enforced, that have just become enforceable, but I'm getting a lot more inquiries from customers that formerly were not on the cutting edge of this but are now saying, "Hey, we're hearing more about this. What are you doing about it and how can we participate?" So I think there's light at the end of the tunnel for companies that weren't doing this before.
Can consumer demand still be considered the greatest driver of sustainability efforts? How has the economy impacted both consumer demand and efforts, generally speaking?
Funicelli: Consumer demand continues to be a strong driver of sustainability efforts, but it's not the only driver. Younger generations are very focused on environmental issues, and want to see sincere sustained effort on the part of manufacturers to deliver products and services that satisfy the triple bottom line. My daughter is 6 years old, and she already has a firm grasp on the importance of energy conservation and recycling. CPGs are sensitive to this kind of shift in thinking, and understand the consumer interests as well as the fundamental good business sense of functioning in a sustainable manner. Reducing energy costs and creating products and services that not only do not deplete resources, but even replenish them, can help ensure customer loyalty and the viability of a business.
It's interesting that despite the economy, studies show that consumers' interest in eco-friendly packaging has not waned. Ultimately, people want to feel good about their purchase, and choosing a recyclable package makes them feel even better about it.
Ormiston: Certainly, the product offering was [packager and brand owner] demand over the years. They've been asking about that and the anodized finish since it is a conversion coating of the aluminum itself. It's very particular to the pedigree of the aluminum so you have to have very tight controls.What we call anodizing requires quality aluminum to make components, and if any of that gets out of balance you have a poor finish, the aesthetics on the anodized finish are not very good and that's a lot of times driven by how well-controlled the chemistry of the aluminum is. We also have to worry about the environmental impact of recycled aluminum.
In years past, we rode out a lot of economic downturns. People wouldn't buy houses or cars but they bought cosmetics because they wanted to look good, it made them feel good. But, you know, it's been a special time, the last year and a half. Now people are worried, and that has definitely impacted some of the luxury brands. Now I think that's starting to turn back around a little bit.
I don't think the economy slowed down sustainability efforts, in fact I think it accelerated it! Because one of the nice things about a well-thought-out sustainability program is that it saves you money and it controls your costs. So, us saving on chemicals that would have been wasted in years past, fine-tuned some of those, recycled more of them, that sort of thing. It saved us money, which hit the bottom-line. It was a positive to the bottom-line and made us a better neighbor by lowering our waste generation.
What opportunities (product innovations, unexpected cost savings, efficiencies, etc.) have sustainability efforts created or revealed? How has this fostered product development? How is that development realized on shelf?
Funicelli: The Unilustre and Ultralustre innovations have brought about enormous source reduction savings and enabled energy conservation and reduced shipping costs. Sustainability also drove our Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), Sustainability Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification Schemes (PEFC) certifications. Those benefits and features make Unilustre and Ultralustre attractive to the beauty product manufacturer. Today, 60% of our business is devoted to the manufacture of Unilustre and Ultralustre.
An interesting related opportunity created in response to sustainability efforts comes from a CPG that is currently exploring how to expand its sustainability message on the package beyond FSC, SFI, and PEFC logos. The package "billboard" is premium space, yet they feel it's worth rethinking how that space is used to educate the consumer.
Ormiston: Primarily, most of the opportunities saved operating capital. A lot of these sustainability initiatives saved us operating expenses, which allowed us to invest in equipment to garner some other markets. We've been able to do some extra research work that in the beginning of the year we didn't think we were going to be able to. It made our product more competitive, pricing-wise and allowed us to compete on the world stage a little bit better. Because we're competing with people in some other countries who don't have either the environmental stewardship or the environmental regulations to adhere to that we do. I don't know as far as fostering product development, I guess that's my answer, if you can free up operating expenses it allows you to spend it in researching new technologies for the future. If you don't have any money at all because you're spending it all to stay solvent then you have to cut out your research money.
From your vantage point down the supply chain from the consumer, what have been the challenges in meeting evolving consumer aspirations for sustainable products and brands that can, increasingly, demonstrate sustainable efforts down the supply chain?
Funicelli: Educating the CPG and the consumer about all the environmental advantages of a recyclable nonlaminated metallic material as compared to a film lamination continues to be a challenge. The bottom line is, you don't have to give up the bling, you just have to know which bling is better for the environment.
Ormiston: I guess the biggest challenge I've had is on an educational level, with several links in the chain from us all the way to the customer to the consumer. Of using good science and sustainability and being practical. You really want somebody that has been reducing their uses of raw materials every year for the last 10 years. Those are the people that are making the biggest impact in the world and biggest impact on the environment and the other people are just there for the show. We've made quite a bit of efforts to reduce the amount of oil that we've used; both like natural gas that we use here or recycling some of our acids. That cuts down on some of our energy up stream that is used, so that makes a big impact.


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Lessons from the 2009 measles epidemic in South Africa
Eighteen years after an opinion piece entitled 'Lessons from the 1992 measles epidemic in South Africa' was published in the SAMJ1 we now need to revisit the same message. This follows on the recent 2009/2011 outbreak, which has involved over 18 000 recognised cases and, presumably, several hundred deaths and many more children who will suffer permanent disabilities. This comes close to the 22 000 cases of the 1992 outbreak. The message remains the same. Why is this infectious disease, which is so easily prevented by a highly effective, safe and relatively inexpensive vaccine, still such a major cause of morbidity and mortality? Simply put, there are two related reasons. Firstly, measles ranks as one of the most contagious of all organisms, with a basic reproductive rate (a measure of its transmissibility) exceeding that of any other human pathogen.2 Secondly, because of this, control of measles demands exceptionally high vaccination coverage, of the order of 95%, if transmission is to be interrupted and outbreaks prevented.3,4 The difficulty in maintaining such a high coverage in all districts of a country is a global problem, and 2010/2011 has seen outbreaks in many parts of the developed world, with 10 - 20-fold increases over previous years in measles cases in Europe and even a 10-fold increase in imported cases in the USA.5,6
Initially South Africa had a reasonably
good record with measles. It was one of the first countries in Africa
to introduce measles vaccine (in 1975) and to adopt a two-dose schedule
(at 9 and 18 months, in 1995).7
By 2003 it looked as if South Africa was well on the way to measles
elimination. Between 1998 and 2003 an average of only 33
laboratory-confirmed measles cases per year were reported, with no
Unfortunately, however, in 2003 the first of the post-1992 epidemics
broke out, albeit relatively smaller than 1992, with 1 676 cases
reported by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases.9 Four years later the 2009/2011 epidemic rivals that of 1992, with
18 434 laboratory-confirmed cases as at 19 May 2011.10
With the end of the current epidemic the great majority of the population has now been immunised, either by the vaccine or by wild-type virus. There is therefore now a breathing space that affords public health planners an opportunity to examine this last epidemic in detail in order to plan on preventing future epidemics. These will certainly occur within a few years as a fresh cohort of susceptibles enters the population, unless the deficiencies preceding 2009 are not urgently addressed. To plan ahead rationally, we need to recognise that South Africa currently cannot claim to be in a measles elimination phase. More realistically we are rather in an outbreak prevention phase, and short-term planning must be focused on measures urgently needed to prevent future epidemics. However, the temptation to respond by rushing into making changes to the current programme needs to be resisted unless there is compelling evidence to do so. The planning needs to a follow a rational and systematic sequence. May I suggest the acronym 'MAMI', to denote measurement, analysis, motivation and implementation?
Measurement – and in-depth investigation and study of the 2009 epidemic – must be undertaken in the first instance.
Analysis. Examination of these data would then define the shortcomings and indicate the research questions that need to be addressed. These could include acquiring reliable vaccine coverage data, possibly augmented by serosurveillance studies, and vaccine responses in South African children at different ages and HIV status. Additional tools such as modelling could also assist in forward planning, for example to assess the value of supplementary immunisation programmes.
Motivation. The next step would be to convince decision makers of the cost-effectiveness of acting proactively rather than reactively. In addition to health planners, many layers of society from health care professionals to parents and caregivers need to be energised to avoid a repetition of 2009, particularly now in an inter-epidemic period when there is a danger that lack of disease visibility will be likely to engender complacency.
Implementation. What emerges from a thorough analysis and in-depth study of measles in South Africa must now be rationally implemented. Planning must include the possibility that we will not be successful in circumventing future outbreaks, and an outbreak preparedness protocol, not unlike that set up for pandemic influenza, needs to be constructed for measles. Most importantly, sensitive clinical surveillance for early diagnosis of an impending outbreak is crucial.
It is of interest that as far back as 2002 a meeting of the World Health Organization International Task Force for Disease Eradication deemed measles to be technically feasible for eradication and stated that ultimately it should be a desirable goal.11 South Africa, which was a pioneer on the continent in measles vaccination, should similarly be in a position to be the forerunner in Africa for measles elimination.
The opinions expressed are the personal opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Institution or any other body to which the author belongs.
Barry D Schoub
National Institute for Communicable Diseases/National Health Laboratory Service
University of the Witwatersrand
Corresponding author: B D Schoub (firstname.lastname@example.com)
1. Schoub BD. Lessons from the 1992 measles epidemic in South Africa. S Afr Med J 1993;83:82-83.
2. Moss WJ, Griffin DE. Global measles elimination. Nature Rev Microbiol 2006;4:900-908.
3. Kelly H, Riddell M, Heywood A, Lambert S. WHO criteria for measles elimination: a critique with reference to criteria for polio elimination. Euro Surveill 2009;14(50):pii=19445. http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?Articleld=19445 (accessed 27 June 2011).
4. Van Boven M, Kretzschmer M, Wallinga J, O'Neill PD, Wichmann O, Hahne S. Estimation of measles vaccine efficacy and critical vaccination coverage in a highly vaccinated population. J R Soc Interface 2010;7:1537-1544.
5. WHO Global Alert and Response (GAR). Measles outbreaks in Europe. http://www.who.int/csr/don/2011_04_21/en/ (accessed 27 June 2011).
6. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Measles – United States, January - May 20, 2011. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2011; 60: 666-668.
7. McMurrow ML, Gebremedhin G, van den Heever J, et al. Measles outbreak in South Africa, 2003-2005. S Afr Med J 2009;99:314-319.
8. Integrated Measles Outbreak Task Team: National Department of Health. Strategies to contain measles outbreaks in South Africa. October 2003. In: Communicable Diseases Surveillance Bulletin, November 2004. http://www.nicd.ac.za/assets/files/Comm DisBull Nov04.pdf (accessed 27 June 2011).
9. McAnerney JM, Harris BA. Measles outbreak, August 2003-2005. Poster presented at the Federation of Infectious Diseases Societies Congress, September 2007, Sun City.
10. National Health Laboratory Service; National Institute for Communicable Diseases. Measles outbreak 2009. Updated 19 May 2011. http://www.nicd.ac.za/?page=measles_outbreak&id=92 (accessed 27 June 2011).
11. World Health Organization. Meeting of the International Task Force for Disease Eradication, June 2009. Wkly Epidemiol Rec 2009;44:459-466.
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"I'm going to keep climbing the ladder and get to the top. I'm not
planning on speeding to the top, but eventually that's where I want to
be, the top. That's the goal." - Dennis Bermudez
"I go in there, take control, hold the center, get them backing up, and lay the smack down."
It's brash, it's bold, it's bullheaded, and it sounds like something Brock Lesnar or, more likely, The Rock would bark before doing battle. It's certainly a heavyweight's mentality, but it's actually from a featherweight's body. Specifically, the confident quote is from the mouth of 145 pound star-in-the-making Dennis Bermudez.
While one can say it's easy to talk the talk, if you've seen Saugerties, New York's number one cagefighting son scrap, then you know "The Menace" walks the walk too. This aforementioned "come forward and drop the hammer" game plan was on full display in Bermudez's most recent outing against the 8-2 Jorge Gurgel prospect Tommy "Wild Card" Hayden at UFC 150. It didn't even last a round, but fight fans got to see Bermudez do a little bit of everything, including a neck cranking submission finish with astute authority.
"Going into that fight, I was thinking he's a good guy, but he hasn't fought anybody," says Bermudez. "And I went into that fight thinking that I was somebody. That's what I do."
The tussle was an exciting smorgasbord of punches, kicks, and takedowns, as Hayden and Bermudez flew at each other with what appeared to be a near reckless abandon. As the two dueled for dominance in the opening round, Bermudez blasted Hayden with a front kick to the chest straight out of King Leonidas' school of striking in "300", which sent "Wild Card" into the cage. Moments later, Bermudez sealed the deal with a muscles popping, standing guillotine choke to improve his Octagon record to 2-1 and his overall career to 10-3.
"It's definitely a part of my arsenal, and we work kicks like that in my striking," tells Bermudez. "I don't really use it too often, but the distance was there for it and he was backing up. I like to use a big striking move to get guys against the cage and then attack them from there. When I got to the cage, he shot and I got him with the guillotine."
Although the win was short, sweet, and awarded a Submission of the Night bonus, if Bermudez was being critical, his first UFC win against Pablo Garza in May was the better one. "If you look at Garza, he's a better fighter than Tommy Hayden and there was a lot of adversity in that fight because he's 6 foot," says Bermudez, who won the unanimous decision via superior wrestling with eight of nine takedown attempts successful and 13 guard passes. "I had to climb some different obstacles than I was used to. I think my takedowns were good and there were a lot of them. It was a little cleaner and not as sloppy."
It has been a quick ascension to prominence in professional fighting for a 26-year-old who only started MMA in 2009. Only a few years removed from having to pay to fight as an amateur in Virginia, "The Menace" is preparing for his fourth fight in the UFC and has already collected three bonus checks. Before scoring back-to-back victories inside the Octagon, Bermudez made his debut in a Fight of the Night losing effort to Diego Brandao in the finals of The Ultimate Fighter 14, and, while in the house, nabbed the Submission of the Season bonus with a guillotine choke win over Akira Corassani. Without question, Bermudez's life has quickly changed for the better since his days working as a personal trainer and a P.C. Richards' stock boy while trying to make it as a fighter.
"I didn't really notice at first, but now that I look back it's been huge," affirms Bermudez. "Prior to the UFC, I was working two jobs. It used to be a luxury for me and my lady to go out for dinner, but now being in the UFC I can buy things that I want or we can go out when we want or I don't have to nickel and dime our groceries. This first year in the UFC kind of flew by. It's nice to say that I've been in the UFC for a year now and I can't wait until next year to say I've been in the UFC for two years, then three years, and, eventually, ten years. It definitely went fast. I'm going to keep climbing the ladder and get to the top. I'm not planning on speeding to the top, but eventually that's where I want to be, the top. That's the goal."
Up next for Bermudez, a showdown in Anaheim, California against a fellow wrestler with heavy hands, Matt Grice, at UFC 157. A 31-year-old born and bred in the Oklahoma City area, "The Real One" is in his second stint in the UFC, this time as a featherweight. At 15-4, Grice won a lopsided unanimous decision over Leonard Garcia at UFC on FX in June, grounding the brawling Garcia with relentless takedowns and top control.
On paper, it reads like two bulls will clash horns in the center of the Octagon. "I know he's a wrestler who likes to throw hands, so it should be a good fight because I'm that same guy," asserts Bermudez. Both fighters have NCAA Division I wrestling experience, with Grice at the University of Oklahoma and Bermudez at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. While wrestlers do have their own particular style, fortunately for fight fans, Grice and Bermudez are cut from the same bolt of cloth and like to attack, attack, attack.
"I would say there are three types of wrestlers in college," explains Bermudez. "You have your defensive wrestlers that back up and try to counter wrestle. They back up, back up, back up, and then sneak a takedown. You have your super aggressive wrestlers who get in your face and grind you for every second of the match. Then you have your technical wrestlers who are sharp and precise. I'm that aggressive guy. My technique wasn't the best in college, but it wasn't uncommon for me to be down 8-2 and then come back and end the third period 16-15. I just keep coming and keep coming until the guy can't breathe. And then my takedowns come even easier. Pulling on the guys head, getting in the guy's face, and just constant pressure. I bring that same thing to the fight game."
In preparation for the Grice bout, Bermudez is busy training all over his adopted home of Strong Island, NY, splitting time between Long Island MMA in Farmingdale, Bellmore Kickboxing Academy in Bellmore, and Long Island Strength and Performance in Lindenhurst. For striking, Bermudez is in the more than capable hands of Keith Trimble and sparring with TUF 15 finalist Al Iaquinta. As for head coaching and grappling, the duty of keeping the stubborn wrestler Bermudez honest on the ground goes to BJJ black belt Gregg DePasquale.
"The first place I ever trained jiu-jitsu was Blackman MMA in Harrisburg, PA and I was living in PA at the time," remembers Bermudez. "My wrestling was more dominant than the guys were in jiu-jitsu. I thought, 'why should I learn jiu-jitsu if my wrestling counters it?' That was the case for the longest time. I've been so in love with wrestling and been doing it for such a long time that to learn a whole new sport was like, 'ugh.' I'm so good at this one and now I have to learn a whole new arsenal of moves and stuff like that? I was just like I don't want to do it, so anything I could do to get away from that I would. I moved to Long Island and my jiu-jitsu coach, Gregg DePasquale, is a black belt and the guys were really good here. I was getting tapped and I was like, 'What is going on here?' We brought in some good wrestlers like Ryan Needle, who was a multi-time high school All-American and my wrestling wasn't working against them. I had to find another avenue to beat these guys and jiu-jitsu is that. A combination of my wrestling with jiu-jitsu and I can tap them."
This Saturday at UFC 157 in "The Heart of Orange County", featherweights collide as Bermudez battles Grice. "I know he's a good wrestler, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try and take it where I'm good at in wrestling," asserts Bermudez, who will look to impose his will on Grice for his third W inside the Octagon. "In my past when I wrestled in college or high school, I didn't watch a guy wrestle and think, 'oh, I should do this or that because he does this or that.' It didn't work out as good as when I would just go in there and do my thing. It didn't work out as well as it did when I would make it my fight."
In short, if you can smell what "The Menace" is cooking, he's going to "go in there, take control, hold the center, get them backing up, and lay the smack down."
Jamahal Hill Talks UFC 300 Main Event
Hall Of Fame


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Americans may agree with President Obama when he says he won't send large numbers of US troops to Syria or Iraq, but they don't see much else to like in the president's response to advancing Islamist extremists in the two Middle Eastern countries.
Who's to blame for the vast land grab this month in Iraq by the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS), which over the weekend declared an Islamic state or caliphate from Aleppo in Syria to Diyala province north of Baghdad in Iraq? Here, too, Americans point a finger at Mr. Obama, saying his failure to address extremist gains in Syria paved the way for the ISIS march through Iraq.
The news is grim for a president who came into office in 2009 vowing to be done with Iraq and move America's international focus to a booming Asia. Some 69 percent of Americans say the US does not have a clear policy on Iraq. If they were to give the president a letter grade for his handling of the Iraq crisis, a plurality of Americans – 46 percent – would slap him with a D or F (as in failing) grade.
Those sobering findings for the White House are part of a new TIPP poll conducted for The Christian Science Monitor June 24-29.
The poll measured US public opinion less than one month after Obama delivered a foreign policy speech at the West Point Military Academy that was supposed to lay out the president's foreign policy for the rest of his term and, in particular his response to spreading Islamist militant insurgences from Africa to South Asia.
In the speech, Obama announced a $5 billion counterterrorism assistance plan to help countries address the causes of growing extremism and train security forces to fend off the militants.
But the president's speech was drowned out by events in Iraq in particular, where ISIS militants from war-ravaged Syria joined with Sunni insurgent groups opposed to the Shiite-led government of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to take control of large portions of northern and western Iraq.
Over half of Americans – 55 percent – say that the failure of the US to contain the three-year-old war in Syria allowed the spread of Al Qaeda-inspired militants to Iraq and elsewhere in the region.
In addition, about the same majority of Americans – 56 percent – say that the US decision to complete the withdrawal of all American troops from Iraq at the end of 2011 "set the stage" for today's crisis in Iraq.
The poll of 879 Americans, with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percent, also debunks the prevailing view that Americans have turned their backs to international issues: Nearly 8 in 10 Americans (79 percent) say they are following the unrest in Iraq either very closely or somewhat closely.
One explanation for that heightened interest could be a sense that the expanding control of territory by a group the US considers to be an international terrorist organization poses a threat to the US. The poll found that just over half of Americans – 53 percent – agree that the seizure by ISIS of Iraqi cities constitutes a "direct threat" to Americans on American soil.
A considerable slice of Americans (44 percent) say they disagree either strongly or somewhat that ISIS poses a direct threat to Americans on US soil. The relatively small 53-to-44 split between Americans who do and don't view ISIS as a direct threat turns into a wide gulf when party affiliation is taken into consideration.
While 73 percent of Republicans agree that ISIS gains in Iraq put the group in a position to threaten Americans on US soil, far fewer Democrats – 39 percent – take that view.
That partisan divide is particularly wide on the question of Obama's assertion earlier in June that the failure to leave a residual force of US troops in Iraq after 2011 can be laid at the feet of Prime Minister Maliki, who refused to sign an agreement with the US to leave some troops in Iraq.
More than 80 percent of Republicans (83 percent) say Obama was "not being honest" in pinning responsibility on Maliki, while a much smaller slice of Democrats – 27 percent – say the Democratic president was being dishonest about responsibility for the full US withdrawal.
What to do about Iraq? Some 70 percent agree with Obama that the US should not send ground troops back to Iraq. But Americans have mixed feelings about the course of action the US should be taking.
Slightly less than half of Americans – 49 percent – support launching air strikes against the advancing Sunni insurgents, while a slightly smaller group (47 percent) opposes such action.
A slight majority of Americans (52 percent) say they would oppose the US engaging in diplomacy with the Sunni insurgents. Still, a sizable minority – 43 percent – endorses the idea of dialogue with Iraq's Sunni insurgents. The poll finds that 30 percent of Republicans support such dialogue.
That support for diplomacy can be read a number of ways – fatigue with the long wars the US has engaged in in the Middle East, or an understanding that the US engaged before with Iraq's Sunnis.
The support for diplomacy might also provide some solace for Obama, who has long touted a preference for dialogue, even in some cases with America's adversaries.


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We're back with Episode 122 following the Lions debacle in Hamilton. Angus Reid stops by to talk about his new book Thank You Coach, which chronicles his 11-year relationship with BC Lions offensive line coach, Dan Dorazio
The book is already a best seller in the football category on Amazon.ca and you can get your copy here.
Clay Chisholm of the Argos Fancast stops by to help update us on the 3-10 Argos who visit BC Place this week.
We also welcome BC Lions fan Braden O'Donnell to chat about his history as a Lions fans and various topics with the Lions.
Missed our last show? Check out Epsiode 121 here.
Join the discussion!


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Leonardo's original writings on the theory of Architecture have come down to us only in a fragmentary state; still, there seems to be no doubt that he himself did not complete them. It would seem that Leonardo entertained the idea of writing a large and connected book on Architecture; and it is quite evident that the materials we possess, which can be proved to have been written at different periods, were noted down with a more or less definite aim and purpose. They might all be collected under the one title: "Studies on the Strength of Materials". Among them the investigations on the subject of fissures in walls are particularly thorough, and very fully reported; these passages are also especially interesting, because Leonardo was certainly the first writer on architecture who ever treated the subject at all. Here, as in all other cases Leonardo carefully avoids all abstract argument. His data are not derived from the principles of algebra, but from the laws of mechanics, and his method throughout is strictly experimental.
Though the conclusions drawn from his investigations may not have that precision which we are accustomed to find in Leonardo's scientific labours, their interest is not lessened. They prove at any rate his deep sagacity and wonderfully clear mind. No one perhaps, who has studied these questions since Leonardo, has combined with a scientific mind anything like the artistic delicacy of perception which gives interest and lucidity to his observations.
I do not assert that the arrangement here adopted for the passages in question is that originally intended by Leonardo; but their distribution into five groups was suggested by the titles, or headings, which Leonardo himself prefixed to most of these notes. Some of the longer sections perhaps should not, to be in strict agreement with this division, have been reproduced in their entirety in the place where they occur. But the comparatively small amount of the materials we possess will render them, even so, sufficiently intelligible to the reader; it did not therefore seem necessary or desirable to subdivide the passages merely for the sake of strict classification.
The small number of chapters given under the fifth class, treating on the centre of gravity in roof-beams, bears no proportion to the number of drawings and studies which refer to the same subject. Only a small selection of these are reproduced in this work since the majority have no explanatory text.
Taken from The Notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci edited by Jean Paul Richter, 1880.


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This article is more than 1 year old
German developers forge Iron from Chrome
Browser transmutation for privacy fans
German developers had developed a cut-down version of Chrome that doesn't send usage data back to the Google mothership.
Iron is aimed at punters who like Chrome's fast JavaScript engine but baulk at the search giant's policies for collecting usage data.
SRWare forged Iron by taking out all the features privacy-sensitive punters might find objectionable. According to an English translation by Incomplete News, Iron is based on the Chrome source code minus elements including the absence of a unique user-ID and the removal of code that sends user-specific information to Google. In addition, application crash data is not sent back to Google and there's no Google updater, a function which if left undisturbed might put objectionable code back into the mix.
Windows XP and Vista versions of Iron are available from the SRWare's site here. Links to the 10.3MB download are in German, as are the installation instructions, but it appears with a English interface when loaded on a UK version of XP, at least.
A quick try-out suggests the browser is just as nippy as Chrome and that it seems to do what it says on the tin in terms of browsing privacy.
In all, it's an interesting coding exercise that shows the benefits of having a open source browser - doing something similar with IE is a non-starter. However, it's difficult to imagine that Iron will pick up much market share, and people unimpressed with the idea of handing over yet more data to the world's biggest ad broker are more likely to turn to Firefox or Opera instead. ®


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We've helped over 6.4 million students research graduate programs last year alone! If you're looking to pursue a graduate education, we can help you find affordable academic programs amidst thousands of accredited graduate schools. There are a lot of compelling reasons to pursue an advanced degree. A graduate education can help you gain the skills and knowledge to differentiate yourself, and it may open more opportunities for career advancement.
That said, graduate school is a big investment both in terms of time and money. It's important to be informed when making your decision and think about your long-term goals both personally and professionally. Be sure to choose a field of study that suits your personality, as well as your academic and career goals. Additionally, determine whether an online degree or traditional campus experience would fit your lifestyle. Once you've made those decisions, it's time to pick a few schools and request information about the specific programs your interested in. We're here to guide you along the way!
Start Your Search:
The decision on whether to attend grad school can be a tough one. Before making that decision, it's crucial that you reflect on your reasons for continuing your education. It's equally important to understand what pursuing an advanced degree involves. Below, we'll answer some of the most frequently asked questions by prospective graduate students. Our goal is to help you get a better grasp on the admissions process, the types of grad degree options available to you, costs and more.
Every graduate school will have different requirements for their institution and your particular degree program. It's important to request information from a school to learn more about their unique program requirements. However, in general, there are three key requirements that remain fairly consistent from school to school, including a Statement of Purpose (Personal Statement), Letters of Recommendation, and an Entrance exam. Learn More about these common requirements.
The short answer is, it depends. There are many factors that will contribute to the length of time it takes to complete a degree program. These include the type of degree program you opt for, the total number of credits required, whether you're attending on a full-time or part-time basis, and the total number of courses you take per semester. Still have questions? We have answers.
There are many different types of programs for graduate study. Each offers specialized training for particular career goals. Degrees may be considered either academic or professional in nature. Academic Degrees, such as Master of Arts (M.A), Master of Science, (M.S.) and Doctor of Philosophy are research focused. Where as Professional Degrees stress the practical application of knowledge and skills. Examples include: business (M.B.A.), education (M.Ed., Ed.D.), engineering (M.Eng.), psychology (PsyD), nursing (DNP), and law (J.D.). Figuring out which degree type is right for you can be a bit daunting, our Degree Guidecan help you sort out the various options.
The cost of a graduate education can vary greatly from school to school. Some schools may charge a cost per credit, while other's have flat rate tuition. There are other factors that also come into play, like whether you're going to a public or private university and whether you're enrolling as an in-state or out-of-state student. The bottom line is that in order to get a clear picture of price, you'll need to request specific information from your school of choice. However, If cost is a major concern for you, check out these Master's programs with cost per credit under $500.
Grad students can fund their education in a variety of ways. Financial aid is often based on merit and/or financial need. Availability of financial aid for graduate and professional students may vary by school, program and/or eligibility. In general, graduate financial aid options could consist of a combination of scholarships and grants, fellowships, assistantships, work-study, tuition-discounts and/or student loans. Visit our Financial Aid Guide for more detailed information.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, people who earned a Master's degree in 2019 earned about $27,456 more per year when compared to all workers; and people who earned a Doctorate degree in 2019 earned about $47,528 more per year when compared to all workers.
While an undergraduate degree is marked by generalist coursework, graduate coursework typically entails more highly-focused studies and research in a chosen discipline. To this end, many grad programs encourage students to narrow down their interests through a concentration. This focal area is often used to anchor independent research, internship experience, supervised practice and/or teaching. Learn more about the basics of grad school and view a comprehensive list of Graduate Majors.
aka PHD, DNP
MA, MS, MSW,MFA, MEd, MBA Programs
Are you ready to commit the next one to two years taking a deep dive into a particular subject area? Considering an MBA Program? Check out our Step-by-Step Guide guide of the MBA enrollment process.
Ok, you've researched your preferred degree program, and have applied to multiple schools. Now it's time to get down to the nitty gritty of your chosen school's application process. Most grad programs are looking for candidates who've excelled in their academic and professional lives, and who now want to become experts in a given field. It's not enough to just be qualified to enroll in graduate studies; you have to stand out in order to be admitted, and ultimately to thrive, at the grad level. Our Student Guide offers tons of articles to help you set yourself apart.
Once you get passed the admissions process, you'll need to figure out how you are going to finance your higher education degree, so be sure to check out our Financial Aid Guide as well.
According to a recent Aslanian Market Research report, more than 80% of respondents cited a career change as the #1 reason for continuing education. The reality is, when looking for a new job, past experience may not be relevant enough to switch careers without going back to school.
Fortunately, most advanced academic programs do not require an applicant to have majored in the same content area, which makes it easier for someone to pursue graduate studies in a new field as long as they at least hold a bachelor's degree.
While a profession may not require an advanced degree, it may be helpful to advance or to distinguish yourself from the pack.
Some business school students choose to specialize in certain areas such as a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) or a Masters of Taxation (MTax), or an MS in Strategic Human Resource Management (MSSHRM) just to name a few.
While a four-year bachelor's degree used to be enough to reach most career goals, in today's world a graduate degree may set you apart.
Naturally advancing in a career could lead to higher pay, however, the attainment of a graduate degree also has the potential to increase earning potential in certain fields.
For example, in the education field, the degree you've earned, combined with previous work experience, could determine your pay scale.
If you are considering graduate school for this reason, weigh the costs of education (including the loss of earnings if you go to school full time) with your potential salary after graduation.
It is common understanding that practice-based doctorates are required for highly regarded careers, like Medicine (MD) or Law (JD).
But, it is also true for other professions as well! It is quite typical that a teacher can't become an administrator without earning a Supervisors Certificate or a MA in Education Leadership.[iv]
And it doesn't stop there, the same can be true in other fields, like Physical Therapy, Counseling, Psychology, Occupational Therapy, and the Social Sciences.
Our Degree Guide is designed to help you navigate through the many Degree options Graduate School has to offer.
Finding the right graduate school is not easy for everyone. Life happens, and for various reasons some folks may face challenges they think may prevent them from becoming a graduate student. We have extensively researched these biggest pain points and are happy to say, you do have options! Here is our list of top 5 resolutions to your biggest issues.


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EU leaders may delay decision on 2030 targets for emissions
European Union leaders intend next month to agree on a timeline for developing energy and climate targets for 2030, delaying a final decision on the polices, according to two people with knowledge of the matter.
Most governments in the 28-nation bloc need more time to reconcile differences over a proposal by the EU's regulatory arm calling for tighter emissions restrictions and an overhaul of renewable energy policies by 2030, said the people, who asked not to be identified because of policies against speaking publicly. EU presidents and prime ministers will debate the issue in Brussels for the first time on March 20 and may back setting a deadline for a decision later this year, they said.
The delay may be a setback for the global effort to fight climate change and for United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki- Moon, who is convening world leaders on Sept. 23 to set out ways to curb fossil fuel emissions. The EU has for decades been at the forefront of that process, and hesitation on its part may remove a spur for the U.S. and China to act.
"It's very important that EU leaders set a time horizon in March for endorsement of the commission's proposal — that's a signal that Europe must send globally," said Tomas Wyns, a researcher at the Institute of European Studies at the Brussels Free University. "Hopefully that will be June. Otherwise it may only be October or at the end of the year."
Before the EU summit in March, governments are scheduled to discuss the commission's proposal at a gathering of competition ministers on Feb. 20, with environment ministers on March 3, and energy ministers the next day, according to Greece, which holds the bloc's rotating presidency.
Heads of state will probably give political guidance on the matter through the European Council, said a presidency official, who asked not to be identified because of communication policy rules. The official declined to comment on the possible outcome of the March meeting.
EU carbon prices rose as much as 3 percent to a 13-month high of 6.88 euros on the ICE Futures Europe exchange in London today, buoyed by the commission's plan to start temporary curbs on supply as soon as next month. The 2030 package will be the next focal point for investors, since stricter climate targets would mean the supply of allowances will have to be cut more aggressively after 2020.
Debate about the timing of adopting the target highlights the divide between countries in western Europe such as Britain and France, which want a quick decision, and those in the east led by Poland, which are concerned that the new targets will boost energy prices.
The European Commission's proposal calls for carbon dioxide emissions to be cut by 40 percent by 2030, double the goal for 2020. It would require an average annual investment of 38 billion euros ($52 billion), according to an EU policy paper on Jan. 22. The current pace of reductions would lead the EU to a 32 percent cut by 2030.
The commission's ambition is to have a political decision on the direction of future policy in time for the Sept. 23 summit, where the UN is seeking pledges that can underpin a global treaty limiting emissions to be approved in 2015 in Paris.
The strategy recommended by the commission also includes an EU-wide target to boost the share of renewables in energy consumption to 27 percent by 2030. The decision to focus on a single greenhouse-gas reduction target binding on member states and discontinue renewables goals for individual nations has been supported by the U.K. and criticized by companies including Vestas Wind Systems A/S and Alstom SA, which make wind turbines and nuclear reactors.
EU nations have established the world's largest carbon market and extended restrictions on emissions under the Kyoto Protocol until 2020 as Russia, Japan and Canada rejected further limits. The U.S. never endorsed the Kyoto treaty, which was negotiated in the Japanese city by that name in 1997.
It is "imperative" that EU leaders turn the commission's proposal into a decision in March, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Feb. 6, according to Agence France Presse. Without a political declaration next month, Europe may have nothing to offer at the UN climate summit in September, because elections to the European Parliament in May and the end of the current commission's term in October will complicate the decision-making process, he said.
Poland, which relies on coal for more than 90 percent of its electricity production, said no decision on new energy and climate targets should be made before the commission's term expires. Future policies in Europe must take into account the region's competitiveness and the costs of energy, which in some parts of the region are double U.S. levels, according to the Polish government.
"We want a broad discussion in March, not a decision," Economy Minister Janusz Piechocinski told reporters on Feb. 12 in Warsaw. "Our logic is the following: If Poland is forced, it will veto those European solutions. We are calling for a more ambitious goal: a global agreement."
Environment ministers will not aim to adopt a unanimous political statement on the 2030 package at their gathering, leaving the matter to the EU leaders, according to the two people with knowledge of the matter.
Only after EU leaders back the strategy for the next decade will the commission be able to start drafting legislation on how to achieve the targets. The law proposed by the commission will then need to be adopted by member states and the European Parliament. That process typically takes a year or two.


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Dorian Satoshi Nakamoto has established a crowdsourced legal fund that could be used to sue Newsweek for reporting he was the mysterious creator of digital currency Bitcoin.
The 65-year-old jobless California engineer, whom Newsweek named as the mastermind behind Bitcoin in a March cover story, is the focus of a website called Newsweek Lied. It's seeking funds to pay for a lawsuit against Newsweek, saying it "must be held accountable for its reckless reporting."
The site says it has Nakamoto's endorsement for its Legal Defense Fund, adding his family was confused and alienated by the article.
Newsweek has not retracted the story despite Nakamoto's denials that he was involved with Bitcoin. The magazine noted the denial in an online appended statement by Nakamoto.
The lawsuit website says the article's author, Leah McGrath Goodman, was previously sued for defamation in relation to her book "The Asylum: The Renegades Who Hijacked the World's Oil Market." Goodman has defended her story about Nakamoto online.
In an email, a staffer for Los Angeles lawyer Ethan Kirschner confirmed he is representing Nakamoto in the effort.
"If a private citizen like Mr. Nakamoto can be targeted and victimized by a reckless news organization, it could happen to others," Kirschner said in a release that also confirmed that Nakomoto had set up the fund.
"Mr. Nakamoto's claim against Newsweek will also remind the journalism community of their continuing legal and ethical responsibilities to the broader public."
In a YouTube video posted in April, Nakamoto thanked supporters who donated bitcoins to him that were worth over US$23,000 at the time.
Legal experts have said Nakamoto could face an uphill battle in a suit against Newsweek, but that claiming he was cast in a "false light" by the article, damaging his reputation, would be one possible strategy.
Media reports for years have speculated about the identity of the creator of Bitcoin, a person or group of people known as Satoshi Nakamoto.


text: What to do if you have a fire and water damage emergency at your home? Should a devastating fire happen in your home, you will want to rely on a professional restoration company to quickly salvage as much of your property as possible. The longer you wait to begin fire damage restoration and water cleanup after a fire, the greater the harm that can continue to occur to your home and its contents. Quick response time and action are critical in the aftermath of a fire. Soot, smoke and ash residue will contaminate the indoor air quality of your home and corrode surfaces, causing further deterioration of your property. As well, if not taken care of immediately, excess water from fire-fighting will continue to damage the floors, walls and furnishings in your home, and can quickly lead to the growth of hazardous mould. At ServiceMaster Restore of Hamilton we are available to respond immediately to address the fire and water damage emergency at your home. We have the resources and expertise to quickly assess fire, smoke, soot and water damage, and provide you with an estimate for fire restoration and water damage clean up in a timely manner, so you can get your life back on track, as soon as possible. ServiceMaster Restore of Hamilton has been Restoring Peace of Mind® by providing professional fire and water damage restoration to homeowners. We work directly and collaboratively with our customers to provide an outstanding results. We will guide you through the fire and water damage restoration process to your home, every step of the way. Day or night, we are available to take your call 24/7, every day of the year. The experts at ServiceMaster Restore of Hamilton work to get the job done right and stay by your side until you are satisfied with the results. When the unforeseen happens, don't delay. Call the fire restoration and water damage professionals at ServiceMaster Restore of Hamilton. What are the steps involved in fire and water damage restoration? Fire and water damage restoration procedures are unique to each home and type of fire. Once your insurance company authorizes the work, your fire damage restoration company will assess the damage and begin the fire damage repair process. The steps include: Assessing safety concerns such as biohazards and structural issues Boarding up and placement of tarp coverings where necessary Removing unsalvageable materials from premises Packing up contents to be cleaned and salvaged off premises Extracting excess water and drying areas damaged by fire suppression methods Cleaning, sanitizing and deodorizing smoke, ash and soot damage Repairing structural damage or beginning complete reconstruction if necessary


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REUTERS Wednesday, 26 June 2013 01:59 PM EDT
Senator Wendy Davis, a single mother by the age of 19 who now is a rising star of the Democratic party, drew national attention when she spoke for more than 10 hours to block a measure that would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy.
Related: Texas Abortion Bill Fails After Challenge Her filibuster of the Republican supermajority in the Texas legislature was hailed by women's groups and abortion rights advocates, and streamed live on some national media websites.
Republicans managed to stop her about two hours ahead of the midnight end to the special legislative session citing parliamentary procedures, but they were unable to complete voting on the abortion bill before the deadline.
"I pledge to Texas one thing: this fight is far from over," David Dewhurst, the anti-abortion Republican Lieutenant Governor who presides over the Senate, posted on Twitter Wednesday. Related: Obama Tweet Supports Texas Pro-Abortion 'Mob'
Texas Republican political strategist Matt Mackowiak predicted that Perry will call lawmakers back for another special session to pass the abortion bill.
"An abortion bill passed both houses. The votes are there. There's no question the votes are there," he said.
The abortion restrictions passed the House earlier in the week and a version of the proposal that did not include the ban after 20 weeks of pregnancy passed the Senate.
If the measure ultimately passes, Texas would be the 13th state to impose a ban on abortions after 20 weeks and by far the most populous. In addition, the legislation would set strict health standards for abortion clinics and restrict the use of drugs to end pregnancy.
Republican backers said the regulation of abortion clinics would protect women's health and that the ban on late-term abortions would protect fetuses, based on disputed research that suggests fetuses feel pain by 20 weeks of development.
Opponents said it would force nearly all Texas abortion clinics to close or be rebuilt.
"We know this isn't the end of the fight to protect women's access to health care in Texas." said Cecile Richards, president of Planned Parenthood Action Fund.
Davis whittled away chunks of time by reading testimony and messages from women and others decrying the legislation, reciting previously suggested changes to the bill and tapping into her own past as a single mother at 19.
She said the bill would have choked off her own access to a local Planned Parenthood clinic.
"I was a poor, uninsured woman, whose only care was provided through that facility. It was my medical home," said Davis, 50, several hours into her speech.
The U.S. Supreme Court legalized abortion nationwide in 1973, but conservative states have enacted laws in recent years that seek to place restrictions on the procedure, especially on abortions performed late in pregnancy.
Twelve states have passed 20-week bans, including two states where the bans take effect later this year, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. Courts have blocked the bans in three of the 12 states - Arizona, Georgia and Idaho.
Earlier this month, the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill banning abortions 20 weeks after fertilization. The measure is extremely unlikely to become law because Democrats control the U.S. Senate and the White House.
The Texas proposal would allow exemptions for abortions to save a woman's life, and in cases of severe fetal abnormalities.
"In Texas, we value all life, and we've worked to cultivate a culture that supports the birth of every child," Perry said.
The abortion debate simmers elsewhere in the United States.
North Dakota's only abortion clinic filed a federal challenge on Tuesday to a new state law, the most restrictive in the country, that would ban procedures to end pregnancy once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, as early as six weeks.
A Philadelphia jury last month convicted abortion doctor Kermit Gosnell of murdering three babies during abortions at a clinic in a high-profile case that focused national attention on late term abortions.
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On The Front Lines
VICTORY: Police Settle Rutherford Institute Lawsuit Over Activist Held at Gun Point, Handcuffed and Arrested for Lawfully Carrying a Rifle During a Protest
Click here to read The Rutherford Institute's complaint in Brandon Howard v. John Hunter.
Click here to read The Rutherford Institute's reply brief in Brandon Howard v. John Hunter
RICHMOND, Va. — A settlement has been reached in a lawsuit filed by The Rutherford Institute on behalf of a man who was arrested as he was engaged in a First Amendment protest against President Obama while lawfully carrying a rifle. The settlement in Brandon Howard v. John Hunter resolved the lawsuit to the mutual satisfaction of the parties, which included claims that the police violated Howard's First Amendment right to free speech, Second Amendment right to bear arms, and Fourth Amendment right to be free from a groundless arrest when they confronted him with guns drawn and ordered him to the ground on the unfounded belief that Howard was violating the law by being in public with a rifle slung over his shoulder. Soon after the incident, the City of Hopewell Police Department admitted in writing that the incident involved a violation of department policy. The settlement included an apology by the defendant police officer acknowledging respect for citizens' First and Second Amendment rights and stating "[it] was not my intention to compromise Mr. Howard's rights under the Constitution."
"As this case shows, if you feel like you can't walk away from a police encounter of your own volition—and more often than not you can't, especially when you're being confronted by someone armed to the hilt with all manner of militarized weaponry and gear—then for all intents and purposes, you're under arrest from the moment a cop stops you," said constitutional attorney John W. Whitehead, president of The Rutherford Institute and author of Battlefield America: The War on the American People. "Certainly, if you've been placed in handcuffs and transported to a police station against your will, that constitutes an arrest."
According to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, on Monday, Aug. 26, 2013, Brandon Howard arrived at an overpass above Interstate 295 in the City of Hopewell, Va., and displayed a 6 foot by 4 foot sign that read "Impeach Obama." Howard was carrying a DMTS Panther Arms AR-15 rifle slung over his shoulder on a strap, and a .380 caliber Bersa Thunder sidearm pistol in a belted holster on his waist. Howard lawfully owned each firearm and did not point or brandish them at any time while engaged in his First Amendment protest activity on the overpass. Howard displayed his protest sign for 30 minutes, but Howard did not directly engage with anyone.
At about 5:30 p.m., a police officer pulled up to the area, remained in his car and observed Howard. Thereafter, three to five additional police cruisers arrived at the scene with emergency lights engaged. Approximately eight officers exited these vehicles with their guns drawn and ordered Howard to drop his sign and get on the ground with his hands spread above his head. Howard complied with the officers' orders. Howard explained that he had not threatened anyone but was simply exercising his First and Second amendment rights. Howard was then handcuffed and transported to the police station, where he was left, handcuffed, in an interrogation room for 90 minutes, after which time he had his firearms returned and was released. A month later, the Deputy Chief of Police acknowledged in writing that an internal investigation had concluded that one of the officers violated department policy and would be disciplined and sent to remedial training. Attorney Raul Novo of Richmond, Va., assisted The Rutherford Institute with the lawsuit and settlement.
Case History
October 22, 2015: Victory: Court Gives Green Light to Lawsuit over Activist Held at Gun Point by Police, Handcuffed and Arrested for Lawfully Carrying a Rifle During a Protest
September 25, 2015: Virginia Police Insist That Activist Was Not Under Arrest Even Though He Was Held at Gun Point by Police, Handcuffed and Taken to the Police Station
November 17, 2014: Citing 1st, 2nd & 4th Amendments, Rutherford Institute Sues Virginia Police for Violating Obama Protester's Right to Free Speech and Lawful Gun Ownership


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Americans Will Have To Wait Until After the Election for a 5% Growth Rate
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Despite the disappointing jobs report for March, it's difficult to make a realistic case that the economy is falling off a cliff or that some kind of double-dip recession is on the way. Or that a Ben Bernanke QE3 is likely.
Sure, the 120,000 gain in nonfarm payrolls — roughly half of expectations — is causing a downgrade in growth psychology. Ditto for the 31,000 drop in household employment. But if you smooth out these numbers over three months, payrolls have averaged a 212,000 increase, while small-business household jobs are still up a big 415,000.
Let's not forget other data points: ISM indexes in the mid-50s are still reasonably strong. Consumer confidence has been rising. Jobless claims have been falling. Car sales are solid. And chain-store sales are beating expectations. It still looks like a 2.5% to 3% economy.
Not 5%, as it should be coming out of a deep recession. There are too many policy obstacles for that. Overspending, huge tax threats, a highly interventionist Fed policy, and Obamacare regulations, mandates, and taxes have damaged the animal spirits and held back growth from the normal spring-back off a deep recession. These policy issues are not going to be resolved until well after the election. So instead of growing at 4% to 5%, as is the post-WWII norm, the recovery is only 2.5%.
That has all been built into the stock market, which has over the past three years rallied on the strength of the tremendous performance of private-sector businesses. As per Monday's Wall Street Journal lead article, U.S. businesses have emerged from the recession stronger, more profitable, and cash-flow rich. The business recovery is not going to falter, although businesses are not going to rush to hire new workers until they see a resolution of the various fiscal, monetary, and regulatory problems.
Nonetheless, because of the strength of business, I think the stock market still has value and should be bought on the dips. Investors should not overreact to one month's jobs report. That game is never worth the candle. And incidentally, energy-price headwinds may be slowing down, as crude oil and gasoline begin to level off.
I do agree with economists Jim Pethokoukis and David Malpass that extended unemployment benefits and other policy mistakes have so lowered the labor-participation rate that 8.2% unemployment is in fact way understated. Congressman Duncan Hunter wants the official unemployment rate to include the number of individuals who gave up looking for work. This is already published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics as the U-5 rate, which currently stands at 9.6%. That number probably more accurately reflects the joblessness problem.
Be that as it may, the economy is not collapsing, no matter what the March jobs figures show. Nor will the stock market collapse. If the dollar continues to stabilize, holding down energy prices and steadying consumer real incomes, that plus the pristine financial condition of business augurs reasonably well for future stock prices, although new advances will come at a slower slog.


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The Original Index Knobber II
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It is as safe and effective as massaging a sore muscle with your own knuckle or thumb.
It's unique patented design allows it to be used in several hand positions and by the right or left hands comfortably and interchangeably.


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All units have a dining area and a seating area with a satellite flat-screen TV. A fridge is also available, as well as a coffee machine and a kettle. There is a private bathroom with a bath and bidet in each unit, along with bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries. Bed linen is featured.
Six Senses Zil Pasyon also includes an outdoor pool. Guests can enjoy a meal at the on-site restaurant or a drink at the bar.
Felicité island is accessible via boat transfer from La Digue or Praslin.
An array of activities are offered in the area, such as snorkelling, windsurfing and diving. La Réunion is 5 km from Six Senses Zil Pasyon. Praslin Island Airport is 20 km from the property.


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Show All Answers
The Utilities Division has someone on call 24 hours a day for water and sewer emergencies. If you are experiencing a sewer backup in your home, call us first. You may be able to avoid an unnecessary service call and charge from a drain company if the problem is in the main line.
During our regular business hours of 6 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., you may call City Hall at 763-755-2880 and ask for Public Works.
At any other time call 911 and Utilities Division personnel will be dispatched to your home to analyze the problem.
The Public Works Department works with our independent lighting contractor to repair street light issues. Report outages by calling City Hall at 763-755-2880 and ask for Public Works. Or use our convenient online reporting system, Report It.


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"Inspirational Thoughts," Ensign, Sept. 2007, 4–8
First Presidency Message
Inspirational Thoughts
The Last Dispensation
"How wonderful it is that [God] has smiled with favor in this, the last dispensation, the dispensation of the fulness of times, when He has restored His work with all of its powers, with all of its glory and all of the truth and all of the authority of all previous dispensations in this great and final period of time. …
"I know that God our Eternal Father lives and loves us; that Jesus is His Beloved Son, our Redeemer, our Savior, our Lord, our Friend; that Joseph Smith was and is a prophet; that this Church is true; that it is Their work restored to the earth for our blessing and our happiness" (regional conference, Salt Lake City, Utah, May 4, 2003).
I Know the Gospel Is True
"Do I know [the gospel is] true? I want everybody in this hall tonight to realize that you each heard me say to you that I know that God our Eternal Father lives. I know that He lives. I know that He is a being of substance. I know that He is the great God of the universe. I know, however, that I am His child and that you are His children and that He will listen to and hear and answer our prayers.
"I know that Jesus is the Christ. He was the great instrument in the hands of God to create the earth. The Gospel of John says that nothing was made that was not made by Him [see John 1:3]. He was the Creator. He was the Jehovah of the Old Testament. He was the Christ child, who came and was born under humble circumstances. He was the Messiah, who walked a lonely road to His foreordained mission, healing the sick and raising the dead. He was the great Redeemer of the world, who died on Calvary's hill and was resurrected the third day, 'the firstfruits of them that slept' (1 Corinthians 15:20). He it was who visited the Nephites on the American continent and taught them as He had taught in the Holy Land. And He it was who, with His Father, visited the boy Joseph and spoke to him concerning the Restoration of this work.
"I know that the priesthood is here upon the earth and is available to every man who lives worthy of it. I know that the ordinances of the temple are upon the earth, the great sealing ordinances under which we may be bound together as families for time and all eternity. I know that God will not forsake this work, but He will see that there is always someone through whom He can communicate His truths to the people" (meeting, Nairobi, Kenya, Aug. 4, 2005).
Modern Revelation
"How wonderful it is that we believe in modern revelation. I cannot get over the feeling that if revelation were needed anciently, when life was simple, that revelation is also needed today, when life is complex. There never was a time in the history of the earth when men needed revelation more than they need it now.
"I want to testify to you, my brothers and sisters, that the book of revelation is not closed. God directs this day and time and speaks as certainly today as He did in the days of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob" (meeting, Madrid, Spain, May 29, 2004).
Put It to the Test
"I plead with you, my brothers and sisters, that if you have any doubt concerning any doctrine of this Church, that you put it to the test. Try it. Live the principle. Get on your knees and pray about it, and God will bless you with a knowledge of the truth of this work" (meeting, Paris, France, May 28, 2004).
Stand above Evil
"My dear young friends, never let anything stand in the way of your worthiness to enter the house of the Lord and there engage in a great and marvelous service in behalf of those who have gone beyond.
"You face so much of evil. Stand above it. … I do not know that there was ever a time in the history of the world when there was greater evil in the world than there is today. I want to salute you, you young men and women of this Church who have stood strong in the face of evil. God bless you and give you strength to resist" (meeting, São Paulo, Brazil, Feb. 21, 2004).
The Very Purpose of This Work
"I urge you, dear sisters, to attend the house of the Lord and to encourage your husbands to go with you. If, perchance, there may be some here who have never been or who have not been for a long time, I suggest with love in my heart that you do all that is necessary to qualify to do so. If you have not done so, you have missed, really, what this Church is all about. The very purpose of this work, as declared by the God of heaven, is to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of men and women [see Moses 1:39]. Do you love your husband? Do you love your children and your grandchildren and your great-grandchildren? Then do not miss the opportunity to bind them to you in an eternal compact that time cannot destroy and death cannot break. This can be accomplished in no other way. …
"And if these blessings are available to [us] of this generation, would not a just God provide for a way to make them available to your forefathers who did not have such an opportunity?" (stake Relief Society meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, Mar. 20, 2002).
Come to the Temple
"I wish to say to everyone here, come to the temple. Live worthy to come to the temple. Live the commandments of God so that you may come to the temple. Do those things which will make you eligible to serve in the house of the Lord. It has been built for you, my brothers and sisters, that you might have the opportunity of coming here and receiving the wonderful blessings that can be had nowhere else in all the world, except in other temples, where you may be sealed together as husband and wife, where your children may be sealed to you, where you may work in behalf of your forebears, who have gone beyond. That great and marvelous and wonderfully unselfish work occurs in the house of the Lord. Come to the temple" (meeting, Aba, Nigeria, Aug. 6, 2005).
Live Worthy of the Priesthood
"God has given you [priesthood holders] something of power and divinity and reality and usefulness. He has blessed you with the very essence of His power, with the authority to speak in His sacred name and bring to pass His work to bless, to teach, to encourage, to help, to govern in the affairs of His kingdom—the power of the royal priesthood. There is nothing simple or nothing to be taken for granted concerning this. This is His divine power. It is the power by which the earth was created and His work is carried forward. And He has deigned, as it were, to bestow upon you and me, out of His goodness and generosity, that power and authority. Oh, how we ought to strive to live worthy of it, to never do anything which would destroy our effectiveness as His sons in exercising this divine, sacred, and remarkable thing which we call the holy priesthood" (regional conference, Pleasant Grove, Utah, Jan. 19, 2003).
Blessings of Church Membership
"What a wonderful thing it is to belong to this Church. Have you ever stopped to think how empty your lives would be without it? How grateful we ought to be … for the tremendous blessings that come through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you … for being faithful Latter-day Saints and for seeking to raise your children in light and truth, with a love for the Lord and His great and holy work" (stake conference, West Valley City, Utah, Nov. 10, 2002).
Divine Mission of Jesus Christ
"We are a great family bound together in a unity of love and faith. Our blessing is great, as a people and as individuals. We carry in our hearts a firm and unshakable conviction of the divine mission of the Lord Jesus Christ.
"He was the great Jehovah of the Old Testament, the Creator who, under the direction of His Father, made all things and 'without him was not any thing made that was made' (John 1:3). He was the promised Messiah, who came with healing in His wings. He was the worker of miracles, the great healer, the Resurrection and the Life. His is the only name under heaven whereby we must be saved [see Acts 4:12]. …
"He came as a gift of His Eternal Father. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life' (John 3:16).
"He condescended to leave His throne on high and come to earth to be born in a manger, in a conquered nation. He walked the dusty roads of that land, healing the sick, teaching the doctrine, blessing all who would accept Him. …
"On Calvary's hill He gave His life for each of us. That is the greatest gift that any of us can ever receive. It is the gift of the Resurrection and eternal life.
"We honor His birth. But without His death, that birth would have been but one more birth. It was the Redemption which He worked out in the Garden of Gethsemane and upon the cross of Calvary which made His gift immortal, universal, and everlasting. His was a great Atonement for the sins of all mankind. He is the Resurrection and the Life, 'the firstfruits of them that slept' (1 Corinthians 15:20). Because of Him all men will be raised from the grave.
"We love Him. We honor Him. We thank Him. We worship Him. He has done for each of us and for all mankind that which none other could have done. God be thanked for the gift of His Beloved Son, our Savior, the Redeemer of the world, the Lamb without blemish, who was offered as a sacrifice for all mankind" (missionary devotional, Dec. 15, 2002).
The Blessings of the Atonement
"[Jesus Christ's] Atonement is the greatest event in human history. There is nothing to compare with it. It is the most fundamental part of our Father's plan for the happiness of His children. Without it, mortal life would be a dead-end existence with neither hope nor future. The gift of our divine Redeemer brings an entirely new dimension to our lives. Because of our Savior's sacrifice, instead of dismal oblivion, death becomes only a passage to a more glorious realm. The Resurrection becomes a reality for all. Eternal life becomes available to those who walk in obedience to His commandments" (Australia stake conference satellite broadcast, Feb. 12, 2005).
Ideas for Home Teachers
After prayerfully studying this message, share it using a method that encourages the participation of those you teach. Following are some examples:
Show the article and a picture of President Hinckley. Explain that one of the prophet's main roles is to teach and testify. Invite family members to take turns reading aloud a section that interests them. Testify of the importance of following the prophet.
Invite one family member to stand in a place where he or she can see things that no one else can. Ask that person to describe what he or she sees. Explain the role of a seer (see Mosiah 8:15–17). Read selections from the article. How do these statements from our prophet improve our spiritual vision?
Bring objects to represent sections in the article (the scriptures, a picture of a temple or of the Savior, and so on). Read the corresponding sections, and discuss how we can know these concepts came from our Heavenly Father. Testify that we can know the truth through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Photograph of Madrid Spain Temple by Margarita Diaz Lara
He Is Risen, by Del Parson


text:
Astronomers and Stargazers
Eyeing a Heliocentric Heaven for Planets, Portents, and Horoscopes
by Anthony F. Aveni
Online Extras
Sidebar: Of Lenses and Tinderboxes
Galileo got wind of a new magnifying lens from Holland and set to building telescopes. On the left is a replica of one, which magnified fourteen times and allowed a partial view of the moon, enough for him to see craters there as well as Jupiter's moons. On the right is a replica of another Galilean telescope, which magnified twenty-one times. Scientific observation of the skies with telescopes paralleled a resurgent interest in astrology during the seventeenth century. Science and superstition coexisted easily for a time.
Sustermans's 1636 portrait of Galileo , whose observations of the heavens changed conceptions of the universe.
A lens like the one found at Jamestown could have been used in telescopes but also to fire tinder with a char cloth in the tinderbox.
A glass-making factory from the seventeenth century, here re-created for visitors at Jamestown Settlement, was among Virginia's first industries. Remnants of the original ovens survive at Historic Jamestowne. There is no direct evidence that its workers made lenses.
View additional images of the glass-making factory. Image 1, Image 2, Image 3, Image 4, Image 5, and Image 6.
Comets, like this 1680 one in a contemporary English illustration, were believed portents of evil times: floods, earthquakes, violence in human affairs.
Jefferson's plan for an observatory at the University of Virginia yielded little more than a building.
From the remains of a Confederate earthwork that covers part of what once was seventeenth-century James Fort, archaeologist Carter Hudgins unearthed a round, dirt-encrusted, clear glass lens. The disk had reached the Americas surprisingly early, resting in the sandy soil of what once was Virginia's only seaport for time untold until Hudgins recovered it September 21, 2004. Exactly how the lens was used, and where it came from, neither he nor other archaeologists could say. Curiously, Jamestown—as James Fort became—had a glassmaking industry early on. Could the lens have been part of a seventeenth-century navigator's telescope? If it was, its age would be surprising. But the discovery may says something about the beginnings of astronomy in the American colonies—a science the next century pursued by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, among others.
The founding of Jamestown and the invention of the telescope happened in the same generation. In 1608, the year after Captain John Smith and company built the fort, Galileo got word in Italy that a lens maker in Holland, probably Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, had built an "optic reed . . . a certain device by means of which all things at a very great distance can be seen as if they were nearby." Galileo was one among a host of individuals who inquired about the gadget. What set him apart from his colleagues was that he was clever enough to use diplomatic channels to acquire the recipe for constructing one. He obtained a pair of spectacle lenses—the term comes from lentil, the shape of which each piece of glass approximated—placed them at opposite ends of a hollow tube at the sum of their focal lengths, and fashioned his own spyglass. He turned it on the heavens and saw mountains on the moon, moons moving around Jupiter, and spots on the surface of the sun. His observations contributed to a sea change in how we understand the universe.
The first astronomical observation recorded in the colonies preceded the invention of the telescope. It happened in what was then Virginia but now is North Carolina during the early English attempts at colonizing Roanoke Island. In 1585 the English mathematician Thomas Harriot noted that several of the natives who had come in contact with the settlers mysteriously died. Though the cause was probably smallpox or measles, Harriot looked for an explanation in the heavens. He ruled out the possibility that a solar eclipse was to blame—probably the one of April 29, 1585, he witnessed on the way over—or that a comet thought to have appeared at the time the sickness took hold was responsible. But he mentions in his 1588 Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia, a "perspective glasse whereby we shewed manie strange sights." Though we know Harriot would be among the early inquirers into the use of the telescope, these pretelescopic observations were likely made with a single magnifying lens.
To judge from the historical record, skywatching was extraordinarily popular in early America. By the middle of the seventeenth century the colonies, particularly New England's, began to generate a spate of astronomical almanacs to aid stargazers in the scientific pursuit of celestial phenomena. They contained moon phases, tide tables, planting times, and the setting of religious holidays, along with the chronologies of world history, poems, and essays on the workings of the celestial sphere.
Why this New World interest in the sky? It was part of the European Age of Enlightenment, which spawned a generation of hobbyists. People collected rocks, plants, bugs, and they observed the stars. Such scientific observation was justified by scriptures. Psalms 111:2: "Great are the works of the Lord, studied by all who have pleasure in them./" Job 36:24: "Remember to extol his work, of which men have sung. All men have looked on it; man beholds it from afar."
Two developments in seventeenth-century thought contributed to the celestial craze.
The ancient Greek model of the earth-centered universe, after reigning for 1,500 years, was being overturned in favor of a sun-centered model. The old Ptolemaic geocentric model featured a fixed, immovable world surrounded by spheres on which each of the planets moved, the whole of it encased in a crystalline orb of modest dimension that contained the stars. In his De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium, published in Poland in 1573, Nicolaus Copernicus knocked the world literally off its pivot by setting the earth in motion. His theory opened the depths of space to penetration by the optic reed when he proposed the heliocentric model of the solar system. And so the limitless universe we have come to know today was born with the colonies.
Astronomer and almanac maker Zachariah Brigden, a Harvard graduate from Connecticut, was among the early American proponents of Copernicanism. In 1659 he wrote about the revolution of the then-known six planets about the sun, as well as the revolution of the four satellites about Jupiter and the two about Saturn. He also wrote an essay that attempted to reconcile the new system with the doctrine of the scriptures.
The scientific battle between the geocentric and heliocentric systems raced across colonial college campuses with a fervor unmatched until the early twentieth-century debates on Darwin's theory of evolution. Thanks to Brigden and others, in 1671 a Harvard college class refused to read the geocentric-based textbook assigned them. Their protest resulted in the firing of their out-of-date instructor and the hiring of a new one.
A quite different system of belief also fueled the astronomy craze in the early colonies. Astronomy, the science of the stars, and astrology, the belief that the stars influence human affairs, have always been allied, not just in Western culture but also in China, in ancient Egypt—even among the Pre-Columbian cultures of North and South America.
Though the scientific Renaissance helped sever the bond between the Siamese-sister disciplines, the mid-seventeenth century also witnessed an inexplicable backlash that ushered in a resurgence of astrological beliefs. The appearance of three great comets—in 1664, 1680, and 1682—undoubtedly contributed to the trend.
Thought to be poisonous exhalations from inside the earth, comets almost always were taken as warnings of disaster. Even scientific astronomers like John Danforth of Massachusetts, who correctly deduced that the great comet of 1664 passed well above the orbit of the moon, said that comets "most commonly ...are observed to precede if not portend great calamities." Repent your sins and pay heed to this sign from an angry God, he said. Puritan clergyman Cotton Mather offered much the same advice when the 1680 comet appeared. Readers may recall the deleterious effect Comet Hale-Bopp had on contemporary culture in 1997. Members of the Heaven's Gate cult, thinking the end of the world was near, attempted to hitch their wagon to the comet by donning clean costumes and drinking a poison potion. And previous returns of Halley's comet have brought predictions about the world, ranging from floods to wars to stock market crashes.
By their sudden appearance, comets seem to work against the order of things. Remember that Sir Isaac Newton's Principia, which would account for the strange orbits of comets with the theory of gravitation, had yet to make its debut in the scientific world.
The logic of astrology is straightforward, and we can understand why it might appeal to an unscientifically trained populace. For example, we know that there is a correlation between the tides and the appearance of the moon. Anyone who watches the moon's phases and times high and low tides cannot fail to detect it. A more careful observer will discover that the sun influences the tides as well—not to mention the weather and the seasons. So it is not a huge leap to imagine that the planets and the stars, being part of the firmament, also exert their influence. And that influence just might extend to the humors, our bodily fluids, that is to say, to the "tides in the affairs of men."
The astronomical almanacs from the 1660s to the end of the century prove that the colonists had a great desire to speculate on the mystical influence of the stars on the fate of mankind. For example, in Pennsylvania, almanacs generated by the Ephrata community charted the great comets along with conjunctions, or close passages by one another, of Jupiter and Saturn, and offered consequent astrological interpretations. The Pennsylvania Dutch were particularly interested in health beliefs and remedies for ailments timed by the phases of the moon. This started a trend picked up by Franklin, which appears in most modern Farmer's Almanacs: dispensing health information to accompany weather predictions and other practical astronomical information—even if they are not thought to be causally linked.
The colonial clergy offered few complaints about the telescopic observations that helped throw the world off its pivot. But astrological motivations for paying attention to the sky disturbed some. "If an Astrologer (as the blind man hits the mark) chance to praedict right once, more notice is taken of that then of his mistaking an hundred times over," said one reverend. Nevertheless, some of the most respected men of the cloth subscribed to astrology's principles and created almanacs as mouthpieces for astrological belief.
So great became the demand for information on skywatching that by the end of the seventeenth century Virginia, Pennsylvania, and New York joined New England in issuing astronomical almanacs and, as the accompanying interest further increased, in building bigger and better telescopes to turn to colonial skies. Telescopic users turned toward practical interests, such as more accurately determining longitudes and latitudes for the making of better surveys.
Though, relative to Europeans, the Americans lacked good quality instruments, libraries, and the general scientific community to promote dialog, they made contributions to astronomy. Arthur Storer, an astronomer and boyhood friend of Newton who immigrated to Maryland in the 1670s, and is mentioned in the Principia, conducted comet observations that helped Newton establish his gravitational theory. Though we know little about what kind of telescope Storer used, we do know that Thomas Brattle of Massachusetts employed a 3½-foot-long telescope to record observations of the comet of 1680. Fellow Massachusetts Bay citizen John Foster, a printer by trade, provided further observations. He measured the curved shape of the cometary orbit, which played a major role in Newton's theoretical deductions.
Foster, Brattle, and Storer, along with a host of seventeenth-century amateur American astronomers, would provide the impetus for the development of astronomy in the next century. At the beginning of the nineteenth century, astronomy in the United States got a big boost from Thomas Jefferson. When he founded the University of Virginia in 1819, instruction in astronomy was among the earliest of his plans for the curriculum. Not content simply to seek the best professors to build the courses, Jefferson devised plans to erect the first observatory in the nation. He also proposed building its first planetarium—the university's Rotunda dome. A patriotic affair, it would "be painted sky blue and spangled with gilt stars in their position and magnitude copied exactly from any selected hemisphere of our latitude." It was to feature a rope and pulley system so that the instructor could access any part of the dome to point out the stars—praise the inventor of the laser pointer teachers employ today.
But Jefferson's planetarium never came to fruition, and his plan for the observatory fared only slightly better. Though he got the building erected—an octagon-shaped structure twelve feet across, partially built by 1828—he died before its intended optical inhabitant could be installed. Though that building fell into ruin, the university got its observatory by the 1830s, by which time the federal government had opened the U. S. National Observatory. Soon colleges all over the states erected observatories, and astronomy took its place as one of the most popular courses in the American university.
A curiosity about astronomy in America is that above all the other sciences, it has retained its status as the most pursued scientific avocation for laypeople. Today comets are discovered largely by amateurs, and amateur observations of variable stars and supernovae are communicated throughout the professional scientific community. In no other scientific endeavor is the relationship between amateur and professional more tightly bonded. Two amateur astronomy magazines boast a readership exceeding one hundred thousand. All across the country astronomy clubs meet at their own observatories and organize star parties at which they display a magnificent and diverse array of instruments built by amateurs, many of whom have started from scratch by grinding and polishing their own mirrors. Despite the lure of television sports and the Internet, not to mention the interference of bright city lights, backyard skywatching is alive and well in America—perhaps an avatar of that old telescope lens unearthed from the Jamestown turf on which the English settlers stood.
Anthony Aveni, is the Russell B. Colgate Professor of Astronomy and Anthropology, serving in the department of physics and astronomy and the department of sociology and anthropology at Colgate University. He helped develop the field of archaeoastronomy, and his research in the astronomical history of the Maya Indians of ancient Mexico puts him among the founders of Mesoamerican archaeoastronomy. He contributed to the summer journal an article on Powhatan calendar keeping. Roger Williams is a Research Support Specialist, Colgate University.