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Published on 8 August 2017
Our intended merger with the Rainforest Alliance is a major milestone in UTZ's history. We see it as a chance to be more innovative together, and in partnership with our stakeholders. But what do our stakeholders think?
Reactions to the intended merger range from "deserving the Nobel Prize" to "good development, but why take the name Rainforest Alliance?" Here is a selection of responses from the market.
Reaction from companies
Nestlé's Cocoa Manager Darrell High commented that Nestlé sees the intended merger as a positive move as, "it will lessen confusion and duplication at origin. The new organization can take the best from both UTZ and Rainforest Alliance. And it gives an opportunity to radically re-think the standard, making it more impact oriented."
Meanwhile, Pascal Baltussen, Vice President of Commercial at Mars Chocolate said, "We have high expectations that this merger will result in a positive transformation of farmer livelihoods and land use practices on a greater scale, which is urgently needed."
Reactions from other NGOs
We also received responses from respected certification program Fairtrade International and other NGOs.
"On behalf of the entire Fairtrade system, I want to congratulate everyone in both Rainforest Alliance and UTZ," said Dario Soto-Abril, Global CEO of Fairtrade International. "I would like to reiterate our interest and willingness to work closely with the new organization to improve the livelihoods of workers and farmers across different supply chains."
And Jason Clay, Senior Vice President, Markets and Food at WWF added, "This shift offers an opportunity to help marginal producers in developing countries realize higher returns for their products through the simplification of global certification programs. This should enable the adoption of better farming practices more quickly as well as continuous improvement in the production and sale of key commodities."
Frank Mechielsen, Senior advocacy officer for sustainable food at Hivos commented:
Reactions from producers
The most important group to benefit are farmers themselves. The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation's response was: "Thousands of Colombian coffee farmers will benefit from this development. It should bring great benefits to them, allowing coffee growers to invest more efficiently in sustainability and increase their income."
The Colombian Coffee Growers Federation represents more than half a million families dedicated to growing coffee in Colombia. They are just a small proportion of the millions of farmers worldwide we aim to support as members of the new Rainforest Alliance.
Concerns raised
Although we hear a lot of excitement about the merger, concerns are also raised.
These include for example: "Why take the name Rainforest Alliance?" We are proud of our name. However, we believe Rainforest Alliance is a strong public facing brand that is already well recognized and respected. We want to play to this strength as well as UTZ's strengths, which include our innovative way of bringing sustainable business practices to scale.
"Do we need to change our packaging?' is another concern we often hear. Don't worry. At this point in time you do not need to change your packaging or anything else. You can use the UTZ logo for the foreseeable future. Until the new standard is published, which is expected to be early 2019, both programs will continue to provide you with the same services we currently offer.
We aim to keep business speed throughout the merger process so that we create clarity as soon as possible. After the summer we will get back to you with more information about the timeline for the coming period. This will give you a better idea what to expect when. Please know that you will have plenty of time to make any required transition in the future.
Let us know what you think
In the meantime…we appreciate your feedback, questions and concerns. Your input is important in helping us design the new organization. Please feel free to keep sharing with us via firstname.lastname@example.com or leave your comment here. Read our other articles on the merger for more information.


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Subject: B2BXML BOF
ETF 47 BOF Description: Recently many companies see advantages in using XML to represent data for web-based information exchanges, such as in Business-to-Business (B2B) communications. Strategies to address this are evolving, expoliting different technologies such as SOAP; however, the problem specification and protocol requirements need to be clarified by the IETF community before solutions are considered. This BOF discusses the problem space for B2B XML communications in order to determine the problem area requirements. We will examine existing B2B approaches to ensure that the problem space is well defined. Our goal will result in a charter to formulate suitable requirements for this space and potentially endorce solutions that support these requirements. Agenda: The main objective of the agenda is to detail the problem space requirements for application level communication strategies using XML encoded data. The Agenda items are: a. Problem Space Examples - examples such as order-requests and directory updates. Examples will point out the expected usage characteristics of this protocol and greatly assist in formulating the problem requirements. b. Problem Scope description - discussion of the problem space in general. c. HTTP and firewall issues - the web uses HTTP; it is widely prevalent and is generally used to penetrate firewalls. Is this the correct transport to get through firewalls; are there other transport issues that need consideration? d. Protocol options - what protocol characteristics are suitable for the situations to be addressed. RPC may be best to endorse the operations paradigm or possibly a messaging strategy might be needed. e. Characteristics of the solution: Enumerating attributes that will probably be scooped out in any requirement document: Platforms, performance, codeside, adminstation/updates, bandwidth, packet size, security, handling failed message delivery, etc. Note these characteristics point out security issues and administration/maintenance issues. f. Strategies for addressing this problem space. Review how solution strategies such as SOAP and other approaches address the issues enumerated in this problem space. g. Charter discussion and project milestones. h. Open mike. Full Name: Business to Business XML Data Communication Strategies Chair: Michael W. Condry Acronym: b2bxml
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So we have all kicked off the New Year – 2016! Here we go – a year of expectations (or not), goals, resolutions, dreams, ideas – OR NOT. For those of you focused on the PRESENT maybe just go with what happens each day.
Have you thought about your training and health with regards to what it actually means to you? This is a process I have experimented with over the last quarter of 2015 and it helped especially with time management issues and balancing meaningful training.
- Mindfulness Morning Activity – Just focus on 30-45 minutes of movement in some activity. Just focused on movement and how the body and breath feel – belly breathing. If you have a training plan in place, just do a daily workout of lower (or higher intensity) for a minimum set time. We all know the benefits of a morning workout or activity, but take this time to mindful of the workout – short and in many cases no specific goal.
- Afternoon/Evening – Add in a longer workout with a specific focus of race pacing and meaningful to have the best cross over effect to your racing. If you don't have time it's ok.
- Helping Out – Assist a friend with their fitness and health this year. Consider asking them to join your group or club, team. Offer help/advice andthat's all that matters. It's still surprising how many "closed groups" there are today!
- Monthly Solo Journey – 1 time per month go outside and do a personal self- supported journey. This can be as easy as running to the grocery store with a backpack for small items and run home. Bike to a destination, camp on your own, etc. The key is to do an alone-time journey.
- Write About It – We all know the power of writing and learning – so consider just writing about what was meaningful and what your grateful about with respect to your training. It you write about it you will visualize it.
Consider the words from my PISC formula for your own training meaningfulness:
- Patience
- Improvise
- Stamina
- Curiosity
Wishing you Meaningful Training for 2016! Let me know how you are doing and feel free to email me with your ideas at firstname.lastname@example.com


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In few fields is the gap separating educated opinion from specialist opinion so wide as in linguistics. Ask many a word-loving reader or writer what they think of language change, and they will admit to regarding it with suspicion. Change is not for the good, and likely to be driven by such factors as declining standards in the schools and the rage among kids today for slang of their own making.
Linguists, however, think of language change as inevitable, a force of nature, and thus fit for scientific investigation. From the Great Vowel Shift beginning in the fifteenth century to spelling reforms from the sixteenth century on, change has been structural, syntactical, and lexical. It has consisted of great new stretches of sound borne aloft on a historical tide of modification and tidy little corrections by the hands of reformers, grammarians, and lexicographers. Large and small, bidden and unbidden, changes come, though for what reason it is hard to know. A child may be cajoled into favoring some expression less annoying than "whatever," but holding the language in place is no more possible than slowing the process of continental drift.
Professor Tim Machan of Marquette University takes up the matter in the NEH-supported volume Language Anxiety: Conflict and Change in the History of English (Oxford University Press, 2009). His angle is that our exasperation over change is an expression of non-linguistic anxiety about social change in general: "education, immigration, morality, and so forth." Moreover, says Machen, such anxiety is not merely a modern phenomenon. It is already "present in the earliest Western account of language change, . . . the Tower of Babel, in which change and variation are figured as the divine punishment visited by God on humans for their arrogance and presumption. It is likewise already present in England in Alfred the Great's preface to his ninth-century translation of St. Gregory's Pastoral Care, in which he cites the decline of Latin and English literacy as both sign and result of the general moral failure into which the Viking raids had plunged England."
To this we can imagine many a reader saying that just because change is inevitable does not mean it should be welcomed. Which seems to us fine, so long as they don't say, "Whatever."


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OTTAWA - Two Conservative cabinet ministers denied Wednesday that their government ever pushed to appoint a man now accused of corruption to the Port of Montreal — a man the Prime Minister's Office once called Ottawa's "preference" for the post.
When asked why Stephen Harper's government wanted Robert Abdallah placed at the federal agency, Industry Minister Christian Paradis said: "Nobody pushed anything."
Maxime Bernier, minister of state for small business, agreed: "Our government didn't support a candidacy. It's the Port of Montreal that didn't appoint that person."
And Bernier went further: "I'm glad that man wasn't appointed to any position."
Abdallah, Montreal's former city manager, was accused at the Quebec corruption inquiry Tuesday of being part of an elaborate kickback scheme involving construction firms. He passionately denied the allegations, which haven't been proven in court, in a radio interview on Wednesday.
"I challenge anyone to come and testify that I met Robert Abdallah and I gave him money," Abdallah told Cogeco 98.5 radio, adding that he is working to clear his name.
By Wednesday evening, the Prime Minister's Office moved to clarify what Bernier and Paradis had said. Spokesman Carl Vallee emphasized that Abdallah had been the city's favoured candidate for the port.
"To be clear, the (federal) government expressed a preference for the candidate of the City of Montreal," said Vallee. "The board made a decision. Mr Abdallah was not appointed."
In 2006, the year that Abdallah left the city government, his name began circulating as possible president of the Montreal Port Authority.
The chairman of the port's board has said he and other directors met Dimitri Soudas, then a close aide to Harper, at a Montreal restaurant in the spring of 2007 and Soudas pressed Abdallah's candidacy.
Former Public Works minister Michael Fortier told The Globe and Mail that he had to step in to remind the board of directors of their independence when he heard about the pressure being exerted.
One of Fortier's staffers told the Globe that he subsequently received an aggressive call from Soudas telling him to back off.
Soudas did not hide the fact that the federal Conservatives wanted Abdallah. He told a parliamentary committee in 2008 that "three levels of government" had indicated a preference for the Port job.
"The government had expressed some support for Mr. Abdallah, but ultimately the board of directors made a different decision," Soudas told The Canadian Press in 2009.
"The government of Canada indicated a preference," he added.
And again, during last year's federal election, Soudas said, "We expressed a preference and made it crystal clear that the decision was ultimately for the board of directors of the Port of Montreal to take."
Soudas did not respond to requests for comment this week.
In the radio interview on Wednesday, Abdallah was asked whether he was the choice of controversial construction boss Tony Accurso for the Port job. Abdallah went to work for Accurso a few years after leaving the city.
"Listen, I don't know," Abdallah said of the Port position. "I was the candidate for many people. Many people wanted to see me there."
Last spring, a mysterious recording surfaced purporting to capture the voices of Accurso and businessman Bernard Poulin discussing how they could get the Conservatives to place their preferred candidate at the port. Soudas, who has said he knows nothing about the conversation, is mentioned as the man who can get the job done in Ottawa.
Abdallah said his candidacy at the port was a "long story" that he was willing to explore from "A to Z," but he did not go into any more detail in the radio interview.
Accurso and Poulin have never directly addressed questions about the recordings, other than to highlight Quebec's laws governing the interception and broadcast of private conversations.
Accurso is currently facing fraud, conspiracy, and influence peddling charges.
Also on HuffPost


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Online Associate of Arts in Accounting
If you get excited by budgets, spreadsheets, and forecasting, then a career in accounting may be a great option for you.
At Point University, our online Associate of Arts in Accounting is designed to equip students with a broad grounding in the liberal arts, along with foundational elements of business and accounting. Graduates of this program are prepared for entry-level positions in a variety of business organizations. This online associate accounting degree also provides the foundation for students to go further and earn a bachelor's in business administration.
1. Apply accounting principles and financial skills, while demonstrating a Biblical approach to responsible and ethical business practices.
2. Utilize computer technology and apply mathematical concepts for problem solving and decision-making in business enterprises.
3. Articulate and apply concepts, principles, and methodologies in Humanities, Fine Arts, Social and Behavioral Sciences, Natural Sciences, and Mathematics.
The online associate in accounting program's comprehensive curriculum is designed to help you develop foundational knowledge in business and accounting. Listed below are some of the courses offered to students:
- Financial Accounting
- Managerial Accounting
- Management Information Systems
- Accounting Information Systems
- Income Tax Accounting
Program Length
As a completely asynchronous program, the online associate degree in accounting at Point University allows students to structure their own study schedule. While there are deadlines associated with the online accounting program, there are no required meeting times, so students are able to complete their work at their convenience. For this reason, the program length differs depending on how many credits students choose to take in a semester. On average, students complete the 60 credits required for the online associate in accounting degree in two years.
Program Cost
All students enrolled in the associate degree in accounting online program at Point University pay the same tuition rate, regardless of the state the student resides in. Already one of the most affordable choices among private colleges, Point University offers online students almost 40% off regular on-campus tuition.
Rate: $410 per credit hour*
To view a complete breakdown of tuition and fees, visit our Tuition & Fees: Online Students page.
*Tuition rate effective through summer semester 2020.
Career Opportunities
Point's online associate degree in accounting will equip you with the knowledge and tools to launch successful careers across a wide range of industries in roles such as:
- Accounting Assistant
- Accounts Payable Clerk
- Budget Analyst
- Government Accountant
Point University offers the accounting program in a fully-online format. Online students engage in asynchronous learning through a course website that facilitates interaction with their instructor and classmates.
This degree is 100% online. Take classes anytime – from anywhere in the world.
Up to 30 credit hours can be transferred into this program from an accredited institution, shortening your degree time by half.
Your faith will be strengthened with courses taught from a biblical worldview.
As an online student you'll receive the same quality education, from the same respected professors, as our on-campus students.
Our mentorship program for online students promotes development that's tailored to fit your personal and professional goals.
Our 13-to-1 student to professor ratio provides a small class size where you're not just a student – you're family.
At Point University you'll develop critical-thinking and problem-solving skills, all while learning to be an effective leader. Get started today to discover your place in the Point family!
I would have never imagined that I would be able to say that I am a college graduate! Point made it possible to obtain my bachelor's degree from the comfort of my own home. They made what many would consider a "scary experience" so fearless.
– Chiquita Jackson, online student


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A personal finance software lets you track your budget, costs, and your overall finances. It can give you a clear picture of where your money is going. A personal finance software gives you a clear idea where your money is going, and where it has been through graphs and report. If you are planning for your financial future, reports provided by these tools are very useful.
With a personal finance software, you can now have a complete analysis of your finances. However, this graphs and reports can be a lot easier if you have some accounting background. It also lets you create a budget that you can stick in. These software create a realistic budget for you. Enter your basic information and it automatically creates a budget. Another benefit is that you can set these software to remind you when your bills will be due.
Ideally, a personal finance software lets you manage every aspect of your finances from expenses, to investments, future plans, and taxes. The software should also have the current information on tax laws and stock review so you can make informed decisions. Below are the things to prioritize when looking for a personal finance software:
Ease of use. A personal finance software lets you track transitions, setup accounts, and see detailed reports in just a few clicks.
Banking and Bills. It should have the ability to import all account data, including transactions right into the software. It also allows you to manage your savings and checking accounts as well as your loan, mortgage, and credit card accounts.
Reporting. Reports can happen cumulatively in months, weeks, and years. An easy-to-read pie chart and graph illustrates your cash flow, personal investment, and additional transactions.
Security. Security is the most important feature to have in a personal finance software. This is because you'll be entrusting your account numbers, personal information, and other bank information to setup and manage your accounts. So, be sure that the software provider is not selling your personal information to anyone.
AceMoney is a personal finance tracking software that offer tools for creating and maintaining budgets, tracking investments, and it also has online banking feature. It is a versatile tool idea for all financial stages. It is easy for anyone to install, and it is simple and convenient for optimizing personal finances. It also has all the necessary information to help you achieve your financial goals. A great aspect in AceMoney is the upgrade guarantee. Most personal finance software comes with the newer ones come out, but you need to pay for it. AceMoney offers a one-time license that guarantees you'll have get the upgrades without paying for it.
Download the 30-day free trial version of AceMoney
YNAB(You Need a Budget) offers the right tools for you to be financially stable. It is a personal finance software designed to help maintain a successful budget and achieve financial goals. YNAB is one of the most friendly personal finance software we've seen. It has its own philosophy that gives you a simple framework you can use to plan your budget. The goal is to rearrange finances so that you are able to live on the previous month rather than live paycheck by paycheck.
Try a 34-day full featured demo. Visit YNAB.com
MoneyDance has advanced features, online banking capailities, os support and bill paying at no additional charge. This personal finance software offers online banking which allows you to automatically synchronize your accounts in MoneyDance automatically. Also, the application offers application-based online bill payment. One of its greatest feature is their collection of extensions. Extensions include credit card payoff calculator, debt payment calculator, investment profit calculator, and more. These extensions help you plan for your financial future.
RichOrPoor is a recommended software to those who likes a more traditional method of inputting their financial information. This software has a wide range of personal financee and has about any module to regulate your money. It can track accounts, bills, investments, transactions and can run reports. However, these modules doesn't have all the features that an effective money management should have like financial planning and calculators. RichOrPoor lets you enter your bank's name, create accounts, and enter balances. However, there isn't any method to download a copy of it online. This feature is more of a way to keep track of your accounts than a balancing check book.
BankTree is a personal finance management software that has features and functionality that makes it fairly competitive with other software. The company is based in United Kingdom so if you are a customer from the US, you may have problems with its pricing as fluctuating exchange rates can get higher or lower depending on the given day. The finance software is simple and easy-to-use. Large icons are on the top of every screen which makes navigation quick and simple. BankTree leys ou import financial files downloaded from your bank. You can customize payee categories, run reports, and schedule your bills. Although it doesn't offer bill paying services. BankTree is highly recommended for customers residing in the U.K as they can take advantage of the email support and a technical support through Skype.
iCash doesn't come with a lot of features as opposed to other personal finance software but it has other great offers. iCash lets you create accounts, manage them, and see where your money is coming from or where it is going. It lets you mange your financial needs by allowing an easy import to all your accounts. It also gives you the capability to do a lot of things with their software because of its very friendly and customizable user interface. Users have the option to import information from credit cards, savings, and checkings account. This makes tracking simple and extremely convenient. Expenditures are automatically updated and categorized as soon as the account information is downloaded. iCash has a protective password that you must enter whenever you open the software. Budget sheets can be backed up. This is useful particularly when comparing last years spending with this year.


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Events for February 8, 2020
Events Search and Views Navigation
7:00 am
Kids Eat Free!
You heard that right! Kids Eat FREE ALL day in Burger Theory on Saturdays and Sundays! *Available for up to 2 children 11 years and under when ordering from the kids' menu and when accompanied by at least one main course from the full priced menu. Dine in only.Find out more »


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OverviewAn interfaith overnight / 2 days tour in the Galilee & Golan Heights touring the highlights of these 2 regions, including: Katzrin, Safed (Tzefat), Banias Springs, Syrian border, Jordan River & more.
Tour is guided in English
Pick up timetableFrom TLV 07:15 am
From JLM 06:00 am
Tour price includes Pick up TLV or JLM (Major Hotels)1 night Kibbutz Guesthouse1 breakfast 2 guided touring days (English) 2 days licensed tourism jeepEntry fees to listed sites
Not included Lunch, dinner, beverages with meals, tips, extras & personal expenses. Travelers' medical or baggage insurance. Anything not mentioned in price includes section.
Bring along comfortable walking shoes, sunscreen lotion, hat,water bottle. Nov. to Mar. warm clothes
Dress codeCovered shoulders & knees when visiting holy sites
Golan 1 Day Tour
Christian Galilee 3 days | 2 nights
Classic Galilee & Golan 3 days | 2 nights
Jewish Galilee & Golan 3 days | 2 nights
Wednesday Pick up from your hotel in TLV or JLM and drive north along the coastal road, en route stop for view of Megiddo, recognized as the site of Armageddon. Travel east towards the Jordan Valley to "Yardenit" the baptismal site on the Jordan River. Ascend the Golan Heights for an observation over Hammat Gader, the triangular border between Israel, Syria & Jordan. Drive to Katzrin, the Talmudic capital of the Golan & tour its ancient synagogue. Ascend Mount Bental, by car, for a panoramic view of Kuneitra Valley on the Syrian Border. Proceed for a short tour of some typical former Syrian fortifications in the Golan. Descend via the Hula Valley for an overnight in a Kibbutz Guesthouse.
Thursday Day begins with a short tour in the kibbutz & proceed for a walk in the Banias Nature Reserve, savor its icy cold water, one of the main tributaries of the Jordan River. Ascend the northern part of the Golan Heights & tour Kalat Namrud, a Crusaders Fortress. On for a fabulous view of Birkat Ram, the Israeli small version of Crater Lake (an extinct volcano filled with water) situated by the Druze Village of Mass'ade at the foot of Mount Hermon. Descend the Golan & drive to Tsfat (Safed), the Kabbalah City, tour its folkloric synagogues & vibrant Artists Quarter. Return to central Israel.
Working Hours & DaysSunday - Thursday08:00 am - 22:00 pmTel +972 8 631 6860Fax +972 8 860 4372USA 1 800 490 5251@ Contact us
• Petra - FAQ
• FAQ - Israel• Booking tours• Tour Planner• Curency Converter• Weather in Israel
• Israel Tours
• Petra Tours• Shore Excursions• Private Tours• Things to do in ...• Sample Itineraries
• Advertise with us
Daronet Web Building


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FIREFIGHTERS were called to this car fire on the M62 moments after dealing with a chemical spill on the opposite carriageway.
An engine fault caused the fire beneath the bonnet of the BMW on the eastbound carriageway near Scammonden Bridge at about 1.30pm yesterday.
The driver was unhurt.
They had been to the spillage about a mile after junction 22 on the westbound downhill stretch.
Two 50-gallon barrels of a chemical used to cure rubber had fallen from a lorry and split open.
Two lanes of the motorway were closed and the incident caused massive delays.


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SAP announced that Celkon Mobiles has implemented an entire innovation platform that was developed on SAP Cloud Platform, for managing its nation-wide distribution network. The company's objective was to mitigate high costs and improve efficiencies in its supply chain process and channel systems, in order to maintain its competitive edge. This platform, consisting of a set of applications, was created by SAP Partner 2iSolutions Consulting Services to streamline processes in the company's supply chain and distribution network. 2iSolutions is a Canadian consulting company with strong capabilities across SAP's innovation areas including SAP Cloud Platform.
"In today's competitive environment, highly optimized distribution networks are crucial for OEMs and can have a significant impact on the business itself," said Mr. Murali Retineni, Director, Celkon Impex Pvt Ltd. "The SAP Cloud Platform has proven to be the right solution to catalyze innovation in this mission critical aspect of our business. It has helped us develop applications quickly, that enhance the network and provides accurate visibility of stock in channel, status and tracing of goods. The agility of the platform promises faster ways of implementing technology."
"By choosing SAP Cloud Platform, Celkon Mobiles will have the capability to extend and integrate their business-critical applications in a simpler fashion," said Kaushik Bagchi, Vice President and Head – Digital Enterprise Platform Group, SAP India. "Thousands of companies across the world are choosing SAP Cloud Platform to innovate and Celkon Mobiles presents a roadmap for others to develop real-time applications to compete and win in this digital economy."


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There's another learning resource for polymer clay, Iris Mishly's PolyPedia Online. She has several free tutorials up, including this one for a heart cane. So, if you're looking for a last minute Valentine's project click here to head over for the tutorial!
[tags]iris mishly, polymer clay tutorials, polypedia online, heart cane, valentine's projects[/tags]


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http://firstladyfilm.dk/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/s16-04.jpg 370 394 Nynne Selin Eidnes http://firstladyfilm.dk/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/firstladyFinal_540pix-MikeTrans.png Nynne Selin Eidnes2015-06-18 10:25:142015-06-18 10:25:14Super16 - the best independent film school in the world!
Super16 – the best independent film school in the world!
Super16 the film school that I proudly founded with 15 of my friends back in 1999 is now on the list of Variety's
best independent film educations. Why is that you may ask? Because we founded the school on the principle that
the producer and the director are the only ones that follow the film from start to long tail, and that relationship
means more than the film itself. And in contrary to ordinary film schools, Super16, focuses on meeting the
audience from the very first film, all the way to graduation. Oh, and of course it is democratically run by the
students and you cant bribe your way in, you have to have talent.


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Market Matters Blog
2017 HRS Wheat, Durum Crop: Survival of the Fittest
The 2017 U.S. hard red spring wheat crop may have been lower in production, but overall, it featured a high grade profile, high protein content and very good functional performance, according to the North Dakota Wheat Commission (NDWC) 2017 U.S. Hard Red Spring Wheat and Durum Regional Quality Report.
The report noted that production was down 21% from 2016 due to lower planted area, and severe drought conditions across the western portion of the main four-state production region. The impact from drought offset production gains in the Pacific Northwest and eastern half of the four-state growing region, where a more favorable growing season produced above-average to record yields.
The spring wheat crop averaged a No. 1 Northern Spring protein compared to a No. 1 Dark Northern Spring (the preferred flavor of top exporters) a year ago, as average vitreous kernel levels fell from 77% to 71%. Protein averaged 14.5%, which was higher than the five-year average. Drought conditions and above-average temperatures led to the higher protein, with the most notable gains in protein in drought-affected areas, noted the report.
I spoke to shippers and farmers in the key growing areas of Montana and North Dakota, as well as western Minnesota and South Dakota. With the severity of the drought varied in all of the growing areas, results were mixed.
Perhaps the hardest-hit area of the spring wheat growing states was Montana. Todd LaPlant, elevator manager at EGT LLC in Glasgow, Montana, told me, "We estimate yield for northeast Montana spring wheat at 17 bushels per acre, down from 40+ bpa last year. We also estimate abandonment at 25%. Most of the spring wheat that wasn't worth harvesting was also too thin to bale in our area."
Tim Luken, manager of Oahe Grain in Onida, South Dakota, told me, "In 2016, our elevator took in 720,000 bushels of spring wheat, grading 60.9 test weight (tw) and 14.4% protein (pro). In 2017, we took in 224,000 bushels grading 60.9 tw and 15.6% pro." Luken told me that the lower grain intake was due to drought and acres lost to corn and soybeans in 2017 -- maybe 15% to 18%.
"I would say our yields in our trade territory will average somewhere in that 47-bushel-per-acre area," said Jeff Kittell, merchandiser for Border Ag and Energy in Russell, North Dakota. "Quality was good with no vomitoxin, and our protein will average 14.0%. We had no significant amount of wheat acres abandoned."
Keith Brandt, general manager of Plains, Grain and Agronomy in Enderlin, North Dakota, told me, "Spring wheat yields ended up at 65 bu/acre. Good quality, 14.0 pro. Nothing baled up in southeast North Dakota. Look for about 10% increase in planted acres in 2018. Part of this is price related because wheat will cash flow, but maybe a bigger part is getting wheat in the rotation for weed control and getting a crop harvested earlier, so they can come back to do ditching, tiling and/or make effective use of cover crops -- all beneficial ways to improving soil conditions."
A shuttle loader in eastern North Dakota told me that his area had an average crop of wheat with protein about a half of a percent over the average. "We were hurt by some dryness, but nothing was wiped out in the valley. The area in east-central North Dakota averaged around 75 bpa and 14.2% pro." He also noted that early talk is for a little more wheat planting intended and less corn, but "it's still early."
In northwestern Minnesota, Tim Dufault, who farms in the Crookston, Minnesota, area said his wheat was "right at 75 bushels per acre, about the third-best-ever yield. Quality was good also. One variety of seed was under 14% protein, but for the whole crop, I would estimate my pro will be a hair over 14%. Test weights and color were also good."
"I am a board member of the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council," said Dufault. "That is the group that takes the checkoff fee and promotes our wheat through the U.S. Wheat Associates. At our board meeting Nov. 16, the ones that were there said they expect there would be a lot more spring wheat planted next year (we are a nine-person board and not everyone was at the meeting). A lot of them also said this year's wheat crop was their best ever. Those present farmed from west-central Minnesota all the way up to the Canadian border."
Next, let's take a look at how North Dakota farmers did on their durum... what there was of it.
According to the NDWC Quality Report, the 2017 northern durum crop averaged a No. 1 Hard Amber Durum grade with an average protein level of 14.5%. While average vitreous kernel content is at 88%, rains in areas did adversely affect the color on a portion of the crop. Also, effects of the drought were seen in the lower thousand kernel weights (average is 38.4 grams) and larger percentage of medium-sized kernels.
The report also stated that durum production in Montana and North Dakota in 2017 is down significantly due to a small decline in acreage and to sharply lower yields, as the region was afflicted with serious drought conditions. Durum production in the two states combined is 41.5 million bushels (1.13 million metric tons), less than half of 2016's production.
I asked DTN Canadian Grains Analyst Cliff Jamieson about Canada's 2017 durum and spring wheat crops. Here's his report.
"The 2017 Canadian durum crop is of high quality, with the Saskatchewan government estimating that 95% of the crop will fall within the top two grades, well above the 10-year average of 57%," said Jamieson. "The Alberta government has estimated that 85% of the crop will fall within the top two grades, up from the five-year average of 71%. The ongoing harvest sample program conducted by the Canadian Grain Commission has so far posted test results for 1,442 samples, of which 1,313 samples, or 91%, have fallen within the top two grades.
"Statistics Canada's most recent reports have estimated prairie durum yields at 31 bushels per acre, well below the five-year average of 41.8 bu/ac. With seeded acres expected down an estimated 16%, estimated production of 4.3 million metric tons points to the smallest crop in six years.
"Provincial government crop estimates were more optimistic," said Jamieson. "The Saskatchewan government's provincial average is pegged at 36 bu/ac and the Alberta government's average at 35.8 bu/ac, which could point to high odds of an upward revision in production estimates when Statistics Canada releases their next round of estimates based on November surveys on Dec. 6."
As for the spring wheat crop, Jamieson said, "Like durum, the overall quality of the wheat crop is extremely high. While the Canadian Grain Commission's harvest sample program does not provide an accurate reflection of grade distribution across the prairies, so far, 4,176 samples of the 4,454 samples tested, or 93.8%, have graded either 1 CWRS or 2 CWRS. The mean protein is reported at 13.01% for all samples submitted, with the mean protein reported the lowest in Saskatchewan at 12.77%. The prairie average is down from the 13.6% reported for all samples tested in 2016."
Current estimates suggest that Canada's hard red spring production will reach 17.126 million metric tons, up 2.7% from 2016, but 4.5% below the five-year average. "It is interesting to note that hard red spring production is estimated to account for 75% of all wheat production in Canada (excluding durum), up from 69.6% in 2016 and the five-year average of 72.5%," said Jamieson.
According to Jamieson, wheat yields on the prairies were seen as highly variable in 2017, with the southern prairies facing drought conditions while many northern areas received excessive -- even record -- rainfall. "Crop quality is reported as well-above-average levels and has led to a rebound in exports from levels seen in 2016/17."
Mary Kennedy can be reached at email@example.com
Follow Mary Kennedy on Twitter @MaryCKenn
© Copyright 2017 DTN/The Progressive Farmer. All rights reserved.


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Money Culture
April 14, 2016
Why Most Elderly Pay No Federal Tax
A March blog post pointing out that a large majority of America's older population pay no federal income tax seemed to surprise some readers – particularly retirees who must send checks to the IRS at this time of year.
"[M]y annual tax liability is and will continue to be greater than when I was employed," said one such retiree.
Readers' comments are always welcome, and this time they've thrown a spotlight on a shortcoming of the article. It did not fully explore why most retirees – roughly two-thirds of 70 year olds – pay no federal income tax.
According to a Tax Policy Center report, "Why Some Tax Units Pay No Income Tax," tax filers over age 65 are the largest single group to benefit from special provisions of the tax code designed to help various types of people. The elderly receiving tax preferences make up 44 percent of filers of all ages who are moved off the tax rolls by these tax breaks, said the Center, a joint effort of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution.
Of course, retirees pay all sorts of other taxes, including property tax and state sales and income taxes. But it's essential for baby boomers to understand this federal income tax issue as they plan for retirement.
The tax breaks for people over 65 are not "loopholes," which require special knowledge or interpretations of the tax code, often by lawyers. Elderly tax breaks are explicit in the tax code. When applied to reduced retirement incomes, the tax preferences eliminate all tax liability for millions of older Americans.
One such preference is a higher standard deduction for age 65-plus filers than for younger tax filers. Other provisions exempt the majority of retirees from paying taxes on their Social Security benefits. Another way to think about the impact of our over-65 tax breaks is that eliminating them "would make 16.3 million current nontaxable units taxable," the Center's 2011 report estimated.
The following information sheds more light on why so few older Americans pay federal taxes:
- Many retirees' tax liabilities are eliminated because we have a progressive U.S. income tax system that benefits low-income retirees and the elderly living in poverty, especially women. For example, nearly one in four older married couples and nearly half of single older individuals rely on their monthly Social Security checks for more than 90 percent of their retirement income.
- The elderly are a substantial group making up the vast majority of all tax filers who earn $30,000 or less and have no federal tax liability, regardless of their age.
- Even well-heeled retirees with investment portfolios pay a relatively low tax – no more than 20 percent – on their investment income and capital gains. The dollar value of these tax breaks going to higher-income workers and retirees is "much larger" than the benefits for low- and middle-income tax filers, the Tax Policy Center said.
Retirement is a big adjustment for most everyone. But those who do have to pay federal taxes may be the lucky ones – they have more money coming in the door.
To stay current on our Squared Away blog, we invite you to join our free email list. You'll receive just one email each week – with links to the two new posts for that week – when you sign up here.


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You can jam all your possible race or ride clothes in this slick bag. Often we don't need a rain jacket or arm warmers or headband, and then some random weather rolls in. You will always have what you need for unpredictable riding conditions! I love the size of this bag. Submitted on 13 June 2019 by @annefrogie
This bag is so great for a multitude of reasons. There is a pocket for everything you can imagine bringing to your race/ride. There's space for your cleats and your helmet, too! Everything fits nicely and even if you aren't a super organized person, you will have everyone fooled. If you are into little pockets and organization, you are going to love this bag. If you are always missing things on race day, you will love keeping this bag stocked so you are better prepared next time. Submitted on 18 May 2019 by Carmen Tomas, Portland, OR Castelli Staff
Je suis allé faire une min-camp d'entrainement en Floride de 5 jours et je suis arrivé à entrer tous les vêtements que j,avais besoin!!! (2 kits complet). Y a plusieurs poches qui permettent de ranger et classer les items. Vraiment bien pensé! Le sac idéal pour aller faire les courses et ne pas trainer un gros sac! Submitted on 27 March 2019 by JBoisvert


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The Amy Berg-directed documentary West Of Memphis — about the now-famous trial, conviction and eventual release of the West Memphis 3 — is largely based on private investigators and forensic testing financed by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh. The pair produced the docu with West Memphis 3 member Damien Echols and his wife Lorri Davis. Some of the evidence presented paints an overwhelming picture that the trio was railroaded while the killer of three 8-year-old boys in Arkansas in 1994 remains free. Sony Pictures Classics is releasing West Of Memphis on December 25.
Related: Q&A With 'West Of Memphis' Producers Jackson And Walsh
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"Rich Man's Daughter", the brand new single from the upcoming project by Mississippi-based Volume Five, was released to radio programmers last October. The new CD titled Run is the band's third on the Mountain Fever Records label and is expected for release this February. Visit the band's website to hear what this exciting bluegrass band has to offer.
Willis, VA -- Mountain Fever Records is proud to announce "Rich Man's Daughter", the brand new single from the upcoming project by Mississippi-based bluegrass music group Volume Five. The single was just released to radio programmers yesterday. The new CD titled Run is the band's third on the label and is expected for release next February.
Marion, VA -- Five extraordinary bands will be in concert for Song of the Mountains on Saturday, November 5th at the historic Lincoln Theatre in Marion, Virginia. A variety of music will be showcased at this show which will be taped for national broadcast on public television. Darin and Brooke Aldridge will present Bluegrass music. Having been on the bluegrass music circuit for several years now this husband and wife team have a wonderful band featuring traditional and contemporary bluegrass sounds.
Volume Five is an exciting new band, and are blazing their own red-hot trail on the bluegrass scene. This group of talented performers consists of Glen Harrell- (fiddle & vocals), Patton Wages- (banjo, & vocals), Chris Williamson- (bass & vocals), Jesse Daniel- (mandolin & vocals). Volume Five will be featured on Sirius XM's Bluegrass Junction when they guest with Kyle Cantrell on Track By Track. Kyle will play the band's new CD, Children Of The Mountain in its entirety plus interview members of the band about the project.
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CrossFit Games Open 15.3 has been announced and it's to complete as many rounds and reps as possible in 14 minutes of: 7 muscle-ups, 50 wall-ball shots and 100 double-unders.
In this first video Coach Carl Paoli breaks down how to perform the muscle-up transition by using a band and another style of transition which he calls the "scrapper", a technique you can use to get your first muscle ups to try to score some points in the RX division of the CrossFit Games Open.
Besides that, here are also some more tips on muscle-ups, double-unders, and wall balls by Carl Paoli, Kelly Starrett, and more.


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Most of you know that I've got a personalised plate - CMATGO. But as much as people find that one good for a giggle, there are others out there that are just outright hilarious. Well, they are if you've got a mind like mine.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to grab a photo of yesterday's example, due to my phone battery running flat, but it's easily described. Black Subaru Legacy wagon, with the plate "LH RH". Obviously they're concerned about the intelligence of drivers behind them. Or they're being mean to dyslexics who are travelling in the opposite direction...
Now, we've all got small-world stories, where we met someone who knows someone that we haven't seen for years. It's rife, and NZ seems to be a particularly great place for such things. Bump into a fellow Kiwi on the streets of any city in the world and you'll almost certainly be able to find someone who you know in common, particularly if you've both worked in the same industry in NZ.
My world is getting just a little too small comfort, though. Was at a friend's (Rachelle) birthday party last night, at the Corner Bar in town. Happened to look out the window, and spotted a guy (Rob) who I worked with a decade ago, standing chatting to some of the other guests. Bowled on out to say hello, and discovered that he actually owns Corner Bar, and has known Rachelle for years. That's not that small, I know, but the world does get smaller still. One of Rachelle's best friends used to be friends with someone who Rob and I knew when we worked together, independently of this circle of friends.
So stop the world, I want OUT!
Went down to Foodtown Greenlane last night. Happened to glance at a locked cabinet in the wine aisle - the one where they keep the really expensive bottles. Saw a few that were in the $100 range, including one that was $130. Then I saw a sign that completely floored me:
$449. No, that's not missing a decimal point. No, it's not an exaggeration. I should really have taken a photo. A $449 bottle of red. A shiraz I think it was (I was too staggered by the price to pay much attention). An Australian red. So not even French.
And the best bit? You're meant to cellar it for 20 years. It was a 2001 vintage, so it's good for storing for another 15 years before being drunk. Is that the perfect scam or what?! If they drink it now, to see what they spent $449 on, and think it tastes terrible, well, that's the buyer's fault for drinking it too early. If they drink it in 15 years or so, and think it tastes terrible, well, so sorry too bad how sad, it's a bit late to ask for your money back. Absolutely brilliant.
We know that it's possible to produce wine cheaply - look at all the $15 bottles of perfectly adequate plonk - so there's no way that it costs anything like the price of this bottle to make it. That's a lot of profit. I think I'm in the wrong business.
For those of you who gave me best wishes for 2006, they did fuck all. So, for 2007, I will be accepting gifts of money, alcohol, or busty, leggy blondes. Not necessarily in that order.
Link: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10414789
Simon Power says that the Liam Ashley debacle is the most serious departmental failing since Cave Creek, and Damien O'Connor should resign as Minister of Corrections.
While the observation may indeed have merit, and Liam's case is certainly a fuckup of monumental proportions, National ought to be incredibly careful about drawing comparisons with Cave Creek and then demanding ministerial resignations. After all, despite significant public pressure, Denis Marshall, the National Minister of Conservation at the time, didn't resign for over a year after the Cave Creek disaster. That really set the bar for any demands that National might make for ministers to resign in the face of blunders on the part of ministries for which they are responsible, and that involved 14 fatalities rather than just one - not to minimise Liam's death, but 14 deaths in one incident carries vastly more weight in arguing for a resignation.
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31 Aug
Back to School ! »
It's all systems go for tomorrow morning. At present we expect works to continue for at least two weeks. We will give you a progress report towards the end of our first week.
22 Aug
School Opening Monday September 1st. »
We look forward to welcoming you all back to school on Monday 1st September and in particular welcome our new Junior infants.
20 Aug
School Jumper and Tracksuit Collection Monday 25th »
On Monday afternoon the school uniform jumpers and tracksuits will be available for collection from the Pastoral Centre between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.


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The San Diego police encountered the young man dressed in black in a parking lot. It was after midnight. Their request for identification quickly turned into a standoff. According to the police account, Robert McBride then turned and ran before spinning around and brandishing what later proved to be a BB gun.
The officers shot him in the chest and called paramedics to take him to the hospital. Though it was their duty to make sure the suspect got medical care, police say it wasn't their duty to put him under arrest or pay his hospital bill.
Yet, because McBride wasn't under arrest, he was able to check himself out of the hospital days after the shooting, leading to a three-hour manhunt by police that included a police helicopter searching with an infrared camera. He remains in custody on a variety of charges, including battery, robbery and being under influence of a controlled substance.
When an individual is wounded or injured in the course of committing a crime _ or otherwise being apprehended _ law enforcement is responsible for seeking medical care for the suspect without hesitation. But just who picks up the tab has been the subject of a heated debate in California, with both sides citing different parts of the state penal code, and with a lot of money at stake.
Scripps Health President and CEO Chris Van Gorder said the McBride case cost his hospital nearly $300,000 in treating the gunshot wound for the uninsured patient. He said similar cases brought in by law enforcement are a growing fiscal problem for the $2.3 billion, not-for-profit, San Diego-based private health care system.
About 430 patients were admitted to Scripps facilities through law enforcement agencies in the last year, and the hospital was left to foot the bill in the majority of those cases, said Van Gorder.
"We're at the end of the food chain and there's nobody we can pass this on to _ and nobody wants to be responsible for the economics," said Van Gorder.
The practice of police not arresting those they send for medical care is a threat to public safety because hospitals are then required to grant the full federal medical privacy rights of a private citizen to the suspect said Van Gorder.
"Technically, if a patient is not arrested, they have confidentiality rights so we actually don't even have the right" to report their discharge to law enforcement, said Van Gorder.
Hospitals point to a section of the California penal code that says sheriffs, police and local detention facilities can't "engage in practices designed to avoid payment of legitimate emergency health care costs for the treatment or examination of persons lawfully in their custody." But that section of the code is scheduled to be repealed in 2014.
In the McBride case, the hospital's argument was bolstered by the explanation of one San Diego officer who told media that McBride had not been arrested so that police could avoid footing the bill.
However, San Diego Police Department Lt. Andra Brown said that the officer's interpretation of the policy was incorrect. She said that though hospitals routinely attempt to bill the department for medical care for suspects, the department just as routinely rejects those bills. In fact, it uses a form letter.
The police letter cites a different section of the penal code that says law enforcement is under no obligation to pay for the medical care of someone who has been arrested "prior to being delivered to and received at the county jail or other detention facility for booking."
"Cities don't have to pay for medical costs prior to being booked in jail, and once they're booked in jail they become the responsibility of the county," said Brown.
That doesn't mean hospitals haven't tried to collect from law enforcement agencies through the courts, based on their interpretation of the law. Scripps joined a 2007 lawsuit brought by another San Diego area hospital, Sharps HealthCare, seeking payment from San Diego County incurred by those in police custody prior to being booked, but the court ultimately sided with law enforcement.
Nick Warner, legislative director of California State Sheriffs' Association says budget woes for law enforcement can't be overstated in California, but that saving lives and responding appropriately to injury is a top priority for any law enforcement officer who encounters a hurt person, criminal or not.
What makes dealing with hospitals difficult is the unpredictable cost of treatment, which can come as a shock to law enforcement agencies when they receive the bill, Warner said.
"Hospitals have very disparate billing practices for law enforcement agencies and public agencies than they do for insurance companies and individuals," said Warner, noting that in some instances law enforcement gets charged more than Medi-Cal or private insurers. "We've seen examples of the same service at the same agency being charged different rates."
Balancing medical costs against the cost of protecting the public daily has put tremendous stress on law enforcement, according to Warner, who notes that in the last year 1,000 deputies were laid off in California.
"We're struggling mightily statewide, so much so that the two places we're trying to focus on are keeping the worst of the worst incarcerated and responding to 911 calls because everything else is being dramatically reduced," said Warner.
The flipside of the problem, in which hospitals struggle to serve an uninsured populace brought in by police, is particularly acute at many border county hospitals, according to Steve Escoboza, who heads the Hospital Association of San Diego and Imperial County which represents 35 hospitals in the region.
There is a lack of county hospitals along the border, and many law enforcement agencies _ including the Border Patrol, the FBI and DEA _ to provide patients, according to Escoboza.
Van Gorder says the lasting problem at his San Diego hospitals is bad blood between hospitals and law enforcement.
Scripps' finance department struggles to get billing information on the patients once they're taken back into custody by law enforcement, because there is suspicion that the information will be used to bill the sheriff or police departments instead of the criminal who received care, said Van Gorder.
"I understand the governmental budget crises they face today but the problem is they're pushing the financial obligation downhill," said Van Gorder.


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You profit from the fact that Schuberg Philis is 'DevOps by nature'.
The strength of our organization comes from the self-managing teams of experts who deliver on their promises, together with our customers. Together we ensure that IT operations, development and business work together in a single flow. This DevOps way of working requires different behavior by everyone. More open, more communicative, more often 'sharing the load', and sometimes recognizing that someone else knows better. At the same time this leads to far-reaching commitment. Everyone, regardless of their role and team, must always be aware of the wider context in which they are working. An ability to clearly explain what you are doing is fundamental. So everyone involved must understand their own activities and their consequences.
"I have seen Schuberg Philis make the shift from a traditional sourcing company to the DevOps side and then climb higher in the technology stack: from cloud layer, via the midlayer, to application management. I have also noticed their relentless focus on automation, in true DevOps spirit, and apply complete blueprints so that they can create new environments at a stroke, and now they are developing software with the open source community as well. Previously, many IT organizations were trading off efficiency with stability, speed and flexibility. More often than not efficiency was considered key. The trick is to deliver against all, and that is the focus of Schuberg Philis.
Gerard Speksnijder
Co-leader Global Agile Application Development practice, McKinsey


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ABOUT INTIME ORGANIQUE by le bois
Combining the principles of phytotherapy and Eastern medicine, Intime Organique provides intimate self-care products made from a fine selection of plant ingredients from Europe.
parabens mineral oil artificial silicone artificial colours fragrance
Adopting French self-care
French women are proud of their bodies and are dedicated to taking care of them. Originated from the word 'Intimate' or hormonal balance, Intime Organique recognises the need to care for the female intimate area and endorses the French way of self-care. Working with gynecologists, we combined their profound knowledge of the female anatomy and our expertise in phytotherapy.
Embrace your female sexuality through the connection of body and mind. Take care of your body with Intime Organique products.
Using a fine selection of organic ingredients from Italy, a special formula was created by combining the principles of phytotherapy and Eastern medicine for Intime Organique products.
Our products are certified by ICEA, an international accreditation equivalent to major European bio-cosmetics certification. This ensures that we use only the highest quality controls and ingredients, delivering products that are safe, reliable, and chemical-free.
Istituto per la Certificazione Etica ed Ambientale (ICEA) is an Italian organic certification body with strict criteria in the assessment of cosmetics using organic plant ingredients.
Ms. Atsuko Morita, the founder of Intime Organique, is a leading phytotherapist who had many years of experience as a health consultant and lecturer in Japan. From her experience, Atsuko discovered that most Japanese women lack the proper knowledge of caring and treating their delicate zones.
Intime Organique is the solution for women to understand their bodies and take care of their delicate zones. Created in a laboratory in Italy, Intime Organique uses a fine selection of European herbs to reap the full benefits of plant power with a French touch.
In 1989, Atsuko Morita began working as a flight attendant. However, after suffering from asthma and atopic dermatitis, she left her job in 1992. The same year, she discovered the benefits of herbal therapy and moved to France to study phytotherapy.
In 1998, Atsuko founded St. Louis International Inc. and started doing phytotherapy research to develop original formulas for Intime Organique products.
Linking her professional expertise with in-depth studies in Chinese and Korean medicine, Atsuko led the phytotherapy field in Japan and opened her first le bois treatment salon in 2006. In 2007, she opened a le bois phytotherapy school and published her first book "Understanding Cosmetics by Reading the Ingredients Label". She also co-founded the organisation "au sein de femmes" in Japan, along with Ms. Yoko Kirishima and a team of French doctors to fight against breast cancer and uterine cancer.
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EUROPEAN SHORT PITCH 2016 Selected Projects
EUROPEAN SHORT PITCH 2016 Selected Projects 1. (s)words – Federico Di Corato (Italy) 2. Bathhouse – Laurynas Bareiša (Lithuania) 3. Call up– Masha Kondakova (Ukraine) 4. Deer Boy – Katarzyna Gondek (Poland/Belgium) 5. From the Soil – Ola Jankowska (Poland/France)Read More
ESP 2016 Tutors
Meet the tutors of European Short Pitch 2016! Nadja Dumouchel Nadja Dumouchel is currently engaged in script consulting for various filmlabs such as Torino Film Lab, Groupe Ouest and Next Step run by Semaine de la Critique. During the pastRead More


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The history of the carnival
The games and shows of a carrousel
When the carnival comes to town, a weed-grown vacant lot blossoms overnight into an amusement park and magic wonderland. The travelling company unloads its equipment from railway cars or trucks, and soon a town of show tents and wooden booths arises. Workmen set up strong steel frames for the merry-go-round, the Ferris wheel, and rides that whirl and toss giddy, shrieking riders.
The carnival's medley of strange sights, sounds and scents spells glamor and excitement for the children. They are fascinated by the brilliant lights and the bright colors of side-show costumes and cheap wheel-of-chance prizes. The blare of the calliope and the loud voices of barkers, the smell of hot dogs, the cotton candy, and the surging crown pressing past the amusements on the midway all add to the excitement.
Growth of the Modern Carnival
The modern carnival follows centuries of development. Strolling players entertained street crowds in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome. When the religious festivals of the Middle Ages brought the throngs to European city squares and plazas, shows came too. Street vendors and sweetmeat sellers mingled with the people, while jugglers, clowns, acrobats, singers, and dancers amused them.
The name "carnival" originally was given to the season of merrymaking held on the three days before the Lent in Roman Catholic cities. Among the most famous are the Mardi Gras festivals in New Orleans, and the carnivals in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and Binche, Belgium. Each had a procession of gay floats and costumed marchers.
Travelling carnivals, popular throughout the world were especially beloved in American small towns before automobiles gave people access to other entertainment. Carnivals still delight American crowds, even in cities with many rival attractions.
Carival Games and Shows
Carnival owners frequently introduce new rides that appear dangerous and exciting, but nothing displaces the merry-go-round and the Ferris wheel as favorites. The merry-go-round goes back to the early 18th century. Its French name, carrousel was that of a tournament entertainment popular in the 17th century Italy and France. Troops of costumed horsemen engaged in contests, drills, and pageants. The Place du Carrousel, between the Louvre and the Tuileries Garden in Paris, was named for a magnificient carrousel given there by Louis XIV in 1662.
Since only the nobility could enjoy these spectacles, a Parisian toymaker set hobbyhorses on a platform to create a make-believe carrousel. It was crudely made and the platform turned slowly with only manpower or horsepower to move it; but it delighted people from the beginning. Modern merry-go-rounds are whirled by motors; but many of them still carry prancing wooden ponies wearing the fancy harness of tournament mounts.
The first Ferris wheel was 250 feet in diameter and held a thousand riders. It was built for the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago, Illinois in 1893. Carnival wheels are much smaller but they weem sky-high to youth riders.
Mechanical rides, refreshment stands, and live animal rides for children are the mainstays of today's carnival. Tightrope acts, firework displays, or raffles are offered late in the evening to keep the crowd at the lot spending money. The carnival's varied shows once included minstrels, dancing girls, freaks, and animal or snake exhibits. Each was ballyhooed by a barker outside the tent in which the show was performed. Some carnivals still utilize some of these acts.
Many games of chance entice people to risk their dimes and quarters. Shrill barkers constantly urge the customers to pick up a lucky number on a whirling wheel or to toss a ball or a ring to a target. These games are built to bring profit to thier operators, and the few winners get little for their money when they carry away the tawdry, useless prizes.


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Our plastic post and rail systems are the idea choice for horse lovers, farmers, sports grounds and developers.
Competitively priced for even the largest application and they come in 2, 3 or 4 rails. These are only available in white, and come in 8 foot sections. Each 8′ section includes: (1) 4 "x 4″ x 60″ or (78″, or 84" long) Posts, 2, 3, or 4 Double Ribbed rails, (1) Standard Cap.
This plastic fencing is very durable and the livestock won't damage them. It is very easy to install with a clever click together system, and the posts go into the ground and concrete in just like any other fencing. We also have a set of matching gates which can be made to measure. (Please see the gates page). These items can be delivered within 5 days.


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World-class Filipino songstress and theatre star Rachelle Ann Go married American businessman Martin Spies on the sunset-kissed shores of Boracay yesterday, and guess who created her dream wedding gown? Answer: It was none other than her brother, designer Oz Go!
The dress, simple in form but far more intricate when examined up close, features a modest train and a gracefully low back, with sleeves and an overlay made of the most delicate sheer white tulle.
Another zoomed-in look shows the gown's subtle, winning detail: an intricate, beaded vine-and-flower motif spanning the whole frock. So dainty.
You can tell it's lovingly made. Fun fact: This isn't the first time Oz has spun his sister some style magic! Rachelle has been known to sport his work on the red carpet. In fact, she's worn him to most of her opening nights (Miss Saigon on Broadway and Hamilton's West End leg included, no biggie) and awards shows.
What a proud shared moment this must be for both Rachelle and Oz, a bride-and-bro team to champion. Congratulations to the beaming newlyweds and the talented couturier!


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> From: Richard Cyganiak [mailto:firstname.lastname@example.com] > [ . . . ] > Thanks for the careful review. Responses inline. > > On 26 Aug 2007, at 04:44, Booth, David (HP Software - Boston) wrote: > > [ . . . ] > > Consequently there is a trade-off in using hash URIs to identify > > non-document resources, because the hash URI limits the future media > > types that you can serve. If you only ever wish to serve > > RDF, then hash URIs will work fine. But if you think you may > > someday wish to serve HTML in addition or instead, then you should > > use 303 URIs. > > I think you allege a limitation that does not exist. Let's take the > example from the document, starting with the no-conneg solution. > > http://www.acme.com/about#alice > > The racine serves only RDF/XML, thus /about#alice can > identify a person. > > Now if we decide to add HTML later on, our document proposes to 303- > redirect from the racine to either of these URIs > > http://www.acme.com/about.rdf > http://www.acme.com/about.html You are absolutely right. I hadn't noticed that you made the racine do a 303. The limitation I mentioned only applies when the racine serves the representations. This hybrid approach of combining the hash style with 303 redirects bypasses that limitation. Good idea! > [ . . . ] > > 6. In your example of 303 URIs, http://www.acme.com/id/alice > > 303-redirects either to http://www.acme.com/data/alice (for RDF) or > > http://www.acme.com/people/alice (for HTML). Since the RDF and HTML > > versions are in some sense intended to provide different > > representations > > of the same information (either for machine or human consumption), I > > would think it would be administratively more natural to instead use > > something like: > > http://www.acme.com/description/alice.rdf and > > http://www.acme.com/description/alice.html > > for the two document URIs. Obviously the choice is up to the > > adminstrator, but I thought I would mention it, because the example > > looks a little odd to my eyes in this way. > > I sympathize with this. But file extensions in URIs are somewhat > frowned upon: "You may not be using HTML for that page in 20 years > time, but you might want today's links to it to still be > valid." This > quote is from Tim's "Cool URIs don't change" piece, which is the > inspiration for the title of our document. So it didn't feel > right to > advocate the use of file extensions in our example scenario. I think the rationale for avoiding file extensions in the URI is to avoid inadvertently coupling the URL to the format, when you really want the URL to identify the information in general. But in your example, the explicit intent is not to identify the information in general, but to identify each format, so I think having the format in the URL makes sense in this case. But again, I do not think your naming approach is wrong, it just seems a little awkward to me, but it is a matter of personal taste. David Booth, Ph.D. HP Software +1 617 629 8881 office | firstname.lastname@example.com http://www.hp.com/go/software Opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not represent the official views of HP unless explicitly stated otherwise.Received on Thursday, 30 August 2007 04:39:07 UTC
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Friday, 17 January 2020 22:56:17 UTC


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Better Video Shooting Specs with iPhone X
Today's Shutter Release will focus on tips for photographing reptiles, a new Kickstarter for a flash modifier system, a look at why the new iPhone X has better video shooting specs than many dedicated cameras and a pair of photo editing tutorials. Let's get to it.
Photographer Jason Steel has shared many tips on photographing reptiles over at Amateur Photographer. If you want to learn how to find and photograph reptiles, it's well worth a look. Plus Jason shares some really cool shots.
If you're looking for a lightweight and flexible light modifier, the new Kobra Flash Modifier system might be just what you're looking for. The system relies on a new Kobra Band, which holds the flash modifier and also secures a new color gel system. You can get an early bird edition of the full kit for only $80 as part of the "Super Early Bird" backer package. Learn more about the campaign in the video below. Shutter Release: Kobra flash modifier, iPhone X video specs, Lightroom secrets, tinting images and more


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[Papajack] Good Afternoon, All is done we are just waiting on the jet.
Remember politics is always the holdup and this is a once in a lifetime deal which is a blow to the kingdom of darkness. You have to know they don't go easy and they don't play fair.
Just stay focused on all the good changes that will come with the RESET!!!!
POLITICS POLY means MANY and a TICK is a bloodsucking parasite.
The MIRACLE of EXPOSURE is a gift from above, don't waste it, be a vessel of good with your blessings, help the factually challenged recover from 143 years of deception.
Fight the good fight of faith, be apt to teach, overcome evil with good, it is our destiny to prosper and give the glory where it belongs, to the ONE TRUE LIVING GOD.
Oh how I long to hear those words, Well done thy good and faithful servant, enter into the Joy of the Lord.
The evil of the day is sufficient for itself. Possess your promised land, and may the borders of your tent be enlarged.
I'm gonna dance on the head of the enemy!!!!
[Papajack] Tower, PAPAJACK requesting a flyby!!!! WHOOO HOOOO!!!!!


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Gucci pulls 'blackface sweater' from stores after complaints
A screenshot taken on Thursday Feb.7, 2019 from an online fashion outlet showing a Gucci turtleneck black wool balaclava sweater for sale, that they recently pulled from its online and physical stores. Gucci has apologised for the wool sweater that resembled a "blackface" and said the item had been removed from its online and physical stores, the latest case of an Italian fashion house having to apologise for cultural or racial insensitivity. (AP Photo)


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good books
I've read quite a few good books lately, so I thought I'd share some mini reviews of them:
The Count of Monte Cristo, by Alexandre Dumas. The translation I read was a bit abridged (the Barnes and Noble Classics edition), but this 634-page edition still contained more than enough plot for this reader. It's a brilliant story.
Bossypants, by Tina Fey. I love her. A fun and quick read.
The Eyre Affair, Lost in a Good Book, The Well of Lost Plots, all by Jasper Fforde. I got sucked into the Thursday Next series, which is a delightful mixture of detective/adventure/fantasy targeted at literature geeks.
What's Bred in the Bone, by Robertson Davies. A novel about the life of a Canadian artist/spy during the late 19th century and well into the 20th century, with an emphasis on factors that shaped his character and fate. Lots of great supporting characters.
The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins. For me, this popular novel is Margaret Atwood's dark visions of our future society meets young adult fiction featuring a teenage female protagonist caught in a love triangle (though composed of more functional relationships than in Twilight). Although the plot is driven by the horrific spectacle of children forced to fight to the death, compassion and decency are at the true heart of the story.
Currently reading: Catching Fire, by Suzanne Collins
On deck: Mockingjay, by Suzanne Collins, and Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (and Other Concerns), by Mindy Kaling
What have you been reading lately?


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Owen Danoff, one of the top contenders from Team Adam Levine for this season's "The Voice US," competed for a spot in the top 11 before being eliminated in Week 3.
Danoff, who was one of those few contestants in this series who got four chair-turn by all the four judges, has been familiar with music since an early age. His father, Bill Danoff, is a Grammy award winner, and also a songwriter and one of the original members of the Starland Vocal Band. So it doesn't come as a surprise that after finishing high school, Owen enrolled in Berklee College of Music, Boston, and graduated with a degree in film scoring.
Danoff finished at the 11th place in Season 10 of "The Voice US." In an exclusive interview with International Business Times, India, he shares the highlights of his journey in "The Voice US" Season 10.
International Business Times: How was your experience on "The Voice?"
Owen Danoff: Totally magical. It was fun, stressful, enriching, and inspiring. I grew immensely as an artiste and a performer but also as a person, and came away from the experience with many lessons learned and more than a few friendships that I'm sure are going to last a lifetime.
IBT: How did the guidance of your coach, Adam Levine, enhance your singing skills and help you improve?
Danoff: The most important thing that I took away from working with Adam Levine was that I don't need to change who I am in order to succeed as an artiste. Since my Blind Audition, Adam has been supportive of me the way that I am and has worked hard to nurture my sense of self-confidence and assurance in the fact that what I do has merit and worth. I think it's very easy, especially in a situation like The Voice, to compare yourself to other people who are doing what you want to do, and Adam's big point to me was that I should focus on being the best version of myself instead of worrying about how I would look as compared to anyone else.
IBT: Looking back, would you have rather chosen a song other than "Burning House"?
Danoff: I think "Burning House" was the perfect song for my second Instant Save performance. It's beautifully written both in terms of the music and the lyrics. I believe the song was a great choice.
IBT: What is your most memorable moment from "The Voice" Season 10?
Danoff: The most memorable moment was when Team Adam rehearsed "If You Want Me To Stay" by Sly And The Family Stone together before we performed it on live TV. In the rehearsal, I was playing bass, Laith Al-Saadi was playing guitar, and Adam Levine was playing drums. The three of us, along with Shalyah Fearing, were singing as well. It was an incredible moment for me because I had always wanted to play bass and sing on the show (something no other contestant has done), and because I got to do so while also playing with Laith and Adam. Music is its own language and getting to play with Laith and Adam allowed us to connect on a musical level and not just a personal level. It was one of the most fun times I had being on "The Voice."
IBT: You were a professional singer before joining "The Voice." How do you think this experience will enhance your career?
Danoff: This experience has enhanced my career since the day I knew I was going to be auditioning. Since then I have worked harder than ever before on my vocal technique and ability, pushed myself out of my comfort zone over and over again as a performer and a musician, and learned how to deal with a level of pressure that I'd never experienced before. This show has also granted me a ton of exposure and a wonderful relationship with fans, both old and new. People have been amazingly supportive and I really feel as though I have a wonderful support network out there that wants me to succeed. I'm so grateful to everyone who has put in time and effort to let me know they've listened to my music and are invested in what I'll be doing next.
IBT: What was your reasoning behind choosing Adam as your coach? How did he help you through the various rounds?
Danoff: I chose Adam as my coach because out of all the coaches, I feel I have the most in common with him musically. We are both songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, and I have the utmost respect for his ability as both a writer and a performer. He has helped me greatly by encouraging me to stay confident in who I am and to stay true to myself, above all.
IBT: If Adam hadn't turned around, who would you have chosen as your coach?
Danoff: I would have been incredibly fortunate to work with any of the coaches, but if Adam hadn't turned around I think I would have chosen Pharrell. Aside from being brilliant and amazingly talented, Pharrell is an incredibly genuine, kind, and grounded person. I spent a little bit of time with him throughout my run on the show and I was always amazed at how obvious it was that he had the best interests of his contestants at heart.
IBT: Who is/are your favourite contestant(s) this season?
Danoff: I love every contestant equally. Going through this experience together has made us all close friends, and I want everyone to succeed equally. Of the people who are left on the show I have spent the most time with Laith Al-Saadi and Shalyah Fearing because we were all on Team Adam together. Laith and I got dinner together all the time and Shalyah is like a little sister to me. Alisan Porter is also wonderful, and wore an Owen Danoff t-shirt to my Playoffs performance.
IBT: What is the most important lesson you learned from this chapter of your life?
Danoff: The most important lesson I've learned is that it's incredibly important to go after what you want and chase your dreams. No matter what rejection you may face, the things you gain make up for it – and then some.
IBT: Many of your fans were disheartened to see you go and have been blowing up social media pages. Do you have any message for them?
Danoff: Hi, everybody! I've said it before, but thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your support. Not a minute goes by when I don't think of the crazy amount of love that has been directed my way since my journey on "The Voice" began. I feel it, and I appreciate it more than I can put into words. My time on "The Voice" might be over, but the journey is just beginning, and I am so happy to have you with me.


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Man has always looked to the cosmos for answers, with delight, in fear, and for signs.
In August, the boldest sign the universe can bring — a midday midnight — will be on display for millions of people as a total solar eclipse paints a black ribbon coast-to-coast.
It is mechanical, an alignment predictable to the second, an event ripe for scientific study. Yet, it is also an apparition so profound that historically, and even today, a total solar eclipse is considered by some a signal from a higher power, or a harbinger of apocalypse.
"Total eclipses are so phenomenal and so overpowering and so amazing that some people have ascribed a 'super spirituality' to them," said Dan McGlaun, a 12-time total solar eclipse viewer who runs the website Eclipse2017.org. "That's why so many cultures have created stories and myths about eclipses throughout history."
Related: South Floridians prepare for total solar eclipse.
The Aug. 21 total solar eclipse is the first in 99 years to cross the U.S., traveling from Oregon to South Carolina. Everyone in North America will be able to see the eclipse, but only those in the 70-mile wide path of totality will witness a black hole open in the daytime sky as the moon envelops the sun.
The cross-country eclipse will take 90 minutes, beginning at 10:15 a.m. PST in Newport, Ore., and ending 4:10 p.m. EST in Charleston, S.C. For two minutes, 40 seconds, darkness will reign in the strip of totality where 12 million people live and millions more will journey.
Related: New heat-activated eclipse stamp does something no other stamp can.
In ancient times, mythical animals were often blamed for the darkness, eating the sun bite by bite to starve people of life-giving light. An invisible dragon swallowed the sun in China. India had a serpent head with no body munching on the bright star. Demon dogs did the deed in Scandinavia. The Mayans thought a giant Jaguar was the culprit.
Check The Palm Beach Post radar map.
Some Australian aboriginal tribes thought the eclipse was the joining of the moon and sun as man and wife, or the moon (man) pulling the curtains of the sky closed for privacy as they came together.
"That's really the sweetest one I've heard," said Lika Guhathakurta, NASA's lead scientist for the eclipse. "Most cultures have regarded eclipses with great trepidation and fear, and you can understand why when all of a sudden darkness descends during the day and you don't know why."
Related: Best places to see the 2017 solar eclipse.
Guhathakurta said in remote parts of India people hold onto folklore beliefs that food cooked during an eclipse is poison and people bang pots and pans together to frighten away the moon so the sun can shine again. There is also a misconception that solar eclipses can harm pregnant women, who are asked to stay indoors during the event.
As recent as 1995, Guhathakurta said she saw the pots and pans ritual in India. In 1998, she saw the same thing in Mongolia.
"Even in our country, there are all kinds of ideas," said Guhathakurta.
Find out what they are in the full story at MyPalmBeachPost.


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The Renaissance and the Church
Even though there are some sharp contrasts, for the most part, the influence and prestige of the Catholic Church was declining. The humanistic thinking did accept the older church institutions that were deeply rooted in traditions and traditional ways of thinking.
In the past, the Catholic Church had been an important part of the system that was based on the allegiances between lords and vassals (the feudal system). During the Renaissance the demands of society shifted and became based on money instead of allegiances. The church had a difficult time adjusting to this new way of thinking. For example, the parish priests and monks had long served as the religious teachers of the peasants, but as the commercial class began to grow, the priests found that they knew very little about the needs of this new class of people.
The esteem of the church was also hurt as some church leaders violated the biblical laws they were entrusted to uphold and lived no differently than the secular merchants and political figures. This was compounded by the realization by the new monarchs that, in order for them to maintain power, the support of the church was not as important as in the past.
Even though the churches influence in politics was weakening, as can be seen by the Babylonian Captivity and the Great Schism, the popularity of religion was actually growing. This growth continued through the 14th and 15th centuries and reached a climax during the 16th century, known as the Reformation.
The Catholic Church in Decline
The papal court was humiliated when, in the early 14th century, the French king forced them to Avignon. This forced move made the churches highest leaders appear to be pawns of France. The church, instead of providing spiritual leadership and direction for the rapidly changing society and class, became preoccupied with its administration staff and processes and with the collection of revenue
The problems grew worse during the Great Schism, when rival popes competed for control of the church. The final outcome further weakened the political influence of the church.
There were worthy leaders of the Catholic Church during these times. Nicholas V (mid 15th century) and Pius II, who followed his papacy, were learned, pious and noble leaders of the church.
There were also other leaders, like Alexander VI (pope in 1492), Julius II and Leo X, who were chiefly concerned with politics, the promotion of their families and the patronage of the arts. These popes further weakened the ability of the Catholic Church to influence society and politics.
With its weakened influence, the church found its papal authority increasingly challenged, both locally and nationally. These challenges to the papal authority, known as heresy, flourished, and critics became more outspoken and numerous.
Religious Growth
The concern of the churches condition was a result of the strength of the church, not the weakness. The influence of the Catholic Church was weakening but there was ever increasing popularity of religion throughout all parts of Europe.
Religion began to change. Preachers, like Savonarola of Florence, called on sinners to repent. One movement, that grew in part from the German mystic, Echhart, grew in western Germany in the Rhineland area. This movement believed in direct revelations from God without the church as an intermediary.
The communal and metaphysical faith of the Catholic Church was challenged in Belgium, Luxembourg and the Netherlands by a movement known as the "devotion moderna". This group emphasized individual and practical faith as opposed to the communal and metaphysical faith of the Catholic Church.
These movements, along with their differing beliefs, posed a threat to traditional religion. Popular heretical movements continued to grow and continued to challenge papal authority. Some of these movements even proposed doing away with the Catholic Church as an institution. During the 14 century, British philosopher John Wycliffe began formalizing his attacks in his teachings and writings. A Bohemian, Jan Hus, also wrote of these things.
These heretics became popular because of their attacks, but they remained as a small minority. The majority of the reformers hoped to change the Catholic Church, not remove it.
A particularly influential theologian, Jean de Gerson, at the University of Paris in the early 1500's supported the conciliar theory. This theory aimed at reforming the Catholic Church by removing the supreme authority of the pope and placing it in a general council.
The call for reform was not just from outsiders, Nicholas of Cusa (the "papal legate" or official representative of the pope) pursued church reform policies directly aimed at monks who had violated the monastic vows.
The most successful reformer of all was Cardinal Ximenes of Spain. He set standards for training, discipline and qualifications for the Spanish clergy. None of these reforms spread throughout all of Europe. There were a lot of people who were unhappy with the church but there were also lots of people who thought the church could be improved with basic reforms.


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Supacaz Fly Cage Bottle Cage
$25.00 - $50.00
King Cage's stainless steel Iris cage is a beautiful addition to their list of bottle cage choices. Elegant in it's simplicity, this cage is an excellent way to inexpensively add stylish symmetry to your bike. Similar to King Cage's original bottle cage design, the Iris is made of tubular stainless steel, which makes it both lightweight and highly difficult to bend or break.
The Iris bottle cage is proudly made in the USA.
|48 grams
|304 stainless steel


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William Rees-Mogg, the former editor of The Times of London, raised a very important question in an essay he wrote after watching the recent, massive antiwar demonstrations in Europe. Referring to the various banners carried by protesters, he noted: "There was, I thought, one slogan which was missing. There were quite a number which called for 'Freedom for Palestine,' [but] I looked in vain for one which called for 'Freedom for Iraq.' None of the speakers expressed any wish to free Iraq."
Rees-Mogg is quite right. When it comes to the Middle East, the whole issue of democratization and better governance simply is not part of the debate over the future. To the extent that it is, it is used as a tool to beat up on enemies, not a supreme value to be promoted for everyone.
Let's start with the Europeans. There is only one group of Arabs for whom Europeans have consistently spoken out in favor of their liberation -- and that is those Arabs living under Israeli occupation, the Palestinians. Those Arabs who have been living under the tyranny of Saddam Hussein or other Arab dictators are of no concern to President Jacques Chirac of France and his fellow travelers.
We all know what this is about: the Jewish question. "For too many Europeans, Arabs are of no moral interest in and of themselves," observes the Middle East analyst Stephen P. Cohen. "They only become of interest if they are fighting Jews or being manhandled by Jews. Then their liberation becomes paramount, because calling for it is a way to stick it to the Jews. Europeans' demonstrations for a free Palestine -- and not for a free Iraq or any other Arab country -- smell too much like a politically correct form of anti-Semitism, part of a very old story."
The truth is, France is not interested in promoting egalite, fraternite and liberte in the Middle East. It is primarily interested today in managing American power. It is primarily interested in positioning France to become the world's next great "Uncola," the leader of the alternative coalition to American power.
In fairness, though, before now the U.S. has never shown much interest in Arab democracy either. It treated the Arab states like big, dumb gas stations, and all the U.S. cared about was that they kept their pumps open and their prices low. Otherwise they could do whatever they wanted to their own people at home or out back.
Only after 9/11, as we realized that what was going on out back in these countries threatened us, did the U.S. begin to call for democracy in the Arab world -- but only to get rid of Yasser Arafat and to punish those Arab regimes it did not like, namely Saddam Hussein's. You still have not seen any serious democratization effort being directed at Saudi Arabia or Egypt or Kuwait. For America, government of the people, by the people and for the people is only for our enemies, not our friends.
But then, other than a few courageous Arab liberals, Arab intellectuals have not made democracy promotion a supreme value either. In part it's because liberating Palestine has always been treated by them as a more important political value. And in part it's because many Arab societies are still so tribalized, and have such a weak sense of citizenship, they fear that democracy could bring forth fundamentalists, a rival tribe or anarchy. Hence the Arab saying: "Better 100 years of tyranny than one day of anarchy."
Ironically, 9/11 began to change this view. You can see it in the lack of Arab support for Saddam Hussein. There is a much deeper awareness that leaders like Hussein are what have retarded Arab development. "But because Arab peoples and systems have never developed their own way of getting rid of bad leaders, they can only look to outsiders to do it -- and that evokes the worst memories of imperialism and colonialism," notes Cohen. "They don't want to get rid of Saddam at the cost of being controlled by Americans." So they are paralyzed -- wanting their Husseins removed, but deeply afraid of who will do it and what will come next.
What all this means is that when it comes to building democracy in Iraq, the Europeans are uninterested, the Americans are hypocritical and the Arabs are ambivalent. Therefore, undertaking a successful democratization project there, in a way that will stimulate positive reform throughout the region, will require a real revolution in thinking all around -- among Americans, Arabs and Europeans. If done right, the Middle East will never be the same. If done wrong, the world will never be the same.
Thomas L. Friedman is the 2002 Pulitzer Prize winner for commentary. Write to him at The New York Times, 229 W. 43rd St., New York, NY 10036.


text: Bruce declared his club would "vigorously defend" the charge, adding: "The frustration was that he (Mahrez) was blatantly trying to get somebody sent off. "We surrounded the referee because it was a perfectly fair challenge". The appeal will be heard by an independent regulatory commission. The charge arises from a 68th minute incident in which Tigers players surrounded referee Jonathan Moss after Alex Bruce was booked for his challenge on Leicester's Riyad Mahrez. The club's announcement comes as no surprise in the wake of strong comments made by boss Steve Bruce about the incident on Friday. Press Association Hull have announced their intention to appeal against an Football Association charge of failing to control their players during the goalless draw at Leicester on March 14.