text:
Popular Now
Popular Now
Popular Now
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01803 865913
+44 1803 865913
648 pages, Col illus throughout
This is a monumental and extraordinarily beautiful guide to the Earth's natural wonders. 5 years in the making, covering over 5,000 species, "The Natural History Book" is one-of-a-kind; the only book to offer a complete survey of the Earth's natural history. Each geological and biological grouping is introduced and explained in an engaging and highly informative way, making it the perfect addition to every family bookshelf, as well as an ideal gift for every nature lover. It is packed with thousands of stunning, specially commissioned photographs, and written by a worldwide team of natural history experts. From granites to grape vines, from microbes to mammals, "The Natural History Book" is a true visual dictionary of every kingdom of life.
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text: Hey guys, For the ones who came at my last car show, thanks you for the support and hope you guys had a good time. We're at it again and coming up on our second show next Sunday June 29. Its FREE REGISTRATION and there is LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE!!! Last show we had over 50+ cars and I had to turn people away. Hope to see you guys there!!!! Any questions please don't hesitate to call my store or shoot me a message. [/URL][/IMG]

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Hinckley, 2013, United States
Why I chose Fletcher: I chose Fletcher because of its superior standing in the International Relations community, as well as for the opportunity to study in a location that fosters an environment where tomorrow's leaders meet and forge relationships. The diversity of the student body and the strong sense of community one feels as soon as he/she arrives are unparalleled. The atmosphere at Fletcher amongst the students and faculty is one of cooperation and collaboration; everyone here is looking to help each other succeed.
How has Fletcher Broadened your global perspective? Fletcher's curriculum, as well as the diversity of the student body, has expanded my views of the social and political forces that shape our world. My relationships with students from across the globe have increased my understanding of how our world is interconnected. Fletcher's diversity and curriculum fosters cooperation and respect for everyone's values and helps students broaden their international views.
Favorite magazine:
Foreign Affairs
Favorite food:
Favorite music:
Los Fabulosos Cadillacs
Favorite city:
San Diego
Experience when you felt furthest from home:
Operation Unified Assistance: providing tsunami relief
Major, United States Marine Corps


text:
Sapphire Pure Black X58 Review
Closer Look:
The BIOS used on the Sapphire Pure Black X58 is by American Megatrends and is not so complex that you will get lost easily. Everything is laid out in an easy to locate ladder style arrangement. Most motherboard manufacturers provide a software tool for use in the operating system to tweak a predefined set of items including voltages and the bclock setting. Sapphire is no different with their TRIXX utility. Some of these utilities are quite elaborate and others less robust but it gives the novice overclocker a starting point. In the end, applying the settings you choose is best done in the BIOS. The version used in the testing of the Pure Black X58 is 080016
The main section is the first screen you get to see when you boot into the BIOS by hitting the delete key. If contains basic information about the CPU and memory along with the time and date.
Under this tab you will be making all the changes that will improve the performance of your system. The bclock, voltages and memory timings all fall under this tab. Additionally you have the ability to save specific BIOS settings to a profile that can be loaded. Other than the profile options there are three submenus that contain the CPU specific settings. Under CPU configuration you can enable or disable the energy saving technologies such as C1E and Intel Speedstep as well as turning on or off Intel Hyper-threading and Turbo Boost technology. Under Memory Timing configuration you can set the latencies of the installed system memory or allow the XMP profile to take the guesswork out of the settings. The third submenu is Voltage Configuration. Under this tab you can manipulate the voltages applied to the on board and installed components including the CPU , memory and chipsets in order to feed the components the voltages needed to perform at the speeds you want to run. An interesting adjustment being seen more frequently now is the PWM frequency adjustment.
Under this tab you are able to configure and enable or disable the onboard hardware. The IEE1394a controller, sound controller, SATA 3 controller, Marvell LAN controller and debug LED functionality are all items that can controlled. The Hardware Health configuration functions are viewable under this tab. USB and power down modes can be set as well.
IDE Busmaster functions and allocating IRQ settings manually are options under this tab.
Under this tab you have the ability to identify which drives will be the primary boot drives and the order in which they are polled during the boot sequence. Other features such as boot up Num lock and Quick boot and what errors will stop the post sequence are set in this menu.
Security & Exit:
Under the Security tab you have the ability to set a password to protect the BIOS from any unwanted intrusion such as when the board is used in an office setting. You don't want an adventurous soul compromising the stability of the platform. The Exit tab allows you to exit the BIOS in several different ways as well as giving you the ability to load up the optimal BIOS settings after a failed post attempt.
Most of the adjustments for voltages are not as granular as you see on high end motherboard offerings but the settings available are enough to get you where you want to go. Will the Pure Black X58 be an 'also ran' or deliver an increased level of performance than the comparison field? That is the question to be answered.


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WEST PALM BEACH -- The decomposed body of a woman was found Wednesday night by police in a vacant building on North Dixie Highway , according to police.
The unidentified woman had been dead for at least five to seven days when she discovered about 8:24 p.m., according to detective Ron Kirkman. Her age is unknown.
An autopsy will be performed today to determine the cause of death.


text:
PENTICTON - On Saturday afternoon, a young woman witnessed a collision between a taxi and a young cyclist. She was the only one who reported the incident to RCMP even though there were numerous people around the area.
Cory Nelmes, 23, called 911 after she saw a yellow Penticton taxi, turning right, hit a boy in the abdomen as he went across the intersection on his bike.
"I can't get the image out of my mind," Nelmes said.
She turned her car around, parked and ran over to the boy, who wasn't any older than 13, she said. He didn't want medical attention, said he just wanted to go home and off he went.
Nelmes filed a police report, but RCMP said they aren't following up with the case because there isn't enough evidence.
RCMP didn't follow up with the taxi company, but the driver, AJ Raike, said the boy rode his bike into the car when Raike was stopped at a stop sign.
"He hit me in the front bumper...and he ran away," Raike said.
He got out of the car and asked if the boy was OK but he left immediately after it happened, he said.
Nelmes said she was shocked no one else called RCMP to report the collision.
"Summer is coming and kids are excited and as members of this community it is everyone's duty to ensure all of our members are safe," Nelmes said.
"I stopped even though it interrupted my day and made me late. Where was everyone else that day? What was more important than an injured child—what if that was your family or yourself? Wouldn't you want people to stop and help?" she said.
To contact the reporter for this story, email Meaghan Archer at email@example.com or call 250-488-3065. To contact the editor, email email@example.com or call 250-718-2724.


text:
News Story
Thousand Oaks / Assault with a deadly weapon / stabbing
Nature of Incident:
Assault with a deadly weapon / stabbing
Report Number:
3000 block of Apache Circle ' Thousand Oaks
Date & Time:
03/29/12 / 1748 hours
Unit Responsible:
East County Major Crimes
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (W)itnesses (D)ecedent
City of Residence
(V) Cass Alan Paley
(V) Jeweliette Valmont
(S) Rudy Daniel Alvarado
Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks
Thousand Oaks
On 03-29-12, Cass Paley and his roommate Rudy Daniel Alvarado got into an argument on the telephone over a business deal. When Paley arrived home, Alvarado attacked Paley who was still sitting in his vehicle, parked in the driveway. Alvarado punched Paley while wearing 'metal knuckles' and then stabbed Paley in the left side of his abdomen. Paley was able to drive away from the scene and meet with AMR and County Fire personnel who were staging nearby. Alvarado then battered his girlfriend, Jeweliette Valmont, who intervened in the attack.
Paley was transported to the Los Robles Hospital where he was treated for the stab wound.
Alvarado was arrested at the scene and booked at the Main Jail for assault with a deadly weapon, domestic violence and possession of metal knuckles.
Deputy Preparing Media Release:
Detective Todd Welty
Media Release Date:
Follow-Up Contact:
Detective Todd Welty 805.494.8216
Approved by:
Captain O'Hanlon


text:
Health Reform
The North Carolina Medical Society (NCMS) has long advocated that all Americans should have health insurance and access to high quality, affordable health care, regardless of employment or health status. North Carolina's physicians are actively engaged in making sure that reforms preserve and enhance the patient-doctor relationship. Check out a listing of resources to assist patients in adapting to a changing health market.
Health Reform Resources
- Healthcare.Gov - Find out more about how to get health insurance coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, sometimes known as the health insurance "exchange."
- NC's Department of Health & Human Services: http://www.hhs.gov/healthcare/ – This site provides North Carolina residents information regarding health reform and how to get insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace.
- Health Insurance Smart NC: A resource from the NC Department of Insurance, this site can identify enrollment opportunities for health insurance coverage and help you understand your rights and responsibilities regarding health insurance coverage.
- Kaiser Family Foundation Health Reform Gateway – Presented by the Kaiser Family Foundation, this website offers a number of helpful resources for health insurance consumers.
- Fact Sheets from FamiliesUSA.org – check out the complete list of fact sheets by visiting: http://familiesusa.org/resources/resources-for-consumers/.
- Understanding the Requirement to Have Health Insurance (PDF) – This fact sheet presented by FamiliesUSA.org summarizes the new health reform requirements that mandate insurance coverage.
Types of Exemptions from the Requirement to Have Health Insurance (PDF)
- Income Guidelines for Getting and Using Financial Assistance for Health Insurance (PDF)
- ConsumerReports' Health Reform: 7 Things You Need to Know Now (PDF)
Problems with Insurance Companies or Health Plans:
The North Carolina Medical Society is an advocacy organization supporting physicians and their patients. We are unable, however, to resolve specific patient inquiries such as bills or claims, medical necessity or similar complaints patients may have regarding insurance companies, health plans or physician offices. There are many excellent resources devoted to helping patients with these concerns. Below are some resources that may be of assistance:
Consumer Resources
Issues with Insurance or Health Plan Laws:
- Health Insurance Smart NC: A resource from the NC Department of Insurance, this site can help you file complaints or appeals with your health insurance company and help you request an external review if your health insurance claim was denied.
Problems with Medicare, Medicare Supplemental Insurance, Long Term Care Insurance:
- Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at 1-800-443-9354 or visit http://www.ncdoi.com/SHIIP/;
- Palmetto GBA (North Carolina's Medicare administrator) 1-800-Medicare (1-800 633-4227)
- Medicare.gov
New Medicare Patients Looking for Physicians:
- Contact the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) at 1-800-443-9354. Also, contact local hospitals and ask to speak to their Physician Referral Service or other offices that refer patients to physicians.
Concerns Regarding Physicians or Physician's Offices:
- Contact the North Carolina Medical Board at 1-800-546-5664 or online at http://www.ncmedboard.org. To get further information regarding a specific physician, use their "Look Up a Licensee" link on the right hand side of the homepage.
Medical Conditions
The following information is intended to assist patients who are seeking more information regarding medical conditions and ways to ensure better health. In addition, information is provided to empower you as the patient to work with your physician to ensure the best quality of care is provided.
- American Cancer Society [http://www.cancer.org] – The American Cancer Society's site is dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem through prevention and awareness. The site also seeks to diminish suffering from cancer and provides information pertaining to all cancer types, as well as support for family members and cancer survivors.
- American Diabetes Association [http://www.diabetes.org] – The American Diabetes Association website is dedicated to helping those with the disease cope with their condition, and it focuses on research, education, and prevention of the disease. All information is also available in Spanish
Heart Conditions
- American Heart Association [http://www.americanheart.org] – This comprehensive website covers various heart-related issues, from judging the warning signs of heart problems to examining different heart conditions, and offering health lifestyle information for children and adults.
Pulmonary Issues – asthma, COPD, lung cancer, smoking cessation
- American Lung Association [http://www.lungusa.org] – A wide-ranging website that covers issues relating to breathing, such as asthma, emphysema, allergies, smoking cessation, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and much more.
- North Carolina Tobacco Use Quitline Program
Patient/Physician Resources
Maintaining good health requires that patients empower themselves through education and awareness of their condition and the treatment methods available to them. In addition, patients can take a proactive role in ensuring their safety throughout their treatment by developing an effective relationship with their physician and by taking responsibility for keeping an accurate account of their medical conditions and medications. The following links are helpful in learning what steps you as a patient can take to ensure quality care and to prevent medical errors.
Patient Health Records
- Patient Health Snapshot - Developed by the NCMS Quality of Care and Performance Improvement Committee, this downloadable form helps you as the patient take charge of your health care by accurately listing your past and present medical conditions, allergies to medications, and prescription medication history. Such information is important for phyusicians to have, expecially in case of emergency.
- Breve resumen de la salud del paciente Patient Health Snapshot (Spanish-version)
- ICE: In Case of Emergency This website provides instructions and tools to be better prepared for emergency situations, including adding the contact "ICE" to your cell phone to designate an emergency contact.
Find a Physician
- NC Medical Society Membership Directory – View over 12,000 names of member physicians, physician assistants, residents, and students; search by name, city, specialty, or county and then download your results.
- NC Medical Board [http://www.ncmedboard.org] – The NC Medical Board manages the licensing of medical providers throughout the state. "Look up a Licensee" to find current contact information and educational background.


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Gold prospecting in Jericho with the kids.
In 1968 I started a motorcycle business, it went very well and made enough profit for me to hire a manager. This enabled me to have the time to go prospecting for gold again, this time with plenty of off-road motorcycles to enable access to places even a 4 wheel drive could not go.
I also had a wife and 2 children now old enough to take camping, so going back to the gold-fields for recreation was easy as we already had the equipment needed to have fun and see a lot more of the area I had known so well as a kid.
Our gold prospecting camp site.
I had not been back to Jericho for many years, and decided to take my Ford F100 in to Jericho down the four wheel drive track with a load of bikes on board. We also took in a station wagon for the extra passengers, our friends and their kids as well.
With the bikes we were able to do short rides to some of the mines we could not reach quickly on foot, and to explore more of the upper Thompson river on day trips.
It took a while to manoeuvre the loaded pick-up and
station wagon down the same old track, but without any trees across the
road it was reasonably easy to get in to the river bank and set up
We stayed a week this time and found many more diggings, tailings from several of the larger gold mines and full sized goldmine adits (horizontal mine entrances) large enough for a train to pass through.
Some mines are safe to enter, but NEVER go underground if you do not have a guide who knows the terrain well enough to keep you as safe as possible. Investigating old mines takes expertise and local knowledge as you will know if you read my other hub on the BB Quartz mine.
On the second day we had taken the main track past Red Jacket to Blue Jacket, yet another abandoned area that used to be a mining settlement. We spent a fantastic morning and afternoon panning for gold and collecting samples.On the way we came across a lot of old mining equipment, including a huge wooden wheel used to drive a 20 head crusher to crush the rock and release the gold.
On the way back, we found a smooth and fast track and I opened my big bore two stroke motorcycle's throttle for a short thrill on an open stretch of track.I was a long way in front of the others when I came hurling in to a corner only to find most of the road missing!
I somehow got the big Kawasaki to jump over the smallest part of the wash out, and had time to warn my friends as well. We laughed at our narrow escape, then I looked in the hole in the track and underneath was a cave about 30 ft deep.It was smooth walled and almost looked man made. Further investigation revealed it was yet another gold mine.
We came back to spend the day in this very safe and comfortable place to fossick and pan.for gold. We got a few colours in the pan as well as some gemstones and the kids got to go underground. The daytime temperature in the summer is quite hot, so underground is the ideal place to be on a hot day in the bush.
My son with his first fish
Children love camping! They lay on an air bed in the creek and travelled under the track though a tunnel the miners had cut and blasted through the solid rock when they moved the creek to sluice for gold. They fished for mountain or rainbow trout for dinner and usual caught at least two.
They went looking for animals and birds, and played ball in the water. In short, they all had a wonderful time, and so did the adults.We never leave the children without at least one adult in an area with goldmines.
A couple of tips:
- Do not let your children wander on their own near these types of diggings, they could disappear down a shaft.
- Watch your kids at all times in the bush and especially if they are swimming or playing in the water, it is so easy to slip and bump your head on a rock etc.
Hunting for gold around the old deserted gold mines, looking for exposed quartz reefs and panning for alluvial gold is one of the most enjoyable and relaxing activities for me.
What a great adventure! Brought back a lot of memories for me too. Thank you.
Sounds like you had a great time and made some good memories. Good hub!
yet to go camping with my kids, something to look forward to.
Great adventure and interesting to read about, as I have never experienced anything remotely close to this.
This sounds like it was another great trip and adventure with the family. I remember when i was in boarding school(in England), just taking a walking trip to the New Forest in Hampshire was a thrill for me. Never had the opportunity to camp out though, but i wish i had. Was always too scared of bugs, squirrels and stuff, then.
If i had known then. At least i'll have fonder memories now of such adventures, because i know deep down i have an adventurous spirit.
Another nice hub Earnest.
Great hub. Reading this brought me back to our camping days with my daughter and niece. What wonderful memories we formed around those campfires and hikes. Isn't that what it's all about...making memories.
My kids and I spent a whole lotta time camping when they were younger. And they actually were catching dinner? Even better!
Great hub. My kids love camping, can only imagine how much they'd love it with the lure of a nearby gold mine. Not to mention my son's love for motorcycles. Thanks for the entertainment!
Yes yes yes such fun times and they will never be forgotten....Loved it too...still do just harder these days for this old body...Thanks for a fun trip...:O) Hugs
Family, friends, bikes and a camping trip! What more would you need? Good one Earnest!
It's so great to hear about these adventures. Fun to think about.
Earnest, this was quite interesting. It's nice to hear about your family experience.
Nice one Earnest. I have simlar memories of friends and kids, albeit in England - on the south coast of Devon to be precise. The summers seemed to last longer then ..................... ah well.
Wow 1968 well I was not born yet lol so I never saw you there. Wow camping is heaps fun, mind you I have only been once, I took my hair-dryer got laughed at, as there was no electricity of course hahah. Great hub Earnest (hugs)


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Friday, March 10, 2006
Marion Barry Gets 3 Years Probation for Tax Evasion
Interesting Wasahington Post article, Barry Sentenced to Three Years of Probation:
A subdued, apologetic D.C. Council member Marion Barry was sentenced yesterday to three years of supervised probation for misdemeanor charges based on his failure to file income tax returns. The former four-term mayor, who failed a court-ordered drug test after his guilty plea in the fall, must undergo further drug testing as a condition of his probation.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah A. Robinson said Barry also must negotiate a plan to settle his tax debt: Based on preliminary returns, he could owe as much as $246,000 after failing to file federal and D.C. returns for six years....
Barry told Robinson that he did not pay taxes from 1999 to 2004 -- years in which he was a consultant and, prosecutors said, earned more than $530,000 -- because he was broke.
(Hat Tip: White Collar Crime Prof Blog.)
Once again Barry beats the Justice system. I doubt seriously if this news will make it to the surface again, and we will most likely find out years from now that the taxes have still not been paid. This guy must be made of teflon as nothing seems to stick.
Posted by: Richard | Jun 5, 2006 9:23:12 AM


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With most of the emphasis being on ancient Indian beauty rituals and traditional ways of looking after their hair and skin, the South Indian customs have always been one of the most natural methods of attaining beauty. And that is the secret behind their next to perfect looks! And giving you access to these secrets is the main aim of this article.
1. Using coconut:
People from the Southern states of India use a vast amount of coconut in their daily diet as well as in their beauty regime. Drinking coconut water frequently gives them a naturally glowing face. Coconut contains high amount of fiber, vitamins, nutrients and minerals. It is also used in many dishes like chutney, coconut rice and pickle, and is the most commonly used oil for cooking in their kitchen is coconut oil. If you're not sure of including coconut in your food, try having it as a fruit.
2. Yoga:
South Indian women are known for their curvaceous figure, and one of the biggest secrets behind their curvy, fit bodies is yoga. Yoga is a powerful medium of exercise that gives peace of mind and soothes your senses. A cleansing and soothing of the senses, in turn, leads to a glowing face, calm mind and healthy body. Yoga is also helpful in removing wrinkles, signs of premature aging, acne, improper digestion and various other problems.
3. Ayurveda:
Ayurvedic face packs are a common ingredient in most of the beauty products that are popular in south India. Ayurveda is known for its many beneficial properties, and one of its main benefits is that it results in a healthy, glowing skin and clear complexion without causing any kind of damage to skin.
4. Massage:
South Indian massage therapies are not only popular with the local residents, but have been a big hit in other parts of the country, as well as abroad. The traditional south Indian massage is loaded with many health benefits that not only work on your skin and hair, but also help cleanse your system. If you're not going for one, you can try your very own at home. Simply massage some coconut oil on your body every night before going to bed. This is a great way to stimulate blood circulation and give you soft, glowing skin.
5. Eyes:
Women from South India have dark black eyes that they further like to accentuate by applying kohl. It is said that one of the natural methods they use to get bright beautiful eyes is to apply sesame oil on their lower feet.
6. Aromatherapy facials:
Home facials are an essential routine amongst south Indian beauties. Aromatic oils are used to exfoliate, cleanse, hydrate and soothe the skin. These facials not only treat the skin from outside, but also help in providing calming and antioxidant benefits. This further stimulates circulation and helps release toxins, tightens your skin, reduces wrinkles and puffiness and gives you a glowing complexion.
7. Disciplined lifestyle:
A disciplined lifestyle is the key to good health. Getting regular sleep for at least 6-8 hours, waking up early in the morning and adopting good eating habits are all secrets to a healthy and beautiful you – both from the inside as well as from the outside.
8. Hair Care:
Women from Southern India mostly have natural, thick black hair. To increase the health of your hair, you need to follow a perfect routine for hair.
- Follow a regular coconut oil massage routine to promote blood circulation
- Wash your hair with water on a regular basis and shampoo only twice a week
- Use mild and natural shampoos that include brahmi and amla, and avoid ones with harsh chemicals
9. Home Remedies for Hair
If you are finding it difficult with your dull hair, just open your kitchen pantry and you will find wonderful ingredients to get beautiful hair. Few such simple remedies are:
- Apply curd on your hair and leave on for a few minutes before rinsing. This is a great way to get thick, shiny hair.
- Massaging lemon juice on the scalp is a great way to cleanse your scalp of any dandruff or flakes.
10. Drink water:
Water is one of the most beneficial products that you can ever use for your overall wellbeing. Consume at least 8 glasses of water every day to cleanse your system, flush out toxins and get a glowing and radiant skin. It is also very good for your hair.
These are the top beauty tips for south Indian. They are all natural beauty secrets behind the beautiful eyes, glowing skin tone and shiny mane of south Indian beauties. Stay beautiful! Stay gorgeous!


text:
Flying - Confessions of a Free Woman, Part 2
All series episodes
About This Episode
In this two part documentary, master storyteller Jennifer Fox lays bare her own turbulent life to penetrate what it means to be a free woman today. As her drama of work and relationships unfolds over four years, our protagonist travels to over seventeen countries to understand how diverse women define their lives when there is no map.
Employing an ingenious new camera technique called "passing the camera", Fox creates a documentary language that mirrors the special way women communicate. Over intimate conversations around kitchen tables from South Africa and Russia to India and Pakistan, she initiates a groundbreaking dialogue among women, illuminating universal concerns across race, class and nationality.


text:
- Rich Cardot
- Rick Cornell
- Rob Leavens
- Dave Vanable
- Erika James
- Carolyn Bryson
- Tom Simpson
- Roch. Off-Campus Housing
"So good that I want to keep it a secret!!! I buy all my appliances there for my house and all my units. Their service team is the best around and they never try to over-sell you. They've earned my business the good old fashion way. Amazing service and great prices."
"I am and will continue to be a repeat customer! These guys know appliances and are willing to help way above and beyond! "
"I have used Rochester Appliance 4 times, with great results each time. They had parts in stock, were able to help me over the phone before I got there, and also gave me tips on the repair. When I asked what it would cost for them to do the repair I was surprised at how reasonable it was. The next time I might not do it myself!"
"These guys are fantastic - ethical, friendly, fast, efficient, just great. HIGHLY recommend."
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Need diagnosis help?Talk to a tech! Call us at (585) 272-9933
Satisfaction Guaranteed
12 mo mo
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Delivery Charge


text:
Kep - Heart of Lennox Head
Apartment, Lennox Head
Rated 5 out of 5 stars 1 review
Instant confirmation
From $121 per night {{quote.pricing.message}} Total {{quote.pricing.price | format:'currency':'short'}} for
Min 2 - 7 nights stay
Directly opposite Seven Mile Beach and above the shops of Lennox Village, you will have everything you need on a holiday at your fingertips. An ocean facing balcony allows you to enjoy the sea air while the waves rock you to sleep at night.
Linen and towels are supplied in all of our holiday homes for 14 nights. If the booking exceeds 14 nights additional fees will apply on top of the quoted price as fresh linen will be delivered and the existing linen will be removed.
1 Car Spaces
In the Heart of Lennox Head
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Select request booking to access the quote calculator and to check availability.
Enter your check in and check out dates to see availability and a total price.
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text:
Atlassian Sourcetree is a free Git and Mercurial client for Windows.
Atlassian Sourcetree is a free Git and Mercurial client for Mac.
lefty is a small utility for JACK to create a left-handed keyboard, in which pitches increase from right to left. Pitch is symmetrical around the d natural above middle C. To use, start lefty and using qjackctl or other means, map your keyboard's midi out to lefty's midi in, and lefty's midi out to anywhere else you like. License ======= Copyright (c) 2011, Jacob Smullyan All rights reserved. Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met: * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer. * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.


text:
To Contact Rabbi Cohen please email email@example.com or complete the form below:
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No part of this website nor any of the documents contained therein may be reproducedor transmitted in any form without the prior written permission of Rabbi Dr Jeffrey M Cohen.
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text:
REGARDLESS of who wins the presidential election, 1992 will be remembered as a year that reshaped the American political landscape. For confirmation of that, voters won't have to look farther than their congressional delegations and state legislatures.
A remarkable changing of the guard is about to take place in Congress. Retirements, redistricting, and anti-incumbent feelings are combining to install new occupants in up to a quarter of the 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
It's not clear what new agendas these freshman lawmakers may bring to Washington - all, however, will have a passionate interest in change.
The partisan makeup of the House is not likely to be as altered as Republicans had hoped back when the Gulf war victory pointed to a GOP triumph. Recent surveys indicate that the Democratic edge might even widen slightly, thanks to the triumph of the economy over all other issues.
The indelible impression left on tomorrow's victors - whether presidential, congressional, Republican, or Democratic - will be of a public insistent that something be done to revive the economy. Economists may argue that forces largely beyond the control of politicians - credit flows, markets, entrepreneurial energy - are already starting to do this job. But a laissez-faire approach to recovery won't play well in Washington next year, even if the GOP does better than anticipated.
The economic imperative will be no less dominant among state lawmakers, many of whom will have to deal with fiscal crises next year. The total of financial reserves available to state governments, a measure of their fiscal elbow room, has sunk to a 15-year low, according to the National Governors' Association. The outlook for expanded revenue in the year ahead is dim.
The National Conference of State Legislatures estimates that at least one-fifth of the country's 7,461 legislators will be replaced. Some states will have even larger turnover: California, for example, will wave goodbye to 36 percent of its current lawmakers.
Voters in 14 states may go beyond this extraordinary "natural" turnover to approve initiatives that limit the terms of local and national legislators. These measures have wide public support and little opposition from office-holders wary of taking on anti-incumbent forces.
That's troubling for at least three reasons: Term limits are a quick-fix substitute for more meaningful campaign reform; they sell short the public's right to vote in or out whomever it wants; and, as applied to Congress, they may violate the constitutionally established qualifications for office.
Nonetheless, term limits evidence a deep desire to break through governmental logjams and money-driven politics. Finding more constructive ways to respond to that desire should be a prime objective for the incoming class of incumbents.


text:
April 2004, Part 4
Jim Miller on Politics
Pseudo-Random Thoughts
Indian Art For Art's Sake: This New York Times article begins with a provocative question.
Can a carved and painted Native American mask from the 19th century provide the same aesthetic frisson as, say, a 20th-century Modernist work?That led me to look at the online exhibition here, where you can find works like this late 19th century Comanche baby carrier.
Which is, in fact, quite beautiful, more so, to my eye than most 20th-century Modernist work. (I'm not good at measuring aesthetic frissons, so I won't try to make that comparison.)
Now I don't doubt that some Indian art can be treated as modern art, as the article and the exhibition argue. Nor do I think there is anything especially wrong with doing that. But I do think we should remember that the artists and craftsmen who made these objects may not have been trying to inspire aesthetic frissons. It wouldn't surprise me to learn that the markings on that baby carrier are clan, tribal, or even religious symbols. Art critics can force all those objects into their aesthetic categories, but I think we show more respect for those who created them if we try to understand their motives.
(To see the online exhibition, you'll need the flash plug-in. And I should warn you that the objects are divided into categories that I found incomprehensible, "idea, emotion, intimacy, movement, integrity, vocabulary, and composition". The Comanche baby carrier is in the "vocabulary" category, but a very similar Kiowa baby carrier is in the "movement" category. Despite all that, I think you'll find the exhibition worth your time, because many of the objects are quite beautiful, whatever the motives of the artists may have been.)
- 2:31 PM, 30 April 2004
Oops! As an emailer pointed out, I gave the wrong category for the Comanche baby carrier. I've corrected it above. Well, I did say that I found the categories incomprehensible. And I should have mentioned that I used Paint Shop Pro to adjust the photo after I downloaded it.
- 5:59 AM, 1 May 2004 [link]
Getting The Basics Right: I am still surprised, though I shouldn't be, by how often I see mistakes like this one, from an article surveying election prospects in key states.
Iowa (7 electoral votes): Mr. Gore easily won this strongly Democratic state, but it has turned into a struggle for Mr. Kerry that speaks volumes about his weakness in the pivotal Midwest. An American Research Group poll of 600 registered, likely voters conducted April 18-21 showed Mr. Bush trailing by a single point — 47 percent to 46 percent. Mr. Nader is at 3 percent. "If we can't win in Iowa, where can we win?" said a frustrated Democratic official.Iowa is not a strongly Democratic state, and Gore did not win it easily. Let's flip open the 2004 edition of the Almanac of American Politics for the facts. There are 627,520 voters registered as Republicans, 576,725 as Democrats, and 769,188 as independents. Both houses of the state legislature are controlled by Republicans, though not by large margins (29-21 and 54-46). The Republicans have 4 of the 5 House seats. The senior senator, Charles Grassley, is a Republican, and the junior senator, Tom Harkin, is a Democrat. Grassley has won reelection easily; Harkin has had some close contests. The current governor, Tom Vilsack, is a Democrat, but he is the first since 1968.
In 2000, Al Gore won the state by just 4,144 votes, with 638,517 votes to 634,373 votes for Bush. That's not what I would call an easy victory.
Overall, I would call Iowa a swing state, leaning Republican in local politics. In fact, given the current Republican edge in registration, I would have expected Bush to have carried the state in 2000. That he did not is most likely explained by the lingering effects of the hard times in farm states during the 1980s.
(Minor technical point: Lambro writes "registered, likely", which is confusing because "likely" voters are a subset of "registered" voters. Typically, in political polls, the interviewer begins by asking whether the person they are talking to is registered. If not, they stop the interview at that point. Assessing who is likely to vote is much harder, and different polling firms use different questions to decide that. The ARG poll was of likely voters.)
- 7:30 AM, 30 April 2004 [link]
If You Needed More Evidence that the 9/11 Commission is a time wasting farce, here it is.
Two of the Democratic commissioners left the session [with Bush and Cheney] about an hour early. Vice Chairman Lee H. Hamilton was scheduled to introduce the Canadian prime minister at a luncheon, and former Nebraska senator Bob Kerrey left to meet with Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-N.M.) on funding issues related to New School University, where Kerrey serves as president.When I first saw this story on Drudge, I wasn't sure whether to believe it, but it's true. The questioning of the President and the Vice President was so unimportant that Hamilton could not find some one else to make an introduction and Kerrey could not reschedule a routine meeting.
Why did they skip out? Because the session wasn't on TV, much to the disappointment of New York Times writer Alessandra Staley. For Ms. Staley, finding a way to fight the war on terrorism is all very well, but not as important as a TV show.
And I don't think it's an accident that the New York Times, which has been trying to pump up this farce, does not name the commissioners who walked out, or mention their party, in its main story on the session. Can you imagine a sports story that said two players left a game early "because of other appointments", but did not name the players or their team?
- 5:55 AM, 30 April 2004
More: In contrast to the New York Times, the New York Post gave full coverage to the walk out. Sometimes the open partisanship of the Post beats the sneaky partisanship of the Times.
- 7:51 AM, 2 May 2004 [link]
Who Are We Fighting? I don't claim to be an expert on Iraq, and so I have been puzzled by that question over the last few months, especially after Saddam was captured. Before he was pulled out of his spider hole, most of the attacks on our troops came, as far as I could tell from news reports, from Baathist bitter enders. And, as I recall, after his capture, the attacks declined for a time, which would fit that explanation. I saw different suggestions for the rise afterwards, foreign terrorists, Iranian agents, Shiite extremists, and so on. I don't doubt that all of these played some part.
But now there is an answer available from our intelligence, which says that many of the attacks are coming from resurgent Baathists, put in place before the liberation of Iraq.
A Pentagon intelligence report has concluded that many bombings against Americans and their allies in Iraq, and the more sophisticated of the guerrilla attacks in Falluja, are organized and often carried out by members of Saddam Hussein's secret service, who planned for the insurgency even before the fall of Baghdad.Supposing this is true — and unlike the New York Times I see no reason to doubt the report — then the lull in the attacks after last November requires an explanation. What decreased the attacks then and increased them now? The first seems easier to understand. The death of Saddam's sons and the capture of Saddam and other high ranking Baathists naturally discouraged the forces left behind, even though they may have prepared for that possibility.
But what explains the Baathist revival? I can only speculate, but several things come to mind. The shock and awe after our swift battlefield victories and the depression after the loss of many of their leaders may have worn off, as they got to know us and see some of our weaknesses. Our unwillingness to be as hard on resistance as they would be encouraged their belief that we were soft and had no stomach for casualties. Propaganda from al Jazeera and similar sources began, as they must have known, to turn some of the population against us. And the success of the Madrid bombing showed them how wobbly some of our allies were.
An irregular force without substantial outside support can succeed against us only if we give up, though you see contradictory claims from time to time. (Including a bizarre one from one Sandra Mackey in today's New York Times, so foolish that I won't link to it, saying that the United States can not even defeat Sunni tribes. Hitler and Tojo, yes, the tribes of Falluja, no.) So Baathist morale will depend very much on their estimate of our staying power. For now, as some have said, they are pinning part of their hopes on driving George Bush from office. John Kerry may say that he will not abandon Iraq, and may mean it, but he has not convinced the Baathist diehards of that.
It is unpleasant to speculate that the conflict in Iraq is being prolonged and hundreds are dying in order to influence our election this November, but I think it may be true. It would not be the first time in our history this has happened. In 1864, the Southern forces tried hard to show that Lincoln's war was a failure. Lincoln's election victory was made possible, in part, by the successes of the Union armies on the battlefield, especially Sherman's capture of Atlanta. We are unlikely to see anything as dramatic this year, but I do expect enough successes to ensure a Republican victory this year, as in 1864.
I am not predicting, even if my speculation is correct, that George Bush's reelection will end Baathist resistance, but I do think it might help.
- 5:41 PM, 29 April 2004 [link]
Oliver North Versus John Kerry: Most of the time when I see political parties switching positions with changing circumstances, I am just amused. Almost no one is fooled when the party that favored new ideas and fresh thinking in opposition touts experience and stability when in office. But the fevered efforts by John Kerry, the Democratic party, and many journalists (a group less and less distinguishable from the left wing of the Democratic party) to make his military record an answer to any charge have gone beyond the usual hypocrisy.
Try this thought experiment. Suppose that John Kerry was running for Senate against Oliver North, who did run for the Senate from Virginia. John Kerry's Vietnam record shows, from what I have read, physical heroism and the ability to lead a small group. Oliver North's Vietnam record shows, again from what I have read, the same qualities, perhaps to a greater extent. (There's a brief description of his record in this biography. North won the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and two Purple Hearts during his time in Vietnam.) Would any of those now touting Kerry's record say that North was better because his service in Vietnam was more impressive. Of course not.
Kerry himself attacked North severely during the Iran-Contra investigation. Many of those now backing Kerry despised North, some because of his military service. Some of the same journalists who now gush about Kerry's record were contemptuous of North's. If there were any Democratic politicians who thought, while North was running for office, that his service in Vietnam should stop all criticism of North, they kept it to themselves.
I had an interesting email exchange with Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat over the importance of military service in judging politicians. In my last email to him on the subject, I asked him if he had ever said that it was a big plus for earlier Republican candidates such as George H. W. Bush and Bob Dole. He never replied, conceding my point.
(For the record, I think that service as an enlisted man or low ranking officer, whether as heroic as George H. W. Bush's during World War II, or as routine as Al Gore's during Vietnam, does not say much about their fitness to be president.)
- 8:26 AM, 29 April 2004 [link]
Smart Traffic Cones: No, really. And you may be seeing them soon, so don't be startled. Here's the story on the invention.
Herds of robotic traffic cones could soon be swarming onto a highway, closing down lanes and slowing the traffic.Highway departments will have to warn us before deploying them. If I were to see a group of traffic barrels maneuvering by themselves, I'd take a second look, and I think most drivers would do the same.
- 6:52 AM, 29 April 2004 [link]
The Continuing Mystery Of Saddam's WMDs: After the overthrow of Saddam Hussein, most expected that we would find stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons quickly, just as we did after the first Gulf War. When, after a brief and partial search, David Kay did not find stockpiles, many jumped to the conclusion that the stockpiles did not exist. That seems to me not just premature, but a failure to think about the problem clearly.
The inescapable fact is that we may never know whether Saddam had stockpiles — if we do not find them. Because of the ease with which they could be hidden, the secrecy, compartmentation, and ruthlessness of Saddam's regime, and the vast area to search (all of Iraq, parts of neighboring countries, parts of the ocean, et cetera), it is possible that Saddam hid stockpiles — and that we will never find them. It is also true that we may never know for certain that Saddam destroyed his stockpiles, for much the same reasons.
Although inescapable, this is also, I agree, unsatisfactory. For many reasons, some practical, some political, we would like to know what weapons Saddam possessed and what happened to them. But wishes are not comprehensive records, which we have not found — and might not trust if we did.
Consider this point, which is almost universally ignored by those who think the matter settled. During the liberation of Iraq, Israeli officials claimed that Saddam was transferring his weapons to Syria, his neighboring Baathist state. Israeli officials have not dropped that claim; in fact, just a few days ago, Israel's military head repeated the claim.
Iraq had chemical weapons and the means to deliver them ahead of last year's US-led invasion, Israel's military chief said in an interview published today.This is not, I agree, absolute proof, but Israel's military intelligence is widely respected, even by its enemies.
And we continue to see odd bits of news like these three: Sudan just asked Syria to remove chemical weapons. Were those weapons originally Iraqi? Possibly, although I have seen reports that Syria also has a significant chemical weapons program. And then there were the stories about the planned terrorist attack in Jordan using chemical weapons, supposedly from Syria. Could they have been from Iraq originally. Again, possibly. Then there was the explosion in Iraq at a facility suspected of being a chemical weapons plant. Could the explosion have been an attempt to destroy evidence? Once more, possibly.
So we can not be certain whether Saddam had stockpiles, and, if so, whether they still exist, hidden somewhere. Anyone who claims that they are certain about the non-existence of the stockpiles is ignoring both the difficulty of the search and this additional evidence.
Those who are certain that Saddam's stockpiles do not exist miss something else, too. In the long term, programs for developing and producing chemical, biological, and nuclear weapons are a more serious problem than stockpiles. And there is no question that Saddam had such programs, although there is considerable disagreement about their extent. Both David Kay and the current head of the Iraqi Survey Group, Charles Duelfer, agree that there is substantial evidence of programs. In his interim report to Congress last March, Duelfer even mentioned one program that is new to me, an experimental railgun, most likely intended for nuclear research.
The evidence for Saddam's programs is very strong, incontrovertible in some cases, including some that were in defiance of United Nations resolutions, such as his efforts to develop longer range missiles. (Given the inaccuracy of these Iraqi missiles, it is hard to avoid thinking that Saddam intended them to carry nuclear, chemical, or biological payloads. An inaccurate missile with a conventional payload of explosives is not much of a military threat, though it can be used as a terror weapon against cities.)
Finally, if we did learn that Saddam had programs but not stockpiles, it does not necessarily affect the decision to go to war in the way some believe. As a practical matter, it would mean that the risks in overthrowing Saddam would be less than most thought, prior to the conflict. And, that the risk would increase in future years. Since Saddam would be weaker, temporarily, striking now would be a better military option than striking later.
(For more on this subject, see this critique of David Kay by Douglas Hanson, a former army officer with considerable experience with WMDs, and these two articles by investigative journalist Kenneth Timmerman, the first giving the evidence that Saddam moved weapons to Syria and the second claiming that the Iraqi Survey Group has already found WMDs. I think that conclusion goes too far, but his accumulation of evidence about weapons programs is impressive.)
- 4:47 PM, 28 April 2004
More: John Kerry agrees with me. Here are the first few lines of his reply to a multi-part question from Chris Matthews on Hardball.
Kerry: It appears, as they peel away the weapons of mass destruction issue, and--we may yet find them, Chris. Look, I want to make it clear: Who knows if a month from now, you find some weapons. You may.Since he is John Kerry, he hedges, ascribes bad motives to the Bush administration, and gets a detail wrong, but he does concede that the question is open, just as I said. (The wrong detail? Kerry said that Saddam had used only artillery shells to deliver chemical weapons. This may have been true of his attacks against the Iranians, but was definitely not true of his attacks against the Kurds.)
(If Matthews does another equally sycophantic Kerry interview, he may have to rename his show. A caller to a talk show, perhaps Tony Snow's, suggested, not "Softball", which occurred to others, but "T-Ball". From what I know of the game, that sounds about right.)
- 7:19 AM, 29 April 2004 [link]
Historical Tidbit 1, The Flower Class: Bruce Rolston's discussion of decorations reminds me of a historical tidbit that I just ran across. Nasturtium, Gladiolus, Celandine, Dianthus, and Poppy. Names of flowers, of course, but also the names of British warships during World War II. The British navy, knowing that it would need small anti-submarine ships, commissioned a class of corvettes which could be built in civilian shipyards. (The winning design was a modification of a deep-sea trawler.) All were named after flowers. The corvettes were intended for reservists and coastal patrols, but soon were patrolling the entire Atlantic, in order to follow the German U-boats.
If you read many descriptions of Atlantic convoy battles, you will find oddities like this:
That night U-556 was also moving in to attack when it was detected on sonar by Gladiolus, which called on Nasturtium and Celandine for help. Cooperating closely, the three corvettes carried out a long series of attacks, in which they expended 54 depth-charges before U-556 was forced to the surface, appearing almost underneath Gladiolus. The three corvettes opened fire at point-blank range with any weapon that could be brought to bear, whereupon the U-boat's commanding officer decided to scuttle. Gladiolus tried to board in order to save cypher documents but the boat was already sinking and the attempt had to be abandoned. Of U-556's crew, 40 were rescued and five died. (Battle Winning Tanks, Aircraft & Warships of World War II by David Miller, p. 135.)When I see Gladiolus or one of the other flower names in such descriptions, I hit a mental bump, since I don't think of flowers as warships. Others, apparently, have gotten used to it, because I have yet to find an explanation for the choice of flowers for names of a class of warships.
(The ships were also used in the American and Canadian navies; both gave them more traditional names. Here's a site with more information.)
- 10:26 AM, 28 April 2004 [link]
Decorations, Medals, Ribbons: Wonder what the differences are? Bruce Rolston has an explanation here. To complicate things, the three overlap in ways that may surprise those not familiar with the military.
(Rolston is generally quite good on military details like this, though I sometimes disagree with his judgments on larger matters.)
- 9:25 AM, 28 April 2004 [link]
Having It Both Ways: Unlike some others at the newspaper, the Boston Globe's Joan Vennochi supports John Kerry so much that most of her columns should be reported as in-kind contributions. Even so, she can't help noticing that he has a problem.
A person watching Kerry run for president wants to shake him and say, "Stop, please stop."(Ms. Vennochi forgets that there are people, mostly Republicans, who are delighted by Kerry's performances. It is not hard to see why she might miss this. Since she works at the Globe, her understanding of Republicans may be purely theoretical.)
And Vennochi misses one of the most interesting examples of Kerry having it both ways. For months, Kerry has been attacking outsourcing. But what kind of companies does Kerry invest in? Patrick Hynes has a list.
But the media has missed a bigger story about Sen. Everyone-Is-Stupid-Except-Me. Leave aside for a moment his holdings in the Pennsylvania Catsup concern. Even a cursory glance at John Kerry's most recent Personal Financial Disclosure forms (filed in 2003) shows Ted Kennedy's more liberal, junior partner is deeply invested and has personally profited from the outsourcing phenomena that haunts corporate America.So Kerry has made a lot of money on outsourcing, which is not an "atrocity", but definitely something to be discouraged — at least when it benefits people other than John Kerry.
- 6:44 AM, 27 April 2004 [link]
Corrections Policy: I've added an item to the FAQS at the right to describe my corrections policy. There is just one point in it that I would like to stress. If you notice a mistake in a post and tell me about it, you do me a favor. Although I can't offer financial rewards to those who spot mistakes, as computer scientist Donald Knuth has done for his great work, The Art of Computer Programming, I can and will thank you for your help.
- 5:07 AM, 27 April 2004 [link]
They Get Letters: But which ones do they publish? For years I have been wondering how newspapers decide which letters to print. Last year, I noted that the New York Times has much higher standards for its letters than for some of its columnists, and that the newspaper simply refuses to print letters on some subjects. And for years I have wondered about a pattern I saw in the Seattle newspapers; letters from those on the left were much more likely to call for censorship than those on the right. Does this reflect the letters they receive, or the ideas of the letters editor?
I am not the only one to be curious about this matter. For a while, three bloggers (Moira Breen, Bill Quick, and "Timekeeper" of the Horologium site) had a contest on to see who could find the silliest letters from leftists in their home town newspapers (respectively, the Portland Oregonian, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the Seattle Times and PI). That made me wonder whether those West coast newspapers received more silly letters from the left, or whether the letters don't seem silly to the people choosing to print them.
One reason I wonder about this general question is that, from time to time, I send letters to newspapers pointing out errors. More often than not, the newspapers choose not to print them, or other letters with the same correction.
Yesterday, I finally found a vague statement of the principles governing letter selection in this Seattle Times column by editorial page editor, Jim Veseley.
Normally, there is an initial wave of letters taking the most obvious position on a controversy. By the second or third day, the letters are breaking into the factions the stories produce, politically left, right or — rarely — in the middle.So, at least at the Seattle Times, they print more letters from the left advocating censorship and more truly silly letters from the left, because they get more of those letters. Or at least so Mr. Veseley believes. (I assume that isn't all of their policy. Letters from lawyers threatening lawsuits get slightly different treatment, I am certain.)
Although this is a simple policy and seems fair, it has a crucial defect. As Veseley indicates, most of the letters they receive, especially at first, are likely to be supportive of the newspaper's position, and so they publish more of these. But this cuts down on the feedback that newspapers (and every large organization, for that matter) needs. It is the letters that disagree with the newspaper that may teach the reporters and editors something they don't know. By not giving those letters priority, Veseley makes it harder for the newspaper to correct its own mistakes.
These uncorrected mistakes, over time, lead to what we have now, a very great distrust of journalists, a distrust recognized by, of all people, Arthur Sulzberger, Jr., publisher of the New York Times.
At a meeting of the American Society of Newspaper Editors and the Newspaper Association of America on Thursday, New York Times publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. discussed the issue.One reason so many of us do not trust journalists is the refusal of journalists, including some at the New York Times, to print corrections. Sulzberger seems to be unaware that many readers do try to make corrections, and have their efforts rejected — which does not encourage them to try again on another subject.
Finally, an ironic point. Some of those whom Jayson Blair lied about did contact the New York Times — and were brushed off, even if they were people most of us would trust. I am tempted to send a letter with that correction to the New York Times — but doubt very much that they would print it.
- 1:52 PM, 26 April 2004 [link]
Watch That Metaphor! Seattle PI columnist Susan Paynter is one of those journalists who inspire the fake mass disaster headline. You have probably seen versions of it for various papers; my favorite is: "Nuclear Attack Destroys New York, Women and Minorities Hardest Hit". If Paynter has ever entertained a politically incorrect idea, I missed it, so I take more amusement than I should from seeing her botch a metaphor completely in this column.
Now, increasingly, AIDS is the face of women, of people of color, of the poor, and the drug-addicted -- not a group we rush up and throw our arms around.She has forgotten one of her feminist tenets. People, particularly men, can get in serious trouble by rushing up and throwing their arms around women. Especially in Seattle, where charges of sexual harassment are enough to drive politicians from office.
And she's forgotten the main way that AIDS spreads. Women with AIDS often contracted it from throwing their arms (and more) around the wrong guy.
I don't mean to sound unsympathetic to the victims of AIDS. But the fact is that the fight against it has been hindered from the beginning by the politically correct, including Susan Paynter.
- 10:50 AM, 26 April 2004 [link]
Worth Reading: Dave Cullen's explanation of the Columbine killers. There are two common explanations of the killings.
Five years ago today, Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold murdered their classmates and teachers at Columbine High School. Most Americans have reached one of two wrong conclusions about why they did it. The first conclusion is that the pair of supposed "Trench Coat Mafia outcasts" were taking revenge against the bullies who had made school miserable for them. The second conclusion is that the massacre was inexplicable: We can never understand what drove them to such horrific violence.But the FBI experts who have studied Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold don't agree with either of those conclusions. Instead they see Harris as a classic psychopath who brought Klebold along with him. Rather than being the victim who finally strikes back at those he disliked, Harris was a cold-blooded killer, who didn't care much who his victims were.
Many, most infamously Michael Moore, exploited the Columbine killings to promote their own political views. But they could do so only by ignoring much of the evidence. For example, those who want strong controls on guns have to ignore the fact that Harris and Klebold planned to kill most of their victims with propane bombs, failing only because they got the wiring on the timers wrong.
Psychopaths are not common — civilization wouldn't be possible if they were — but they are so dangerous that every adult should have some idea about how to recognize them.
- 10:10 AM, 26 April 2004 [link]
Do As We Say, not as we do. Howard Kurtz notes that news organizations are not very good at apologies.
Reporters at President Bush's prime time news conference two weeks ago were relentless in pressing him to admit "any errors in judgment," or his "biggest mistake," or that he owes the American people an "apology."Strangely, Kurtz then goes on to wonder why editors have to resign now, when they didn't in the past. I suppose he must report to an editor, who won't mind getting a way out from Kurtz, just in case he needs one.
- 7:35 AM, 26 April 2004 [link]
John Kerry's Medal Throwing more than thirty years ago doesn't interest me as much as his current equivocation. Journalists seem to have caught Kerry in yet another contradiction.
Throughout much of his political career, Senator John Kerry, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, has faced questions about a singular event that took place 33 years ago last week: he and fellow veterans discarded medals in Washington to protest the war in Vietnam.Actually, conservatives have claiming for years that Kerry pretended to throw his own medals, but kept them and has them on display in his Senate office. And, although the New York Times doesn't mention it, many of those who said they were veterans during these protests were not.
Now a 1971 tape has surfaced which appears to show Kerry saying that he had thrown away medals that day, in contradiction to what he now says, that he just threw away ribbons. (It is not clear to me why he might to choose — if he did — to throw ribbons but not medals, and why that matters now.)
But this issue seems trivial to me compared to his hedging on what he said then. In the Meet the Press interview, Tim Russert played the tape of Kerry's testimony in 1971, including this remarkable statement.
There are all kinds of atrocities and I would have to say that, yes, yes, I committed the same kind of atrocities as thousands of other soldiers have committed in that I took part in shootings in free-fire zones. I conducted harassment and interdiction fire. I used 50-caliber machine guns which we were granted and ordered to use, which were our only weapon against people. I took part in search-and-destroy missions, in the burning of villages.Russert then follows up.
MR. RUSSERT: You committed atrocities.And they go back and forth for a while. This summary of the segment from Vincent Carroll of the Rocky Mountain News is about right.
In other words, Kerry believes his language in 1971 was "a little bit excessive," "a little bit over the top," and might have been phrased "more artfully." But on the other hand his statements were "honest," he's "proud" of his position at that time and he's "not going to walk away" from his fundamental thesis regarding the grotesque nature of U.S. conduct. Indeed, "a lot of those stories have been documented."As Carroll says, there are two mysteries about this, why Kerry would stick to a position that would alienate most Vietnam veterans, and why he would "want voters to believe he spent his time in Vietnam committing awful acts against innocent people".
When I try to summarize Kerry's position, I come up with something like this: Kerry thinks that we should honor him (and perhaps elect him president) for his service, which included, if not quite "atrocities", certainly terrible acts. If you can make any sense out of that, let me know.
- 7:07 AM, 26 April 2004 [link]
Black Voters Will Move Toward Bush this November, I predict. In fact, I will go farther and say that I expect Bush will win between 12 and 15 percent of the black vote, which would be the best for any Republican since Gerald Ford. (The New York Times exit poll estimated that Bush won 8 percent of the black vote in 2000; Gallup estimated it at 9 percent, if my memory is correct.)
Why? Three reasons. First, Bush will gain from a natural rebound as moderate blacks notice that many of the nasty predictions made about him during the 2000 campaign did not come true. The racial appeals used by the Gore campaign and its allies were both disgusting and successful. Even Richard Cohen (or "Ayatollah Cohen, as we now call him), the liberal Washington Post columnist, agrees that the Gore campaign used disgraceful racial appeals. They are unlikely to have the same success this year.
Second, John Kerry does not have much rapport with blacks, unlike Bill Clinton and even Al Gore. Washington Post columnist Colbert King is not the first to notice Kerry's problem, but he agrees that it is real.
John Kerry, oh, John Kerry, say it isn't so. But, alas, apparently 'tis true.Good column, Mr. King. And more evidence that I was right to suggest that you run for mayor of Washington, D. C. — as a reform Republican. (So far I haven't gotten a response from him on the idea.)
Third, attachment to the Democratic party has been declining among blacks, especially young blacks and most especially young black men. They have not become Republicans in any large numbers, but they have become independents, which means they are more open to appeals from Bush and other Republicans.
(There is a common belief that the Republican party's stance on Civil Rights lost it the black vote. This is wrong historically. Black voters gave the majority of their support to the Democrats after 1932, like many other groups. Goldwater's candidacy in 1964 did lessen support for the Republican party among blacks, but it was a matter of going from 20 percent to 10 percent roughly, not losing a majority.)
- 3:38 PM, 25 April 2004 [link]
There's More Than one kind of terrorist.
SNOHOMISH -- Arsons that destroyed two new homes, and attempts at several others this week, were the work of the environmental extremist group the Earth Liberation Front, a statement released by the group claims.As far as I know, their many acts of sabotage and arson have not claimed any lives — yet.
The ELF fanatics, though not as bloodthirsty, are similar to radical Islamists in some ways. Both groups dislike Western civilization and feel contempt for democratic procedures. And both look back to a time before, as they see it, the world was spoiled by capitalism, democracy, and Christianity.
(Snohomish is a small town north and east of Seattle. Growth limits in this area have pushed much development farther out to places like Snohomish.)
- 1:45 PM, 25 April 2004 [link]
When The Seattle Times Printed The Photo showing the coffins of American soldiers last Sunday, it gave us a simple and rather pretty story. The photo was taken by a woman with no political views, simply a desire to show the people how the dead were being honored. The newspaper published the photo with no political motives, but simply a desire to give the full story to the public. That simple and pretty story is now in tatters.
We may never learn the entire truth about this incident, but some points are clear.
Finally, a hint for Ms. Silicio. A friend who keeps getting you in trouble may not really be your friend.)
- 11:16 AM, 25 April 2004 [link]
New York Times Columnist Nicholas Kristof thinks that it would be good idea for liberals to be more tolerant of evangelicals.
I've argued often that gay marriage should be legal and that conservative Christians should show a tad more divine love for homosexuals.And it would be easy to add to those examples.
But here I would like to make a different point. It's not just a good idea; it's the law. Nearly every Civil Rights law includes religion as a protected category; the 1964 law is typical; again and again in its text, you will see the phrase, "race, color, religion, sex, or national origin". The same laws that forbid the New York Times from discriminating against blacks forbid the newspaper from discriminating against evangelicals.
And does the New York Times — an organization dominated by leftists with the attitudes Kristof criticizes — discriminate? Almost certainly. In an earlier column, Kristof made two claims, that evangelicals are about 40 percent of the American population, and that he did not encounter them at the New York Times. There are all sorts of reasons why that might be so, but I think it certain that discrimination in hiring is one of them.
(Of course, I do not think that the New York Times has an official policy of discrimination against evangelicals. Rather, the attitudes Kristof describes are so strong that the individuals making the hiring decisions discriminate without being directed to.)
Most news organizations are like the New York Times and have few evangelicals, partly, as I said, because of discrimination in hiring. Most major universities — also dominated by those on the left — have few evangelicals, and discrimination would be part of the reason there, too. All this may seem natural to those on the left Kristof criticizes, but it is nonetheless illegal.
Within the next ten years, I expect to see law suits from evangelicals who have lost jobs because of this discrimination. Perhaps even one directed at the New York Times. Kristof may see his columns entered as evidence.
(Kristof seems to think, judging by the following paragraph, that religious conservatives are the only group mocked by those he calls "polite society", and I call the politically correct.
Those kinds of pointed questions are fair, but sneering is not. And in polite society, conservative Christians — especially Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses — are among the last groups it's still acceptable to mock.Actually the poltically correct mock all sorts of groups; in fact, currently they are defined more by whom they hate than the ideas they favor. And Miss Manners would not necessarily consider the politically correct to be models of politeness and civility.)
- 5:56 AM, 25 April 2004 [link]
Life Insurance Companies might want to charge higher rates to poets.
[O]ne of the largest studies of its kind shows that poets tend to die younger than other types of writers.The more purely "creative" the writer, the sooner they die, it would seem. The article has much speculation as to the causes of this pattern and some whining from an American poet who feels unappreciated, but leaves out Edna St. Vincent Millay's explanation, which you can find in her poem, First Fig.
My candle burns at both ends;I can't say that I agree with her attitude, but I like it more than the whining.
(You can find that poem, and many others from American poets, at this site.)
- 5:24 PM, 24 April 2004 [link]
More On Those Coffin Photos: Here's another twist in the story, just barely hinted at in the Seattle Times articles, like this one.
The Times received [Tami] Silicio's photograph from a stateside friend, Amy Katz, who had previously worked with Silicio for a different contractor in Kosovo.Which contractor? The Times doesn't say. But it may have been a subsidiary of Halliburton. According to talk show host Mike Siegel of KTTH 770, Amy Katz lost her job with a subsidiary of Halliburton, and both she and Silicio have a grudge against Dick Cheney who was then head of Halliburton.
Is this true? Maybe. Mike Siegel has made mistakes in the past, one big enough to get him fired from another station. (He allowed a caller to pass on a nasty rumor about a Seattle politician.) Does this background give us another possible motive for the photos besides the one Silicio says she has, wanting to show "the care and devotion that civilians and military crews dedicate to the task of returning the soldiers home". Absolutely.
Will the Seattle Times mention this background in a news story? Now, that's an interesting question.
(Although everyone calls them coffins, I understand that the boxes underneath the flags are not, technically, coffins. They have some mushy bureaucratic name like temporary transfer containers, or something similar.)
- 7:52 PM, 24 April 2004
More: To their credit, the Seattle Times did fill in the missing background in this story. To their discredit, they did not explain why it took them a week to do so. Briefly, unless the Seattle Times story is wrong, Mike Siegel was correct. There's a bit more background in this NewsMax story.
- 10:24 AM, 25 April 2004 [link]