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Diana Wilfer studied law in Münster, Germany, and received the degree Master of Laws (LL.M.) by participating in a supplementary study program in Legal Informatics (EULISP) in Hanover, Germany, and Vienna, Austria. She assisted in a project in intellectual property management for a leading international supplier of legal and economic data in the USA. Diana Wilfer completed her traineeship in Münster and Hamburg and joined Luther in 2008.
Diana Wilfer provides comprehensive legal advice in questions regarding intellectual property rights, including trademark and copyright law, as well as competition and data security law. She negotiates and drafts IT contracts, specialising in legal issues in media and information technology law, e-commerce, and Web 2.0.


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Architextile Slumber
The Slumber are part of a full collection of acoustic fabrics, the "architextiles". They can be used for aesthetical or acoustic purposes. They can be purchased as fabric only by linear meter or as mounted panels that are easy to mount on the wall. The panels are available in a large range of sizes, with or without the acoustic foam. They enjoy an acoustic performance of A and are available with fire treatment on request.
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Woven in a mixture of 31% merino wool, 22% PA, 15% cotton, 13% kid mohair and 1% elastane
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The slumber line is also available per lineal meter.
Design by Aleksandra Gaca
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subset: commoncrawl


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The world renowned metal band Bullet For My Valentine announced today that their fifth album, VENOM, would drop on August 14th via RCA Records. Along with a new record comes a new band member. It was announced today that Jamie Mathias will join the band as their new bass player and back up vocalist. The band also released their first song from VENOM, titled "No Way Out," which you can listen to at the bottom of the page.
Produced by Carl Brown and Collin Richardson (Slipknot, Trivium), VENOM is said to go beyond genres and trends. When asked about the new record, front man Matt Tuck emphasized just how much of a game changer it really is. "It's easily the most aggressive record we've ever done and lyrically it will no doubt touch a nerve with a lot of people that listen to it," Tuck says, "I cannot express enough how proud I am of it, and can't wait for everyone out there to hear it too. We've reinvented who we are and are ready to take on the world once more."
You can read the full statements from Matt Tuck below, along with the Track Listing for the album.
Bullet For My Valentine will also be releasing a limited edition VENOM package, which will have CD, vinyl, and cassette versions of the album. The package will also include a custom t-shirt, bracelet, and necklace. The package is available exclusively at the Bullet For My Valentine website, and will include a pre-sale code for their 2016 Tour. You can pre-order the package right here. Their tour starts July, in South America with Motionless in White. Then the band will then tour North America with Slipknot and Lamb of God. You can buy tickets on their website, and see the tour dates below.
"It's pretty hard to sum up an entire record after spending so much time writing and recording it and all the blood, sweat and tears that have come with this one especially. It wasn't easy revisiting some very dark places to come up with lyrical content for this one, but once I knew where it was heading and I was comfortable with letting certain things out – all hell broke loose. It's easily the most aggressive record we've ever done and lyrically it will no doubt touch a nerve with a lot of people that listen to it. I cannot express enough how proud I am of it, and can't wait for everyone out there to hear it too. We've reinvented who we are and are ready to take on the world once more."
"To write this track I had to put myself into a very dark place, a place I hadn't been to for a while mentally because of how my life is now, compared to what it was before the band exploded. It is one of, if not the heaviest tracks we've ever recorded musically and lyrically. I've lived with it for a while now but still every time I hear it, it gives me chills. Hold on tight it's a hell of a ride."
– Front man Matt Tuck, on the new album
VENOM track listing:
2. "No Way Out"
3. "Army of Noise"
4. "Worthless"
5. "You Want A Battle? (Here's A War)"
6. "Broken"
7. "Venom"
8. "Harder the Heart"
9. "Skin"
10. "Hell or High Water"
11. "Pariah"


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- —progressivist, n., adj./preuh gres"euh viz'euhm/, n.1. the principles and practices of progressives.2. (cap.) the doctrines and beliefs of the Progressive party.3. See progressive education.[1890-95; PROGRESSIVE + -ISM]
* * *
Universalium. 2010.
Look at other dictionaries:
Progressivism — is a term that refers to a broad school of international social and political philosophies. Politically speaking, progressivisms can be described as being socially liberal. The term progressive entered the lexicon of liberal thinking in late 19th … Wikipedia
progressivism — (n.) 1892, from PROGRESSIVE (Cf. progressive) + ISM (Cf. ism) … Etymology dictionary
progressivism — [prō gres′iv iz΄əm, prəgres′iv iz΄əm] n. the doctrines, principles, and practices of progressives progressivist n … English World dictionary
Progressivism — An American political and social movement of the late nineteenth century that influenced the spirit of territorial expansionism policy in the two decades before 1914. The most dramatic example of the emergence of the United States as an… … Encyclopedia of the Age of Imperialism, 1800–1914
progressivism — noun Date: 1892 1. the principles, beliefs, or practices of progressives 2. capitalized the political and economic doctrines advocated by the Progressives 3. the theories of progressive education • progressivist noun or adjective •… … New Collegiate Dictionary
progressivism — noun A political ideology that favours progress towards better conditions in society … Wiktionary
progressivism — Synonyms and related words: Fabianism, conversion, extremism, gradualism, left, left wing, leftism, liberalism, meliorism, radical reform, radicalism, reform, reformation, reformism, regeneration, revisionism, revolution, transformation,… … Moby Thesaurus
progressivism — prÉ™ gresɪvɪzm n. state of supporting reform, liberalism … English contemporary dictionary
progressivism — pro·gres·siv·ism … English syllables
progressivism — pro•gres•siv•ism [[t]prəˈgrɛs əˌvɪz əm[/t]] n. 1) gov the principles and practices of progressives 2) gov (cap.) the doctrines and beliefs of a Progressive Party • Etymology: 1890–95 pro•gres′siv•ist, n. adj … From formal English to slang


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I'm not too sure whether the U.S. should be pointing fingers at anyone over malicious cyber activities.
The U.S. government is going to impose sanctions on any person, organization, or government that conducts any "malicious cyber-enabled activities" that harm the U.S. President Barack Obama has signed executive orders that authorize these sanctions.
"The same technologies that help keep our military strong are used by hackers in China and Russia to target our defense contractors and systems that support our troops," Obama said in a statement.
The sanctions are targeting any activities who;
- Significantly harm critical infrastructure,
- Disrupt computer networks,
- Expose personal information and trade secrets,
- Entities that profit from information stolen in any cyber-attacks.
The administration will be focusing on threats from outside the U.S., noting that "many of these attacks originate from outside our borders."
The sanctions will help prevent and respond to cyber-attacks when law enforcement, the private sector, or cooperating with nations don't offer any resolution. In some cases, foreign laws are too weak, or the governments are "either unwilling or unable to crack down on those responsible," the statement said.
The sanctions will allow the government to stop a person or organization's from accessing U.S. financial institutions and any property they may have in the U.S.
Hackers who are suspected will also be barred from either giving or receiving funds and transferring assets.
Preventing cybercriminals from transferring funds that are deposited in a U.S. bank can limit "their ability to both commit these malicious acts and to profit from them," the statement said.
Obama also mentioned recent cyber-attacks against the U.S., including the data breach at Sony Pictures that was linked to North Korea. Other industries have also been targeted by cyber-attacks.
Well, we will just have to wait and see if they do use the sanctions, as it's hard to prove 100% who it was.


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Climate Change and Mental Health
One of the most important issues our world currently faces is global warming. While there appears to be no shortage of research exploring the environmental effects of climate change, what about its psychological effects on people?
In a study discussed in detail here, researchers determined that the way people were affected mentally and emotionally by climate change depended on what type of particular concern they had regarding the environment.
Results showed that those who were most concerned about the planet's plants and animals (biospheric concern) experienced more stress than those who were concerned about the environment's effects on the individual as well as those whose concerns focused more on humanity in general.
In a wonderful article written by David Pollack, MD, a nationally known community-focused psychiatrist, he discusses various aspects of our changing climate and mental health including, but not limited to, the connection between climate change and an individual's mental health, clinical areas to more fully understand and treat, and education and research goals.
In reference to climate and health connections, Dr. Pollack discusses the seriousness of global warming and how it directly affects the physical and mental health of individuals. He says:
They [health effects of climate change] encompass the creation, exacerbation, and complication of conditions involving almost all organ systems of humans and most other biological fauna and flora. The mental health consequences are also vast, pervasive, and likely to last longer than most other impacts on health. They require attention, understanding, education, and commitment from all of psychiatry (and other health and mental health professionals) to effectively identify, treat, and prevent.
Dr. Pollack goes on to discuss the need to understand the direct psychiatric impacts of air and water pollution, increased temperature, flooding, opportunistic and pandemic infections, nutritional deficiencies, stress, and other factors on persons with current psychiatric conditions. These connections are real. In one study, a significant increase in suicides related directly to temperature increases was noted.
We are already aware of the negative impacts on cognitive functioning from exposure to air pollution. In yet another study, higher rates of individual and group violence were associated with temperature increases. In addition, people taking most classes of psychiatric drugs are at greater risk of dehydration, hyperthermia, and heat stroke at higher temperatures. It is clear from this information that increased temperatures have a negative impact on those with mental health issues.
Regarding anxiety and trauma, Dr. Pollack says:
Anxiety and trauma symptoms/syndromes arise from rapid and extreme changes in one's environment.…Many clinicians are reporting that their patients are worried about the future with particular emphasis on the geophysical and political environments. We are seeing a myriad of social, cultural, health, and economic consequences of mass migration stimulated, in part, by global environmental disruption.
This is all so disheartening to say the least. But these mental health issues revolving around climate change need to be discussed openly and acted upon so that something can be done to help future generations. Our children and our children's children deserve no less.
Singer, J. (2018). Climate Change and Mental Health. Psych Central. Retrieved on October 27, 2020, from https://psychcentral.com/blog/climate-change-and-mental-health/
Last reviewed: By a member of our scientific advisory board on 8 Nov 2018
Published on Psych Central.com. All rights reserved.


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Category Archive for: 'David Hirzel'
Fringe of Marin: Advance Review Fall 2012
The season hasn't started yet, so don't look here for reviews of what you will or will not see. But of course, you will have to go to Meadowlands Hall at Dominican University in San Rafael, to see the plays for yourself. Then, should you be inspired, you can write your own reviews.
I can say this. In all the Fringes I have attended (and we are going on eight or nine now), there is at least one play, and often more, that will astound you with a deft script, sensitive direction, and superb acting. You will be, as I have often been, amazed at the dynamic confluence of all these appearing on stage before you.
These are all one-act plays, by unknown or little-known playwrights, having their world premiere right in front of you. You could (and in fact probably are) watching the incubation of the next Harold Pinter or David Mamet (or Eugene O'Neill—everybody starts somewhere). That stage is literally no more than twenty feet in front of you, so close that you are no longer an audience separated from the action by the supposed fourth wall. You are, and sometimes quite literally, a part of the action.
This is not to promise that every play at the Fringe will deliver a memorable theatrical experience. With thirteen plays produced twice a year for lo! these thirty seasons, that is a standard impossible to keep up.
I can promise that you will see something you have never seen before. And if you attend both Programs, something that will leave you thinking and talking to your friends for days afterward. This is the best bargain in small theatre you can find. There are only five performances of each Program, starting November 2. Don't miss it.
Fringe of Marin website for Program and Performance Schedule: http://fringeofmarin.com
by David Hirzel www.davidhirzel.net


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*October 13 - 19
"Hear This Word"
AMOS SPEAKS WITH FIRE and clarity about the sins of Israel and the punishments that those sins will bring. Yet he's speaking for the Lord, who in His love and compassion for people wants to save them from the natural consequences of sin as well as the ultimate punishment that a just and holy God must execute against sin. Indeed, behind the fearful denunciations and warnings, the real message to Israel is this: "Seek good, and not evil, that you may live" (Amos 5:14, RSV).
Indeed, God is seeking to turn His people to a saving relationship with Him because, in the endwhat else matters? The only thing saved out of this world will be souls bought with the blood of Christ; everything else will be gone, forever. Not even the ashes will remain. No wonder, then, that He bids us to "Hear this Word," and that Word is the Word of Life, the life found in Christ and the blood He shed for the sins of the world.
THE WEEK AT A GLANCE: What event in Israel's history did the Lord point them back to, and why? Why does God want us not to forget our past? How does sin weaken and damage our ability to know right and wrong? Why did Israel violate the covenant that God had established with them? What ultimately did their actions lead to? Though all these things happened many years ago, the lessons taught in them and the principles involved have a bearing on our lives and our church today.
MEMORY TEXT: "Can two walk together, except they be agreed?" (Amos 3:3).
*(Please study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 20.)
Sunday October 14
"Hear this word that the Lord hath spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying, You only have I known of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities" (Amos 3:1, 2).
In these verses, the Lord pointed Israel back to the Exodus. All through the Hebrew Bible, in fact, the Lord does the same thing. "For I am the Lord that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy" (Lev. 11:45). "And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the Lord God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you" (1 Sam. 10:18).
Why did the Lord constantly remind the Hebrews of the Exodus? (Hint: Read carefully Deuteronomy 4:9.)
One of the greatest dangers facing Christians is that they forget what Christ has done for them, both individually and as a corporate body. That's why the Lord told the children of Israel not to forget the things that happened to them at the Exodus, not to let them "depart from thy heart" (Deut. 4:9) all the days of their lives. Instead, they were to teach them to their children, so not only would their children know about the great things God had done for them, but that in the telling they themselves would not forget.
The history of ancient Israel shows, however, just how quickly people forget. What a lesson for us as a church! As each new generation comes, we get further and further from our roots, further and further from the experiences of our founding fathers. How important that we don't let the knowledge of these experiences depart from our hearts, as well.
|Leslie joined the Adventist Church many years ago, after a dramatic conversion. As the years went by, however, she started to grow cold. She still believed everything as before but just didn't manifest the fire of those early years. Then a crisis struck, and she found herself ready to give up her faith entirely. As she prayed the Holy Spirit brought her mind back to her conversion. Day by day she recounted the events that led her to Christ and that brought her to the Church. Soon her faith was strengthened. Though we shouldn't dwell heavily on the mistakes of the past, how can recounting the ways the Lord has led Us in the past help us even now?
This part of verse ten is incredible. If it would have said "For they refuse to do right" or "For they can't do right"that would have been bad enough. But it says that they do "not know" to do right. How could that be? How could those whom the Lord knew "above all the families of the earth" (Amos 3:2, NKJV), a people who had been given so much truthnot know to do right?
Look also at Hosea 4:6: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children."
The answer is found here: They have rejected knowledge, and the rejection of knowledge must inevitably lead to the lack of knowledge. The point is, no matter how much light is given, if it's not appreciated, followed, studied, and loved, then sooner or laterit's lost. And when it's lost, people will eventually "not know to do right" (NKJV).
This, sadly, is what happened to Israel.
"Strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil" (Heb. 5:14). Study this text in the background of today's lesson. What principle is taught here?
Lepers who lose fingers or toes don't lose them directly from the disease; rather, because their nerves have been damaged by the disease they can't feel pain; and thus they don't quickly move away from objects that can damage their flesh. Sin does the same thing: it damages our sensibilities toward it, so that before long it doesn't seem sinful or wrong anymore, even to the point where people can "call evil good, and good evil" (Isa. 5:20).
"Every sinful gratification," wrote Ellen White, "tends to benumb the faculties and deaden the mental and spiritual perceptions, and the word or the Spirit of God can make but a feeble impression upon the heart."The Great Controversy, p. 474.
|None of us is immune to the problems that Israel faced in Amos's time. Every generation of believers faces the same challenge. This is why the battle against sin, against self, is so crucial. What then can we do as individuals to protect ourselves from falling into the snare of being so hardened in sin that we reach the point that we "do not know to do right"?
"How shall I give thee up, Ephraim? how shall I deliver thee, Israel?" (Hos. 11:8).
The plan of salvation, at its core, remains simple: Humanity, through sin, estranged itself from God; God, through Christ, has healed that estrangement. "God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation" (2 Cor. 5:19).
Sacred history, beginning in Eden, replays the theme, in one manifestation or another, over and over again. Humanity, through their sins and disobedience, severs itself from God; God, ever seeking, tries to bring humankind back under the shadow of His wings (Ps. 17:8).
It's no different here in Amos; Israel has broken the covenant relationship with God. God has been faithful to His side of the bargain; the people are the ones who haven't kept up their end of the deal. (See Hos. 6:7; 8:1; Jer. 34:18.)
When Jesus was on the earth, His life and death best exemplified this sad reality. Go through specific aspects of His life, in which Jesus did everything possible to reach those who, despite His overtures, rejected Him. In what ways do we, even today, do the same thing? Examine your own life and see if, in principle, you're just as guilty.
|In the context of today's lesson, read this quote by German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "The cross is laid on every Christian. The first Christ-suffering which every man must experience is the call to abandon the attachments of this world. It is that dying of the old man which is the result of his encounter with Christ. As we embark upon discipleship we surrender ourselves to Christ in union with his death- we give over our lives to death.... When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die."The Cost of Discipleship, (New York: Macmillan Publishing Co. Inc., 1975), p. 99.
|Perhaps the reason why people have been so unfaithful to God and His covenant is that they are afraid to count the cost of following Christ. That's what happened in Amos's time, it's also happening in ours In your own mind, count the cost of following Christ, then, when done, count the cost of not following Him
Amos 3 begins with God addressing the sins of Israel. Read the first eight verses, which need careful analysis. The casual reader may find it difficult to grasp the significance of this
passage. It might be summarized as follows:
Although these statements may seem unrelated, they have something in common. They discuss inevitable consequencesnatural results.
How does Paul illustrate this law of life in Galatians 6:7?
There's a word in Hebrew called aharit. Though related to the Hebrew word for "back" (as in a person's back), it means, literally, "that which comes after; final consequences; ends." Proverbs 19:20 (NKJV) reads: "Listen to counsel and receive instruction, that you may be wise in your latter days," or in "your aharit" or "your final end."
The point is simple: Our actions have consequences. Sooner or later, we all come to our aharit, and what that will be depends so much upon our actions now. In Amos, Israel is simply reaping the fruits of its actions. It has come to its aharit. And if there's any action that has undeniable and inescapable consequences, it's sin. The problem, however, is that Satan never wants us to see the aharit. His message, instead, is to focus on the pleasures now. By the time the aharit comes, it might already be too late.
|Though Scripture is clear that we reap what we sow, what example does the Bible give that seems to suggest there are times when not everyone, at least in this life, suffers as a direct result of his or her own sins? Everyone knows people who suffer terribly through no fault of his or her own. What answers, if any, can you give to those in these situations?
The last phase of God's covenant lawsuit against Israel is the pronouncement of judgment on those who have forsaken the terms of the covenant. Verse 11 describes the "adversary" who will be used by God to destroy Samaria. Undoubtedly it refers to the Assyrians, who later took the Israelites into captivity.
The Shepherd Illustration. To the pastoral people of Israel, an illustration involving sheep would be understood immediately. The shepherd Amos refers to a lion catching a sheep.
How much was left of the sheep when the shepherd finally rescued it from the mouth of the lion? What does this tell us about the number of Israelites who would be rescued eventually from the Assyrian captivity and about their dispersal? Amos 3:12.
It's quite hard from our perspective to understand why there should be such a violent punishment for Israel's transgressions. After all, we're not talking about something like "church discipline" here. The Assyrians could be terribly brutal against those whom they conquered.
Of course, this situation isn't the only time the Lord used outside powers to punish His people (see Isaiah 13). As always, this punishment involved pillaging, rape, death, slavery, and a host of other terrible ills. No doubt, these accounts in the Bible have led many to skepticism about the character of God.
Why did the Lord punish His people in such a manner for their sins? When we remember that Jesus is the Lord (Mic. 5:2; John 1:1-3; Col. 1:16, 17) and when we see in the Gospels just how kind, loving, and forgiving Christ is, how do we reconcile the Christ of the Old Testament with the Christ of the New?
Perhaps the answer can be understood best only in the context of the terrible nature of sin. The great controversy involves the entire universe; the issues are of paramount importance. From our human perspective, many things are hard to understand; we see, as Paul said, "through a glass, darkly" (1 Cor. 13:12). However difficult this question is, one thing it should teach us is just how serious, and deadly, sin is.
How does an understanding that God Himself hung on the cross, punished for the sins of the world, help us better grasp the seriousness of sin and the terrible consequences it brings?
FURTHER STUDY: "The transgressors were given many opportunities to repent. In their hour of deepest apostasy and greatest need, God's message to them was one of forgiveness and hope. 'O Israel,' He declared, 'thou hast destroyed thyself; but in Me is thine help. I will be thy King: where is any other that may save thee?' Hosea 13:9, 10.
"Come, and let us return unto the Lord,' the prophet entreated; 'for He hath torn, and He will heal us; He hath smitten, and He will bind us up. After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6:1-3.
"To those who had lost sight of the plan of the ages for the deliverance of sinners ensnared by the power of Satan, the Lord offered restoration and peace. 'I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely,' He declared: 'for Mine anger is turned away from him. I will be as the dew unto Israel: he shall grow as the lily, and cast forth his roots as Lebanon. His branches shall spread, and his beauty shall be as the olive tree, and his smell as Lebanon. They that dwell under His shadow shall return; they shall revive as the corn, and grow as the vine: the scent thereof shall be as the wine of Lebanon. Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have heard him, and observed him: I am like a green fir tree. From Me is thy fruit found.'"Prophets and Kings, pp. 283, 284.
SUMMARY: Israel forgot about what God had done for them; thus they lost knowledge of His ways. Eventually they broke the covenant relationship with Him, and they reaped the consequences of their actions.
Selpha Velasco
"If you ask anything according to His will, He will hear you" (1 John 5:14), the children of the mission school in the mountains of Mindanao, southern Philippines, repeated in unison.
During morning and evening worships, the student missionaries emphasized that God's promises are true. If we trust Him, He will surely answer our prayers.
My term as a student missionary from Mountain View College was ending, and I visited every house in the village to say goodbye to my friends.
The next day 9-year-old Cecile walked with me to Sabangaan, a three-hour hike from our village, and the nearest point where we can get a ride to Mountain View College. The midday sun punished us as we climbed a steep mountain toward the town. We had to rest often in the shade. During one of these rest stops Cecile said, "Teacher, it is hot. Let us pray that the clouds will cover the sun."
I was touched by the girl's simple request. Our lessons had taken root in her heart. Then without hesitating she bowed her head and prayed, "Lord, please send the clouds to cover the sun, so that my teacher and I can walk in comfort. Thank You for answering my prayer in Jesus' name. Amen."
Silently I prayed, God, please answer Cecile 's prayer and strengthen her faith.
The sun shown as hot as ever as we resumed our walk. "Teacher," Cecile asked, "Why did God not answer my prayer?"
I was a bit sad. "Lord," I whispered, "please answer the little girl's prayer so that she will trust in You." Then I asked her, "Do you really believe that your teacher's God is a true and powerful God-more powerful than any of the gods your parents worship?"
"Yes, Teacher. I believe that God is able to answer prayers." A cool breeze blew from the stream below. It felt so refreshing!
"Look at the clouds, Teacher!" Cecile shouted. "They are covering the sun!"
Thank You, Lord, for hearing Cecile 'sprayer, I breathed.
The clouds continued to shade us until we reached our destination. They strengthened a child's faith that day. They strengthened her teacher's faith too.
Selpha Velasco served for two years as a student missionary at Victory Mission School in the mountains of southern Philippines. She has returned to Mountain View College to complete her studies.
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text:
Kathryn graduated from Northwestern University and received her medical degree from the University of Chicago. She completed her residency at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago and also completed her fellowship with the East Texas Neurological Institute. Kathryn is board certified in interventional pain management and physical medicine and rehabilitation.
She has special interests in Conservative Spine Care, Electrodiagnostics, and Pain Management.


text:
So it has been a bit of a mad year for me, pleurisy in January, a new job in may, married in June and basically the rest of the time catching my breath. That part is pretty literal actually, the pleurisy left me with the lung capacity of a fish. So this summer despite my total fear of roads and next to no adult experience of riding a bike I took up cycling to work. I pushed myself pretty hard and now I cycle most days and often on to classes or into town at the weekends and got myself a new expensive bike (but put the old saddle on it). I can't say I've come to enjoy it that much yet but I do love that it is super fast to get to work, ie more time in bed. It is getting quite hard now that the weather has really turned wintry so I decided to do something about that… Unveiling Kathryn the teenage mutant hi vis turtle.
I have still been making jewellery, maybe not as often and I've certainly hung back from progressing things like the blog and selling any but it has been worth it. I can just about puff up a hill on my bike, I might depressingly be as fit as I was before I got ill but I can pretend not as it is hard to say when I didn't cycle before.
I've got a few posts that I've been working on, one covering making our wedding rings in particular and some other projects I've been working on but in the meantime behold my stunning sense of style :P


text:
Kinect -- and Microsoft boasts that "no other console in history can make that claim." Huzzah. Now, we're not ones to snatch the pen from the victor's hand, but remember: this claim is based on US stats, whereas the PS3 has generally been doing better in other regions. What's more, neither the Wii nor the PS3 has yet reached its sixth birthday, so the story isn't over. Nevertheless, the chart after the break does make Microsoft's performance look damn impressive. Why is it that when you're down, life just keeps on kicking?
Microsoft sells 55 million Xbox 360 consoles, claims that's console history
Sponsored Links


text:
HamKar wants to run his own prisons: Karzai Demands Transfer of US Military Prison to Afghan Control.
He couldn't have forgotten his own government's incompetence in running prisons. Over 500 prisoners escaped an Afghan-run Kandahar prison in 2011 by digging a 300-meter tunnel! And that was when his brother, Ahmad Wali Karzai, was running the province. Maybe Ahmad's death was partial payment for the ineptitude.
Karzai is now insisting upon the transfer of the Detention Facility in Parwan (DFIP) since "his government had evidence that Afghan law and prisoners' human rights were being violated at the prison" according to the New York Times. The New York Times documents the problems Afghan prisons have as compared to the American run ones:
The coalition has longstanding plans to turn over the prison to Afghan authorities, along with control over all detainees, but the timing has remained uncertain because of delays in training Afghan guards to run the facility and because of concerns about widespread torture and other abuses in Afghan-run prisons.
In contrast, independent Afghan and Western human rights advocates have documented relatively humane conditions at the American prison since it opened in late 2009, replacing an older facility that was plagued by abuses. Even so, there have been persistent complaints about arbitrary detentions and a lack of due process at the new prison — problems that are pervasive in the Afghan prison system as well.
Abuses, torture, escapes–what's the big deal? Since HamKar is seeking a "creative solution to staying in office" (although ineligible for re-election) such capabilities might prove beneficial.
Even in Afghanistan, there are other, non-mutually exclusive, alternatives. Clinton advisor Paul Begala expressed the simplicity with which American Presidents side-step the U.S. Constitution with the comment, "Stroke of the pen, law of the land. Pretty cool." Would we expect the Afghan Constitution to be any more difficult to push aside? The Afghan right equivalent would be, "Call a loya Jirga, receive a blessing."
Controlling the torture chambers, er–prisons, wouldn't hurt though.
Then again, if human rights violations are true at the American-run prisons, maybe Karzai is just upset that he isn't the perpetrator.


text:
Transactional services are defined as any digital service where the transaction results in a change to the records held by government. A transactional service typically involves an exchange of information, money, licence, permit and/or goods.
Examples of transactional services:
- Pay a government invoice
- Renew a vehicle registration
- Get a birth certificate
- Request court information


text:
Kiln Fire Causes Close Call for Front Street Business
Firefighters called a Front Street business "very fortunate" after a quick-thinking employee extinguished a cardboard box lit afire by a pottery kiln Thursday, according to the Poulsbo Fire Department.
Fire alarms at Dancing Paint Brush, on the 18000 block of Front Street, sounded about 8 p.m. The employee went to investigate and saw a cardboard box ignited, as well as the shelves behind it, firefighters said.
The employee put out most of the flames with a fire extinguisher before firefighters arrived and put out the rest, fire spokesman Jody Matson said.
"They were very fortunate," said Poulsbo Battalion Chief Bruce Peterson. "That is about as close as it gets before a fire spreads out of control."


text:
Welcome to Bullmastiffs kennel ,,JĖGERIO ŠIRDIS" !!!
Kennel was officially registered at Lithuanian Cinological Society (FCI) in 2011. The breeder is Lina Medziukevičienė. We live in Kaunas, Lithuania (firstname.lastname@example.com). Near bullmastiffs we are since 2010.
All our dogs are our family members and lives with us. We are healthy, well psiche and pure looking bullmastiffs! Thank you for visiting us, we hope you will like it.
Using of the photos without permission of the Author (Linos Medziukevičienės or another Author of the photo) is prohibited according to the international law.


text:
Friday, January 29, 2010
NC Rules Review Commission proposes standards governing use of "senior specialist" designations
The rule, based on the Model Rule that the North American Securities Administrators Association (NASAA) adopted on March 20, 2008, applies only to people registered as securities dealers or salesmen and as investment advisers or investment adviser representatives.
In North Carolina, securities and investment advisers are prohibited by law from engaging in dishonest or unethical conduct. However, in recent years, securities regulators across the nation, including the NC Securities Division, have seen an explosion in the number of professional designations that various financial services professionals use in selling investment products. According to the September 2007 report, Protecting Senior Investors: Report of Examinations of Securities Firms Providing "Free Lunch" Sales Seminars, government and regulatory investigators determined that the use of some of these titles were confusing to many people and served to mislead them into thinking that the certifications were issued by a regulatory authority, when in fact that is not the case. In many cases, the credential serves merely as a marketing tool designed to convey the impression that the holder has more expertise than perhaps (s)he has. The rule which the Securities Division has adopted, therefore, is intended to prohibit the deceptive and misleading use of such designations in connection with the sale of investment products and services.
To read the full notice, go here.
January 29, 2010 in Elder Abuse/Guardianship/Conservatorship, Ethical Issues | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Student Attorneys and Confidentiality Questions
A question that routinely comes up in the Elder Law Clinic setting where students are representing impaired elder clients is whether the student attorney's ethical obligations toward such clients are the same as they are in any lawyer-client relationship, particularly with regard to confidentiality and third-party presence.
Here are some suggestions from Kate Mewhinney at Wake Forest:
Here are some suggestions from Kate Mewhinney at Wake Forest:
- "To Speak or Not to Speak: Effect of Third Party Presence on Attorney Client Privilege" by Roberta K. Flowers, in the NAELA Journal, Vol. 2, No. 1, 2006 suggests that if a third party's presence is necessary in order to facilitate lawyer-client communication, the client may not be said to have waived his/her right to confidentiality;
- The caregiver might show the student-attorney some basic ways of assisting the client, and then the caregiver can step out into a nearby lobby (assuming this is medically safe).
- If the matter involves a potential conflict of interest with the caregiver or the chance that undue influence would later be alleged --- is the client considering leaving assets to the caregiver or is the client considering appointing the caregiver to be a medical or financial agent -- perhaps a different person could come into the interview room to assist, if direct hands-on help is required at every moment.
The bottom line is that the student-attorneys (and all attorneys, for that matter) need to figure out what the client needs in order to feel safe and receptive to the attorney. That might require -- at least for a portion of the interview -- the presence of a third party. Students should be aware of that possibility, and the ethical implications of making a choice to invite someone in to the interview. But being aware of the ethical implications does not mean not doing it. It simply means doing it in such a way that both the client and the attorney feel comfortable.
January 28, 2010 in Ethical Issues | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Jobs and aging policy: What the President didn't say
I listened to President Obama's marathon State of the Union message last night with increasing dismay. NOT ONE WORD about aging policy or how his administration plans to address the nation's exponentially growing need for housing, transportation, health care providers, etc. aimed at an aging population. There are severe shortages of qualified persons to work in all these areas. Will the President's jobs program include training for caregivers and others who work with the elderly?
TheParaprofessional Health Institute has prepared a fact sheet discussing how creating high-quality jobs in the eldercare/disability care sectors would generate significant economic and social benefits. Here's an excerpt from the document:
The eldercare/disability services industry employs more people than nearly any other industry in the country. Direct-care jobs are the employment core of this industry and are among the nation's fastest-growing occupations. Improving the quality of these jobs—home health aide, certified nurse aide and personal care attendant—is not only vital to our social infrastructure, but has the potential to drive economic growth, particularly within low-income communities. Given the sheer numbers of these occupations today as well as their tremendous expected growth, direct-care jobs are uniquely positioned to help repair and stabilize our faltering economy
- Direct-care jobs undergird local economies. Direct-care jobs constitute a $56 billion economic engine fueled by the personal income that over 3 million direct-care workers spend largely on locally produced goods and services in their communities.
- Direct-care workers support employed family caregivers and their employers.A stable, well-prepared direct-care workforce is critical for supporting an estimated 15.9 million additional workers who balance full-time employment with caregiving for a family member over age 18. The lost productivity of family caregivers who are also employed full time is estimated to cost employers $33.6 billion annually, with a third of the costs attributable to workers either leaving their jobs or switching from full- to part-time work in order to accommodate their family caregiving responsibilities.
- Poor quality direct-care jobs strain public resources. The vast majority of directcare jobs are publicly funded, paid for by Medicaid and Medicare. However, high rates of annual turnover—more than 70 percent in nursing homes, and between 40 and 60 percent in home care agencies—lead to staggering turnover costs conservatively totaling $5 billion annually. In addition, 40 percent of directcare workers live in households that rely on one or more public benefits, such as Medicaid or food stamps, reflecting the heavy public subsidies required to compensate for the low wages and inadequate benefits received by most of these workers.
Read more on this issue from PHI's Policy Brief
Eldercare/Disability Services: Untapped Engine for Job Creation and Economic Growth
January 28, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Asst. Sec. Greenlee requests input on OAA reauthorization
AoA-Convened Listening Forums will be held in three cities. The input provided will be recorded, compiled and summarized by Scripps Gerontology Center. The dates and locations of the national listening forums are:
Thursday, February 18, 2010 Dallas, TX
Embassy Suites Hotel Dallas Near the Galleria
14021 Noel Road
Dallas, Texas 75240
(972) 354-3659
Thursday, February 25, 2010 Washington, DC
The Westin Alexandria-DC, Alexandria, VA
400 Courthouse Square
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 253-8628
Wednesday, March 3, 2010 San Francisco, CA
Hyatt Regency San Francisco
5 Embarcadero Center
San Francisco, CA 94111
(415) 981-3638
The forums in Dallas and San Francisco will convene at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. They will begin with morning panel sessions organized to focus on a limited number of national topic areas in the following broad categories: (1) Elder Rights and Elder Justice; (2) Prevention & Wellness – Healthy Aging; and (3) Aging Network Infrastructure for Serving Diverse Needs. The Washington DC forum will also convene at 9:00 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. It will include the 3 categories of topics above, as well as a fourth category, Capacity of the Aging Network.
Following the panel sessions, each forum will host a general session to allow participants to present their views on the reauthorization of the OAA. In order to provide as many people as possible the opportunity to offer input, each participant will be limited to three minutes. Persons planning to make presentations during the general session should pre-register with Abbe Lackmeyer, 866-598-0102, email@example.com to reserve a time slot. If all slots are not filled through pre-registration, a limited number of on-site time slots may be available.
OAA Reauthorization Input Events may be held by any national, state, tribal, regional or local organization. These can range from workshops, board meetings, public forums, or conferences designed to solicit public input regarding issues to be considered during the next reauthorization of the OAA. Following the events, summary reports developed by the sponsoring organization(s) may be submitted to AoA. Visit http://www.aoa.gov/AoARoot/AoA_Programs/OAA/Reauthorization/Index.aspx for more information.
January 28, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Minnesota Gerontological Association posts program on seniors and driving
The Minnesota Gerontological Society has developed a program with Minnesota public television station tpt and other partners entitled "Love of Car: Transportation as We Age". Find the program at
www.mngero.org as well as additional resources about transportation issues implicating older people.
January 28, 2010 in Travel | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
NSCLC Publishes Issue Brief on Medicaid Payment for Assisted Living
The National Senior Citizens Law Center has released an issue brief that examines many of the most important issues in Medicaid payment for assisted living, and makes recommendations for policy changes at the federal and state levels. Among other things, the issue brief recommends that Medicaid-certified facilities be required to accept Medicaid from Medicaid-eligible residents, and not be allowed to demand or solicit "supplemental payments" from residents' family members or friends. The federal government at a minimum should require that Medicaid-certified facilities not discriminate against Medicaid-eligible residents.
The brief is available at NSCLC's website at: http://www.nsclc.org/areas/long-term-care/Assisted%20Living/medicaid-payment-for-assisted-living-current-state-practices-and-recommendations-for-improvement/at_download/attachment.
January 28, 2010 in Health Care/Long Term Care, Housing | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Civil suit filed in egregious nursing home abuse case
Among other things, the lawsuit alleges the aides hit a male resident in the testicles, poked women in the breasts and spit water on a resident. The lawsuit accuses one aide of inserting her finger into a resident's rectum. Another aide is accused of shoving her bare buttocks in a resident's face, and telling another resident she was in jail to confuse and distress the woman.
The nursing assistants also are accused of taunting residents until they screamed.
"The lawsuit really is an effort to try and change the system. We're talking about four families that were dramatically affected by what happened here," said Jim Carey, an attorney for the plaintiffs. "What you found in this case was horrific, systemic and continual abuse.
More: WCCO, http://wcco.com/local/nursing.home.aides.2.1449970.html
January 26, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Helping Elders Clear Title – a Pro Bono or Elder Law Clinic project?
A recent alumnus of William Mitchell, who is working in the home mortgage department of a national bank, describes the following growing problem: "We are speaking with elderly applicants who have old liens recorded on their titles which should not be there. What's sad about the situation is that a lot of applicants are widows or widowers who had their spouse take care of all their property and lien issues, and they have no idea what to do to take these old liens off so the refinancing application can proceed."
As a first step toward helping this group of people, he suggested that elder law clinics and/or legal services programs that serve elders could develop a checklist to identify folks who might be in similar situations, something along the lines of:
- When was the last date you checked your title? ·
- Are you aware of all liens reported as open on your credit report?
- Are there liens listed as open on your credit report that should be closed?
- Does your title have any liens recorded on it that should not be there?
- Does your title have any liens not recorded on it that should be there? ·
- Does your title have a current lien on there, but that lien's amount has increased/decreased, or has it been bought/superseded by another mortgagee? ·
- Do you have the proper documents necessary to remove/modify/add the proper liens to your title? ·
- Do you know how to modify your title?
What do folks think? Are there clinics or programs doing this kind of work? Is the problem one people are seeing in their regular practice? Are there other resources that can be used to address the issue?
January 26, 2010 in Housing, Property Management | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
New Ethical Guidelines for Physicians in Working with Patients and Family Caregivers
On January 12, 2010, the American College of Physicians (ACP) issued a position paper to guide ethical relationships among patients, physicians and family caregivers. The paper outlines four primary principles for physicians, who may face ethical challenges collaborating with patients and caregivers while preserving the primacy of the patient-physician relationship. One of those principles is for physicians to recognize the valuable role caregivers play in providing continuity of care. The paper was originally published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine (January 11, 2010). To read Family Caregivers, Patients and Physicians: Ethical Guidance to Optimize Relationships, visit:
American College of Physicians
January 26, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Monday, January 25, 2010
White House hosts meeting of Middle Class Task Force
White House Middle Class Task Force Meeting to lay out investments for middle class families, including efforts to expand support for family caregivers. Today, President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden held a meeting of the Middle Class Task Force, where they will lay out key investments for middle class families that the President will discuss in his State of the Union address, including efforts to expand support for families balancing work with caring for elderly relatives. HHS Secretary Sebelius, a member of the Middle Class Task Force, will participate in the meeting, and Assistant Secretary Greenlee will attend with her.
More information about the meeting and the Task Force is available at
January 25, 2010 in Health Care/Long Term Care | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Serial rapist targets elderly women in Texas
Texas governor Rick Perry has ordered the creation of a task force to investigate the targeting of elderly women by a possible serial rapist. At least eight women ages 65 to 91 have been raped or reported an attempted sexual assault in rural Central Texas towns in the last year. Other women were robbed. One 81-year-old scared off an intruder by firing a gun. The authorities believe all the cases are connected to a man who has been called the Twilight Rapist.
More: New York Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/22/us/22brfs-TASKFORCEWIL_BRF.html?scp=6&sq=elderly&st=cse
January 23, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Friday, January 22, 2010
Prof. Grose (William Mitchell) signs on as blog co-editor
January 22, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
How did I miss this? Google Scholar now has all federal cases in its database
I just learned from my state bar journal that Google Scholar's databases now include full text federal cases, with citing references and the whole deal. How did I miss this? If someone as supposedly tech-aware as I think I am just found out about this relatively new feature (debut Nov. 2009) I am guessing at least some readers of The Blog did too. If you've never used Google Scholar, go here, http://scholar.google.com/, and select federal cases. Tips on using the legal databases are available at http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2009/11/finding-laws-that-govern-us.html
Try it, you'll like it....
This is what I get for ignoring the Google Blog....
January 22, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Thursday, January 21, 2010
EEOC's proposed ADA regs provoke comment
From the Wisconsin Law Journal:
The ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), which went into effect on Jan. 1, 2009, expressly authorized the EEOC to revise its regulations to conform to changes made by the Act. Simply put, the ADAAA significantly expands the ADA, and the EEOC's proposed regulations are expansive. Some of the proposals include the following:
- Expanding the definition of major life activities.
The proposed regulations include two non-exhaustive lists of major life activities. The first list includes activities, such as caring for oneself, hearing, seeing, sitting and lifting, whereas the second list includes major bodily functions, some of which were not originally included by Congress.
- Providing that mitigating measures may no longer be taken into account.
With the exception of eyeglasses or contact lenses, the positive effects from an individual's use of one or more mitigating measures are ignored.
However, the ADAAA allows consideration of the negative effects from use of a mitigating measure in determining if a disability exists. For example, the side effects of a medication taken to treat a medical condition will be taken into account in determining whether or not the underlying condition counts as a disability.
- Providing that conditions which are episodic or in remission may be considered a disability.
Impairments that are episodic or in remission, such as epilepsy, cancer, and many kinds of psychiatric impairments, are disabilities if they would "substantially limit" major life activities when active.
January 21, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Special tax alert from NAELA
NAELA's Tax Section wishes to alert all NAELA members about two huge tax law changes effective on January 1st that will affect many estate plans. These changes are the repeal of the federal estate and the cut back of the important stepped-up tax basis.
1. Derailed by more important matters in 2009, Congress failed to prevent the repeal of the estate tax for 2010 only. Next year in 2011 the estate tax is reinstated with only a $1.0 million exemption, unless Congress acts in 2010. There is talk that Congress may even retroactively reinstate the estate tax sometime in 2010. Estate tax repeal could hurt the surviving spouse of someone dying in 2010 if the couple has a Marital Trust/Bypass Trust Plan (also known as an A/B plan), as the wording of the documents may leave all the assets to the bypass trust, cutting out the surviving spouse.
2. The second tax law change introduces new IRC Section 1022, which replaces former IRC Section 1014. New Section 1022 curtails the stepped-up tax basis for capital assets acquired from a decedent. Many read Section 1022 to only allow a step-up for property acquired from a decedent, for revocable trusts, jointly held property, and community property. Some NAELA tax practitioners believe Section 1022 denies a step-up for life estates, all irrevocable trusts and all retained and granted powers of appointment. On the other hand, other NAELA tax practitioners believe that certain irrevocable grantor trusts and life estates will still receive a stepped-up basis. Clients need to be made aware of these issues.
The Tax Section, chaired by Robert C. Anderson, CELA, will provide more details on these and other tax changes in the next NAELA News issue to help members get ready to help clients.
Source: NAELA Tax Section Members Robert C. Anderson, CELA, Sharon Kovacs Gruer, CELA, and Bradley Frigon, CELA
Join NAELA!
January 21, 2010 in Current Affairs | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Wake Forest Elder Law clinic newsletter now available online
Get it here: http://law.wfu.edu/clinics/elder/documents/2009Fal-E-clinicnews-final-web.pdf
Highlight: Clinical Professor Kate Mewhinney was invited to join the research faculty of the J. Paul Sticht Center on Aging. The Sticht Center, where the Elder Law Clinic is located, is part of Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. Also, she recently gave these presentations:
- "Doing the Right Thing: Perspectives on Ethics and Professionalism from the MultidisciplinaryTeam," (plenary panel) -- Conference on Interdisciplinary Collaborative Education Partnerships Between Law Schools and the Health Professions , September 2009, Atlanta.
- "Guardianship and Probate Mediation Before the Clerk of Court," 30th Annual Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Program, N.C. Bar Association Estate Planning and Fiduciary Law Section, July 2009, Kiawah Island, South Carolina.
Professor Mewhinney's article, "May I Introduce You to Your Lawyer: How We Built the Legal
Resources We Will Need," appeared in Experience magazine (ABA Senior Lawyers Division), Fall 2009.
January 20, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Monday, January 18, 2010
Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics releases Older Americans 2008: Key Indicators of Well Being
Older Americans 2008:
Key Indicators of
This report provides the latest data on the 38 key indicators selected by the Forum to portray aspects of the lives of older Americans and their families. It is divided into five subject areas: population, economics, health status, health risks and behaviors, and health care.
Press Notes (DOC)
- Retirement Resources Workshop:
Exploring the implications of resource disparities among
adults nearing retirement
(December 5, 2008, 1-4 pm) (pdf)
- Report Data Table
Workshop Presentations, Papers, and Reports
January 18, 2010 in Statistics | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Data Sources on Older Americans 2009
Data Sources on Older Americans 2009 highlights the aging-related products currently available from member agencies of the Federal Interagency Forum on Aging-Related Statistics (Forum) as well as other Federal agencies. Some data bases or surveys could be listed under more than one agency. Federal agencies often jointly develop data, but produce reports that reflect differing agency missions. For example, the Current Population Survey (CPS) is sponsored by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), and fielded by the U.S. Census Bureau. Reports based on CPS data and issued by the two agencies differ. BLS reports focus on employment and labor force topics, while U.S. Census Bureau reports focus on living arrangements. Get the report here:http://www.agingstats.gov/agingstatsdotnet/Main_Site/Data/2009_Documents/Final_DSOA2009_508.pdf
January 18, 2010 in Statistics | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Sunday, January 17, 2010
California Supreme Court rejects appeal of Joey Bishop estate
"Mr. Bishop was the victim of elder abuse. The lawyers and accountant and the housekeeper got Mr. Bishop's money despite Mr. Bishop's repeated statements that he wished the bulk of his estate to go to charities run by Chabad," Weinberg said. "The court did not ever address nor reject the truth of these contentions." Chabad is still weighing its legal options, but the fight is far from over, Weinberg said.
In a written statement released Thursday through her attorneys after the court had made its ruling, Bishop's live-in girlfriend and caretaker, Nora Garibotti, blasted Newport Beach Chabad Rabbi Reuven Mintz.
Read more: http://www.dailypilot.com/articles/2010/01/15/entertainment/dpt-bishop011610.txt
January 17, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)
Upcoming: Aging in America 2010 Conference
- Register by Jan. 31 and save with early-bird rates. Register now.
- Senior Centers: Join us on March 14 for a special program! Find out more.
With over 3,500 attendees, Aging in America is the largest gathering of professionals from the fields of aging, health care, and education. Sponsored by NCOA and the American Society on Aging, the conference offers:
- More than 600 educational sessions
- Special events for senior centers
- Networking opportunities
- Renowned keynote speakers
- An expo featuring cutting-edge products and services
- Awards ceremonies, and more!
January 17, 2010 | Permalink | TrackBack (0)


text:
- Contents
The guidelines below are mostly suitable for the students and employees of Warsaw School of Economics. If you represent an employer, please use the FAQ in the "For employers" section.
How to become a user of Careers Portal?
To use the portal you need to register. The registration is available for:
- Students of Warsaw School of Economics (SGH) - the SGH mailbox/Virtual Dean's Office login data is required
- SGH graduates with the SGH mailbox/Virtual Dean's Office login data
- SGH employees with the SGH mailbox/Virtual Dean's Office login data
- SGH graduates who never owned the SGH network login data - the diploma number is required
During the registration process, username and password for SGH_NET need to be given first. In case of the graduates who never held such login data, surname and diploma number should be given in the first step.
After completing the registration you can log into the Careers Portal. In case of users who owned SGH_NET login, the same data as in the first step of registration should be used to log in.
Other users use the username they picked during the registration. Please remember that the usernames of graduates are automatically preceeded by the "abs_" prefix during the registration and the prefix should be used when loggin in.
Can a person who is not related to Warsaw School of Economics in any way, view the job opportunities published in the Careers Portal?
Unfortunately, people who never studied nor worked at Warsaw School of Economics are not allowed to browse the published opportunities.
I am a doctoral or postgraduate student and I don't hold a SGH_NET login. Can I use the Careers Portal?
Yes, every student at SGH is entitled to register in the portal. However, before doing so you need to obtain the login. In order to do so, please contact the User Support Team.
I am a graduate of WSE and I used to have network login, however I no longer remember it. What am I supposed to do?
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It was late in 1998 and, for an hour, Brisbane chief executive Andrew Ireland, chairman Alan Piper and board member Graeme Downie had put their case to Leigh Matthews.
They were trying to convince a man who had played in four premiership teams and coached another that he should abandon his comfortable media job to join a club that had started its life as the competition laughing stock, been racked by internal divisions when success seemed possible and was about to finish on the bottom of the ladder.
Ireland had heard through a friend, Geoff Brown, the AFL's solicitor, that Matthews - who had left Collingwood at the end of 1995 - might be interested in coaching again. Matthews had turned down an approach by Fremantle, but it got him thinking. While he was about to sign a new contract with Channel Seven, maybe he had more to offer the game.
After the meeting with Lions officials, Piper asked Matthews what he thought. "Ninety-five per cent no, five per cent yes," he replied. Although it did not seem promising, when Piper and Downie left, Ireland stayed and talked to Matthews for another 40 minutes. They were not friends, although their paths had crossed on the field. Matthews had ironed out the former Magpies back flanker during a match at Victoria Park. "He said to me later it was one time he did it fair and square with a hip and shoulder, he didn't need to raise an elbow," Ireland said.
After this second, more civilised encounter, Ireland had an inkling Matthews's mind could be changed. There was something - perhaps some unfinished business from his days at Collingwood - that gave the Lions a chance. Others would speculate that a reported $1.5million three-year contract had turned Matthews's head. The opportunity to take his family to the sunshine was another incentive.
Matthews returned to Brisbane three weeks later to call a game for Seven, arranged another meeting with the Lions and put his demands - he wanted his Collingwood sidekick Graeme Allan recruited and an assurance his team would have the best available medical and fitness staff. And so the most important appointment in the Lions' history was sealed and one of the most significant chapters in the game began.
While many others, including Ireland, had made important contributions to the monumental effort that turned the Bad News Brisbane Bears into the powerhouse Brisbane Lions - the team that could today equal Collingwood's record four consecutive AFL premierships - no one believes it would have been possible without Matthews.
"I don't think the result in 1998 was indicative of the talent we had on the list," said Ireland, who is now Sydney's general manager (football). "We'd made a preliminary final two years earlier and the finals in 1997. In 1998 the split in the club, the environment, it all contributed. I think Leigh inherited a pretty good foundation. I remember him saying after the 2001 premiership he had a very special group of players and has a very special captain in Michael Voss. But taking that next step to premiers is the most difficult and there is no doubt he has to take a huge amount of credit for that."
The news that Matthews was even considering the Lions' offer had surprised David Parkin, who had been a teammate and coach of Matthews at Hawthorn in the 1970s. Parkin coached Carlton while Matthews was in the media, Matthews using his leisure time to play "social secretary" for Parkin and his assistant Ken Judge. "We spent some time together and I didn't think he would go back to coaching," Parkin said. "And, when he did, I was convinced he had gone back for the wrong reasons."
It was not the first time Parkin had been surprised by Matthews. When they were at Hawthorn, Parkin did not believe the tough, occasionally brutal and often silent Matthews was coaching material. Champion players seldom made great coaches and Parkin thought Matthews would not be able to convey his message to a group. "And I was wrong," Parkin said. "I've never seen a greater turnaround, particularly in that time when he was in the media to when he went back to coaching. I think he developed as both a coach and a person."
That not even someone who had been involved closely with Matthews on and off the field for 30 years really felt they knew him is a common perception. Throughout his time as a player and his early days as a coach at Collingwood, he often seemed aloof. Even cold-blooded.
In winning eight best and fairests for a star-studded Hawthorn team, he was regarded by many as the best player of all time. Yet two incidents late in his career stand out in most memories - the day he ran into a point post and the post split in half, and his brutal behind-the-play hit on Neville Bruns that left the Geelong winger with a shattered jaw and led to Matthews being found guilty of assault and fined $1000.
When he arrived at Collingwood in 1986 as assistant to coach Bob Rose, and took over as senior coach the same year, some players found him stand-offish. "I didn't share that opinion but there were some who felt he wasn't a very good communicator," said Tony Shaw, the 1990 premiership captain.
But there was one message Matthews had no trouble getting across. "He expected an uncompromising attack on the ball," Shaw said. "He would sell that to the nth degree and, really, he wouldn't have very much trouble selling it because of his own reputation as a player."
He led a Collingwood team that was equal with several others on ability, but which had a winning edge in courage and brutality, to the drought-breaking 1990 premiership. At Brisbane, the same gospel was preached. "It was simple, 'If you don't put your head over the ball, you don't play in my team'," Ireland said.
Yet, at Brisbane at least, Matthews has not been a tub-thumping zealot beseeching his players to manhandle the opposition. He abandoned the pre-match address and, instead, speaks in measured tones to his players well before they run out. During the past two grand finals, Foxtel has recorded Matthews's utterances in the coach's box. The surprising thing is not what Matthews says, but how little.
"When he came to the club he laid down a few, straightforward principles," said Marcus Ashcroft, who retired after playing in the past three premiership teams. "They were simple things like punctuality and respect for your teammates and the people around you. If you were late for a meeting, you would be locked outside. You learn from things like that."
Matthews has been blessed with a brilliant list but he has organised the team to his own plan, moving Justin Leppitsch, Jason Akermanis and Chris Johnson to defence and using that non-negotiable "attack on the ball" creed to promote the careers of hard nuts such as Chris Scott and Brad Scott. "He believes in building from the back line," Ashcroft said. "He puts a lot of faith in people to do a job and he makes you want to do it."
As the Lions became a force, Matthews's reputation grew in Queensland. He holds a press conference every Monday during the season and his statements almost always make national headlines.
Now, having achieved the supposedly impossible premiership with Collingwood and by taking the Lions to the verge of that historic fourth straight flag, one of the game's great players is now unquestionably also one of its great coaches. Indeed, Matthews is now mentioned in the same breath as Ron Barassi when the most significant figures in VFL/AFL history are rated.
Parkin has no argument with that. "There is no one now I'd rather sit in a room with and talk to about footy than Leigh," he said. "He has such a commonsense, no-nonsense approach to the whole thing. He makes it all so simple."
332 games and 915 goals for Hawthorn from 1969-85.
Won eight Hawthorn best & fairests: 1971-72- 74-76-77-78-80-82.
Hawthorn captain 1981-85.
29 finals matches.
Member of four Hawthorn premiership sides: 1971-76-78-83.
Hawthorn leading goalkicker six times, in 1973 (51 goals), 1975 (68), 1981 (48), 1982 (74), 1983 (79) and 1984 (77).
VFL leading goalkicker in 1975.
Seventh in all-time AFL goalkicking.
Polled 202 Brownlow Medal votes - second on the all-time list behind Gary Dempsey (246).
Coached Collingwood from 1986-95, for five finals appearances in 1988-89-90-92-94. In 1990 he took the club to its first premiership since 1958. Coached a total of 224 matches for 125 wins, 5 draws, 94 losses.
Coached Brisbane to three premierships in 2001-02-03. Has an 89-36 win-loss record with the Lions since 1999.
Coached the 1999 Brisbane Lions to the equal best single-season turnaround in AFL history, improving from 16th in 1998 to fourth with an 18-7 win-loss record.
In Round 2 of 2002, he became the first man in history to separately play 300 and coach 300 games.
(source afl.com.au)


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the_gneech: You can't make an omelet without breaking the universe.
graveyardgreg: Actually...you can.
the_gneech: Well, maybe. But it won't taste very good.
graveyardgreg: Those comets add extra flavor, huh?
the_gneech: Right- and left-quarks add that extra Zing!
graveyardgreg: Zing!
the_gneech: ZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzziiiiiinnnnnggggGGG
graveyardgreg: This just in: Gneech needs more Zing!
the_gneech: Mmm, zing.
-The Gneech


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Seeing a lot of top hats with watch gears glued on them on Etsy lately? Wondering why women are walking around in bustle skirts, leather harnesses and brass goggles? You, like many, are confused by steampunk. That's ok. Steampunk is a weird animal. I'll describe it for you.
Just like The Jetsons represents the 1960s vision of the future, steampunk is the Victorian era vision of the future. The concept of advanced steam powered technology was first developed in the 1800s by writers like Jules Verne. Verne is the reigning idol of steampunk. Many of the films on this list are French. His concepts have endured in literature, movies and video games, but the word steampunk wasn't coined until the 80s.
The genre is all about the aesthetics of gears, rust and contraptions blended with Victorian clothing and architecture. Because steampunk is so inherently visual, these movies make a beautiful treat in the home theater. Enjoy!
A rare children's movie from Martin Scorsese, "Hugo" tells the story of a 12 year-old orphan who lives in hiding in a Paris train station. Before he died, Hugo's loving father showed him an automaton he was fixing. Hugo steals parts from a toy maker to continue his father's work. The central tension in the film is the mystery of the automaton and Hugo's need to evade the many authority figures who would send him to an orphanage.
Shot in 3D, "Hugo" is a great film for anyone who has invested in a 3D film or projector. It has plenty of swirling gears, steam and neo-Victorian imagery to delight your inner steampunk. The film contains many reverential references to early French film-maker and surrealist special effects pioneer George Méliès.
The City of Lost Children
It won't surprise you to learn that Jean-Pierre Juenet, the director of Amelie, has made films in the whimsical steampunk genre. He made The City of Lost Children with Marc Caro. Ron Perlman (Hellboy) stars as a sailor who must save his little brother from a deranged inventor who kidnaps children and uses his odd machines to steal their dreams.
This is not a children's movie. It is dark, spooky and scary. This film earned its status as a cult classic with other-worldly visuals. At heart, City of Lost Children is an experimental romp through late 1990s special effects.
Atlantis: The Lost Empire
If 2000 Leagues Under the Sea and Avatar had a baby, it would be Atlantis: The Lost Empire. Milo Thatch, voiced by irrepressibly charming Michael J. Fox, finds an ancient journal that could lead to the lost city of Atlantis. He sets out in a very Jules Verne-looking submersible to find the city. They find the city and a race of scantily clad mystical inhabitants with blue tattoos. Far from Disney's most popular animated feature, the distinctive graphics inspired by comic artist Mike Mignola have earned this film cult status. It's a great, kid-friendly steampunk film and a visual treat for adults who are ready for a break from the typical Disney film. There are no songs.
Howl's Moving Castle
Oh, boy. This movie is amazing. If you haven't seen it, get excited. Howl's Moving Castle has the stunning animation we expect from director Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli, the people that made Spirited Away. The story comes from a whimsical fantasy novel by British writer Diana Wynne Jones. A young girl cursed to look like an old woman goes to work in a magical moving castle. She falls in love with the proprietor of the castle, a handsome, womanizing sorcerer. The animation of the moving castle is so beautiful ; you'll have to see it to believe it. This movie is pure magic, great for kids and the young at heart.
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
A fantastical account of the fictional adventures of a real life Baron, this movie has everything: airships, time travel, period costumes, space travel, undersea adventures and Uma Thurman appearing as Venus rising from the foam. Directed by Terry Gilliam (Brazil, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas) and starring other Monty Python members, the film has the absurd rowdiness we expect from a Monty Python movie. It's an fun, hilarious romp.
A young inspiring inventor receives a package from his grandfather. It contains a new energy source that could revolutionize the steam-based energy economy in alternate-reality England. The boy, Ray, must keep nefarious enemies from stealing his grandfather's gift and harnessing its power for evil. This movie is made for diehard steampunk fans. If you delight in airships and neo-Victorian imagery rendered in 1,000 shades of brown, you will love it. For the casual steampunk fan, the convoluted storyline makes this movie a bit dull.
The Prestige
Adapted from an award winning fantasy novel, The Prestige features a star-studded cast with Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman, Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie as Nikola Tesla. Two ambitious young magicians are close friends until an accident on stage comes between them. Each strives to outdo the other with innovative—steampunk—magic inventions. The cinematography is beautiful and the plot is effectively dramatic.
A tiny creature—part rag doll, part automaton—wakes up in a rusted out, post-apocalyptic world and that's all I am going to tell you, because I don't want to spoil the excellent sense of mystery and awe in this film. Tim Burton directed this film, so you can expect to be stunned by the computer animation. Burton steps away from his usual Gothic style into the beautifully tarnished world of steampunk. 9 is definitely worth seeing.
The Extraordinary Adventures of Adele Blanc-Sec
Adapted from a French comic book about a plucky adventurer, this film has all the energetic entertainment value of other comic inspired movies, but with the sophisticated aesthetic and script of an excellent French film. Lovely explorer Adele Blanc-Sec sets out to Egypt in search of ancient secrets. From there on, this quirky comedy delivers dinosaurs, mummies, hilarity and incredibly stylish costume design. You will love it.
Wild Wild West
This major Hollywood features plenty of celebrities and steampunk cred. This Will Smith vehicle also stars Salma Hayeck, Kevin Kline and Kenneth Branagh. While the theme song reached number one, the movie was a box office disappointment. However, it has enough odd gadgets to make it one of the most definitively steampunk movies that Hollywood has ever produced.


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Arrival time: 7:30am
Drivers Meeting: 8:15AM (all drivers)
Full schedule available at the track
This event is a self-tech event. It is your responsibility to make sure your car is safe for the race track.You must fill this out and turn it in at registration. Be sure to download a Tech Inspection Form. Present completed form at the morning of the event.
Willow Springs Raceway charges a $15 gate fee for all who enter.
This event is open to ALL types of cars and drivers.
Beginners are Welcome!
Must have 3 Digit Number Plates - Vinyl or Magnetic. Tape numbers are not allowed.
Only SA 2010+ Helmets are Allowed.
Drivers with (M) Rated Helmets will NOT be allowed on Track!
Free: Basic on Track instruction for all Drivers
Willowsprings Raceway is located 90 minutes outside of Los Angeles off the 14 freeway.
You may recognize this track movies such as Ford vs Ferrari and the Fast & Furious Series.
Amenities include:
(661) 256-6666
|Event Name:
|Big Willow (Saturday) December 19, 2020
|Event Date:
|Dec 19, 2020
|Individual Registration Rate:
|Total Registrator:
|Start Date:
|Aug 1, 2020
|End Date:
|Dec 20, 2020
|2020 Racing Season
|3500 75th Street West, Rosamond, CA 93560


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With the release of EA Sports' NHL 12 on Sept. 13, it's time for puckheads to come out of hibernation and rejoice over the imminent start of another hockey season. But does the latest offering from EA Sports give hockey fans a reason to celebrate? In short, the answer is a resounding "yes," thanks to improved goalie dynamics and contact physics that result in a truly authentic gaming experience—as promised when we spoke with gameplay producer Novell Thomas.
We started the game in GM mode, playing as the Columbus Blue Jackets. Right from the start, you feel like you are actually in charge of a professional hockey team. You control everything from the coaching staff to who's out on the ice. The team owner is in constant contact with you, setting goals for the team and warning you if your job is in jeopardy. STACK gamers will have to create a balanced squad and translate that talent into success on the ice.
But the experience doesn't end at GM mode. NHL 12 features more game modes than most players will know how to handle. You can play in season mode with your favorite AHL team, set up a playoff bracket for a quick chase to Lord Stanley's Cup, put yourself in the game with "Be A Pro" or take on the life of a legend in the new "Be A Legend" mode.
When you take the ice, you have the option of different controlling options that span the life of the series. We opted for dual analog gameplay, so we could manually control our shots on goal.
Gameplay in NHL 12 is easily one of the best among sports video games. EA Sports covers every detail from how hard you deliver a pass to how you dump the puck when you're on the penalty kill. One-timers feel natural and realistic when setting up. Throwing a fake slap shot and deking around the defender for a wrist shot on goal is one of our favorite moves to embarrass the defense and get on the scoreboard.
If you haven't played NHL in a few years, the controls will take you awhile to master. We ultimately recommend learning the dual analog play. Once you master the controls, it's a much more interactive and enjoyable experience.
Yes, it's the only NHL simulation on the market, but EA's NHL is one of the best and most successful gaming franchises ever. With the NHL regular season a couple of weeks away, NHL 12 is a must for hockey fanatics who can't wait to get their fix of action on the ice.
Photos: EA Sports
Photo Credit: Getty Images // Thinkstock


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Over 150 Mexican cops held for organised crime ties
Published: 21st January 2013 12:20 PM | Last Updated: 21st January 2013 02:25 PM | A+A A-
As many as 158 police personnel have been arrested in the northern Mexican state of Durango for alleged ties to organised crime, officials said.
Durango state Attorney General Sonia Yadira de la Garza told Milenio Television that agents from the State Bureau of Investigation - backed by federal police and army troops - detained the suspects Friday in the city of Gomez Palacio.
She said 110 of the police belong to the municipal force in the town of Lerdo while the other 48 are employed in Gomez Palacio, adding that the detainees include commanders and administrative staff.
The operation stems from information gathered from criminal suspects, who said those police provided them with protection and even collaborated in kidnappings, De la Garza said.
The investigation shows these police had spent three years aiding and abetting Sinaloa drug-cartel members, the prosecutor said.
De la Garza said federal and state police will temporarily take over law-enforcement duties in Lerdo and Gomez Palacio.
Both are part of northern Mexico's Comarca Lagunera metropolitan area, which has seen an uptick in drug-related violence in recent years attributed to a turf war between the Sinaloa cartel and the rival Los Zetas mob, Mexico's two most powerful organized crime gangs.


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Voler's challenges Euros with classy Black Label cycling apparel
The Black Label features cuts for both men and women. Photo by Voler.
When it comes to cycling togs, the highest regard and price points seem to be reserved for a rarified few European labels. Marks like Castelli, Rapha, and Assos might well be the Gucci, Prada and Louis Vuitton of the bike world. And while Grover Beach, California-based Voler may not have the tony pedigree, their new Black Label line makes a compelling case for equal footing when it comes to quality and performance, while flat-out blowing away the Euros on price.
Well-known for their custom programs, Voler has been on the upswing the last couple years, tweaking and improving designs across their line, benefitting punchy racer types and more casual club riders alike. The non-customizable Black Label offerings level-up the high-performance package they designed for the likes of the UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, while removing the rolling billboard factor. The results are nothing less than a study in beautifully understated performance.
"Black Label is a departure for us in a number of ways," said Voler eCommerce Director Aaron Barker. "We focused first on the fabrics, quality, and technical features, then went with a simple color-blocked design rather than a sublimated graphic."
Indeed Black Label is available only in stealthy all-black, or black with red accents, and features a purposeful matrix of high-performance fabrics. The bib shorts rely heavily on Italian-milled Forza HC high-compression polyester as well as the more breathable Illusion fabric that's used on the bib straps. Barker says the high-compression fabric offers both performance and aesthetic advantages.
The slim Genesis fabric side panel both provides a nice visual line as well as compliments the high-compression functionality of the rest of the bibs. Photo by Voler.
"High compression fabrics provide support to the upper leg for maximum performance and recovery," Barker explained. "While it's been a bit of an industry trend the last couple of years, for us it's really more about what looks and feels good."
The Black Label jersey uses an entirely different fabric to get the job done–Voler's US-milled Genesis blend. The fabric is highly breathable and durable, despite being very lightweight, according to Barker.
"The Genesis fabric makes for a nice, lightweight but well-wearing jersey," says Barker. "Our teams have been riding them for over a year and the durability has been excellent."
On the road the Black Label gear performed as-advertised–perhaps better–despite some initial reservations.
Despite the use of black fabric, the Black Label fabric is sheer and feels no warmer than other colors.
The fit of the jersey felt a bit different than most on first try, but turned out to be a Goldilocks-like "just right." Neither club fit blousey nor racer boy tight, the difference-splitting cut is presumably the result of much trial-and-error size testing on Voler's part, and is accentuated by their use of flat seam construction, a scrunch-free full zipper, and the clean-finish waist which keeps the jersey edge pulled down.
The–let's call it "micro-roomy"–jersey also allowed the addition of a temperature-regulating under layer without the stuffed-sausage look that usually comes along with it. So worn, it felt comfortable at temperatures in the low 60-degree range, as it did in the mid-90's sans under shirt.
"For those who ride a lot, layering for the conditions is key," Barker noted. "Most people prefer to start with a lighter weight jersey and adjust from there with undershirts and outerwear."
Another notable perceived disadvantage–the presumably heat absorbing black-colored fabric–either did so negligibly or was offset by the jersey's thermal management properties. Barker pointed to Team Sky's success in black kits over the past couple years as evidence. His point is valid, though the respective 2013 and 2012 Tour de France champs Chris Froome and Bradley Wiggins each spent a fair amount of time in yellow jerseys as well.
Continue reading for more on the Voler Black Label cycling collection and full photo gallery.


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Uber Partners to Help Cities
Boston, MA
Transit in America continues to grow, carrying 10.5 billion trips in 2015, and adding new lines and systems every year, yet the symptoms of overdue maintenance and underinvestment have never been clearer. Despite increasing demand, the nation's transit systems have been chronically underfunded resulting in aging infrastructure and a $90 billion rehabilitation backlog. While some communities are experiencing a transit boom, many Americans still have inadequate access to public transit.
American transit systems carried 10.5 billion passenger trips in 2015. This is a 33% increase from 20 years ago, when transit carried 7.9 billion trips, but is 250 million trips less than in 2014. 11% of American adults reported taking public transportation on a daily or weekly basis in 2015.Conditions & Capacity
As a result of years of insufficient funding, transit systems across the U.S. are struggling to cope with aging infrastructure and limited funding, creating a massive and increasing backlog. The most recent federal estimate quantifies the backlog of projects needed to attain a "state of good repair" at $90 billion and is projected to grow to $122 billion by 2032. The backlog was primarily in fixed guideway modes such as rail, due to specialized infrastructure requirements, such as tracks and stations, as opposed to roadway modes, likes buses, which utilize existing roads and bridges.Funding & Future Need
255 people were killed in transit-related incidents in 2015. Most fatalities were non-passengers—passengers accounted for less than 5% of all fatalities in 2015. However, several high-profile occurrences of smoke, fire, derailments, and crashes, primarily in the larger, older heavy and commuter rail systems, have occurred in the last several years.Public Safety, Resilience, & Innovation
With State and local government losing revenues from transit ridership and motor fuel taxes, now is the time for Congress to provide immediate and necessary relief to ensure that all sectors of our infrastructure remain safe and reliable.Share Story
Write your Members of Congress and ask them to fully fund this program so that our nation's "D" dams can receive the investment they need.Share Story
While we have made some progress, reversing the trajectory after decades of underinvestment in our infrastructure requires transformative action.Share Story
America Scores a D+
The 2017 Infrastructure Report Card gives our nation a D+ across 16 infrastructure categories #InfrastructureMatters
Fix the Trust Fund
#FixTheTrustFund to put us on a road to better transportation! #InfrastructureMatters