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Helicobacter pylori bacterium
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After Brexit France, Italy and Spain are "candidates" to follow the example of Britain "because they are in hardships," but "they are not alone: there are many more that are ready for their version of Brexit.
The whole world is in turmoil, because of this and American leadership. " The billionaire on the refugee crisis and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "I respected her a lot and I have always complimented her, until she took that unfortunate decision on the reception of refugees. So she turned Germany into a country from which its inhabitants want to escape. " Trump does not move in front of the consideration that several European leaders, like Matthew Renzi, supported Hillary Clinton or had taken a stand against him. "Renzi – says – I do not even know him, I do not care. It is irrelevant. The only important thing is to have the support of the American people, which elected me president. "

subset: commoncrawl


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This weekend was my sister Lisa's birthday, which meant a celebration was to be had Wicker Park style. The atmosphere all started when I got on the 72 North bus heading towards the North/Damen/Milwaukee intersection (the heart of Wicker Park / Bucktown). The bus was packed, and there was this guy who had all of his crap on the seat next to him. Not only that, but somehow he had this mix between a bike and a razor scooter with him. I have no idea how he was allowed on the bus with this, or for that matter why he didn't just use it as his primary mode of transportation, but ultimately it was just a huge obstruction. Now, as I'm sure most of you know, I'm the example of public transportation etiquette. I give up my seat for old ladies, always hold my bag on my lap, but mostly I just give nasty looks to people violating basic rules like taking up two seats or talking to loud on their phone (thus serving some quality justice the whole bus is hoping for). So I took a better look at this guy for a second and decided he was the epitome of hipster. With his skinny, black, reproduction ending jeans, blandly colored plaid shirt, overall appearance of malnourishment (which seemed to be by choice since his clothing looked expensive), and old school leather briefcase, I knew that I was getting close to my destination. While sounding as disgusted as possible, I asked him to pick up his case and what I can only guess was a copy of Stuff White People Like and had a seat. Anyways, on to some talk about food.
In proper Wicker Park fashion, the bday dinner was to be held at the first organic restaurant in Chicago city limits, Crust (www.crustorganic.com).
If the North/Damen/Milwaukee intersection is the heart of Wicker Park, then the Damen and Division intersection is the brain. With a ton of great restaurants, bars, and interesting stores this area is ripe for hanging out and especially for people watching while you eat on one of the many patios. With a party of 16, we were sat at a lengthy table going through the center of the restaurant. The wall of the restaurant is actually a convertible door that was wide open, and Noam and I were practically sitting on Division (the next best thing to a patio except that it was kind of cold). I think we were supposed to be sat in this backyard patio area they have, which looked really cool with some organic decor, but for some reason it didn't work out.
The general layout is one large room with a long bar and seating for about 50. They have a back patio that could probably take another 20 or so and another room for the brick oven and a carryout station. When we got there, the hostess very casually suggested we go wait at the bar while our table was getting set up, but we soon found out that the bar was far too cramped for any mingling or waiting of any kind and moseyed on back to the host stand. Speaking of the hostess and the entire rest of the staff for that matter, they were all hipsters, and I'm sure if given the opportunity to ride the bus next to me they would've upset me just as much as that other guy. Another thing about hipsters is they must think it's the cool thing to do by providing mediocre service at a slow pace.
The Food
The first thing that jumps out about the menu is the large drink list. From a variety of fruity martinis and microbrews there's something for everyone. The martinis were around $10 and the beers were around $6, so nothing special as far as pricing.
The entire rest of the menu is pizza and salad. All of the salads were appetizer style ($8-10), and I wouldn't recommend then for a whole meal. All of the pizzas were personal sized, maybe 12 inches and around $14. I feel like this is pretty expensive, especially since 4 people can share a large Pequods pizza for like $20.
Lisa, Noam, and I split the Winter Beet Salad, Grilled Eggplant Pizza, and Margherita Pizza. The salad was delicious with red and golden beets along with a goat cheese crostini. The pizzas each had their fair share of fresh vegetables, cheeses, and sauces, but at a certain point the flavors all came together in somewhat of a mush. What didn't help with the mush factor was that the dough underneath was somewhat soggy and falling apart. My favorite pizza actually wasn't ours, but through a crafty trade I was able to acquire a piece of the Shroom from Lisa's friend Mara. One final point about the pizzas that was pointed out by multiple people was their inconsistency. Since we had a large enough party, we were able to compare multiple items of the same order which had large differences in the amount of cheese, vegetables, and level of cooking.
The best thing besides the salad was this Molten Brownie covered with some kind of Vanilla Ice Cream that Lisa got for her surprise bday dessert. Plus, it came with a sparkler in it!
This place ultimately seemed like one of those gimmicks where people think because it's organic and fresh that it must be good. Also it was pretty darn costly for what it was. Logistically it was in a good neighborhood with lots to do, and they take reservations. Food wise the salad was fantastic, but in a city of amazing pizza, I wouldn't waste my money on this place again. We had a great time with some good friends which was really the point of the night, and I think Lisa had a pretty enjoyable birthday so I'd call the night a success. As far as the new rating scale, I'd give it 2 out of 5 Pearls.
Honorable Mention
The bar we went to after Crust was this place called the Rainbo Club on Damen just south of Division (sorry no website). It was tastefully decorated in a variety of oil paintings with the common theme of ventriloquist dummies (talk about creepy). However, the drinks were really cheap (like $3 shots and beers) and the vinyl playing overhead was quiet enough to have a conversation. When the night came to a close, I noticed that the entire staff from Crust had made their way over to the bar, and it's no wonder that this place is often referred to as the best hipster hangout in Chicago.


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Stupid Invaders is an adventure computer game based on Xilam's 1997-2008 animated series, Space Goofs. The video game was released on June 22, 2001 by Ubisoft plus it was developed by Xilam for Windows and Mac OS, and ported to the Dreamcast by Titanium Studios.
The plot centers around the aliens and their attempts to return to their home planet, Zigma-B. The story follows Etno and his four friends, but they are trapped with him in a laboratory after crash-landing on Earth. Dr. Saccharin, an evil scientist and his assistant, Igor has sent a ruthless, mysterious bounty hunter, Bolok to capture the aliens for his experiments.
All the main characters of Xilam's animated series, are playable through the course of the game. The game is notable for deliberately rejecting or distorting some clichéd aspects of the adventure genre; standard adventure game tactics such as picking up, talking to or interacting with anything encountered will often result in instant (albeit highly comical) death for the player character and the need to reload, for example, often with no warning.
The game was met with average to mixed reception. GameRankings and Metacritic gave it a score of 75.48% and 64 out of 100 for the Dreamcast version, and 68.46% and 65 out of 100 for the PC version.
- Etno Polino
- Candy Caramella
- Gorgious Klatoo
- Bud Budiovitch
- Stereo Monovici
- Dr. Saccharin
- Igor
- Bolok
- Santa Claus
- The title for the video game was used as an episode of the same name from Season 2.
- Santa Claus actually makes a video game appearance from the episode, Holiday Heave Ho.
|This page uses Creative Commons Licensed content from Wikipedia (view authors).


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The CEO of IFixit, Kyle Wiens, dreams of a world where computers don't wind up in landfills, but are fixed instead. IFixit sells people the tools to repair damaged electronic equipment.
SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. | Jake Devincenzi was thrilled to get his hands on Google's new Nexus 4 smartphone. He admired its sleek black case and large touch screen — and he couldn't wait to tear it apart.
In a small room cluttered with discarded computer parts, Devincenzi picked up a blue plastic stylus and eased the tool into a seam on the side of the phone as three co-workers watched.
Minutes later, a pop. The tear-down had begun.
"We're in," he said, and grinned.
Each time Devincenzi plucked a part from the Nexus 4, he took a high-resolution photo and posted it online. By the end of the week, more than 60,000 people had scrutinized the tear-down, curious to know what was inside.
Devincenzi, a 20-year-old student at California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, works part-time for IFixit, a company that has less of a business mission than a manifesto: "Repair is independence. We have the right to remove 'Do Not Remove' stickers."
With the helping hands of technicians such as Devincenzi and repair guides written by volunteer tech experts, IFixit is tapping into growing frustration with cellphones, tablets and computers that, once broken, are almost impossible to fix. The company says it wants to teach people how to repair electronic devices once again — and will sell them the tools to do it.
The company's logo is a clenched fist thrusting a wrench in the air.
"It's not like it was 10 years ago, when you could open things up and kind of half-recognize what was in there," said Sean Campbell, a technology industry analyst with the Oregon research firm Cascade Insights. "I think most people have given up."
To IFixit staff, every high-resolution photograph of naked phone bits splayed across a table is a small act of rebellion against big technology companies like Apple, Google and Samsung. Tear-downs, they say, are a rallying cry for the common man to grab a screwdriver and take back the right to do it yourself.
"We're not necessarily actively anti-Apple or anti-'the Man,'" said Scott Dingle, 25, a customer service representative. "It's more like, we train other people to do it themselves."
What is now a staff of 35 began as two people. In 2003, Cal Poly freshmen Kyle Wiens and Luke Soules started selling laptop parts out of a dorm room. When they couldn't find manufacturer-issued repair guides, they wrote their own. The first manual they posted online got 10,000 page views in the first weekend.
They moved their business to a three-car garage, then a house, then a loft-like two-story office in downtown San Luis Obispo. Most IFixit employees are younger than 35. Many grew up taking apart toasters.
Last year, IFixit earned $5.9 million in revenue by selling parts, kits and tools. Some of its more popular items include a "spudger" to adjust small wires, a five-sided screwdriver that fits Apple's proprietary screws, and a magnetic mat to keep track of tiny pieces that come loose.
Some of its tools resemble teeth-cleaning instruments. That's because the first tools IFixit used had been discarded by a dentist.
After Christmas, the company usually sees a spike in sales of parts, Wiens said. He attributes that to people who decide to repair their old gadgets if they don't get a new one as a gift.
Soules, 28, is the business mind. He runs the in-house shipping center and handles the money. The revenue he oversees covers operating costs, including salaries, tear-downs and expensive trips to buy gadgets the moment they come out.
Wiens, 28, is the chief executive and the ideas guy. In college, he dreamed of building a robot that would pick strawberries. Today he dreams of a world where computers don't wind up in landfills, but are fixed instead.
On the Friday before Thanksgiving, workers gathered at IFixit headquarters. Bikes, homemade robots and vintage pinball machines crowded the entryway. Upstairs, an employee's dog sniffed past an 8-foot-tall potato launcher and into the office break room, where Wiens' wife had prepared dinner for more than 50 people.
Spouses and significant others settled on couches to eat. The ping-pong table became a dining room table. A baby cried.
The tear-down team was oblivious to the turkey and pie. Devincenzi had just pried the Nexus 4's battery out of a dollop of glue and placed the device under lights the size of dinner plates. A camera clicked. As the image appeared on a computer screen, tech writer Andrew Goldberg began to airbrush metallic blemishes.
IFixit is not the only website that offers repair manuals, but its tear-downs are special because they expose a company's proprietary technology, said Scott Swigart, an analyst at Cascade Insights.
The Nexus 4 tear-down revealed a new chip for high-speed data connection. The discovery became news, because Google had not previously disclosed that the phone would have the chip.
Seeing a logic board lying exposed on a table goes a long way toward shattering any aura of mysticism surrounding a new device, said David Aghassi, a freshman at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland who uses IFixit guides and repair kits to fix laptops at the campus repair shop. He checks tear-downs multiple times a day to see how they progress.


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See Why You Need a Telecom Audit - Part 1 of 2
The first step to conducting an audit is recognizing that you may have a problem. Most IT professionals are savvy innovators and lousy accountants. The really good ones recognize it and seek out expertise on carrier billing. Consistent with industry stats, my experience confirms an organization will save between 10 and 30% by conducting an audit of Telecom billing. If you are tasked with conducting an audit and the thought is overwhelming, then here is an approach that will at least get you started.
Phase One:
- Make a list of all accounts for telecom related services invoiced monthly, quarterly and annually. Categorize each invoice, wireless, wire line, infrastructure, managed services, maintenance and so forth.
- Make a list of all the locations that your organization provisions telecom for including branches, third party, home offices and make note of historical sites that are no longer operational.
- Locate / source and compile all carrier contracts.
- Correlate account / location / contract information. This will not be complete at this stage; however, it is the beginning of the identification and inventory creation process. Closed locations are frequently the source of billing issues and low hanging fruit in the audit process.
- Prioritize your data for review by category. You may want to start with a service type you are more familiar with on which you can cut your teeth before advancing to a data source you are not so familiar with. Source any missing documentation from your carrier on an as need basis. These include customer service or equipment records, inventory records where only summary invoices are provided and missing contracts and maintenance agreements.
The audit process like project management, is a continuous breakdown of activities into manageable units of work. With the data in hand, and your priorities accounted for, break each account down further by service within account and by location. Each service should have an assignment or intended purpose. You will quickly identify services that need to be disconnected. Calling, suspending, reviewing HR records, and tracing lines are a few of the auditor's tactics in determining the validity of the service.
Phase Two
With your inventory now in place, and each of the services validated, the accuracy of the billing requires a review of the contract against the applied charges. It is critical going forward that you build a process to maintain the accuracy of your inventory: inventory +/- change = billing. If your inventory is significant in size, you might want to consider a Telecom Expense Management system.
In conclusion...
In your position of authority, the only thing you can do wrong is to do nothing. If auditing is not your strong point, remember as businessman R.H Grant once said, "When you hire people that are smarter that you are, you prove you are smarter than they are." Remember a telecom audit saves money, time and reduces the mean time to repair. What could be smarter?
Contact us to learn more about telecom expense management and auditing.


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Blue Ridge Parkway Reopens
By Asheville
Access to Craggy Gardens Now Restored.
Just in time for late summer picnics and early fall leaf peeping, the Blue Ridge Parkway has reopened a section of road connecting Asheville to Mt. Mitchell. This means the popular Craggy Gardens Visitor Center and Picnic Area have also reopened.
Motorists take note: To help better navigate the bypass alignment you will need to reduce your speed to 15 mph as you approach the area where repairs were made. Signs will be posted and rangers will be on hand to enforce the new public safety measure.
August 28, 2013


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South SudanOngoing
Key Content
- Logistics Cluster: South Sudan Monthly Operation Overview - September 2018
- FAO: GIEWS Country Brief: South Sudan 25-September-2018
- RVI: Peace is the Name of Our Cattle-Camp: Local responses to conflict in Eastern Lakes State, South Sudan
Appeals & Response Plans
- UNHCR: South Sudan Regional Refugee Response Plan (RRRP) January - December 2018 - Revised in July 2018
- OCHA: 2018 South Sudan Humanitarian Needs Overview
- OCHA: South Sudan: 2018 Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP) January - December 2018, December 2017
- UNHCR: South Sudan Situation - Responding to the needs of displaced South Sudanese and refugees, Supplementary Appeal January - December 2018
- FAO: South Sudan - Emergency Livelihood Response Programme 2018
- UNICEF: Humanitarian Action for Children 2018 - South Sudan
- OCHA: Business Guide: North-East Nigeria, South Sudan, Yemen and Somalia: Prevent Famine and Support Response
Useful Links
- OCHA South Sudan
- OCHA Southern & Eastern Africa (ROSEA)
- UNHCR South Sudan Situation Information Sharing Portal
- UNHCR Global Focus
- IOM Displacement Tracking & Monitoring (DTM) South Sudan
- Open Data for South Sudan
- UNMIS (UN Mission in South Sudan)
- Office of the IGAD Special Envoys for South Sudan
- Joint Monitoring and Evaluation Commission (JMEC)
- Food Security Cluster: South Sudan
- Logistics Cluster: South Sudan
- South Sudan: Floods - Sep 2017
- East Africa: Armyworm Infestation - Mar 2017
- South Sudan: Cholera Outbreak - Jul 2016
- South Sudan: Food Insecurity - 2015-2018
- South Sudan: Cholera Outbreak - Jun 2015
- Sudan/South Sudan: Measles Outbreak - Mar 2015
- South Sudan: Kala-azar Outbreak - Sep 2014
- South Sudan: Floods - Aug 2014
- South Sudan: Cholera Outbreak - May 2014
- South Sudan: Measles Outbreak - Sep 2013
Most read reports
- South Sudan : Humanitarian Snapshot (September 2018)
- South Sudan: Humanitarian Access Snapshot (September 2018)
- Recruited but not 'child soldiers': Returning girls in South Sudan risk being left without support
- Women and the Future of South Sudan: Local Insights for Building Inclusive Constituencies for Peace
- River convoy reaches isolated areas in Ulang, South Sudan, saving millions of dollars on costly airdrops
On Monday 16 October 2017 the Council adopted the EU Annual Report on Human Rights And Democracy in the World in 2016.
2016 was a challenging year for human rights and democracy, with a shrinking space for civil society and complex humanitarian and political crises emerging. In this context, the European Union showed leadership and remained strongly committed to promote and protect human rights and democracy across the world.


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Editor's Pick of the Week, 13 in a Series
TransMagic R7 Expands Options for Reusing Designs in 3D Multi-CAD Environments
December 18, 2007
By Jonathan Gourlay
Dear Desktop Engineering Reader:
Spending days repairing a file for CAE meshing or healing a design for use in a different MCAD system is so ingrained in so many multi-CAD/CAM/CAE engineering environments that it amazes me. You do not have to burn money on a data-translation process that — admittedly — was the only way to do an important job years ago. Such processes are as obsolete today as a hand crank on a BMW. This is why I recommend that you check out the latest update of the TransMagic suite interoperability tools.
TransMagic R7 supports the major CAD formats as well as the latest versions of CATIA, Inventor, NX, and Pro/E — all good. But what's really cool is that TransMagic R7 is offered with a new option that provides access to CATIA V5, Pro/E, and UGS PMI (product manufacturing information), including GD&T (geometric dimensioning and tolerancing). This ability alone will make communicating your design intent simpler, easier, and less prone to costly misunderstandings from the ever-popular "I do not get what this is supposed to be."
And that's the point of a good data-translation solution. It makes the challenging job of translating files not as hard on design and analysis time and the corporate checkbook as so many organizations, large and small, assume data exchange has to be. Speaking of large and small, the TransMagic suite of solutions is scalable to company size and tailorable to corporate needs.
Some wag once commented in an article or something I read that, "data translation isn't a problem until it is a problem." I have to disagree. Data translation is a huge, albeit quiet, problem that too many engineering organizations just accept as an everyday expense like electricity. Do not accept it. Any time lost repairing files before you or somebody else can do their job is a problem.
TransMagic is on a mission to make engineering data exchange more efficient and less costly. You can learn more about how TransMagic R7 can change your data exchange habits via today's Pick of the Week write-up, where you'll also find a bunch of links to further information, including one link where you can sign up for a trial version and see for yourself how data translation can be made to work for you rather than make more work for you.
Jonathan Gourlay
Features Editor, Desktop Engineering magazine
About the Author
DE's editors contribute news and new product announcements to Digital Engineering. Press releases can be sent to them via [email protected].Follow DE


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From v8arcade.com:
"We've received the magic word: "PASS"
Yup, our second submission to Microsoft's certification went through without a hitch! In other words, the game is now APPROVED for release on XBLA!"
This is irrelevant news to the true gamer. Vigilante 8 is nothing more than a second rate clone of the award winning Twisted Metal series. It makes no sense whatsoever to Dark Sniper to purchase a pure imitation of PlayStation innovation with one of it's most dynamic creations.
Dark Sniper will pass. He would rather purchase Twisted Metal 2 from the PlayStation® Store and save money by paying actual funds for his product and not "points".
Dark snipper rather pass on this game and Wait for titles like FANBOYS always do. Keep on passing and keep on Waiting Dark Snip thats what you all do best !
The best xbox 360 games are rip offs that came out before bush was president
What a sad state of affairs,xbots,if you need some relevant games to play you know what to do;
Jump Out


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It's been almost a month since I last wrote. Alot of things have happened recently and I was kept busy. As soon as my situation elevates, I'll be back. Thanks for being so patient.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Special Request From A Friend
A good buddy of mine recently commented that I have not done a shoot of the Seiko Black Bullet that he let me have quite awhile back. So I guess this rare diver is my next project. Until then..
Posted by popcorn at 10:24 PM 0 comments
Labels: 200m, black bullet, Seiko
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Citizen BJ8041-09E Ecozilla
The first time I saw this 48mm titanium watch was the time I bought the Orca. I was thinking how could this monster of a watch sit on my small wrist and would it look like I was wearing a clock? As curiosity got the better of me, I asked the lady to bring it out for me to try on. It did sit very nicely and it wore smaller than it looks. Very nice indeed. But I had only one choice and it went to the Orca and you would understand why when I tell you that I'm a lume junkie right? So off I went with the Orca but I know that this 300m beast will never escape me the next time. This big dive watch has unassuming looks and being made of titanium, it is not taxing to wear the whole day. This model has three variants, a stainless steel model and an automatic one(Autozilla). I have not come across the stainless steel version but I'm guessing it would be heavier. Being a fan of Citizen's Eco-drive technology, I chose this model. To be honest, I had some difficulty photographing the dial as the mineral glass sits deep inside the frame and bezel. But I did it, so here's hoping that the pictures turn out well for you as they had for me.
Posted by popcorn at 11:03 PM 0 comments
Friday, July 3, 2009
Citizen NY0040-09W Glofish
With this 200m diver, you will no longer be afraid of the dark. The dial is covered with lumibrite leaving the markers black for contrast. However, I wished that the whole hands instead of the outline is black. It will be more contrasting I feel. Now please allow me to coin a moniker for this watch.. Glofish! Why? Because it glows and it's a diver! :P This 42mm(w/o crown) diver has a left hand screw in crown, maybe made for left handers? Nonetheless, it is a refreshing change from the usual right hand ones that I have. The reason why this watch kept calling out to me to bring it home is very personal. I remember when I was younger that my dad had a Seiko Kinetic which has this lumibrite dial and I was very fascinated everytime when he came home and walked up the dark stairs with the watch glowing brightly. Although he is no longer around, I can still recall this scene very clearly and it kept playing in my head when I was looking at this watch. Hopefully now the glow on my wrist would be as bright as the one in my heart.
Posted by popcorn at 6:54 PM 0 comments
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Georgetown, Texas, Collaborative Family Law Attorney
Collaborative divorce allows couples to work together to reach mutually agreeable divorce terms. Consequently, collaborative divorce allows you and your ex-spouse to decide important matters in regard to child custody and the division of marital property without having a judge dictate terms to you. Here, couples can decide how assets will be divided, how marital debt will be taken care of, and what sort of child custody and parenting time schedule works best for them. While divorce terms are still subject to approval by the court, collaborative divorce empowers couples to create a divorce settlement that works best for everyone involved, avoiding angry, costly, and protracted divorce battles in court. At the family law office of Lori Watson, we counsel and represent clients interested in a collaborative law divorce.
If you are interested in learning more about collaborative divorce, contact divorce lawyer Lori Watson today to schedule an appointment and learn how we can help you.
Williamson County Divorce and Property Division Attorney: Choosing the Terms of Your Divorce
Collaborative divorce provides a forum for settling issues related to the following in finalizing the terms of your divorce:
- Division of marital property and assets
- Exchanging the marital home for exemption of retirement funds from marital property division
- Settling of marital debt - who pays what
- Determining child custody arrangements
- Creating a parenting plan
- Provides solutions that minimize the need for post-divorce modifications and enforcement actions
The Collaborative Family Law Divorce Process - What is Involved
Both husband and wife have to agree to participate in the collaborative process. Each spouse must retain his or her own lawyer. Also involved will be a mental health professional and, if needed, a financial counselor. Both spouses are required to make a full financial disclosure of their assets and debts. Once the collaborative family law team is assembled, the parties begin discussing the terms for their divorce.
The mental health professional is in charge of running the meetings but is primarily used to help with communication, underscoring the rights and duties of parents, and helping with issues that might arise in connection to a couple's children. The financial planner is on hand to assist with financial questions, budgets, spreadsheets and valuing and tracing assets and debts.
Throughout the collaborative process, the couple will reach mutually agreeable terms for dividing marital assets, debts, property, assigning custody, paying for health coverage, parenting time, etc. The law in Texas allows couples to be creative. This is especially important in the division of marital property and in the assignment of custody and visitation rights. Here, couples can negotiate how to divide marital property while making sure marital debt is paid off as well. This is especially important for protecting your credit and beginning life after divorce.
Contact a Texas Collaborative Family Law Attorney To Discuss Reaching Mutually Agreeable Divorce Settlement Terms
There are a number of advantages to settling your divorce through the collaborative law process. If you and your spouse are willing to sit down and talk, contact Georgetown, Texas, collaborative family law attorney Lori Watson today to schedule an appointment and learn how we can help you.


text: I'm looking for a good, free, all-in-one media player for OS X. I mainly want to use it to play video files. It seems Quicktime can't play Divx files, which is pretty annoying. Does anyone know a player that will play just about every video format? If anyone knows how to make Quicktime play Divx then that would be awesome!


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If you're a fan of the hit anime series Attack on Titan, rejoice! The new Playstation exclusive game based on the anime is being released this year, and if the news coming out after the Japanese release is any indication, you're in for a lot of fun.
The new action game shares the same name as the manga and anime - Shingeki no Kyojin, or literally translated, "Advancing Giants." The paraphrase translation which has been widely adopted for English is, of course, "Attack on Titan."
Release DateReleased in Japan on February 18 simultaneously with its official website, NA and Europe to be released sometime in 2016, probably in Spring. Its development may have possibly been delayed due to promotion of Koei Tecmo's producer, Hisashi Koinuma.
The game has already sold well over 200,000 copies in Japan and seems to be well-received. The first trailer and Collector's Edition information were released November 6 of last year. Attack on Titan has been licensed by Funimation in the United States, Manga Entertainment in the United Kingdom, and Madman Entertainment in Australia.
The First GameThe previous Attack on Titan: Humanity in Chains for 3DS didn't do so hot, and only scored a 46 on Metacritic. Gamers said it had great combat but was way too grindy, with unsatisfying side missions. The whole thing was a bit hard to follow for those who don't already know the story. Spike Chunsoft's effort was rated M for graphic violence and an overall disturbing feel. It had sweet attack chaining and a co-op mode available, yet was visually unimpressive. When released there wasn't yet a second analogue stick, heavily limiting the movement abilities the show/manga rely on.
Attack On TitanAttack on Titan comes to us from the Omega Force (Dynasty Warriors) production team, a subsidiary of Koei Tecmo, the game's publisher. It is a collaboration with Koei Tecmo's producer, Hisashi Koinuma (Kessen, Samurai Warriors), and director, Tomoyuki Kitamura (Samurai Warriors, as well as a host of anime series).
The game is based on the original manga written and illustrated by Hajime Isayama (Heart Break One, Orz) for Kodansha's Bessatsu Shonen Magazine, made into a hit TV show that's done well in its first season, with Attack on Titan season 2 currently in development.
A parody spinoff manga and subsequent anime began in 2012 in Bessatsu Shonen Magazine, featuring young chibi versions of characters from the original story. A Nintendo 3DS game, arcade game, and two live action movies have also been based on Attack on Titan.
While Attack on Titan will be a Playstation exclusive, it will allow cross platforming on PS3, PS4, and PSVita.


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This is my latest completed knitting project: Nancy from the Finesse collection in Rowan knitting magazine 50 designed by Erika Knight. Finesse is described as a collection 'inspired by the retro influences of the late 1950's and early 1960's…that heralds a return to feminine curves'.
I love so many of the designs in this collection which isn't entirely surprising as this is my favourite era for fashion!
I just finished this cardigan despite having started it back in August! I was actually sat knitting this super fluffy warm cardigan in a massive heat wave with a fan pointing at me and covering me in the angora fluff! Then I did what I always seem to do with my knitting projects and sat on the sewing it up part.
I LOVE looking through my knitting pattern books and dreaming up new knitting projects and I really enjoy the knitting itself- but by the time it comes to sewing up the panels I am too impatient to find my next project and always lose steam. So there it sat all peach and fluffy and sad for a couple of months while I started knitting my mother's Christmas present and testing out tension squares for my next jumper.
The pattern for this Rowan Nancy cardigan is designed for Rowan Cashsoft 4 ply which I have knitted with before and is so lovely but I had already found my dream wool from Dragon Yarns. It is a 100% angora 4ply in peach which is my absolute favourite colour!
Although it's called a 4 ply when I tested the tension I found I got a much better result when I used the yarn double with the same needles size as the pattern. Single may well have been fine but the yarn definitely felt more like a 2ply/ lace weight to me and I wanted solid peach fluff!
I absolutely love my peach Nancy cardigan! It's peach, super soft and fluffy and so 1950s and twee! What's not to love! Nancy is even one of my favourite names!
I particularly like the little neck tie and I definitely plan on knitting this cardigan up in a cotton for the spring, I think it would be nice in pretty much any pastel colour.
Meanwhile I have already started on 'Betty' from the same collection which I am knitting in winter white Kidsilk Haze used double. I have nearly finished my Mother's Christmas present too (luckily as not long to go now!) which I will upload after I have given it to her.
Life is so much better with a knitting project on the go… don't you think?!


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Research Project
Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (A)
(1) When rats were fed an orotic acid diet, liver lipid level of rats fed a diet containing casein was significantly higher than that of a diet containing egg protein or soybean protein. The addition of an orotic acid to a diet containing casein caused to decrease liver superoxide dismutase activity, to increase serum ornithine carbamoyl transferase activity, to increase the hepatic concentration of 1,2-diacylglycerol. Liver damage by administration of an orotic acid might be due to the increased concentration of 1,2-diaclglycerol and decreased activity of hepatic superoxide dismutase.(2) 9-Oxooctadeca 10,12-dienoic acid as acetyl CoA carboxylase inhibitor from red pepper was found. Its activity was 50 fold higher as compared with the normal fatty acids.(3) Dietary beet fiber had a role to supprees the formation of the aberrant crypt foci induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. Furthermore, it was found that the formation of the aberrant crypt foci induced by nu -ray irradiation was suppressed by the injection of anti-asialo GMI, but not by the addition of beet fiber.(4) Apoptosis and p53 level in epithelial cell of colon was induced by the administration of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. Further observation was increased level of activin mRNA in colon. This is the first finding that activin is a factor to stop the cell cycle in apoptosis.
Published : 1997-04-01
Modified : 2016-04-21
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Description. The Criminology minor focuses on the nature and cause of crime, the behavior of criminals and how society reacts to crime and criminals.
Minor coordinator. Professor Barry Spunt, Department of Sociology (212.237.8677, email@example.com).
Requirements. Students who minor in Criminology must complete 18 credits (six courses) at the 200-level or above from the approved list of courses below. No more than two courses may be used to satisfy credit requirements in the student's major, other minors or programs.
Select six
SOC 203 Criminology
SOC 216 Probation and Parole: Theoretical and Practical Approaches
SOC 236/CRJ 236 Victimology
SOC 240 Social Deviance
SOC 301 Penology
SOC 308 Sociology of Violence
SOC 309 Juvenile Delinquency
SOC 312 Classical Sociological Theory
SOC 335 Migration and Crime
SOC 341 International Criminology
SOC 351 Crime and Delinquency in Asia
SOC 360/ECO 360 Corporate and White Collar Crime
SOC 385 Selected Topics in Criminology
SOC 420/CRJ 420 Women and Crime
SOC 430-431 Research Internship in Criminology
SOC 440 Senior Seminar
Total: 18 credits
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Elders of Peace: Israel Must Freeze West Bank Settlements
Shas Spiritual leader asks group of dignitaries to aid efforts to return captive IDF soldier Gilad Shalit.
A pro-peace organization comprising veteran world leaders and international dignitaries on Wednesday urged Israel to stop expanding its West Bank settlements in order to allow the peace process to move forward.
Former Irish President Mary Robinson, a member of the group now visiting Israel, said that a settlement freeze was essential if there is to be real progress toward peace.
The Elders Group is a pro-peace organization established by former South African president Nelson Mandela, ahead of his 89th birthday, and includes Nobel Peace laureates Jimmy Carter and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
During their four-day visit to Israel and the West Bank, they have met with politicians, civic groups and young people.
Robinson spoke in the West Bank town of Ramallah.
The group met Wednesday with President Shimon Peres, also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad.
On Tuesday Army Radio reported that Shas spiritual leader Ovadia Yosef told the Elders that the world is inciting against Jews.
Yosef reportedly asked former U.S. president Carter to help ensure the return of Israel Defense Forces soldier Gilad Shalit, who has been in Palestinian captivity since abducted by militants in a 2006 cross-border raid.
It aims to engage the experience and prestige of celebrated global leaders to recruit popular support for peace building, and for dealing with humanitarian problems in crisis areas.
Carter has become of late a regular visitor to Jerusalem and Ramallah. The last time Tutu came to the region, he protested from Gaza Strip that he was not allowed to break the siege and pass from there into Israel.
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Mother nature-approved ingredients that offer a bevy of beauty benefits!
Yes, this calming herb comes in handy when you need a relaxing cup of tea before bed, but helping you fall asleep is only one of the many ways chamomile can make you look and feel prettier. In addition to being a key ingredient in many hair products—it's accentuates natural highlights in blondes and brunettes and is a stellar conditioner—chamomile works wonders to soothe skin and diffuse acne flare-ups. It also helps with the treatment of eczema and contact dermatitis. Look for it in: Calm Cool & Corrected anti-redness tranquility cream.
The energizing aroma of rosemary is definitely a love-it-or-hate-it type of smell. But either way, you can't disregard its phenomenal ability to stimulate your scalp and make your hair look incredibly shiny. Look for it in: shampoos, conditioners and scalp treatments.
The ultimate aromatherapy fix, one whiff of this extremely calming scent relaxes both mind and body. Lavender is known for its antiseptic properties, which make it ideal for helping to treat acne (by reducing inflammation). It also comes in handy when soothing a sunburn. Look for it in: fragrances, moisturizers and bath and body products.
A member of the mint family, sage is a universally skin-friendly herb. The vitamin-rich oil in the sage leaf is stimulates cell turnover and improves circulation, making it a popular natural anti-aging ingredient. It is also used to reduce redness, which helps improve the look of varicose veins. Look for it in skin treatments and toners.
Ginseng Root
Used as a natural beauty ingredient for centuries in Asia, the extract of this ancient root can be found in many skincare products. Loaded with antioxidants, essential oils and minerals, ginseng is commonly found in antiaging treatments because of its rejuvenating effects: it stimulates collagen production, which strengthens skin. You will also find that ginseng root extract may help treat brown spots (aka hyperpigmentation). Look for it in toners, moisturizers and masks.
By Cindy Fedida
DERMAdoctor Staff Writer
This content is sponsored by DERMAdoctor. The author receives compensation for its creation. All content is the legal copyright of DERMAdoctor, Inc, and it may not be used, reprinted, or published without written consent.
The information provided is for entertainment purposes only and is not intended to provide medical, legal or other professional advice.
This post was posted in Beauty, Balanced Skin, Blog Posts, Rosacea, Sensitive Skin, Rejuvenation and was tagged with natural, calm cool & corrected, ingredients


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Franck Ribery delivered the final insult after Arsenal's Bayern battering by revealing: "We didn't think it would be so easy."
The Bayern winger's brutal assessment of the Gunners after heading back to Germany with a 3-1 win from their Champions League clash also spelled out the huge task facing Arsene Wenger.
"We didn't think it would be so easy," said Ribery. "We know Arsenal are having some problems in the league, maybe they are lacking confidence.
"Each to their own problems. But we feel good, we feel confident and we're delighted to have got that result.
"We're all working hard together, with the will to play well, to win together, to defend together. It's important to carry on like this."
How Wenger must wish that was one of his players talking, reflecting on a good performance built on a solid defence.
Instead, he watched his back five commit a catalogue of errors in one of the most testing periods of his 17-year reign at the club.
Wenger was "inconsolable" after losing to Blackburn in the FA Cup on Saturday and was suffering similarly on Wednesday with the spotlight shining firmly on his problems at Arsenal.
The challenge for him now is to get the Gunners back to the level they once were, to when they had players who, like Bayern's on Tuesday, seemed to be head and shoulders above their opponents.
But the gradual shift from the days of Patrick Vieira, Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp and Thierry Henry towards the era of Gervinho, Sebastien Squillaci and Andre Santos reflects the fact Wenger has been shopping in the bargain basement.
The sales of Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri, Alex Song and Robin van Persie has left Arsenal short of character and quality and now they are running out of momentum.
It leaves the question of whether Wenger can defy the odds again and rebuild the squad with the funds afforded to him.
For Arsenal to have a chance of competing again, they must maintain their status as a Champions League club by finishing in the Premier League's top four.
The bookies still favour them to edge ahead of bitter rivals Tottenham this season, yet recent results suggest that may be mere blind faith.
With the lure of Champions League football, they can attract top stars, bring in international players.
Without it, the market looks very different.
There will be funds either way, thanks to the £150m Emirates sponsorship deal.
But with the Champions League to look forward to, there will probably be three or four big signings.
With anything less, it is likely to be fewer - and Arsenal's ability to attract the calibre of player needed to rebuild a team shorn of quality, strength and character and in need of a whole new spine will be a real issue.
Other key issues to be addressed.
Like why, having started the season keeping clean sheets, are they suddenly conceding goals?
And why has keeper Wojciech Szczesny, so recently regarded as an outstanding prospect, suddenly gone backwards?
That reflects badly on the coaching or, perhaps, more pertinently, as far as the defence goes, Wenger's willingness to delegate.
Arsenal have their targets.
Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina, Fiorentina striker Stevan Jovetic and Toulouse midfielder Etienne Capoue arell achievable targets - if they reach the Champions League.
If it's Europa League football, then maybe it will be someone like Celtic's Victor Wanyama.
Good, impressive player. But possibly the cheaper option.
Either way, the emphasis will be on "nasty, strong" characters to beef up the team and the dressing room. It's all a bit quiet and cosy at the moment.
But then, the problem last season was getting Wenger to spend the money at his disposal.
After selling Van Persie, he bought Santi Cazorla, Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud.
But Wenger decided not to spend additional funds which were also available to him. That was his choice.
So, if he's given up to £70m in the summer, will he actually go out and buy the necessary quality?
If they can be convinced they will see a change in the manager's MO, it may stop some fans calling for Wenger to go.
But the Frenchman, down the years, has been reluctant to play the transfer market - and now he is being urged to do so.
The board were almost frustrated with Wenger last summer for not spending more than he did. When the next close-season comes, there can be no excuses.
They remain fully behind him, but if he stubbornly refuses to spend lavlishly and rebuild, it will infuriate the fans - and turn them against the board.
The current regime - majority shareholder Stan Kroenke and chief executive Ivan Gazidis - believe their money and backing can help Wenger transform his team.
On the opposite side, Uzbekistan tycoon Alisher Usmanov, who watched the Bayern game from the directors' box and exchanged pleasantries with the existing hierarchy, believes there should be a changes of philosophy and direction - and even greater funds made available.
Could Wenger reach a stage of disillusionment where he may walk away?
The current hierarchy believe his commitment to the cause means the harder it gets, the harder he will work to turn it round.
And despite what an increasing number of fans may want, there is no question of any change in the club's structure - and that goes from boardroom to dressing room.
The board believe in Wenger and his ability to get it right.


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Who we are
Mountain View Baptist Church was organized in 2002 with a commitment to the mission of Jesus Christ and to the authority and integrity of Scripture. Expository messages are designed to help people understand how to become a child of God and then how to live in our world as a follower of Jesus. We are also committed to our community and the spiritual welfare of fellow believers. Doing life together God's way provides ministries designed to acquaint people with the Word of God and to provide opportunities for spiritual growth, prayer and...Read More


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The Basics
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- How To Use Various Wine Openers (With Video Tutorials)
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The Bottom LineDifferent glassware producers make a wide variety of differently shaped glasses for all different types of wine. The general rule of thumb for choosing the best wine glass for the job is to consider the color, maturity, sweetness and acidity of the wine. But also your own personal preference in terms of feel, lip thickness and durability plays a major role in the decision process as well. If you are still uncertain which glass makes the most sense then give one of our Wine Enthusiast Consultants a call at 800-356-8466 for more information.


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Thursday, January 15, 2004
Down-to-earth spending priorities?There's some interesting juxtaposing of issues going on over at the BBC News Online website.
In a pro-human space exploration piece, their science editor, Dr. David Whitehouse, strongly praises "inspirational" US plans to spend (only!) $86 billion on NASA over the next 5 years...
While the more down-to-earth environment correspondent, Alex Kirby, reports on the World Economic Forum's Global Governance Initiative, which has concluded that the world's governments are failing to do nearly enough to fight global poverty - in terms of their own Millennium Developments Goals.
These, goals aim to halve the number of people living in poverty by 2015, and were signed up to by leaders from 189 countries, just over three years ago.
Unfortunately, governments are currrently spending only 1/3 of what is necessary in order to achieve these goals, and progress - as measured against a range of key indicators - has been depressingly meagre + patchy. This is especially the case given the scale of the task at hand, and the amount of time that has already elapsed...
Posted 3:08 pm by Matt Prescott
Monday, January 12, 2004
Prevention is better than cureLast year's Australian of the Year was Professor Fiona Stanley, the epidemiologist who discovered that giving a folate supplement to mothers could prevent their children from being born with spina bifida.
In a speech given to the National Press Club in Canberra, Prof. Stanley makes a rock solid case for tackling the underlying causes of problems, rather than overwhelmingly concentrating, as we usually do, on fighting their symptoms.
She illustrates her case by discussing the lost potential associated with not having health sevices geared to tackling high infant mortality in Aboriginal children and youth suicides in middle-income families...
One particularly striking quote from this talk is that "90% of the health dollar is spent on people who will be dead in 12 months".
This distribution of effort is understandable to an extent, but also suggests that many other health problems do not receive the resources that they need or deserve.
Posted 6:22 pm by Matt Prescott
UN works to end obstetric fistulaEvery year some 50,000-100,000 women sustain an obstetric fistula while giving birth.
Unless offered surgery, this internal tearing results in the mother leaking urine + faeces uncontrollably, which often leads to them being ostracised by those around them...
However, for as little as $60 this ailment can be treated, and the lives of sufferers transformed for the better...
Follow these links to find out what the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is doing to end fistula and make motherhood safer for women.
Posted 4:12 pm by Matt Prescott
Margarine + cosmetics ingredient threatens the future of the OrangutansAccording to the World Wide Fund for Nature, our close primate relatives, the Orang-utans may go extinct in the wild within the next 20 years...
The loss of the Orangutans' rainforest habitat, which is often converted into oil palm plantations, is one of the greatest threats to the survival of this species, and is ironically being encouraged by consumers in Europe and the US...
This is because in the developed world, palm oil is used as an ingredient in cooking oil, soap, cosmetics + margarine and future demand for this oil is expected to grow considerably, with Indonesian government policies tending to support expansion of this cash-crop into areas of high conservation value. These areas are cleared by large-scale, difficult to control fires and generally result in monocultures with significantly reduced biodiversity.
The hunting of these long-lived, slow reproducing animals for the pet + bushmeat trades also means that the 20,000 - 30,000 individuals left in the wild are dying out in Borneo + Sumatra faster than they can be protected or replaced...
You can listen to a talk by Dr. Ashley Leiman of the Orangutan Foundation at the Oxford Earth Summit here
Key quotes from Ashley's April 2002 talk include:
"In 1900 there were approximately 315,000 orangutan, today it is estimated that between 15,000 and 20,000 survive in the wild."
Posted 3:16 pm by Matt Prescott
Sunday, January 11, 2004
To infinity + beyond.... or closer to home?Earth-Info.Net admits that it is interesting to see what the surface of Mars looks like, but seriously questions the values of any country (or planet!) that ranks the acquisition of this sort of knowledge above tackling fundamental problems of critical urgency + great practical use to its own safety + survival.
At the moment millions of people die of preventable diseases (either because they drink dirty water or lack access to a decent toilet), while overseas aid is dropping (despite commitments to the contrary), a great deal of biodiversity is being lost without ever being named or studied, many children don't have even a primary school education and other crucial work relies on charity in order to get done...
Are we seriously saying that investigating + protecting our farmlands, oceans or rainforests cannot be made as exciting as panaromic pictures of Mars?
Or that the US spending $15 billion on NASA in 2003, while the UK spent £4 million on the study of global biodiversity, correctly reflects the relative importance of scientific discoveries + knowledge about our own planet versus what it would be nice to know about outer space, if time + money were limitless?
Personally, Earth-Info.Net thinks that we should spend the $14-30 billion per annum needed to provide over 1 billion people with clean water before we spend $1,000,000,000,000 putting people on the Moon and then Mars... especially as the public became bored of travel to the Moon by the time Apollo 12 came along, and the novelty of the first landing had worn off!
Posted 6:17 pm by Matt Prescott
UK chief scientist warns climate change is world's "biggest threat"In an article for the journal Science, Prof. David King the UK government's chief scientific adviser has warned that climate change is the biggest threat to international security.
Threats associated with climate change include increased flooding, drought, hunger + the spread of debilitating diseases.
Prof. King also says that we cannot explain climate change over the last 100 years without invoking human-induced effects and that in less than 200 years we have seen a 50% increase in atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases relative to pre-industrial levels.
This has resulted in carbon dioxide levels that are higher than they have been at any time in the past 420,000 years, and a measurable increase in the risk to our way of life in the UK, and worldwide.
Prof. King concludes that in order to cut greenhouse emissions by as much as will be necessary to stabilise the world's climate (approx. 60% by 2050) it is essential that US (which produces approx. 20% of the world's emissions) stands shoulder to shoulder with other countries and begins to engage in finding solutions to this international problem that are not voluntary or dependent on market mechanisms... as "if we do not begin now, more substantial, more disruptive, and more expensive change will be needed later on."
Posted 4:42 pm by Matt Prescott
Shell's oil + gas reserves not as big as was thoughtOil company Shell has announced that it is cutting the size of its proven oil + gas reserves by 20%.
This reassessment has lead to a 7% drop in the company's share price and highlighted the fact that only 70 to 90% of extracted oil and gas reserves are being replaced by new discoveries.
Posted 4:31 pm by Matt Prescott
Thursday, January 08, 2004
State of the World 2004: Worldwatch Institute annual reportIn its annual report, State of the World 2004, the Worldwatch Institute says that the world is consuming goods + services at an unsustainable pace, with serious consequences for the well-being of people and the planet.
Around 1.7 billion people worldwide-more than a quarter of humanity-have entered the "consumer class," adopting the diets, transportation systems, and lifestyles that were limited to the rich nations of Europe, North America, and Japan during most of the last century. In China alone, 240 million people have joined the ranks of consumers-a number that will soon surpass that in the United States.
On the bright side, State of the World 2004 points to a range of opportunities that are already available to governments, businesses, and consumers to curb + redirect consumption. These include:
ECOLOGICAL TAX REFORM. By shifting taxes so that manufacturers have to pay for the harm they do to the environment, and by introducing production standards and other regulatory tools, governments can help minimize negative impacts on natural resources.
TAKE-BACK LAWS. Now being adopted by a growing number of governments around the world, these laws require companies to "take back" products at the end of their useful lives, and typically ban the landfilling + incineration of products.
DURABILITY. Industries can take shared responsibility for their ecological impacts by finding ways to reduce the amount of raw material needed to create products and by making goods more durable and easy to repair + upgrade.
PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Changes in consumption practices will also require millions of individual decisions that start at the grassroots-about everything from our use of energy + water to our consumption of food.
View the full report: State of the World 2004 here.
Posted 9:00 pm by Matt Prescott
The need for new campaigning strategiesOneWorld.Net's Environmental Activism page has posted a link to an interesting article written for Society Guardian, by former UK environment minister John Gummer MP, on the recent loss of influence experienced by international NGOs...
Ironically, Mr. Gummer suggests that this loss of influence has happened just as many NGOs have succeeded in securing unparallelled access to governments + international summits.
In particular, the article highlights the problems campaigners face, in a world where shock tactics no longer work as they once did and the public is increasingly jaded + cynical.
At the same time, environmental + development NGOs have so far demonstrated wildly differing abilities to adapt to working from inside the corridors of power and of developing credible yet radical agendas capable of enhancing our debate of the options available to society.
Posted 6:05 pm by Matt Prescott
Give a charity an old phoneA poll for Body Shop estimates that in the UK approx. 750,000 mobile phones have been thrown away since Christmas.
Incredibly, only 4% of people, who got new phones for Christmas, said that they would recycle their old one...
This is a real shame as there are now a number of companies that will recycle mobile phones intact or break them up their valuable components + materials...
One raw material, coltan, is extremely valuable and has played a large part in fuelling a war in the Democratic Rublic of the Congo which has claimed 3,000,000 lives.
It therefore makes sense to recycle old phones in order to protect people + the environment!
In the US you can recycle your mobile phone, pager or PDA at any Staples store or via the Collective Good website and donate funds to your chosen charity.
In the UK you can donate your phone to development charity Oxfam or, via any Body Shop, donate you phone to aid Refuge, a charity that works to protect women + children from domestic violence.
Posted 12:08 am by Matt Prescott
Wednesday, January 07, 2004
Thinking the unthinkableScientists at a conference hosted by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, in Cambridge UK, plan to spend the next two days attempting to think the unthinkable in order to establish what macro-engineering options may offer realistic alternatives to the Kyoto Protocol if the mechanisms, for cutting concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, proposed under the 10-year old protocol fail to achieve the support needed in order to enter into force.
Alternatives under discussions will include:
* "sequestering" (storing) carbon dioxide, for example in the oceans, by removing it from the air for storage, or by improved ways of locking it up in forests
The hope is that this debate will help to focus minds on identifying + initiating effective mitigation measures while limiting further, potentially catastrophic delay, and encouraging governments to get to grips with tackling the threat posed by climate change.
Posted 10:29 pm by Matt Prescott
Farmers urged to take advantage of subsidy reformIn a speech to the Oxford Farming Conference the UK's Food + Farming Minister Lord Whitty has called on farmers to "take advantage of 'revolutionary' agricultural reforms which pave the way to a profitable + sustainable future for the countryside."
He suggests that they do this by responding to the needs of the market rather than continuing to farm in ways that have traditionally attracted subsidy support under the Common Agricultural Policy.
The process of weaning farmers away from areas supported by subsidies - that have historically been allocated on the basis of the quantity of produce a farm produces and not the needs of the market - is called decoupling.
Unfortunately, powerful lobbies have repeatedly diluted or resisted meaningful reform and the level of decoupling achieved, as a proportion of overall CAP spending, is much less complete or assured than is really necessary or usually suggested by ministers (who are understandably keen to emphasize their effectiveness within the EU).
There are also difficulties associated with calculating how much money farmers should be given if the amount they receive is not decided on the basis of the quantity of food they produce...
At the moment, the preferred option is to give farmers a one-off historic payment based on the average amount of support they have received over the past three years...
Such a funding regime penalises farmers who have not claimed in each of the past three years (or ever) as well as farmers in agricultural sectors that have never received generous subsidies, such as horticulture. It is also feared by Birdlife International that one-off payments will not lead to reversals in the recent intensification of agriculture, and that improvements in desirable "public goods", such as better nature conservation, will not assured under such a scheme... even if modest decoupling is a step in the right direction.
Note: The CAP will amount to approx. €50 billion in 2004... or put another way, the equivalent of 45% of the EU budget. Of this sum the amount decoupled or to be allocated according to economically or environmentally sustainable priorities is still depressingly small.
See The Guardian's KickAAS weblog and Wyn Grant's Common Agriculture Policy page for regular updates on developments in the world of agicultural subsidies.
Posted 8:30 pm by Matt Prescott
First prison sentence ever for selling bushmeat in the UKAn investigation by Dr Yunes Teinaz, a senior Haringey environmental health officer has lead to a north London shopkeeper, Paulina Owusu Pepra, being jailed for three months, after being convicted by Haringey Magistrates' Court of selling meat unfit for human consumption.
In the UK this is the first ever prison sentence to be given for selling bushmeat (a general term used to include wild animals killed for food such as gorillas, chimpanzees, forest antelopes + giant rats).
The conviction has been greatly welcomed by the
Bushmeat Campaign who are lobbying the UK's Food Standards Agency and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to provide more resources + support to local authorities so more illegal bushmeat traders may be convicted without relying solely on the determination of individual inspectors to secure prosecutions.
Posted 8:11 pm by Matt Prescott
Many plant + animal species unlikely to survive climate changeA report, Extinction Risk From Climate Change, summarised in a paper for Nature, has calculated that the survival of millions of species is threatened by levels of climate change likely to occur by the year 2050.
This analyses of six biodiversity-rich regions, including Europe, Brazil + Costa Rica, suggests that 15–37% of a sample of 1,103 land plants + animals from will eventually become extinct as a result of climate changes expected by 2050.
Some of these species will no longer have anywhere suitable to live while others will be unable to reach places where the climate is suitable.
If extrapolated to include other areas of the world the number of species that could be lost may be in the millions...
See here for a summary of some of the species at risk in different regions of the world.
Posted 7:54 pm by Matt Prescott
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Michael Buerk returns to Ethiopia + Tony Vaux's "Concern for the person in need" ethosTwenty years ago a news report by the BBC's Michael Buerk shocked the world's public + politicians into action by showing the devastating effects of a war + drought-induced famine on Ethiopians, who were then dying in their thousands in refugee camps, or unnoticed on their own land...
Following this news report, Bob Geldof organised a Christmas single and two Live Aid concerts, which pricked the world's conscience, and Sport Aid encouraged a further 20 million people to run for charity...
With another disasterous famine in the Horn of Africa on the horizon, Michael is about to return to Ethiopia in order to assess just how effective the action taken in 1984 was, and what long-term investment + reform is needed if the 6,000,000 Ethiopians currently reliant on overseas food aid are to have a more self-sufficient future.
Unfortunately, this goal may be just as illusive as it has ever been, with the population doubling since 1984, while farm incomes have dropped, crop yields per head have halved (due in part to a deterioration in the quality of soils) + increasingly marginal areas having been converted into deforested farmland.
The problems + solutions are complex but Earth Info recommends that anyone interested in what went wrong last time around, and some of the structural problems in the way the international community goes about responding to such emergencies, should read the The Selfish Altruist by Tony Vaux (who was Oxfam's emergency relief co-ordinator during the 1984 famine).
Tony's seven principles for humanitarian work are simple, but profound, and based on a pre-eminent concern for the person in need, rather than the self interest of the organisation endeavouring to offer assistance.
Unfortunately, good intentions can all too often be compromised due to the cultural baggage of donors + aid workers and the competitive, publicity-seeking, government-sponsored + bullying pressures of modern humanitarian aid work.
Posted 5:36 pm by Matt Prescott
Saturday, January 03, 2004
Earthquake in Iranian city of Bam: what you can doThe human death toll from the recent earthquake in the Iranian town of Bam has now reached at least 28,000, and it is possible that up to 50,000+, of the town's former population of 80,000, are now dead.
A calamity on this scale is hard to comprehend, but the need for food, shelter + medicines is obviously considerable.
Unfortunately, even basic support on this sort of scale is expensive, and I thought it might be useful to highlight what some of the relevant agencies are doing and what you can do to help support them...
The people of Iran and the Iranian Red Crescent Society have done a great job of rescuing people from the rubble + providing food, but more remains to be done... if you would like to donate directly to the local Red Crescent society you can do so by clicking here.
Alternatively, if you would prefer, you can donate via the International Committee of the Red Cross, the British Red Cross or the American Red Cross.
The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) is leading efforts to provide survivors of the earthquake with safe drinking water + sanitation, to re-establish schooling and to ensure that child survivors are protected from harm and where possible reunited with their parents. You can donate to this work by clicking on this link.
Oxfam (UK) is working with the Red Cross/Red Crescent and have already flown in some aid. You can donate to Oxfam's work here...
Last but not least, Islamic Relief, a UK-based charity, is also working with partner organisations in Iran and you can donate to them here.
The Reuters Alertnet news service has produced a comprehensive list of all the international NGOs known to be operating in Bam, and this site is well worth consulting if you would like any more information.
Posted 5:18 pm by Matt Prescott
Thames 21's Adopt a River schemeOver the Christmas break Giles Coren, a columnist on The (London) Times, donated his £12,450 winnings from a special edition of The Weakest Link tv show to a charity called Thames 21, which works to clean up the River Thames.
Activities of Thames 21 include running an innovative Adopt a River scheme where groups of volunteers help to clean up a stretch of river, research into which bits of the river are in the greatest need of cleaning, and co-funding the work of the Port of London Authority's Debris Clearance Operation which involves two mobile vessels sweeping the surface of the water and removing cars + shopping trolleys from the intertidal foreshore. This clearance operation removes up to 1,000 tonnes of waste, and costs about £500,000, per annum.
With assistance from representatives of each of their partner organisations, Thames 21 also helps to ensure enforcement of the complex laws governing the deposit + storage of waste in and around rivers and canals by channeling information they collect about waste management offences to the appropriate authorities.
Well done to Giles, and keep up the good work Thames 21!
Posted 4:26 pm by Matt Prescott


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Voters in the West Barnstable Fire District started and ended their April 27 annual meeting honoring men who've dedicated decades of service to the district.
Cost covered fully by free cash
Voters in the West Barnstable Fire District started and ended their April 27 annual meeting honoring men who've dedicated decades of service to the district.
As the meeting commenced, Prudential Committee chairman Ed Smith asked for a moment of silence for retired Deputy Chief Craig Pye, who died in February. Pye served the fire department for 40 years and served a stint as chief while a new one was selected.
Also at beginning and end of the meeting, Dan Mullen, who's given 27 years of service as both a member of the prudential committee and then as moderator, received standing ovations. The first as Smith offered the thanks of the district and a small gift, and the second as Mullen noted that while it would have been allowed, he never took health benefits from the district.
Overall, the district's spending plan for 2012 increased less than 1 percent from the current year, but there was greater movement in some of the individual line items.
The fire department's operational budget increased 8.7 percent, including a $6,000 pay increase for the chief that he asked not to take. Smith said that the board voted to give the chief a raise over Fire Chief Joe Maruca's objection because of his dedication and work, citing the recent ISO rating upgrade as an example.
Maruca said that other increases in the department will be one-time expenses associated with hiring and training new personnel.
Overall, the district's finances are in significantly better condition than they were 12 months ago. At the 2011 meeting, the prudential committee announced that there were a number of conditions that exposed the district to potential financial improprieties, though none had occurred. The district reorganized the treasurer's position, allowing for the hiring of an outside firm. Municipal consultant Michael Daley of Marstons Mills was appointed as its treasurer, and worked through past financial records and the state to get the district's free cash certified for the first time in a number of years.
After the meeting, Daley said that the condition of the district's books were such that they could not be audited, a requirement for free cash certification. [Editor's Note: Daley has been a monthly columnist for the Patriot since 1995].
One happy result is that the accumulated cash from past years provided $614,000 in free cash, a portion of which was used to fund the first round of significant repairs and upgrades to the fire station.
The $552,000 to make repairs to the fire station was the largest capital request on the warrant and represented a number of different projects to improve the 23-year-old station. As that was funded from free cash, the work will be done without affecting the tax rate.
The work on the station is seen as the first round of perhaps a total of $1 million in work identified in a comprehensive building survey. Further requests would come in future years.
Chief Maruca also took the opportunity to explain the recent upgrade to the fire district's ISO fire rating from 9 to 6. What that means for district property owners in areas farther than 1,000 feet from a hydrant is a reduction in property insurance. Among other things, the department's ability to effectively shuttle water to fires, something it drills on regularly, was key to the improved rating. It went into effect May 1.


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The Truth Behind the Broadband Stimulus Argument
In my last post, I discussed an article that proposed that the government has a duty to provide broadband Internet to rural areas. Here are the reasons leading up to this conclusion—but this time we're looking at the whole picture. This information is based on my knowledge as a technician for an Internet provider and my extensive research on the subject.
More and more people are using the Internet. Yes, this is very true. In fact, the U.S. is nearly saturated with Internet services and one of the leading countries with broadband access. The growth of Internet usage just within the last five years is staggering, with many people signing up for more Internet access daily.
The Internet is becoming a larger venue for business and education. The majority of businesses have websites, and many of them take and ship orders online. Online college classes are still being taken with people getting degrees later in life. Private education for grade-school ages are offering online courses. The Internet provides a vast, no, gargantuan collection of educational information that was once contained only in books and libraries. Read my post about "necessities" that have been replaced by the Internet and technology. The Internet has, in a very short time-span, transformed our language, social habits, culture, and communication. Its actually kind of overwhelming to think about. And the advancements and changes not slowing down one bit!
People who do not have access to the Internet lack the ability to gain from these advancements. Quite true! It would be foolish to deny this. But how many people truly have NO access to the Internet? There are MANY ways to access the Internet:
Home/relative/friend's house
Library/Coffee shops/other Public areas
Cell phones/any area with a wireless hotspot
ANY home/building with a land line phone (dial-up)
ANY home/building with a clear view of the Southern sky (satellite)
Granted, there are some people who have many more options than others. I am not denying that there are "underserved" U.S. residents. I am saying that it would be foolish to assume that just because many people can't get common types of broadband in their home doesn't mean that a) they have no access to the Internet elsewhere, or that b) they don't have any form of Internet access in their home, or that c) people without Internet access in their homes must have it in their homes in order to become educated and conduct business.
Most people do have some form of Internet access even if it isn't broadband or isn't provided directly to their home. Those that have no access any type of Internet services whatsoever are a very small percentage of U.S. residents. The number of businesses in this situation is even smaller.
Many Internet and phone companies have essentially given up on being able to afford providing broadband to certain areas. There are some places, like my house, where they don't bother to install cable or DSL lines for obvious reasons.
The cost of installing the equipment necessary to provide these services to scattered rural homes would be enormous.
The income from rural customers willing to order the service would never pay the costs of installation.
Even if they did bother to run all these lines, etc., we are too far away from the source of the digital provider for a strong enough signal to reach our house.
These companies are not being petty losers. It's just really not within reason. There are many more complications that would take more time to explain (and perhaps I will post about it later). The stimulus money will help, but it's not going to solve our problems alone. We're going to need even more money–and probably several years if we really want to provide affordable broadband to all the rural and low-income areas. There's a long road ahead of this ambitious venture.
In the next few days I'd like to wrap up this discussion. Stay tuned! And feel free to comment! I'd love to hear from you!


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Parts of an Avalon wood stove include the chimney, legs, pedestal, fans and door. Interior parts that make these stoves burn more efficiently include a draft control, an airwash system, a door seal, secondary burn tubes and a brick baffle. As of March 2015, Avalon sells four wood stove models.
Avalon touts its EPA Phase II combustion systems that need very little maintenance over the long-term use of its wood stove. Air-tight seals prevent heat and smoke from leaking out the main door of the wood stove. The primary air source puts preheated air into the combustion chamber. Secondary burn tubes towards the top of the combustion chamber keep the fire burning hotter and longer. The brick baffle can be removed to help regulate heat on the top of the wood stove. Plate steel covers the outside of the contraption.
Fans blow the heat in any direction. The chimney comes out of the top of the unit to shunt smoke and ash away from the main combustion chamber. The flue collar connects the top of the wood stove to the chimney. The wood stove can sit on four legs or a pedestal, depending on what the customer feels is more aesthetically pleasing. A kindling rack sits next to the wood stove.


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Spinach Tagliolini Recipe
A Delicous recipe for tomato sauce served over spinach tagliolini. Top with freshly grated Parmesan.
10 ripe tomatoes
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
1 onion, chopped
1 bell pepper, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery stalks
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
1/4 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 bay leaf
4 tablespoons tomato paste
1 package spinach tagliolini
1 cup parmesan cheese, grated finely
Bring a pot of water to a boil. Have ready a large bowl of iced water.
Place whole tomatoes in boiling water until skin starts to peel, 1 minute. Remove with slotted spoon and place in ice water. Let rest until cool enough to handle, then remove peel and squeeze out seeds. Chop 8 tomatoes and puree. Chop remaining two tomatoes and set aside.
In a large pot over medium heat, cook onion, pepper, carrot, celery and garlic in oil and butter until onion starts to soften, 5 minutes. Pour in pureed tomatoes. Stir in chopped tomato, basil, Italian seasoning. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 2 hours. Stir in tomato paste and simmer 2 hours. Discard bay leaf.
In a large pot of boiling water cook tagliolini as to package directions.
Serve pasta topped with hot tomato sauce and freshly grated parmesan


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Parents Rebel in Bronx District 9
School District 9 in the Bronx in New York has been failing for the last seven years. Parent groups and community advocates are now fed up with the lack of improvement and are addressing matters themselves.
The New Settlement Parent Action Committee has hosted a community education meeting involving parents, teachers, principals student and elected officials, including a representative from the New York Department of Education. The point of the meeting was to brainstorm a new way forward for the failing district.
"It feels like the beginning of something, and that's what we were expecting," said Julia Allen, an organizer at New Settlement Parent Action Committee, of the forum.
"I hope that it will be the beginning of a new way of thinking about how we try to solve the problems in our schools," said Sasha Warner-Berry, an organizer at PAC, "So that we are working together and incorporating the input of everyone who is directly affected by the issue."
While some parents are fortunate enough to be able to solve their own immediate problems by simply taking their children out of the D-rated district, for others this solution is unrealistic and they have to work with what they have and make it better.
"It's not a question for me of moving your kids, because, really, where could you move them to?" said De Jesus, who was president of the parent association. "That's why we're doing what we're doing now, so all the schools are good enough that kids are receiving the kind of education they deserve."
Currently only 22% of eighth graders in the district gained a proficient rating in English Language Arts exams. For math this figure was 45%.
Assemblywoman Vanessa Gibson, who attended the forum on Saturday, said there needs to be an overhaul of the whole area.
"We have a huge overcrowding issue in our middle schools, and we don't have enough to meet the demand," said Gibson (D-Bronx). "District 9 does get money for books, resources and smartboards, but that's not translating into real results."
There is hope for the parents groups and the Bronx district, however. Nearby Harlem has a success story in Democracy Prep that can inspire them. CSD5 has the worst record for middle schools in the city only seven years ago and now it has some of the best schools in the city.
05 3, 2012 S.D. Lawrence


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The war in Congo, estimated to have killed three million people and involving armies from seven different countries, is coming to an end.
But, as United Nations troops move into areas previously ravaged by war, the true horror of what was wrought on the population is now emerging.
It was after a torturous two-hour drive along a windy dirt road, high up in the mountains, that we found Vumiliar Lukindo - or just Vumi.
As we walked forward to meet the tiny 16-year-old, she doubled over, clutching her stomach and trying to cover her feet with the faded cloth she had wrapped around her body.
She averted her eyes. Urine covered her feet.
Healing hope
Vumi suffers from incontinence, and cannot sit down because of the pain, the result of a horrific rape incident last October.
"Four men took me. They all raped me. At that time I was nine months pregnant."
"They gang-raped me and pushed sticks up my vagina - that's when my baby died - they said it was better than killing me."
The men then stole her few belongings and her community, unable to live with the smell, shunned her.
Now she hopes only to be healed.
Community rejection
In a country ravaged by war, where rape is used as a weapon and having a gun means you can act with impunity, Vumi is not alone.
Kahindo Ndasimwa, dressed in little more than rags, told of how militia attacked her village one night two years ago, forcing her to flee into the bush.
The 40-year-old was then repeatedly raped by four men - their legacy a continual stream of urine down her legs.
Bahati Ndasimwa, a 24-year-old with a round friendly face - but eyes that told of torture - said she was raped by too many men to count.
Her community then also rejected her.
Violent rape
Furaha Mapendo was staked to the ground with her legs splayed by 10 men, who then had their way with her.
With her eyes staring fixedly at the ground, the 24-year-old told of how the men pushed sticks and various objects into her for an entire night, six years ago.
These women all suffer from vaginal fistula, a medical condition found in countries with poor health infrastructure, which is usually a result of poor childbirth care.
In this part of the world, it is caused by violent rape.
The walls between the vagina, bladder and anus are torn, resulting in severe pain and debilitating incontinence.
"We have many stories like this that make us shed our tears," said Jeanne Banyere, or Mama Jeanne to all who know this remarkable woman.
"I used to cry, but have now become more desensitised. This happens all over this area, sometimes to children as young as nine."
Medical aid
Mama Jeanne - who also looks after 62 orphans - is one of a handful of dedicated people from the Women's Protestant Federation that network these remote parts of the Congo, providing counselling and hope to these women.
Docs runs a medical centre in the centre of Goma, a large town with little infrastructure situated close to the Rwanda border.
It provides training through experience for local doctors while helping the community.
Faced with an increasing number of women in desperate need of this operation, but lacking resources, facilities and space, Docs has erected two big white tents in their compound.
The tents are full of women waiting for their turn on the operating table.
'Bad things'
It is here that we found Dr Longombe Ahuka, a 48-year-old father of three.
Together with two other doctors he has trained, this team has performed reconstructive surgery on more than 90 women, allowing them to return to their communities.
Dr Ahuka is no stranger to this war.
He was forced to flee from the hospital he was working in when it was attacked by armed militants.
Hundreds were killed and the hospital looted.
"I saw so many bad things, it is an honour for me to also be able to repair [them]," he said.
'Savagery beyond imagination'
The surgeon recounted one case of a woman who had the barrel of a gun inserted into her vagina.
The soldier then opened fire.
"The savagery we have here is beyond imagination," he said.
"They use all kinds of objects they can lay their hands on," he added, making a plea for the "world to be told about it, to be told of this reality".
The women waiting face a double blow.
Associated with rape is the risk of being infected with HIV.
Of all the cases Dr Ahuka dealt with between May and October last year, 24% were HIV positive.
Women's dignity
Safari Masika was waiting for her second operation when we met her.
Wrapped only in a green bed sheet, the diminutive woman told of a brutal attack, one which had left her with a miscarriage and isolated from her community.
Looking me straight in the eyes, this proud 42-year-old mother of eight told of how, after this operation, she would once again be "able to stand with other people and praise God".
The men who perpetrated this violence will probably never be brought to justice.
But for the brave women we met, at least this operation gives them the opportunity to once again live their lives with dignity.


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According to current New York Mets beat writer and future Director of Player Development Adam Rubin, the Mets have officially announced the hiring of former Cincinnati Reds' GM Wayne Krivsky as special assistant to GM Omar Minaya.
Despite having "assistant" in his title, trust me when I tell you, Krivsky will not be answering the phone for Minaya. And trust me when I tell you, Minaya had nothing to do with this hire.
The Mets are trying to bring in as many quality baseball people as possible, so not only can they try to right the ship for 2010, but when they eventually do get rid of Minaya, they have internal options.
In my opinion, Krivsky will be the next GM of the Mets.
At this point, Minaya is just a fugure head. He is the Bobby Bowden of the Mets–minus the success or credibility.
From what I have been hearing, Minaya has little or no power with the Mets anymore. Jeff Wilpon is the one calling the shots in Flushing.
The only reason the Mets have not fired Minaya after his disaster both on and off the field is because he signed a three-year extension that just kicks in next year and the Mets don't want to pay his salary.
Are there two bigger lame ducks in baseball than Minaya and Jerry Manuel?
Last month the Mets hired Wally Backman, who is a good bet to replace Manuel–to manage the Brooklyn Cyclones–a move I have been saying the Mets should make for years. And now they have hired Minaya's eventual replacement in Krivsky.
My guess is Minaya and Manuel won't be around for the 2011 season.
This will be Krivsky's second stint with the Mets. He held the same title in 2008 before leaving to take a similar position with the Baltimore Orioles in 2009.
The fact Krivsky would leave a team and an organization on the rise to come to a dysfunctional organization just strengthens my belief that he came to the Mets to eventually become the GM.
You can follow The Ghost of Moonlight Graham on Twitter @ theghostofmlg


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Top crackers as directed; place in single layer on microwaveable plate. Microwave on HIGH 10 to 15 sec. or until cheese is melted.
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