text:
When Your Family's Lost a Loved One
- David and Nancy Guthrie Authors
- 2008 8 May
EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from When Your Family's Lost a Loved One by David and Nancy Guthrie (Tyndale House).
Chapter 1: How Are You?
"How are you?"
It's the question everyone is asking you these days. You're grateful that people care—but it sometimes seems unanswerable, doesn't it?
"Fine" doesn't sound quite right. You may be functioning and perhaps even feeling better, but you know you're not "fine."
If you were honest, your answer might be one of these:
"I'm afraid."
"I'm disappointed."
"I'm relieved."
"I'm angry."
"I'm confused."
"I'm sad."
That was my answer for months after our daughter, Hope, died: "I'm sad."
I was deeply, devastatingly, pervasively sad. And I wanted those around me to give me time and space and permission to simply be sad.
It's Okay to Be Sad
Our culture is very uncomfortable with sadness. Unless they've lost someone close, most people don't understand how sorrowful simple aspects of daily life can be when you're grieving.
I remember the first time I went to the grocery store after my daughter, Hope, died. It was all I could do to get there, and I wept as I walked the aisles. Everywhere I looked I saw products I no longer needed to buy because she was gone. And it just seemed too ordinary a task; I was going back to life as usual, but without Hope. And that didn't feel right.
A few months later I went on a retreat with our choir. Standing up, I told everyone, "I haven't lost my faith. I'm not hopeless. I'm just sad. And I'm going to be sad for a while."
In those days, tears always seemed close to the surface. While I'd rarely cried before Hope, now a day rarely went by when there were no tears. There was so much pain inside that needed to find release.
Many people were afraid to say something about Hope, fearful it would cause me to think about her, adding to my pain. What they didn't know was that I was already thinking about her. When they spoke of her, it touched me, and my tears were a relief to me.
Recently a woman who'd lost her husband a few months earlier caught up with me after church. She told me she was crying all the time—at work, on her way home from work, and at home in the evenings. "What is wrong with me?" she asked.
"Wasn't your husband a significant part of your life?" I asked. "And wasn't his life precious and valuable?"
The answer, of course, was yes.
"Then isn't he worthy of a great sorrow?"
Before you can get on with your life, you will have to give way to grief.
For some, that may seem easy. For a while you may not want to feel better because the grief keeps the one you love close—even as the days and weeks seem to pull you away from the person you loved and still love.
But for others, sorrow feels like an enemy. Some people are afraid to cry—afraid that once they start, they will never be able to stop. Or they fear being unable to control when or where their tears come to the surface.
There's no need to rush ourselves through sadness or to avoid it altogether. Sorrow is not weakness, and tears do not reflect a lack of faith. God gives us the gift of tears to help us wash away the pain.
It's Okay to Be Happy
While sadness can be awkward, laughter can seem off-limits—or certainly inappropriate following the death of someone we love.
I remember being afraid that some people might think I was in complete denial—or worse, that I didn't really care about Hope—if I laughed out loud during her difficult life or following her death. And I remember the strange look I got from someone at a dinner the night before Gabriel's memorial service, when I asked a friend to tell a funny story and laughed heartily at it.
Sometimes we are afraid to laugh lest people think our pain has passed or that our sorrow has been a sham. But just as tears give vent to the deep sorrow we feel, laughter reveals that while grief may have a grip on us, it hasn't choked the life out of us.
Laughter takes some of the sting out of hurt. It gives us perspective and relieves the pressure. In fact, laughter actually increases the flow of endorphins, our bodies' naturally produced painkiller. It gives us a mini-vacation from our pain. And wouldn't you sometimes like to take a day off from your sorrow?
We know we've found a real friend when he or she is comfortable not only with our sadness in grief, but our laughter. And we're friends to ourselves when we allow ourselves to feel and express both.
It's Okay to Hide
Many grieving people simply don't want to deal with others. They don't want to have awkward conversations and uncontrolled emotions. They want to be alone—to have time to think and reflect, and simply miss the person who is gone.
For some mysterious reason I've never been able to put my finger on, facing a crowd when you're grieving can be hard. Walking into church and other situations where so many people express their compassion can be emotionally overwhelming.
I remember feeling that I simply couldn't walk into the parent's orientation night at Matt's school a few months after Hope died. I feared my total identity was "that woman whose baby died," and with every acquaintance would come an emotionally draining conversation about Hope's death. Fewer people probably were thinking about me and my loss than I imagined, but the prospect of encountering so many I hadn't seen since Hope died during the summer overwhelmed me, so I stayed home.
Hiding, if only for a season, is acceptable when we're grieving. But hiding can become a habit, a way of life that robs us of healing relationships and a returning sense of normalcy.
It's Okay to Engage
Some people have the opposite problem—especially those who've been nursing a loved one through a long illness. Suddenly freed from patient care, they feel a little embarrassed by their sense of relief. They're ready to talk about their loved ones and their grief and experience. They're comforted by the presence of others and sharing their memories.
We were blessed during Hope's life with people to talk to—including those who brought us meals. They were often surprised when we'd invite them to bring enough food to have dinner with us.
We had incredibly precious visits during those days. Meaningless conversations were rare. Instead, we talked about life and death and prayer and faith and eternity. It was a rich time, and we enjoyed engaging with people who cared.
Going through grief gives us a unique opportunity to bond with those we may barely have known before, if they dare to draw close to us in our pain. Conversations that go below the surface can become the foundation for new and deeper friendships that give us strength in the midst of sorrow.
It's Okay to Be Weak
The loss of someone we love reveals our very real vulnerability to sorrow and pain. At some point or another, most of us surrender to our weakness—and it can be very uncomfortable.
We may always have been in control, on top of things; now everything in our lives seems chaotic. The house is a mess, nobody has washed the clothes or paid the bills, and we can't seem to concentrate or carry on a reasonable conversation.
Grief reduces us to—or reveals to us—our neediness and weakness. Some of us have to learn how to receive help from others when we've always been self-sufficient. Others of us discover through the process of grief our own physical, emotional, and spiritual weakness that can no longer be covered up.
While this discovery can be unsettling, it's when we are weak that we are prepared to enter into God's strength. Jesus said, "Blessed are the poor in Spirit" (Matthew 5:3). In other words, our weakness positions us as nothing else does to experience joy in God and connectedness with Him.
It's Okay to Be Strong
Some of us also discover in the midst of grief a strength we didn't know was there—in character, in mind and will, in commitment, in endurance, in faith. We have the opportunity to put God's strength on display through our weakness as He provides what we need in the midst of heartache and difficulty.
There are surely no simple answers to the question, "How are you?" when you're grieving. We can be sad but not devoid of joy and laughter, wanting to hide but willing to engage, weak in body and mind but strong in spirit.
Getting your family through the loss of your loved one requires making room for all these things in yourself and those around you. It requires allowing for completely conflicting emotions and inclinations. It requires a great deal of grace.
"But How Are You Really Doing?"
Following close on the heels of "How are you?" is its requisite follow-up query:
"No . . . how are you . . . really?"
For many of us men, this is the dreaded, nails-on-the-chalkboard question. To us it implies one of the following:
(a) Your first response is never actually truthful, so now we'll press for the honest answer.
(b) You are clearly oblivious to your own feelings, and it will require somebody removing your blinders to let you see how you actually feel (and I've been appointed to that job).
(c) Your description of how you are is pathetic; here, we'll give you a second chance to come up with something better.
(d) All of the above.
What is it about this line of questioning from concerned friends that can make us so uncomfortable?
I think I know what it is for me. In the midst of my own pain and confusion, I suddenly also feel responsible to others to give an account for my progress. As the words of my reply come measured through my lips, I'm wondering if my report will be acceptable.
In a sense, I wouldn't be surprised if the questioner came back with, "Sorry, wrong answer. More hopeful confidence, please. Less feeling sorry for yourself. Less anger (or more)."
Most of us guys are "doers," and in the uncharted territory of grief we wonder if we're "doing it right." In general, we have no idea if we are or not; the seemingly suspicious questions hit us more as interrogation aimed at exposing us than as loving concern.
Interestingly, many of us find it much easier to answer the question, "How is your wife?" or "How are your kids?"
Our perspective on how family members are doing seems much clearer. We're observing them, we've talked things through with them. Though we're walking through deep and turbulent waters that are probably new to all of us, our senses may be more attuned to family members' daily condition than to our own. And generally we're more comfortable talking about them than about ourselves.
Another reason it's difficult to respond to this question is that most of the potential answers seem somehow off the mark.
"I've been better."
"I'm surviving."
"I'm 32.7 percent better than I was last time you asked."
The responses poised on the ends of our tongues seem trite, glib, depressing, unbelievable, or insulting. Or they expose a lack of self-understanding to which we'd rather not admit.
I've found it helpful to tune my ear to hear a different question—or actually, not a question at all. As I slogged through the insecurity of grief with my family during our loss experiences, when someone asked, "How are you . . . really?" I began to translate it to mean, "I care about you."
It's that simple: "I am bold enough to ask this question because I know you must be hurting. I know it must be very difficult. When I try to put myself in your shoes I can hardly imagine what it must be like. So I ask how you are. I really want to know, because I care about you."
Sure, I suspected that a few inquisitors were motivated more by an all-knowing superiority than by compassion: "I'll get you to dig down and tell me the dirty truth whether you want to or not!" Or, "I know grief, and I can tell by your superficial response that you're not really dealing with it yet."
But I chose to receive even those probings as gifts of concern. At least the interrogator cared enough to ask!
Eventually, I worked out simple, honest answers like these:
"It's very hard, but I'm doing well. Thank you so much for asking."
"This week was difficult because _______. Thanks so much for asking."
"Believe it or not, I'm great. Thanks for your prayers, and thanks so much for asking."
As I tried to respond graciously to probing questions, I saw that even though the process made me somewhat uncomfortable, it proved to be a blessing to the one who asked. This is a great arrangement, because it pays dividends for everybody. As Proverbs 11:25 (ESV) says, "Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered."
Can you receive those sometimes-too-earnest inquiries that make you squirm or snarl as genuine gifts of love and concern? Can you see them as coming from friends who struggle to understand your situation and to know how they should respond?
Chances are that many people want to try to walk with you. Some want to help if they can; others just want to empathize. Receive them all as a gift from God, knowing that they care—really!
"And How Are You Doing As a Family?"
Nancy and David
When we think back to those early days of grief in our family, we realize that the process took a dramatically different shape for each of us.
Much of Nancy's emotion was wrapped up in disappointment that she wouldn't have a daughter who would look like her, talk like her, and grow up to be her friend in her old age.
David, on the other hand, felt the helplessness of a father who was unable to protect his daughter from the foreign invader—and a husband who couldn't make everything better for his sad wife.
While our son, Matt, couldn't articulate many of his thoughts and feelings at the time, we have to wonder: How does a sibling compete with the memory of a child who was never old enough or healthy enough to disobey or disappoint? How does he adjust to having parents who cry at the most inopportune times?
Perhaps the starting place for figuring out how your family is doing is to identify how the loss has affected each of you—to get outside your own thoughts and feelings to consider those of each family member.
That can be awkward, even intimidating. But it can also be rewarding and strengthening. You may wonder how your family will cope with the mixture of intense emotions and needs, but grief gives you an opportunity to go deeper with each other and grow closer to each other than you were before this loss. Grief does not have to drive you apart.
What will determine if you move away from each other or draw together, whether you emerge from this crisis broken, bitter, and divided or healthy, happy, and whole? It depends on whether you are willing to identify and address grief's impact on each member of your family—or if you chose to ignore and avoid it.
Ignorance Is Bliss?
It can seem more comfortable to ignore and avoid how grief is affecting your family as individuals and as a unit. Part of you may wish everyone would retreat to his or her own room and emotions and coping mechanisms rather than dealing with them head-on.
As humans who don't want to hurt, we have several ways to avoid feeling the pain of grief. Maybe you recognize one or more of the following in yourself or in other members of your family.
1. Postpone. We think that if we ignore it, it will just go away. So we push it out of our minds and put it on the shelf. We don't talk about it, hoping it will dissipate through neglect.
2. Somaticize. We become obsessed with our own health or lack thereof, using physical illness as a way to avoid our emotional pain.
3. Minimize. Using self-talk such as, "We weren't that close, anyway," we minimize the value of our relationship to the person who has died. By telling ourselves that our loss is not unique ("We all lose our parents at some point"), we try to convince ourselves that a common loss shouldn't hurt so much.
4. Displace. Rather than giving energy to our grief, we give it to blame, to righting a wrong, to making someone pay.
5. Replace. Many grieving people channel their energy into causes such as passing a law, starting a foundation, or pushing for research. A cause can be an excellent outlet for honoring someone who has died, but pouring energy into a cause before the work of grief is done can derail that important process.
6. Spiritualize. While we rest and rely on the promises of Scripture to bring us comfort in our grief, the truth of heaven does not take away the pain of loss.
Do you see yourself or other members of your family avoiding grief through any of these avenues? Grief is not to be avoided or ignored. It is not something you get over so you can go on; it is something you get through.
To help your family get through it, ignoring and avoiding won't work. You'll need to identify and address what each person in your family is thinking, feeling, and experiencing.
To Each His Own
It hurts when others ignore or dismiss your pain. But it can also be annoying when others want to examine and meddle in it. It's frustrating when they seem to suggest that you aren't grieving the "right" way, or on the "right" timetable.
What feels good is when those closest to us seek to understand our pain and even share it. This is what helps a family in grief grow close—as family members feel that others respect their individual losses as well as their individual expressions of grief.
It can be hard to find the energy to identify and understand what others in your family are feeling and experiencing when you feel overwhelmed by your own pain. But considering the pain of others is what draws out compassion and helps us to give each other space and grace.
Consider how various losses affect different family members in differing ways.
Loss of a Child
As a parent, you may be agonizing over the loss of your dreams for your child—what your child might have experienced and accomplished. You may be struggling with guilt over lost opportunities, missed cues, harsh words. While your spouse grieves, too, you may wonder why he or she seems so much sadder than you do—or doesn't seem sad at all. You may feel frustrated by his or her unwillingness to talk about your child—or to stop talking about your child. You may find yourself gripped by fear over losing another child, and tending to overprotect your other children.
Those surviving children, meanwhile, may feel lost—unsure of where they fit into your family structure without that brother or sister. They may suffer "survivor guilt" and feel compelled to please you. They could fear the future as they see their parents, who used to be in control, struggle to cope with everyday matters. They might even fear that they will die themselves.
Grandparents are sometimes the forgotten mourners. Our society underestimates the impact of the death of a grandchild. But grandparents not only lose a beloved grandchild; they also experience the pain of watching their child grieve the loss. And parents never stop wanting to protect their child from pain.
Loss of a Spouse
If you're the husband or wife who's lost your mate, you may be feeling a sense of desperation about the future—wondering how you'll get a meal on the table, pay the bills, make decisions on your own, endure the loneliness. You may have mixed feelings about whether or not you'll marry again; perhaps you can't stand the idea of spending the rest of your life alone, but it seems so hard to think about someone taking the place of your late spouse. You may find yourself leaning on one of your children for support, trying to turn him or her into a confidant. Perhaps you feel angry at your spouse for not seeking medical care earlier, angry with a doctor who misdiagnosed or mistreated, or angry with God.
Your children may be afraid of losing you, too. They may wonder who's going to teach them how to throw a ball, how to bake a cake, or what it means to be a man or woman. They may feel frustrated over being different from those at school who have a mom and dad, desperate to be "normal" like everybody else. They may long for "how it used to be" in the daily routines of your family.
As the parent of a child who has lost his or her spouse, you may find yourself feeling the load of increased responsibility for your grandchildren or the surviving spouse. Perhaps you want to help, but fear interfering. You may want to make everything better, and are frustrated that you can't. You may hurt over the pain you see in your grandchildren's eyes, and fear the long-term effects of this loss.
Loss of Your Parent
As an adult child, you may be surprised by the intensity of your grief over losing your parent, not having anticipated what it would feel like for mom or dad to be there no longer as a resource. It may make you far more aware of your own mortality, an uncomfortable reality. You may face conflict with your siblings over an inheritance, or conflicting emotions if your relationship with your parent was strained or unresolved.
You may also be hurting for your children, who no longer have the unconditional love of a grandparent.
Perhaps you feel resentment that your spouse doesn't seem to get how much this loss hurts—or who seems unwilling to help you care for the widow or widower who's now alone and needy.
As we articulate our understanding of how a loss has affected other family members, without evaluating or criticizing or ridiculing, we love each other well. Identifying our issues, feelings, and thinking patterns provides the foundation for addressing them.
How You're Doing
The answer to the question, "How are we doing as a family?" has less to do with how much hurt you're feeling and more to do with how well you're caring for each other.
Asking yourselves questions like these can help:
• How are we doing in listening to and validating each other's fears and concerns?
• How well are we doing in comforting?
• How well are we doing in lovingly confronting unhealthy coping and harmful thinking?
• How well are we doing in not insisting everyone else grieve in the same way and on the same timetable?
So . . .
How are you doing as a family?
You're hurting.
You're adjusting.
You're trying to find a new normal.
You're going through one of the hardest things a family ever has to go through.
So don't be in a hurry. Don't expect so much from yourself and each other. Give each other a lot of grace. Do everything you can to make your family a safe place to address your grief rather than avoid it.
And rest in the confidence that God is doing His part in bringing your family to a place of healing and wholeness. "He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion" (Philippians 1:6).
God Fills in the Gaps
Q&A with Angela Robbins
After Angela's husband, Wes, died of a heart attack while playing softball with his family in the front yard on Father's Day, his absence left a huge hole—a gap she thought could never be filled.
In those early days after Wes died, what were your greatest fears and challenges?
I wondered, Am I up to the task of raising my kids on my own? How will my kids make it without a dad? How can I go on? How will I live after this terrible thing? Will we ever experience joy again? It all looked impossible.
I remember when we were about three months into being without Wes, we got in the car after church to go eat lunch. The kids were arguing and I was in complete despair. We were in such chaos. I pulled over on the side of the road and got out and slammed the door and stood in front of the car and said to God, "What were You thinking? Do you see our life? How is any good going to come of this? I don't get it."
After a while I got back in the car and told the kids, "I'm really struggling without Dad. Sometimes I'm going to get angry with God because I still don't understand and I don't know if I ever will. But I know two things—He's big enough for my anger and I know He is going to take care of us. I know that no matter how bad it gets, we're going to be okay."
What was that first year like for you?
The first year was all about just getting through all the firsts—the first kids' birthdays without their dad, the first Christmas, the first anniversary without Wes. We didn't do any of it very well. We stayed out of town in a hotel that first Christmas because being at the house without Wes was too painful. We did birthdays different. We tried to celebrate—but there was always the gut feeling . . . It is never going to be the same. It will never be as much as it could have been if Wes was still here. He was the one who brought the fun element to everything.
All family events were hard. Going to church was hard. Sporting events for my kids were so difficult. Any time you go out in public you feel like you have a neon sign over your head that says, THE FAMILY WITHOUT A DAD, THE BROKEN FAMILY. You feel like the spotlight is on you and that you look pitiful.
But as hard as the first year was, the second year was probably my hardest year. At that point, the reality set in: This is how it's going to be from now on.
I realized I depended on Wes so much for every part of my life and for so much of my identity. I remember bringing that up to my counselor, asking, "When am I going to be just Angela Robbins?" My counselor told me it would take my brain at least three years to change over into thinking of myself as just one person and not as half of a couple and it was absolutely true. I wore my wedding ring for almost three years. I wasn't ready to take it off. It made me feel like I was still married, and that felt good. It felt safe.
When did things begin to get better?
The turnaround for me began when I finally decided I would meet with another widow. I thought nobody could be in a worse situation than me. But once I sat down with another widow and she told me what she and her kids were going through, I realized I wasn't the only one with a difficult life. That brought me comfort. I introduced my kids to this family because I wanted them to see that they were not the only ones experiencing what it is like to lose a dad.
I thought I was dependent on the Lord before I lost Wes, but I didn't have a clue. Once I was stripped of the security blanket of my husband, I realized that I had never really learned what it means to depend on the Lord.
For a while I couldn't read my Bible, but then the Lord opened up the Scripture to me, and it came alive to me like never before. I began to seek an intimate relationship with the Lord like never before. I got to a place where I felt really clean before Him and was able to share things with Him that I never had before, like, "I'm lonely. I'm weary. There are times when I can't see the horizon and I need You to help me."
In what way did the Scripture come alive to you?
Honestly, at first I hated that verse, "He will be a father to the fatherless and a husband to the husbandless." I told Him I didn't like it: "I don't want that verse to apply to me." I didn't want Him to be my husband or a father to my children. I wanted Wes to be my husband and a father to my children. But that really was the answer.
So I began to pray, "Okay, Lord, You said You'd be the husband to the husbandless. I'm asking You to be that to me tonight. I'm asking You to fill every empty place in me. You know what that is. In Your own supernatural way would You minister to me tonight and equip me with the strength to get up in the morning and be what I need to be?"
There were scriptures I took as This is what I'm going to live on. Like, "You are my rock and shield. I trust in You." I would walk up and down the hallway in my house and say those psalms out loud, saying to God, "You are everything we need."
My kids began to pick up on it, and the tone around my home began to change. My kids began to see and celebrate how God was taking care of us. We'd be driving around trying to find a parking place and one would open up, and we'd say, "Jesus must have done that for us!"
One time in Target I needed something on the top shelf that I couldn't reach, and I thought, This is so my life, here we go again. If I had a husband he could get that. Just then another customer asked if he could help me. I realized immediately that God had filled the gap.
When you have so many gaps, they're real noticeable when He fills them. Even the tiniest detail means so much. He has done that so many times. It became so evident to us. We'd say, "That is so cool what God did!" It was someone being kind to us, but we saw it as God filling in the gaps.
In what ways would you say God has used the loss of Wes for good in your life?
So many ways. I remember one Sunday morning about two years into our journey, we were standing in church singing an old, great hymn. Worship songs have such a new meaning when you lose someone who is dear to you.
At that point, the Lord was just beginning to show us that He could fill our hearts. Worship was becoming a whole new avenue to express that for us. We were standing there singing and we wanted to shout. We couldn't sing the words loud enough or with enough passion. And my 12-year-old daughter said, "Look around. Nobody is feeling it like us. We're so lucky that it means this much."
What a blessing to realize you have a connection with Jesus you've never had before—because you've been able to share in His sufferings.
How do you deal with your kids' need for a dad and your own loneliness?
It is hard because you get a lot of pressure from your friends to pursue a new relationship with a man. To them, that is the fix to all your struggles.
But I've seen so many widows rush into another relationship and give up the opportunity to nurture an intimate relationship with Jesus. I tell new widows, "Do your best to pursue Jesus. Give yourself time to allow Him to fill every place. If you become a workaholic or shopaholic or go from relationship to relationship, you are filling your life with everything but Him."
I also know that if there is going to be another person in my life, it isn't for just me but for four people—and that's a tall order to fill. I do believe that the Lord will raise up someone for me, but in His time, and I have to trust that. There have been many times in the last eight years—especially as my kids are teenagers—that I think, Lord, when will you send them a dad? It's really more about them than me because I see how hard it is for them to go through those years without a significant male.
These are the times I go back to God and say, "I'm asking You once again to fill the gaps. I trust You with my life and with my kids' lives. I need to know You are actively involved in filling the gaps for my children."
What can you say today you thought you'd never be able to say?
I can say that I really never dreamed that the Lord wanted to bless us so much. I never dreamed He could create in us the capacity to have this much joy.
And I can say that if the Lord does not bring about another partner for me this side of heaven, I believe I still will have the most full life. I don't believe that at the end of my life I'll say I missed out.
I believe I've learned how to be content in whatever my situation because I've seen that He really can be enough. And not just enough, but way more than enough.
Excerpted from When Your Family's Lost a Loved One by David and Nancy Guthrie, a Focus on the Family book published by Tyndale House Publishers. Copyright © 2008, David and Nancy Guthrie. All rights reserved. International copyright secured. Used by permission.


text:
Olivia Holt Gets Asked To Prom In 'The Standoff' Exclusive Clip - Watch Now!
About Photo #1018762: Ryan McCartan tries to play innocent while Olivia Holt yells at him in this exclusive clip from The Standoff. The upcoming indie comedy centers on Amy (Holt)… Read The Post Here
Posted to Exclusive, McKaley Miller, Movies, Olivia Holt, Ryan McCartan

subset: commoncrawl


text: I recently just got admitted to SDSU & SFSU... Where would ya goons go if ya had the choice? Stay classy in San Diego? Or shred some deadly ocean beach.. I've been to the central coast and farther up north, but can't say I've been farther south of LA.. My vote is vibing more towards SDSU even though I've never been there. What's your two pennies?


text:
Driving Toward Success
In the sage words of Yogi Berra, "If you don't know where you're going, you will wind up somewhere else." So, where does the U.S. Postal Service want to go? Well, by 2016 it hopes to end up a lot closer to solvency. And to get there, it developed the Delivering Results, Innovation, Value and Efficiency (DRIVE) management process.


text:
Recipe from Betty Chester of Tenn.
2 Pounds of Carrots, sliced diagonally
1 medium green pepper, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. yellow mustard
1/2 tsp. Worcestershire Sauce
1 can tomato soup
Salt and Pepper to taste
Cook carrots until they are tender and drain. In saucepan, combine sugar, tomato soup, Worcestershire Sauce, vinegar, mustard, salt and pepper. Cook over medium heat until bubbly. Turn down the stove on low and cook, stirring occasionally for 20 minutes. Pour sauce over carrots, onions and peppers. Do not cook the onions or peppers. Refrigerate over night and serve.
*DISCLAIMER*: The information contained in or provided through this site section is intended for general consumer understanding and education only and is not intended to be and is not a substitute for professional advice. Use of this site section and any information contained on or provided through this site section is at your own risk and any information contained on or provided through this site section is provided on an "as is" basis without any representations or warranties.


text:
There are 2 news items
32 million euro for top-level technological research
In the coming years almost a hundred researchers are going to develop innovative technologies together with industry and social organisations. That will happen in six new Perspectief programmes, which have been given the green light by NWO, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research. The programmes should lead to a new 3D printer for large metal components, more efficient deep-learning systems, extreme microscopy, new bacteria for the chemical industry, injury-free exercise and wearable robotics for people suffering from muscular disorders.
NWO will simplify research funding instruments
During the course of 2018, NWO will implement a simplified set of funding instruments in all its domains. From 1 August 2018 onwards, researchers will be able to submit proposals for the first calls published in accordance with this new model. With this measure, the NWO Executive Board intends to create a higher degree of clarity in the research funding and a better connection between the domains for multidisciplinary research proposals.


text:
SharePoint Fest D.C. - 2013
SharePoint Fest LLC
Monday, August 5, 2013 at 8:00 AM - Wednesday, August 7, 2013 at 5:00 PM (EDT)
Attend SharePoint Fest - D.C., where you'll be able to attend technical classes and seminars – taught by Microsoft Certified Trainers, Microsoft engineers and Microsoft MVPs – covering Enterprise Content Management, Social SharePoint, Business Value, Infrastructure/Administration, Composites (Workflow), Search, Business Intelligence, & Development. Choose one complete learning track or mix & match based on what content best meets you and your organization's current needs!
At SharePoint Fest - D.C. there are sessions created for SharePoint administrators, software developers, information architects and knowledge workers which will ensure that you and your team walk away with as much knowledge as you desire to truly leverage SharePoint in your current environment!
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


text: CafePress is where the world's creative minds join forces to provide an unparalleled marketplace. We give you the power to create custom products and personalized gifts on a variety of high-quality items such as t-shirts, hoodies, posters, bumper stickers and mugs. CafePress also allows you to set up online shops where you can design and sell your own unique merchandise. Our design tools make it easy to add photos, text, images, and even create cool designs or logos from scratch. As if it couldn't get any better, you can even find content from major entertainment partners such as The Hunger Games, Big Bang Theory and Star Trek as well as products dedicated to hobbies, birthdays, the military and more. At CafePress we print each item as it's ordered and many products ship within 24 hours.


text:
Risk-adjusted Forecasting: More Certainty for Planning
With increased volatility, complexity and interconnectivity, existing approaches to reflect uncertainty in business planning may be no longer sufficient. Meanwhile, there is increased pressure on CFOs from boards, investors and financiers to manage and enhance the risk-return balance of the company and to reliably reflect the volatility in forecasts and plans.
One way to develop more certainty around budget projections and targets is to use risk-adjusted forecasting. "This advanced approach to forecasting and planning could be particularly useful for companies cautious about investing in next-generation growth," notes Hans-Kristian Bryn, a partner with Deloitte UK and leader of the Strategic Risk Advisory practice. At its core, risk-adjusted forecasting generates a range of possible outcomes and probabilities based on multiple risk variables, rather than a single variable. "The expanded view helps companies address interconnected risks, some of which may have been previously identified, others that may have gone unnoticed," he adds. The methodology also helps improve strategic planning because it can provide executives with a better understanding of asset performance, capital allocation and profitability by setting metrics against a backdrop of related risks.
"The risk-adjusted output tends to be more insightful and useful than traditional forecasts and plans, which present single-point estimates and metrics with little or no discussion of risks and possible variances, and without showing correlations between multiple risks," says Henry Ristuccia, global leader, Governance, Risk and Compliance Services, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. "Given executives' expectations for increased volatility in several risk areas, risk-adjusted forecasting can be a useful tool to help them and their boards prepare for such risks," he notes.
The approach is a departure from traditional forecasts and plans that are developed by aggregating "best guesses" from across an enterprise without focusing much attention on risks that could have a major impact on performance, such as competitor actions, talent shortages, cost volatility and regulatory pressures. "Generally there is very little process integration among risk management, strategic planning, financial forecasting and budgeting," says Malcolm Wilkinson, a partner at Deloitte LLP in the U.K., who leads the Finance Business Partnering practice there. "But a more integrated approach to planning and forecasting is becoming essential to drive sustainable and profitable growth in volatile environments," he adds.
Another issue with using traditional inputs in forecasts is that the data are typically based on experience and intuition and often include widely varying assumptions. Moreover, companies don't normally stress test their forecasts—and when they do, it tends to be limited and focused on a single generic parameter such as price, demand or input costs. "Given this ad hoc approach, it may be difficult for management to be confident in forecast and plan results because risks are not being explicitly addressed," notes Steven Ehrenhalt, global co-leader of the Finance Transformation and Strategy practice at Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited. "Traditional risk management practices focus on compliance and control, which are important, but rarely align with, or add to, a company's financial and strategic planning processes," adds Mr. Ehrenhalt.
A Closer Look at the Model
"Risk-adjusted forecasting 'shocks' cash flow and earnings-at-risk metrics by introducing major risk drivers to the measures, and then generating a corresponding probability distribution for each reporting period," says Charles Alsdorf, a director in Deloitte Financial Advisory Services LLP's Valuation Services practice. The process works by capturing risks and planning assumptions in a quantitative model that augments traditional estimates and intuition with a system of rules that can be analyzed and repeated. The quantitative model is built around risk drivers that likely will affect financial performance, whether in a negative or positive way. "The number and types of risk drivers are different for each company, and they are likely to change over time as the business and market environment evolve," adds Mr. Alsdorf.
Once the model has been fully populated, it analyzes the selected risk drivers and produces a high-level summary of how much each driver contributes to overall risk levels.
Moving Beyond Perceived Barriers to Put Risk-adjusted Modeling into Practice
Despite the potential for bolstering management's confidence in forecasts, risk-adjusted modeling is not widely embraced. In some cases, companies are unaware that an enhanced forecasting approach exists, while others familiar with risk-adjusted models are loyal to the status quo and derailed by inertia. There also is a perceived complexity associated with quantitative risk modeling and multi-variable stress testing analysis which some executives view as intimidating compared to simple aggregation and single-variable analysis. Other executives are concerned that risk-adjusted outputs are too complex to explain to analysts and the board, while still others worry that corporate data and IT systems may not be good enough to support risk-adjusted forecasting and planning.
"Although the concerns have merit, none are deal breakers," says Nick Pope, a director with Deloitte UK. Companies interested in risk-adjusted forecasting may want to start with a pilot project focused on group-level forecasts, a particular business unit or product P&L. Input to the model should be a balanced mix of quantitative data and qualitative insights from subject matter specialists. "In many cases, the required data already exist within the organization, or are easily obtained, and over time the pilot can evolve and expand in response to future business requirements," adds Mr. Pope.
Following are three business case examples illustrating how risk-adjusted forecasting and planning work in practice.
- Making a case for inorganic growth. A company uses risk-adjusted forecasts to assess and assign priorities to a portfolio of existing and potential products and services. The forecast is based on commercial attractiveness and strategic fit, which allows the business to identify high-potential assets and M&A targets. The model indicates that over the next 10 years it is likely that one of the company's cornerstone products will face declining revenue and another will grow at a moderate rate. The model also indicates that the forecast growth rate for each product/service in the portfolio is expected to come in below the company's targeted growth rate, highlighting the need to explore inorganic growth opportunities.
- Factoring volatility into asset performance. Targets and budgets at various company sites are prepared by identifying and analyzing specific input variables, and then developing quantitative distributions for related risk drivers. Using the resulting data, risk-adjusted forecasting models are developed for each of the sites, providing an understanding of how underlying volatility affects production performance. Management can use the information to make more effective decisions about site-specific budgets, eventually leading to improved profitability.
- Developing probability-based key performance indicators (KPIs). To improve long-range economic forecasting, a company develops a model based on random variables to analyze business issues from a risk-weighted perspective. The company uses Monte Carlo simulation and linear programming techniques to simulate the behavior of commodity markets, interest rates (treasury rates, credit spreads, etc.), customer demand, supply chain problems and other uncertain factors to generate a set of defined performance indicators based on probabilities.
Enhanced risk-return capabilities can significantly improve planning and decision-making at a group level by building a quantified understanding of uncertainty in forecasts and plans. "Furthermore, the practical application of risk-adjusted approaches within the businesses can help integrate strategic planning with risk and finance—driving more value at the business unit level," notes Mr. Ehrenhalt. However, enhancing a company's risk-return capabilities does not require a major new initiative.
"The route to implementation is through a flexible and targeted pilot rather than an organization-wide reengineering project—a pilot that acts on specific problems or areas, making significant quick wins and tangible contributions to the competitive positioning of the business," adds Mr. Bryn.
Related Resources
- Risk-adjusted Forecasting and Planning
- Demand Grows Abroad for Finance to Serve as Business Partners
- Balancing the Risk-Return Equation
- How CFOs Can Use Scenario Planning as a Strategic Tool in an Uncertain Economy
- A CFO's Guide to Scenario-based Planning Using Econometrics
- The Four Phases of Building a Scenario-based Planning Model with Econometrics
-3.43% -943.24
-3.53% -119.65
0.19% 10.81
Nikkei 225
-0.37% -86.57
About Deloitte Insights
Deloitte's Insights for CFOs provides financial executives a customized resource to help them address the strategic, operational and regulatory issues they face in managing their finance organizations and careers, with top-line digests, research, perspectives and technical analyses.
For relevant content at your fingertips, download the CFO Lens™ app.


text: Mortars have been used around the world for centuries, from Asia and Europe to the earliest populations of North and South America. The friction of the mortar's rough ceramic interior against the grinding action of the pestle releases the full flavor of herbs and spices, while also changing the texture and consistency of pesto and other dishes. The stoneware mortar & pestle is inspired by this age-old technique of careful preparation, with an unglazed interior that is abrasive enough to effectively break down contents, yet durable enough withstand the friction of repeated grinding.


text:
Internet Users Lose it During Facebook's Momentary Downtime
Facebook, the Internet's social engine that never seems to sputter, experienced a few short minutes of downtime on Thursday, starting just before 2 p.m. EST. Instead of being greeted with the usual deluge of timelines, newsfeeds, status updates and baby photos, many Facebook users saw blank white pages. No error message or 404 page, just blank white nothingess.
Predictably, this momentary lack of social noise and conversation caused many web dwellers to nearly lose control of motor and intellectual function for a few terrifying minutes. Also predictably — as is the case for anything that happens on the Internet ever — the momentary outage led to a fun few minutes of quips and snark on that other social network, Twitter.
We've emailed Facebook for comment on the downtime, but have not yet heard back. In the meantime, in case you missed the Facebook freak out party, these tweets will give you an idea of the social micro-zeitgeist:
Every tech writer is about to say... "Facebook is down" in 3, 2, 1...
— Samantha Murphy (@MurphySamanthaJ) November 8, 2012
NOW'S YOUR CHANCE, GOOGLE+ RT @smkeyes: SOUND THE ALARMS: Facebook is down.
— Simon Maloy (@SimonMaloy) November 8, 2012
Is facebook down? Not that our entire office is trying to look at it.
— Elise Foley (@elisefoley) November 8, 2012
Guys, breath. Facebook was down for less time than it took to load my Myspace page in '05. It's gonna be OK.
— Kirsten Stubbs (@kirstenstubbs) November 8, 2012
Facebook is back up. You can stop pretending to work now.
— Lisa Barone (@LisaBarone) November 8, 2012
I bet we all got SO much done w/ our lives when Facebook was down for those few minutes... like hitting the refresh button until it was back
— Jenny Driessen (@jennydriessen) November 8, 2012
Finally facebook is back to normal. People posting music , pics of ugly babies, and pics of food.. This was very much missed...
— Mary Ogeda(@MarySilvas1) November 8, 2012
I hate not being on Facebook, because I keep hoping and hoping he'll message me back. This is bad ;(
— Alexis ^-^(@InLoveWithTupac) November 8, 2012
Crisis averted, #Facebook is back up.
— Tim Akimoff (@timakimoff) November 8, 2012
Facebook is back. #obamasamerica
— Scott Keyes (@smkeyes) November 8, 2012
How did you spend Facebook's brief downtime? Share your horror stories with us in the comments.


text:
Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lu Kang's
Regular Press Conference on January 11, 2018
1 问:日本政府今天说有一艘不明国籍潜艇进入钓鱼岛12海里毗连区,中国军舰很有可能进入了同一区域,日方已就此提出抗议。请证实。
Q:Today the Japanese government claimed that a submarine of unknown nationality came within twelve nautical miles of Diaoyu Dao's contiguous zone and that a Chinese naval ship was likely to have entered the same area. The Japanese side has lodged a protest about this. Please confirm this information.
A: According to the information received by the Chinese side, this morning two vessels of Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force entered a contiguous zone northeast of Chiwei Yu. The Chinese navy was there to track and monitor the activities of the Japanese vessels. Now the Japanese vessels are no longer in the relevant contiguous zone.
I must stress once again that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territories and that China's sovereignty over Diaoyu Dao has a solid historical and legal basis. The relevant actions of the Japanese side will by no means change the established fact that Diaoyu Dao belongs to China and neither will they shake China's firm resolve to safeguard the territorial sovereignty of Diaoyu Dao.
The Chinese side urges the Japanese side to stop making troubles on the Diaoyu Dao issue, abide by the four-point principled agreement reached by the two sides in 2014, work together and move in the same direction with China, and make concrete efforts to improve and develop bilateral relations.
2 问:据报道,美国总统特朗普在与韩国总统文在寅通话时表示,只要时机、条件合适,美国愿意同朝鲜开展对话。中方对此有何评论?
Q: According to reports, when having a telephone conversation with the ROK President Moon Jae-in, the US President Donald Trump expressed his openness to holding talks with the DPRK at the appropriate time and under the right circumstances. What is your comment?
A: We have noted relevant reports. We have been saying that the international community has been paying close attention to the recent positive interactions between the DPRK and the ROK. The Chinese side welcomes all the efforts that are conducive to easing the situation on the Korean Peninsula and bringing the Korean Peninsula issue back to the right track of seeking settlement through dialogue and consultation.
As we have said many times, the US and the DPRK are the parties directly concerned on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. We share the same hope with the international community that the US and the DPRK can meet each other halfway and take meaningful steps towards dialogue and interaction. The Chinese side stands ready to continue with its own efforts to bring the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue back to the track of seeking settlement through dialogue and consultation.
3 问:我们注意到了李克强总理在柬埔寨出席澜沧江—湄公河合作第二次领导人会议的消息。你能否进一步介绍澜湄合作机制的特点和优势?澜湄合作在推进中国与相关国家务实合作、改善当地民生方面有什么亮点?
Q: We have noted the news about Premier Li Keqiang's attendance at the Second Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Leaders' Meeting in Cambodia. Could you elaborate on the defining features and strength of the LMC framework? What are the highlights of the LMC in advancing China's pragmatic cooperation with the relevant countries and improving the local people's livelihood?
A: The LMC is the first new type of sub-regional framework jointly initiated by the six riparian countries. Its defining features are equal consultation, pragmatism and efficiency, and openness and inclusiveness. The six countries, irrespective of their size, strength or wealth, make decisions through consultation and fully accommodate each other's concerns and comfort level. The LMC is not a talk shop but action-oriented. It does not seek to form any exclusive club but remains open to cooperation for the common socio-economic development of the six countries. The LMC is mutually reinforcing with the China-ASEAN cooperation and it is complementary to other cooperation mechanisms in this region, jointly contributing to the region's long-term peace, stability, development and prosperity.
Since its inception in March 2016, the LMC institutional building has made steady progress with major projects moving forward smoothly and people-to-people exchanges flourishing. The cooperation among the six countries has entered a high-speed era and brought tangible benefits to their people. The LMC has provided support to over 20 large infrastructure and industrialization projects in the Mekong River countries, conducted more than 100 medium and small-sized projects to improve livelihood, offered the Chinese government's scholarships to over 12,000 students in the Mekong River countries and over 3000 training opportunities to in-service staff and helped nearly 800 cataract patients in Cambodia, the Laos and Myanmar regain their sight through the Brightness Action. In the future, we will conduct more cooperation in such key areas as water resources, connectivity, production capacity, agriculture, human resources development, health care in an effort to bring more benefits to people of the six countries.
4 问:越南驻印度大使昨天表示,越方欢迎印度在南海越专属经济区进行油气田投资,并随时欢迎印度海军军舰访问越港口。中方对此有何评论?
Q: Yesterday, Vietnam's Ambassador to India said that Vietnam welcomes India's investments in oil and natural gas sector in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the South China Sea. He also said that Vietnam always welcomes port calls by Indian naval ships in the South China Sea. What are China's comments?
A: We have no objection to the development of bilateral relations between relevant countries in our neighborhood. However, we are firmly opposed to relevant parties' capitalizing on that to infringe upon China's legitimate rights and interests in the South China Sea and undermine regional peace and stability.
5 问:中国-拉美和加勒比国家共同体论坛第二届部长级会议将于本月底在智利举行。中方对此次会议有何期待?你是否掌握中方代表团名单?
Q: The Second Ministerial Meeting of China-Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC) Forum will take place in Chile at the end of this month. What does China expect from this forum and do you have any details about the Chinese delegation that will attend it?
A: The China-CELAC Forum serves as a major platform for China to carry out overall cooperation with all Latin American and Caribbean States, which is of great significance to cementing and promoting China-CELAC win-win cooperation and elevating China-CELAC Comprehensive Cooperative Partnership to a higher level.
With regard to the Chinese delegation, we will release relevant information in due course.
6 问:据昨天彭博新闻社报道,中国正考虑减缓或停止购买美国国债。我知道中国国家外汇管理局已经就此发表声明,请问外交部有何补充评论?
Q: Bloomberg yesterday reported that China is looking to slow or stop purchases of US treasury bonds. I know the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has made a statement about that, but does the Foreign Ministry have anything to add?
A: Just as you said, the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE) has released information. It's by reading some media reports that we have learnt about that news. According to our preliminary judgment, the news may have quoted a wrong source or it may be fake news.
China's foreign exchange reserves are invested and managed based on the principle of diversification in order to guarantee the overall safety of the foreign exchange assets and to preserve and increase their value. Like other investments, the buying of the US treasury bonds with foreign exchange reserves is a market behavior and is managed professionally in accordance with the market conditions and needs for investment. For both foreign exchange reserves themselves and the market they are in, the Chinese department that manages foreign exchange reserves is a responsible investor and the relevant investment activities have ensured the stability of international financial market and helped to preserve and increase the value of Chinese foreign exchange reserves.
7 问:据报道,欧盟驻华大使史伟10日在记者会上表示,新的一年,欧洲期待进一步深化与中国在互联互通上的合作,欧盟正在制定自己的欧亚大陆互联互通规划蓝图,并将与"一带一路"倡议对接。中方对此作何回应?
Q: According to reports, on January 10, the European Union's ambassador to China Hans Dietmar Schweisgut said at a press conference that in the new year, Europe is looking forward to further deepening cooperation with China on connectivity and that the EU is drawing up the blueprint on its connectivity with the Eurasian continent and alignment with the Belt and Road Initiative. What is China's response to this?
A: The day before yesterday, when taking the question from one of you, I said that President Macron expressed France's willingness to take an active part in the international cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative during his visit to China. The Chinese side welcomes that and Europe's active participation in the Belt and Road Initiative. We would like to follow the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to seek greater synergy with Europe's development strategies and achieve win-win outcomes through pragmatic cooperation in various areas such as connectivity with a view to promoting the greater development of China-Europe partnerships for peace, growth, reform and progress of civilizations, making concerted efforts to fuel the development and prosperity of the Eurasian continent and jointly contributing to building a community of shared future for mankind.
8 问:据报道,中国计划资助阿富汗建设反恐基地。你能否证实?
Q: There are reports that China is planning to fund the construction of a counter-terrorism base in Afghanistan. Can you confirm that?
A: I have not heard of the information mentioned by you. The Chinese side always supports the international counter-terrorism cooperation conducted on the basis of mutual respect.
9 问:法国总统马克龙刚刚结束对中国的访问。请问中方对此访有何评价?有评论认为此访在经贸领域的成果不及预期。你对此有何回应?
Q: President Emmanuel Macron of France has just wrapped up his visit to China. What are China's comments on this visit? Some observers believe that the outcomes achieved in the economic and trade area during this visit fall short of expectations. What is your response to this?
A: At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, President Emmanuel Macron of France paid a state visit to China from January 8 to 10. The two heads of state had an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and major international issues, during which they enhanced mutual understanding and political mutual trust and reached broad consensus. China and France issued the Joint Statement, which gave a full account of their common views on bilateral relations and major issues in today's world. The two sides agreed to further elevate their close and enduring comprehensive strategic partnership on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. It is fair to say that this visit has achieved full success and reaped positive outcomes in such areas as politics, economic cooperation, trade and people-to-people exchanges, which fully demonstrates that China-France relations are comprehensive and strategic in nature and laid a solid groundwork for the growth of bilateral relations in the new era.
We have noted that some media paid attention to the economic cooperation and trade between China and France. I want to emphasize that pragmatic cooperation, the economic cooperation and trade in particular, is one of the key topics during the talks of the two heads of state. The two sides have mapped out a blueprint for future cooperation in various areas in the spirit of mutual respect, friendly consultation, taking a long-term perspective and win-win outcomes. The two sides agreed to give priority to deepening cooperation in such traditional areas as civilian nuclear energy, aerospace and aviation and comprehensively expanding cooperation in emerging areas such as agricultural food, environmental protection, advanced manufacturing, innovative research and development and finance so as to achieve a higher level of win-win cooperation.
The two heads of state also had an in-depth exchange of views on the cooperation under the Belt and Road framework and reached important consensus on jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and striving for the prosperity of the Eurasian continent on the part of China and France.
At last, I would like to stress that China-France relations have extended far beyond the simple buyer-seller relationship with the breadth and depth of their cooperation being expanded, the vitality and potential being enhanced and their interests getting more intertwined. We are full of confidence in the prospects of the growth of China-France relations.
10 追问:关于中国海军军舰的问题,近期中日关系逐渐改善,中国政府也表示希望共同推动中日关系进一步改善发展,中方为何在这个时间节点采取有关行动?
Follow-up: Regarding the issue of the Chinese naval ship, China-Japan relations have recently been improving, and the Chinese government also said that it hopes to jointly push forward the further improvement and development of China-Japan relations. Why did the Chinese side take relevant actions at this juncture?
A: As to the situation you mentioned, just now I have elaborated on the position of the Chinese government, whose kernel is that Diaoyu Dao and its affiliated islands are China's inherent territories. It is beyond dispute that the Chinese side conducts activities in its own territorial waters. We have also said that the relevant actions of the Japanese side will by no means change the established fact that Diaoyu Dao belongs to China and neither will they shake China's firm resolve to uphold the territorial sovereignty of Diaoyu Dao.
On China-Japan relations, I would like to stress that the Chinese side attaches great importance to China-Japan relations. We also heeded the positive signals recently sent out by Japanese top leadership on improving bilateral relations. We hope that the Japanese side can match its words with deeds, abide by the four-point principled agreement reached by the two sides in 2014, move in the same direction with China, and make concrete efforts to improve and develop bilateral relations.
11 问:中方对美国众议院近日通过"与台湾交往法案"有何评论?
Q: What are China's comments on the US House of Representatives' recent passing of the Taiwan Travel Act?
A: We have taken note of relevant reports. I must stress once again that the act severely violates the one-China policy and principles in the three China-US joint communiqués and interferes in China's internal affairs. We express firm opposition to it.
The Chinese side urges the US side to abide by the one-China policy and principles in the three China-US joint communiqués, prudently handle the Taiwan issue, refrain from engaging in any form of official exchange or contact with Taiwan or sending any wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" separatist forces, and take concrete actions to uphold the larger picture of China-US relations and the China-US cooperation in international affairs.
12 会后有记者问及:据了解,伊朗国家石油油船公司发言人称,中方在救援东海海域船只碰撞事故中失联的伊朗籍船员时并不帮忙。中方有很多消防设备和人员在燃烧的油船附近,但不使用他们。你对此有何评论?
After the press conference, the following question was raised: according to our information, the spokesperson of the National Iranian Tanker Company said that China did not help to rescue those missing Iranian crewmen in the oil tanker collision accident off the coast of the East China Sea. Though having a lot of firefighting equipment and personnel near the burning tanker, China is not using them. What's your comment?
Spokesperson Lu Kang said that such remarks are totally contrary to the facts.
Since the accident happened, the Chinese government has attached great importance to it and made all-out efforts to conduct maritime search and rescue for the shipwrecked crew. China maintains communication with the Iranian Embassy in China. The China Maritime Search and Rescue Center has coordinated and dispatched a large number of rescue forces to engage in search and rescue efforts on the spot in a scientific and effective manner. The wrecked ship that carries 130,000 tons of condensate oil is still burning and exploding. Meanwhile, the sea conditions are rough in the waters where the accident took place, and you can well imagine how difficult and dangerous the rescue is. The Chinese rescuers approached the tanker at the risk of their lives many times to search, rescue and fight the fire at close range. At the same time, China has been coordinating with the rescue teams from Japan and the ROK.
A case involving human life must be treated with the utmost care. This is how we perceive this matter and we also act exactly in that vein. We hope relevant side will learn their information through official channels including the China Maritime Search and Rescue Center and not readily believe information from other channels, lest that should disrupt and negatively affect the rescue efforts.


text:
Social complexity
Agile development is considered a methodology by which solutions are produced through collaboration among self-organizing and multi-functional teams, according to commonly referenced definitions. However, within too many organizations, a lack of effective management of these teams is the biggest obstacle to successful agile development, according to the book Management 3.0: Leading Agile Developers, Developing Agile Leaders (Pearson/Addison-Wesley Professional/Available now). Author Jurgen Appelo, a leading agile manager/expert, contends that in order to succeed, today's organizations must perform as living, networked systems. The secret, he says, is to primarily focus on people and relationships, as opposed to technology. The book provides an insightful examination of the essence of agile development, as well as takeaway steps for managers to consider in overseeing such teams. Appelo recently served as CIO of ISM eCompany, one of the Netherlands' largest e-business solution providers. He also produces one of Europe's top agile development blogs. Here are 10 fundamental qualities needed to manage agile IT teams.
Managing agile teams is enhanced by understanding of the science of social complexity - the study of dynamics created within groups of people.
This article was originally published on 02-04-2011


text:
Mayor's Office
Train horns will be sounded in the railroad quiet zone in the area of 35th and Adams until the wayside horns at that location can be replaced. A railroad equipment shed at the intersection was hit by a car Monday, damaging the connection to the wayside horns. The intersection was closed Monday while gates and lights were tested and determined to be fully functional. The intersection was reopened Tuesday.
When Burlington Northern Santa Fe receives a replacement shed, Adams Street will be temporarily closed for installation. The connection to the wayside horns will be repaired as soon as the new shed is in place.
In a separate incident, a railroad crossing gate arm was hit by a truck early this morning on 33rd Street just south of Cornhusker Highway, and a lane closure is possible in that area today.


text:
If you have support staff, you know that the true cost of having employees goes well beyond the hourly wage or salary you pay them. Whether that extra overhead includes only the required taxes on their compensation or you offer an extensive package of benefits, consider sharing that information with your staff using a total compensation statement.
A total compensation statement shows each individual employee the dollar value of each component of their compensation. The purpose of an employee total compensation statement is motivation and shaping expectations regarding compensation. It's a way for you to make all aspects of compensation, including benefits and noncash rewards, as tangible as the dollar amount on a weekly paycheck.
Without making this compensation explicit, your employees may not place a real value on the aspects of compensation outside of their regular pay. So, a total compensation statement helps make every compensation dollar you spend go farther. It also helps set expectations. For example, you may have given your employee a 5% raise each of the past five years. Will she expect the same this year? What if your business has slowed for some reason, and a 5% increase isn't possible? Or the employee's performance has slipped, and 5% isn't warranted?
At its most basic, a total compensation statement should include:
- Statement of work arrangement and hours, for example "Full-time employee/ Regular work hours: Mon-Fri 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. with 1-hour lunch
- Statement of base compensation, including any increase implemented since the last total compensation statement
- Statement of bonus compensation, including conditions of payment (for example, at the firm's discretion) and how amount will be calculated
- Salary/wages paid
- Bonus paid
- Mandatory employment-related taxes paid by employer (FICA, unemployment)
- List of paid holidays and wage value, if employee is hourly
- Number of personal days or hours, with wage value, if applicable
If you provide additional benefits, include those expenses:
- Medical insurance
- Disability insurance
- Life insurance
- Retirement benefits
- Training classes or college courses paid/provided by employer
- Non-cash compensation (gifts, travel, meals, etc.)
Deliver this report annually — usually in first quarter of the year, showing total compensation for the prior year. The total compensation statement should be at least a full page long to convey its importance and should be accompanied by a letter describing what it is, why you are providing the information and how to use it. Don't skip this step! This is the expectation setting opportunity. Here's a brief example: We are pleased to provide you with your year 20XX personalized benefit statement. This statement summarizes the benefits and compensation you were eligible to receive from A-1 Financial Services during the 20XX calendar year. It also gives you the opportunity to review decisions you have made and can assist you in making plans for your future. Please review your statement carefully and keep it with your other important documents for future reference.
Advisors with just a few employees and relatively straightforward cash compensation structures should be able to assemble a basic total compensation statement. If you have a larger staff and a more robust benefits package, you may be able to enlist the help of your benefits provider, professional employment organization or payroll vendor to put these together.
Whether it's one of our corporate employees or the single assistant in an advisor office, the reaction to a total compensation statement is usually the same: amazement at how those "little perks" can add up to a significant percentage of the employee's actual pay — the national average is 42 cents for every dollar of salary or wages. An annual reminder of the actual numbers and the underlying expectations helps align your employees' goals with your business goals, resulting in greater efficiency, profitability and satisfaction.


text:
On this episode we have an interview with BOLT Locks. BOLT Locks are made to accept your key from your vehicle and will program itself to match all the other locks on your vehicle with a single turn of the key. That means that you can secure your spare tire, gas cans, trailer hitch, even … Continue reading
Jeep JK
Episode 124 – Chevy Colorado ZR2
On this show we discuss the guys talk about the upcoming Chevy Colorado ZR2. The ZR2 is an improved offroad package for the Chevy Colorado over the Z71 package. It includes all kinds of improvements that make the Colorado ZR2 even more competitive (possibly even better) than the Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro. In the garage … Continue reading


text:
Tweets At the Table? More of Us Mix Social Media With Food
Social media is changing the way we eat. Many of us are giving up around-the-table dinners to dine with their computers or phones.
A new study called "Clicks and Cravings" examines this trend — and suggests it's not a bad thing.
More than 29% of social media users are on a social networking website while eating or drinking at home. Outside the house, the figure is 19%. About 32% of us text or socialize on a mobile device at meal time. Not surprisingly, the youngest demographic in the survey — 18-34 year olds — tweet, Facebook and text during mealtimes at a higher rate of 47%.
Eating at your computer doesn't necessarily mean you're antisocial, the study says. We're mostly using social networking sites to catch up with friends and family. We're also using social media to pick up on the latest food trends and learn how to eat healthy.
Those users aren't necessarily putting that learning into action, David Emerson Feit, Senior Director of Quantitative Research at The Hartman Group, told Mashable. People are snacking more, while becoming aware of what constitutes good food thanks to what's being shared online.
"There is an aspiration towards eating better," Feit said. "People who are using social media more are in tune with the little micro-trends in food culture, quick changes like peanut oil is on its way out and coconut oil is on its way in. The more friends you have, the more likely you will pick up that trend."
Out of the 82% of respondents who visit social networking sites on a monthly basis, 49% say they learn about food via social networking. The 18-34 year-olds are consuming more food news online than through magazines and newspapers — likely because of the rise of restaurant review apps and food blogs.
There are three kinds of people who talk about food online, says Feit: the spectator who consumes news and ideas; the dreamer who connect people and curates content; and the doer who creates contents and inspires followers. In general, people are willing to try a wider variety of restaurants after being exposed to them online.
Feit was surprised by how much desire exists for healthy eating. "There is a link for authenticity for food and social media," he says. "That wasn't obvious going into the study."
The study was conducted through in-depth one-on-one interviews, plus online, self-administered questionnaires from 1,641 U.S. consumers ages 18 to 64.
Do these trends describe your lifestyle? Let us know in the comments.
Image courtesy of Flickr, hans s


text:
What you need to know before you go
Thailand is one of the most popular travel destinations in the world. While once upon a time it was considered 'daring' to travel to this Southeast Asian country, times have certainly changed. From the majestic 5-star hotels in Bangkok to simple beach huts in Koh Samui or Koh Samet, accommodation choices are varied and usually offer excellent value for money.
The kingdom radiates natural beauty, with stunning plains and hills of the Golden Triangle in the far north of the country, as well as Phuket, Samui and Krabi's wave-lapped white-sand beaches. Thailand has so much to offer that 1 visit is never enough – you'll want to come back and discover more time after time.
Top destinations in ThailandWhere will you go next?
Bangkok welcomes more visitors than any other city in the world and it doesn't take long to realise why. Bangkok is a city of contrasts with action at every turn. Marvel at the gleaming temples, catch a tuk tuk through bustling Chinatown or take a longtail boat through floating markets. Food is another Bangkok highlight, from local dishes served at humble street stalls to haute cuisine at romantic rooftop restaurants.
Luxury malls compete with a sea of boutiques and markets, where you can treat yourself without overspending. Extravagant luxury hotels and surprisingly cheap serviced apartments welcome you with the same famed Thai hospitality. And no visit to Bangkok would be complete without a glimpse of its famous nightlife. Be it nightclubs, cabarets or exotic red-light districts, Bangkok never ceases to amaze.Read more
Phang Nga
Phuket (province)


text:
Cascade Failure FTW
I sat down this morning to read through Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & Other Strangeness for a pseudoreview retrospective, made it past the table of contents easily and with no offenses taken at the authorial tone ... and then came to the first real page, where Erick Wujcik proceeded to annoy me as a reader. (To be fair, there's more than likely some Kevin Siembieda in those initial paragraphs, as some of the content is - typical for Palladium products - reproduced verbatim in the other game
As a kid practically raised on Star Wars (and other pop culture media experiences, often produced by George Lucas), this game was a staple of my formative roleplaying years. During the short window of sixth- and eighth-grades, my gaming lexicon consisted of Palladium's games, Rules Cyclopedia D&D, and Star Wars. Pretty much in that order, too. I have changed in the two decades since first picking up a bucket of dice and pretending to be a Jedi-in-training, so I figured I'd take a second look
A quick summary of our Dresden Files game, up to the latest session.
Washington, D.C.: "Kickback City"
- Themes (Aspect): Entrenched political groups make it difficult to enact change (Us vs. Them)
- Threats (Aspect): Growing dissatisfaction calls the underprivileged to action (What About the People?); New powers make plays for established territory (Small Time, For Now).
The Cast
Jesop Manson (Focused Practitioner)
- High
Normally in these blog posts, I try to get cute and dance around the point with humorous language. I'm not going to do that here.
These terms - derogatory descriptions of other peoples' fun - aren't helping. They aren't speaking to truth, they aren't adding to the quality of discourse. They're divisive language, whose sole purpose is to draw lines in the sand as to who belongs and who doesn't. Play style differences are absolutely *not* justification for disrespect, and treating another's
It's just about time for the start of the fall semester, and I decided to give myself a back-to-school treat, in the form of the Dresden Files RPG pdfs. (I wish I could have afforded the physical hardcovers, but alas. There's always the various gift-giving holidays~)
The usual background info: The Dresden Files is easily my favorite series centered on a wizard named "Harry," and fighting hard with the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy 'trilogy' as my favorite book series overall.