text:
Disobedience, Protest and Resistance by the German-Russians
in the Soviet State (Part 2)
Verweigerung, Protest und Widerstand der Russlanddeutschen im Sowietstaat
Krieger, Dr. Viktor. "Disobedience, Protest and Resistance by German-Russians in the Soviet State." Volk auf dem Weg, March 2007, 12-14.
This translation from the original German text to American English is provided by Alex Herzog, Boulder, Colorado
NOTE: This article is a continuation from the February 2007 Issue, pages 14-15 (still to be continued)
Armed Resistance in the Black Sea Region
The situation of the Black Sea Germans during the years 1918 - 1920 differed form that of the Volga-Germans. While the latter were, nearly without interruption, part of the Soviet power arena and throughout the years were forced to endure the merciless food delivery requisitions plus numerous mobilizations of persons and horses and then themselves became victims of catastrophic famine, the Germans in southern Ukraine and on Crimea initially suffered primarily as a result of the bitter clashes between various civil war parties, from the chaos resulting from quickly spreading illnesses such as typhoid fever, as well from attacks by marauding gangs, especially those led by Nestor Machno.
In Odessa and environs alone, power changed hands at least seven times within three years: a provisorily government, Boleshvist grab of power, entry of German-Austrian troops, and then the conquest of the city by the White Guards' volunteer army. Only from February, 1920 onward (on Crimea, from November) were the Bolshviks finally able to assert themselves.
Under these circumstances, most of the settlements were left to
themselves to look after order and calm in their villages and to
set up armed self-protection units, which originally began to be
formed under the direction of Reichs-German officers and, in the
end, were to represent a part of the troops for maintaining order
that were associated with independent Ukrainian government
(Central Rada). The men of these militias would also form the core of armed resistance against the requisition policies of the Bolsheviks.
With regard to the course of the largest uprising by farmers in the Odessa region during the summer of 1919, new details have been obtained from an eye witness report by a former German prisoner of war, published only a few years ago. The uprising began on July 27 in Grossliebental, just as the village was being entered by a troop of 20 men under the leadership of Sirik, the chairman of the German Revolutionary Committee, with the goal of arbitrarily requisitioning contributions, confiscating weapons, and causing new elections for local administrative positions to be held.
Eighteen of the soldiers were murdered by the residents, and the uprising expanded into the entire Odessa Gouvernement. Angered farmers besieged the provincial center and detonated a railroad line; on August 2, about 12,000 protesters stormed Odessa, but were beaten back. With great effort, using a comprehensive mobilization of the workers and party membership in the city, as well as with the help of outside military units, the Soviets then succeeded in putting down the rebels. Only by February 14, 1919 was railroad traffic restored, but a few days later the city fell to an atttack from the Denikin troops and supporting armed units of German settlers. Subsequently, after Soviet power had been restored, dozens of the rebels and former members of protective militias were arrested and, for the most part, shot. During the Great Terror of 1937-1938, these facts from the past would continue to serve as an important basis for charges levied against others.
A group of colonists, their number still inexact, fought against the Red Guards form within the White Army. It has been discovered that an independent German rifle battalion, a component of the Volunteer Army, that fought until the Wrangel-Troops retreated from Crimea during the fall of 1920 and, at its beginning (January, 1919), had originally numbered 800 colonists.
Part 2. Peaceful and Violent Protests, from 1921 through 1941
Wave of Emigration
The relatively liberal period of the 1920s, especially in contrast to 1914, was characterized by drastic economic, juridical, and social-cultural decline, not only for the upper crust in the German villages, but also for the majority of middle-tier farmers. As a result of the Socialist land reform, most of the German farmers lost a considerable amount of their land tracts. For example, a large farmer who may have owned perhaps 60 to 65 desyatins of land [ca. 160 to 175 acres], after the revolution had to be content with about 16 desyatins [ca. 43 acres], and [German] estates were taxed at a significantly higher rate than those of their Russian or Ukrainian neighbors.
In German colonies, there was also an above-average number of lishentzy (persons whose voting rights had been revoked). This revocation had resulted in grave consequences for those affected and their family members. Not only large land owners, but small ones, lost their possessions as a result of government seizures. But additionally, the campaign by the government that was so hostile to the church inevitably led to serious conflicts between the settlers and those Soviet authorities who had been entrusted with responsibility for school and church matters.
No wonder that the implementation of such policies would lead to stronger desire for emigration. During the years between 1923 and 1928, while the opportunity for legal emigration still existed, 18,300 Mennonites alone, or about 15 percent of this ethno-confessional group, would leave the Soviet Union, migrating primarily to their brethren in faith in Canada, Mexico and the US.
But due to the changing internal political situation, repression by the state increased from about the end of 1927 on, leading eventually to a ban on religious instruction, to more and more persecution of the faithful and of the clergy, to a state takeover of the village schools, to excessive grain requisitions, to the dissolution of national agrarian and union organizations, and to dispossession and banishment of the so-called kulaks and, finally, as the real climax - the forcible collectivization of farming operations. It took the Soviet powers until 1932 when, finally and completely, they successfully degraded the formerly independent German farmers and even artisans to a landless proletariat who, now working in the organized collective operations, had become entirely dependent on the state.
During all those years, there were dramatic instances of nonviolent resistance by the German agrarian population, which, in a spectacular wave of emigration, would reach its climax and thereby attract the attention of the entire world: spurred on by the repressive agrarian policies, during the fall of 1929 thousands of German settlers decided to go to the capital city and there to demand from the central government the right for free emigration. Dr. Otto Auhagen, agricultural attache at the German Embassy, commented on their apparent motivation as follows:
"Nearly everywhere, the German population seems overwhelmed with a feeling of total helplessness, often bordering on despair... The Commune has robbed the farmer of his economic independence, and he feels not only like a servant, but even as a slave; he is horrified by the possible dissolution of his family, and he would rather die of hunger than deny his faith."
According to as yet incomplete data, as of mid-November of 1929, the number of those desiring to emigrate came to 12,439 persons, of whom 9,120 were Mennonites, 2,481 Lutherans, 743 Catholics, and 95 Baptists. Most were from the Siberian district of Slavgorod. After long weeks of waiting, 5,671 of them received permission to migrate to Germany and from there to North America. The rest was forced by the secret police to return to their home villages.
The political significance of this action was, in its effect on the fate of not only the Siberian farmers, not to be underestimated. One of the party functionaries expressed this as follows:
One of many propagandist publications in the republic-wide newspaper "Nachrichten" (Engels), here on the topic of emigration; printed December 3, 1929.
The Soviet powers would never forget this instance of being exposed on the political stage of the entire world, and with the next opportunity, during the years of the Great Terror, 1937 - 1938, they would exact gruesome vengeance. Any participation in that earlier emigration action would now provide at least an initial reason for arrest, and further charges would result from association with the existence of relatives overseas or from any contact whatsoever with Western countries or any foreigners. This appears to be the decisive factor in why, even with similar numbers of minority residents within the region of Altai and Omsk, some 3,171 Germans were arrested, and of those 2,312 were shot in Altai, whereas in the regain of Omsk [considerably farther east], the respective numbers amounted to a "mere" 539 and 128, respectively.
Critical Behavior on the Part of the German Leadership Cadre
During the 1920s the new political leadership tier among German-Russians was not "on the same page." Some of its highly placed representatives attempted to criticize or at least soften in effect the measures taken by the central and regional authorities, effectively equating them with putting the German minority at a real disadvantage in comparison with other nationalities.
Discussion between Wilhelm Kurz (right), head of the government of the Volga-German Republic, and Michail Kalinin, head of the national government; 1928.
Criticism of these kinds of opinions and perceptions as well as the struggle against "Greater-Russian Chauvinism" were an important part of the activities of the national party segment during the first years of Soviet power. The frequently encountered distrust from the party and Soviet apparatus may be understandable within the context of a broadly circulated description of the German and, especially, the Mennonite farmers: "Economically revolutionary, politically reactionary." Although objectively the German farmers provided the new powers with greater usefulness, they were considered, based on their efficient economic methods, their relatively high level of education, their various ties with foreign countries, and their apparently strange Protestant and Catholic faith, to be, in the final analysis, significantly more difficult to influence in matters of ideology and social collectivization than other ethnic groups.
At the time, certain "national Bolshevist" tendencies were present even among Volga-German politicians. For example, during a 1928 party confernece in Engels, Johannes Schwab, head of state of the Volga-Republic, publicly criticized the catastrophic state of writing and reading abilities of German children of age 8 to 11: their level of proficiency, 38 percent, was considerably lower than that among Russian and Ukrainian children of the same ages (58.2 percent).
Wilhelm Kurz, head of the Volga-Republic's government, attributed these and similar circumstances to the so-called "Spirit of Moscow," which resulted in a distorted perception of problems at the local level:
"The relationship of central organs with the German Republic
is disturbed to an extreme level.
This is apparent from the cliched pattern of action. When a representative of the Volga-Republic takes a problem to any official or office, he is told: 'You are from the German Republic? You are rich - what else do you need? You'll manage by yourselves.' This mechanical, cliched reaction is ingrained not only in experts and administrators, but also in their party superiors."
During discussions within the Central Committee of the Party on April 24, 1928 on the subject of increasing the grain requisitions, Kurz also had the courage to criticize openly the policy of the Central Committee. Moreover, he contradicted the all-powerful Vyacheslav Molotow and strongly rejected the levying of additional obligations on the Volga-German Republic.
The consequences arrived inevitably, even if slowly: Kurz and Schwab were removed from their positions in 1929 and 1930, respectively, and a few years later both fell victim to the Stalinist Wave of Terror.
To be continued...
Our appreciation is extended to Alex Herzog for translation of this article.


text:
User Reviews
1988 Mitsubishi ColtReview
Mitsubishi Colt 1.3 - My First Car! — This was the first car I ever owned and therefore it will always have a special place in my heart. It wasn't particularly nice, fast or fun, but it got me from A to B in the few months that I owned it.
Pros: My first car
Cons: Ugly, slow, noisy
Looking for a Used Colt in your area?
CarGurus has thousands of nationwide listings and the tools to find you a great deal.
Reviews From Other Years
2007 Mitsubishi Colt Reviews
My Ralliart Colt
It's a 2008 Mitsubishi Ralliart Colt It has great performance for a 1.5ltr Turbo It handles like it's on rails. It is reasonably cheap to run if you stay off the Accelerator but i don't i am always o... Read More
Colt Review
It is a great car. it runs great, starts every morning. i love driving it. and the feeling of owning your own car. and i bought it new. it has great mileage and is very spacious. and it is also very v... Read More
2006 Mitsubishi Colt Reviews
The Wheels Make It Go Forwards On The Tarmac
It's great, but the A pillars get in the way a bit. Performance is excellent for a 1.1, plus it sounds kinda meaty as well (engine size considered). Good handling, and the stereo is brilliant. Hoora... Read More
The Greatest Car In It;s Category, I Suggest This Car With Closed Eyes,
* Performance - very good cause it is only 1300 cc * Build Quality - medium, the plastics are noisy * Appearance - very nice and sporty * Cost of Ownership - gas is very economic ... Read More
2005 Mitsubishi Colt Reviews
Colt Plus Elegance X
1500cc engine is enough to go anywhere. The maximum speed capacity is up to 180km/h, but it is easily to get 140km/h on the highway. However, the legal limitation on the highway seems to be up to 10... Read More
Mitsubishi Colt 1.1 Attivo
What can I say about this? Umm.. well, it was probably the best stealth car to go to Le Mans in as myself and Mr Childs drove it more or less flat out all the way without attacting the attention of th... Read More
2004 Mitsubishi Colt Reviews
Colt Club Cab V6
The sound at 4500 rpm!!! The leg room of the Club Cab is awsome, there is no limit!!! It is really reliable and built to last. People complain about fuel consumption - if you can aford the car you can... Read More
2001 Mitsubishi Colt Reviews
My Colt, White Car Red Wheels :)
ive spent the most on this car out of the lot, and had it for the longest period of time, its comfortable, but does not compare to the bmw for that. its quick and good at cornering, wish it was rear ... Read More

subset: commoncrawl


text:
How food is raised is as important to today's consumers as where it comes from. Animal welfare is an especially hot button for the meat industry. In response to customer demand, chef/owner Todd Gray of Equinox in Washington D.C. seeks out small production farms that practice certified humane treatment of animals. Restaurateur Wolfgang Puck has recently made headlines for the same sourcing strategy.
Every producer—large and small—agrees that the better care animals receive, the better quality the meat will be. Lately, the industry as a whole and each sector has been more proactive in instituting humane treatment guidelines.
•The American Meat Institute (AMI) has been working with Dr. Temple Grandin, a leading animal welfare expert, since 1991. Grandin encouraged the development of an auditing program to monitor and measure practices in packing plants; it was launched in 1997. This May, the AMI released the 2007 Animal Handling Guidelines and Audit Guide to update and further improve practices through the addition of more criteria.
•The Pork Industry Animal Care Coalition, made up of pork producers, packers, restaurants and retailers, initiated Pork Quality Assurance Plus (PQA Plus) in June. The program addresses 12 areas that affect animal care and well-being on the farm, including housing, air quality and caretaker training. Those who comply through training, assessment and audits can achieve PQA Plus certification.
•A number of veal packers are taking a leadership role in converting to the European style of raising calves in group pens instead of individual stalls, according to Dean Conklin, director of the Veal Committee of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. The industry's goal is to increase veal consumption in the United States by upgrading animal handling practices. Strauss Veal & Lamb in Wisconsin is also testing free-raised production.
•The American sheep industry has developed a quality assurance program to commit producers to use humane and environmentally sound practices, says Bo Donegan, executive director of the American Lamb Board. Lamb is traditionally pasture raised and the animals roam free—they're never confined to stalls. Managing the land as a sustainable resource is a priority of the industry, Donegan adds. "Producers take care in shepherding their flocks to protect water and avoid over grazing. The sheep contribute to environmental balance by controlling invasive weeds without the use of herbicides."
•The cattle industry has a Beef Quality Assurance program in place as well as a Producer Code for Cattle Care. In 2007-08, the USDA's National Animal Health Monitoring System is conducting a beef study to assess and update animal welfare practices.
Product cutting: Veal scaloppini or cutlets
Conducted by Jim Eidman, Executive VP of sales and marketing
Strauss Veal & Lamb, Franklin, Wisconsin
Veal for scaloppini can be sliced from several different cuts—the leg, loin, round or shoulder or clod (the best buy).
- Determine the size of the slice that fits your end use. Top round yields the largest slice; clod the smallest. Some operators prefer placing four 2-ounce scaloppini on a plate for more coverage; others like the look of two larger pieces.
- Consider other specs. Do you want the purveyor to pre-pound the slices to reduce shrinkage or pin the veal to make it more tender? How should the veal be packed? Boxed product usually comes with veal slices in individual cryovac packages. Weights range from 1½ to 8 ounces per slice, with 4 ounces being the most common.
- Open the packaging and inspect the color. Veal ranges from white to red in color; animals can have the same diet but stress and other factors will affect the color of the meat. For consistency, different colors are never blended in the same package. Check the texture. Meat should be firm and slightly moist, never slimy.
- Cook and taste the veal. The texture should be tender and moist; the flavor mild and not gamy. Make sure the taste of the veal meets your specs.


text:
Current weather
Brisbane Airport M. O
- Broken clouds
- Temperature: 19 °C
- Wind: South-Southwest, 13 km/h
- Pressure: 1016 hPa
- Rel. Humidity: 94 %
- Visibility: 10 km
- Sunrise: 5:57am +1000
- Sunset: 5:46pm +1000
2 April 2020 - 6:00am
Runs Disclaimer
'Run Calendar' is a public service free for any member to use who has internet access.
The author posting the run is simply announcing where he/she intends to run.The starting point of the run is named as an easy reference to meet. Any person or business metioned in the name is purely coincidental and has no relevance to the run.
If other individuals decide to run at a similar time and place they do so as individuals and acknowledge by joining the run they do so at their own risk. Runners must be over the age of 18 years.
Risk acknowledgement:- Runs will take place on public roads with motor vehicles [all road rules apply], off road areas and sports fields.
The author considers these areas as very high risk to personal injury or death.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the participant releases and indemnifies the organiser, authors, other participants, event sponsors, event funding bodies, beneficiaries and their respective committee members, directors, employees, contractors, volunteers and representatives, the owners, licensees and occupiers of land and property upon which the run or any part of it is conducted including statutory bodies and local authorities against all and any actions or claims which may be made by the participant or on their behalf or by other parties for or in respect of or arising out of any injury, loss, damage or death caused to the participant or their property whether by negligence, breach of contract or in any way whatsoever.
To view training runs please create an Account and login.


text:
Bringing Torah to the Community
Kollel Yom Rishon®: Expand Your Mind with Leading Scholars
Both the Abraham Arbesfeld Kollel Yom Rishon learning program for men and the Millie Arbesfeld Midreshet Yom Rishon learning program for women take place weekly. Each features two shiurim [lectures] from Yeshiva University roshei yeshiva [professors of Talmud], faculty and Torah personalities addressing cutting-edge topics in a warm learning environment open to the public.
For both programs, the first shiur lasts from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. and the second from 10:30 a.m-11:30 a.m. Complimentary parking and refreshments are provided, and no preregistration is required.
The shiurim address various topics relating to Halacha [Jewish law], parsha, Jewish thought and more. Because the shiurim are not a series, participants can miss one week without falling behind. The shiurim are meant to be intellectually stimulating while accessible to those with limited Jewish education.
Weekly Schedule
Special Yemei Iyun
Over the course of the academic year, a number of special Yemei Iyun [days of in-depth learning] are offered to the community on the Yeshiva University Wilf Campus in Washington Heights:
- Tanach Yom Iyun
- Tisha B'av
- Revel Yom Iyun
- Beth Din Yom Iyun
- Pre-Yom Tov Events
Medical Ethics Society's Conferences
In addition to the many events held on campus throughout the year, the YU Student Medical Ethics Society organizes an annual conference covering various topics related to medical ethics. Past conferences have covered Jewish perspectives on modern genetics, end-of-life issues and mental health topics. The conferences include a number of presenters and draw hundreds of participants from the tristate area. CLE credits are available for medical professionals. Please visit Medical Ethics Society for more information.
Inspiration at Your Fingertips: YU Torah Online
The Marcos and Adina Katz YU Torah Online
The Marcos and Adina Katz Torah Web site YU Torah Online, sponsored by the Center for the Jewish Future and the Rabbi Isaac Theological Seminary (RIETS), features:
- Over 35,000 recorded lectures, classes and seminars from YU roshei yeshiva and others from YU schools and affiliated organizations
- Cutting-edge media and social networking technology
- Articles related to each upcoming holiday
- Shabbat table discussion guides
YU Torah Online also partners with synagogues and organizations to power their own Torah Web sites with YU Torah Online technology.
A hugely popular site, YU Torah Online records an average of 375,000 monthly page views, and in addition to being a much-viewed resource within Yeshiva University, it also attracts a large external audience: more than 50 percent of its visitors have had prior experience with Yeshiva University.
YU Torah To-Go
Before every chag [Jewish holiday], YU Torah Online compiles a collection of articles relating to that holiday, written by YU faculty, roshei yeshiva and various other Torah personalities. In 2010, 12,000 editions were published for Tisha B'Av, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkot, Hanukkah, Purim, Pesach, Yom Haatzmaut and Shavuot, and were distributed across the country and world. Another 6,000 were downloaded online. Communities benefiting from the series include Teaneck, the Five Towns, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Toronto and Ra'anana, Israel.
The Shabbat Table
The Shabbat Table discussions are a monthly set of Torah resources meant to facilitate meaningful discussions on Torah ethics and issues. Please visit YU Torah Online Shabbat Table for more information.


text:
Dinner party recipe: Beef Daube
Here's how it happens, when you've invited 10 people for dinner. You make a beef daube. That way, you're done cooking before anyone arrives, and you even have time to put on a clean shirt.
The trick to a successful daube is to start early. As in, a couple of days early. For whatever mystical reason, stew that's been cooked, then cooled, then rewarmed again takes on an otherwise unattainable richness of flavor that's impossible to cheat. This doesn't mean the recipe is more difficult, it just means you have to start a bit earlier.
Read more…


text:
Monday, January 10, 2011
Learning to Accept Gifts Makes Me a Better Mom
3 comments:
- Penny Williams said...
As you know, I too have a 2e kiddo. It's so difficult for them to have the intelligence for a task to come super easy to them but then have the barrier of the ADHD to complete it at all. I think being 2e really raises the frustration of these amazing kiddos.
- January 11, 2011 at 2:32 PM
- Spruce Kids said...
I just came across your twitter and blog pages. So glad to meet you. I appreciate your stories so much! Thanks for sharing.
Spruce Kids {www.sprucekidsblog.com, @sprucekids and on fb}
visit us and say hello! we love visitors.
- January 24, 2011 at 4:43 PM
- Deb said...
I love this post. I agree it is sometimes difficult to see or accept the positive in our kids. I find I struggle with knowing my child is bright (perhaps gifted) because I worry his diagnosis (ADHD, anxiety, sensory processing disorder) will keep him from reaching his full potential which always worries me....
looking forward to reading more..
- January 25, 2011 at 5:10 PM


text:
Black holes: Illusion of health melts
Lying on my right side on the examining table, I gaze at the monitor next to me. As the technician guides a palm-sized plastic probe over my breast, the ultrasound records an image of the tissue rolling across the screen: gray with streaks and specks of white and swirling black holes, like the ones in outer space.
I'm here because an earlier mammogram showed a "density" in my left breast. I learned about it after returning from a holiday spent with a dozen women friends I've known for decades. I had marveled that we all remain in good health.
Is this an illusion soon to end?
This morning, I entered the spanking new outpatient clinic early for my appointment. In the women's clinic, a receptionist sends me to join a half dozen other women in the waiting room, a cheerful space gleaming with peach walls.
Fearing my task, I see only gray.
A tailored young woman efficiently ushers me into her office to inquire if there are any changes in my insurance and address. I confirm that nothing had changed in the 10 days since I got my mammogram.
Or has it?
One in every eight women will get breast cancer. While many can trace the disease to family genetics, some– like me– have no family history at all. Still, I'm well over 40 (another risk factor). I could be the one in eight.
I wait another 20 minutes.
In a small dressing room, I'm directed to exchange my blouse and bra for a waist-length pink smock. I then sit for another quarter hour until the technician arrives.
A pleasant, petite woman in her 40s, she positions me facing the machine, which she adjusts until a flat rectangular plate is opposite my left breast. Spreading the tissue with her hands, she places the breast on the plate, and then lowers an upper plate to compress the breast as flat as possible. The actual mammogram usually takes only a minute. It is uncomfortable, but usually routine.
Only this time it's not routine.
The additional images will give the doctor more detailed pictures to examine for signs of tumors. I feel vulnerable. Something unknown is in my breast.
After several pictures, the technician repositions me and my breast for almost-vertical images of the compressed tissue. After intently reviewing the pictures, she again moves me, this time to further compress a portion of the breast.
Squeezing the breast for a mammogram hurts. Today, however, the procedure doesn't bother me physically, but psychically I feel wrung out.
I remember what my friend Susie said the other night when I literally cried on her shoulder about my call-back: "Women do survive breast cancer, if it is breast cancer."
I think of Carol who has survived almost 35 years, of Virginia who has survived 15, Elizabeth who has survived five, and Judy, who recently had her one-year anniversary.
And I remember my mother-in-law, Alma, and classmate Susan, who died from breast cancer.
The technician finishes. I return to the dressing room and pass the time by reading, trying unsuccessfully to divert my attention from why I am here. What will I do if I have cancer?
The minutes tick by– five, 10, 15.
I write questions for the doctor: What are the next steps? What are my alternatives? How quickly must I make decisions? I think about my family and my work. If I have cancer, I will take the time for treatment and to heal, even if it means leaving work.
Recently, I experienced a very stressful period in my work life. I have tried to counteract it by exercise, prayer, and meditation. Yet I wonder about the stress. Do the pressures of everyday living make me and other women more vulnerable to cancer?
I look at my watch: 25 minutes have gone by since the technician left. I wait 10 more minutes, and then she knocks. She needs more images, so I return to the machine for more pictures. And wait again.
Twenty minutes later, a new technician arrives. The doctor needs a sonogram, she says, so I enter a new room with an examining table and equipment. As I lie on the table, the technician guides a handheld probe over my left breast while looking at the monitor next to me.
In response to my question, she explains that ultrasound sends high frequency waves through the breast and converts them to images. The resulting sonogram is more sensitive to the tissue than the mammogram. After finishing and printing out her work, she says "Wait here, and the doctor will come talk with you. Or sometimes, when there's nothing wrong, he sends me." I realize that I have left my written questions in my briefcase in the dressing room.
I sit up on the table, still naked to the waist. The image of my breast remains on the screen. The picture reminds me of space when I look up at the stars at night– shining objects and swirling filmy portions of the Milky Way and darkness. I think of images I've seen of black holes that suck everything into them. Are the swirls I see in the tissue like that- black holes sucking my life into them?
As the door opens, I inhale deeply, and before I can register that it's the technician, not the doctor, she says:
"You're okay. The sonogram shows there's nothing wrong."
I'm grateful. The blackness is not a black hole after all. As I dress, I think, this time at least, I am lucky; I'm not the one in eight. I walk out of the clinic with a distinct bounce to my step. I don't want to forget this feeling of how precious and precarious life is. I don't have a moment to waste.


text:
U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced a comprehensive legislative package on July 15 that is designed to help prevent debilitating terrorist attacks at America's chemical, drinking water, and wastewater facilities. This legislation requires plants to assess their vulnerability and develop plans to address those vulnerabilities, and requires the highest-risk facilities to put in place Inherently Safer Technology (IST) to increase public and environmental safety. The Society of Chemical Manufacturers and Affiliates (SOCMA) expressed strong concern over the bill, which mandates that chemical facilities switch to so-called safer chemicals or processes in a misguided attempt to safeguard such critical infrastructure from a terrorist incident.
According to Lautenberg, the Secure Water Facilities Act and Secure Chemical Facilities Act would require changes for the highest-risk facilities, preventing undue burdens on small, low-risk facilities while protecting against the greatest threats. Some of the changes that can be implemented at water and chemical plants include reducing the amount of lethal gases stored on-site or minimizing the use of dangerous chlorine gas.
The bills would:
Since 2001, hundreds of chemical and water facilities have already switched to safer and more secure chemicals or processes, eliminating risks to millions of people. A recent survey by the Center for American Progress identified 554 drinking water and wastewater plants in 47 states that have increased security by replacing extremely hazardous substances with safer chemicals or processes, eliminating risk to 40 million people. However, companies are not required to consider these alternatives, and therefore many have not. Lautenberg's legislative package would build on these achievements and increase safety at both chemical and water facilities nationwide.
The bills are endorsed by a broad coalition of 88 environmental, health, and labor groups.
Similar legislation, the Chemical and Water Security Act of 2009, H.R. 2868, was approved in the U.S. House of Representatives on Nov. 6, 2009.
SOCMA said the Secure Chemical Facilities Act was introduced just days after Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano praised the department's existing standards now being implemented by chemical facilities through the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).
Speaking at the Chemical Sector Security Summit on July 7, Napolitano underscored the importance of the current program's common-sense performance standards to help protect individual facilities against threats without compromising their unique operational characteristics or efficiency.
"Senator Lautenberg's bill runs counter to the Secretary's emphasis on a balanced approach to the existing CFATS program," said Lawrence D. Sloan, SOCMA president and chief executive officer. "SOCMA appreciates the bill's attention to the impact of its controversial provision, better known as inherently safer technology (IST), on small chemical facilities. However, IST is obviously not a common-sense mandate."
"This legislation follows the same partisan approach as the House to alter a comprehensive chemical security standard, now being successfully implemented to protect American workers and communities in which chemical facilities operate," Sloan continued.
"Senator Lautenberg is casting aside bipartisan efforts already put in place by fellow Democratic colleagues to ensure that the existing security standards, set to expire soon, continue to protect chemical facilities from terrorist attack," added Bill Allmond, SOCMA's vice president of Government Relations. "While intending to protect chemical facilities against attack, this bill takes aim at the manner in which the U.S. manufactures chemicals, which has the potential to alter common goods that Americans rely on every day."
The legislation is flawed, SOCMA said, because it mandates implementation of a process safety concept — not a security measure — a clear definition of which cannot be agreed upon by experts and which cannot be measured. Academia and industry experts alike have repeatedly testified against mandating IST, yet this bill ignores those warnings.
SOCMA said the best path forward is supporting the Senate's bipartisan bill, S. 2996, to extend the existing comprehensive chemical security standards.


text:
I sit at the foot of the bed, staring slack-jawed at a Russian news show. One of those satellite channels you only ever come across in hotel rooms. The panel members are using words like "financials" (can you really pluralise that?) and "bullish" (where, I wonder, is the missing "t"?).
K is lying on the bed, casually leafing through a property development brochure. We're in a chalet on the grounds of an exclusive golf club and resort. The suit has had another dusting off and is hanging on the wardrobe door as she gets up to run a bath.
I think I may have died and gone to hell.
Now the dance, the ridiculous waltz of preparation; K will castigate me for not getting ready. It's nearly time! Why am I just sitting here? Why am I not shaving? Why do I always do this? There will be raised voices, maybe even a couple of tears. Then I will get ready. In precisely ten minutes. And then she won't be ready. When she finally is (multiple costume changes and two completely different hairstyles later) I must admit she doesn't look too shabby. We go to the clubhouse. More


text:
U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
Nursing Home Offered Deaf Applicant a Job but Reneged, Federal Agency Charges
NEW YORK - Genesis HealthCare, LLC, the owner of Holly Manor Center nursing facility in Mendham, N.J., violated federal anti-discrimination law when it refused to hire an applicant for its food service department because of his disability, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) charged in a lawsuit it filed today.
According to the EEOC's suit, Genesis HealthCare and 84 Cold Hill Road Operations, both doing business as Holly Manor Center, refused to hire Stefan P. Denisiuk after initially offering him two part-time positions. Denisiuk, who is deaf, was offered the positions after an interview with managers at Holly Manor Center. Those managers told Denisiuk that he was hired, but he was later called in for another interview with different managers. During that interview, Denisiuk was grilled about his ability to communicate, the EEOC said. After the interview concluded, the interviewers told Denisiuk that they would contact him with his work schedule. However, the EEOC said, they later told Denisiuk that they "decided to pursue more experienced candidates" despite their previous job offer.
This alleged conduct violates the Americans with Disabilities Act. The EEOC filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (Civil Action No.: 2:14-cv-00316-JLL-MAH) after first attempting to reach a pre-litigation settlement through its conciliation process. The EEOC is seeking injunctive relief prohibiting the defendants from discriminating against disabled individuals in hiring, as well as lost wages, compensatory and punitive damages and other affirmative relief for Denisiuk.
"Qualified individuals with disabilities deserve a fair opportunity to be considered for employment," said District Director Kevin Berry of the EEOC's New York District Office. "The EEOC will take vigorous action to remedy discrimination against disabled applicants and employees."
Robert D. Rose, acting regional attorney for the EEOC's New York District Office, added, "An employer cannot refuse to hire a qualified applicant because of a disability. Here, Mr. Denisiuk was qualified, experienced and ready to work, only to have Holly Manor pull back its job offer because of his disability. This violates federal law."
According to the website for Genesis HealthCare, www.genesishcc.com, the company owns and operates more than 400 skilled nursing centers and assisted living communities across the nation. 84 Cold Hill Road is a Pennsylvania company that is licensed by the state of New Jersey to operate Holly Manor Center.
Eliminating barriers in recruitment and hiring, especially class-based recruitment and hiring practices that discriminate against racial, ethnic and religious groups, older workers, women, and people with disabilities, is one of six national priorities identified by the EEOC's Strategic Enforcement Plan (SEP).
The EEOC's New York District Office has jurisdiction over Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Northern New Jersey.
The EEOC is responsible for enforcing federal laws against employment discrimination. Further information is available at www.eeoc.gov.


text:
First Canada
FirstGroup plc
First Student
First Student Charter
First Vehicle Services
First Mobile Technologies
About Us
Vision and Values
Why First Transit
Maintenance Excellence
Case Studies
University of Tennessee
Capital Metro BRT
BWI Airport
Valley Metro RPTA
University of Southern California Maintenance
El Paso Transit Management
Shared Autonomous Vehicle (SAV)
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles
Fixed Route
Transit Management
Campus Transit
Healthcare Transportation
Fleet Maintenance
Bus Rapid Transit
Benefits of Working Here
Contact Us
Maryland Aviation Administration and First Transit:
Honored to be Ranked #1 in Service
The Maryland Aviation Administration needed a contractor with demonstrated experience and thorough knowledge of airport shuttle service for the Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI). This not only required a seasoned management team but exceptional customer service, quality maintenance practices, and high level of community involvement through DBE/MBE contract participation. BWI serves over 5 million passengers annually, with swells during peak service periods.
First Transit put together a plan to show commitment to BWI and recommended variation in operational hours, weather and crisis events and peak transportation periods. We also suggested relocating the entire shuttle operations and monitoring customer service through a third party vendor.
First Transit has met or exceeded all contract goals and objectives with superior results. We now shuttle passengers to and from some 35,000 parking spaces in six different lots. We successful relocated the shuttle operations and 200+ employees from a trailer holding lot to the new Hilltop Lot. Our customer service is tracked by minority contractor Simon and Simon, Inc. via the monthly "Mystery Rider" evaluation program. Results of these service appraisals are consistently at 98.6%. First Transit operates a fleet of 60 passenger service vehicles and maintains every vehicle to the highest standards.
In 2011, the Baltimore – Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport receive the honor of being selected as the "Number 1 airport in the world for services among airports of its classification."


text:
Quote:That's interesting Fletch. So you don't see it as a valid or dependable response to a weapon disarm? There are some other variations from the same entries when (a botched) kote gaeshi can be turned into a kote mawashi (wrist return) or kote oroshi (wrist drop) - depending on the situation.Do you do the takedown and pins as well from kote gaeshi?
Quote:I have known this move for a long time, learned it in my karate class. When i started my mma training, i tried to no avail to get this off, it is effective if i can only get it off. Things are just happening to fast and everything is all slippery in the heat of battle. What is my problem?
Quote:Hello all.The Kote Gaeshi wristlock is one of the first locks I learned in Traditional JJ. For those not familiar, it is the compressing and twisting lock where your thumb(s) is on the back of their hand with your gripping fingers at the base of their wrist.The lock occurs as you rotate their own wrist up and inward. It becomes a throw when foot work is added as the lock has a way of pulling them out of balance. Of course, for SD the throw is more of a crumple as without proper ukemi, the uke just gets his wrist broken.
Night club fight footage and street fights captured
with the world's first bouncer spy cam
to Matrix!
Learn ten times faster with new training method. Learn entire arts
for as little as $10 per disk.
Self Defense
Stun guns, pepper spray, Mace and self defense products. Alarms for personal and home use.
Stop An Urban Gorilla: Get 2 FREE TASER M26C Replacement Air Cartridges With Each New TASER M26C!


text:
Henry Makow can be reached at
Direct Link to Latest News
Hidden History, Zionism
and Anti-Semitism
· How the Rockefellers Re-engineered Women
· Betty Friedan-"Momey" was a Commie
· Now Heterosexuals Are in the Closet
· When Love is a One-Night Stand
· Men Who Get Women
· Possessiveness is Part of Marriage
· Why All Porn is Gay
· An Illuminati Primer
· Conspiracy Too Monstrous to Conceive
· Rothschild Conducts Red Symphony
· The Devil's Work: Feminism and the Elite Depopulation Agenda
· Be Afraid: The New World 0rder's Fascist Pedigree
· Banking Cartel is the Cause of Humanity's Woes
· Illuminati Defector Details Pervasive Conspiracy
· Does a Satanic Cult Rule the World?
· Bush, Bin Laden Serve the Same Masters
· Humanity is Satanically Possessed
· The "Jewish" Conspiracy is British Imperialism
· Is the New World Order "Jewish"?
· Politically Incorrect Advice for Young Men
· Zionism: A Conspiracy Against Jews
· How University Betrays Students


text:
Sterling Silver and Reconstituted Turquoise Cuff Bracelet, "DNA"
Coming Back!
This item is available for backorder and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Read more
Pre-Order Now!
This item is available for pre-order and will ship within 2 to 8 weeks. Read more
Polished silver helixes reminiscent of strings of DNA form a pretty cuff bracelet from Balinese artisan Komang Suastra. The sleek silver shapes flank an intriguing blue-green cabochon of reconstituted turquoise. The design is minimalist and yet elegant.
This artist uses traditional techniques handed down through the generations and/or creates culturally significant items, helping keep these traditions alive.
Komang Suastra has received 5 microcredit loans with 0% interest from Kiva and Novica, the first for $600 and the most recent for $5000. Proceeds were used to purchase raw materials such as sterling silver and semiprecious gemstones.
This artist is currently supporting and providing for the education of their children, grandchildren, or children in their community, whether it be at the primary, secondary, or university level.
This artist positively impacts their community through job creation and provides jobs for 2 or more people.
This artist supports children under the age of 18.
2 Artisans Impacted
0 Helpful Vote (verified_buyer)
Verified Buyer
Totally Awesome!
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes(0) No(0)
18 Artisans Impacted
2 Helpful Votes (verified_buyer)
Verified Buyer
"Beautiful bracelet"
Beautiful bracelet. A combination of a cuff and a bangle; the turquoise stone is a knockout. Light and substantial its comfortable even in hot weather.
Was This Review Helpful?
Yes(0) No(0)
Meet the Artist
Komang Suastra
Sterling silver and gemstone jewelry
Bali and Java18 artist reviews
Cause Badges
Komang Suastra Sterling silver and gemstone jewelry
"Creating new designs is very exciting."
"When I finished high school, I set up my own workshop and started crafting jewelry there. Through this experience, I learned a lot about developing my own designs. I offered my jewelry to art shops nearby and, thank God, people really liked it. My courage grew.
"Creating new designs is very exciting. I settled into the day-to-day routine of a silver artisan until I got married. Then I stopped for a while to take care of my family. After that, the necessities of life conquered all, and I went back to crafting silver jewelry.
"Soon after my wedding, I received a very large order for jewelry because of its financial promise. Although I began my home workshop with only a few people helping me, I prioritize quality. With good quality, people will want more of my designs. Because from good quality will come good satisfaction, and good satisfaction will surely result in good and loyal clients. I had to bring more people in to help me in order to meet my standards of quality. That is a good thing for me and my family and certainly for the people who help me craft these lovely pieces of jewelry art."
18 Testimonials for Komang Suastra
Norman, OK USA
More from this Artist
DNAAmazonite and Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet from Bali
Size: 6" L (end to end) x 1.1" W5.0 (Komang Suastra)
DNA in ScarletCarnelian and Sterling Silver Cuff Bracelet from Indonesia
Size: 6" L (end to end) x 1.1" W5.0
Double HelixOnyx and Sterling Silver Modern Balinese Cuff Bracelet
Size: 6" L (end to end) x 1.1" W4.0
Balinese Magic in BlackOnyx and Sterling Silver Floral Cuff Bracelet from Indonesia
Size: 6" L (end to end) x 0.3" W5.0


text:
- Corporate Press Releases
- Operating Group News
- MCAS Miramar 2019
- Underwater Intervention
- ATCA Annual Conference & Exhibition 2019
- Nor SHipping 2019
- Automate 2019
- Moog at DSEI 2019
- ACPC (The Air Carriers Purchasing Conference) 2019
- Tinker and the Primes 2019
- Virtual Construction Exhibit
- Articles
- Cryocooler Isolation System for ASTRO-H Mission
- Moog undersea domain system
- Modular Electric Power Systems
- Emily Fowler on Moog's SoftRide technology
- Chris Loghry on Moog's new space infographic
- Next Generation Space Avionics
- Low Cost Space Access Using Rideshare
- Reconfigurable Integrated-weapons Platform
- Innovative Robotic System to Capture Incoming Spacecraft to the International Space Station
- Orbital Maneuvering Vehicle Simulation
- Moog Scales Up Orrville Site
- Moog's Modular Propulsion Unit
- Tim Pargett Discusses Shockwave Technology
- A New Way of Looking at Metal Additive Manufacturing Processes
- Certification of Production Additive Manufactured Parts
- The Benefits of Linear Motors
- Additive Manufacturing Reshaping Logistics
- Wind Turbine Solutions at AWEA Windpower
- Reducing ROV Operating Costs and Enhancing Reliability with Monitoring Technology
- Issue #1 | Process Development and Control in Metal Additive Manufacturing
- Issue #2 | Process Development and Control in Metal Additive Manufacturing
- Issue #3 | Process Development and Control in Metal Additive Manufacturing
- Slip Ring Fundamentals
- Mike Ercolano on Electrohydrostatic Actuators
- Matrix Series Motors Ideal for Defense Applications
- Engineering Spotlight: Andrew Crego
- Expanding Moog into the Digital Atmosphere
- Moog's Entry into the New Space Business
- Integrated Motion Assembly Success Stories
- Specifying an Ethernet Slip Ring
- Moog Innovative Rocket Engines
- Engineering Spotlight: Katelyn Cerankosky
- Moog Aircraft Group Employees Honored by USAF, in Coining Ceremony
- Key Slip Ring Technology Behind Medical CT Systems
- Lunar Experience Future at Moog
- Artificial Intelligence for Metal Additive Manufacturing
- Moog Introduces New CEHA Family of Actuators
- Employee Spotlight: Mike Fattey
- Image Data Transfer Across a Slip Ring in CT Machines
- Employee Spotlight: Jason Jones
- New Technology Fuels UPT3
- Data Reliability with Slip Rings in Construction Equipment
- Fiber Optic Rotary Joints (FORJ) - Performance and Application Highlights
- Moog GPU Products for Spacecraft
- Moog Aircraft Group Wins Prestigious Award
- Combitronic™: The Practical Solution for Complex Motion Control
- Issue 3.2 | Additive Manufacturing Machine and Measurement Capability Limitations
- Traceable Material Properties with VeriPart
- VeriPart™ – Linking Digital to Physical
- Ideas In Motion Control
Technical training
- Training for MSD Servo Drive - Basic
- Training for MSD Servo Drive - Advanced
- Training MSD Servo Drive with Integrated Safety Functionality
- Training MASS and Motion Controller
- Training Digital Control Valves (DCV) & Axis Control Valves (ACV) Training
- Training for Radial Piston Pump with Digital Control
- Training Service for Radial Piston Pump
- Training 2-Way Slip-in Cartridge Valves and Servo Cartridge Valves
- Training Electric Feedback Valves
Moog Inc. Announces 4th Quarter and Year End 2017 Earnings Webcast
East Aurora, NY – Moog Inc. (NYSE: MOG.A and MOG.B) will release its fourth quarter and year-end earnings for the period ended September 30, 2017 on Friday, November 3, 2017. In conjunction with this release, Moog will host a conference call beginning at 10:00 a.m. ET, which will be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet. John Scannell, Chairman and CEO, and Don Fishback, CFO, will host the call.
Listeners can access the conference call live or in replay mode on the Internet at https://www.moog.com/investors/communications/. Please allow 15 minutes prior to the call to visit the site to download and install any necessary audio software.
Supplemental data will be available on the website approximately 90 minutes prior to the call and will be archived for 45 days.
Moog Inc. is a worldwide designer, manufacturer, and integrator of precision control components and systems. Moog's high-performance systems control military and commercial aircraft, satellites and space vehicles, launch vehicles, missiles, automated industrial machinery, wind energy, marine and medical equipment. Additional information about the Company can be found at www.moog.com.
Ann Marie Luhr
+1 716.687.4225


text:
"Incurable" gonorrhea hits North American shores
At least nine Canadian patients have contracted a strain of "incurable" gonorrhea, according to a study released on Jan. 7 in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Researchers found that nine of the 133 patients with gonorrhea who were treated at a Toronto clinic still had the disease after being treated with the oral antibiotic cephalosporins. This marks the first time that cephalosporin-resistant gonorrhea has been found on the continent.
"We've heard of such cases in Asia and Europe. Now it's happening in North America," Dr. Robert Kirkcaldy, medical epidemiologist in the Division of STD Prevention at CDC's National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, said to NPR. "It's very concerning."
Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the Neisseria gonorrhoeae bacteria. It can be spread through contact with the mouth, vagina, penis or anus and thrives in warm, moist areas of the body.
Symptoms in men include burning and pain while urinating, increased urinary frequency or urgency, penis discharge, red or swollen opening of the penis, tender or swollen testicles and/or a sore throat. Women experience vaginal discharge, burning and pain while urinating, increased urination, sore throat, painful sexual intercourse, pain in the lower abdomen and fever. Arthritis-like symptoms and rashes can occur if the infection has spread in to the blood stream.
Health care providers in the U.S. are required by law to tell the State Board of Health about anyone they have found that has contracted the bacteria so the patients can get the proper follow-up care and alert their sexual partners. However, out of the more than 700,000 people in the United States who get new gonorrhea infections each year, less than half of these infections are reported to CDC.
The cephalosporins-resistant strain has been going around globally. In June 2012, the World Health Organization warned doctors about the potential problem, and urged medical professionals to keep a closer eye on the disease. They felt that in a couple of years gonorrhea could potentially be resistant to all treatment currently available.
- World Health Organization warns of gonorrhea strain resistant to antibiotics
- Gonorrhea superbug? Scientists fear spread of antibiotic-resistant strain
However, all nine patients in the study were eventually cured. Six were treated with an injectable antibiotic called ceftriaxone and the last three had to take twice the usual dose of cephalosporins. This led some scientists to question if the latter really had the cephalosporin-resistant strain, the CBC reported.
Lead author Dr. Vanessa Allen, a medical microbiologist and infectious diseases consultant with Public Health Ontario, told NPR that the takeaway still remains that people should be cautious about antibiotic overuse.
"We need to rethink our strategy of antibiotic use," Allen said. "We don't have luxury of just switching to another antibiotic (for gonorrhea)."


text:
Add to Babylist
Size: 0-3 Month
Whether you're bringing your newborn babe home from the hospital for the first time or just enjoying snuggles at home, this hat is sure to keep your little one cozy and comfortable. The lightweight knit fabric is ideal for baby's delicate skin and the top knot is adjustable to get the perfect fit on their little noggin.
Size: 0-3 Month
Color: Leif Print | Watercolor print exclusive to Frolic & Fawn
Care: Machine wash cold and tumble dry on delicate cycle
We look forward to seeing your sweet babe wearing #frolicandfawn.


text:
"Denominational Federalism Is Dangerous and Separatist"
. Interview by Youssef Hijazi
Dr. Jabar, in 2003, shortly before the beginning of the war, you wrote in the French newspaper Le Monde that a dark nightmare was awaiting Iraq in the form of a civil war. Has your prediction come true?
Faleh Abdel Jabar: What we're experiencing in Iraq is a mini civil war. These tactics are being used by certain fundamental and Iraqi and some non-Iraqi forces who want to newly define the balance of power in Baghdad. It is part of an even greater strategy aimed at destabilizing the country. The intentions of the forces that exercise power within the country are as varied as the forces themselves. The situation is painful. Untamed violence is being aimed at simple, soft targets.
Above all, it affects civilians: If you're a Shiite and you live in a Sunni neighborhood, you are killed or expelled; if you're a Sunni and you live in a primarily Shiite area, the same thing happens to you. There is denominational cleansing.
It started with the former Baathists, fundamental Salafists, some paid mafia gangs and local fanatics. Each one has his own goals: The Baathists want to regain power, the fundamentalists are carrying out their global war, and several forces are pursuing denominational aims in a narrow sense. The battle that is now being fought over Baghdad is a continuation of the violence that was initially directed toward the occupying forces and gradually developed into violence against the Iraqis themselves.
Is there a way out of this spiral of violence?
Jabar: First one must ask who is stirring up the violence. The first and biggest group is made up of former officers of the Iraqi army and high state officials who were running the country. They are not necessarily Baathists or followers of Saddam Hussein, but they were dishonorably removed from office by the US civil administrator Paul Bremer. They have concentrated their war against the Americans and have a certain degree of legitimation.
The defeated Baathists make up the second group. Here I am referring to members of Saddam Hussein's tribal networks as well as the ideological Baath party. Both of them want to regain power. They would have reacted in the same way even if the changes had been initiated internally and not by the Americans. They had already ruined the country with three wars.
The third group is the Salafists – meaning followers of Sarkawi and his kind.
In addition there is the native Muslim Brotherhood as a relatively moderate Islamic movement. Their goals are clear: They want to share in power and also expel the occupiers. There are also mafia groups acting as henchmen for the Baathists.
Considering this analysis: What political path is conceivable?
Jabar: The development in Iraq wasn't completed little by little. Instead, there was a sudden break, and this leads to explosions. For that reason, we will have to pay the price for the long period of dictatorship and the destruction which followed, just as we will pay the price for the occupation, which has led to an abrupt and sudden change in politics, economy and society.
What is needed currently is a further sharing in power and the return to office of institutional powers – the former army officers, administrative officials and so forth. Political reform is necessary, and the Iraqis must take control of their own affairs so that the Americans can leave the country gradually and in peace.
If they do not go in a peaceful manner, then we can protest via general strikes, demonstrations and similar activities without taking up arms. Additionally we must work to get rid of the fundamentalists from abroad and the Baathist who robbed the country. The solution won't come over night, however.
Do you also observe an increased sense of belonging to a religious denomination or ethnic group rather than to the state?
Jabar: Yes and no! Yes in the sense that denominational identities have the upper hand with regard to political mobilization. By now, this has become the case with all Islamic political powers. Islamic politics in Iraq is denominational by definition. Their following is made up of the poor classes of society, and these became broader during the US-dictated blockade.
This shattered the classes that would have been in a position to advance civil and democratic development in the country. This class is now impoverished and is trying to regain its position by any means. That's why their current political activities are violent and bloodthirsty.
Nevertheless, denominationalism remains a means for political mobilization, to keep hold of the power within a united Iraq and not to split away. You have to understand it this way: Iraqi patriotism means keeping Iraq united, and denominationalism is a way of retaining a larger portion of the political power and the resources within the context of a united Iraq.
That's why we see both levels within a single person or within a particular camp. But when denominational language dominates it creates the impression that there is no "patriotic" discourse in Iraq.
What then is the nature of this patriotic discourse born from denominational discourse?
Jabar: There are many examples: Currently, we have an Islamic-Shiite government in Iraq. But when Iran interferes, the government protests. How do we evaluate this attitude? How do we explain it when this government defends every square meter of Iraqi soil? What is the meaning of the Shiite Prime Minister's call to fly the national flag in Kurdistan as well? The concept of Iraqi patriotism is not new. It goes back to the beginning of the 20th century.
Is federalism a suitable solution to the issue of "minorities and majorities" in Iraq?
Jabar: Yes and no. Federalism came about as a reordering of the democratic system. Its goal was to reduce the central government's monopoly on power. Ever since Montesquieu, the distribution of powers has been regarded as the basis of modern society. Later, a new separation came along, specifically, the distribution of executive power between the central government and the individual states. In this way, federalism served to develop the democratic system and gave minorities in the states their right to self-determination.
In Iraq, self-determination, federalism and constitutional democracy have been discussed as forms for solving the issue of ethnicity. On the one hand, federalism offers a solution for the Kurdish issue in Iraq. But on the other hand, there are Turkmen and Assyrian minorities within the Kurdish regions who demand their rights. As long as there are no positive signs in this regard, this will be detrimental to federalism and cause additional regional problems for the central government. That's because Turkey will feel provoked if things become difficult for the Turkmen. That means that a new problem is created in place of the old one, even if the newly created problem is the lesser of two evils.
But there are also voices calling for federalism according to denominational membership …
Jabar: Yes, a Shiite federalism is being discussed. But it is an administrative federalism. The previous government blatantly neglected the south. There are cities there without hospitals or water. Iraq is a country of oil, but while you find the most modern buildings, streets and automobiles in Baghdad, there are other places that don't even have a water supply. It's as if you flew from Bangladesh to New York all at once, and all within the same country.
It is painful for the people in these areas and they believe to have found the reasons behind it in denominationalism: "Nobody cares about us because we are Shiites from the south." That's why there is a strong drive for federalism in Basra, because 75 percent of Iraqi oil is found there, and it is still the poorest city in Iraq.
In the metropolis of Basra with its great history, you see foul water on the streets. It's been 15 years since there has been any drinking water. These are the reasons we see a desire for decentralization there. It is a desire for justice and the fair distribution of resources.
But isn't there another concept of federalism within Shiite ranks …?
Jabar: Yes. Aziz Al Hakim of Nadjaf has made another demand. He has an Iran-oriented agenda and is calling for a great Shiite federation made up of nine provinces. He would like to be the president. There are, however, very strong forces within the Shiite camp that are fighting against this.
For that reason, we must distinguish between three federalist tendencies within Iraq:
Kurdish federalism, the administrative federalism of the south, and the denominational, Shiite federalism. The first two forms have certain advantages. With the first form, one could solve the ethnic issue. With the second, one could solve the problem of distributing resources. I reject the third form. Denominational federalism is dangerous, separatist and opposed to Iraq. Additionally, it includes a regional agenda and an agenda for a backward and archly conservative Islamic system.
What would be the actual characteristics of a successful federal state in Iraq?
Jabar: Therein lies the problem. There is a new theory of constitutional democracy. Montesquieu and John Locke, the advocates who proposed the theory of classical democracy, speak of a mutual consent and of government via an elected majority. That is unproblematic in homogenous states. For example, where everyone is white, Christian and Protestant, then the government is going to be white, Christian and Protestant.
But if a country is not homogenous and there is a majority, then this majority in the population will be reflected in a political majority. The result is an ethnocratic system. That means that a large ethnic group attains absolute power.
In order to overcome this dilemma, where the simple, classical democracy leads to the supremacy of one group over the others, constitutional democracy was invented. It is a European invention that was created to solve real problems, for example in Holland, Switzerland and Belgium, and came about after a long phase of democracy. In these places, one had recognized that simple democracy is not sufficient.
Is it possible to simply apply these experiences to a different world religion? Didn't the transfer of nationalistic and socialist ideas fail already in the past?
Jabar: At the time, we demanded things that comprise the core of constitutional theory without knowing that this theory exists at all. For example, we wanted a government of national unity. What does that really mean? It means a government with broad representation.
Arendt Lijphart, Lembruch and other theoreticians of constitutionalism wrote about this in the 1970s and 1980s. The first condition for them was a coalition government of a broad alliance that includes the majority party and others.
What is a government of national unity? It is nothing other than this principle. That means that the people create exactly the government they really need. Socialism is a future vision. But nationalism, constitutionalism and democracy are all theories that arose after the development of the political systems, not before. They were formulated from the political systems after they had crystallized.
Take, for example, the quota regulations in the ministries. We asked why it was that, when the foreign minister hails from the city of Anbar, all of the employees of that ministry come from the same city. Why shouldn't they come from Mosul or Baghdad?
We had already made these demands 20 years ago. Later we discovered that the principle behind the quota regulation is formulated in a theory. The broad alliance, the mutual right of veto between the minorities and the majority, the consultation and the self-government of the affairs of every ethnic group – all these things actually exist.
One need only acknowledge them and study the reasons behind their success and their failure. They must be anchored in the basic law, applied in institutions and give the people the chance to reflect upon them, so that they see what others have achieved and where they have failed. Who knows: maybe we will invent something new. We may be successful or unsuccessful, but that is the way.
Interview: Youssef Hijazi
© Qantara.de 2006
Faleh A. Jabar is a social scientist. He is head of the Iraq Institute for Strategic Studies in Beirut. He has published several books in English and Arabic, addressing topics such as socialism, democracy and Islam. Jabar currently lives in Beirut.
Analysis Nadje Al-Ali
Total Inversion of Cultural Codes and Moral Values in Iraq
It is especially the women who have suffered under the consequences of the last three wars and the sanctions regime. Nadje Al-Ali, Marie Jahoda Guest Professor for International Women's Research at the Ruhr University in Bochum, Germany, in 2003, has analysed the situation
Commentary Volker Perthes
Stability Must Be the Primary Aim of Iraq Policy
Despite continuing disagreements with the U.S. administration, there is no schadenfreude on the European side regarding the predicament the US is facing in Iraq today. Volker Perthes of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs presents a catalogue of suggestions for a new Iraq policy
Three Years after the Fall of Saddam Hussein
The Federal Republic of Iraq
After the departure of the USA, Iraq could develop into a federation – with the aid of Europe. Volker Perthes assesses the basic factors of Iraqi politics and takes a prognostic look at the various possible developments


text:
By Dan Carr
7 May 2012
7 May 2012
Prerequisite knowledge
This guide assumes you are familiar with the Flash Professional workspace and have a basic knowledge of working with FLA files.
User level
Tips: For information on how to automate tasks in Flash Professional CS5, refer to this article.
Adobe Flash Professional CS6 provides a range of features that you can use to speed your graphic and visual effects production workflow.
Automation describes the use of prebuilt and saved functionality to facilitate routine processes and effects. For example, you could automate complex geometric graphics production using the decorative tools in Flash Professional as a shortcut for generating patterns. You could automate animation production by using saved and prebuilt tween effects in the Motion Presets panel. You could use saved and prebuilt commands in the Commands menu to automate common tasks, such as copying animations or configuring symbols.
Along with automation, this article provides an overview of the improved cross-product integration features available in Flash Professional CS6. By combining the workflow and automation features of Adobe Creative Suite 6, you can easily incorporate graphics and assets into your projects.
Flash Professional CS5 introduced an XML-based FLA format with improved support for cross-product workflows and better performance when working on large projects. You can save your project in compressed FLA format or uncompressed XFL format. The XFL format saves the project into a folder composed of XML files and graphic assets (JPEG, PNG, MP3, WAV, and so on). The assets can be edited directly by other applications and managed with source-control systems while working in teams.
Adobe InDesign CS5 and Adobe After Effects CS5 also introduced the ability to save projects to XFL format, allowing for new workflows. For example, you could start your project in After Effects, save it in XFL format, and then open the project in Flash Professional to continue building your user interface.
When it comes to creating and editing graphics, you can use the extensive features in Adobe Photoshop CS6, Adobe Illustrator CS6, and Adobe Fireworks CS6 to expand on the drawing tools provided in Flash Professional. Use Photoshop for sophisticated pixel-based image editing and then import your PSD file into Flash while maintaining your Photoshop file options (see Figure 1).
Figure 1. Import Photoshop dialog box in Flash Professional CS6.
Use the advanced vector drawing and editing tools in Illustrator to create complex layouts and then import your AI file while maintaining your Illustrator options (see Figure 2).
Figure 2. Import Illustrator dialog box in Flash Professional CS6.
Any vector graphics imported into Flash Professional are editable in the Flash workspace. You can launch Photoshop to edit bitmap graphics too; simply right-click the bitmap in the Library and select the option to Edit in Photoshop CS6. Alternatively, select the Edit option and choose Fireworks to launch it and begin making changes to the image.
For more information about working with assets created in Photoshop, Illustrator, Fireworks, and InDesign, see the Using imported artwork section of the Flash Professional online help.
You can automate graphics production and effects by using the range of tools and display object properties available in the Flash Professional workspace. For example, you can create complex geometric pattern effects using the Deco and Spray Brush tools. Or create drop shadows and bevel effects with filters or color effects with blend modes. You can specify a range of options in the Properties panel for each tool to achieve effects quickly that would be time-consuming to produce otherwise.
See the following sections of the Graphic Effects Learning Guide for more information:
The introduction of object-based motion tweening in Flash CS4 Professional opened the door for a handful of new automation features. Object-based motion tweens are represented in XML at their core, which means that their properties can easily be copied, saved, and reapplied to other objects. You can use your animations as templates whose attributes can be applied to other objects and then fine-tuned.
There are several options to copy motion XML: use the Copy Motion as XML command in the Commands menu or right-click the motion object and choose Save as Motion Preset from a list of animation automation options (see Figure 3).
Figure 3. Context menu for an object connected to a motion tween.
Choosing the Copy Motion as XML option allows you to copy the animation's attributes and paste them on to another object using Paste Motion. The Copy Motion as ActionScript 3 option allows you to copy the animation and paste it as an AnimatorFactory object in ActionScript 3. The Save as Motion Preset option allows you to save the animation attributes to the Motion Preset panel for use across projects.
To save a tween as a motion preset:
- Create a new ActionScript 3 FLA file and name it motion.fla.
- Name the default layer shape. Draw a shape on Frame 1 and convert it to a symbol (Modify > Convert to Symbol).
- Right-click the keyframe on Frame 1 of the shape1 layer and choose the Create Motion Tween option. Notice that 24 frames are automatically added to the Timeline.
- Change the physical properties of the shape at Frame 20 by moving it on the Stage and distorting its shape with the Free Transform (Q) tool. Notice the motion guide line that connects the two instances on the Stage; you can select the line and drag the handles to bend it into a curve, if desired.
- Right-click the keyframe and choose the Save as Motion Preset option.
- Enter a name for the preset in the Save Preset As dialog box and click OK. Open the Motion Presets panel and notice that your custom preset is saved in the Custom Presets folder (see Figure 4).
Figure 4. The Motion Presets panel allows you to choose default animation presets or create custom presets.
- To apply a saved preset, add an instance of a movie clip to the Stage on a frame that contains a keyframe. Select the instance on the Stage.
- Right-click the desired preset listed in the Motion Presets panel and choose the Apply at current location option.
- Export the SWF file (Control > Test Movie) to see the animations play.
- Save the file.
For more information on working with motion presets, see the Applying motion presets section of the Flash Professional online help.
The Actions panel in Flash Professional includes many improvements designed to make it easier to add ActionScript code to projects. Features include context-sensitive help, automatic importing of classes while data typing, and Script Assist mode—which generates the syntax of ActionScript as you use the interface to add statements to your scripts.
In addition to the recent updates to the Actions panel, be sure to check out the automation features in the Code Snippets panel. Flash Professional CS5 introduced the Code Snippets panel as a utility to automate code production. A code snippet is a predefined ActionScript code block that provides a certain type of functionality (see Figure 5).
Figure 5. Categories of code snippets listed in the Code Snippets panel.
Code snippets can affect simple routines like controlling a timeline and adding event handlers to objects, or more complex routines, like animation and media playback. The general workflow includes selecting an object, naming its instance, and choosing a code snippet to apply to the object.
If you are new to working with ActionScript, the Code Snippets panel offers an easy way to learn the ActionScript syntax and start integrating code into your projects right away. The panel can also be used to save code snippets; if you write a lot of code, use this timesaving feature to save your custom scripts. Code snippets can be combined to create elaborate functionality to speed along development for all levels of projects and developers.
Code snippets for beginning ActionScript 3 programmers and designers by Yuki Shimizu gives a comprehensive overview of working with code snippets.
Flash Professional also offers integration features for Adobe Flash Builder and Adobe Flex. You can create Flash Professional projects in Flash Builder 4 and later, which allows you to roundtrip your code-editing workflow and take advantage of the Flash Builder workspace for code editing. You can also use the new Convert Symbol to Flex Component command in Flash Professional to convert a movie clip symbol into a Flex-ready component.
You can get an overview of the Flash Builder and Flex integration features in my article, Combining animation with ActionScript using Flash Professional CS5 and Flash Builder 4.
Try experimenting by creating and applying reusable animations in the Motion Presets panel and reusable code in the Code Snippets panel. Check out these resources for additional information on code snippets:
- Add interactivity with code snippets (Flash Professional online help)
- Code snippets (Flash Exchange)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License
More Like This
- Creating a simple animation in Flash
- Creating the Kuler panel for Flash CS3 Professional
- Formatting text for localized Flash projects
- Augmented reality using a webcam and Flash
- Multitouch and gesture support on the Flash Platform
- Building Preloaders and Progress Bars in Macromedia Flash
- Augmented reality with animated avatars using the 3D drawing API
- Using timeline labels to dispatch events with the ActionScript 3.0 TimelineWatcher class
- Automating tasks in Flash Professional CS5
- Optimizing Flash performance


text: Gullane - Fresh off a Scottish Open victory, Phil Mickelson showed up at Muirfield for the first time in 11 years and didn't take long to figure out his strategy for the British Open. He wants to keep it as simple as possible and try to make easy pars.He didn't take the easy route on the par-5 17th, however.Mickelson couldn't resist the temptation of the dunes right of the green. He placed the ball on the upward slope, even with the flag, and attempted his favourite trick shot - hitting a lob wedge that goes backward. With a full swing, the ball went up and over his head, landed on the green and stopped about 6 feet away.But it was only on Monday, a day of practice."It is fun to come in with a win, but now it's time to focus on Muirfield and try to learn the nuances," Mickelson said. "What I'm looking for is how to make easy pars, how to get the ball in the fairway easily, how to get it up and around the greens without a lot of stress, without having to hit perfect shots. Because imperfect shots will be magnified by the wind."Mickelson has not had much success in the Open. He finished one shot out of a playoff in 2004 at Royal Troon in what he considers his best week in the British Open. Two years ago, he made a Sunday charge that came up three shots short at Royal St. George's.He is trying to understand how to play the game on the ground, so typical of links golf, but he said Muirfield is a course that sometimes requires the ball to travel more in the air to cover some of the pot bunkers short of the green.Mickelson finished toward the bottom of the pack in 2002 at Muirfield. He missed the nasty weather on Saturday that derailed so many other players, but failed to take advantage of the calm conditions and shot 76. He tried to come down on Tuesday of last week for a practice round, but he didn't make it. That means he will be spending more time playing the course than he does at other majors.Take Merion, for example.Mickelson did most of his preparations a week before the US Open, so he had no trouble flying home across the country to San Diego for his daughter's eighth-grade graduation and returning overnight in time for his Thursday morning tee time. He nearly won the US Open.At other majors, it's not unusual for him to play one full practice round at the course and go elsewhere the rest of the week until the opening round. But he knows those courses. Muirfield requires getting reacquainted."This week I'll spend more time on the golf course," he said. "Being able to be here and have a few quiet days is good."His wife and three children were with him at Castle Stuart in the north of Scotland last week. They dropped him off on Monday and headed to Barcelona for a few days until the championship begins.


text:
Tron: Legacy is almost upon us, and by this point I'll take whatever I can get. Like, say, classy British actor Michael Sheen, a pretty lady, and a too-brief glimpse of Daft Punk.
Sure, it's no jousting lightcycles or behind-the-scenes or extended trailer. But it's reassuring that even the talkier parts of Tron are at least going to be chock full of eye candy.


text:
It Is All About BTC, LTC, ETH, ZEC mining as well as other alternative crypto currencies
We have already mentioned a service called Crypto Shares that gives you the ability to buy shares earn dividends on them in various crypto related services and even some crypto exchanges. But another exchanged called MCXnow seems to have implemented this approach directly in their own system, you can buy the so called mcxFEE in that exchange that is essentially like a shares of the exchange. There are 100000 mcxFEE total out of which 50000 have been released to the public and are traded on the exchange so if you buy 1 mcxFEE you will receive 0.001% of all exchange fees MCXnow generates. The more of these you purchase, the more from the fees that the exchange collects will be credited to you and the more people trade there the more you will earn. Have in mind that this is a long term investment with a relatively low return rate as compared to what you will have to pay for obtaining 1 "share", but as you probably will not be mining forever it is a wise idea to invest some of the mined coins into something that will bring you profit on the long term. You are going to be credited your share from the owned mcxFEE every 6 hours depending on the traded alternative cryptos and the collected fees you may receive different kind of cryptos and different amounts each time.
The crypto exchange MCXnow also offers another interesting feature that allows you to get more out of your available coins, including the ones you may earn from owning mcxFEE (shares from the exchange). Every 6 hours you will get credited an interest rate on all of your coins that are currently available for trade on the exchange, the interest rate can vary on different coins and can change in time based on how much of these are being traded currently. The reason for the change in the interest rate is that it is something that forms from the collected fees from trades, so the more trades with the coin, the more fees and the higher interest rate you can get. The interest rates you see on the image above are the ones for the last 6 hours and the percentage is an yearly interest rate, so every 6 hours when you get your interest rate it will be a much lower percentage compared to the yearly rate. So even if you don't actively trade, but do deposit some coins in the exchange you will be earning some interest on top of your deposit. The good thing is that if you buy mcxFEE the interest rate can increase your profits even if you don't deposit any coins, as the crypto coins you earn from by holding mcxFEE (shares of the exchange) will also get interest rate.
According to the official information published by MCXnow, they do have 31551 registered users at the moment and you can see between 5000 and 6000 people available on the exchange most of the time. The number of alternative crypto currencies is still not that big, but the exchange has the potential for serious growth, so if you decide to invest in it on the long run now may be the change to get into it by purchasing some mcxFEE (shares). The current price of 1 mcxFEE hovers around 0.24 BTC, so it does not come very cheap, but as we've already said this is a long term investment with potential for serious growth in what you could be earn in the not so distant feature. The exchange has been available for quite some time already, so it is not something that just popped up, but there is still risk involved in long term investment as the bright future of all crypto currencies is not so certain. We have already invested into 1 mcxFEE in order to try out how are thing moving there and will probably invest in few more soon if everything continues to run smoothly as it has for the moment. After some time we have decided to sell out 1 mcxFEE due to the constantly declining price of the shares and not so good profitability from the share we had.
Crypto Trade is another crypto currency exchange with similar approach, offering users to become shareholders in the exchange by buying shares that earn you percentage of the fees colected from trades executed. At the end of every month, 50% of the website's net profits are going to be passed onto the public through dividend payments. There are apparently 25,000 shares and each share represents 0.002% of the exchange's net profits. Currently the price of a single share is 0.195 BTC with over 5000 shares currenty being traded on the exchange. So if long terms investment in crypto currencies is your thing, then you might want to check this option as well.


text:
1500 Matheson Blvd. at Dixie, Mississauga, ON, Canada, L4W 3Z4
Phone: (905) 624-6900 Fax: (905) 624-1114
Join free while you book
There is no catch. Join for free, and get access to exclusive perks!
Access to exclusive promotions and low, member-only pricing
10 points per dollar that add up fast... for free nights, gift cards or your dream getaway
Instant extra rewards for your weekday travel
Exclusive flexible rate for Choice Privileges members when you book direct at ChoiceHotels.ca or through the Choice Hotels Mobile App. Valid at most International and U.S. Choice Hotels locations. Must be or become a Choice Privileges member prior to making the booking. Discount rate is non-transferable or redeemable for cash, cannot be used for future stays or existing reservations and may not be combined with other promotions, offers or discounts. Unless otherwise stated, quoted rates are per room, per night, based on single/double occupancy and do not include taxes, gratuities or incidental charges. Early departure fees, deposit and cancellation restrictions may apply and will vary by hotel. Not valid at vacation rental properties.
The Comfort Inn® Airport West is minutes from Toronto Pearson International Airport and offers easy access to popular destinations including the Hershey Centre, Iceland Mississauga and the Playdium entertainment complex. The many attractions of downtown Toronto are easily accessible from this Toronto airport hotel.
The hotel offers complimentary 24 hour airport shuttle to and from Pearson International Airport. Stay & Fly packages are available. Shopping is available at the nearby Square One Shopping Centre and many other locations.
All guest rooms feature coffee makers, hair dryers, ironing equipment, voice-mail and 32" LCD flat screen televisions. Business-class rooms come complete with microwaves and refrigerators. Non-smoking and handicap accessible rooms are available. The Golden Griddle restaurant is located on the premises.
This Mississauga hotel offers an on-site business centre for corporate travellers. Leisure travellers enjoy a picnic area with barbecue grill.
Guests of this Comfort Inn hotel enjoy many premium amenities, including:
Check-In Time: 14:00 Check-Out Time: 11:00 Guest Rooms: 115


text:
Tom Werner to be honored with "Dave Winfield Humanitarian" Award
At Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation's 10th Annual "In the Spirit of the Game" Spectacular
LOS ANGELES, CA (November 14, 2012) – Television Producer and Chairman of the Boston Red Sox, Tom Werner, will be honored at the "In the Spirit of the Game" Sports and Entertainment Spectacular as the recipient of the "Dave Winfield Humanitarian" Award. Werner's leadership and dedication to the game will be recognized at the Foundation's 10th annual affair at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 12, 2013.
Werner will be presented with the award by its namesake, Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, who spent 22 years in the Majors. Dodgers' manager Don Mattingly will receive the Tommy Lasorda managerial award and Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully will be honored with the Bud Selig Executive Leadership Award.
Prior to becoming a baseball owner, Werner created some of the top television hits, including "The Cosby Show," "Roseanne," "Third Rock from the Sun" and "That '70s Show". He then turned his love for baseball into becoming an owner of the San Diego Padres and later Chairman of the Boston Red Sox.
Born in New York, Werner's passion for baseball began early on when he played the game during his childhood and later coached his own children in their youth baseball leagues. His love for the Boston Red Sox began while he attended Harvard. Werner began his television career in 1973 when he worked for ABC-TV. Just two years later he became the Director of East Coast Prime Time Development and in 1979 he was promoted to senior vice president of the prime-time development department. While at ABC, Werner met Marcy Carsey, and together the pair launched shows including "Mork and Mindy," Bosom Buddies" and "Taxi."
Werner and his company, The Carsey-Werner Company, has received many accolades in the television industry including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Producers Guild of America, 24 Emmy Awards, 11 People's Choice Awards and numerous Golden Globes.
His entry into Major League Baseball took place in 1990 when he led a group that purchased the San Diego Padres. He served as a member of the Executive Council and Chairman of the Television Committee and helped establish the Wild Card. In 2001, Werner led a group in bidding for the Red Sox. Werner and his group were committed to preserving Fenway Park, America's Most Beloved Ballpark, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2012.
After the purchase of the team, they created The Red Sox Foundation which has made large charitable donations and contributed millions of dollars each year to different foundations. They helped create the Home Base Program to help military veterans that have experienced post-traumatic stress disorder and brain injuries. Werner and the Red Sox Organization have also been involved in creating the Teddy Ebersol-Red Sox Fields, which are used by thousands of children.
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation has helped baseball scouts in need due to job loss, illness or financial hardships over the past nine years through the success of the annual "In the Spirit of the Game" Sports and Entertainment Spectacular. Dennis Gilbert heads the foundation that has raised in excess of $1 million to support scouts in need.
The event has honored many legendary baseball Hall of Fame players, managers, scouts, coaches and executives, including Willie Mays, Reggie Jackson, Frank Robinson, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, Bob Feller, Brooks Robinson, Cal Ripken, Jr., Tony Gwynn, Dave Winfield, Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox and Robin Roberts as well as Goose Gossage, Whitey Herzog, Eric Gagne, Curt Schilling, Olympic Gold Medalist Jennie Finch, the Boone Family, the Brett family, the Alou family, the Buddy Bell family, the Manny Mota family, Major League Baseball executive Pat Gillick, Preston Gomez, the Boeckmanns, Laura Ziskin, Larry King, Bill Bartholomay, legendary baseball scouts George Genovese, Dave Garcia, Hank King, Gene Bennett, Mel Didier, Epy Guerrero, Moose Johnson, Lenny Yochum, Ralph Avila, Stan Benajmin, Eddie Bockman, Joe DiCarlo, Tom Giordano, Al LaMacchia, Joe Lewis and the late Bob Zuk.
Past attendees include: MLB Commissioner Allan H. "Bud" Selig, Rod Carew, Tommy Lasorda, Arte Moreno, Jerry Reinsdorf, Lew Wolff, Mark Attanasio, Brady Anderson, Bret Saberhagen, Chase Utley, Darrell Evans, Don Newcombe, Barry Zito, Joe Borchard, Jerry West, Alyssa Milano, Don Johnson, Tom Arnold, Jane Seymour, James Keach, Michael McDonald, Donnie Most, Mary Hart and Kenny Loggins.
Tickets and sponsorship packages are available to the public by calling (818) 224-3906.
About the Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation
The Professional Baseball Scouts Foundation (PBSF) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that was established in 2003 to provide emergency resources through the awarding of grants to scouts (or their immediate family) whose circumstances have created a financial need. We have been fortunate enough to help with such items as house and car payments, medical services including insurance, and daily living expenses up to and including funeral costs. Our mission is to create a financial bridge for those scouts by generating funds through contributions so that the PBSF may continue to help them get back on their feet.