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Tue 29 Jan 2008
Morton Feldman Marathon Performance
Posted by hatta under Classical, Experimental Music, Live Music, New Music
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After the lecture ended I had about 45 minutes before the performance. The museum cafe was packed, so I headed out for lunch. I went to a local Japanese restaurant and had a decent lunch of Udon noodles and sushi. I made it back to SAM about ten minutes before the performance to find a lengthy line at the admission counter. Clearly I should have bought a ticket before I went for lunch but I didn't even think that there'd be this sort of crowd. Turned out that most of them were there for the Gates of Paradise exhibit which I was informed had an hour wait. No problem, as I was going to the contemporary gallery to see Feldman performed amongst twentieth century abstract expressionism.
Due to the line I ended up in the gallery about 1:35, five minutes after the published start time. They were already playing so I imagine they must have started within a few minutes of the published time and so I missed a couple of minutes. They were setup in the middle of the gallery, amongst a couple of abstract metal sculptures. There were a dozen or so chairs but most patrons were standing or sitting on the floor. I found a spot where I could see the performers pretty well and staked out some floorspace. From where I sat I could see the above Rothko (or one very similar) just behind the piano. To my left was an early Pollock that I quite liked, it looked almost like a bluish gray piece of sandpaper, but with incredible details at closer view. A stunning black and gray piece whose painter I forget was my view to the right. Not bad surroundings for an afternoon of music.
People of course freely wandered in an out of the gallery, perhaps watching the performers for a perhaps moving right on. A low murmur from the gallery crowd was always present as were more dramatic interjections of random cell phone jingles, kids and scraps of conversation from those just outside the gallery. Personally this didn't bother me too much, I have come to accept all sounds and in some cases it was a nice juxtaposition. But I can understand the argument of wanted a more focused environment, especially as Feldman is so rarely performed in Seattle. The hall below where the lectures were held would have been a great venue for this, with better acoustics and of course less external noises. The more major downside for me was three and a half hours sitting on a wooden floor.
Morton Feldman Marathon performed by the Seattle Chamber Players
The Third Floor galleries, Seattle Art Museum
Bass Clarinet and Percussion (1981, ~15min)
This was the piece that was in progress when I entered the gallery and secured some floorspace. Not one I've heard before and really a pretty interesting piece, in terms of instrumentation alone. Feldman always had a pretty adversarial relationship to percussion and when he used it, it was often completely against traditional percussion techniques. Always low volume, he used a lot of shimmering sounds and usually pitched percussion. This piece was all cymbals and gongs for the percussion instruments all played softly and in such a way that the fit right in with the repeated low tones of the bass clarinet.
Nature Pieces (1951, ~15min)
A guest performer with the Seattle Chamber Players was Ivan Sokolov on the piano. He had just played a diverse program in the Chapel the week before and here he played almost every piece. A really nice player, I wouldn't say he compares to my favorite Feldman interpreters but his playing was impeccable. Nature Pieces, as I mentioned in the lectures post, was receiving its first US performance on the restored score. This piece jumped around and was quite different in each of its seven parts. Definitely in the vein of his other earlier pieces it lacks much of the features that people associate with Feldman. It even had a section where Ivan was pounding at the piano — easily the loudest section of the program. This was another Feldman piece I hadn't heard and it was again interesting and rewarding.
For Franz Kline (1962, ~15min)
This piece is scored for cello, violin, percussion, piano/celeste, French horn and solo soprano. Little sounds just sparkle out into the air in this piece. The percussion is exclusively chimes, which along with the wordless sing of the soprano gives this almost a sacred weight. The French horn adds an interesting texture to this piece, as per the other instruments its sounds are projected into the space, but its tonalities are quite different from the other instruments and add a richness to this piece. The strings are almost continuo like, add accompaniment though of course not ever present as continuo would be. Another nice piece, again one I hadn't heard before and I really enjoyed the different sonorities.
Piano piece (to Philip Guston) (1963, ~5 min)
The shortest piece on the program at only about five minutes, it has much more the feel of Feldman's longer piano pieces. That is it is short phrases allowed to decay before the next one comes in. Unlike the other piano pieces of this era, it doesn't feel like a graph paper composition, it seems through composed like the later works. Rather melancholy it does make one wonder what aspect of Philip Guston that was for.
De Kooning (1963, 15min)
This piece scored for French horn, percussion, piano, violin didn't seem too far off from For Franx Kline. The absence of the cello did make the string seem less like an accompaniment and singular dry tones from the violin came into the space. This piece (if I recall correctly) was the one where there was an actual drum played by the percussionist but it was super soft malletting on the drums. Again the horn was of the French variety which both stood out and yet complimented the other instrumentation. Another nice piece that this performance was my initial exposure to it.
Spring of Chosroes (1977, 15″)
A large amount of my favorite Feldman is his piano based works. The late solo piano is probably my favorite of all, but I love the pieces that add another instrument (or more) to the piano. This piece, again one I'd yet to hear, was for violin and piano and I have to say was really nice. Almost like a sketch for the much longer For John Cage, the combination of Feldman's attack free violin combined with the ethereal floating piano sounds is one of my favorite combinations. Getting to hear a number of these middle period Feldman pieces that I hadn't heard before was an added bonus for this concert.
Crippled Symmetry (1983, ~1'15)
I have a recording of the California EAR Unit's performance of this piece and so I knew that this was the one piece of longish duration that they'd be playing. Scored for flute, piano/celeste and percussion this piece, especially because of this instrumentation really places bright little twinkles of sound into the space. The percussion is all mallet percussion; vibes, glockenspiel and chimes and the flute alternates between normal and bass flutes. When the pianist is playing celeste the sounds are all in this metallic, upper register and it is almost cold, like music from space. During this performance the music critics Alex Ross and Kyle Gann both stretched out on the floor right in front of me. As I so often play Feldman when I go to bed at night I find that an understandable impulse. Overall I found the experience if listening to a piece for well over an hour to be very rewarding. It really is a suspension of time, the sounds run in these long, slow patterns to long, too slow for one to fully grasp or even really understand except in flashes as one repeated phrase seems to evoke something you think you heard before. The piece ends with with this long repeated note from the percussionist and during this the flute and then piano ended. Finally there is a series of repeated phrases on the glockenspiel that ends the piece. Absolutely stunning and definitely the highlight of the performance.
During this piece the museum crowd seemed to thin out a lot and there was a lot less ambient noise then during the bulk of the proceeding pieces. At the end of this there was a lot of applause and people standing up perhaps in ovation perhaps just in dire need to stand up!
Palais de Mari (1986, 20min)
Ivan, after so much playing already, came back almost immediately for the final piece. But the crowd hadn't settled down when he started playing and didn't seem to notice for a while. But eventually they faded away and the sedate tones of this solo piano piece were allowed to fill the now much emptier space. I am more familiar with this piece then any other on the program due to my love of John Tilbury's All Piano set. While not as stunning a piece as the epic For Bunita Marcus and Triadic Memories, this is still a wonderful piece and Ivan did a very nice performance of it. Given how much he'd already played it was pretty amazing to me that he was able to still have the patience and presence to play this as it should, with each note allowed to die out before the next one comes in. A really nice way to conclude the afternoons performance and a piece I'm happy to have seen live.
The concert ending about 4:45pm and I figured I'd have a chance to check out the paintings in the gallery. They then announced the museum would be closing in fifteen minutes! I was rather bummed about this, but obviously nothing I could. I did a quite survey of the contemporary galleries and determined that I'd definitely need to return and give this some real time. There was paintings by Duchamp, Guston, de Kooining, a couple Rothkos, the aforementioned Pollock, a Rauschenberg, a Calder sculpture and four Cornell boxes along with intriguing unknown to me painters. I'll definitely be back.
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On Sunday, June 29, at 2:30 p.m., Cumberland County Playhouse presents "Ponder Anew: A WWII Warrior's Story." Carol Ponder and Robert Kiefer, long-time Nashville theater favorites, perform this play with music. Adapted from the WWII memoir of Carol's father, Lt. Herschel D. Ponder — a fighter pilot who flew P-47 Thunderbolts in Europe — this moving production evokes the essence of war and warriors: their victories, sacrifices, loyalty and the sweet pain of coming home. Response from combat veterans and people from all walks of life has been tremendous.
In his memoir, Lt. Ponder wrote of his fears, his joys and his struggle to remain human during and after an inhumane war. By turns warm, funny, tragic and poignant, "Ponder Anew" premiered as part of The Hermitage Artists' Retreat Series at the Historic Asolo Theater in Sarasota, FL, and has been presented in over 30 venues in five states, including The Monteagle Assembly, TN, and Middle Tennessee State University.
The discussions after the performance — an integral part of this show — are always rich with shared experiences. After WW II, Lt. Ponder lived with PTSD and other challenges; however, he found joy in creating a rich life for himself and his family. In 1989, after 45 years, he finally found real relief in writing his memoir. His words of war and peace, with songs from the era and the North Carolina mountains, are a powerful stimulus that inspires combat survivors and their friends and families to open up about their own experiences. Praised by members of the military, their families, and psychologists, "Ponder Anew" helps audiences understand what we ask of those in our Armed Forces — and profoundly thanks those men and women for their service.
Carol and Robert have been theater and music professionals for over 40 years. Carol is an award-winning singer of Americana and, like her father, is a consummate storyteller. An accomplished actor and director, Robert specializes in creating one-person shows. His production of Elizabeth Davidson's "Harriet Beecher Stowe: A Literary Soldier" was featured at Bowdoin College as part of the celebration of the abolitionist author's 200th birthday and continues to play across the country. Carol and Robert are delighted to be working together to perform this powerful and valuable work of art. "Ponder Anew" is sponsored by Courage Beyond at Centerstone. Admission to this event is free.
For information about "Ponder Anew: A WWII Warrior's Story," please go to www.carolandrobert.com.
Also at the Playhouse: "Annie Get Your Gun" starring Kellye Cash (rated G, sponsored by Plateau Pediatrics, firearms sponsor: Tabor's Pawn Shop) through July 11; and "Smoke on the Mountain" (Rated G, sponsored by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store), through August 8. Tickets and information are also available for Southern Stars Symphonic Brass and other events. All CCP productions are made possible through sponsor support, with additional support from the Tennessee Arts Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts.

subset: commoncrawl


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Is There an Electric Car in Your Future?
Among those surveyed, one in five said they would be willing to consider buying an electric. However, 42% said they knew very little about electrics.The industry faces two roadblocks, but Kal Gyimesi, the Automotive Lead for the IBM Electric Car Survey, told WalletPop that the industry is making headway in addressing them both.
The first hurdle is price. In the survey, 40% of respondents said they would be willing to pay a 20% premium for an electric, while 51% would not be willing to pay any premium. The new Leaf and Volt both, however, sticker price way above that 20% comparable price point; the Leaf at $33,720, the Volt at $41,000.
However, a federal tax savings of up to $7,500 is available for both models.
Then there are fuel savings. According to Energy.gov, the cost of electricity to drive the Leaf 10,000 miles a year should be between $200 and $340. A comparable Nissan Sentra, at around 30 miles per gallon, would burn through $1,000 worth of gas at $3 a gallon.
IBM surveyed car company executives on some of the same issues. While 51% of consumers rated significantly higher oil prices as important to their buying decision, executives rank this as 76%. Either way, even higher gas costs could help further balance the cost issue.
The industry should also soon benefit from economies of scale as production ramps up. According to Gyimesi, in two years we could see 10 more major car companies launch pure electric cars in this country, and this competition could serve to drive down costs.
This suggests it might be a good idea to hold off on buying an electric car until more competition arrives.
The second challenge is the support infrastructure, the ability to quickly charge cars at home and recharge while on the road.
There is a significant cost to installing a recharging portal in one's home that is adequate to quick-charge a car; Nissan estimates this could be as much as $2,000.
The Leaf's cruising distance is anywhere from 47 miles to 138 miles between charges, while the Volt has a small gasoline engine that will kick on and recharge the battery on the fly to give it a cruising distance of up to 375 miles. Either way, looking for juice away from home can be problematic for early adopters.
According to Gyimesi, however, the industry is busily working on the problem. The survey found that cars spend most of their time in one of three spots; at home in the garage or driveway, at work, and at retail establishments. This provides a road map for how these recharging stations might be placed.
In addition, the government, through its Vehicles Technologies program, is committed to building thousands of recharging stations. Check the U.S.
Department of Energy site to find existing recharging stations near you. California residents will find many more that those in most other states.
Interestingly, Gyimesi said that one of the creative tactics that we might see come about is promotional recharging stations. Imagine a shopping mall that really wants your business, so much so that it offers free recharging hookups in its parking lot.
Gyimesi told WalletPop that he is encouraged by the survey and the future of the electric car. If only 58% of those polled knew much about electrics, but 20% were already willing to consider buying one, then educating the public about them should result in an even healthier potential customer base.


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It was finally spring, and I had work on my mind. No, not magazine work and writing, nor web design or anything I do to make a buck; I'm talking about construction. I was itching for that first strike of my new hammer to a nail, feeling my saw rip through some lumber and watching […]
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May 22
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Common Good
As part of the Common Good mission GCU London has set up a Common Good group, which is dedicated to developing opportunities for all its students and staff to participate in events and activities, engaging with the wider London community. The group welcomes all our collaborative partners that are active in the area of empowering young people from underrepresented backgrounds, promoting leadership and social change through education.
Remit (strategic)
To consider how GCU London staff and students can contribute to Common Good activities in line with Strategy 2020:
- Raise aspirations and widen access to higher education
- Enhance capabilities and capacity of workforce
- Reduce inequalities and promote social justice
- Contribute to the regeneration and growth of the communities we serve.
The group will meet 3 times per year (once a trimester).
If you would like more information on this group please contact our GCU London Common Good Champians, email@example.com or email@example.com.


text: XDM (Full name: Xtreme Duty More) is an US made pistol which is one of the variant and an improved version of the Croatian made HS2000 Pistol who sold with license in the name "XD (Xtreme Duty)" in US Market. XDM has 4 main models (3.8 Compact, 3.8, 4.5, 5.25 competition) and designed for chambered 9mm, .40S&W and .45ACP cartridge, also XDM has a featured grip safety, trigger safety and a new designed drop safety which designed for preventing misfiring when shooter drops his/her XDM Pistol. Features:Steel Slide and metal outer barrel with XDM marking, outer barrel is ready for attaching silencer adapter.Steel Slide contains with a dummy loaded chamber indicator and a functional rear type loaded indicator (it can be seen and touched when user cocked the slide).Fixed sights with white dots.Polymer Railed Lower Frame with XDM marking and comes with a manual safety, an ambi type magazine catch and a grip safety.Comes with 3 grips (Small, Medium and large) for user to change.Realistic trigger finction same as real steel.Adjustable Hop-up system.Included 26 rounds XDM Standard Magazine.Compatible with TM / WE 26rds XDM Magazine and most of the parts for TM/WE XDM GBB Pistol.Specifications:Length: 205mmBarrel Length: 99mmShooting Mode: Safety (trigger safety, grip safety and a separated lock under the lower frame) , Semi-AutoWeight (g): 845 (Gun with mag), 1010 (with box)Color: BlackGas: 8KG (134a), 12KG (Green Gas)Magazine Capacity: 26 + 1 rdsMaterial: Steel, Metal, Ploymer and PlasticBullet type: 6mm BBPower (Muzzle Velocity): 280 – 300 FPS (Green Gas)Manufacturer: HK3


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Hiring is expected to remain stagnant with the advent of sequestration and the continued budgetary stalemate in Congress, according to Bloomberg BNA's newest employment-outlook survey. Prospects for most non-management employees to experience any improvement in job opportunities during Q2 2013 remain low, but office and clerical candidates may see some increase in available jobs. For current employees, job security should remain at its current low-threat status.
Opportunities in production and service jobs remain short of levels experienced in 2011 and 2012 as about 20 percent of employers expect to grow their workforces during Q2 2013. Professional employees can expect better hiring prospects but expansions plans have shown little improvement over the past two years. Nearly 30 percent of employers expect to hire new technical or professional employees in Q2 2013. About 20 percent of employers foresee expanding their office and clerical workforces through June.
Few employers expect cutbacks through the middle of the year with only 9 percent anticipating reducing their workforces in production and service industries. Just about 10 percent of employers foresee office and clerical workforce cutbacks and technical and professional staffing cuts are expected to hit only 7 percent of employers. Therefore, risks of job loss or furloughs remain low.
Job vacancies for technical and professional positions continue to challenge employers with 40 percent reporting difficulty filling such positions. Finding qualified techs and professionals was the primary difficulty for 45 percent of employers with 58 percent of large employers reporting difficulty in filling professional or technical vacancies. Only 7 percent were challenged with finding office and clerical candidates.


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Smith, Angie Frank, Jr. (1915–1994)
Angie Frank Smith, Jr., Houston attorney and civic leader, son of Bess Patience (Crutchfield) and Angie Frank Smith, was born in Detroit, Texas, on November 3, 1915. He graduated from San Jacinto High School in 1933 and Rice Institute in 1937. In 1940 he graduated from the University of Texas Law School and went to work for Vinson and Elkins in Houston. During World War II he was a naval officer in the Pacific theatre and served as a navigator on the battleship Massachusetts. After the war he returned to Vinson and Elkins, and in 1950 he was made a partner for the firm, which eventually was called Vinson, Elkins, Connally and Smith. Smith, who specialized in natural resources law, was the firm's managing partner from 1972 to 1981. He served on many civic boards, including Methodist Hospital of Houston since 1954, where he was chairman from 1977 until his death. He also served on the boards of the Houston Symphony Society, the San Jacinto Museum of History Association, and the South Texas College of Law and as chairman for Southwestern University, whose library was named in his honor. He was an active member and leader of St. Luke's Methodist Church and received its Distinguished Life Award. He was also a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, the Knights of the Order of San Jacinto, and the Philosophical Society of Texas and was a member of the Executive Council and president of the Texas State Historical Association. In 1939 he married Mary Bloomfield Hannah; they had five children. Smith retired from law in 1985. He died at Methodist Hospital in Houston on July 1, 1994.


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All recipes » Appetizers & snacks » Central asian » 600 or more calories
Wheat and Barley Bran flour Biscuits by Coral
I love baking but I hate to use very fine white flour. So, this time I have made biscuits from wheat flour and Barley Bran. These are perfect tea-time or evening snacks. These are also all time favorite of my daughter. As I used whole wheat flour and barley bran flour with home made butter, I don't suffer from any guilt when she eats…
1 vote
3351 views
Chicken and Cabbage Supreme by dan
Chicken and cabbage with a light and healthy twist
1 vote
4538 views


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- With the system in the disarmed state, select the "Tools" icon from the second page of the Home Screen. The system displays the Keypad screen.
Enter your 4-digit Master User Code. The system displays the Master User programming screen.
Select the "Date Time" icon. The Calendar screen will appear.
Select the correct month by using the "<" and ">".
Select the correct year by using the "<" and ">".
- Select the correct day on the calendar.
- When you have finished, select the "∨" icon. The system advances to the time screen.
- If the displayed time is not correct, select 'Clear' then enter the correct time (4 digits) on the keypad and select AM or PM.
- When you have finished, select the "∨" icon. The system advances to the next screen OR proceed to step 17.
- Select 'Time Zone'. The system scrolls between through the following options:
Eastern (EST)
Central (CST)
Mountain (MST)
Pacific (PST)
Hawaii (HAST)
Alaska (AKST)
Select the correct time zone.
- Select "Day Light Savings Time". The system toggles between "Yes" and "No".
Note: The start month/week and end month week are default programmed to "March/Second" and :November/First" respectively. Steps 13 to 16 should only be performed if you wish to change those entries. If you are not changing the defaults, advance to step 17.
- Select "Start Month". The system displays a calendar. Select the correct month.
- Select "Start Week". The system will toggle between:
- Select "End Month". The system displays a calendar. Select the correct month.
- Select "End Week". The system will toggle between:
- When you are finished, select the "Save" key. The system returns to the Master User program screen.
Note: If your system is equipped with a GSMVLP5 or ILP5 communication Module, the time and date will be programmed and updated automatically via Central Monitoring Station. You may still program the correct Time Zone as shown above. Check with your security system provider to see if your system is equipped with a Communications Module.
For more details, refer to the User's Manual which you should be able to find here.


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The vibrant city of Johannesburg is rapidly becoming one of the hottest city destinations in the world, offering plenty of great restaurants, golf courses and other attractions such as the Apartheid Museum. One of the best ways to get to know this interesting city and it's history is to join a guided walk in areas like Newtown and Maboneng.
Local guides, who were born and raised in those areas, will take you on a 2-3 hour walk and explain the history and culture. They will point out interesting historical sites and buildings, they will explain about the music culture, the food and the street art. Get to know Johannesburg like a local!


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By default Microsoft ships Powershell with script execution disabled.
For security reasons I agree with restricting script execution by default. Can you imaging the onslaught of Powershell based malware that would have been brought on by any other decision? However Microsoft makes it prohibitively inconvenient to enable a script signing policy that is both secure and conducive to a fluid work flow.
For the most part, in my observation, anyone who needs to run a Powershell script simply sets their execution policy to unrestricted and moves on.
In a future post I will detail the steps in creating a code signing certificate chain, but for now I'll post the script that I use to put my code signing certificate to use. Any script of mine that is running in a production environment, whether it be in my home lab or work, is put through this signing process.
There is no magic here, the script simply lists the available code signing certs in your certificate store, asks which one you would like to use, then signs the specified script.
if($args.count -gt 0) { if (Test-Path $args[0]) { $certs = Get-ChildItem Cert:\CurrentUser\My -CodeSigningCert for ($i = 0; $i -le @($certs).count; $i++) { if(@($certs)[$i] -ne $null) { "[{0} -- {1}]" -f $i, @($certs)[$i].Subject } } $a = Read-Host "Select the corresponding number for the code signing cert to use" Write-Host Code Signing $args[0] with @($certs)[$a].Subject Set-AuthenticodeSignature $args[0] @($certs)[$a] } else { Write-Host Unable to find specified file $args[0]. No scripts were signed. } } else { Write-Host "Usage: SignScripts.ps1 TargetScript" }


text: Dear All Sorry if you just received a garbled message! Many thanks to those of you who have pledged in the past two weeks. Your pledges, together with the £750 raised at our Cherry Tree Fundraiser and £850 at our Christmas Fair last weekend mean that we only need to get another £180 of pledges before we reach our target. We absolutely couldn't have got this far without your fabulous support! Just to let you know, we are still selling raffle tickets with some super prizes donated by local makers and businesses, so pop in if you're passing. We'll be drawing the raffle on Monday 12th December and announcing the winners soon after. Now to the home straight! Warm wishes DKHAP


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The United States entered into war in Afghanistan less than a month after the deadly attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center in 2001. Eighteen years later, more than 775,000 US troops have been deployed to Afghanistan at least once, The Washington Post found.
After 18 years of a mission that crept from the eradication of terror to nation-building, the US may be close to exiting its forever war, but Afghanistan is no closer to stability.
Read on for a year-by-year history of the war in Afghanistan.
The US launched Operation Enduring Freedom on October 7, 2001.
Early predictions held that the war on terror would rely heavily on air strikes and special forces, which still rings true 18 years later.
The barrage was initially successful; several Taliban strongholds crumbled in the first few months.
In December, 20 of Osama bin Laden's men were captured in the Tora Bora cave complex by Afghan militias. The US role in the raid was minimal. Bin Laden eventually escaped, and the US would spend the next ten years trying to find him.
In March 2002, the US launched Operation Anaconda, a sweeping endeavor targeting over 800 Taliban fighters in the volatile Shah-i-Kot valley.
By this time, the US and the international community began contemplating how to rebuild Afghanistan, and President George W. Bush started turning his eye towards Iraq.
Hamid Karzai, steeped in controversy and claims of corruption, became the transitional leader of Afghanistan.
US officials claimed, perhaps prematurely, that "major combat" was over. Officials believe this declaration will pave the way for reconstruction to begin.
Approximately 13,000 US troops remained in Afghanistan.
In August, NATO assumed command of the International Security Assistance Forces, ISAF, tasked with securing Kabul.
As action in Iraq diverted attention, the Taliban started to regroup.
After an assembly of delegates paves the way for democratic institutions in Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai became the first democratically elected leader.
Thousands of Afghans made their way to the polls for the first time since 1969, in a mostly peaceful election.
Weeks later, a video of Osama bin Laden surfaced, in which he takes responsibility for 9/11.
"We want to restore freedom to our nation, just as you lay waste to our nation," he says.
The US troop count swelled to over 20,000.
As the hunt for Bin Laden continues, democracy tries to take hold in Afghanistan.
The country held its parliamentary elections. Over half of the 6 million voters who turned out were women.
US forces in Afghanistan remained around 20,000.
NATO security forces expanded their mission into southern Afghanistan as rifts begin to form between its member states.
The international community pledged over $10.5 billion to help Afghanistan fight the drug trade and poverty and to improve the nation's security.
Although the number of US troops stagnated around 20,000, violence against them increased throughout the year:
Suicide attacks jumped to 139, and 1,677 bombs were remotely detonated.
Mullah Dadullah, infamous Taliban commander, was killed in southern Afghanistan. Dadullah was a notorious leader of militants in Helmand province, one of the deadliest regions throughout the war and a Taliban stronghold.
Despite his death, the Taliban continued rebuilding as NATO forces attempted to relinquish control back to Afghan security forces.
US troop levels increased to 25,000.
The US escalated its presence, ending the year with over 48,000 troops in Afghanistan.
Violence and the civilian death toll also increased throughout 2008:
A suicide bomb killed more than 100 people outside Kandahar.
Another suicide attack against the Indian embassy in Kabul killed 58 and injures 141.
US air raids in Herat killed approximately 90 civilians, including 60 children, according to reports. Two separate incidents also drew criticism after killing a combined total approximating 150 civilians.
2008 also saw the first insider attack by Afghan security personnel against their coalition trainers. Called "green-on-blue" attacks, this new phenomenon plagued coalition forces for the remainder of the war.
Newly elected President Barack Obama pledged to send more troops to Afghanistan, and to draw down presence in Iraq.
By December, nearly 100,000 US troops were in Afghanistan.
United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan estimated civilian casualties increased by 24 percent.
The Taliban regained its strength in both Afghanistan and Pakistan, causing the US to focus on both countries as a combined challenge.
NATO member countries agreed to transition the security of Afghanistan back to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.
US forces reached 100,000.
Attacks against coalition troops by their Afghan trainees increased — five such attacks left 16 coalition troops dead this year. It is uncertain whether these attacks were pre-planned Taliban infiltrations or revenge by disgruntled Afghan forces.
In May 2011, US Navy SEALs found and killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaida and architect of 9/11, in a compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan.
His death fueled the debate about US presence in Afghanistan. His presence in Pakistan also increased tensions between Afghanistan and its eastern neighbor as Afghan President Hamid Karzai urged international forces to focus their efforts across the border.
US citizen support for the war continued to decrease.
The cost of a decade of war: 1,800 US troops dead. The US spent $444 billion.
In February, US troops at Bagram Air Base outside of Kabul were reportedly seen burning Qurans and other religious texts. The incident sparked days-long protests. President Obama issued a formal apology to the people of Afghanistan.
US troops began to draw down, but over 70,000 remained in Afghanistan.
Insider attacks, where Afghan troops and police ambush coalition forces, reached their peak: 44 attacks killed 61 coalition troops and wounded 81 others. Because most of the so-called "green-on-blue" assailants are killed, it is impossible to know their motivations, but some suggested the significant increase in these assaults may be correlated to the Quran burning incident as well as a general perception of US troop insensitivity.
NATO relinquished control to Afghan security forces, taking on an advisory role and declaring its combat mission over.
US and Taliban talks resumed, which sparked Afghan President Karzai to suspend negotiations with the US.
Meanwhile, US forces continued slowly withdrawing. Around 34,000 troops remained.
President Obama pledged to withdraw most US troops from Afghanistan by the end of 2016.
By the end of the year, less than 10,000 troops remained.
NATO officially ended its combat mission, launching Resolute Support mission in its stead.
The withdrawal of US troops remained intact for the majority of the year, but in late 2015 President Obama reversed course.
Citing a resurgent Taliban, he said he will keep approximately 10,000 troops in Afghanistan but planned to cut that number in half by the end of 2016.
In a devastating October air raid, US bombs struck a hospital run by Doctors Without Borders, killing 42.
President Obama again postponed total troop withdrawal, keeping about 8,000 troops in Afghanistan through the end of his term.
The Taliban continued strengthening its hold in Afghanistan.
An attack in July in Kabul that killed an estimated 80 people and left over 200 wounded was claimed by ISIS.
The US faced both Taliban and ISIS in Afghanistan.
As newly elected US President Donald Trump weighed his options, the Mother of All Bombs, or MOAB, is dropped in Nangarhar province, Afghanistan. The largest non-nuclear weapon in the US arsenal, the MOAB targeted a network of tunnels in eastern Afghanistan along its border with Pakistan. A reported 96 insurgents were killed.
Later, President Trump, who originally planned to withdraw from Afghanistan, pledged more ground troops on the advice of Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis.
The Taliban matched US escalation in early 2018 with a series of attacks in Kabul, killing over 100 people.
US President Trump also cut off billions of dollars in aid to Pakistan, citing claims that the nation is harboring Taliban militants.
America's longest war — commonly referred to as its forgotten war — dragged on.
Civilian casualties in the forgotten war continue, both from terrorist elements like the Taliban and Islamic State Khorasan province (ISIS-K), as well as from coalition forces.
ISIS-K claimed an attack on a Kabul mosque in August that killed 63 civilians at a wedding and wounded 200; US forces recently bombed pine nut farmers the same day Taliban detonated a bomb outside a hospital, killing 20, the BBC reported.
Amid the continued deaths, the US State Department attempted to negotiate with the Taliban — a group the US villified and fought against at the outset of the 18-year-long war — for the withdrawal of US forces from Afghanistan. In September, it looked like the US and the Taliban were approaching a deal when President Trump abruptly called off the talks — and a Taliban delegation to Camp David — after a Taliban attack killed a US Army paratrooper.
But as of October, negotiations were back on, with Taliban and US officials meeting in Pakistan on Oct. 5, The New York Times reports.
Editor's note: Caitlin Foster wrote an earlier version of this post.


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Local and regional
Local and regional PACE activities are offered in a variety of locations and contexts throughout the Sydney basin and across Australia.
Local activities
Off campus
Most students will complete a PACE activity in the local Sydney area. One of the more common local activities held off campus is a work placement at a host organisation's premises. In this scenario you will work at a host organisation undertaking a specific project which helps to support the organisation's mission and purpose. You will find that the experience brings to life what you are learning in a meaningful way to help you decide what you want to do in your future career.
On campus
Some PACE activities, particularly those offered by the Macquarie Business School, are held on campus. In this scenario you will work with industry experts, who come onto campus, to engage you in solving a real business challenge. These projects provide you a great opportunity to experience what it's like working collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team, a skill you will need to draw on when you graduate.
Some PACE activities are held on campus with interaction with the host organisation via Skype or other platforms. In this scenario you might visit the host organisation premises for a small part of your activity, or the entire project may be conducted online. You will find that these activities help you to develop the contemporary communication and digital skills that you will need to work in an ever changing global environment.
Regional activities
Some PACE activities are undertaken in a regional context such as a regional city area or in a country town. One of the most common types of regional activities is fieldwork in the natural environment. Fieldwork activities could involve you recording information about wildlife or plants in order to understand how a particular site is being affected by influences such as climate change, habitat destruction, or feral species. Some fieldwork activities also involve collecting information in the built environment. Fieldwork activities can provide you with an excellent opportunity to see first hand how theory applies in context.
Remote activities
Remote PACE activities are those undertaken in remote indigenous communities in Australia. We currently offer limited activities in Gunbalanya in Western Arnhem Land, and the Tiwi Islands. These locations provide for a rich educational experience if you are training to be an early childhood or primary teacher. You are provided with pre-departure briefing and support to ensure you adapt to experience the full rewards of such a unique cultural opportunity. A remote PACE activity will allow you to become a more well rounded, informed and culturally competent graduate.
It was an amazing experience to be able to transition what I had learned in the classroom to a real life context...


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One thought on "10 Ways to Boost Your Metabolism"
I'd like to thank you for the efforts you've put in penning this site.
I'm hoping to check out the same high-grade content from you later on as well.
In fact, your creative writing abilities has inspired me to
get my very own blog now 😉


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If you are looking for the best motorcycle helmet Bluetooth speakers then you are in the right place!
Good news is you can now easily purchase a motorcycle helmet Bluetooth speaker to not only listen to awesome music but also make wireless phone calls and carry on a nice conversation with other riders via intercom.
Our recommendation for the Best Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Speakers of 2020 is Sena SMH10-10 Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset And Intercom
Checkout Best Helmet Bluetooth Speakers
|Best Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Speakers For Music
|Current Price
|Sena SMH10-10 Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset And Intercom
|UCLEAR Digital Pulse Wired Drop-In High Definition Helmet Speakers
|Sena SMH10R Low Profile Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset And Intercom
|Tork X-Pro Motorcycle Helmet Speakers
|Sena SMH5-01 Low-Profile Motorcycle And Scooter Bluetooth Headset With Intercom
Top 5 Best Motorcycle Helmet Bluetooth Speakers For Music Reviews In 2020
We have chosen the best speakers according to the best sound quality, the best battery life and the most features for the price.
1. Sena SMH10-10 Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset And Intercom
The Sena SMH10-10 motorcycle Bluetooth headset is designed to share long-range music and intercom capabilities of up to 900 meters (980 yards).
The Sena SMH10-10 works with Bluetooth 3.0 so you can listen or share your music with other passengers, make or receive phone calls with advanced speed-dialing features or participate in a 4-way intercom conversation with other passengers on the street or track .
This device makes use of the universal intercommunication protocol so that you can participate in intercom conversations even if your friend is using a different type or brand of device.
What I like the most about Sena SMH10-10 is the advanced noise control technology that drastically reduces ambient and background noise for incoming and outgoing audio signals. It really works when you're crossing the street, but I heard a lot of wind noise when I travel more than 60 mph.
The Sena SMH10-10 motorcycle Bluetooth headset also comes with a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is capable of providing up to 12 hours of talk time and 10 days of standby time on a single full charge.
I also love the user interface courtesy of the brilliant jog dial. This feature makes it easy to change the device settings with just one hand.
- Good battery life
- Voice prompt control
- Good sound quality
- Jog dial interface makes it easy to use
- 2-year warranty
- The range is not as advertised
- Clear calls but there is more wind noise at speed
2. UCLEAR Digital Pulse Wired Drop-In High Definition Helmet Speakers
The helmet speakers with UCLEAR Pulse Digital cable are compatible with Apple and Android devices. You can easily update your motorcycling audio experience with this hull speaker courtesy of hi-fi audio and HD quality sound.
The best thing about wired helmet speakers is that you simply connect the 3.5mm audio jack to any smartphone, helmet communication device or audio player to enjoy studio-quality sound. With sharp treble and extreme bass reproduction in a compact package, it's hard to make a mistake with the UCLEAR digital pulse.
This high definition motorcycle helmet speaker can be easily transferred from one helmet to the next, without the need to use special tools. If you have more than 1 helmet, this is a good feature. This product works on all types of motorcycle helmets, including snowmobile brain buckets.
The UCLEAR Digital Pulse Helmet speaker may not have the convenience of a Bluetooth wireless speaker, but you do not need to think about running out of battery or charging the battery.
- Good sound quality
- Excellent bass response
- Easy to install on any type of helmet
- No batteries to think about
- Distorted sound at high volumes
- Volume levels are a bit on the low side
3. Sena SMH10R Low Profile Motorcycle Bluetooth Headset And Intercom
The Sena SMH10R low profile motorcycle Bluetooth headset has a 4-way conference intercom feature that allows you to allow intercom participants to join cellular conference calls.
This motorcycle helmet speaker is also incredibly easy to use thanks to the Bluetooth remote control, which must be conveniently located on the handlebar of your bike.
With the Sena SMH10R low profile Bluetooth speaker, you can make hands-free calls on your smartphone or Bluetooth-enabled phone, listen to professional-quality music or voice instructions on your GPS, and start intercom conversations with a passenger or other passengers.
Powered by the latest Bluetooth v3.0 with advanced digital processing technology, the Sena SMH10R will provide superior sound quality for incoming and outgoing audio signals. What this simply means is that you will enjoy clear and clear audio playback whether you are listening to your favorite playlist or making calls.
The Sena SMH10R also has individually adjustable volume profiles. With this function, you can set different volume levels for music, voice calls and intercom. The device will save each volume level, so you will not need to adjust the volume incessantly when switching between devices and functions.
The built-in lithium polymer battery takes only 3 hours to fully charge, and provides up to 10 hours of talk time and 9 hours of standby time on a single full charge.
- Fantastic battery life
- Low profile design
- Flexible boom mic comes with the kit
- Mediocre sound quality
- The wires and cables feels frail
- Noticeable wind noise especially in intercom
4. Tork X-Pro Motorcycle Helmet Speakers (With Volume Control)
The problem with most motorcycle helmet speakers is the quality of the sound. Others may have a more powerful volume, but the sound quality is a bit sparse. The Tork X-Pro motorcycle helmet speaker solves all that and more.
You can enjoy high-fidelity audio playback with a faithful bass response on the Tork X-Pro. This is perhaps one of the most popular helmet speakers on the market, and is known in the motorcycling circle to provide excellent sound quality at a friendly price.
What I like most about Tork X-Pro is that it is thin, flat and comfortable to wear. Assembled by hand and tested in North America, this particular model comes with a volume control knob so you can adjust the volume while traveling.
The full stereo speakers of the Tork X-Pro were designed to produce excellent sound quality with great bass response and large volume. If you're tired of your old helmet motorcycle speakers and are looking for a serious sound upgrade, check out the Tork X-Pro.
- Easy to install
- Slim design
- Good sound quality
- Compatible with most devices using a 3.5mm jack
- Weak volume
- Noticeable distortion at high volumes
5. Sena SMH5-01 Low-Profile Motorcycle And Scooter Bluetooth Headset With Intercom
The Sena SMH5 low profile Bluetooth motorcycle speaker features a bi-directional intercom so you can share your music or have a readable conversation with your passenger or other passengers at a distance of up to 400 meters (430 yards).
It is also equipped with Sena's patented Jog dial button that makes it easy and intuitive to use, even while on the move and with one hand.
The Sena SMH5-01 uses Bluetooth v3.0 technology with advanced noise control to reproduce fantastic audio quality and minimize ambient background noise. This means that you can enjoy clarity without the need to shout or raise your voice.
The Sena SMH5-01 can be easily paired with other Bluetooth devices compatible with HSP / HFP (headset profile/hands-free profile) and A2DP (advanced audio distribution profile).
This wireless speaker for motorcycle helmet also comes with a voice alert feature that allows you to control GPS, mobile phone calls and adjust the volume without removing your hands from the handlebar.
As with all wireless helmet speakers, battery life is crucial. The Sena SMH5-01 is capable of providing up to 8 hours of talk time before needing a recharge.
- Flexible boom microphone
- Slim profile fits most motorcycle helmets
- Sufficient volume
- Intuitive jog dial knob
- Good battery life
- Distorted sound at high volumes
- Uninspiring bass response
Best Bluetooth Speakers For Motorcycle Helmet Buying Guide
Going wireless has many advantages. No need to deal with messy and tangled cables, and you do not need to constantly plug and unplug the connector to multiple devices.
With a wireless Bluetooth helmet speaker, you can easily switch between devices and listen to music while taking a call, all without removing both hands from the handlebar.
Everything sounds attractive and then you realize that there are many motorcycle helmet speakers on the market, and they differ in terms of features, sound quality and price. But before buying one, these are the things you should look for in a good quality motorcycle helmet speaker:
1. The capacity of multiple devices
Thanks to modern Bluetooth technology, today's modern helmet speakers can switch between multiple devices. Look for a helmet that supports the Bluetooth wireless motorcycle helmet, the satellite radio, and the GPS device, so you do not need to change the speakers when you decide to change the device.
2. Ergonomics and durability
You must choose a speaker that is easy to use, as you will use them while riding your bicycle. Remember, you are buying helmet speakers so you can concentrate on riding your motorcycle instead of fiddling with the controls or wires of your speaker.
The motorcycle helmet speakers are also exposed to wind, rain, sun, sand, sweat, and salt, so it is better to choose a device that can resist the harmful elements of Mother Nature.
3. Sound quality
This is where the best ones differ from the rest of the package. The first class sound quality should be the main thing you are looking for when choosing a motorcycle helmet speaker.
Nobody wants to hear a flat melody that is usually the result of the use of mediocre speakers. And if you are going to make a call while driving at 65 mph, clear, undistorted sound reproduction is a must if you want to clearly discern the person from the other line.
4. Battery life
If you are planning a Bluetooth speaker, it is worth having a motorcycle helmet speaker with a long battery life. There are some devices that simply consume too much juice, so you should pay attention to the estimated battery life of each device.
Wireless devices, in particular, have a tendency to accumulate a full charge in less than a day, but it really depends on how often you use the device.
5. High volume with easy-to-use volume controls
You need a motorcycle speaker with high volume capabilities, as you will be talking or listening to music while traveling next to trucks, cars with noisy exhaust and other motorcycles on the road. It is useless if you can not hear your melodies or the person on the other line, and it would be a waste if you can not operate the volume controls with one hand/finger.
Final Verdict
If I want a wireless speaker for a motorcycle helmet, the Sena SMH10-10 Bluetooth headset with intercom will be my number 1 choice. I just liked the way this headset seamlessly integrates music playback features with voice calls and intercoms, while providing good sound quality on all platforms.
Related Post:


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Crystek Maximizes Performance and Efficiency in New 6000-6075 MHz Coaxial Resonator Oscillator (CRO)
Crystek's new CVCO55CXT-6000-6075 Coaxial Resonator Oscillator (CRO) is a coaxial-based VCO with an internal proprietary frequency doubler.
Fort Myers, FL Crystek's new CVCO55CXT-6000-6075 Coaxial Resonator Oscillator (CRO) is a coaxial-based VCO with an internal proprietary frequency doubler. The CVCO55CXT family's frequency doubling, 2X fundamental technology reaches new performance levels of lower phase noise and much lower harmonics over the competition, while achieving lower current consumption in the process.
The CVCO55CXT-6000-6075 operates from 6000 to 6075 MHz with a tuning voltage range of 0.5 Vdc to 4.5 Vdc. This coaxial VCO features a typical phase noise of -100 dBc/Hz @ 10KHz offset and has good linearity. The CVCO55CXT-6000-6075 CRO exhibits an output power of 5 dBm typ. into a 50 ohm load with a supply of +8.0 Vdc and a current consumption of 25 mA (max.).
Engineered and manufactured in the USA, the CVCO55CXT-6000-6075 CRO is packaged in the industry-standard 0.5-in x 0.5-in package. Pushing and Pulling are both minimized to 1.5 MHz/V and 0.5 MHz, respectively. Second harmonic suppression is -30 dBc typical.
The CVCO55CXT-6000-6075 is ideal for use in applications such as digital radio equipment, fixed wireless access, satellite communications systems, and base stations.
For pricing details, contact Crystek Corporation.
Family datasheets are available for download at www.crystek.com. For more information,
contact sales at Crystek Corporation, 12730 Commonwealth Drive, Ft. Myers, FL 33913.
Tel: 800-237-3061 or 239-561-3311; Fax: 239-561-1025; E-mail: email@example.com;
Web: www.crystek.com.
Crystek Corporation® has been providing frequency products since 1958, including quartz crystals, XOs (clock oscillators), TCXOs (temperature compensated oscillators), VCOs (voltage controlled oscillators), and VCXOs (voltage controlled crystal oscillators). Crystek operates two divisions dedicated to frequency control. Crystek Crystal is dedicated to the development and manufacture of frequency products using quartz-based resonators. Crystek Microwave develops of frequency control and support products for the microwave industry.


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by Andrew
Greg Sargent notes another document secured by the ACLU. (Yes, Greenwald is right that it's bizarre the media in this country are second to the ACLU in demanding information from the government.) This document gives a detailed account of the torture techniques used by the Bush-Cheney administration in the elite CIA program. This is the most professional version of the widespread torture authorized by Bush and conducted in every theater of combat, by every branch of the armed forces, directed that all prisoners could be potential terrorists and therefore outside civilizational norms of humane treatment.
The document reads, like so much else from the Cheney years, like a document from a South American dictatorship in the 1970s or 1980s. If someone had told me a few years ago that it had popped up in the Soviet archives, I would have believed him. Read the whole thing if you can. It is a distressing document. Here's what the "CIA pros" did to prisoners (the non-CIA pros improvised the president's directive to torture and abuse prisoners in very similar ways): stress positions, nudity, hooding, sensory deprivation, sleep deprivation, long time standing, beatings, hypothermia, and walling. They key thing, according to the CIA, is to enhance "the potential dread a high-value detainee might have of US custody". Notice the shift from the standards of the past. In the past, the US was known for being a country whose soldiers would never mistreat prisoners; now, the US wants the world to know that US custody is something to be dreaded. That's what Cheney did to America. He's proud of it. If you are ever captured by a US soldier, and suspected of terrorism, you know that torture will be coming soon. The values of Washington and Eisenhower and Reagan are inverted. The reputation of the US as a defender of human rights is reversed. The point is that America must be feared for its willingness to abandon all human rights.
This is what the neocon right believe in, even as they prattle on about extending human rights as an American value. They say they believe in democracy. What they also believe in is what we saw done to innocent human beings at Abu Ghraib:
Nudity. The HVD's clothes are taken from him and he remains nude until the interrogators provide clothes to him.
Sleep deprivation. The HVD is placed in the vertical shackling position to begin sleep deprivation. Other shackling procedures may be used during interrogations. The detainee is diapered for sanitary purposes, although the diaper is not used at all times.
The diapers are necessary because when you shackle someone in the same position for hours and hours on end and feed him Ensure, he will shit himself. All torturing regimes deal with shitting torture victims. The US followed other regimes in both diapering prisoners or, better still, forcing them to lie in their own excrement, as was discovered by horrified FBI agents at Gitmo. Other torture regimes capture piss and shit in bowls beneath the torture victims. Various forms of nude shackling, sleep deprivation and dietary manipulation (all barred under Geneva and the UN Convention) are then supplemented by constant bombardment with light, loud noise, water-dousing and walling. These techniques can be used in combination. Some more details:
An HVD may be walled one time to make a point or twenty to thirty times when an interrogator requires a more significant response to a question. In an interrogation designed to be intense, an HVD may be walled multiple times in one session...
Current OMS guidance on cramped confinement limits confinement in the large box to 8 hours at a time for no more than 18 hours a day and confinement in the small box to two hours...
Interrogators will often use one technique to support another. As an example, interrogators would tell an HVD in a stress position that he [HVD] is going back to the walling wall for walling if he fails to hold the stress position until told otherwise by the HVD. This places additional stress on the HVD who will typically try to hold the stress position for as long as possible to avoid the walling wall.
John McCain will remember these techniques and variants of them from his time in the Hanoi Hilton. If this is not torture, then torture does not exist. And if this is America, and there is no accountability for these war crimes, then core American values have ceased to exist as well.
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Aug. 25, 2013
Email your letter to: firstname.lastname@example.com
Please keep your letter under 300 words (one page).
Only one letter per reader in a two month period will be accepted. may be edited for length or to correct factual errors. Letters must be signed to be considered for print and a phone number is required for verification.
Bikes & self preservation
The recent vitriol against bike riders is short-sighted at best and pathetic at worst.
Talk of getting the police to ticket cyclists more and of licensing and insuring bicycles are solutions looking for a problem.
Bikes are NOT the problem. In fact we should be thanking all those who make our community safer, quieter, cleaner, healthier and just plain more livable when they choose to leave their cars at home.
Sure, I've broken a few traffic laws on my bike: rolling stops when there are no cars or pedestrians in sight or riding on sidewalks. Pedestrians often "break the law" in their own ways as well: crossing against a light or jaywalking. BUT when was the last time you read about a cyclist or pedestrian running over and killing a motorist?
Let's have a little common sense in this discussion. Cyclists and pedestrians are DEFENSELESS, while automobiles and trucks are several thousand pounds of lethal machinery, often operated by careless and distracted drivers, rushing to get to their destinations.
Motor vehicles with their cellphone jabbering, smartphone texting, GPS puttering, makeup applying, stereo fiddling, meal consuming, animal corralling, and endlessly distracted drivers ARE THE REAL PROBLEM. And to top it all off, VIRTUALLY NONE of these drivers obey the local speed limits -- 10 to 15 mph over the limit is the norm.
If there is any cracking down to be done, here is where it will bear the most fruit.
We expect cyclists to obey the same laws as motor vehicles, but in reality they are completely at the mercy of speeding and distracted motorists. Cyclists are, for all practical purposes, just glorified pedestrians, but without the modicum of safety of a sidewalk.
I also have a car and my taxes contribute to the building and maintenance of the roads and sidewalks in this community. Perhaps it's time we consider giving these forms of transportation more respect and cut the individuals who utilize them a little slack. My minor traffic infractions on my bicycle or on foot are unlikely to harm any precious motorists. In fact I often deviate from the law for a far more compelling reason: SELF PRESERVATION. Sorry, but that trumps the law.
Jan Ealy - TC
Endless crowds
I found Sam Porter's marketing comments about his new "Spectacular Structures" mobile venue being touted for our area perplexing.
On the one hand he comments about how we should celebrate all that is great and good about life in Northern Michigan and laments those events that can "close down our parks and streets." Just how does bringing in crowds of thousands on a regular basis avoid that -- creating huge human traffic patterns that can hardly have a low impact on community infrastructure despite claims to the contrary.
Despite all the talk about revenue to the region, the real goal for such structures is revenue to the promoters with scant regard to the style of our area free of a moveable feast of endless crowds.
It's time for we taxpayers to seriously consider whether we are remaining a great place to live or moving towards a vast and continual amusement park that dictates overwhelming intrusion into what makes our area great.
M. Coffman - TC
Where's the love?
So many disagreeable comments appeared in your article about Fridrich Furs: Trapping... fur farms...
Fridrich seems to be comfortable rationalizing the most despicable and inhumane treatment of animals to further his profession. What I can't get past is the huge disconnect when he says he "loves" animals then in the next breath says it's okay to trap, kill, and skin them.
For most of us, loving animals includes qualities like caring, empathy and compassion. I doubt the 20 raccoons he slaughtered were feeling the "love."
Bari Dilworth - via email
Our poisoned roads
Once again Team Services has been caught using toxic waste chemicals from oil and gas drilling as dust control on roads.
Team Services reportedly sprayed 300,000 gallons of toxic fluid on 121 miles of roads in Benzie County. Testing showed levels of carcinogenic benzene and toluene 1,000 times higher than the legal limit.
This is a recurring story. One year ago, DEQ documents obtained through FOIA request confirmed that Team Services sprayed thousands of gallons of toxic, carcinogenic fracking fluid waste from gas wells on roads in Cheboygan and Kalkaska counties. Public outrage forced the DEQ to suspend permits for this type of "dust control" disposal for one year.
Now, a year later, they are at it again.
And the penalty for getting caught – a verbal reprimand from the DEQ! How many other roads have been similarly sprayed? How much toluene, benzene and other deadly chemicals have seeped into groundwater from these sprayings? How many animals (including pets) have gotten sick from drinking puddles of toxic fluid after a rain storm? How much vegetation has been destroyed? How will these chemicals affect area farms and homeowner water wells? It's time for the DEQ to do its job. Stop allowing the poisoning of our environment with oil and gas drilling chemicals.
Anne Zukowski Co-chair, Don't Frack Michigan
Christians & science
The incessant and unnecessary conflict between science and religion continues, but we can and should learn from history. Beginning in 1534 when Copernicus published "On the Revolution of Heavenly Bodies," until at least 1633 with church decrees against Galileo, a battle raged which bore striking similarities to the evolution versus creationism war of today.
Many good and wise men of science were exiled, tortured, and murdered because the best biblical scholars of their time agreed that a new theory, which brazenly suggested that the earth moved in the heavens (around the sun, no less), represented a grave contradiction to divine scripture which clearly stated then (as it still does today) that "The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved." (Psalm 93:1), and "He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved." (Psalm 104:5).
Current Bible experts have come to grips with the well-established law of heliocentrism through a more flexible biblical interpretation necessitated by the overwhelming scientific evidence that the earth, no longer seen as the center of the universe, does indeed move. This belated accommodation unfortunately provides small comfort to those early and courageous scientists who remain murdered and tortured martyrs due to their strongly held and accurate convictions.
May I suggest a more theistic view of evolution in which God, after creating matter and all of the natural laws which govern its physical and biological deployment, used organic evolution as a final step in His ongoing and miraculous creation. A divine creation whose beauty can be more completely appreciated and whose authenticity can be more clearly validated through the detailed and accurate observations of contemporary science.
If Christian faith could survive a moving earth, it will certainly survive a more detailed understanding of a creation made no less divine, but all the more miraculous by increased scientific knowledge.
Bob Ross - Pellston


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Free creative PSD resume template with professional look for any job opportunity. This professional and creative resume stands out and makes a strong first impression to employers.
Easy to edit!. You can change colors if you like, add/remove anything, copy/paste, add/remove photo, or move around sections as you need.
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The Events Center of Red del Vino is located in Palmilla near Santa Cruz. Within this event space, you will find the perfect blend of tranquility, and countryside beauty to compliment many occasions including weddings, christenings, special celebrations and corporate events. In total there are 7 hectares of vineyards along with a large open area for people to mix and mingle and have an elegant cocktail. There is also a swimming pool and a covered dining area with an outdoor oven and grill for barbecues.
All in one lovely place, the events center has everything you need to make a celebration unique and unforgettable.
Space and Capacity
Our Events Center is a lovely location that stands out for its elegance and style. Given it's size, it can hold 50 to 200 people.
The space includes:
• Oven / Grill / Rustic Barbecue
• Dance floor
• Garden
• Inner courtyard
• Swimming pool
• Private parking
• Bathrooms
The Events Center has a team of experts that provides high standards to create top notch events for your special celebration. They can provide the following services:
• Advice / Consulting
• Furniture
• Tableware
• Glassware


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"The qualities I learned from my training in classical music, in particular in bassoon, are multifarious and varied. Let me list a few. First, the value of disciplined study, or repetitive learning, for creativity. You cannot be creative on a bassoon if you don't know it inside out, and you cannot be creative in science if you don't have a deep knowledge of the details." - Thomas Südhof, Nobel Laureate
Moosmann 200a photo by Edwin Quimpo Serrano Photography


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Meru, you are doing it wrong!!!
Its 3:20 a.m. in the morning and I have flight to catch at 6:15 in the morning. I have called my cab at 4:15 a.m., old trusted Meru Cabs. I have been using Meru Cabs for all my travel/airport pickup and drop needs since i came to Delhi. They are on-time, clean and comfortable. Now there is one big thing they are doing wrong. I remember once i booked their cab using their website and had done it multiple times over call and recently they have also launched their mobile app too. So you can book cabs with them over three mediums:
1) Call – mobile
2) Website
3) Mobile App
Now, what they are doing wrong is that i cannot access my data of booked cabs in past using website on mobile app or booked over call in mobile app/website. There is huge gap in their data integration platform (if they have any).
In today's world where consumer experience is the major thing driving business all over the world, this small thing cannot be neglected. This is the challenge which every company should understand to provide a seamless experience to its consumers whatsoever is the medium for exchange of information. You eliminate that problem, you eliminate loosing consumers.


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Tripoli 'Calm' as Rebels Retreat
Life in the Libyan capital is returning to normal and at times seems quite removed from the violent struggle for territory taking place elsewhere in the country. Video courtesy of AFP.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
I ... it was a new massive days due to the AAA ... expects Vocals to get to secede ... with momentum shifting backed forces loyal to Moammar Gadhafi ... semblance of normality has returned to the beach so ... children going back to school ... Wellstream's is filling up again ... a ... CNN during the heady days tilting didn't come to school ... the team last week or so I ... painted them back to normal ... a ton of traffic jams on the city's major or if as one of the Sowanick was the norm on Etsy ... as well before the two stations ... fuel costs next to nothing in Libya ... and since the beginning of the insurgency ... was disappointing when beaten ... but ... the kids and perhaps right from the kernel ... and Ghadafi's going into ... the generosity ... every family is not getting an extra point from Christine Olsen one ... thousand four hundred dollars ... Welcome leg up from the Straits ... then ... there was an identity and age of five hundred D knows that's a big help for large families ... prices have gone up recently ... I did this ... this market has sprung up in a trapeze Green Square at ... this point of sale and some customers ... upset me fewer than what the rebellion began in February ... but foreign companies make us there was an notched two month old station is one of these companies ... OD continued the CDS prices are put the fish back in DC ... elsewhere in Libya Gadhafi's forces of the key will travel Terence Wong Barwon ... it's hard to imagine in this elegant home ... boat residents don't have to trust well ... to get sense of the ongoing conflict ... indeed the outskirts of the city going east to West OCD Army soldiers checkpoints but such is the hospice where we come from where we're going on for knowledge about the southwest and to get there I had posted fifty checkpoints ... under the surface all everyday activity should remain tense and nervous ... people who just wants aims to complete ... the who tend to want to watch for ... is perhaps too much to expect ...


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For years I've said "life changes in inches and seconds" and my good friend, Todd Hirano learned that the hard way this past week on a float trip in his driftboat on the upper Willamette. Every year, winter rains and changing flow regimes from the dams on the upper river make changes to the river. New channels, braids around islands and large cottonwoods fall into the river creating big hazards to boaters. Luckily, Todd and his fishing partner weren't injured and thanks to another driftboater that came along, Todd and his friend were safely plucked from the massive mid-channel log and root wad that held his aluminum driftboat hostage, pinned on its side - with the raging waters keeping it locked there all weekend. When I got the call from Todd about the accident, he sounded a little shook-up (who wouldn't be!) but thankful that no one was hurt. I agreed to bring my power boat, some rope, come-a-longs, pulley's, power saws and anything else I could think of that might be helpful getting his boat recovered. Todd also recruited fellow Willamette river guide, Ty Holloway to join us.
Ty (on the left) and Todd assessing our strategy for getting the boat back from the waters of the upper Willamette. The boat is laying on its side, pinned by the heavy current against the root-wad and log in the upper portion of this photo. The log in this photo has been moved and swung downstream from the rootwad so this channel is opened up a bit. Still a VERY dangerous place below the Pengra boat launch.
This is the boat, looking down on it while standing on the root wad.
Ty attaches the first rope to the bottom bow ring.
We discovered that one line and come-a-long was no match for the current, so we set a second line to the lower bow ring and used one of my large pulley's to increase the pull of the second come-a-long.
In the above photo, you can see water cascading over the log that ran underwater back to the lower end of the island. This log became very problematic for us as we continued to try and drag the boat away from the massive obstruction.
We would crank on one come-a-long until we ran out of cable. Then we would release the first come-a-long and pull out all the cable, re-attached the rope and pull in all that cable and repeat the process, each time gaining a few inches on the boat.
At one point, we noticed we weren't able to move the boat another inch. We hoped back in my powerboat and ran out to the root wad to figure out what was going on. We discovered a large limb at the base of the log running underwater was preventing the boat from any movement. We were stuck. We weighed our options and kicked around some ideas. We could use a portion of rope to keep the boat tied securely to the root wad until the Corps of Engineers lowered the flows on the river, likely to happen in the coming weeks and give it another try in less powerful current. We could perhaps cut the log on the end of the island and use the combined force of the current and our powerboats to pull the log and root wad out of the way... Since it involved using chainsaws and powerboats... and not having to wait, that was the obvious "new" strategy. Like all guys, if we can blow it up, cut logs with a power saw or drag something with a motorized vehicle of some sort, that's always our preference. This plan included several of these fundamental impulses. We're dudes..Duh!
Once this log was cut (just below where Todd is working) and moved (pivoted) downstream and out of the channel and driftboats way, the war was over! A few more minutes of cranking by Todd and...
The boat really started to move towards us.
Once the boat was free of the root wad and log, we were actually able to pull it around on the current by hand. It was amazingly easy to move even full of water until we brought it up on the end of the island. It was still sunk and full of water that we had to get out of it.
Anyone got a bucket?
So what we did is attach a line to the bow of Todd's boat, ran the line through my pulley that was attached to a big log up the bank. We attached the other end of the rope to Ty's boat.
We drug the boat up the bank until the sides were out of the water and used buckets to remove the rest of the water.
A very happy dry-line steelheader is back on the water!
The boat survived fine. It received some scratches in the paint and one broken oar. The only gear lost was a bench seat and a few life jackets.
Be careful out there!


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First UN carbon offset project certified
The Conservation Management Institute, a research center within Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment, has provided technical expertise for the world's first United Nations' Reduced Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD) project to receive certification under the requirements of the international Verified Carbon Standard (http://www.v-c-s.org/). The UN-REDD Programme (http://www.un-redd.org/) authorizes the sale of forest carbon offsets to conserve forests, thereby reducing greenhouse gases.
Researchers from the institute collected data in southern Belize for the Boden Creek Ecological Preserve's Forest Carbon Offset Project. The purpose of the project is to use funding from the sale of forest carbon offsets under the auspices of the UN-REDD Programme in order to conserve the preserve's 12,876 acres while maintaining its biodiversity and enhancing the local economy through ecotourism. If the preserve remains financially viable, a private-sector company will operate lodges there, providing jobs and motivation for biodiversity conservation.
A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gases made in order to offset an emission made elsewhere. Markets for carbon offsets include companies or other entities that buy offsets to comply with caps on the amount of carbon dioxide they emit.
To qualify for these carbon offsets, the project had to meet specific globally accepted standards for quantifying net carbon savings (the Verified Carbon Standard), as well as biodiversity and community benefits (Climate, Community and Biodiversity Alliance standards). In concert with Forest Carbon Offsets, LLC, an international foundation devoted to sustainable forestry, institute researchers collected data on the preserve's biomass, biodiversity, and human community.
"The project is anticipated to avoid emissions of 1.6 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent into the atmosphere over the next 25 years," said Scott Klopfer, executive director of the Conservation Management Institute.
Institute researchers documented the presence of several species listed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as endangered, including the Baird's tapir, black howler monkey, and spider monkey. As a result, the project received a Climate, Community, and Biodiversity Gold Level Standard because of the significant biodiversity resources conserved and the critical location of the property in the immediate watershed of the Port Honduras Marine Reserve.
Virginia Tech's Conservation Management Institute is working on two additional carbon offset projects in Belize, which are likely to be certified within a year. The institute, the largest natural resources research center in the eastern United States, provides innovative solutions to multidisciplinary research questions that affect natural resource management in Virginia, North America, and the world.
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Cherry Mobile's sub-brand Cubix has just made available their newest Lazada-exclusive device in the form of the Cube 3, and the specs have gotten quite better. Why? Because now it's using a modern 64-bit Octa-Core processor that supports LTE connectivity. And while a lot of users still don't need LTE in the Philippines, the newer chipset architecture should still be a better buy for most people – which is what made us want to check it out. Anyway, have a watch at our unboxing video embedded above and peep more of the specs below!
Some important-ish info we've found out about the Cubix Cube 3 that's not on the spec sheets include:
The Cubix Cube 3 is now available in Rose Gold at Lazada (and Lazada ONLY) for PHP 4,999. Check it out if you're in the market for one!
Alex likes doges and wowes. Much bio.
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Radio Exitos de Ayer Solo Exitos de los años dorados 70'80'90' rock & pop en ingles, oldies, baladas en ingles, euro retro, musica disco...
24/7 sin cortes como querés escuchar!!!
Radioline gives to users access to more than 60.000 News, Sports, Talk, Music radio stations and podcasts worldwide. The user can easily find and listen to his favorite radio stations, and discover new ones according to his mood, location, musical taste and more!


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Triple Dose Of Double Dragon Now On Steam And GOG
I can't help but feel that DotEmu, the publisher behind new Double Dragon re-releases, have missed a trick. Triple Dragon, anyone? Why, you could even apply a little arithmetic and go with Sextuple Dragon to spice the series up a bit.
Still, even if you disagree with their naming policy, you've got to give DotEmu a pat on the back for continuing to port numerous retro games to the PC. Double Dragon Trilogy is available now on GOG for £3.19 or on Steam for £3.83.
I never played Double Dragon back in the day, despite the original coin-op titles being ported to almost every platform under the sun. Since these are the latest versions of the games, though, I'm going to go with the argument that they're the definitive ones.
Double Dragon Trilogy offers a good mix of features, including graphical and audio options for those who prefer the more authentic retro experience versus the modernised take. Multiplayer is available both locally and, pleasingly, online.
There are also features for weird people, such as keyboard support. I don't think it too controversial to suggest that the Double Dragon series is best experienced using a controller. Still, if you don't have one, you can at least customise the keyboard setup.
In the spirit of a bit of good old-fashioned debate: what do you reckon was better, Double Dragon, Streets of Rage, or Final Fight?


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The four Charms Extraordinaire, Charms collection, limited editions
In 2008 the Charms watch was born, with its lucky charm motif spinning merrily around the dial. In 2013, Van Cleef & Arpels is opening a new chapter in its Charms collection with four exceptional limited editions, the four Charms Extraordinaire timepieces.
Each year, with its Extraordinary Dials™ novelties, Van Cleef & Arpels presents an enchanting interpretation of the passage of time. They have included landscapes from across the world, twinkling constellations, lucky motifs and – this year – twirling butterflies and kites. Reflections of the Maison's fertile imagination, each new scene is brought to life by the gestures of skilled craftsmen.
Within the space of a single dial, traditional crafts combine to create compositions of great sophistication, in which each detail is testimony to the creativity and excellence of Van Cleef & Arpels.
Detail of Charms Extraordinaire Hirondelles, Charms collection, limited edition
With the four Charms Extraordinaire timepieces, the Maison has employed its most precious craft-skills to relate new tales of luck. From engraving and sculpture on gold to enameling, miniature painting on mother-of-pearl and translucent lacquer, Van Cleef & Arpels has assembled the talents of virtuoso craftsmen to transform the Maison's dreams of beauty into reality. Each piece is adorned with a triple row of diamonds and colored stones, selected using the strictest criteria and mounted on the bezel.
Thanks to this varied savoir-faire, the Charms Extraordinaire watches are adorned with enchanting scenes which overflow from their dials. Four auspicious symbols – the lily-of-the-valley, the lotus flower, the dandelion and the swallow – are depicted in settings of great refinement. Alternately delicate and profound, the gradation of hues continues onto the bezel – which is adorned with variously colored gems – while an ethereal lucky charm evokes the theme of each piece.
Charms Extraordinaire Muguet, Charms collection, limited editions
The Charms Extraordinaire Muguet watch brings together various poetic motifs: the fairy – an emblematic figure for the Maison– is depicted accompanied by a butterfly, amid radiant sprigs of lily-of-the-valley. In the language of flowers, this lucky plant – offered as a token of affection – can make the most precious wish come true.
This limited edition gives pride of place to miniature painting on mother-of-pearl, which has previously graced certain timepieces by Van Cleef & Arpels. This technique enables a drawing to be rendered with extraordinary subtlety, and with an infinite range of nuance and detail: it calls for patience, meticulousness and real artistic sensibility.
Charms Extraordinaire Hirondelles, Charms collection, limited edition
The Charms Extraordinaire Hirondelles timepiece portrays a pair of brisk and graceful swallows, together symbolizing the coming of spring. In Europe, they are thought to bring good luck to the house where they build their nest. Van Cleef & Arpels here revisits two favorite themes: pairs of birds – offering a tender symbol of love – and the swallows which have inspired its creations from the 1920s onwards.
This piece is notable for its delicate gradation of colors. The two birds stand out against a highly nuanced background of blue, pink and mauve, produced once again by the technique of miniature painting on mother-of-pearl.
Charms Extraordinaire Lotus, Charms collection, limited edition
The lotus flower of the Charms Extraordinaire Lotus timepiece is an extremely important symbol in Asian culture. Emerging from the water to bloom in the sunlight, it evokes self-fulfillment, enlightenment and purity. The lucky charm takes on the stylized outline of the flower to become a precious talisman invoking inner peace.
In full bloom at the center of the dial, the lotus flower stands out clearly thanks to the champlevé enamel technique. To produce this subtle effect, the cavities which make up the shape of the motif are filled with enamel; the enamel undergoes successive firings and is then delicately sanded.
Charms Extraordinaire Féérie Dandelion, Charms collection limited edition
Suffused with lightness and movement, the Charms Extraordinaire Féérie Dandelion watch depicts a butterfly-winged fairy, flanked by a dandelion blowing in the breeze. Associated with luck and the spread of knowledge.
This limited edition Féérie Dandelion watch is notable for its intricate detail, highlighted by a wealth of savoir-faire. The dial, struck with a spiral motif, displays a vitality emphasized by translucent blue lacquer.
Creation Highlights


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The FINNTEAM project comes with a comprehensive media package to promote both the sailors and the sponsors.
This is a unique opportunity for global brands to reach diverse markets worldwide through supporting one single sporting programme that helps athletes from multiple countries and continents.
The media campaign will target national and local media in each athlete's home country as well as wider global media coverage through the Finn Class media platform, which is widely recognised as one of the highest quality, class media platforms in the world.
All media content will be posted on finnclass.org/team as well as distributed worldwide.


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Two new Olympus E-5 reviews from Malaysia!
We have new Olympus E-5 reviews for you!
Robin Wong posted some image samples taken with the E-5 and the 12-60mm f/2.8-4.0 SWD lens. He liked the extremely fast and reliable autofocus because it "never failed to locked on target, and locked on it incredibly accurately". He also liked the "lively, vibrant and yet very true-to-life colours" and the Jpeg output. Read the on street review at robinwong.blogspot.com.
Another malaysian blog called "Thru the Eye of the Zuiko" has the E-5 for testing. He also posted one image comparison with the older Olympus E-3. He used the Zuiko Digital ED7-14mm f/4.0 and the Zuiko Digital ED50mm f/2.0 Macro. A full list of images are available on Flickr.
E-5 preorders are available at Amazon US, BHphoto and Adorama.


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London has one of the densest concentrations of museums in the world. These range from big names like the British Museum and Tate Modern to the smaller places with unique collections. Most of them have vast permanent collections of great international art, history and culture and they're free to enter. Here's a roundup of the capital's best art institutions. Continue reading
Tag Archives: Art
The Best Festivals in Barcelona
In a city of pedestrian walkways and plazas waiting to be filled with stages and revelers, there is rarely a week that goes by without something to celebrate in Barcelona. Whether you're looking for religion, innovative art, experimental music or just a good old-fashioned block party, these eight festivals will satisfy any celebration-seeking traveler.
Five Things to See in Barcelona That Many People Miss
Barcelona has a well documented tourist trail marking out the must see highlights of the city. There is also, however, an abundance of lesser-known, yet just as interesting, places in the city that visitors aren't often made aware of. Here are five spots worth checking out on your next trip to Barcelona. Continue reading
Guide to Gaudi on a Barcelona City Break
Gaudi's fairy tale architecture is a staple in Barcelona. The city has been profoundly influenced by his architecture that leaves the masses of tourists, which flock from a far to see his wonders, in seventh heaven. Gaudi is the most famous Catalan architect and his Art Nouveau architecture is celebrated by an abundance of people from all over the world. Gaudi's creations are an unusual and unique double-edged sword as reactions vary from repulsion to admiration and utter wonderment. His building are scattered throughout the city so wherever you are you're always nearby something that he has crafted. The tourist market for holidays to Barcelona is very aware of the lure of Gaudi and has reacted by commodifying his impact in pretty much anyway possible. Continue reading
Off The Tourist Trail – Barcelona
Published in Guest Travel Writers
Barcelona has an abundance of places to see however some of the best spots are off the tourist trail, such as Montserrat, Gracia and the Roman ruins under the city. Here are some of the top off the beaten track places that are worth checking out! Continue reading
Picasso Gallery Barcelona
Museu Picasso is one of the most popular and most visited museums in Barcelona, housing one of broadest collections of Picasso's works. Continue reading
Ray Johnson. Please Add to & Return
"New York's Most Famous Unknown Artist" Ray Johnson's exhibition Please Add to & Return is now at the Museu d´Art Contemporani de Barcelona from the 06/11/2009 – 10/01/2010, following the London exhibition at Raven Row. Continue reading


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Christine Overall
Professor, Queen's University Research Chair
B.A., M.A., Ph.D. (Toronto), FRSC
Specialization: Feminist Theory; Applied Ethics including Bioethics; Philosophy of Religion
Office: Watson Hall
Office Hours: N/A
Phone: (613) 533.6000 ext. 77039
E-mail: email@example.com
Website: http://christineoverall.ca
Christine Overall's teaching, supervision, research, and publications are in the areas of feminist philosophy, applied ethics (including bioethics), philosophy of religion, and philosophy of education. She is the editor of four books and the author of six. Her book, Aging, Death, and Human Longevity: A Philosophical Inquiry (University of California Press, 2003), won both the Canadian Philosophical Association's Book Prize and the Royal Society of Canada's Abbyann Lynch Medal in Bioethics. Her book,Why Have Children? The Ethical Debate, was published by MIT Press in 2012. She also recently edited Dying in Public: Living with Metastatic Breast Cancer, by Sue Hendler (Michael Grass House, 2012). Dr. Overall was a weekly columnist for the Kingston Whig-Standard from 1993 to 2006, and also wrote a column for University Affairs/Affaires universitaires from 2008 to 2011.


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The government regularly "names and shames" employers who breach national minimum wage laws by publishing a list of those who have been fined. The latest list reveals that restaurant chains Wagamama and TGI Fridays and Marriott Hotels have each been fined for failing to pay staff properly.
No employer wants the negative publicity which appearing on the government's list brings. While the practice of naming and shaming is intended to embarrass unscrupulous employers into compliance, it is often simply innocent mistakes which lead to technical breaches of the law. Regardless of the motive for failing to pay the NMW, employers will be pursued by HMRC who have sweeping powers to investigate and punish non-compliance.
It is clear from the latest list of companies found to be breaking the law that the rules on staff uniforms are particularly misunderstood by employers, even the very large ones which have access to the best legal advice!
Wagamama blamed "an inadvertent misunderstanding" of the rules on staff uniforms for its blunder. The company said it had asked front-of-house staff to wear black jeans or a black skirt with their Wagamama-branded top. This was considered as asking them to buy a form of uniform, "and so we should have paid them for it," it said. Wagamama has repaid an average of £50 to 2,630 employees, updated its uniform policy and now pays a uniform supplement to cover the black jeans.
The various rates of the NMW are set to increase again from 1 April 2018. However, for employers, it is not as simple as just making sure they are paying the appropriate hourly rate to workers (and that they know when to increase this when staff have a birthday and move from one age band to another). There are complex rules around what does and doesn't count as pay for the purposes of the national minimum wage, what hours are chargeable and how accommodation and other work related items are charged.
HMRC has a calculator on its website which can help you to check if you are receiving the correct pay.
Uniforms seem to be particularly problematic in the hospitality and retail sectors. Any requirement for workers to purchase their work clothes (even at a discount) from their employer will be considered a deduction from wages which will reduce the average rate of pay. In addition, where workers are required simply to wear say, black trousers (as in Wagamama's case) or, a plain white shirt, a nominal value will be assigned and this will be deducted from wages received. If this deduction results in the rate of pay falling below the applicable NMW rate then the employer will be in breach.
How can we help you?
Think you might not be being paid correctly? Speak to one of our employment law experts today.


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I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh, and I'm majoring in philosophy and minoring in computer science. I have three years of experience with one-on-one tutoring, group mentoring, and assistant teaching in Houston and New York. This past summer, I underwent a rigorous 8-week fellowship with the Breakthrough Collaborative where I taught 9th grade Literature to 19 low-resource students from many different parts of Pittsburgh. There, I honed my teaching skills, learned pedagogy, and constantly refined my teaching method with the aide of my instructional coach, peers, and directors.
Over the course of two 3-week sessions, my students have learned invaluable argumentative practices which were then translated into cogent writing. We analyzed and unpacked college-level texts and had fruitful discussions in which we dove deep into the readings. My classes are challenging, rigorous, and are pertinent to the lives of my students.
I am a rising senior at the University of Pittsburgh and a Breakthrough Collaborative alumnus. I have also studied Photography at the International Center of Photography in New York in which I was an assistant teacher, and I tutored and mentored with the Partnership for the Advancement and Immersion of Refugees (PAIR) in Houston.
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The Lee Family. Once upon a time Noel and Rena got married and had 2 kids - Doris and Donald. Then one day, Doris got married to Jeremy and had her own 2 kids - Vince and Edda. We all live far apart, and keep moving around. It's hard to keep tabs on each other. Welcome to our blog.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Happy birthday mom!
By Doris at December 02, 2010
3 comments:
- Noel said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- December 02, 2010 9:37 PM
- Noel said...
Appreciated that Jeremy, Donald and you could come and had dinner together with us to celebrate. I had to say that Donald picked the right place and Mom was happy. So did I.
- December 02, 2010 9:39 PM
Happy Day Mrs. Lee. I miss your cooking!
- December 03, 2010 1:30 PM
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Update – Voip By Antisip – 1.2.24
An Update of "Voip By Antisip" has been made. This new release use the new holographic theme and Action Bar on Android 3.0. The orientation has also been modified to use the "default" orientiation for devices.
On tablet such as xoom, this is really a major step! Enjoy the xoom snaphshot below: