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Reports allow you to analyze the performance of your team and business. This article provides details on the various options that allow you to effectively use reports.
Role/User Requirements: Admin, Supervisor, Account Admin.
This article contains the following sections:
- Creating a New Report
- Editing Reports and Widgets
Creating a New Report
Freshcaller provides a set of curated reports to help you get started. However, if you want to create an entirely new report, you can do that too.
Note: You can create a custom report only if you have a Garden, Estate, or Forest plan.
To create a new report:
Log in to your Freshcaller account and click on the Reports icon from the left panel.
Click New Report.
Enter the report name and set the visibility. You can choose the report to be visible to everyone or only to you.
Click Create. When you click create, the following screen (work area) appears where you can drag and drop widgets, change the visualization, and organize the layout of your reports.
To add widgets, click on the Add widget icon on the left panel. Freshcaller provides three options to add widgets:
New: Create a report with own set of widgets using the available metrics. Select the type of visualization you want for the report.
Existing: Create reports using the set of widgets from existing reports.
Templates: Create a report using the default widgets. You can pick a widget that works best to represent your metrics.
Drag and drop the widget to the empty work area.
Hover over the widget to see additional options available.
Edit widget: Click this icon to edit the report. For more details, check the Editing a Widget section below.
Edit style: Click this icon to change the widget style. For example, you can change the background color, border style, or width of the widget.
Click on the three dots to clone, change the visualization, order, or remove the widget.
Once you finish adding the necessary widgets, click Save.
Editing Reports and Widgets
A report is a collection of related widgets and gives you the bigger picture by drawing insights from each of these widgets. Freshcaller allows you to change the entire report at a time or edit individual widgets in a report,
Editing a Report
At a report level, you can:
- Change the format of all report/widgets to have a unified layout
- Apply the same filters across all widgets in a report for more profound insights
- Clone a report
- Remove/delete a report
To edit a report:
- Navigate to the Analytics Home page, and select the report you want to edit.
- To switch to the editing mode, click on the Viewing option on the top right corner.
- To change the format of all widgets at once, click on the format icon and select the layout of your choice. This will be applied to all the widgets in your report.
- To apply common filters to all the widgets at once, click on the filter icon. For more information on adding filters, see Applying Filters section below.
- To clone or delete the report, click on the report name and select Clone Report or Delete Report options.
Editing a Widget
To edit a widget:
- Navigate to the Analytics Home page, and select the report and the corresponding widget.
- Hover over the widget and click on the edit widget icon. The widget opens in the work area.
The various editing options available for a widget are:
- Rename/clone the widget
- Change the visualization of the widget
- Schedule the report widget
- Configuring the report metrics
- Applying Filters
- Changing the style
Configuring Widget Metrics
Click on the Configure icon to customize how the data is displayed. For example, the widget below shows the total number of calls by call type for the last 30 days.
Now, you can configure this widget to view the total number of calls along with the duration spent for each type of call. To do this, select the Duration metric. Additionally, you can also select how you want to view this data. That is if you want to view the sum, average, maximum, or minimum time spent for the calls. Once you finish the selection, click Apply.
View Underlying Data
To see the data in a tabular format, click on Show underlying data. Additionally, if you want to see more data, click on the settings icon. Select the columns you want to add to the table and click Apply.
Applying Filters
Filters are dimensions or metrics that you can apply on a report or a widget to further drill-down the data represented. Freshcaller provides two sets of filters - Basic and Advanced. By default, all reports and widgets show you data for the last 30 days. This means a default filter of time period is in the last 30 days is applied to all reports and widgets.
The following table gives the detailed list of all filters available:
|Filter Name
|The total duration of any call. It also includes IVR time, call transfer time, etc in addition to the duration of the call that an agent handles.
|Hold time
|The total time that a call was put on hold/wait.
|Calls that were made and received from a number that had specific digits.
|Incoming or outgoing calls
|Abandoned, completed, no-answer, voicemail, etc
|Handle time
|Talk time + Hold time + ACW
|ACW time
|After call work time is the time that the agent takes to fill in notes, add the details of the call, etc after he/she ends a call.
|The number of transferred calls.
|Wait time
|IVR time + Wait queue time
|Abandonment reason
|The specific point of the call journey where the call was abandoned by the customer - while in IVR, Call queue, Ringing or Wait queue.
|Short abandon
|All abandoned calls that were abandoned within the short abandon time period.
|IVR time
|Total time of the call spent on an IVR menu.
|Customer number
|All calls that were made or received for a customer's number with a specific set of digits.
|Time Period
|The specific time period for which you want the report to be generated — last week, month, quarter, year or custom.
|Business hours
|Filter calls based on whether they arrived during or after your business hours.
|Speed to answer
|The time taken to answer(pick) a call.
|Company Name
|View all your calls from a certain company.
|Transfer Type
|Whether the call transfer was cold or warm
|Service level breached
|Filter based on whether the service level was breached or met.
|View all calls belonging to a certain queue.
|Filter calls based on the team that handled it.
|View all calls that were attended by a certain agent.
|Lets you view the report by the tags added during a conversation.
To add a filter:
- Select the widget or report for which you want to apply filters.
- Click on the filter icon form the left panel.
- You can see that by default, the basic filter is applied. Click on the Filters drop-down to switch to Advanced Filters.
- Select or enter the filters you want to apply. Additionally, from the Match drop-down, select the filter conditions to be matched. The conditions applicable are All and Any.Note the AND in each filter, this means only the data that meets all the filter options selected will be displayed in the report/widget. If you want to change the condition, select Any. This will show the results that meet any of the filters applied. To add more filters, click on the add filter icon.
- The biggest advantage of using advanced filters is that you can add filter groups. To do this, click on the 'Add filter group' option.
Example: Assume that you want to see the call distribution by teams for the last 30 days.
While applying the Type filter, if you do not see the Abandoned calls listed, this means for the last 30 days there were no abandoned calls. These reports are intelligent enough to list only the conditions which have some data around them.


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$ 214.40
$ 268.00
$ 0.00
Linen Smock // Tan
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Wear it over a t shirt and leggings, jeans or throw it on as a jacket. It has an inverted pleat in the back and turn up elbow sleeves. Plus there are pockets at the side seam.
The smock is intentionally cut wide and nips in the back with a pleat and touch of sashiko embroidery. One size fits all from dress size 2 - 18.
- Italian Cotton Buttons
- Side pockets
- Walnut dyed
- 100% Organic linen
- GOTS-certified fabric
- One size fits all
- Care: Machine wash cold, hang dry, no ironing needed
Handmade in California to exacting standards.

subset: commoncrawl


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Our Saint Bernard/Newfie cross ruptured both of his cruciate ligaments within 3 months and Trupanion couldn't have been more helpful. On the first claim I received reimbursement from them in less than a week. On the second claim, I had Trupanion pay the vet directly so I only had to fork out my 90% which was nice. I only wish they paid examination fees as consultations with the surgeon were fairly expensive.
ACL ruptures
Claim Amount
Over $1000
Mixed Breed
Age of Pet
1 - 8


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Hives aren't usually a serious medical threat, but they can certainly make you uncomfortable for several hours to days. Read what you can do to manage a hive breakout and when you may need to see a doctor.
Many of us tend to get sick during the cold months, but if allergy symptoms arise, we are likely to blame a cold. Though rare, some people are actually allergic to the cold itself, suffering from what is known as cold urticaria. For comparison, about 1 out of every 10 people is allergic to pets, while only about 1 in 100,000 are allergic to the cold.
Cold allergies have been reported in children as young as 5 years old, but the age of onset tends to be during the adolescent years. The allergies to the cold can arise out of nowhere or may be triggered after an infection or illness. An allergy to the cold can be inherited, but inheriting this allergy is extremely rare, occurring in about 1 out of every 1 million cases of cold allergy. Many of those with cold allergies suffer from their allergies for about 5 years and then the allergy disappears.
As with many other allergies, cold allergies are diagnosed through a skin test. The patient will have an ice cube set on his or her forearm to see if changing the temperature of the skin causes an allergic reaction. The course of a cold allergy is much like that of other allergies and includes swelling, hives, and itchiness. The treatment is also the same. Patients avoid the allergen, use antihistamines, and in severe cases, deploy an EpiPen.
In extreme cases, cold can induce anaphylaxis in those who are allergic to it. Luckily for those who are allergic to the cold, allergy onset usually requires that the temperature of skin drop dramatically. By bundling up, those with cold allergies can therefore still enjoy the outdoors on cold days.
What is more dangerous for those with cold allergies than going outdoors in cold weather is swimming in cold water or eating cold foods. While swimming in cold water, cold allergy sufferers may become covered in hives –or, in severe cases, suffer from anaphylactic shock. It is particularly dangerous to suffer a severe cold allergy reaction in the water because it increases the chances of drowning. Similarly, those who have an extreme reaction eaten frozen foods or drinks may end up choking.
While cold allergies are rare, it is important to recognize when the allergy exists so that precautions can be taken to prevent symptoms or serious reactions. Those who suffer from cold allergies can generally follow the same advice as other allergy sufferers do and even rely on the same medications.
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Hives aren't usually a serious medical threat, but they can certainly make you uncomfortable for several hours to days. Read what you can do to manage a hive breakout and when you may need to see a doctor.
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Is your runny nose, sneezing, and sore throat caused by allergies or a cold? Find out how to spot the difference and why it matters.
Are you allergic to pollen, pets, or peanuts? Wondering why it matters? Learn more about the different types of allergies and what therapies are available from the experts who treat them.
Are you having problems with frequent or seemingly never-ending bacterial or viral infections like pneumonia or sinusitis? These issues might be related to a faulty immune system. Find out more about immunodeficiency and how it's treated.
Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. Learn what to do if you develop anaphylaxis and how you can help prevent this potentially life-threatening allergic reaction.


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Institute for War and Peace Reporting | Giving Voice, Driving Change
Macedonia: Row Over DUI Expansion
Confusion surrounds the apparent creation of ethnic Macedonian branches of the Albanian Democratic Union for Integration, DUI, party in the east of the country.
Weeks after the DUI claimed to have established a branch in the exclusively Macedonian town of Kocani, it has only one verifiable member.
The DUI, which is led by former National Liberation Army, NLA, political representative Ali Ahmeti, comprises many former rebel fighters amnestied at the end of the 2001 conflict.
It had enormous success in the recent parliamentary elections - winning more than two thirds of the ethnic Albanian vote - and was rewarded with 16 positions in the new coalition government, including four ministerial posts.
However, the DUI is still seen as a "wolf in sheep's clothing" by the majority of the Macedonian people, who are unhappy that former Albanian rebel fighters are now in positions of political power.
This has caused tension in the east of the country, following the DUI's announcement at the end of last month that a branch established in Kocani had already attracted 21 ethnic Macedonian members - but so far only one local has admitted to membership of the party.
DUI spokesperson and parliamentary deputy Agron Buxhaku declined to name every member - citing security reasons - saying only that Kocani resident Venco Arsov, a former member of VMRO-DPMNE, had joined the party as branch president.
A row immediately broke out in the town, with prominent figures denying all involvement in the organisation, and one resident who shares the same name as the alleged DUI member receiving death threats from all over the region. "I was forced to change my home phone number because I was being intimidated. My family and I no longer feel safe in this town," he told IWPR.
VMRO-DPMNE, Arsov's former party, has no ethnic Albanians within its ranks. Its spokesperson Vlatko Gorcev was scathing about the news, describing the DUI's decision to form a Kocani branch as "something out of a Monty Python sketch".
"It is hypocrisy - black humour," he added.
Venco Arsov claims that he first made contact with Ali Ahmeti two months before the parliamentary elections. "I met the DUI leader in Tetovo in July, and expressed my wish to become a member," he said. "Later on we established a party branch in Kocani but this was not made public at the time because of security reasons."
The announcement has been greeted with accusations and counter-accusations in the media. When the daily Dnevnik newspaper confronted Arsov with allegations of a criminal past, the branch president blamed his former colleagues in VMRO-DPMNE for trying to blacken his name.
Claims that Arsov's motive for joining the DUI was a financial one have also been hotly denied by Buxhaku. "That's absurd. Such things are made up by people who are against coexistence," he said. "We do not buy our members. Arsov came to us on his own initiative and told us that he was disappointed with VMRO-DPMNE and had grown to support our policies."
But the public appears to doubt the sincerity of these claims. "No intellectual from eastern Macedonia would get involved with this party because we are all aware of its past," Kocani Clinic Centre director Mihail Ivanov told IWPR, referring to the DUI's NLA origins.
Buxhaku told IWPR that the formation of the Kocani branch was designed to boost the party's plans for a "new Macedonia" - a state built on civil society rather than ethnic divisions, as outlined by DUI leader Ahmeti at a recent conference in Switzerland.
Ahmeti reiterated his plans in the weekly Lobi newspaper following the outcry over the Kocani incident. "DUI is an open civil party in which ethnic Macedonians can be members as well," he said. "One should forget the myth that in a party created by Albanians there should not be any Macedonians and vice versa. When we do, Macedonia's credibility will be enhanced on the international scene."
However, the rival Democratic Party of Albanians rubbished claims that such integration could boost the country's standing, calling it "a situation of false brotherhood and unity".
Todor Stojcevski is a journalist at the daily newspaper Makedonija denes and the weekly Denes.
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The aim of a fanlisting is to create a list of all the fans of a particular subject; with this site, fans of Hustle. Please look around the fanlisting and if you're a Hustle fan, please consider adding your name to the fan list!
The Hustle fanlisting was last updated on 06th September 2020. There are 65 fans listed, with 0 waiting to be added and the newest member is Iris. The Hustle fanlisting was created on 16th April 2006 and uses the Enthusiast script.
Please email me if you have a Hustle related fanlisting/site and would like to affiliate.


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Optimistic Election Night Scenarios For Barack Obama And John McCain
Looking ahead to election night, I thought I'd offer some optimistic assessments of how it might go, hour by hour. Obviously, it's a lot easier to do an optimistic Obama assessment than an optimistic McCain assessment, given that realclearpolitics.com gives Barack Obama a significant lead in states with 274 electoral votes, four more than are needed to win, and John McCain a significant lead in states with only 132 votes. But if this election at this point seems less close than 2000 or 2004 did at this stage, it also seems closer than 1988 or 1992 or 1996 did at this stage.
So let's start with the optimistic Obama scenario, with the states arranged according to the last poll closings in those states (all eastern time). The networks, including Fox News, where I will be working, do not report results until those times, which are the earliest that any state can be "called" for either candidate.
7 p.m.
--Clear Obama: VT (3), VA (13). Running total (16).
--Clear McCain: KY (8), SC (8). Running total (16).
--Too close to call, at least immediately: GA (15), IN (11). Running total (26).
Comments: GA: Current polling shows Obama narrowly behind; even taking the Obama-optimistic assumption that he's doing a little better, an accurate exit poll would make this state too close to call. IN: Ditto. VA: Here the assumption is that the October 1-27 polling (which with just a few exceptions showed Obama 6 to 12 points ahead) is right while the post-October 27 polls (showing Obama 3 or 4 points ahead) is wrong.
7:30 p.m.
--Clear Obama: OH (20). Running total (36).
--Clear McCain: WV (5). Running total (21).
--TCTC: NC (15). Running total (41).
Comments: The most recent NC polls are so close that even a somewhat better result for Obama would not make this state callable when polls close. In Ohio, the October 29-30 Mason-Dixon poll is the first nonpartisan poll to show McCain ahead (by 2 percentage points) since an October 19 Fox News poll and an October 16-17 Mason-Dixon poll. Until Mason-Dixon got into the mix, the realclearpolitics.com average edge for Obama in OH was 5 percentage points or more.
8 p.m.
--Clear Obama: CT (7), DE (3), DC (3), IL (21), ME (4), MD (10), MA (12), NH (4), NJ (15), PA (21). Running total (136).
--Clear McCain: AL (9), MS (6), OK (7), TN (11). Running total (54).
--TCTC: FL (27), MO (11). Running total (79).
Comments: Obama has been leading FL polls pretty consistently since September 28 but seldom by more than 5 percentage points. So I think that it will be hard to call it off the exit poll or until a considerable number of returns have come in. Everyone remembers how FL got miscalled and miscalled again in 2000, and it's a diverse enough state that you can't assume that an unusually good showing for Obama in election returns from one part of the state is going to be replicated in other parts. But super-Obama optimists can put it in the clear Obama category if they like. As for MO, even an Obama performance on the high side of recent polling leaves it in the TCTC category. In PA, the recent close Mason-Dixon and Rasmussen polls still leave the realclearpolitics.com Obama margin at 7 percentage points.
8:30 p.m.
--Clear Obama: None. Running total (136).
--Clear McCain: AR (6). Running total (60).
--TCTC: None. Running total (79).
Comments: Obviously, at this point, the results look pretty woeful for McCain. The 86 Obama electoral votes not yet recorded from NY (31) and CA (55) would put him up to 221, and that's without the 79 votes we've put in the TCTC category. But as reports of actual votes in exit poll precincts come in, enabling us to calculate WPE (within-precinct error, which in the primaries tended to overstate the actual Obama vote), we can hve a better idea of how much to trust the exit poll, and as actual election returns are transmitted from the states over the Associated Press wire, states that couldn't initially be called off the exit poll can be called. This is an Obama-optimistic scenario, so let's assume that enough GA returns have come in to show us some time before 9 p.m. that Obama has reduced the usual Republican lead in the Atlanta suburbs and that Obama, with unusually high Democratic percentages in the Indianapolis area, is roughly equal with McCain in most of Indiana, with Lake County (Gary, 26 percent black) holding out its results as it did in the primary (then, to prevent Hillary Clinton from giving a victory speech on primary night). So in this scenario, GA and IN go for Obama, and the running totals look like this before 9 p.m.
--Clear Obama (162).
--Clear McCain (60).
9 p.m.
--Clear Obama: CO (9), MI (17), MN (10), NM (5), NY (31), RI (4), WI (10). Running total (248).
--Clear McCain: KS (6), LA (9), NE (5), SD (3), TX (34), WY (3). Running total (120).
--TCTC: AZ (10), ND (3). Running total (66).
Comments: The most recent polls have shown McCain ahead by only a hair in AZ. We're assuming Obama does a little better than his current realclearpolitics.com margin of 5 percent in CO. Some Obama enthusiasts may argue that this scenario should give him the 1 electoral vote allotted to the Second Congressional District of NE; I don't think the few statewide numbers support that. ND may be close, but it's unlikely to be callable for Obama, particularly since few if any of the people on decision desks have any experience with any close elections in the state.
9:30 p.m.
Comment: No state's polls close at this hour. But by this time, it may be possible to call NC for Obama (remember, this is an Obama-optimistic scenario); it depends on how fast the tabulated vote comes in. As for the other TCTC states, the results in FL and MO depend too much on jurisdictions that to my recollection tend to report late?Broward, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade counties in FL, Jackson and St. Louis counties and St. Louis City in MO. All but Miami-Dade are heavily Democratic; Democrats in St. Louis City have a habit of getting a local judge to hold open the polls there for an hour or so after they close in the rest of the state. So let's say NC is called for Obama, while FL, MO, AZ, and ND are not. The totals going into 10 p.m.:
--Clear Obama (263).
--Clear McCain (120).
10 p.m.
--Clear Obama: IA (7), NV (5). Running total (275).
--Clear McCain: UT (5). Running total (125).
--TCTC: MT (3). Running total (54).
Comments: I think the best an Obama optimist can hope for from MT is TCTC. But I think that the current 5.8 percentage-point margin for Obama in the realclearpolitics.com average for NV justifies it as clear Obama in an optimistic scenario.
This puts Obama over the top just after 10 p.m. But without calls in GA, IN, and NC, he would be at 233, well under 270. And note that in this optimistic-for-Obama scenario, we are assuming he wins some close states even where he is behind in current polls, as well as those where his current poll leads are extremely small, in addition to those where the most recent polls show McCain as trailing. Even so, help is coming at 11 p.m.
11 p.m.
--Clear Obama: CA (55), HI (4), OR (7), WA (11). Running total (352).
--Clear McCain: ID (4). Running total (129).
--TCTC: None. Running total (54).
Comments: OR votes entirely by mail; Edison-Mitofsky conducts a telephone poll of those who have voted, but decision desks will need a fairly big Obama margin to justify calling the state for him, given the limitations of phone polling. There's a similar, though more limited, probem in WA, where more than half the votes will probably be cast early or absentee. But the optimistic Obama scenario is not troubled by these things. And, to leave the optimistic Obama scenario behind, and to project from current polls, there is a good chance he will be declared the winner of the election at 11 p.m. But there's a serious chance he might not, depending on how the actual tabulated vote comes back in states impossible to call from the exit polls alone. Finally:
1 a.m.
--Clear Obama: None. Running total (352).
--Clear McCain: AK (3). Running total (132).
--TCTC: None. Running total (54).
Now let's turn to the optimistic McCain scenario. I am going to indulge optimism a bit more on this side, given that McCain is where he is in current polls.
7 p.m.
--Clear McCain: GA (15), KY (8), SC (8). Running total (31).
--Clear Obama: VT (3). Running total (3).
--Too Close to Call: IN (11), VA (13). Running total (24).
Comments: Give McCain a little bit better than his current 3 percentage-point lead in GA, and it should be callable for him. But I don't think McCain optimism gets you to a call in IN. The four most recent polls in VA show McCain behind by only 3 percent or 4 percent; this justifies a TCTC rating.
7:30 p.m.
--Clear McCain: WV (5). Running total (36).
--Clear Obama: None. Running total (3).
--TCTC: NC (15), OH (20). Running total (59).
Comments: NC seems to be in similar shape with IN. And I'll indulge some McCain optimism, and give some emphasis to the recent Mason-Dixon poll, by putting OH in the same category.
8 p.m.
--Clear McCain: AL (9), MS (6), OK (7), TN (11). Running total (69).
--Clear Obama: CT (7), DE (3), DC (3), IL (21), ME (4), MD (10), MA (12), NH (4), NJ (15). Running total (82).
--TCTC: FL (27), MO (11), PA (21). Running total (118).
Comments: We're putting FL into TCTC, on the same line of reasoning that we put OH there; since October 22, only one poll has shown Obama leading by more than 5 percentage points, while most have been in the 2 percentage-point range. Polling in MO since October 22 has given McCain a slight edge but not enough to take it out of TCTC given its history of late-reporting, heavily black jurisdictions. McCain has made a last-minute appearance in NH, but polling there even discounted for McCain optimism doesn't justify taking it out of the clear Obama category. Our most controversial position here is putting PA in the TCTC category. One possible justification is that polls have shown the votes in the various regions to run counter to longtime patterns, as I have written on here and here.
8:30 p.m.
--Clear McCain: AR (6). Running total (75).
--Clear Obama: None. Running total (82).
--TCTC: None. Running total (118).
Comments: The attentive reader will have noted that Obama passed McCain with the 8 p.m. states but that a lot of states are stacked up in the TCTC category. Let's assume, in line with McCain optimism, that as the election returns pour in from IN and NC, it becomes clear that Obama has fallen short and that these states can be called for McCain. This leaves VA, OH, FL, MO, and PA as TCTC.
--Clear McCain. Running total (101).
--Clear Obama. Running total (82).
--TCTC: Running total (92).
9 p.m.
--Clear McCain: AZ (10), KS (6), LA (9), NE (5), ND (3), SD (3), TX (34), WY (3). Running total (174).
--Clear Obama: MI (17), MN (10), NM (5), NY (31), RI (4), WI (10). Running total (159).
--TCTC: CO (9). Running total (101).
Comments: Optimism gives McCain his home state. And recent polling tends to justify a McCain optimist in calling CO TCTC. Several MI polls have shown high percetages of undecideds (a Bradley effect in a state where Detroit's Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick was forced out of office and is headed to jail?), but Obama has been pretty consistently running over 50 percent, and the McCain campaign notoriously pulled out of the state a month ago. Have the polls tightened up enough in NM to justify a McCain optimist rating it TCTC? I don't think so. But perhaps McCain optimism is justified in ND. Note that under these assumptions, McCain passes Obama in electoral votes assigned.
9:30 p.m.
Comments: No poll closings at this hour, but perhaps we will have enough election returns, in this optimistic McCain scenario, to say that FL, OH, and MO are going to McCain. Are these optimistic projections? You bet they are. They suggest that current polling has been farther off than polling usually is?or that there has been some late swing in McCain's direction from when the last polling was conducted (October 31 in FL and OH, October 30 in MO). But this is an optimistic McCain scenario. If you want to read a straight-line projection from current polling, look elsewhere.
--Clear McCain: Running total (232).
--Clear Obama: Running total (159).
--TCTC: Running total (43).
10 p.m.
--Clear McCain: MT (3), UT (5). Running total (240).
--Clear Obama: IA (7). Running total (166).
--TCTC: NV (5). Running total (48).
Comments: McCain's lead in current polling in MT is small, but optimism raises it to clear McCain. The most recent three polls in NV show Obama with 4 percentage-point and 5 percentage-point leads, and McCain optimism converts that to TCTC.
11 p.m.
--Clear McCain: ID (4). Running total (244).
--Clear Obama: CA (55), HI (4), OR (7), WA (11). Running total (243).
--TCTC: None. Running total (48).
1 a.m.
--Clear McCain: AK (3). Running total (247).
--Clear Obama: None. Running total (243).
--TCTC: None. Running total (48).
Our optimistic McCain scenario has left McCain with a narrow lead over Obama in electoral votes, and with four states still TCTC: VA (13), PA (21), CO (9), NM (5). McCain in this setting can win without PA, but in that case must win in all three of VA, CO, and NM. Or if he wins PA, he can get to 270 by winning any one of those three while losing the other two.
All of this, of course, assumes some shift of opinion from where polling indicates it is?you have to do that if you are optimistic for McCain, because he is plainly behind. Such a shift is possible, but in the view of most of the people I talk to, of both parties, unlikely.
Still, I think this vindicates McCain's strategy of seriously contesting PA. Without PA in the TCTC category, even this optimistic strategy leaves McCain short of 270 unless he carries VA, CO, and NM, the latter two of which have looked very unlikely all summer and fall. And I think the evidence is pretty strong that McCain has shifted the race some distance in his way in PA over the past month. Whether it's far enough is far from clear.
I find it fascinating that, by indulging plausible optimistic views in favor of each of two candidates (all right, maybe stretching it a bit for the one who is behind), you can come up with such different electoral vote totals?352 to 132 for Obama in one case, 247 to 243 for McCain in the other. Back in April, I speculated on what would have happened if Mitt Romney had gotten 3 percent more of the vote and John McCain 3 percent less in the Florida primary January 26 and the Super Tuesday primaries February 5. With the Republicans' winner-take-all delegate allocation rules, the difference would have been enormous. After Super Tuesday, McCain actually led Romney by about 516 to 207 delegates. If just 3 percent of voters had switched from McCain to Romney, I calculated that Romney would have been ahead by 38 to 365 delegates. The Republican race would have looked entirely different.
So it is with these optimistic scenarios. The Electoral College is a winner-take-all system, and small changes in public opinion can make an enormous difference in the result. To be sure, opinion in the primaries tends to be more fluid than in general elections, but we have seen shifts of 3 percent in the last couple of days in presidential general elections before. In the realclearpolitics.com map of how all the states would go if they voted for the candidate now leading (by however small a margin) in the polls, Obama gets 353 votes and McCain 185. But if you subtract 3 percent from Obama's poll numbers and add 3 percent to McCain's, six states with 89 electoral votes shift from the Obama column to the McCain column and McCain leads in electoral votes by 274 to 264. Which looks a lot like our optimistic McCain scenario. But the betting today is still a lot closer to the optimistic Obama scenario.
--Click here to read more by Michael Barone.
By Michael Barone


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Rachel Bischoff, Centre '18, reflects, "As a Brown Fellow, I have met so many people who not only support my interest in acting, but also take it seriously as a craft that requires dedication and intelligence, and consider it meaningful as a platform of artistic expression. Through the Brown Fellows Program, I am given the chance to explore my passion for theatre in a way that most young actors are unable to do. The opportunity to have two summer enrichment projects in which I can intensively study acting to assist in pursuing my career goals is invaluable as a dramatic arts student. Overall, however, I am thankful to be surrounded by peers and mentors who support my passions full-heartedly and give me the chance to study what I love without apology."
(photo from Centre's production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, 2015.)
Rachel Bischoff, Centre '18, Reflects
December 8, 2015 by


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Midwest Energy Policy Series-Energy Infrastructure
Name: Midwest Energy Policy Series-Energy Infrastructure
Date: April 30, 2019
Time: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM CDT
Event Description:
The Missouri Energy Initiative is presenting the Energy Infrastructure event of the 2019 Midwest Energy Policy Series in collaboration with the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. Join us to network and engage in the hottest topics in energy.
Topics include:
- How National Infrastructure Plans are Developed: Trump's Infrastructure Plan Architect Dan Slane will discuss how infrastructure projects are selected and what is at stake with U.S. Infrastructure.
- Increasing Adoption of Electric Vehicles: David Schatz of the Chargepoint electric vehicle charging network and Phil Jones of the Alliance for Transportation Electrification will discuss strategies for expanding adoption of electric vehicles.
- Affordable Clean Energy Rule: Jim Gulliford, Regional Administrator for EPA Region 7, will address the clean energy rule which establishes emission guidelines for states to develop plans to address greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired power plants.
- Regulatory Update: New Missouri PSC Chairman Ryan Silvey will address infrastructure issues facing the PSC.
- Smart Infrastructure: Representatives of KCP&L, Ameren, City Utilities of Springfield, Liberty, Spire and Macon Electric Coop will present their organization's infrastructure plans.
- Missouri State Energy Plan: Kristy Manning, director of Missouri Division of Energy, and Josh Campbell, MEI executive director, will provide an update on implementation of the 2015 Missouri State Energy Plan.


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A judge in the US has ruled that Facebook Live videos that are streamed publicly are considered to be "fair use", meaning that the owner of the footage cannot try to claim copyright infringement if other bodies, such as the media, seek to use the content.
In May 2016, Kali Kanongataa, from Carmichael, California, made history by being the first to livestream the birth of a baby when he filmed the birth of his son, which his partner Sarah Dome agreed to. After filming for half an hour, Kanongataa realised that the stream was set to "public", rather than "friends only", but he didn't want to stop the video once it had been started, so he left the stream as it was.
Over 120,000 people ended up watching the live stream, and 22 seconds of the footage was later picked up by ABC and aired on the Good Morning America morning television show because the show's anchors felt that the live stream was a "socially significant phenomenon".
And since ABC has a partnership with Yahoo, the website also hosted the footage on its site, plus a screenshot and a short video clip from the stream were used on the Women's Health magazine website.
Kanongataa wasn't happy about this and in September 2016, he decided to sue ABC, Yahoo, Rodale, COED Media Group, iHeartMedia and Cox Communications in several separate lawsuits (read the lawsuit against ABC and Yahoo) for copyright infringement because none of the media organisations sought his permission or consent to publish the video or any screenshots from his live stream.
However, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan has ruled in a court hearing that use of the video footage is indeed fair use, and as such, Kanongataa's lawsuit must be thrown out, according to Ars Technica. This means that ABC, Yahoo, NBC and COED Media are off the hook. Kaplan has yet to issue a decision about the lawsuit against Rodale, and the lawsuit against Cox Communications remains pending in a different district.
No similar cases have been filed in the UK, and in fact some people seem to enjoy the attention garnered from livestreaming births, such as Ysis Lorenna, a Welsh woman who live streamed her labour on 9 February on Facebook Live for YouTube channel Channel Mum, which has over 32,000 likes on its Facebook Page. Nonetheless, it is likely that this same ruling could be passed in the UK and other countries should citizens try to claim copyright on content they choose to stream live over social media.
Interestingly, the real reason Kanongataa is so upset about the live stream of his son being used by the media is because the story about the live stream led to Child Protective Services (CPS) taking the baby away from Kanongataa and Dome one day after the child's birth.
The couple went on popular newsmagazine TV programme Inside Edition shortly after the birth, complaining that CPS took the baby away because one of Kanongataa's previous partners made domestic violence allegations against Kanongataa and told CPS that the child was in danger – allegations Kanongataa strongly denies.
"I was really, really surprised, like 'Oh my gosh, how could you do this?' For everyone to tune in and watch me have a baby, shocking," Dome told Inside Edition. "I just had a baby, it was a beautiful moment so I can't be mad too long, but he's going to hear about it for the rest of his life."


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P Klara Adler
Information provided by RRN Members and Institutions
Information provided by RRN Members and Institutions
Shown below are items associated with Klara Adler available without first logging in. This person appears in records from MOA.
Mrs. Klara Adler lived in Brazil and Ecuador with her husband from 1934 to c. 1954. She was said to have been a potter, with an interest in both pottery and textiles. Her husband was a geologist, working with Imperial Oil, who died in 1954, at which point Klara moved back to Vancouver and then later to Edmonton to be with her son.
Born: c. 1910
Died: c. 1984


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The Executive Director of the Danquah Institute has cautioned the general public, especially the two main political parties, against peddling rumours that attack the integrity of the nine justices sitting on the presidential election petition trial.
The Statesman has learnt that all manner of unfounded rumours are being peddled about against the judges, including allegations of bribery, as the nation braces itself for the decision of the court, expected to be delivered by 29th August, 2013.
But, in an exclusive interview with The Statesman, Asare Otchere-Darko, alias Gabby, who was first reluctant to even offer a comment on the matter, did not mince his words in condemning the rumours when he agreed to speak.
?It is totally disrespectful, needlessly tasteless and counterproductively insane for people to spread that kind of unfounded rumours against any judge in this case,? he said.
The Statesman has picked up information making rounds in certain circles across the big cities, especially, that some leading members of one of the political parties involved in the election petition are going around claiming, for example, that they have ?managed to get 6 out of the nine judges on their side.?
Others are also boasting that they are winning the case by a 5-4 majority. Even more worrying is the fact that certain individual judges are being singled out, with allegations that they are being influenced to vote one way or the other.
We put this to Gabby for his view. ?Well, I?m very reluctant to speak about this matter for fear of pouring oil on it. But, I guess it is out there and it must stop and if I can help to stop it then I?ll gladly do so,? he said.
The head of DI, who is also the publisher of this paper, acknowledges the general cynicism in our country when it comes to litigation or, specifically, contestable issues between the two main political parties, the National Democratic Congress and the New Patriotic Party.
He explained, ?We cannot just run away from the fact that, like in many court cases in Ghana, you cannot legislate against the likelihood of people on both sides raising concerns about the possibility, however remote, of the bench being influenced or compromised. But, when we raise a bare, imagined concern to the level of an allegation, and spread it as if we know it to be a fact, then, I am afraid, we are not being fair to the judiciary and, particularly, to the men and women who have worked their way very hard and remarkably to the top of the judicial hierarchy. They deserve our respect.?
Gabby believes the ?Atuguba Court? has done ?more than enough to win the respect and confidence of the entire nation in the course of this trial and we have all seen and heard the trial proceedings thanks to the historical decision by the Chief Justice and the Court to allow television cameras to cover proceedings live.?
In defence of the nine-member panel, Gabby argued, ?There is nothing in the course of the last seven months of this case to suggest to any objective observer that this is not a court that is committed to delivering justice without fear or favour. So, why should anybody be doubting the integrity of the Court at this stage??
He added, ?Those of us who have had the benefit of studying transcripts of court proceedings of this case cannot but admire the professional and impartial manner that the Court has handled this historical case. What they need now is our prayers as they retire to prepare to give their final ruling.?
On his expectations as to the final declaration of the court, Gabby, who is also a barrister, said the duty of the court is not as complicated as we may see it. ?It is simply to apply the law.?
He continued, ?If our democracy is to grow it must be allowed to take the next bold steps in sending a clear message, first to the good people of Ghana ? especially the youth on whose shoulders the destiny of our democratic society stands ? and, by extension, to the rest of the continent, that here in Ghana we are determined to allow the rule of law to work to protect and promote our democratic society.?
Gabby stressed, ?This is Ghana and we are not known to shy away from taking the lead in Africa?s quest for freedom and justice. Elections in Africa must not be defined by a different set of rules. Democracy must not be reduced to a contest of who can get away with it.?
Has this case not disturbed Ghana?s role as a model of democracy in Africa?
?Not at all,? said Gabby, adding, ?The platform upon which Ghana is raised as a model of democracy in Africa will not be dismantled by this election petition. In fact, it can only be made stronger if we take the necessary legal steps to strengthen that platform with the needed brick and mortar of integrity, truth and justice.?
Concluding the interview, the head of the policy think tank said, ?The whole nation is watching. A whole continent is looking up to the nine honourable men and women of the highest court of our land to give a ruling that will strengthen democracy and the rule of law in Ghana and Africa, as a whole.?
Gabby, however, cautioned Ghanaians, ?But, in saying so, let us also remind ourselves constantly that justice is not what you or I say it is but what the Court holds to be so and in compliance with the Constitution, the relevant laws and the evidence before it. Our commitment to rule of law must not be conditional. It must be genuine and principled.
Send your news stories to [email protected] and via WhatsApp on +1-508-812-0505


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Estate Planning Video: "Planning For an Aging Parent"
One of the most challenging aspects of aging is losing the ability to do things that were once routine. This often includes mental and physical limitations that make it difficult or impossible to care for oneself or manage personal and financial affairs. Children charged with caring for parents who face these challenges need to know what signs to look for and what steps to take to protect their parents' health and property.
In this video from her Estate Planning Series, Grand Rapids estate planning lawyer Bobbi Hines addresses the importance of medical and financial powers of attorney, HIPAA authorizations, wills, trusts, and other estate planning documents to efficiently and cost-effectively protect the assets and well-being of an elderly parent.


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JAKARTA (Reuters) - Most of the 30 people killed in an outbreak of ethnic violence in the Indonesian region of Papua on Monday were migrants from other parts of the country, police said on Tuesday.
Some were stabbed or shot with arrows in one of the most serious incidents of violence in years in the area. Protesters torched houses and government buildings, police said.
Monday's bloodshed marked a major escalation in unrest in Indonesia's easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, collectively known as Papua, which were rocked by demonstrations in August over perceived ethnic and racial discrimination.
National police chief Tito Karnavian said 22 transmigrants who lived in the town of Wamena and four indigenous Papuans were killed, while 66 others were wounded on Monday.
The victims were motorbike taxi drivers, shop workers and restaurant waiters, Karnavian told a news conference
In the provincial capital of Jayapura, where Papuan students clashed with security forces, one soldier and three civilians died, he said.
The migrants come from other parts of Indonesia, mainly from Java, South Sulawesi and the Moluccas islands, taking advantage of cheap land, abundant resources and economic opportunities.
They dominate the local economy, to the chagrin of indigenous Papuans, who have a distinct Melanesian ethnicity and culture. The Papuans complain they are discriminated against, especially in the economic realm, although there are policies to promote them within the civil service.
The migration began with programs launched by the government of the late President Suharto, which included subsidies. These have now stopped but migrants still move to Papua.
Wiranto, Indonesia's chief security minister, said the violence was an effort by separatist groups to create "a horizontal conflict among us".
Since the unrest in August, officials have accused exiled separatist leader Benny Wenda and his domestic network of using violent means to draw international attention as the United Nations General Assembly meets in New York.
Karnavian named Wenda again on Tuesday and the Papua-based National Committee for West Papua (KNPB) of being behind it.
Wenda, who has political asylum in Britain, has denied authorities' accusations of orchestrating the protests.
A KNPB spokesman said on Monday security forces made the first attack against students in Jayapura, while the rally in Wamena was a protest against racist slurs made toward high school students by a teacher, which police say was a hoax.
Karnavian said the situation in Papua on Tuesday was under control but reinforcement would be sent to the region, bolstering the nearly 6,000 personnel already flown in from other parts of Indonesia since August.
Police were interrogating 733 students who took part in Monday's protest in Jayapura, national police spokesman Dedi Prasetyo said.
Resource-rich Papua, which shares the island of New Guinea with the nation of Papua New Guinea, was a Dutch colony that was incorporated into Indonesia after a controversial U.N.-backed referendum in 1969. The region has since endured decades of mostly low-level separatist conflict.
The latest wave of violence erupted after a group of Papuan students in Surabaya, Indonesia's second biggest city on the island of Java, were taunted and attacked by a crowd chanting racial epithets over accusations they had desecrated a national flag.
Police have rounded up dozens of people for damaging public property in the protests, with several named as treason suspects over a demand for an independence referendum that authorities have ruled out.
Reporting by Jakarta bureau; Editing by Angus MacSwan
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.


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Sep 30, 2019
Depending on where you are in the world "today" is International Podcast Day.
But isn't that every day, you ask? Yeah, for podcasters like us it is. Believe it or not though, there are still a lot of people who don't know about podcasting.
What can you do about that? I talk about just that topic on this episode.
There's some cool stuff happening at InternationalPodcast.com, including 30+ hours of live podcast training to help you better spread your message.
Don't Let Your Podcast Be Ignored - Download my free "Audience Attraction Cheat Sheet" to get 25 podcast episode (and segment) templates.


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Powder Illuminator
or 4 fortnightly payments of $9.50 with More info
Dazzle and shine with this gorgeous highlighter! The powdery light but full colour intensity of this highlighter is second to none!
What It Is This ultra-creamy, powder highlighter delivers unparalleled natural radiance and multi-dimensional luminosity. Perfect for highlighting cheekbones, brow bones and the bridge of the nose. Blends seamlessly. Appropriate for all skin tones.
What's Inside Micro-fine pearl pigments create a fresh, radiant effect.
How To Use Sweep over cheekbones, brow bones and bridge of the nose with Blender Brush
Additional information
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All sales are final (No returns)
No exchange
*Note: films listed in alphabetical order. Films will not play in this order. They will play within their designated film block.**Many films include adult content including language, drug use, sexual content, nudity, and violence.
See below for a descríption of films in this block.
Allen Anders - Live at the Comedy Castle (circa 1987) - Dir. Laura Moss Drama - 7 minutes Allen Anders is either having a nervous breakdown or the best set of his life.
Caroline - Dir. Logan George, Celine Held Drama - 11 minutes When plans fall through, a six-year-old is faced with a big responsibility on a hot Texas day.
Hair Wolf - Dir. Mariama Diallo Horror - 12 minutes In a black hair salon in gentrifying Brooklyn, the local residents fend off a strange new monster: white women intent on sucking the lifeblood from black culture.
Monsters Anonymous - Dir. Jeremy London Comedy - 21 minutes A short film comedy about the classic monsters in a group therapy session coming to terms with the fact that they aren't scary anymore.
My Dead Dad's Porno Tapes - Dir. Charlie Tyrell Documentary - 13 minutes Canada Filmmaker Charlie Tyrell seeks to better understand his emotionally distant late-father through the personal belongings he left behind...including a stack of VHS dirty movies. Narrated by David Wain.
The Scorpion´s Tale - Dir. Jhosimar VasquezDrama - 22 minutes The Scorpion's Tale is a story of death, revenge, jealousy and greed. The perfect killer sits on death row awaiting his fate. But when someone from his past pays him a visit, The Scorpion realizes that when debts are owed, someone must pay. From director Jhosimar Vasquez and Maximiliano Hernández comes The Scorpion's Tale. Debt is owed. He collects.
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Gammons Group
Accomplished and successful in the field of physician recruitment Gammons Group provides the experience and industry knowledge necessary to match candidate qualifications with the recruitment needs of each client.
Their experience in healthcare marketing combined with an extensive professional network enables them to quickly and cost effectively source top quality physician candidates for physician practices and hospital employers.
Gammons Group benefits clients through their ability to find and present the right physician to the individual practice opportunity.
Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
- Video
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Helen Gammons
4800 Whitesburg Drive
Huntsville, AL 35802
4800 Whitesburg Drive
Huntsville, AL 35802
(256) 882-6359
(877) 350-7411


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Our Solutions
Our Testimonials
What Our Customers Say
Can't say enough, smooth beginning to end process! Our new Built-ins are BEAUTIFUL!" Review taken from Facebook reviews.
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We LOVE our new office that Paul designed. We are very pleased with the entire experience from start to finish. Excellent quality, excellent customer service. Thank you Paul and Innovative Cabinets." Review taken from Facebook reviews.
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Friendly and helpful staff, excellent service, and competitive pricing! Will definitely use again in the future!" Review taken from Facebook reviews.
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Everglades restoration activists are lauding the recent 99-1 passage of legislation with provisions for a billion-dollar reservoir near Lake Okeechobee.
It pushes the $1.6 billion project closer to reality, after passing from the White House Office of Management and Budget to the U.S. Senate, where it was approved Oct. 10 as part of a water resources bill.
When Lake Okeechobee is filled to the max from excessive rainfall, billions of gallons of polluted water are released and flow to the east and west coasts. It comes as no surprise that the nutrient-rich fresh water, plagued by too much phosphorous, causes algae blooms, especially when accompanied by higher summer temperatures.
"It's like pouring gasoline on an already-lit fire," said Eric Eikenberg, chief executive officer of The Everglades Foundation, referring to the lake water as it fuels algae growth.
The 16,000-acre reservoir will be able to hold 75 billion gallons of would-be released toxic water, which will be filtered in water treatment marshes and further flow south, and to the Everglades.
"That estuary is desperate for a reliable source of fresh water," he said.
After the reservoir project received approval from both the U.S. House and Senate, it moved on to the desk of President Trump, who signed it Oct. 23. The next step is for Congress to appropriate $200 million annually for the reservoir to be built, and for other Everglades projects.
"We're hoping this reservoir can be built in the next four years," said Eikenberg, which could help stem the growth of red tide. The algae red tide has been all over the news on both sides of Florida, as it causes fish kills, and poisons pets as well as people.
Keys residents were a vital part of getting the reservoir project moving, Eikenberg said, adding that activists have been working on getting the bill passed at the federal level for two years.
"I met with Sandy Moret in January 2016 and urged him to mobilize the Keys community in the fight for this reservoir and what came of that was a coalition of business environmental groups called the Now or Neverglades Coalition, and Sandy spearheaded that whole movement," he said.
Moret and his wife, Sue, operate Florida Keys Outfitters in Islamorada. He is also the founder and an instructor of the Florida Keys Fly Fishing School.
"The rain water in the rainy season is supposed to fill up Okeechobee, and it's supposed to overflow," Moret said. "If you look at Google Earth, the whole agricultural area was part of the lake, and that overflow was supposed to come through the belly between East Coast and the West Coast," he said, especially into the Florida Bay. After the "belly" was dammed in 1935, it starved the bay of fresh water.
The pollution is an issue everyone cares about, as proven by the bipartisan legislation passed, Eikenberg said.
"It's great," Moret said. "It's putting a stent in the blockage of the heart for the Everglades. That's how I like to look at it."


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19. Trip to the post office, make sure all cards are written and presents wrapped. Treat yourself to a hot chocolate on a nearby cafe. If you haven't already -bake the gingerbread house!
20. Grocery shopping for Christmas. The trick is to do a list, and follow it. That way you'll shop what you need, nothing less or more. Remember plenty of clementines and mixed nuts. Finished with the shopping there's time to decorate the gingerbread house. Also, make some "Brente Mandler", almonds with sugarcoating.
21. Make sure your home is clean and tidy before the big day. Everyone in the family can contribute on the Big Tidy up! Add some fresh pine branches to add to the feel of Christmas. Reward yourselves, without messing up the tidy home by a visit to a local family pub for a hearty lunch. And why not take the children out for a walk afterwards, to burn some excess energy and get some fresh air.
22. Bake Christmas cookies and make little treats of nougat and marzipan together with family and friends. Make sure to have plenty of mulled wine, both a redwine version and blackcurrant for the children, simmering on the stove. Also plan what everyone is wearing for Christmas, that it fits, is washed and ironed etc. Hang aside, ready to "dress without stress" on Christmas eve.
23. Last day to decorate the Christmas tree and your home. Enjoy a light Christmas supper with the family. How about some Scandinavian Santa's Porridge with sugar, cinnamon and butter on top. Hide a peeled almond in the porridge. The one that finds the almond will win the Marzipan pig!
24. Merry Christmas!
Enter todays Advent Calendar competition where you can win functional and retro cool children's clothes, here


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Two-thirds of gun deaths are suicides, but that is not why we demand gun control. We want control because of the decades of mass murder-suicides, often carried out by and against young adults. Unlike disease or old age, death by gunshot is swift and robs us of our chance for goodbyes. For parents and siblings, losing a loved one that way is torture.
Guns have always been available in America, so what caused mass murders to skyrocket since the turn of the century?
For that answer we have to see what else changed this century: fame, easily obtained by likes and followers. Youth today believe that fame and attention is more important than achievement or character. Look at who is popular on TV, internet channels and magazines.
We adults are guilty too. Mass shootings dominate the news and social media, the killer's story read by millions. We click and share, teaching big media this is what we want.
Lately, I've stopped clicking, stopped reading about the latest tragedy. I want these shootings to stop. I want gun ownership to be considered reasonable and responsible again. For that point, I think the latest legislation proposed will be ineffective, if it even passes Congress.
As cleverly worded as any banning legislation is, greed will find ways past the definition of "bump stock," "assault rifle" or "magazine." Search online for "non-NFA firearm," and you will find that manufacturers already market firearms that fall under no regulatory definition.
Our country already accepts that for safety, the FDA approves drugs before they are sold, and the FAA approves airplanes. So it makes sense that if anyone wants to sell a gun or gun accessory, a to-be-created federal agency with industry, police, gun rights and public safety oversight would determine whether the product's primary purpose is hunting or home/self-defense. If it passes, that design is legal for sale.
Would this cultural and regulatory shift stop shootings immediately? I doubt it. But maybe in our lifetimes, we'll reach Dec. 31 and cheer our first year this century without a mass murder carried out by gunfire.
Iain Burnett lives in Forestville.
Open Mic is a weekly feature in the 'Bohemian.' We welcome your contribution. To have your topical essay of 350 words considered for publication, write email@example.com.


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Jonathan Morgan is a School of Government faculty member.
This is a continuation of the series of blog posts focused on "What Works" in economic development. Two previous posts (Part I, Part II) identified some effective strategies for incubating small start-up businesses. This post highlights a recent study that offers insight into what communities can do to revitalize older suburban areas that are experiencing chronic economic and social distress.
The findings are presented in a report titled "Revitalizing Distressed Older Suburbs" that was prepared by participating researchers involved in the What Works Collaborative, which is funded by several foundations interested in promoting evidence-based housing and urban policy in the U.S. The researchers conducted in-depth case studies of four distressed suburban areas with majority African American populations:
- East Cleveland, Ohio (pop. 17K)
- Inkster, Michigan (suburb of Detroit; pop. 25K)
- Chester, Pennsylvania (midway between Philadelphia and Wilmington, DE; pop. 34K)
- Prichard, Alabama (suburb of Mobile; pop. 23K)
Once prosperous and vibrant, all four of these suburban cities now suffer from high poverty, declining employment, fiscal pressures, low-performing schools, sub-standard housing, and shrinking populations.
The report discusses the lessons learned from the case study research related to the following issues and their roles in revitalizing older distressed suburbs:
- housing and community development
- concentrated poverty
- trust in government
- anchor institutions
- education
- local government capacity
- regional collaboration
- state programs


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01 May Pinkies Up
Slip into pink fuzzy slippers and allow yourself to be pampered at Pinkies Up Luxury Beauty Lounge. Pinkies Up offers everything from waxing and lash lifts to bridal makeup and designer nails. No matter the service you are looking for, you are guaranteed to leave feeling like a queen. Owner and nail artist Yessie Nojas wants Pinkies Up to change the overall salon experience. She hopes people walk into Pinkies Up and feel like they've entered a new world. With natural light bathing the room, a fluffy rug, elegant sparkling string lights, and a calming miniature fountain, it's safe to say Nojas has achieved this goal. A SLO local, Nojas adores being Downtown. She remembers the area looking entirely different as a child but is so excited to be a part of its growth.
Nojas's love for nails sparked after she studied abroad in Japan. She was in awe of the out-of-this-world nail art that seemed commonplace. When she came home, Nojas searched for a nail salon that could style her nails with a 3D bow with no success and thought, "Maybe I can do this myself." She imediately enrolled in beauty school and her love for nail art grew even deeper. After winning first place in a nail art competition, her work began to be featured in magazines. In 2014, Nojas entered a worldwide competiton and was named one of the Top Ten Nail Artists in the world! That same year, Nojas took a leap of faith and opened her own small nail salon Downtown. She worked tirelessly and passionately, creating relationships with her clients and always delivering the highest quality work.
Just a couple years later, Nojas's success has allowed her to secure a larger, ground floor location, create a team of beauty experts, and achieve her dreams. In love with her new space, Nojas would like to thank her family for their support. Active in redecorating, refurbishing, and providing all the greenery in the salon, Nojas explained she could not have done this without them. Pinkies Up Luxury Beauty Salon is open Monday-Friday 10AM-7PM and Saturday 9AM-5PM at 790 Marsh Street. Book a service with the Nail Genie Yessie Nojas and her glam girl squad in person or on their website. Help them change the world, one woman and one set of nails at a time.
By Aubrey Young
Pinkies Up Luxury Beauty Lounge
Yessie Nojas, Owner and Nail Artiste
790 Marsh Street
(805) 242-4447


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Capitol Dome ready for next step in repair
Washington — Sheathed in scaffolding, the Capitol Dome looks less like a soaring symbol of American democracy these days than it does some giant Erector Set shining in the sun.
That counts as progress, though, and officials announced on Tuesday the next installment of a $60 million repair is ready to begin.
The 52 miles of scaffolding pipe and two miles of decking will allow repair crews access to the dome at all levels, from the 36 columns at its base to the Statue of Freedom at its peak.
Next, according to the Architect of the Capitol's website, 12,800 inches of cracked cast iron will be repaired, and more than a dozen layers of old paint removed. Decorative ornaments will be repaired or in some cases replaced.
Then 1,215 gallons of paint will be applied in three coats — the last of which is "Dome White."
The cast iron dome — actually a pair of them nestled inside one another and connected by cast iron braces — is more than 150 years old. The last restoration was completed in 1959 and 1960.
Stephen T. Ayres, the Architect of the Capitol, told reporters invited to a rooftop news conference in cold, blustery weather than he hoped the current job would be good for 75 to 100 years.
So far, he said, it is on schedule and on budget, and should be completed in time for the next presidential inaugural, on Jan. 20, 2017.


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Regain lift and body
In the media today there are so many creative ways you can style your hair, granted some would take a team of hair stylists to do, but others seem simple enough to do at home. The trouble with styling your hair, though, is that sometimes you need a little boost to help you along your way.
This 243ml bottle of TIGI Catwalk Roost Boost spray helps you in your quest for creating long-lasting and dramatic styles, as it helps to boost your hairs volume all whilst moisturising your hair.
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- Formulated with sweet almond oil and lavender
- Calming aroma
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- Lightweight
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How to Use
- Split your hair into sections
- Concentrate spray onto your roots
- Blow dry into your desired style


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If you've ever attempted to sell a vintage purse on eBay, then you know the competition can be brutal. Right now, there are more than 80,000 active listings for Coach bags alone.
And if you search for the word "handbag"? You're likely to get one million results. No joke! To say the least, eBay's purse market is fully saturated and then some.
But does that mean you're out of luck if you have vintage purses worth money to sell? Not at all! You just need to know who to work with in order to get the most bang for your buck.
But first let's take a look at the purses that'll help you bring in the most money. With one of these six investment pieces, you should see a worthwhile return. From the Fendi tote to the Gucci saddle bag, here are the purses you can profit from.
1. Fendi Tote
Fendi continues to set the standard when it comes to beautifully crafted bags that can survive even the toughest blitz of trends from fashion season.
If you're lucky enough to own a buttery Selleris Firenze Handbag Leather purse, you can expect to see significant returns when selling it. The same goes for a Vintage Pequin Convertible Boston Bag, which continues to hold its value.
But what if you see these bags online for $500 or less? Don't despair. The first rule of selling a luxury pre-owned bag is avoiding the internet.
When you work with the right pawn shop, you can expect to see a healthy profit from one of these stunning bags.
2. Chanel Black Totes
Nothing says classic like a Chanel Classic Flap Bag in black. These sizzling little numbers are not only gorgeous but they go with everything. That makes them the ultimate accessory from daytime to evening.
What's more, these purses can bring in some serious cash. One Chanel medium flap in caviar leather, for example, appreciated from a purchase price of $1600 to $4900 in a decade. That's an increase of upwards of 206 percent in just a decade!
That's better than the S&P with its 49 percent returns.
Depending on the leather and hardware, Chanel black totes can retain or increase in value over time making them a solid investment piece from both a fashion and financial point of view.
3. Chanel Tote Handbag
And Chanel's value doesn't stop with their black totes. Another great investment bag that can bring in beaucoup bucks is their Chanel Boy Bag.
Introduced in 2011, it has quickly gained a position as a classic bag. Starting at $1500, this bag typically retains 90 percent of its resale value and remains a hot item at the moment.
To give you an idea of what you stand to make on one of these bags, consider the. In 2014, the bag retailed for $2500. Today, it goes for upwards of $5100. If you have any of these babies in your closet, you could make big money.
Just remember to not list it on eBay. You'll never get the money your bag is worth there simply because there are too many on the marketplace. Instead, consider a pawn shop with an excellent reputation and stirling customer service.
4. Chanel Crossbody Bag
Another lovely purse with real staying power is Chanel's Crossbody Bag. They retail for $2,000 and more and keep going up in price over the years.
They allow for luxurious fashion that can be surprisingly convenient and hands-free because of their iconic durable leather and metal straps.
Whether you've got a 2019 Sunset on the Sea Flap Bag or a 2017 Quilted Wallet on Chain, expect to see major returns on these bags.
5. Gucci Saddle Bag
If you've got an iconic Gucci Saddle bag purse, consider it a serious investment piece that will perform well resold. Whether it's a Gucci leather 17″ saddle equestrian bag or a Vintage Gucci Monogram Saddle Bag, they remain hot items.
As you may have already realized, vintage iconic bags are making a serious comeback in Fall 2019.
As the younger generation turns to the fashion past to channel classic women such as Audrey Hepburn and Candace Bergman, this trend will only continue. It's the perfect moment to cash in on this trend and make some extra money.
But you'll miss the boat if you try to sell your handbag online. Instead, work with an establishment who has a solid reputation and expertise in reeling luxury consignment pieces.
6. Hermes Birkin
Did you know that a preowned Hermes Birkin can still retail for $13,500? While this might sound like a crazy figure, it's far from extraordinary.
Of course, the resale value of the Hermes depends on a variety of factors. These include the type of leather, style, and hardware. But because they are produced in limited quantities, they tend to retain their resale value.
Because of their unparalleled exclusivity and scarcity, if you work with the right shop, you can see major returns on such a past investment. In fact, Birkin bags retail for anywhere between $9,000 and $150,000.
Some resale bags have even gone for as high as $223,000. But don't leave your resale to chance. Work with an expert who understand luxury consignment so that you can get the full value out of your piece.
Especially if its a fine piece of art and fashion like the Hermes.
Vintage Purses Worth Money
Many people who attempt to sell vintage purses worth money get disappointed when they attempt to sell via the internet. Why? Because competition is high and the market's also flooded with plenty of counterfeit bags.
But when you go through the right channels for your resale, you can see the returns that you deserve. A pawn shop often represents a much better route to go. But you need to work with one that has a national reputation.
Find out more about National Pawn and Jewelry and why we're the best place to resell your investment.


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Baby Falcon Baby Socks
skin-friendly cotton
A particularly cute design inspired by 125 years of FALKE: on the toe of the foot is a small falcon, and a contrasting lace and cuffs round off the design harmoniously. Thanks to the elastic zone in the ankle area, optimum support on the foot is guaranteed.
- Part of the limited FALKE 125 years anniversary collection
- Baby socks made of skin-friendly and easy-care cotton
- Cute little hawk placed on the toe of the foot
- Elastic zone in the ankle area for an improved fit
- Perfect FALKE fit
- Baby Polar Bear Baby Socks
- Baby Structure Baby Socks
- Baby Penguin Baby Socks
- Baby Structure Baby Socks
- Baby Snowfox Baby Socks
- Stripe Baby Socks
- Multi Stripe Baby Socks
- Erstling Baby Giftbox
- Catspads Cotton Baby Socks
- Flausch Baby Socks
- Sensitive Baby Socks
- Little Dot Baby Socks
- Sparkling Stripe Baby Socks


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Your view: Questions on testing
(Letter to the Editor ~ 09/01/04)
Re: Federal encroachments on local boards of education I will begin by stating that all commercial prepping and school prepping for state and national programs should be illegal. Since it would be virtually impossible to enforce, forget it. It's a shame that elementary and middle school teachers have so much pressure exerted on them from the state that many of them can no longer relax and help their students to develop a love for learning and that school's a joy, as it should be...
Arthur Davis
(Obituary ~ 09/01/04)
EAST PRAIRIE - Arthur E. Davis, 83, died at 8:28 a.m. Aug. 31, 2004, at Missouri Delta Medical Center in Sikeston. Born Oct. 10, 1920, in Hickman, Ky., son of the late Arthur Elmer and Fannie Belle Weatherspoon Davis, he lived in East Prairie most of his life. He was a retired construction worker and member of the Assembly of God Church in East Prairie...
Sikeston tennis opens season with 9-0 sweep of Chaffee
(High School Sports ~ 09/01/04)
SIKESTON -- Sikeston's girls tennis team, in their season opener, cruised to a 9-0 sweep of Chaffee on Tuesday. "We all played strong today," said Lady Bulldog coach Lynne DeWitt. "The girls looked good for the first match. We have some things to work on, but, hopefully, experience will help."...
Those who drink and drive will 'lose' over holiday
(Local News ~ 09/01/04)
SIKESTON -- Law enforcement officials throughout the state and nation insist motorists who "drink and drive, will lose" this Labor Day weekend. The message "You drink and drive. You lose." has been seen and heard across the nation since Aug. 20. The purpose of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's campaign is to crack down on impaired drivers by increasing the enforcement of impaired driving laws beginning Aug. 27 and running through Sept. 12...
Calendar girl
(Local News ~ 09/01/04)
Kasey Welker, daughter of Craig and Sherry Welker, is the Standard Democrat's Calendar Girl for September and was a finalist in the 2003 Miss Sikeston Contest. Miss Welker is currently attending Southeast Missouri State University and intends to major in business administration...
Triathlon champions
(High School Sports ~ 09/01/04)
The annual Fins and Feet Youth Triathlon was held Aug. 21 at the Sikeston Country Club. The event, sponsored by the Ferguson Medical Group, attracted more than 50 youth ages 7-through-15, as well as a few adults. Winners for 2004 were (from left): Dakota Trevino of Sikeston (Boys 13-15), Cailin McGinnis of Jackson, (Girls 13-15), Sam Gramling, of Cape Girardeau (Boys 10-12), Morgan Fraser of Sikeston (Girls 10-12), Drew Harper of Sikeston (Boys 8-9) and Mary Liz Klueppel of Sikeston (Girls 8-9)...
Delta softball rips Twin Rivers, 9-0
(High School Sports ~ 09/01/04)
BROSLEY - The Delta Lady Bobcats softball team blanked Twin Rivers on the road on Tuesday afternoon with a 9-0 victory. Delta hurler Sarah Cook was one out away from a no-hitter before allowing a single to a Twin Rivers player. Cook finished the game with seven strikeouts, walking one and allowing one hit in seven innings...
Could we change one-man, one vote?
(Column ~ 09/01/04)
While listening to a political talk show last week, the host suggested that voters be required to pass some simple test in order to have their vote counted. His suggestion was to have a 100 question test on government and current events. To have your vote counted you would have to get just five correct answers. And of course, the more I pondered his suggestion, the more I liked it. But as usual, I would take it one step further...
Speakout 9/1
(Opinion ~ 09/01/04)
Has the Sikeston Public School Board given any consideration to the legal ramifications that they could potentially face as a result of the locker policy implemented at Sikeston Senior High School? For the past two years, the senior high students have only been allowed to go to their locker one time (at lunch) during the day. ...
Looking Back 9/1
(History ~ 09/01/04)
VANDUSER - A fire of undetermined origin swept through the Vanduser Gin Company Sunday causing damage to the main gin, estimated at $15,000 and destroying five bales of cotton and other equipment. SIKESTON - David Blanton, Sikeston attorney, will be one of 11 trial layers from the Midwest who will comprise a panel to discuss "Products Liability Law" at the 20th annual meeting of the Missouri Bar Associaton in St. ...
Web site discussed at county meeting
(Local News ~ 09/01/04)
BENTON - Scott County officials hope to put together a Web site that will be informative yet manageable. Commissioners discussed the Web site, which is being produced by Creative Design Group of Malden, with County Economic Developer Jim Schwaninger during their regular meeting Tuesday...
Inquiry is made in arson attempt
(Local News ~ 09/01/04)
CHARLESTON - The Charleston Department of Public Safety is investigating an attempted arson at City Hall early Tuesday morning. "Sometime last night about 12:30 a.m. a subject or subjects unknown to us at this time broke into the Charleston City Hall and attempted to set fire with some type of chemical," said Paul Johnson, director of the Charleston DPS. The chemical, Johnson said, was "either a gas-diesel mix or something similar."...
SHS volleyball picks up rare win against Bernie
(High School Sports ~ 09/01/04)
BERNIE -- Sikeston High School's girls volleyball team opened its season with a rare win over Bernie on Tuesday. The Lady Bulldogs served at an impressive 96 percent accuracy rate en route to a best two-of-three set win over the Lady Mules. "It was a good start to our season," said Sikeston coach Steve Beydler. "It gives us a boost of confidence to win against an always-tough Bernie team."...
Sikeston softball shuts out Chaffee
(High School Sports ~ 09/01/04)
SIKESTON -- Falling behind the Lady Bulldogs early is proving to be a recipe for defeat. Chaffee became the latest victim in a 3-0 loss to the Sikeston girls softball team on Tuesday at the Sports Complex. For the second consecutive game, the Lady Bulldogs (3-1) jumped to an early lead, then relied on strong pitching and a tight defense to hold the opposition in check...
Opal Coakley
(Obituary ~ 09/01/04)
CHAFFEE - Opal Coakley, 91, died at 2:30 p.m. Aug. 30, 2004, at the Chaffee Nursing Center. Born March 22, 1913, in Wyatt, daughter of the late James and Nanny Smith Stringfellow, she was a member of the First Assembly of God Church and RSVP in Chaffee. She was a volunteer for the Chaffee Nutrition Center and was a pink lady at the Chaffee General Hospital for many years...
Carl Forrester
(Obituary ~ 09/01/04)
ST. LOUIS - Carl W. Forrester Jr., 56, died Aug. 30, 2004, at John Cochran Veterans Administration Medical Center in St. Louis. Born July 28, 1948, in Marmaduke, Ark., son of Mildred and the Rev. Robert Burnes of Sikeston and the late Carl W. Forrester Sr., he was a mechanic and was of the Baptist belief. He was a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War...
Audra Clark
(Obituary ~ 09/01/04)
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. - Audra Greene Clark, 84, formerly of Sikeston and Matthews, Mo., died Aug. 30, 2004, in Hot Springs. Born April 24, 1920, in St. Marys, Mo., she was the daughter of the late Hazel and D.A. Green. Her husband, Arbie C. Clark, preceded her in death...
Stories from Wednesday, September 1, 2004
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Should gay and lesbian couples be allowed to adopt children?
Head2Head: Yes argues Catherine Egan-Morley, who says the law sees her as a stranger to her own son
At 7.54pm on October 24th, 2005, my life changed. I became the parent of the beautiful Jacob Edward Egan-Morley. Like most other parents, I was there at his conception.
I attended every ante-natal visit, carried 2D scan pictures in my wallet to meetings, felt his kicks in the middle of the night and watched with a mixture of fear and excitement as he was brought into the world by his fabulous mother.
All through the pregnancy, my family spoke of the imminent arrival of their new grandson, nephew and cousin. My colleagues asked me if I was going to take the usual fortnight of parental leave to ease both his and his mother's transition into the family home. At the birth preparation classes, I listened intently to the advice and I became a pregnancy nerd - reading absolutely every book I could get my hands on.
I dreamed of him constantly, feared whether I could ever give him everything that he would ever need and worried whether I would be able to concentrate enough to drive his mother to the hospital when the time came. Every day, I am peacock-proud as I talk about my son, his latest achievement, his fabulous little smile. I am Jacob-Edward's parent, his Mammy (actually, like many toddlers, he calls me Ca when he's laughing, and Mama when he's upset).
So, Jacob has two parents: we both just happen to be women. My partner, parents, family, friends, neighbours, colleagues - and complete strangers in the street who saw Orla and me on the Late Late Show last October - think and act like I'm his parent. What is it that makes me different from any other parent in the world?
In the eyes of current Irish law, I am a stranger to Jacob, have no rights to maintain his well-being and he has no legal rights to call me his parent with all that that term entails in law. I am not a socially invisible lesbian parent, I am highly visible, in my community, in my work, everywhere; I am a legally invisible parent to my son.
I waited patiently for the Civil Unions Bill to be debated in the Dáil, believing that it would ultimately mean that I could legally formalise my relationship with my partner and my son. I believed the Taoiseach and the Tánaiste when they made their very public declarations of support for my family. Then I read the transcript of the proceedings of the debate with dismay, as each Government representative paradoxically spoke of the need to legislate in this area and at the same time by their actions ensured that it would not pass on to the next stage.
The impact of their decision to delay what could have been so important a step on the way to making me and many others legally visible was palpable in my home, not least because I actually believe that the time for change has come. I see it in people's reactions to my own lovely little family.
So what does equality mean in Ireland today? It means that we do not discriminate on the basis of gender, marital status, family status, sexual orientation, age, race, membership of the Traveller community, religion or disability.
Yet everyone gets to have an opinion on the capacity of a lesbian or gay person to be a parent and the State gets to discriminate against me and my son. Civil union is about equality, about ensuring that the rights and responsibilities of a long term relationship are the same for all of us. Family, and children, are at the core of these rights and responsibilities. Until I have the right to be legally bound to my partner and son, the State's commitment to equality is only verbiage.
It would seem that when most people think about adoption rights for lesbian and gay couples, they think of adoptions by strangers. But as I write this, hundreds of already existing lesbian and gay families like my own are reading stories, tidying up toys and creeping down the stairs. Fianna Fáil TD Charlie O'Connor summed it up perfectly in the Dáil debate last week when he said "good parents are not ordained by their sexual orientation but are adults who love, care, educate and provide for their children".
Should I be allowed to adopt my own son? Should lesbian and gay couples be allowed to adopt other people's children? Some might say this is a matter for the conscience, others might say that this is a matter for legislation. I say it is a matter for both, that a legislature with the confidence to protect the rights of each and every citizen can and should act upon their conscience and support the creation of warm, loving families.
• Catherine Egan-Morley lives in Co Cork and is executive director of the independent social policy consultancy agency Clarity: Research, Development and Training.
No argues Tom O'Gorman, who says children are better off with a mother and a father
For some people the issue of gay adoption is very straightforward. If heterosexuals are permitted to adopt children, then homosexuals must also be allowed to do so. It is a simple matter of justice.
However, this approaches the issue in an adult-centred as distinct from a child-centred way. Gay adoption, like all adoption, is about children and their welfare, and nothing else. In other words, this whole debate must centre on what children need and not on what adults, whether homosexual or heterosexual, need.
The debate, therefore, needs to focus on the following question: in terms of parenting what do children require in order to stand the best chance of flourishing in life? Specifically, does it make any difference whether a child is raised by opposite-sex parents or same-sex parents?
This is a very practical question. It has no moral connotations. It does not ask whether it is immoral to place a child with same-sex parents nor does it ask whether it is immoral, to refuse to place children with same-sex parents. It merely asks what are the real-world consequences likely to be when children are not placed in a home with opposite sex parents?
In a way, the gay adoption debate is a sub-set of the much wider debate on family structure, a debate which asks whether it really makes any difference whether a child is raised in one family form as distinct from another. For example, does it make any difference whether a child is raised by one parent rather than two, or by two married parents, or in a stepfamily, or by cohabiting parents?
Here's what Unicef had to say about the matter in a report issued last month called Report Card 7: an Overview of Child Well-being in Rich Countries:
"The use of data on the proportion of children living in single-parent families and stepfamilies as an indicator of well-being may seem unfair and insensitive. Plenty of children in two-parent families are damaged by their parents' relationships; plenty of children in single-parent and stepfamilies are growing up secure and happy. Nor can the terms 'single-parent families' and 'stepfamilies' do justice to the many different kinds of family unit that have become common in recent decades. But at the statistical level there is evidence to associate growing up in single-parent families and stepfamilies with greater risk to well-being - including a greater risk of dropping out of school, of leaving home early, of poorer health, of low skills and of low pay.
"Furthermore such risks appear to persist even when the substantial effect of increased poverty levels in single-parent and stepfamilies have been taken into account".
Unicef does not address itself to gay parenting, but it does admit that family structure matters. Of course, it's possible for a supporter of gay adoption to agree with Unicef and to admit that ideally a child should have two parents, even two married parents, and that these parents should stay together for at least the time it takes to raise their children. But they might then argue that it makes no difference whether the parents are a man or a woman, or whether they are two men or two women.
In effect this argument says that mothers and fathers don't really matter and that two fathers or two mothers are just as good for children as a mother and a father, a very big claim to make. Alternatively, it is to claim that a man can "play" the role of a mother as well as a woman can, or that a woman can "play" the role of a father as well as a man can. But this is to deny sexual complementarity. It is to deny that there are real differences between the sexes as opposed to ones that are simply the result of environment.
The burden of proof here rests with those who advocate gay adoption and who say it doesn't really matter whether a child is raised by a loving same-sex couple or a loving opposite sex couple just so long as they are loving. This is a claim that must be well supported by the evidence before society can agree that it really doesn't matter. Otherwise we are simply engaged in social experimentation, with individual children as the subjects.
And it is no good to point to studies which suggest that it doesn't make any discernible difference. As Prof Linda Waite stressed in the recent Zappone/ Gilligan case, these studies are badly flawed. In her ruling in this case, Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne agreed with Waite and said the studies, such as they are, are inconclusive with respect to gay parenting and child-rearing. Until they are conclusive, society must continue to favour prospective mothers and fathers in adoption decisions. A child-centred approach to this issue demands as much.
• Tom O'Gorman is a researcher at the Iona Institute
Online:join the debate at www.ireland.com
Last week, Edward Horgan and Frank Groome debated the question: "Should we let US troops land at Shannon on route to Iraq?" Here is an edited selection of your comments
YES: As an Irish-American and a member of the US armed services that has made multiple trips through Shannon for a multitude of reasons, it hurts to see Ireland becoming a country that ignores any of the good the US continues to do for all the people of the world. Protecting those who can't protect themselves, providing money, food and supplies to those in need. Are we wrong because we believe in freedom and democracy? By the way, I had been to Shannon four times before I got to go past the terminal and meet the wonderful people of Ireland and see the beautiful country of my ancestors who had come to America for an opportunity to prosper and live in freedom. Americans have not forgotten you in the past, please don't forget us in the future. - Jim, United States
NO: I lived in Ireland for a couple of months this past summer and I love it so much that I don't want to see it get involved in any way in this quagmire of injustice. If they want to get their troops to the war-zone let them find another way! - Lisa, United States
YES: It is necessary to separate the two issues here. The first is that of the adventures by the US-led forces in Iraq which were unjustified and cynical . . . The second is our support for the US and its culture, its business and investment clout on which Ireland is so highly reliant.
It is hypocritical in the extreme for Edward Horgan and others to live off and accept the consequences of life in our open and "western-looking" economy while stridently denouncing the US use of Shannon for some of its worldwide military operations. We don't have to like or agree with its military strategies but we are obliged to permit this, assuming we also accept the fact of life of living in our open economy. To do otherwise clouds the real debate on Iraq in a welter of pious and meaningless phrases designed to sway the gullible! - Peter MacNamara, Switzerland
NO: I think the "clouding of debate on Iraq in a welter of pious and meaningless phrases" began at the UN in February 2003 or even earlier, with pious and meaningless phrases such as: "The gravity of this moment is matched by the gravity of the threat that Iraq's weapons of mass destruction pose to the world" and: "In truth, Saddam Hussein had a massive clandestine nuclear weapons program that covered several different techniques to enrich uranium, including electromagnetic isotope separation, gas centrifuge, and gas diffusion . . . "
Those pious and meaningless words, as we now know them to be, were uttered by Gen Colin Powell to the UN as he made out the case for the illegal, destructive, murderous US attack on Iraq. And Ireland, with her own brand of pious and meaningless phrases, such as "diplomatic assurances" and "we deplore rendition" shares a responsibility for every innocent life lost to the cowardice, inhumanity and rapine done in all our names. There's nothing either pious or meaningless about that fact.- John O'Driscoll, Ireland
YES: Clare is all about welcome. Shannon has welcomed troops, politicians, diplomats etc. down through the years. George Bush, Richard Nixon. JFK, Fidel Castro, Che Guevara, Daniel Ortega, Idi Amin, even Fintan O'Toole himself found welcome in Clare. Shannon airport will continue to do what it has always done: hold out the hand of friendship to all. - GOL, Ireland
NO: Clare holds out the hand of friendship to all?? Even young people who have been manipulated into going to a country to kill innocent women and children for a less than noble cause. Perhaps Clare should extend its hand of friendship a bit further and be in solidarity with humanity. Not only for the good of innocent victims in Iraq, but also for the victims passing through Shannon who may never make it home and who if they do may well have nightmares for life. - Brian, Ireland