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Shiho Fukada
On March 11, 2011, a massive earthquake, that recorded as 9.0 on the Richter scale struck off the coast Japan. It was followed by a devastating tsunami that swept over cities, farmland, and port in the northern part of the country. It was the most powerful quake ever to hit the country. Along with the death toll, which is expected to reach 20,000, more than 130,000 lost their homes. The swept-away coastal towns may never be rebuilt again because of the possibility of tsunami in the future. To many of them, the memory of what was lost – loved ones, community, and home – is too painful for the survivors to come back, even if towns were rebuilt. Many of them say they will never go back to their hometown. | {
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NEW YORK — Not since high school players were allowed to go directly into the NBA Draft has there been more mystery surrounding the No. 1 overall pick.
Duke point guard Kyrie Irving handles a barrage of questions like a pro, even though he is just 19 years old. The Cavaliers are expected to take Irving first overall tonight, a sure sign that the franchise is ready to move forward from the LeBron James fiasco.
Irving has all the characteristics of a franchise player: He is polished, mature, and talented.
But if you spent your November watching college football or the Celtics and Bruins, you probably missed most of Irving’s college career.
He played in just 11 games, eight before a ligament injury to his right big toe cost him the rest of the regular season. He returned for the NCAA Tournament to boost the Blue Devils’ chances of repeating as national champions, and he dropped 28 points in what would be his final college game, a loss to Arizona in the regional semifinals.
Shortly thereafter, Irving declared for the draft. He is considered an impact player, but the immediacy of that impact is unknown. Is he a Chris Paul, a Derrick Rose, a John Wall, or a Deron Williams? They seasoned their games enough during college to gain a reputation.
Eleven games provide only a taste of Irving’s potential, but in a weak draft, that’s enough to go first.
“It feels surreal knowing that last summer I was in the gym every single day working out [to prepare for college],’’ said Irving, who models his game after Paul and Chauncey Billups. “I just had to adjust to taking care of my body and the 82-game schedule and knowing I do this for a living now. But this is something I have dreamed about.
“I think everybody’s going to have questions knowing I didn’t play as many games as everyone else in this draft. It just shows that a lot of teams believe me, and honestly the mock drafts don’t mean anything until draft night.
“It’s all about what the team needs, and if a team is willing to take me at No. 1, I think it will be a great decision.’’
Irving was highly rated coming out of high school in New Jersey, raised by his father Drederick, a former Boston University guard who led the Terriers to the NCAA Tournament in 1988.
One of Irving’s goals as a youngster was to make the NBA, but another was to earn his college degree, something he has promised to do in the next five years.
His focus has impressed the Cavaliers, the only team he has worked out for. At 6 feet 4 inches and 191 pounds, he has an NBA body, plus solid passing skills and the ability to dive into the paint. There have been comparisons to Paul, but he bristles at the notion that he is expected to fill the LeBron void in Cleveland.
“I am not the next LeBron; my name is Kyrie Irving,’’ he said. “I’m not really concerned about filling that void that everyone speaks about if I do go to Cleveland.
“I just want to help whatever team I go to. I have played that dream in my head of getting my name called. That plays over and over in my mind.’’
In some ways, Irving is the poster child for the weakness of this draft, which is filled with unknowns, underclassmen who may have left prematurely, and overseas wonders who may not translate to the NBA.
The shallow talent pool and the threat of a lockout have added unpredictability to tonight’s proceedings. This will be the league’s last official function before it potentially shuts down.
This rookie class won’t have a summer league to gain experience because that has been canceled. And there are many NBA veterans milling about the city, meeting with Players Association executive director Billy Hunter as they prepare for tomorrow’s pivotal negotiating session with the league.
Just five days after commissioner David Stern calls the names of the draftees, he could announce a lockout at the NBA Board of Governors meeting in Dallas.
But for now, Irving is living a dream, as are the rest of the potential draftees. For at least one night, they will represent an NBA team.
The Cavaliers have been shopping veteran Baron Davis to make room for Irving to start right away. And just three months after his 19th birthday, he may be depended on to lead Cleveland out of the abyss.
“All of my goals remain the same, they just have a higher standard,’’ he said. “It’s an honor to be in this role.
“This is a youthful league. Derrick Rose won the MVP just three years into the league, and I feel like I have a lot to offer. I just have to stay focused and grounded.’’ | {
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Pork Embutido
Chicken Tinola Soup is a type of Filipino chicken soup wherein chicken slices are cooked in ginger broth until tender, while slices of green papaya (or chayote) and malunggay leaves are added towards the end. This clear soup dish is perfect during rainy days and cold weather because the ginger broth and chicken can provide a comforting effect and it can also help keep you warm and cozy.
Adobong Dilaw
Mechado Filipino Beef Stew
Mechado - Filipino Beef Stew www.kitchenconfidante | Comfort in the form of a hearty stew can be found in nearly every country’s cuisine, and the Philippines is no different. Mechado is the Philippine version of the ubiquitous comfort food with a wonderful depth of flavor that comes from browned garlic, marinated beef, and the complex flavors of patis, or fish sauce.
Lumpiang Shanghai (Filipino Spring Rolls)
That these are the best spring rolls is no exaggeration. Whenever I serve these Lumpia, they're gone in seconds. True crunchy deliciousness in every bite. Bring these Lumpiang Shanghai to your next party and you'll be the star! | {
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Thursday, February 7, 2013
South 2 North--The Food Show
From Al Jazeerra in Africa comes this lovely show on food culture, nutrition and other such ideas.
The show opens with a nutritionist who's "seen the light!"Someone more cynical than I might suggest that his last book had fallen off the bestseller list and he needed a new one to get back on the curcuit.... but that's not me. Anyway, Professor Tim Noakes tries out a high-fat "paeleo" diet.
A chef can be heard cooking up a storm behind the interview with Dr. Noakes: it's Dorah Sithole, one of the great exponents of South African cuisine.
And the show wraps with Justice Malala, who discusses food culture and political culture. As usual, Al Jazeera cooks up a heck of a show.
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Who the ?
Hitch-hiked across Canada in the mid-seventies, changing, in the process, from an Albertan into a Canadian. Entered post-secondary studies at Grant McEwan College in Edmonton, moving over to the U of Alberta a year later to read English Lit. Friends invited me out for a visit to Victoria, and a week later I had a job, place to live, and was enrolled at UVic. Married two years later, we had twins (a boy, a girl, and a vasectomy), moved back to Alberta where we ran an over-educated New Agriculture farm for fourteen years. After the kids moved out, moved back to Victoria where we discovered sea kayaking. Live quietly, trying to pursue a life of voluntary simplicity, although we occasionally fail to live up to our own ideals. Still married, 28 years later, to the same person--and quite happy about it. Currently working on a book about Canadian food security issues. | {
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Tuesday, September 22, 2009
By now, most local residents are aware that the Arctic Winter Games are coming to Grande Prairie, but how many of us REALLY know what the Games’ are all about?
Of course, Sport is a huge part of the Arctic Winter Games, with young athletes competing in dozens of Indoor and Outdoor Sports, including several Arctic Sports and Dene Games. But sport is just one component of this international celebration of sport and culture.
The Arctic Winter Games foster athletic competition, social interaction and cultural exchange for over 2,000 participants from across the circumpolar North. In addition to their athletes, each contingent also brings cultural representatives & programs to share the food, fashion, visual, performing and photographic arts from their communities.
As host to these unique Games, Grande Prairie will see this cultural exhibition and exchange first-hand, while also having the opportunity to share our Northern Alberta culture. The Games cultural program has many facets, including spectacular Opening & Closing Ceremonies.
Titled “A Hero’s Journey” the Opening & Closing ceremonies for the Games will link the teachings & traditions of the original people of the circumpolar world with the modern multicultural realities of today’s North. Ceremonies programs incorporate the philosophies of the modern ‘Virtues Project’ while keeping participants entertained through music, dancing, original character costumes, unique staging & multimedia elements.
We are currently seeking groups and individuals interested in performing during the Games Cultural Programs:- Performers will be needed for Opening & Closing Ceremonies or a series of lunch-time performances- Interested parties are asked to create a pieces that will WOW athletes & audiences- Submissions should be 3 ½ minutes for Opening & Closing Ceremonies, 10-15 minutes for lunch performances
Submission guidelines and Application forms can be downloaded from the Games website by clicking HERE.
All performance applications must be in by September 30, 2009, so get your submission in to the Games Office today and ensure you're a part of this International Celebration of Sport and Culture! | {
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Hello I am John David Harisson, November 15th, 2018, This is my post about Imposing Bonsai Seeboden, on this page you can see so beautiful design about Imposing Bonsai Seeboden, the first picture in this post is the best picture we use about Imposing Bonsai Seeboden, detail on photo's above, you can see in the second paragraph.
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iPad Charger Changer
We've all experienced that feeling of dread when, after rummaging through your suitcase, you realize that you forgot to pack your device charger. Frantic, you ask your travel companions what device they have, what connector it uses. Upon finding that no-one has a compatible charger; you come to the sinking realization that it's going to be an unbearably long two weeks without your device.
Sound familiar? We thought so too.
BoxWave's ground-breaking Charger Changer enables you to turn any mini-USB charger into your own personal micro-USB device charger. Eco-friendly and cost-effective, the Charger Changer allows you to borrow or re-use old mini-USB chargers to power your device. Whether you're re-using old chargers at home or borrowing one on the road, the ultra-portable Charger Changer guarantees you always have options for the power you need. | {
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Saturday, December 2, 2006
Get-Er-Done
Jeremiah is what you might call a "Get-Er-Done" person. I can count on 2 things on days that he is off work. 1) SOMETHING will be accomplished and 2) Money will be spent. I, on the other hand, am a "Couldn't This Wait a Little Longer?" type person. I admit that there is a touch of me that says this out of laziness, but honestly most of the problem is that I get shortness of breath at every mention of spending money. I think we are good for each other, as long as we can remain appreciative and respectful of each other's way of looking at life. Jeremiah keeps us moving and I am always so thankful when the work is completed. I try to keep us in check of how much money we are spending on all of our little projects, and he tries to think economically.
So today, we got both cars cleaned, the oil changed, new tires for the Honda, transmission service for the Tahoe, and a breakfast treat for our elderly next door neighbor all because of Jeremiah. I didn't do it all willingly, but I am thankful he pushed us to take care of it all. At the end of the day, it's nice to know that things are tucked up tight for the night. | {
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No Debate About It: Presidential Debate Breaks Twitter Record
October 4th, 2012
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) –It was the most tweeted about political event ever. Over 10 million tweets were exchanged during the presidential debate Wednesday.
“I think it’s easy to connect with politics or anything when you’re looking on your little hand held phone and on Twitter seeing what people are saying,” said Mary Ellen Lowney, Chair of the Communication Department at American International College. “And the more people you follow, the broader your information will be.”
Lowney said Twitter more than other social media is a good fit for live events. Taking just moments to send a short, quick message allows people to also watch the event if they would like.
But the information last night wasn’t always on topic. Take Mitt Romney’s comment about cutting funding for PBS.
“I like PBS; I love Big Bird!,” said Romney. “But I’m not going to keep on spending money on things to borrow money from China to pay for it.”
Twitter was inundated with comments, mostly humorous attacks, on Romney about Big Bird. Lowney said this irreverence may actually have been what it took to get people to pay serious attention.
“If you’re getting tweets from someone about the debate, maybe that will make you turn of the TV and watch it,” said Lowney.
Nearly 37 and a half million people ended up doing that between all the major networks.
Comments
WGGB encourages readers to share their thoughts and engage in healthy dialogue about the issues. Comments containing personal attacks, profanity, offensive language or advertising will be removed. Please use the report comment function for any posts you feel should be reviewed. Thank you. | {
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Tag Archives: time and space
The point? Limbo’s creation (as a word as well as a concept) seems like the product of pure desperation. It seems to have been created by someone that needed so badly to control time.
But, you see, though one may ‘feel in limbo’… in this non-place and non-time where no movement occurs… Time will always truck on… regardless of where one has decided that they are. One may have decided that certain non-action and the consequential non-movement (in the most denial-based naive of cases) places them in limbo.
but the thing is… though, as a psychological construct used to soothe the fear of one’s place in time, limbo works fantastically… this is all it is good for. Limbo cannot exist in other capacities because time and space are always constant in acceleration. And it is as much as what one doesn’t do as much as what one does. Time and space will always win.
You can’t stop it; you can’t control it. And you can’t blame anything on time and/or space. The only thing you can do is make a choice… any fuckin’ choice.
Because by not making a choice, you’ve made your choice. And doing that and ‘choosing’ to be in Limbo is for the coward. Or, more mildly, the timid and fearful.
Yes, now, we sound like Renton from “Trainspotting”. Choose life… or whatever.
…well, it’s been well beyond a year and a half, at this point. And I tell myself that I am still in limbo. Limbo is a word that bounces about my vernacular way too often. And it’s not that I’m not in limbo. And it’s not also that I haven’t changed (drug-wise as well as generally evolutionarily-so)… but I could speed this shit up.
Your author here, is erroneously, trying just a bit to control time.
Stupid bitch.
And I’ve become something that I’ve never been. And reverberating in my head constantly is that quote from that movie, “the saddest thing in life is wasted talent”. And it occurs to me that as more time passes, the more sad it becomes.
Anyway, we are on this sound bite kick, so:
growing up does suck… but as much as one tries to stall, is still unavoidable. | {
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Ed Balls urges return of tax breaks
Labour leadership candidate Ed Balls has visited Dundee following Realtime World’s administration and he’s claimed the cancelled tax breaks for the UK games industry are the cause of the company’s failure.
In a post on his personal blog, the shadow education secretary was quick to remind the public of the recommenced tax breaks by the previous Labour government which were axed by the Tory and Liberal coalition.
Balls also highlighted the competition UK faces from countries such as Canada, where considerable government support is given to the games development industry.
“The Tory-Lib Dem government is putting the future of the computer games industry in Scotland at risk,” wrote Balls. “The terrible news this week about Realtime Worlds could be just the start unless the coalition government rethinks its decisions which are costing jobs and risking the recovery.
“While Labour set out plans to support the industry in March, the new government axed it in June and the result is job losses in Dundee in August. These are the stark consequences of a government which cuts at any cost and seems to think that unemployment is a price worth paying. ”
It’s probably wrong to suggest the loss of tax breaks are the reason for Realtime Worlds going into administration, as there were definitely more factors involved, such as the poor reception of All Points Bulletin.
It is worth noting, however, the UK industry will welcome any support it can get, in this time of financial peril. | {
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STYLO
05/29/2015
So, I've got a goal in the coming weeks...to catch up on some blogging!
To start...STYLO magazine! Maybe it's against "blog rules" to post about the same project back to back especially when things have been pretty quiet around here...but, eh I'm doing it anyway!This was such a big project for me. First, the fact that Celina and Jessica even asked me! Second, it totally consumed me for a little while...
At first I freaked out because, oh my goodness...STYLO! Then, I freaked because I was being asked to do a DIY! What to make? What to make? I had a long list of fun things that worked well with the "high fructose" theme but I just kept coming back to...A GIANT BOWL OF FRUIT!
My spread is about a third of the way into the magazine (p.103). There you can find detailed instructions, patterns and stencil templates for each of the fruits including blueberries, strawberries, peaches, apples, watermelon, citrus slices and citrus wedges. You can make one or two...or go all in! I've actually had a pink grapefruit slice requested from the kids since this photo shoot, it's cut, but that's about as far as I've gotten so far. I mean, after sewing up EIGHT different kinds of canvas fruits, you need to take a bit of a break!
And, then...what fun is giant fruit without silly kids to play with them? And well, those silly kids had to be wearing something fruity as well, right?
I've had my eye on these sheets from The Land of Nod for such a long time, and they turned out to be the perfect fabrics for this fruit bowl photo shoot!
For Violet, I made a simple skirt out of a pillow case. It ended up a bit on the long side, so we just decided to hike it up higher over her tank top to make it more like a dress. I actually love it that way!
I trimmed the bottom with mini pompoms...which I adore!
And, the mustard Asterfrom Easter was a happy accident...a last minute addition when it was just a little too breezy for a tank...
And, with these...we are completely sold on yet another of Laura's wonderful patterns! Henry loves the waistband and I'm a sucker for the details...the pockets, the back yoke...
And, any time I have a chance to add piping...I'm in!
So, while the star of the show here was really the giant fruit...
The photo shoot wouldn't have been nearly as fun without these cool kids!
Speaking of the photo shoot...Imagine, first, that you are surrounded by a growing number of giant fruit in your house. Then, you aren't allowed to touch it or play with it! Yeah, that was tough for the kids...But, it made them all the more excited come the day of the photo shoot!
Next, imagine that you are a procrastinator, ahem...and you have exactly one week to get pictures taken and rain is in the forecast for every day but one!
Um, I was only the tiniest bit stressed!
The day of the photo shoot was the first day of Spring break and it was glorious! We took the pictures at a nearby park that we always go to and it was perfect. The only thing...everyone else in the county was there too! So, there we were amongst hundreds of other families enjoying the weather, carting around a wagon full of giant fruit and then proceeding to "frolic" with it! Ha!
It was really a fun photo shoot though. The kids had a blast! Okay Henry was a bit insane and crazy at times, but that's to be expected! Violet played the part of "art director" and helped to move the fruit around (and her brother) so that everything was just right.
And, they finally got to play with the fruit and giggle and have fun! Looking over these photos makes me so happy because I remember how much fun we all had that day!
Plus, in the end, I had packed a real picnic lunch too...which was a great pay off as far as they were concerned
(the train and carousel rides helped too!)
I'm so thrilled with the way everything turned out, especially since these giant fruits have already been so well loved!
What a treat to have been asked and to have been a part of such an amazing group of talented women! STYLO magazine never lets you down, there is always so much fantastic in each and every issue, but this one...awesome!
05/20/2015
You guys, I know it's been quiet around here for the past couple of months...There are oh so many reasons for that, but one of them is because of this!
I was working like a crazy lady making giant fruits for STYLO magazine!
Several months ago the editors Celina and Jessica contacted me to see if I'd like to contribute to the latest "summer season" STYLO, High Fructose...
Well, I've been in awe of the past three issues and was amazed that I was being asked to contribute myself! So, of course I said, "Yes!"
And then I proceeded to freak out a little bit!
I'm not going to lie, our house was covered in fruitiness for a while tempting the sugar ants to come and eat them up (just kidding of course). But, in the end I was so very happy with the results! The kids are too.
I'm in the midst of the last week of preschool for Henry and 5th Birthday party prep as well, so I don't have a moment really to put together a proper post with all of the "extra" details, but GO! Flip through the pages of STYLO! Celina and Jessica, as usual, did an amazing job putting it together and the other contributors just blew me away with their amazing skills!
Welcome...
I'm Jane, thanks for stopping by! I hope you take your time and take a look around...If you do you'll our adventures in sewing, creating, crafting, gardening and exploring...it's what gets us through the day and fullfills us!
Also, please note: All pictures and content, unless otherwise noted, are mine. Please do not copy or take images or content from this site without my permission and without linking back here. Thank you!
Questions? You can find out more about me, email me, and learn a bit about the name Buzzmills on my About Me page (found at the top of the page) | {
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Sawtelle Archive
Patio Heater Rentals are only $70 dollars, the rental includes 1 full tank of Propane Gas. Depending on the amount of temperature setting used will determine how many hours the propane tanks will last.When you rent an Outdoor Patio Heater you will be provided with a tutorial | {
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We're looking for users who are experts at analyzing games using a chess engine. If are you an analyzing guru, and you're interested in joining a Cheat Investigators forum group / private room, email [email protected] or send me a direct tell to [email protected]- with your username and a cover letter with your experience, and more info will be sent to you. We're looking for users who are trustworthy - they will be handling sensitive cheat information, and the utmost discretion will be required when doing so. If you want to be considered please put an effort when applying. Be clear, honest etc.
We are also looking for users who can help in detecting sandbaggers. To know more about what sandbaggers are please follow this link: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1093
If interested please let us know. We also offer great incentives to those users who become part of our team to keep you motivated.
Please note that this is a voluntary work. Users who have had a bad history on ChessCube will not be considered.
sansen i would like to help with the sandbaggers quest...i dont have so much xperience but i m gud...my user name is stupidly_good...it would b great if u picked me ...and thanx fr the great xperience and environment fr playing chess | {
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I think gambling is a complete and utter waste of time and money. I have never enjoyed visiting the casino with my friends, and when I did, I never placed a bet, considering the practice the equivalent of emptying the contents of my wallet into the toilet.
But hey, that’s me. Many others, for reasons I personally cannot fathom, enjoy gambling. As long as their activities don’t harm others, who am I to stand in their way?
When you’re a Catholic bishop, you believe not only that you are, by virtue of the notion that you are the representative of a deity, able to deliberate authoritatively to the wretched paeons and sinners on how they ought to conduct their lives. You also believe that the law of the state should coerce people to conduct themselves in accordance with your dogmas, regardless of whether they belong to your religion.
You are, in effect, an enemy of liberal democracy. You are an enemy of religious freedom, and the separation of church and state, because for all your bluster about being God’s representatives on earth, about serving a higher power than any that humankind can devise, either the God you claim to represent is utterly weak, or your powers of reason and persuasion are so pathetically handicapped, that you need the earthly powers of the state to force people to do what you want them to do. You have always needed this.
It’s simple, really. Don’t like gambling, drinking or shopping on one of your “sacred” holidays? Then don’t do it. Don’t like others gambling, drinking or shopping on one of your “sacred” holidays? Then make an argument, convince them that they shouldn’t.
Or else prepare to be mocked for your obscene presumptuousness in dictating to the rest of us how we should live our lives. That mockery is a sign that human society is liberating itself from the superstitious and unnecessary fear and awe of old male virgins wearing funny robes. History is pwning you. And that’s a good thing.
Props
Mr van Bigot [. . .] It's interesting the new morality of atheists. Commenting off topic is normal to humans. But atheists have such a rigid mind.
Your hypocrisy in accusing me of abuse is too breathtaking for words.
"Epic non sequitur." Your repetition is typical of the atheist misuse of Latin as being a magic language (also an RC delusion). Bless. (novparl, Five Public Opinions)
I’m bored waiting for signs of intelligence on this website. That’s justification enough to ignore it. Go back to your group hug now, and reassure yourselves that you’ve formed your views based on “reason” and not “faith”. (Alan, Five Public Opinions)
Hey, AV’s back. This is the infant who called me a nazi up above. Hi precious, welcome back. How was your kindy nap? Have you had your milk? ("Rebellion")
AV,
eloquence will not persuade me.
you may have a captive audience amongst your peers,but your words are like a clanging cymbal, a rather obnoxious noise after awhile. ("Saved Sinner", OzAtheist)
Cogitating about irrational, self-contradictory and anti-empirical intellectual dogmas such as falliblism does not interest me. Nor am I interested in the bigoted, selective applications of these nonsenses by one such as their zealous, close-minded ideologue. (Paul Robotham, A Churchless Faith)
a religious fundamentalist is by definition someone who is without doubt about their faith position and who spends a great deal of their time and energy promoting their faith by denouncing any person's contrary understandings of the universe.You meet this definition in with out any difficulty (Iain Hall, Malott's Blog)
Arthur reveals a little more of himself with each comment. Soon you’ll be confronted by the whole picture: Arthur uses everyone as a mirror for his own misplaced narcissism. ("Daniel", Old Lines From a Floating Life) | {
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RECCO® - The RECCO® system allows organized rescue teams to search faster and provides skiers and snowboarders with one more change to be found in time. The two-part system consists of a RECCO® detector used by organized rescue teams, and RECCO® reflectors that are integrated into aparrel, helmets, body protection, and boots. RECCO® reflectors do not replace the avalanche rescue transceiver nor is it intended for companion rescue. The RECCO® system is simple, basic, and inexpensive rescue system when you need more help than your companions can provide.
Specs
Fit:Loose
Loose
This is the loosest fit of outerwear, designed for more coverage, maximum room for layering, and a baggy look. Jackets have more room in the body and sleeves and pants are relaxed at the waist with a roomier thigh, knee, and cuff. The length of the jackets and sleeves are typically longer compared to a traditional fit. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
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} |
2015 My Macy’s Holiday Parade in downtown Portland
The 2015 My Macy’s Holiday Parade is currently underway in downtown Portland. The parade, which for many marks the start of the holiday season in Portland, runs from 9 to 10 a.m.
There’s still time to catch it if you’re in or near downtown. See here for a map. And scroll the gallery for a look at the festivities.
Don’t forget the Tree Lighting tonight at Pioneer Courthouse Square from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event features a sing-a-long with members of Pink Martini, The Von Trapps, The Pacific Youth Choir and more.
For more information about upcoming events, see our Holiday Events Guide. | {
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When you hauled that load last week, you noticed a new, mushy feel in the brake pedal of your Chevy C/K 2500. That's a no-go for you, because your Chevy truck sees lots of duty and you need to know you can depend on your brakes. Chevy C/K 2500 brake lines with a Teflon inner liner and braided steel outer cover are the best possible solution. Less friction means smoother, tighter braking and brake lines that are going to last. Keep hauling those big loads in your Chevy truck; stainless steel 2500 brake lines are there when you need them.
Russell Brake Lines Reviews
This line kit along with renewing the brake fluid on my 06 F-150 fixed all the issues I had with soft brake peddle. This was my first time trying the SS lines and I real like having good brakes again
Thanks, Glenn
Helpful Chevy C/K 2500 Brake Lines Articles
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Cold, rain, dark days and short sun, summer is dead. But to keep on the sunny side of life, Ettore aka G-Blaster from Sicilia offers us a cool balearic mix to remember the days on the beach, cocktails, sunglasses and bikinis... - vinyl only - | {
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We call on the 13 MPs listed below to sever links with the charity CARE (Christian Action Research and Education)which co-sponsored a 'gay cure' conference in April 2009 and an event called "Is Gay Real" in 2007. A Director & Trustee of CARE is also a Director & Trustee of Anglican Mainstream, the organisation which tried to run 'gay cure' bus adverts in London in April 2012. He moderated part of a conference called "The Lepers Among Us : Homosexuality and the Life of the Church" which discussed "same sex sins" that was held in January 2012.
Since the 2007 ‘gay cure’ conference took place, 20 MPs have received an intern paid for by CARE as part of its Educational Leadership Programme. Two MPs are no longer in the house. As a result of this petition five MPs have publicly stated they will no longer participate in the intern scheme.
We are concerned that by accepting material support from CARE and actively participating in its Educational Leadership Programme, which seeks to place interns with Christian values in public life, the MPs listed below could be seen to be implicitly supporting the views of the charity and, in turn, their co-sponsorship of conferences discussing “Therapeutic approaches to Same-Sex Attraction” and “Mentoring the sexually broken”.
The MPs who have made declarations of material support in the form of interns paid for by the charity CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) since the ‘gay cure’ conference took place are:
Rt Hon Sir Alan Beith MP, Berwick-Upon-Tweed (LibDem)
David Burrowes MP, Enfield Southgate (Con)
Paul Burstow MP, Sutton and Cheam (LibDem)
Alistair Burt MP, North East Bedfordshire (Con)
Stephen Crabb MP, Preseli Pembrokeshire (Con)
John Glen MP, Salisbury (Con)
Stephen O’Brien MP, Eddisbury (Con)
James Paice MP, South East Cambridgeshire (Con)
Andrew Selous MP, South West Bedfordshire (Con)
Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Meriden (Con)
Gary Streeter MP, South West Devon (Con)
Desmond Swayne MP, New Forest West (Con)
Steve Webb MP, Northavon (LibDem)
David Lammy MP, Tottenham (Lab) and Elizabeth Kendall MP, Leicester West (Lab), Sharon Hodgson MP, Washington and Sunderland West (Lab) and Catherine McKinnell MP, Newcastle Upon Tyne North (Lab) and Tim Farron MP, Westmoreland and Lonsdale (Lib Dem), have also made declarations of material support from CARE since the 'gay cure' event but have stated that they will no longer participate in the intern programme in future, as a direct result of this petition. Former MPs David Drew (Stroud, Lab) and Andrew Reed (Loughborough, Lab) also made such declarations but are no longer in the House of Commons.
The same charity CARE is actively fundraising to provide sex and relationship education material to primary school age children " to help young people make value choices and to strengthen family relations" and has established the 'Sex and Relationships Education Council' to "promote the best possible sex and relationship education both at home and at school".
CARE is also a founding member of the Coalition for Marriage, which is campaigning against the legalisation of equal marriage rights.
I just signed the following petition addressed to: All MPs who have declared material support from the Christian charity CARE (Christian Action Research and Education) in the form of an intern.
----------------Stop receiving support from a registered charity which co-sponsored a 'gay cure' event, is producing sex-education material for Primary School age children and is a leading partner in the 'Coalition for Marriage' which opposes same sex marriage.
We the undersigned call on the MPs listed below to publicly state that they will no longer accept material support from the Christian Charity CARE, which in 2009 co-sponsored a ‘gay cure’ conference.
Homosexuality is not a disease. The Royal College of Psychiatrists clearly state this.
The MPs listed below have declared in the Members’ Register of Financial Interests that they have received an intern paid for by CARE as part of its Educational Leadership Programme and have registered such declarations since the ‘gay cure’ conference took place.
The ‘gay cure’ conference took place on 24th and 25th April 2009 and was widely publicised as a result of the large protests that were organised by gay rights and equality campaigners outside the event.
We are concerned that by accepting material support from CARE and actively participating in its Educational Leadership Programme, which seeks to place interns with Christians in public life, the MPs listed below could be seen to be implicitly supporting the views of the charity and, in turn, their co-sponsorship of a conference held on 24th and 25th April 2009 at which discussed “Therapeutic approaches to and understandings of Same-Sex Attraction.”
The same charity is currently fundraising to develop and provide sex and relationship education material for use in Primary Schools.
We call on the MPs listed below to follow David Lammy MP, Liz Kendall MP, Catherine McKinnell MP, Sharon Hodgson MP and Tim Farron MP who have all confirmed that they will no longer accept an intern from the charity.
The following MPs have made declarations of material support in the form of interns paid for by the Christian charity CARE and have made such declarations since the ‘gay cure’ conference took place.
David Lammy MP, Tottenham (Lab), Elizabeth Kendall MP, Leicester West (Lab), Catherine McKinnell MP (Lab), Sharon Hodgson MP (Lab) and Tim Farron MP (Lib Dem) also made declarations of material support from CARE but have now publicly stated that they would no longer accept an intern from the organisation.
Former MPs David Drew (Stroud, Lab) and Andrew Reed (Loughborough, Lab) also made such declarations but are no longer in the House of Commons. | {
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Month: April 2010
Let’s start with a big SLABBED “thank you” to all who have offered assistance. Mississippi has an “official clearinghouse” for those who want to volunteer or make a donation. However, I would be remiss not to mention the Red Cross as an option as virtually every news article on last weekend’s tornado has mentioned one or more assistance services the Red Cross has provided.
If you want to make a more personal donation, I suggest contacting a neighbor-helping-neighbors — the owner of the Black and White Department Store in Yazoo City. A friend from Yazoo City who knows the store’s owner told me he was providing “gift certificates” to those who need new clothes.
I plan to purchase a gift certificate and ask that it be given to a high school senior who will be graduating next month. You can purchase over the phone 662- 746-2571 or mail a check to 236 South Main Street; Yazoo City, MS 39194-4010.
I’ve been out and about with the day job without much time to post of late and though I haven’t heard from Nowdy I suspect she’s been busy with the disaster in Central Mississippi while everyone around these parts is watching an epic environmental disaster unfold with the blowout explosion of the BP Deepwater Horizon, resulting loss of life and oil spill. Like so many people from this area I spent time on the rigs both in the gulf and off the coast of California earning money to put myself through college. Boots and Coots is most likely on the job as the Haliburton era begins with a bang. From the look of things, the house that Dick Chaney stunk up should get a quick payback on that timely $240MM investment. Meantime local businessmen with jobs on the line pray for a miracle.
We have a Louisiana 24 Judicial District special election tomorrow featuring an alleged “despicable corrupt skank” against a private practice lawyer. Both are Republicans though I think only one has a decent shot at consistently upholding the law and not being drug down into the cesspool of corrupt machine politics. The Times Picayune recently ran a Paul Purpura story on the race where it becomes clear Debbie Villio is Sheriff Newell Normand’s political bitch as our boy Newell gets down and dirty on Villio opponent Ray Steib:
In a television commercial this week, her campaign chairman, Sheriff Newell Normand, assails Steib for his criminal defense work, saying he employs smoke screens “to keep criminals out of jail.”
Steib said Tuesday he is concerned about crime, too, and his campaign will respond in kind on television, tying Villio to former Parish President Aaron Broussard, who appointed her to her code enforcement job and resigned in January amid a federal investigation of his administration. Continue reading “How about a bit of housekeeping”
What if by some magical occurrence, every illegal immigrant was removed from Louisiana? Well, there would be few roofs replaced on houses, and most of the state’s golf courses would grow up in weeds. Take a good look around your local community, and you will find, even in smaller towns, that numerous menial jobs are held down by Mexicans and other Latinos. Little or no English spoken, and yes, please pay in cash if possible. With no illegals, Aunt Mary would have to clean her own house and it would be an effort to get washed utensils at your local restaurant.
It’s just not Arizona where large numbers of illegal immigrants have congregated. Louisiana has an estimated 250,000 undocumented workers, with more than 100,000 concentrated in the New Orleans area alone. It’s a fact of life that, just like in a number of other southern states, illegals make up a significant number of the state’s workforce. And the numbers are growing. Continue reading “Jim Brown on the Arizona Immigration Controversy”
Nowdy sent me an email letting me know our friends from Northbrook Illinois have signed on to our twitter page. Now aside from publically calling for Tom Wilson’s resignation and calling Allstate’s Board of Directors “a band of idiots” for expertly assisting Mr Wilson in the destruction of shareholder value I have no idea why they would want to follow little ol’ us down here.
Neil Barofsky sat down with Bloomberg reporter Richard Teitelbaum recently giving a wide-ranging interview on his time as the Special Inspector General (SIG) over what has become the $700 billion “hydra-headed beast encompassing 13 financial aid plans” known as the Troubled Asset Relief Program or TARP for short. The piece gives a good bit of insight into Barofsky’s past as a federal prosecutor including his time as a one time kidnap target of the FARC, a Columbian NARCO terrorist organization we previously explored in connection with the politically connected ownership of Republic Insurance in the Lindner family. Here are a few excerpts of the article where we also find out Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner is now in the crosshairs beginning with Barofsky’s office space at Treasury:
The space assigned to him as head of the Office of the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program, or SIGTARP, was shoehorned into the basement, three floors below U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson’s offices.
“They eventually discovered a broken sewer main beneath the floor,” says Barofsky, 40, adding that he doesn’t think any slight was intended by relegating him to the malodorous quarters. Still, he says with a smile, “I wasn’t given the prime real estate in Treasury.” Continue reading “”
It hardly seems possible there is anything about ex rel Rigsby v State Farm that has not been subjected to scrutiny and speculation; but, starting around a month before the May 2009 pre-trial hearing and continuing during the many that have followed, something on the docket would catch my eye and I’d make a note to take a closer look later.
“Later” came when I saw mention of a familiar name on the blog Main Justice:
A Southern District of Mississippi prosecutor is in the mix for the Northern District of Mississippi U.S. Attorney nomination, Rep. Bennie Thompson(D-Miss.) told Main Justice…Assistant U.S. Attorney Felicia Adams is being considered by the Obama administration for the Northern Mississippi slot…
Ms. Adams has been the “face” of the government in the Rigsbys’ qui tam case. Her signature, not that of Dunn Lampton, “the U.S. Attorney who wasn’t fired,” is affixed to the documents filed by the government.
However, this series of posts is not about Ms. Adams, reportedly now a leading candidate for appointment to one of the two USA positions in the State. Instead these posts are a year-by- year timeline reporting the events reflected in the docket of ex rel Rigsby v State Farm, supplemented with events recorded on the docket of other cases when required to document events related to the unsealing and disclosure of the Rigsbys’ qui tam Complaint.
Nonetheless, the government’s position on the unsealing and disclosure of ex rel Rigsby v State Farm oftenleft the Rigsby sisters as vulnerable as a “sitting duck”.
Did “the government” shave the case with Hanlon’s Razor or malice? SLABBED reports, you decide.
“How can we fail them? How can a nation that relies on its miners not do everything in its power to protect them?” Obama said. “How can we let anyone in this country put their lives at risk by simply showing up to work, by simply pursuing the American Dream?”
“In coveralls and hard-toe boots, a hardhat over their heads, they would sit quietly for their hourlong journey, 5 miles into a mountain, the only light the lamp on their caps, or the glow from the mantrip they rode in,” Obama said.
“Most days, they would emerge from the dark mine, squinting at the light. Most days, they would emerge, sweaty, dirty, dusted with coal. Most days, they would come home. Most days, but not that day.”…
“All that hard work. All that hardship. All the time spent underground. It was all for the families… these miners lived — as they died — in pursuit of the American Dream.”
Money earned working in the Massey-owned mine made it possible for the 29 miners to pursue the American Dream that became a nightmare for their families after the explosion at Upper Big Branch. Massey’s owner had a bigger version of the American Dream – one that created the nightmare of equal justice for all revealed in Caperton v A.T. Massey Coal Co:
Justice Brent Benjamin of the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia refused to recuse himself from the appeal of the $50 million jury verdict in this case, even though the CEO of the lead defendant spent $3 million supporting his campaign for a seat on the court–more than 60% of the total amount spent to support Justice Benjamin’s campaign– while preparing to appeal the verdict against his company. After winning election to the court, Justice Benjamin cast the deciding vote in the court’s 3-2 decision overturning that verdict… Continue reading ““Our livelihood and our brotherhood” – and the “brotherhood” of Massey Coal”
I noticed we sent several outclicks up to Bernie Grimm, Scott Walker’s Washington DC based attorney from my last post on Scott Walker’s recent meltdown. After I hit “publish” it occurred to me I already knew Bernie (well kinda anyway) from his time as a talking head on Greta Van Susteren’s Fox news show. Since we are fairly well read in local legal circles I thought a follow-up post was in order as this Walker saga will be with us for a while from the looks of things.
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Slabbed ISSN 2572-1437 is the copyrighted property of Slabbed New Media, LLC 2007-2019. All rights except those granted under the below Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License reserved. | {
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Govt To Freeze Frame On FDI In TV News Channels By Jan
New Delhi, December 21: | Updated: Dec 22 2002, 05:30am hrs
The Union Cabinet will consider three options before making a decision on the foreign equity component of news TV channels uplinking from India, according to Information & Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj. The Cabinet may either bring the TV news channels foreign equity structure on par with FDI in news publications (26 per cent), or make it comparable with other areas in broadcasting (cable and direct-to-home) at 49 per cent. Yet another option before the Cabinet is to bar news channels with foreign equity from uplinking altogether.
All these options have been put together by the I&B ministry in a note, that has been circulated among various ministriesHome, Defence, External Affairs and Finance. A decision on the issue is expected in January, the minister said in a free-wheeling interview.
The current guidelines allow uplinking to all broadcasters, irrespective of foreign equity or nationality. However, when recently the Star proposal came up for uplinking its to-be-launched news channel, the government for the first time faced a case of 100 per cent foreign-owned news channel. Ms Swaraj said: When uplinking guidelines were made, this scenario was not visualised. But, other news channels including Zee and NDTV (content provider for Star News in its current avatar), which were granted uplinking permission, also have foreign equity.
The minister said that if the Cabinet changes the foreign equity norms for news channels, even others such as Zee would have to abide. | {
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“You don't understand.” It was almost funny how often we threw that word around. I had a feeling we all 'understood' a hell of a lot more than we ever wanted to, and most of it was only just beginning.
"You heard me. You're always walking around with your nose up in the air as though you haven't got a fucking care in the world, but I guess we all know that's a lie now, isn't it? You act as though you're above us because you don't bloody give a shit about anything. But now you've been taken down to our level. Tell me, Kee, how does it feel to be one of us 'little' people?"
John Mawson didn't bother to wait for my answer before he changed his tune and cracked a grin, stepping over the raised pavement to sit down at the bus stop next to me. He raised an eyebrow expectantly.
"Like I'm going to bash your head in if you don't get out of my face."
"So aggressive," he sighed, shaking his greasy black hair away from his face. "Seriously, Keeson, the boys and I want to know how you're holding up – being the talk of the town and all."
He couldn't have made the insinuations clearer if he'd tried.
"I'd be doing all right, if the narrow-minded dickheads that continue to poke their nose where it's not wanted would just piss off," I snapped.
"Denial," John told me, "is not just a river in Egypt. But I can understand, Kee. After all, if my mum went and—"
"Shut the fuck up about things you know nothing about," I shouted, punching him in the chest before I'd even had time to think about it. It hurt like hell, but the grimace of pain that flashed over John's face was well worth it. He should've known he was pushing me to breaking point.
I hadn't met John Mawson until recently. He was acquaintances with one of my best friends, but despite the fact we'd lived in the same town all our lives I'd never really bothered with him. His dad was the owner of the bore plant just out of town where a lot of people worked, although that hadn't stopped him sending his son to the dilapidated local high school a few towns over.
He'd graduated a few years ago, but was consequently mates with most of the younger people in my town, and until lately, that hadn't been a problem as I had no intention of hanging around any more than I had to. But circumstances had changed – now it felt as thought everywhere I turned, Mawson was right behind me. I'd originally met him at his own party where I'd punched him for his troubles, and since then we'd managed to maintain an antagonistic acquaintanceship.
Until now, I hadn't taken his offensive comments to heart – merely responded in kind. But today I was in no mood to trade insults.
He paused, looking me over so carefully that for a moment I thought he was going to leave it at that. "You know, Keeson," he began, a smirk threatening to break out on his face. "You'd better loosen up; it's the only way you're going to get anywhere and anyone – even your mother doesn't want you," he added, eyes roving meaningfully over my body before he looked up and met my hostile stare, and winked.
My eyes were shooting fire. "Why don't you just fuck off?" I spat, loathing him more than I could remember hating any one else in my life. I took a step towards him instinctively, and he stood up, moving back.
"You might at as well get used to it," he said, as a large, dirty bus rolled to a stop a few feet away. The door opened, releasing the stench of stale body odour and the voices of teenagers swearing like their lives depended on it.
"Hop in," he said, voice oozing a sense of perverse satisfaction. He watched me step up, walked away a few more metres and then called back, "Welcome to the first day of the rest of your life."
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A/N: Author Notes generally work on a 'need-to-know' basis; there are a few things you may or may not need to know here. One) This prologue acts as an excerpt or deleted scene from some point in the middle of the story (it has been pre-written before postage). Two) This was formerly part of Chapter One, and as a result of the separation they are the two shortest chapters in the entire story. Three) Any other information on my style and idiosyncrasies of writing can be found on my profile, or simply be inquired about either through a review or PM. Four) Thanks for reading this far. :-)
- - -
The author would like to thank you for your continued support. Your review has been posted. | {
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My name is Greg King, and I currently live near Bendigo (in the state of Victoria, in Australia - for you non-Australian readers!), and work in the computer industry. I grew up on a farm in country Victoria, with my younger brother and two sisters. I think that some of my earliest childhood memories are of cereal toys! I remember my father had a Cessna, from the Airport set [R&L#10]. Based on the dates in Craig Hall's book, the earliest set I remember collecting was Nep-Tunes [21], although I'm sure I remember some of the Harbour [14] set. I believe that these came out around 1967, which would put me at about 3-4 years old back then! From there, I clearly remember the Space Age [15], Crazy Camel Train [20], Swinging Pets [22], Fringies [24], Puppet People [25], Magic Flute [26], Tooly Birds [28], Nursery Rhymes [30], Whistles [32], Dogs [33], Pirates [34], AstroNits [35], Totem Tribe [37], Stencils [38 & 57], Midi-link [47], Thingummyjigs [49], Kiddey Keys [50], Wacky Walkers [51], Animads [52], Whirligigs [53], Ice cream sticks [58] (not a cereal premium...icy pole premium?), Roll a Goals, and Word Puzzle [59] sets!
Phew...a lot of cereal consumed over that time! Oh how I wish I still had all of those toys! And, of course, in amongst that, there were the non-R&L products, like the Metric Monsters, and various card series.
That, I think, takes us to about the mid 1970's. My parents decided that some of those cereals, with their "silly toys", were not suitable for healthy, growing children, so they changed us to Weet-Bix and Kornies (...okay, that my not necessarily be a completely accurate quote and account of events...sorry Mum...but never-the-less, the change was made!) -- and there we stayed. At least with the Weet-Bix, you still got cards in the box to collect (hence my large collection of Weet-Bix cards), but the Kornies had nothing! If you were lucky, the best you could hope for, to read on the box while you ate breakfast, was "tasty economical recipes..."! I suppose the Kornies were one of the first cereals to go to a "no-premium included" policy, which is prevalent to this day!
Somehow, from all those years ago, some of my cereal toys survived the perilous journey through time. These included a full set of Tooly Birds, Nep-Tunes and Word Puzzles; almost a full set of Fringies, AstroNits and Animads (just missing the crocodile's tail!); and a few pieces from various other sets -- but funny enough, there were no double ups - just one of each. Maybe what tended to happen was that any doubles went to my younger siblings - which was probably a death sentence for the unfortunate toys! While I was just old enough to begin resisting the urge to chew little plastic things, my younger siblings would have had no such restraint!
And so it was, cereal toys faded into the mists of time - I forgot about many of the different sets that there had been, what was in what set, and all the wonderful names the pieces had - but my valiant survivors were packed away safely, in a plastic bread bag...
In the early 1980's, I moved from the country, to the big city (Melbourne), and my bread bag came along...
Every now and then, I would have a look at the contents of my bread bag, and remember what fun they had been to collect, never really expecting to ever find any more of them, let alone anyone else who might still have some!
Later, though, sometime around the mid 1990's, I met someone who collected all sorts of science fiction related merchandise, and it turned out, to my surprise, that he had some cereal toys! I was only permitted the shortest of viewings, but it was enough for me to realise that I was not alone, and that there was possibly much more to cereal toys than I had realised!
In mid 1997 I moved to Ballarat. It was here that my interest in collecting cereal toys was rekindled... I saw an ad, in a local bookshop, from someone looking for R&L cereal toys. That someone was Brett W. - well known to most long time collectors! He has one of the largest collections I know of. After contacting Brett, I found he had information that helped me not only remember all the R&L that I had forgotten, but I learnt ofall the sets that R&L made.
My problem at this stage was that I had no spares to swap, so I wasn't able to do much more with my collection. In February 2000, though, that changed when I came across 120 R&L items at a local Trash & Trivia market. From there I was able to start swapping.
It was fortunate that around this time, we got connected to the Internet, so I was able to start making contact with other collectors through the ease of email. I was also able to boost my R&L knowledge through the discovery of "Astronit's" Web site. In my opinion, it is currently the best R&L site on the Internet. In April 2000, I launched my own site...
I now have a few more cereal toys (but only a small collection by comparison to some people out there!). I don't have the budget to pay premium (sorry - no pun intended!) "collector's" prices for items, so my collection is only what I have been able to achieve with lucky affordable finds at junk and op shops!
If you are able to help me at all with my collecting, please don't hesitate to contact me!
2005 update! I have just moved from Ballarat to Bendigo. Please contact me if you are a collector in the area... | {
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Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Interview with Ian Rellik (Ethan, Zhen Haw, Clemens)
Interviewer : Good morning Mr Jacob! How are you today? Thank you for granting this exclusive interview with you.
Interviewer : Do you mind telling us what happened that day? We understand that the Mr Rellik was trying to hitch a ride from your family. Were you for the idea and why?Jacob: No, he was a killer! He was planning to kill me! At first, he seemed fine, but after... after a while, he became odd!Interviewer : What was your first impression of the hitchhiker, Mr Rellik?Jacob: Well he seemed a little creepy, but I just assumed he was like that. But.. But.. in the end he showed me he was a killer!Interviewer : Why did you attack Mr Rellik in the end?Jacob: He was threatening to kill me. Afterwards, when I wrote down his name, I realised it spelled killer the other way round in the mirror, not Rellik. And, he even reached into his coat and pulled out something shiny! So... I panicked and kicked him out.Interviewer : What happened after you attacked Mr Rellik?Jacob: He fell under a truck that was moving at 60 kilometers per hour and was turned into minced meat!Interviewer : What did the people here in Fairfields tell you about Mr Rellik?Jacob: They tell me that he was named Renwick and that it wasn't Rellik, and I didn't believe them as I felt it was a conspiracy between them!Interviewer : Could you tell us more about your brother Eddy?Jacob: He fell under a train in mysterious circumstances. What's more to say about that!Interviewer : Thank you very much for your time. | {
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Property taxes for the City of Piney Point Village are incorporated with statements from Spring Branch Independent School District. Please click here to go to SBISD Tax Home Page to view and pay your city taxes or call 713-251-7960 for more information.
When using a cell phone for Emergency 911 calls, residents need to be aware that the call may not be routed to the intended 911 Dispatch Center. Cellular calls usually go to the closest cell tower. If that tower is located in Houston, there is a good chance the 911 call will be answered by Houston 911 and could cause a delay of several minutes in the proper public safety response. The MVPD recommends ALL RESIDENTS to program into their CELL PHONES the 911 Dispatch Non-Emergency number for MVPD (713) 365-3700 and for Village Fire Dept. (713) 465-2323. When in the jurisdiction of Memorial Villages, always try to use the NON-Emergency number when using CELL PHONES. When outside Memorial Villages, use 911.
* * * * *CITY COUNCIL
The City Council of Piney Point Village will hold a Public Hearingon March 13, 2015 at 7:30 A.M. at City Hall, located at 7676 Woodway, Suite 300, Houston, Texas 77063, regarding requests for Specific Use Permits by the Kinkaid School. Click here to view the agenda.
* * * *
Election / Elección
May 9, 2015
Notice of Deadline
to File Applications for Place on the BallotClick Here
PLANNING & ZONING COMMISSIONClick here to view the February 19, 2015 meeting packet including the Kinkaid Specific Use Permit Request.
MEMORIAL VILLAGES WATER AUTHORITY
NOTICE OF CONSTRUCTIONClick Here for details.
HEDWIG ROAD PROJECT UPDATE
Updated January 29, 2015.
The project is nearing completion. The project started in April 2014 and had an original planned completion date of December 15, 2014. Toward the end of November and beginning of December, the project ran into weather delays as well as delays in obtaining concrete. The current completion date is early February. For additional information, click here.
HEDWIG TRAFFIC UPDATE- The concrete portion of the street is complete as of January 29th. The construction company will be cleaning the site and touching up the adjacent right-of-way during the next few days. During the week of February 2-6, 2015, depending on progress and weather, Hedwig Road will be opened to two-way traffic from Beinhorn to the Soldiers Creek bridge. Traffic through the bridge will be one lane, but allowed in both directions. This may cause delays as the crew is refurbishing the railing on the bridge. | {
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6 comments:
Oh my gosh, love, love, love!! You've colored her perfectly each time!! I love the designs!! Oh wow!! So stunning, my friend!! These are right up there as my favorites of yours!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :) | {
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In This Section
By Any Other Name
During reunion weekend, Barnard gathered a group of distinguished alumnae from the publishing field to discuss new approaches to this competition. Willa Perlman ’81, managing partner and founder of Ligature Partners, an executive search firm that specializes in the publishing and education fields, moderated the discussion. Panelists included Phyllis Eitingon Grann ’58, senior editor at Doubleday (random house), Amy Hertz ’85, books editor at the huffington Post and tangerine ink., Julia Cheiffetz ’00, senior editor at harperstudio, and Carolyn sawyer o’Keefe ’97, publicity manager at Little, Brown and Company.
Perlman opened the session with the headline question: “Does paper hold [its ground] or are e-readers the way forward?” All panelists agreed that the digital age has greatly impacted publishing. People are reading more than ever, although printed books will become a premium commodity, and publishers will see electronic books become a bigger part of business.
Grann acknowledged, “electronic delivery is the way of the future. Publishers who understand business have to be careful with the delivery of paper books, which will be reduced in half. the transition will be hard to get over. Publishing will follow what happened in the music business.” O’Keefe commented: “We need to maintain profitability and think about a new business model,” noting that publishers have traditionally relied on the prices of hardcover books to make their profits.
There are extra costs associated with digital content, and companies need to ensure electronic books are not pirated. “When everything is digital, everything is stealable,” remarked Grann. “The younger generation doesn’t look at it as theft.”
Hertz added that the Huffington Post decided against a subscription model for its content, relying instead on advertising. She explained, “Young people are not used to paying for things.” Publishing companies are also rethinking the traditional model in terms of huge art and editorial departments that only work on several projects per year. How does this change the role of publishers as they have less control over the content and process? The internet in general is offering more opportunities for writers to self-publish. The day may come when bestselling authors forgo a publisher to find their own markets. There are some authors who decide to first publish electronically with a site like Amazon. The digital book comes out first because distributors, not publishers, are more concerned with number of units sold than price. But, Cheiffetz noted that with the proliferation of online resources there is an even greater need for curators of content: “We need editors to nurture talent.”
If what’s inside a book still matters, what of its outside? Although e-books will still come with a book cover, these covers will have less impact and be less of a sales issue. Publishers who now pay for their paper printed book to be positioned at the front of stores will have their virtual products prominently displayed on the top of an iPad or on the homepage of booksellers’ web sites.
After the discussion, several alumnae posed questions about what might be lost in the transition to e-books. Independent bookstores have already suffered. Known for their customer loyalty and for drawing attention to new authors, their future is “short,” according to O’Keefe, “and those that survive must have a strong online presence.” One participant observed the shift in our sense of browsing, in the bookstore, the library, even in the book itself. Said hertz, “electronic books are changing the way our brains work.” Cheiffetz added, “our chance for discovery and serendipity takes another shape.” In the end, Cheiffetz assuaged the audience’s fears that technology will trump content: “it’s still all about books and all about good storytelling. I’m concerned with the coffee, not the cup.” | {
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RESEARCHING FOR YOUR GUN CONTROL ESSAY
❶Given all the time passed since, it has naturally been clarified by numerous court cases and rulings since then. Consequentially, an argumentative essay suggests that you use neutral language at all times, whereas in a persuasive essay you can relax and write in moderately emotional language here and there.
A SELECTION OF PRO GUN CONTROL ARTICLES
The biggest of the studies included 135 overweight individuals, which were split into two groups (7): Treatment group: 1 gram of Garcinia Cambogia Extract, 3 times per day, taken 30 minutes before meals.
Placebo group: The other group took dummy pills (placebo). Both groups also went on a high-fiber, low calorie diet. These were the results of the 12 week study, which was published in The Journal of The American Medical Association (a highly respected scientific journal): Heymsfield, et al.
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Narrative gun control essay. In a narrative essay, you tell a story about an experience – yours or someone else’s, real-life or fictional. You can tell a story about guns and what happened because of certain gun control regulations or what could have happened if they were different.
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Gun Control Essay. Joscelyn Garcia English Instructor: Nancy Cassano Essay 2 2/13/ Gun Control in America The United States government should have the authority to restrict and regulate American citizens from buying or owning firearms.
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Evidently, gun control as an essay topic gives the most fertile ground for persuasive and argumentative essays. So, these are the most common kinds of essays that students have to write on gun control. Essay on Gun Control There have been arguments regarding the gun control in the United States where some people have been on the idea that laws on gun control should be enhanced while others supported the idea that they should be scrapped and there should no be rules governing gun control in the country.
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Gun Control Essay. Do we really need gun control? America has recently witnessed a number of shooting and indiscriminate firing incidents in schools, malls, and villages. The culprits were either detained or killed. Some took their own lives before the police could even respond to the scene. In the end, America keeps losing children, teachers. Persuasive Pro Gun Control Essay Gun control is a vital necessity to the welfare of our nation. Many people out there are supporting the “anti- gun control cause” with the excuse of “self-defense”. I believe that not everyone will handle a gun for self-defense. | {
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Research Review: Improve body image, improve your body
By Helen Kollias
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Paradoxical as it sounds, new research shows that a better body image could actually help you lose more body weight. In other words, accepting your body as it is and spending less time thinking about it is the best way to live a leaner, healthier lifestyle.
Introduction
We’re bombarded with images of unattainable, unrealistic, and unhealthy beauty. Start with an average model, who has a BMI of 16.5. Add lots of computer software and hours of editing. You end up with a distorted, imaginary, arguably non-human view of what purports to be a “normal” and beautiful body.
For some perspective, at my height of 5’8″ (173 cm), I would have to weigh 107.5 lb to have a BMI of 16.5. Since my normal weight is about 140 lb, I would have to lose all my body fat plus nearly 10 pounds of lean body tissue.
Then of course, I’d be airbrushed into oblivion. (To get an idea what is possible with digital enhancement, take a look at a weight loss session done with Adobe Photoshop software).
But here’s the paradox. Bizarrely, impossibly thin images are all around us. Yet more people are overweight and obese than ever before. Seems odd. You’d think that having more pressure would push people into the direction of losing weight, but the opposite is happening instead. Why?
Being a biologist I like to think that biology matters and can explain things more than, say, squishy things like feelings and perceptions. So I might have argued that weight loss was simply energy in (food) versus energy out (movement).
Looks like us geeks might have been a little simplistic.
In this week’s research review, we see that for people struggling with their weight, how they see their body is just as important as — if not more important than — the biology of their body.
Body image: evaluation and investment
We all went through an awkward stage as a teenagers. Heck, you may still be in an awkward stage 30 years later.
Looking in the mirror or fretting over a picture. Is that what I really look like?!The horror! If I could just lose/gain x pounds, lift this, and tuck that, THEN I would be happy. You know the drill.
Body image is how we perceive our physical appearance — good or bad — as well as how important your body perceptions are to you. Body image is separated into two parts (aka attitudinal dimensions):
1. Evaluative body image: How you think and feel you look, as well as how happy you are with your body. This is your cognitive appraisal and associated emotions (aka what you think or feel). It doesn’t necessarily mean this is reality.
2. Body image investment: How important body image is to you and how much body image affects your daily life. Being preoccupied with the way your body looks (body concern) is a hallmark of dysfunctional body image investment. Another part of body image investment is social physique anxiety, which makes you anxious in social settings and during interactions with others because you feel that others are judging your body.
So, you might not like your body much (evaluation) but not really care an awful lot (investment). This might mean you treat your body like an ugly but necessary inconvenience, like having to clean out the cat’s litter box. Gross, but what are ya gonna do, you think.
Or, you might think you look great (evaluation) and find that greatness really, really important as well (investment), which might mean that you spend a lot of time being afraid of losing that hot bod.
Of course, many of us have the worst of both worlds. We don’t like our bodies, and because we’re so invested in body image, our perceived-grotesque physiques make us want to hide under a rock.
Whether evaluation and/or investment, we tend to think of “body image” as something that happens inside our head. But could it affect our actual bodies?
What role does body image play in weight loss?
In this week’s review, I look at whether improving body image may help women lose weight over a year-long behavior change program.
Methods
A group of obese women went through a year-long weight loss program that focused on behavior changes.
You may be thinking, Well aren’t all weight loss programs behavior changes? Yes, but this one focused on self-regulation of eating (with an approach known as self-determination theory) rather than calorie counting or specific meal plans.
Our own Lean Eating program at PN focuses on eating self-regulation, which bothers some people who may be expecting a auto-pilot type of approach. What — I don’t get a list of meals? Or a meal plan to follow? You mean I have to pay attention to how my body feels and I have to make decisions!?
Now, I get that it’s often easier to let other people make decisions for you. However, the advantage of self-regulated eating is that mindful, voluntary and self-directed eating is more sustainable long-term, while fostering independence. You learn the skills you need to eat better… for life… without someone else looking over your shoulder.
Scary at first, but a lot more sustainable and useful. (Trust us. We’ve helped thousands of clients.)
Self-regulation
less emotional eating; less eating triggered by specific situations; and less eating because of habits (reduced disinhibition including emotional, situational and habitual cues); and
less perceived hunger.
The women also increased their level of physical activity, but as with the eating, there were no specific prescriptions for what to do each day.
Body image sessions
Half the women also went to body image enhancement sessions to improve their body acceptance and satisfaction (evaluative body image) and decrease their over-preoccupation with appearance (investment in body image).
Exercises to improve body acceptance and evaluation included:
looking at a mirror and systematically looking at body parts;
making realistic goals and expectations for their bodies; and
creating a realistic ideal body based on their parents’ weight history and their body type.
Exercises to improve investment in appearance included:
understanding body image;
finding the cause of the disorder (what situations — social and personal — triggered dysfunction?);
keeping a diary to record negative self-talk and the feelings it causes;
helping the women to cope with prejudice;
helping the women let go of the belief they need to look different in order to be happy.
How do you measure body image?
You might be wondering how you measure body image and the different parts that make it up. There are a series of questionnaires and scales to indicate someone’s body image.
For evaluative body image, one of the more interesting and easy scales to use and understand is the figure rating scale (Figure 1). This provides a series of body outlines numbered 1 (very thin) to 9 (very heavy).
Participants pick the number they think fits their actual body size, and then they pick the number that represents their ideal body size. The bigger the difference (self-ideal discrepancy) the more body image issues a participant has.
Keep in mind this is perceived body size, not real body size. People may actually be their ideal body size but not think so. If you think you’re a 9 on the scale but you’re really a 1, you’ve definitely got a problem.
Improved eating self-regulation & weight loss
The body image group lost 7.3% of their body weight, while the control group lost only 1.7% of their body weight.
It makes sense that better eating means more weight loss, but seems odd that a better body image would help weight loss. Wouldn’t you think that people should lose weight first… and then feel better about their bodies?
Not in this case. The group that got care, counseling, and compassion kicked ass. Goes against the drill sergeant/tough love approach, doesn’t it?
Using a mathematical model (partial least squares) the researchers found that changes in body image investment was a little more important for weight loss than body image evaluation. In other words, to lose weight, it’s more important to let go of rigid investment in body size and shape than it is to always feel great about yourself.
(After all, remember our hypothetical people who feel good about their body, but are afraid of losing it? They’re much more likely to rigidly control their eating and exercise, which sets them up for problems like diet rebounds, exercise compulsions, and binge eating later on. Plus, if you’re not as invested in your body image, you realize that small things like day-to-day weight fluctuations aren’t that big a deal.)
Conclusion
You’d think people would be motivated to change if they were unhappy with their body. In fact, the opposite is true: Greater body image dissatisfaction actually hinders weight loss.
You may need a certain amount of dissatisfaction with your current body if you want to change it, but more isn’t better. Pointing out that someone is overweight or obese, or beating up on yourself, doesn’t make you more motivated. Nor does it help you get leaner.
We know this to be true. In Lean Eating, we use an “awesomeness-based coaching” approach. We don’t spend time pointing out your “flaws” or “problem areas” (imaginary or otherwise). We find what’s already awesome about you, right now, no matter what your body looks like… and help you do and feel more of that.
(And just a warning: We have a Five-Pushup Rule in Lean Eating: Self-criticism gets you five pushups. We know that negative self-talk doesn’t do you any good. So we pushup that nasty stuff right outta you.)
This study shows that improving body image helps with weight loss. And it seems that spending less time worrying about how your body looks and how other people may scrutinize your body is a bigger part of the puzzle than how unhappy you are about your body.
Want to lose weight?
Stop obsessing about your body. If possible, try to get “outside yourself” — into a bigger world full of activities, experiences, social causes, and other things more interesting than whether you can see your abs.
Bottom line
Whether you’re coaching a client or are interesting in losing weight yourself, improving body image can help you lose weight.
As counter-intuitive as it sounds, accepting your body as it is and spending less time thinking about your body can improve your weight loss. You still have to eat a little less and move around a little more… but at the very least, you’ll also like yourself at the end of the day. | {
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01 September 2016
RegExp: Constraint to prevent spaces at the beginning or end.
Even though a space is a regular character, the client didn't want spaces at the beginning or end of a string. Any spaces in the middle were fine.
Of course this could be handled by the application, but it must also be implemented in the database. Using a check constraint with a regular expression will prevent the end user from entering unwanted data.
To try things out, let's just start with a simple table with a single column.
The regular expression reads: The string should start (the first caret) with any character which is not in the character class of [:space:], followed by one or more characters (the period) and it should end with (the dollar) any character as long as it's not in the character class of [:space:].
UPDATE - 07-Sept-2016
The expression that is used in the above constraint will also prevent from a single allowed character or double character to be entered. This omission has been corrected by David Grimberg. The correct regular expression should be:
Sorry for the late reaction, only just run into this post.Nice use of regexp.But as was shown, using regexp can easily lead to little bugs due to its inherent complexity.If you need it, or the alternative is even more complex, then of course you should use regexp.But in this case why not use a simple straight forward check constraint that does the job and doesn't need explanation of what is does, hence is more maintainable by other developers.I'm talking about a constraint like:
Thanks for that idea, I like it when things are simpler and easier to maintain. However in this case the check constraint that you are proposing is not equivalent to the REGEXP variation. The REGEXP variation will also exclude all "space characters" like new line, line feed, tabs and so on.
Ah, I see. You meant whitespace rather than spaces.Then I didn't understand the real requirement correctly.In that case yours is the better solution.Though it could still be done with lots and lots of nested trims, that would fall in the category "more complex and error prone"
About Me
Self-employed under the name allAPEX, mainly in The Netherlands. Presented at National and International Conferences. Oracle ACE Director for Database Development. Trainer for SQL and PL/SQL. Married, two children, likes to Barbecue. | {
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Momentum Grows for Relaxing U.S. Policy on Cuba; Bill Would Lift Travel Ban
It's time for Congress to end restrictions that have prevented most Americans from visiting Cuba, a bipartisan group of senators said Tuesday. In Miami's Little Havana, residents expressed mixed emotions to the new legislation. Video by AP
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Roughly a year after Fidel Castro stepped aside and handed much of the responsibility for leading Cuba to his brother Raúl, there is new momentum in Washington for eliminating the ban on most U.S. travel to the island nation and for reexamining the severe limitations on U.S.-Cuban economic exchanges.
President Obama called repeatedly during the campaign last year for a "new strategy" toward Cuba, and this month he lifted severe Bush-era restrictions on travel and remittances to the island by Cuban Americans with relatives there, after the 2009 spending measure banned using taxpayer money to enforce them. The Treasury Department also said it would ease licensing requirements for trade-related travel by U.S. citizens.
Although the decision is not yet final, Obama is expected to further loosen remaining travel restrictions for all Americans by the time he goes to the April 17-19 Summit of the Americas in Trinidad and Tobago, senior administration officials said. Such restrictions were first imposed in 1961 and have been progressively tightened since then. Removing all sanctions requires congressional action, but one senior official said that Treasury has wide leeway to ease the licensing requirements that limit travel.
A bipartisan majority in Congress, including farm-state Republicans looking for new agricultural markets, has long advocated lifting the sanctions to some degree. Provisions to ease the restrictions on travel and agricultural sales were repeatedly attached to legislation passed during the Bush administration, only to be abandoned in closed-door reconciliation conferences as the threat of a presidential veto loomed.
The new bill was first proposed two years ago, dying in committee, but this time it has gained 18 co-sponsors, including eight Democratic committee chairmen. Meanwhile, new legislation was offered in the House last week to further loosen trade restrictions for agricultural products.
The handful of Cuban Americans in Congress, most of them Republicans, have long been in the vanguard that advocated stricter restrictions and opposed a new outreach toward Cuba. But none has been more stalwart than Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.).
The son of Cuban immigrants, Menendez has risked the goodwill of the White House and his standing within the party to press the continuation of sanctions and travel restrictions against Havana's totalitarian regime. He riled many of his colleagues this month by blocking two of Obama's science nominees and by holding up the 2009 spending measure to protest the Cuba provisions it included.
The bill to be unveiled tomorrow in the Senate goes well beyond the measure Menendez just protested by removing legal barriers to all travel to Cuba, as opposed to just family-related visits.
Lugar released a report in late February that calls for a dramatic overhaul of U.S.-Cuba policy. "Economic sanctions are a legitimate tool of U.S. foreign policy and they have sometimes achieved their aims, as in the case of apartheid in South Africa," he wrote in a letter accompanying the report. "After 47 years, however, the unilateral embargo on Cuba has failed to achieve its stated purpose of 'bringing democracy to the Cuban people,' while it may have been used as a foil by the regime to demand further sacrifices from Cuba's impoverished population."
In a lengthy speech from the Senate floor this month, Menendez shot back at Lugar: "Over the years, millions of Europeans, Canadians, Mexicans, South and Central Americans, among others, have visited Cuba, invested in Cuba, spent billions of dollars, signed trade agreements and engaged politically. And what has been the result of all of that money and all of that engagement? The regime has not opened up; on the contrary, it has used resources to become more oppressive."
Fellow Democrats were surprised by the force of his defiant, public opposition to a provision that enjoys broad support in the party. Menendez also serves as chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, a coveted leadership post that demands a degree of party loyalty.
Some liberal donors protested doing business with a man they thought was taking an outdated stance, and some of Menendez's fellow senators questioned whether they had picked the wrong person for the DSCC job. Dodd, for instance, is a top GOP target in 2010. He has called U.S.-Cuba policy "an abject failure." Some Democrats have wondered privately how hard Menendez would work to defend his colleague.
"Anyone who knows me knows my views are both heartfelt and principled," Menendez responded. "It should be of no surprise to anyone that I have used political capital in my many years in the House and the Senate on this issue."
Menendez said he would continue to use every available tool to preserve U.S. sanctions until political conditions change in Cuba, although he attributed much of his earlier ire to the fact that the provision had been inserted with no notice into an unrelated bill.
"If you want to change Cuba policy, fine, let's duke it out," Menendez said. "Let's duke it out on the floor and let's have our debate and let's have our amendments. Let's know who's for democracy and human rights and who wants to sell their stuff no matter how many people are in prison. That's fine. At least it will be an honest discussion."
Menendez and other proponents of the current restrictions warn that free-flowing trade and tourism would only enrich the Castro regime and defuse tensions within the Cuban population -- friction that is key, they argue, to fostering political change.
Dorgan, who is the lead author of the unrestricted travel measure, said Menendez and a small, bipartisan group of House hard-liners are fighting a losing battle. "It's sort of all over but the shouting, whether our country should maintain this embargo," Dorgan said.
Menendez "has a right to take a position and assert it very strongly," Dorgan said. But, he added, "it's pretty clear to everybody that this is a failed strategy and has been a failed strategy for a long time."
Although Obama last year proposed a new direction with Cuba, he has yet to indicate he favors lifting all economic sanctions. In remarks before the Cuban American National Foundation in Miami last May, he asserted, "It's time for more than tough talk that never yields results. It's time for a new strategy. There are no better ambassadors for freedom than Cuban Americans. That's why I will immediately allow unlimited family travel and remittances to the island."
But on a separate CANF questionnaire, Obama wrote that, while U.S.-Cuba policy "has failed," he would "maintain the embargo as an inducement for democratic change on the Island."
At a warm-up summit to this week's meeting of the Group of 20 major industrialized nations, Vice President Biden said in Chile this weekend that the United States had no plans to scrap the Cuban trade embargo. He said that the Obama administration thinks "Cuban people should determine their own fate and they should be able to live in freedom." But he added that a "transition" was needed in U.S.-Cuba relations.
Menendez said he was open to a debate on Cuba, provided his colleagues refrain from sneaking language into unrelated bills. "A full and open discussion of the real situation in Cuba is timely," he said on the Senate floor this month. "We should gather evidence, bring a wide range of voices to the table and make careful and thoughtful considerations of their implications." | {
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Chen Lin's parents to take over TPE48
As we know now, the official site of TPE48 has down and the company Xu Yao Entertainment has been heavily in debt for not being able to pay employee salaries.
What is the fate of TPE48 in the future? Will Akimoto Yasushi act as a total group producer? Do not worry about the good news coming from one of TP48's parents, Chen Lin. Girls with the same name as SNH48 members are the hearts of Taiwanese artist couple Xiu Qin and Chen Zhi-yuan.
The news about TPE48 has been heard and made the news there. Xu Yao Ent. as the person in charge of the group can not be contacted by the media and the times that become the target of the journalist is the person of Mr. Chen Lin. As reported daily Apple Taiwan, that one of his journalists have met with both pairs of artists. Both have given information about TPE48 now.
"My daughter's training activities (Chen Lin) did not stop (still running), the Japanese headquarters will take over the training and debut girls," the two said. They also explained that allowances or salaries and transportation costs are still available today. But nevertheless, the state of TPE48 is still feared by fans of 48 idol groups around the world. | {
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‘The Word Is Murder’: A Mystery that Blends Fiction and Reality
4 Stars
Anthony Horowitz isn’t afraid to change up the classic mystery, and “The Word Is Murder” is no exception. After “The Magpie Murders,” in which a script for a classic mystery is embedded in the tale of a modern mystery, Horowitz has written a mystery in first person and placed himself in the position of “Sherlock Holmes”’ Watson. In a narrative that follows an ex-police detective who has been hired to investigate a tough case, Horowitz supposedly bases this novel on a real case, instead of one created by his imagination. In this novel, Horowitz blends fiction and reality until they are indistinguishable.
Although still a work of fiction, “The Word Is Murder” is written in first person, and the narrator is Horowitz himself. He stays true to the facts about himself, detailing his work as a creator on the show “Foyle’s War” and his successful “Alex Rider” children’s book series. Horowitz takes the first person to the next level, explaining throughout the narration how he decided what details from this “real life” investigation to include and exclude in the novel while discussing how certain aspects of writing this story gave him difficulty like starting the writing process before even knowing if the detective, Hawthorne, would ever be able to solve the case. This adds another mystery to the novel: How much of what is written is real and how much is fake? The facts of Horowitz’s life are true, but the famous actor Damian Cowper, whose mother is murdered in the first chapter of the novel, is fictional. Yet again, Horowitz has stuffed one mystery inside another.
Such an interactive narrator is helpful at times in the mystery, as Horowitz gives vague clues that hint at the novel’s twist. For instance, Horowitz writes, “As for Chapter One, forget the bell and the Mont Blanc pen…[b]ut be assured that the rest of it, including a clue which would indicate, quite clearly, the identity of the killer, is spot on.” It is this narration that allows “The Word Is Murder” to be more than the average detective novel. What’s more, the detective in question does not fall into the usual character trope, although he possesses the uncanny ability to derive information from the simplest clues much like most detectives in such novels. Hawthorne is ex-police (due to a mysterious, years old incident that got him fired) and he is wholly unlikeable and a raging homophobe. Beyond these basic facts, Horowitz seems to know little else about Hawthorne, making the detective of the story a bit of a mystery himself.
Horowitz discovers Hawthorne’s homophobia early on in the investigation and wonders whether he should even continue writing if it would give celebrity to someone who so blatantly disrespects others. “I do have many close friends who are gay and if I made a hero out of Hawthorne, if I gave any space to his opinions, they probably wouldn’t stay friends for long,” Horowitz writes. Horowitz correctly feels uncomfortable writing Hawthorne as a sympathetic character and although he initially seems unwilling to put these opinions in his book, he does so anyway. To explain his decision to continue the project, despite Hawthorne’s homophobic tendencies, Horowitz says he will, “without any way condoning it...explore why he felt that way and if as a result [Horowitz] came to understand him a little better, then surely nobody would complain.” But by the end of the novel, the origins of Hawthorne’s homophobia is one mystery that remains unsolved. No matter where the reader falls on this issue, the quick way Horowitz deals with this topic does it an injustice by bringing this up, yet failing to reach the promised conclusion. There is almost no investigation into why Hawthorne acts this way, despite Horowitz’s insistence that this will justify writing about a homophobic person. Here Horowitz is hypocritical, and it is unclear if he is purposely going easy on a reprehensible character while pretending to be socially conscious or if he became too lost in his writing of the main mystery and forgot to further explore Hawthorne’s character. The discussion should either be more prevalent, or discarded completely.
Despite the poor handling of a social issue, “The Word Is Murder” remains an intriguing detective novel that beautifully intertwines fiction and reality. Horowitz, yet again, has complicated the typical mystery and created something that is difficult to explain but easy to follow. | {
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Saturday, January 16, 2016
Virtual Reality with smartphone: what you need to know
I'm sure every 3D stereo fan found out about the new Ocullus Rift preorder release and I also know there are few which can afford to throw lots of cash into a "new tech" like Ocullus Rift gear. I will generally talk about VR gaming, since other VR facilities like Cardboard apps and YouTube in VR already exist.
Most of you 3D fans might already know what to do in order to obtain this kind of VR. Still, this thread will look like a "Smartphone VR for dummies" tutorial
Smartphone VR is here for a while, it's not nearly the same quality as the incoming advertised VR gears, but it's affordable and not very complicated to attain. The idea is to stream a 3D side-by-side image, with correct aspect ratio to the phone
Long story short, VR on smartphone requirements:
1. A smartphone, obviously, with the following preferences:
the bigger, the better
screen resolution - the higher, the better
processing power - the higher,the better
orientation system - subject to long stories; the more precise, the better. The phone sensors will hopefully offer the head-tracking data
2. A PC: the more powerful, the better.
A good CPU goes long way on reducing latency, since we're talking about streaming. The computer must encode in real-time a video and stream it over network or USB to the smartphone device.
A good GPU will be capable to make use of the already-existing 3D stereoscopic rendering possibilities in games and other 3D applications.
3. Head gear:
There are lots of them, lots of shapes, lots of different lens quality. I won't specifically recommend any of them. The best solution would be to go to the shelves and test it yourself with your own smartphone. The existent head gears generally look like this:
Practically it's a box of plastic with (more-or-less) the right lenses inside, with ergonomic (again, more-or-less) design and a place for the "VR screen"
This second picture shows the place where the phone is seated. You can observe the separation wall in the middle. This means the phone should show 2 image instances, one for each eye, regardless if the image is 3D or not.
The head gears' prices vary but they are known to cost between 15 and 50 EUR/USD. As I said, the best is to test it yourself with an YouTube VR video before buying it.
Google Cardboard™ can also be used, but generally in gaming, people need hands, so a hands-free device is recommended.
4. Wireless router - While it's an optional requirement (USB Tethering works as well), it's wireless after all. You wouldn't want any wires around when you play a horror game sequence in VR, this I tell you. It's preferable and safer to be completely wireless while having any VR gear
5. Software:
VR Streaming software: My recommendation would be Trinus VR . This sweet piece of software is developed by a single dedicated guy. The full version price is more than affordable and it is currently available for PC-Android combination. You will need the app installed on your android phone and the server app installed on your PC. You can find details about how to get it working on Trinus VR website. Getting the video stream working is a straight-forward job, finely described while installing the applications on your devices. Trinus VR is not a requirement; you can use any streaming software, although Trinus VR is dedicated to VR by having lots of tuners regarding the video quality versus latency, lens correction and it might be the only app set using the phone sensors for head-tracking, also with all the necessary settings.
3D stereoscopic injector: As Trinus VR site itself recommends, there are 2 viable possibilities right now: Tridef 3D and Vireio Perception. Tridef 3D is not free, it costs ~40EUR, sometimes is bundled with 3D displays. Vireio is free, just a bit more complicated to use and not so flexible, at least for me. The injector idea is to take the 3D information from DirectX applications and translate it into 3D image format. In VR case the 3D image format would be a (slightly altered) SBS format.
The knowledgeI posted a while ago. I am talking about obtaining the 8:9 aspect ratio in games. The knowledge was presented for a slightly different scope, but it happened to match the need in VR gaming. I knew at that time (2012) about the VR use, but the VR wasn't so accessible and "mainstream" as today.
Here are some pics from my previous posts, this time in parallel 3D format. You can simply copy them on your smartphone and start a slideshow, no need of any software except the image viewing one. Enjoy the slideshow with your head gear. Careful, the 3D separation is pretty high and some pictures might be "too 3D".
So, as a recap:
In order to "VR" cheaper than with Ocullus, one needs a PC, a decent Android smartphone, streaming software (Trinus VR) and 3D stereo injector for PC gaming with VR (like Tridef). Patience and understanding is an advantage. Reading all the advice you find in Trinus VR help and suggestions is a great way of understanding what you are dealing with.
One shouldn't expect wonders in terms of quality and latency, the VR experience is nowhere near the real VR headsets, but it surely gives you the idea of what VR tech is capable of because this time VR will have a future for sure, since now we have the necessary processing performance for VR to matter. | {
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Inspiring Writers, Connecting Creative Communities
Theatre503 Playwriting Award 2018
Submissions for the Theatre503 Playwriting Award 2018 open on 1st February 2018 and we are searching for the best new plays and most talented writers.
The award is a chance to recognise new and emerging writers of all ages and backgrounds, and with a prize of £6000 and a guaranteed production, we are enthusiastic to spread the word about this amazing opportunity. | {
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donderdag 10 maart 2011
Embroidery
This little boat I embroided this past summer, but I never got around to finish it into some object.. So I've turned it into a pillow now! Not very creative, but it's always better than hidding it unfinished and out of sight in some box! ;)
This is a little needle book I made, it's 1:1 scale, not 1:12. I really needed a needle book since I often take my needles with me and I always loose my needles and pins that way!It took me a horribly long time to finish up this little book, I whipstitched it all around to put the front and back together and it really feels like doing the same thing 3 times over >_> but I'm so happy with the result!
5 opmerkingen:
Your little ship pillow is fabulous! I can imagine it in a little boys room or tucked into a chair in a gentleman's study.I think your needle case is beautiful. I love the colors and your design.Hugs,Terri | {
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Sunday Downtime - All Evolve Media Sites are being migrated to a new data center Sunday Dec 11, 2016. The migration will occur during an 8 AM to 2 PM (Pacific Time) maintenance window. We will have up to 1 hour of downtime for any of our sites.
Are there any straight male designers? Is Rick owens' marriage to Michele Lamy for real, for e.g.?
See thread #1 ...
Yes, nearly all male designers are gay. Then there are the ones who are bi (hello, Rick). It is rumored that somewhere there are approximately 3.5 pretty much entirely straight male designers I would think Roberto Cavalli and Reed Krakoff are kinda straight ... maybe ... They're both married. Isn't the Boy designer married--do he and his wife design together? He seems like a good bet. Ralph Lauren is married with kids of course--rumors have always swirled around him.
__________________There's a need for more individuality today, and my job is to cater to women, not dictate to them. --Alber Elbaz | {
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Following Football All Around The Globe
Top Ten Coaches and Captains of Milan – All time
Herbert Kilpin is the founder of AC Milan as well as the manager of Milan. Adolfo Baloncieri managed the club during 1934-1936. Jozsef Viola was the manager of the club for two spell, one in 1933-34 and another in 1938-40. Giuseppe Bigogno was the manager of Milan during 1946-49. Lajos Czeizler served the club during the period 1949-52. Giuseppe Viani trained the club for three years from 1957-60. The most successful among the coaches of Milan’s history is Nereo Rocco as Rocco helped the club to win the Italian league and European cup of 1963. During the second spell in Milan, Rocco led the club to win Scudetto, two Cup Winners’ Cup, one European Cup, one Intercontinental Cup and one Italian cup.
Andrea Bonomi was the captain of AC Milan during the season of 1950-51 in which he led the team to win Serie A. Herbert Kilpin is a notable player and the founder of AC Milan. The club won the national title in 1901 led by Kilpin and also two more titles in 1906 and 1907. Nils Liedholm was the captain of the team from 1956-61. Liedholm led the club to win two Scudetto titles of 1957 and 1959. Gunnar Nordahl was the captain from 1954-56 and had won a Serie A title as a captain. Massimo Ambrosini is the present captain of AC Milan. Franco Baresi was the longest serving the captain of AC Milan and had won six Scudetto titles and three European Cups with the club. Paolo Maldini is the legendary captain that led the club to maximum number of victories. | {
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Chris Taylor: Home Page
Anything artistic. Drawing with pencils and pens. Paints and colors. I felt the magic in the magic markers. And I heard songs in my head too.
I picked up an acoustic guitar. Then put it down. Frustrated it didn’t do what I wanted it to do. Music was math and I hate math.
Time goes by and I pick it up again. I was 18 years old now. I felt post punk coursing through my veins. Now I’m bashing the guitar into submission. I’m learning guitar chords and strumming rhythms. I’m hearing songs in my head that I knew I had to write… so I wrote the songs and painted the paintings.
And then I started painting my guitar. Not cool factory paint… I just drew and scribbled all over my guitar like it was a piece of notebook paper.
All these years later… I’m still doing this.
With more passion and intensity now than ever before.
I’d love for you to come along this journey with me.
~Chris
It's been said "He is a painter of songs..." So this is Chris Taylor, a singer, songwriter, visual and graphic artist living in San Antonio, TX. Born from the sounds of Tom Petty, Bob Dylan and U2 as Taylor makes sounds and songs all his own. Twenty six years of making live music and records, he has worked with Dave Stewart of the Eurythmics and Matt Slocum of Sixpence None The Richer, among others. He's recorded music both locally, in California and Nashville and has toured extensively through the United States.
"I paint all the time. Original artwork on canvas. I also do commissioned pieces for friends and fans along the way. I sell my originals and hi quality Limited Edition Prints as well. Check them out here."
T SHIRT DESIGNER:
Oscar Wilde said, "One should either BE a work of art, or WEAR a work of art." I'm trying to do and provide both. You can order my T shirts right here.
Music and art come from the same place.Somewhere behind the face. Deep inside, not outer space. It can be the sun in the day or the moon at night. A black light when things aren't right. When you're coming apart, music breaks your heart. It tells you the truth when your eyes and lips lie. Your head in the gutter. Your eyes to the skies.
________________________
What I do is listen observe and report in wonderment of being alive then spread the news in verse like a troubadour.
________________________________
You've just landed in Chris Taylor's World of music and artwork!
My brand new album, Daylight, recorded in September 2014, is available now on iTunes, Amazon, Google + as well as your favorite online music stores! Feel free to scoop up a copy for yourself and then make yourself at home in Chris Taylor World...
Your Words, My Music! - May 6, 2015
CALLING ALL poets, secret lyric writers, people who journal, blog, keeper of unformed thoughts... I WANT TO TURN YOUR WORDS INTO A SONG! Some of you have great ideas and words, like a big lump of clay but don't know how to mold them into shape. I want to help create a "sculpture" and turn your words into a song. I've got three different packages to choose from, including music, art, produced songs with an intimate acoustic recording or a full band performance. Consider this for yourself or if you know someone - pass it along & help spread the word.
I want to help create something special… a living breathing memory for you to cherish in the form of music and artwork. This could be a fun and deep connection between us and I would love to help bring your thoughts to life!
I Want to Turn Your Lyrics Into A Song!
THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO CONNECT WITH OTHERS THROUGH MUSIC. I KNOW THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE IN THE WORLD WHO WRITE BEAUTIFUL LYRICS OR POETRY BUT DON'T KNOW EXACTLY HOW TO PUT THOSE THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS INTO A SONG. HERE IS WHERE I COME IN. SEND ME YOUR LYRICS OR YOUR POETRY AND ALLOW ME TO WRITE MUSIC AND SING THEM FOR YOU.
I AM SO HONORED AND EXCITED TO BEGIN THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU.
Peace.
Chris Taylor
PLEASE NO GRAPHIC/OBSCENE MATERIAL
Check out PACKAGE A
Send me your poetry or lyrics and I will turn them into a song. Even if it’s journal style and “unformed”… I can work with it! This package includes a Wav. file of your song, emailed to you directly within 30 days. Fully mixed and mastered. ~ $200.00
Check out PACKAGE B
This package includes a Wav. file of your song, emailed to you, fully mixed and mastered, along with another Wav. file of just the vocal. This gives you the option of putting whatever music you would like over the original vocal. Also includes hand written lyrics within an original piece of art. ~ $500.00
Check out PACKAGE C
This package turns your song into a Full Band production! Different musicians will play guitars, drums, keyboards, saxophone, bass… WHATEVER I FEEL THE SONG CALLS FOR... It will be produced, mixed and mastered. Your song will be emailed to you and I will also create a piece of artwork with your lyrics to go along with it - one of a kind! ~ $700.00 | {
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All but one of the 239 people on the doomed Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 had probably been unconscious — incapacitated by the sudden depressurization of the Boeing 777 — and had no way of knowing they were on an hours-long, meandering path to their deaths.
Along that path, a panel of aviation experts said Sunday, was a brief but telling detour near Penang, Malaysia, the home town of Captain Zaharie Ahmad Shah.
On two occasions, whoever was in control of the plane — and was probably the only one awake — tipped the craft to the left.
The experts believe Zaharie, the plane's pilot, was taking a final look.
That is the chilling theory that the team of analysts assembled by Australia's “60 Minutes” have posited about the final hours of MH370.
They suspect that the plane's 2014 disappearance and apparent crash were a suicide by the 53-year-0ld Zaharie — and a premeditated act of mass murder.
But first, the experts said, they believe that Zaharie depressurized the plane, knocking out anyone aboard who wasn't wearing an oxygen mask.
That would explain the silence from the plane as it veered wildly off course: no mayday from the craft's radio, no final goodbye texts, no attempted emergency calls that failed to connect.
That would also explain how whoever was in control had time to maneuver the plane to its final location.
Video prepared by Ocean Infinity for the commemoration event held in Kuala Lumpur on 3rd March 2018 on the occasion of the fourth anniversary of MH370’s disappearance.
The wreckage has not been found, though hundreds of millions of dollars have gone into the four-year search.
The secret of what happened in the final moments of the ill-fated flight — and the motive behind it all — probably died with its passengers and pilot.
But the “60 Minutes” team — which included aviation specialists, the former Australian Transport Safety Bureau chief in charge of investigating MH370's crash and an oceanographer — put forth what they believe is the most likely theory.
“The thing that gets discussed the most is that at the point where the pilot turned the transponder off, that he depressurized the airplane, which would disable the passengers,” said Larry Vance, a veteran aircraft investigator from Canada.
“He was killing himself. Unfortunately, he was killing everyone else onboard. And he did it deliberately.”
Zaharie's suspected suicide might explain an oddity about the plane's final flight path: that unexpected turn to the left.
“Captain Zaharie dipped his wing to see Penang, his home town,” Simon Hardy, a Boeing 777 senior pilot and instructor, said on “60 Minutes.”
“If you look very carefully, you can see it's actually a turn to the left, and then start a long turn to the right. And then [he does] another left turn. So I spent a long time thinking about what this could be, what technical reason is there for this, and, after two months, three months thinking about this, I finally got the answer: Someone was looking out the window.”
“It might be a long, emotional goodbye,” Hardy added. “Or a short, emotional goodbye to his home town.”
This presentation covers the technical accomplishments undertaken from a geospatial support perspective to support the search for MH370.
Geospatial support embedded within ATSB over the last 3 years included visualization of project data, creation of search areas, data management, statistical analysis and quality review of data collected.
With over 157 TB of data acquired throughout the search the Operational Search for MH370 has become the largest search of survey of its kind ever.
Flight 370 disappeared March 8, 2014, shortly after leaving Kuala Lumpur, bound for Beijing.
The craft is thought to have crashed in the far southern Indian Ocean.
The governments of Malaysia, China and Australia called off the official search in January 2017.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau's final report said authorities were no closer to knowing the reasons for the plane’s disappearance or the exact location of its wreckage.
But the “60 Minutes” experts tried to answer one of the biggest questions surrounding the flight:
How could a modern aircraft tracked by radar and satellites simply disappear?
Because, they say, Zaharie wanted it to.
And the veteran pilot, who had nearly 20,000 hours of flight experience and had built a flight simulator in his home, knew exactly how to do it.
For example, at one point, he flew near the border of Malaysia and Thailand, crisscrossing into the airspace of both, Hardy said.
But neither country was likely to see the plane as a threat because it was on the edge of their airspace.
Because, they say, Zaharie wanted it to. And the veteran pilot, who had nearly 20,000 hours of flight experience and had built a flight simulator in his home, knew exactly how to do it.
For example, at one point, he flew near the border of Malaysia and Thailand, crisscrossing into the airspace of both, Hardy said.
But neither country was likely to see the plane as a threat because it was on the edge of their airspace.
Another theory was that he hijacked the plane in protest of the jailing of Anwar Ibrahim, who was then the opposition leader in Malaysia.
A group called the Chinese Martyrs' Brigade claimed responsibility for the downing, although skeptical officials called this a hoax.
Two men on the plane were flying with phony passports, but one was apparently an asylum seeker, and neither had terrorism links.
Current analysis places the most likely site of the MH370 fuselage close to the ‘seventh arc’, which shows possible locations of the plane at the time of the seventh detected radar ping.
Image supplied by Geoscience Australia.
The Site 4 extension is shown for the first time in this diagram from the 12th weekly report, released on 17 April.
Map of the underwater search area for MH370 conducted by Ocean Infinity and showing Site 4 - the new area added to the search.
The original search area of Sites 1,2 and 3 is shown on this diagram from the first week of the search (30 January). The area in yellow corresponds to the ATSB priority area.
Photographies: Malaysian government
The wreckage, of course, might provide some insight about what caused the airplane to crash, and crews were still looking for it as recently as this year.
The latest attempt to discover it was a $70 million effort by a Texas company called Ocean Infinity, according to the Associated Press.
The mission scanned 500 square miles a day during a three-month search.
Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Plunkett said the company's technology had performed “exceptionally well” and collected “significant amounts of high-quality data.”
Still, it found no trace of MH370. | {
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Depeche Mode is, without question, one of the most important rock bands out there. They defined their sound by bridging 80s synthpop with the budding alternative rock, creating a fusion that would cement itself forever. Still rolling as powerfully and anthemically as ever today, Depeche Mode's longevity is here to stay forever. It all had to begin with the classics, though. Depeche Mode carved their own legacy out in Violator, their seventh album that brought them success internationally.
Violator was Depeche Mode's breakthrough performance, released in 1990, just as the new decade had begun. Looking at the biggest hits from the record, it's easy to see why this album did the trick for them. 'Personal Jesus' is punchy and almost industrial, its punchy guitar riff blending perfectly with the dark electronics. It's the perfect representation of the band's music with a poppy edge; not too deep into the oppressive electronic sound and with just enough swagger to give it all the catchiness it needs. 'Enjoy The Silence' is much less industrial and really focuses in on the sensual vibe of Violator, the chorus expressing real love: "All I ever wanted / All I ever needed is here in my arms / Words are very unnecessary / They can only do harm."
The singles aren't the only defining features of Violator, though. The grimy, dark 'World In My Eyes' brings the record in, really setting the tone fo what's to come. It's fairly minimalistic, as is most of the record, but makes due with what it has going on. The background harmonies are almost operatic as they are ghastly. Dave Gahan really sells the sensual aspect of the record on songs like 'Sweetest Perfection,' while the dark and cinematic atmosphere of 'Halo' is bound to grab at you. Closing track 'Clean' takes every aspect of the songs before it makes something huge: it's a slow drama, pounding and damning while maintaining a sort of western vibe, building to massive proportions after starting from little to nothing. A huge way to end out an otherwise barebones - yet effective - album.
Violator may be minimalist, but every note has a clear purpose. It's freeing, sensual, and most notably, its invigorating. It captures you in an atmosphere and it keeps you there in a sort of eidetic oblivion. Depeche Mode carved their own legacy out in Violator, setting a standard for the fusion of electronica and rock to come, all the while cementing their place as legends in music. | {
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PeeBuddy : For The Girl On The Go
I wrapped up 2017 with a few delightful road trips. With trips to Mangalore, Shoranur, Cochin, and Coimbatore, I spent several hours on the road. And as any woman who has done road travel in India would agree, our country is still severely lacking in clean, hygienic restroom facilities. This often leads to women holding their urine for far too long and developing urinary tract infections. Not to mention how ridiculously uncomfortable it is. Well ladies, say goodbye to having to hover-and-pee at gross public toilets. PeeBuddy is here to save the day!
The lovely people behind PeeBuddy saw how often I travelled, and very kindly sent me a few samples to try out. Their timing couldn’t have been better, given all the road trips I had planned for December. I’ll admit, I was both excited and a tad sceptical. I mean, standing and peeing? Could it be true?
Before I get into the working of it, take a look at the PeeBuddy. It’s made of laminated paper, and is essentially really cool origami. It’s shaped like an angular funnel, to mimic a man’s you-know-what. The instructions are fairly straightforward — you unfold the PeeBuddy to unflatten it, press the wider opening into your crotch, and pee! Sounds simple, but I needed convincing.
I carried my pack of 3 PeeBuddy devices along during my road trips, armed and ready to deal with icky public bathrooms. Lucky (?) for me, the route did not disappoint. I encountered many a gross bathroom, where I really did not want my tushie to touch the toilet seat.
So out came the PeeBuddy. The flattened device unfolds easily. After that, it’s pretty simple — press against crotch (make sure it covers your clitoris, urethra and vagina, so you don’t have any leaks), and pee! Remember to make sure you aim the end of the device properly, or you risk getting pee on your clothes/shoes or missing the bowl. For most women, the first time you use one can be equal parts empowering and totally weird — it certainly was for me. It took me a moment to really come to terms with the fact that I was indeed, peeing standing up!
Once done, simply toss the used PeeBuddy in a trash can (not in the toilet). It’s paper, so it’s bio-degradable. Yay!
Fits comfortably in most purses and handbags, so easy to carry around.
Easy to use. No complicated instructions or assembly.
Great for travel.
Also useful for pregnant women, or those with any sort of joint issue that makes sitting on the toilet difficult.
Biodegradable.
Affordable — it retails on Amazon (get it here!) for only INR 195 for a pack of 10.
Cons
Because they’re single-use, you need to make sure you’re stocked up. (I know, not exactly a con, but you know what I mean!)
So ladies, if you travel often — even if it’s just around the city — I highly recommend keeping a pack of PeeBuddy with you. It makes life SO much easier, that I now always have a few in my handbag. I would advise also keeping some wet wipes, just in case you don’t have access to water to wash up after.
Disclaimer: This post includes Amazon affiliate links. I may receive a small commission when you make a purchase through these links, at no extra cost to you. This helps me keep the blog ad-free, and I thank you for your support! | {
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No accord, but a warmer tone
U.S. talks with Russia fail to sway Kremlin on missile shield
March 19, 2008|By Alex Rodriguez, TRIBUNE CORRESPONDENT
MOSCOW — U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Defense Secretary Robert Gates wrapped up talks with Russian leaders Tuesday without any Kremlin commitment to drop opposition to U.S. plans for a missile defense system in Eastern Europe.
But unlike their last visit here, there were no lectures from the Russian side and no threats, a sign that relations between Washington and Moscow are warming after a long, deep chill.
The centerpiece of the meetings was missile defense, as it was during the two Americans' last visit to the Russian capital in October, when they met with Putin and later with Lavrov and Serdyukov.
That meeting was overshadowed by a tense encounter with Putin, who lectured and berated Rice and Gates for moving ahead with plans for missile defense on Russia's doorstep without taking into account Moscow's view.
A warm reception
On Tuesday, Putin warmly received Rice and Gates and called a letter from President Bush laying out a framework for future U.S.-Russian relations a "serious document."
Reaching an accord on elements of the framework would enable both sides to say "that our dialogue is developing in a very productive manner," Putin told Rice and Gates.
At a news conference after Tuesday's daylong talks Tuesday, Lavrov appeared equally cordial. "What happened in October happened in October. It's March and it's an optimistic month," he said. The difference in the tone, analysts said, lies in their timing. Rice and Gates' first visit came before crucial Russian parliament elections and the presidential election won by Medvedev, Putin's hand-picked successor and protege.
"Putin had to take into account the great influence of anti-American sentiment in Russia, and he played the anti-American card in both campaigns," said Yevgeny Volk, an analyst with the Heritage Foundation's Moscow office. "But now it's not so important to be anti-American so openly, and Russian leadership understood that it perhaps went too far in its confrontation with the U.S."
The change of Russian demeanor was evident in the Kremlin's posture toward U.S. plans to deploy a ballistic-missile defense system based in the Czech Republic and Poland that would shield Europe and American troops based there from a potential attack from Iran.
The Kremlin has maintained there is no evidence Iran would have long-range missile ability any time soon. And they worry that future modifications to the shield could pose a strategic threat to Russian national security.
While Lavrov made clear that Russia continues to oppose the missile defense system, he said Russia is willing to scrutinize measures Rice and Gates proposed that are meant to allay the Kremlin's concerns.
At the news conference, neither side would discuss what those measures are. In the past, U.S. officials have proposed holding off on activating the shield until Washington has proof that Iran has missiles capable of striking European territory.
Gates has said the U.S. would allow Russia monitoring access to the shield's interceptor missiles in Poland and radar system in the Czech Republic as a means of ensuring that the system isn't directed at Russia.
Framework for progress
Both sides agreed that the Rice and Gates delegation would put their proposals in writing by Tuesday evening and submit them to Russian experts for review.
"Since the U.S. is going to carry this out," Lavrov said, "those proposals that we are expecting to receive on paper today seemed to us, as I said, important and useful for the minimization of our concerns."
Rice and Gates said they were encouraged by the Russian side's receptiveness to their proposed concessions. Asked when he expected the Kremlin to respond, Gates said, "reasonably quickly."
"We've leaned very far forward in this in an effort to provide reassurance," Gates said.
Underpinning the tone of cooperation that both sides tried to convey is a "strategic framework" for U.S.-Russian relations that Rice and Gates discussed with their Russian counterparts.
Rice said the document lists issues on which Russia and the U.S. share interests, such as combating nuclear terrorism, as well as difficult, unresolved matters such as missile defense.
The document will provide a framework for U.S.-Russian ties as both countries prepare for leadership changes. Medvedev will succeed Putin as president May 7, and Bush leaves office in January.
"We've agreed on essentially what elements would go into this strategic framework," Rice said. | {
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LOS ANGELES—Blasting the publication for its gentle treatment of the divisive figure, far-right news outlet Breitbart was criticized Thursday for publishing a humanizing profile of a libtard beta-cuck. “It’s absolutely absurd that Breitbart of all places would think it was okay to portray this low-T liberal shill as a sympathetic figure,” said Roy Hagar of Traverse City, MI, one of many readers expressing anger and confusion over the site’s decision to treat the globalist SJW like he was just some regular everyday neo-Nazi. “Those blue-pill snowflakes already have enough of a bullhorn without Breitbart giving them even more media attention, and we can’t start normalizing their behavior. Just because he goes to Olive Garden with his family doesn’t mean that he’s not actively promoting white genocide.” At press time, Breitbart issued a retraction of the piece, explaining that it was never its intention to lend credence to the views of soy boys. | {
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A number of protestors took to the streets of Belgium and stripped down to their underwear to mark what they are treating as a world record on Thursday -- 249 days without a government. Politicians......
"Puttaparthi will become super Shirdi. People will start coming more frequently and in greater numbers. Just wait and watch," a senior Railways official in the Capital and ardent Sai Baba follower......
Both the precious metals surpassed all previous records to hit new highs on Monday. While gold surged Rs 200 to Rs 21,420 per 10 gm on rising seasonal demand, silver rose by Rs 1,250 to Rs 54,450......
After one stop-work order on the Rs 54,000-crore (Rs 540 billion) Posco project, a four-member panel appointed by the Union ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) has dealt a body blow to yet......
Here's what your favourite celebrities have been up to. Olympian Mary Kom, who was in Mumbai attending press conferences and endorsing initiatives before heading home, proceeded to Bandra Fort in......
"Humiliation of a century", "Pathetic Aussies hit Ashes low", "Ponting's men humiliated" -- local newspapers pulled no punches after what one described as Australia's "worst cricketing day for 100......
Wesley Sneijder was on target as Netherlands beat Japan 1-0 in a Group E clash on Saturday to put themselves on the brink of reaching the World Cup second round. Sneijder's fine 53rd minute strike...... | {
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Hey! Nice to Meet You!
I'm Amy, writer and founder of Minnesota Locavore. Here it's all about eating and creating locally in the North Star State.
I like to learn and to dabble in a little bit of everything. That's exactly what you'll find here: recipes, tips on locavore eating, DIY and quilting, photography, books, and all-things Minnesota.
Dark Days Challenge Week 4
December 20, 2011
Between finishing up the pre-Christmas things and wrapping up work (I’m on vacation Dec. 23 to Jan 2…wahoo!), this week has been all about my early Christmas present: The kitchen partner and I have saved for a new computer since early May, religiously putting aside a chunk of our paychecks and any extra spending cash. It’s pretty amazing compared to my tiny work-issued MacBook I have tried to run a blog from. I now have Photoshop and Dreamweaver, tools all the cool kids in the blogging world have. Can I please be in the club now?
Yeah, right.
It was only after installing them that I realized I have no #*&#% clue how to use any of the CS software. Oops. So much for my technical fortitude. I humbly made my way to the public library yesterday in hopes to make this a self-taught adventure. Looking forward to a hefty shelf of how-to books during my time off. If all goes well, Minnesota Locavore will have a new look for 2012. Be sure to post your comments if there’s something you’d like to see added.
Ever have “there’s-new-technology-in-the-house” mania? I’ve been like a kid in a candy store since it came home on Friday. But it sadly means I haven’t been a kid in the kitchen either. I almost posted leftovers for the Dark Days Challenge meal this week until the kitchen partner volunteered to make black bean burgers for me. After cruising through the Week 3 Recap post, we agreed it’d be a nice contrast with some of the other recipes.
We’ve been tinkering with veggie-based burgers since we got married and spotted the recipe in our Betty Crocker Bridal Edition. We prefer the taste and sustainability over beef and often toss in what we have from the garden. I almost always choose the veggie option when we’re out for hamburgers with friends (I have a strange phobia of eating meat I didn’t cook myself). These black bean burgers are as good as any I’ve had.
For the Dark Days Challenge, the kitchen partner used dried black beans from Whole Grain Milling in Welcome, MN, local eggs and homemade bread crumbs. For toppings, we had fresh lettuce from Living Water Gardens in Wells, MN and rhubarb ketchup I canned this summer. It may have been thrown together last-minute but it still met the week’s challenge!
Instructions
1. Place beans in a large bowl, cover with water and soak at least 6 hours. Rinse and discard water. Place beans in a large pot and add water until beans are covered by about 1″. Bring pot to a boil over medium-high heat and boil for 50-60 minutes or until beans are tender. This step can be done in advance and beans can be stored covered in the refrigerator for several days before using. You can also use 1, 15 oz. can of black beans in place of dried, however the flavor (and local-ness) will suffer.
3. Remove from food processor and place in a large bowl. Add in remaining ingredients except oil and toppings and stir until well blended. Using your hands, shape in the 6 patties (mixture will be sticky, but should hold its shape when placed on a plate).
4. Heat oil in a skillet or electric griddle. Cook burgers 8-12 minutes on each side, turning over when patty just begins to brown. Burger is done cooking when reaches an internal temperature of at least 160° F (to ensure egg is fully cooked). Remove from heat and add local toppings.
4 Comments
Brianna
1. I just got a new phone and am in tech overdrive. I’ve never thought I could love a machine, but I think it has happened.
2. I have never thought about making my own bread crumbs! Genius. Do you have a favorite recipe?
3. Prepare yourself for a dumb question. You mention the farms/businesses that your products come from – do you mostly buy these at farmer’s markets and co-ops, or do you actually shop there?
Brianna-
1. ha! I’m not the only one with tech overdrive! Love it!
2. Breadcrumbs are REALLY simple to make. I don’t have a specific recipe, but it’s pretty similar to the “toasted” instructions here: http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/2011/05/homemade-breadcrumbs
3. Not a dumb question. Probably one that I should write more about! I mostly buy the products on the blog from farmers’ markets and the Twin Cities Co-ops. (Mississippi Market, Lakewinds, etc.) I am able to find more and more local products at Kowalski’s and Whole Foods Markets in the Metro, but that’s hit or miss. If I happen to buy directly from the farmer, I typically write about it since they end up being extra-special items! | {
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My wife had staph for a year, nothing cured it (allicin almost did), and this honey cured it like NOTHING. I could not believe it. It just went poof, gone! Utterly amazing people! The bee is a supernatural gift to people from the Creator!
I have used Manuka honey for years, drink it in tea.
IfI feel I'm getting a sore throat I take a spoon of it-so soothing. Had a bee sting that became hot, swollen and red--spread a little manuka honey on it and covered it---by morning it was not swollen and red anymore, great stuff. | {
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} |
Is Presidential leadership a myth? or: How specifically can a pres lead Congress?
Ezra Klein has an editorial at The Washington Post wherein he claims that we often refer to presidential leadership in a nebulous way that doesn't mean much of anything.
Quote:
In general, the difficulty of engaging with “the president should lead” theory of American politics is, as Jonathan Chait writes, “it’s not quite coherent enough to rise to the level of wrong.” Or, more to the point, it’s not quite specific enough to rise to the level of answerable.
In these arguments, “presidential leadership” plays the role of the briefcase in “Pulp Fiction.” It drives the entire story, yet we never get to see what’s in it. Peggy Noonan says of today’s dysfunctional politics, “if you’re a leader you can lead right past it.” How? Well, uh, look over there!
He goes on to argue that not only do presidents not lead Congress the way we expect them to, but that they cannot do so due to institutional factors.
I think he is partly right -- but only partly. My admittedly inchoate impression is that past presidents have exhibited the kind of leadership we often refer to in a hand-wavy way, and I don't yet buy the idea that times have changed to the point where that is no longer possible. Essentially, I think that once bipartisanship has failed, a majority party could, if they chose, ride roughshod over the opposition to pass legislation they want -- IF they are willing to accept the backlash.
I'd like to have this discussion apply as much as possible to a president/congress combination of either party. Of course references to specifics are welcomed, but please keep them to the minimum necessary to make your case for presidential leadership (or limitations/impossibility thereof) of Congress in general. Let's not rehash healthcare reform, gun control, or abortion debates.
So, given a president and a congressional majority of the same party, what specifically can a president do to pass controversial legislation? What are some obstacles to such leadership, and do you feel they are surmountable as things stand or are structural/institutional changes necessary (and desirable?) to break legislative deadlock?
Although even the fourth edition is a bit long in the tooth by now, Neustadt's Presidential Power is *the* go to book on the subject.
His basic thesis is that formal presidential powers, both within the executive branch and vis-a-vis the other branches, are overrated, and therefore the president must above all be the persuader-in-chief. A corollary is that the most important asset a president can have is a high approval rating, because when he is seen to speak for the people he is the most persuasive.
We specific reference to the scenario you are posing (White House, Congress, Senate held by same party), the most effective presidential strategy tends to be emphasizing his role as the de facto leader of the party. That means wielding his fund raising machinery, his ability to make presidential appearances, and so on, in a way that helps the party win races sure, but also in a way that enforces party disciple under his leadership.
LBJ was legendary for his ability to get legislation through Congress, but that was in an era where Congress was much more about personalities and fiefdoms than the partisanship and news cycle that defines today's Congress. A better model for today, would be FDR. His Congresses were by no means rubber stamps; there were conflicts over a lot of different issues and he didn't always get his way, but the only truly stinging defeat was for the Court packing plan (which accomplished it's purpose anyway). GWB seemed to be pretty successful too, but it's early yet for any great historical analysis to have come out of that administration.
I don't believe Presidential leadership is a myth so much that Presidents can't simply change the course of the nation on a dime like some people would like.
If a President gets up and speaks about abortion, they might as well have saved their breath. They're not going to convince anyone, because everyone already has an opinion on the matter. But if that same President were to propose a universal public wifi scheme, they'd actually be able to rouse support for their agenda because virtually no one has an opinion on it. That's how the 'bully pulpit' works - it allows the President to publicize and emphasize issues that would otherwise get overlooked.
In terms of leading Congress, the President has a significant advantage in terms of personnel. Congressmen and Senators rely on think tanks for their arguments and supporting data because they've got a staff of 3-5 low-paid flunkies to do their work, while the President has entire branches of government that can produce information for him. Unfortunately, to leverage this advantage, the President has to operate these branches in a non-partisan fashion - they can't be seen to be producing purely pro-President information or the opposition will never believe it.
That same advantage in personnel allows the President to potentially cross factions more easily if he chooses to use it. A Congressman or Senator simply doesn't have the people to maintain detailed information on every single member of Congress and their 'tilt points'. A President does have the people, if he chooses to use them in that fashion. By avoiding big name issues and concentrating on smaller issues, he can circumvent the partisanship that will kill his legislation.
So, Presidential leadership does exist. But we just don't have a President who has any idea where he wants to go.
Bush seemed to do just fine on that front. For all of the armwaving we saw about opposing Bush policies being political suicide, Now that Obama is president and full sentiment was there to do things like close gitmo, repeal PATRIOT, etc. we didn't.
I wouldn't say Presidential leadership is a myth, but the idea that our problems can be solved by Obama "leading" the Republicans in Congress to a solution is. This Congress is abnormally polarized, and the current GOP is abnormally radical. And it doesn't matter what kind of leadership Obama performs, he can't do anything significant without the House Republicans. The idea that Obama doing a better job of schmoozing them or whatever is going to get them to go along with him is silly. It's also counterproductive for the media to keep blaming these stalemates on Obama's leadership because it gives the GOP a pass for their radicalism and unwillingness to compromise.
Bush seemed to do just fine on that front. For all of the armwaving we saw about opposing Bush policies being political suicide, Now that Obama is president and full sentiment was there to do things like close gitmo, repeal PATRIOT, etc. we didn't.
The current Congressional GOP has demonstrated a willingness to bring the government to a grinding halt to a much greater extent than previous congresses. I don't think it's useful to point to previous presidents and say "well they were able to get things done."
Certainly I'm not trying to free Democrats from blame here, but I don't think you can have any reasonable discussion of the current situation without the recognition that the Republicans in Congress (particularly the House) are just not willing to compromise in any significant way.
Republicans currently have no incentive to compromise. If one desired to have their support, one would have to offer something in return. Any significant compromise would have to come with a corresponding significant benefit. Doesn't matter what you think is a significant benefit if the side you're offering it to doesn't see it as such.
I always chalk the paradox of Presidential leadership up to the fact that we got rid of a monarchy, yet somehow still long for a King.
The UK still keeps their royals around for a reason, there's a strong sentimental attachment to them, it seems like an innate human need to be able to look to the ultimate "ruler" of one's land and adulate them.
Meanwhile, the "city manager" types go about dictating policy and procedure, the type of which is far more likely to affect an average citizen's life experience than some grand pronouncement about a "shining city on a hill".
Bill Clinton, arguably one of the most successful post WWII presidents was impeached during the largest post WWII economic expansion in history. After 12 years of Republican Presidency, they didn't have it any more and they were supremely pissed about it. Fuck what the country wanted, or needed.
It's the #1 Plum Job in American government, even for those who say government is the problem. Like Ronnie.
The Senate Republicans and the Tea Party House will continue to hobble Obama because they want the over hyped grandeur of that office back.
Fuck what the country wants, or needs, until a ruler from our house gets to sit on the throne.
We are ruled by bitter, jealous teenagers masquerading as middle aged men and women.
I'm thinking the idea of "Presidential leadership" is an obfuscation of a dysfunction of government as the Founders envisioned it. The President is a symbolic office, envisioned as some'at similar to sailing-ship construction of the period. Not as the generality of how governments of the period were constructed, but more as a pretty good idea of how they should be. Faramir's comparison of GWB and FDR is accurate in the sense that they were both leaders thrust into positions more important by the events of the times, but in both cases some of their effectiveness must be assigned to the outside events which united the populace regardless of their personal virtues. Somebody had to lead, then. They were the guys who were wearing the pants at the moment. IMO the fullness of time will judge them....differently.
No proper comparison exists with the present condition. Yes, this level of contention is hardly uncommon in our history. The relative vitriol employed can't be evaluated; we lack the context of those times. I will contend, however, that rarely, if ever, has one faction previously pursued such a "death before compromise" path with such an utter lack of cognizance (more importantly, interest) in the will of the people as a whole. Previous periods of such contention carried the common goal of influencing the populace (or some sufficient plurality of them) to align with whatever bullshit they were propagating. I have to either conclude that our current crop of (minority in truth, majority in some venues) politicians are either so ideology-bound as to meet a clinical standard of "insanity," or.....
And just to put everyone's mind at ease, the Executive cannot, by Executive order, unilaterally confiscate the lawfully owned firearms of the citizens of the United States. But your State of residency sure can. In fact, your good state buddies can infringe on that right quite a bit before they get slapped down by the SCOTUS.
And lastly, no, the Executive cannot cede US sovereignty to the United Nations.
The current Congressional GOP has demonstrated a willingness to bring the government to a grinding halt to a much greater extent than previous congresses. I don't think it's useful to point to previous presidents and say "well they were able to get things done."
You can't seriously criticize Republicans for opposing a progressive agenda. There is absolutely nothing unusual in the Republican opposition.
The difference is that Obama has been trying to pound through a progressive agenda without even bothering to understand the opposition. Instead of coming up with new ideas or new approaches, he's simply been trying to pass policies that were rejected decades ago. It should come as no surprise that he's been failing.
And just to put everyone's mind at ease, the Executive cannot, by Executive order, unilaterally confiscate the lawfully owned firearms of the citizens of the United States. But your State of residency sure can. In fact, your good state buddies can infringe on that right quite a bit before they get slapped down by the SCOTUS.
And lastly, no, the Executive cannot cede US sovereignty to the United Nations.
It's not clear to me what the purpose of your argument is. Your examples just prove how much we distrust the federal government. There's nothing here that suggests we look to them as royalty.
The current Congressional GOP has demonstrated a willingness to bring the government to a grinding halt to a much greater extent than previous congresses. I don't think it's useful to point to previous presidents and say "well they were able to get things done."
You can't seriously criticize Republicans for opposing a progressive agenda. There is absolutely nothing unusual in the Republican opposition.
The difference is that Obama has been trying to pound through a progressive agenda without even bothering to understand the opposition. Instead of coming up with new ideas or new approaches, he's simply been trying to pass policies that were rejected decades ago. It should come as no surprise that he's been failing.
Obama's "agenda" ain't that progressive. The most progressive thing has been Obamacare, and even that's watered down from a UHC concept.
What policies were rejected "decades ago"?
Do you really think the scorched earth Galt's Gulch horseshit of the likes of Cantor and Ryan are going to pass muster?
Do you really not think that if a Republican who swears allegiance to Israel based on religious concerns gets elected and we end up in another war in the ME that the budgetary concerns of "austerity whores" like Ryan and Cantor will get tossed like so many stale donuts?
It's not clear to me what the purpose of your argument is. Your examples just prove how much we distrust the federal government. There's nothing here that suggests we look to them as royalty.
Not royalty the way the old European countries did, more leader cult fixation than anything else, which is part and parcel of a monarchy.
Think W striding across the carrier deck in the flight suit and the Mission Accomplished banner. Most of our supposedly "free" press swooned over that, not out of love for Bush, but because in their heart of hearts, they're suck ups to power.
The current Congressional GOP has demonstrated a willingness to bring the government to a grinding halt to a much greater extent than previous congresses. I don't think it's useful to point to previous presidents and say "well they were able to get things done."
You can't seriously criticize Republicans for opposing a progressive agenda. There is absolutely nothing unusual in the Republican opposition.
The difference is that Obama has been trying to pound through a progressive agenda without even bothering to understand the opposition. Instead of coming up with new ideas or new approaches, he's simply been trying to pass policies that were rejected decades ago. It should come as no surprise that he's been failing.
I think there's probably general agreement that PPACA ("Obamacare") was the largest policy change passed since Obama was elected. In case you never knew or need a reminder, its general form is the same as the Republican Party's own healthcare reform proposals of the mid-'90s, as originally outlined by the Heritage Foundation, the still-running conservative thinktank. The same policy was enacted by Massachusetts in 2006 with the support of Republican Governor Romney.
If that's what qualifies as a 'progressive agenda' these days, I think that suggests that perhaps our terminology, or even our sense of perspective, has shifted.
For reference, a progressive healthcare policy would be something along the lines of single-payer or a generally-accessible government run service that directs employs providers and manages facilities. Even Vermont's plan from 2011 is only 'single-payer lite', in that private insurance companies will still be allowed to compete with the state's own agency, losing many of the administrative savings that single-payer is supposed to provide.
Hey everybody, let's keep it on track. As a rule of thumb, if what you're saying about this congress or this president can't be generalized to past/future counterparts, you are doing it wrong™. If you must talk of Obama and recent obstructionism, tell us specifically what you think Obama could have done differently. Was it in his power to pass legislation better than what has been passed? What exactly would he have had to do to lead congress towards an outcome more to his liking?
Hey everybody, let's keep it on track. As a rule of thumb, if what you're saying about this congress or this president can't be generalized to past/future counterparts, you are doing it wrong™. If you must talk of Obama and recent obstructionism, tell us specifically what you think Obama could have done differently. Was it in his power to pass legislation better than what has been passed? What exactly would he have had to do to lead congress towards an outcome more to his liking?
Hey everybody, let's keep it on track. As a rule of thumb, if what you're saying about this congress or this president can't be generalized to past/future counterparts, you are doing it wrong™. If you must talk of Obama and recent obstructionism, tell us specifically what you think Obama could have done differently. Was it in his power to pass legislation better than what has been passed? What exactly would he have had to do to lead congress towards an outcome more to his liking?
Among other things? Learn what a carrot is.
Obama needs a carrot? He's been serving up carrot-raisin salad, he's the first Democratic President to actually bargain with Social Security.
Hey everybody, let's keep it on track. As a rule of thumb, if what you're saying about this congress or this president can't be generalized to past/future counterparts, you are doing it wrong™. If you must talk of Obama and recent obstructionism, tell us specifically what you think Obama could have done differently. Was it in his power to pass legislation better than what has been passed? What exactly would he have had to do to lead congress towards an outcome more to his liking?
Among other things? Learn what a carrot is.
Obama needs a carrot? He's been serving up carrot-raisin salad, he's the first Democratic President to actually bargain with Social Security.
What else do you suggest for a "carrot"?
Sorry, I was thinking in terms of first term. Both that and the gun control proposals both had some decent carrots, I will admit.
In this particular case, it's even more basic than the concept of a carrot. Obama does not appear to be interested in hearing other peoples' opinions. In some ways this is good; lobbyists have scarce little access. In other ways not so much, such as the comings and goings of members of his Council of Economic Advisers. The impression I get is that once we Understand his take on things, the people agree with him. Why deploy a carrot when people just need to be educated?
Obama is a poor example for this question of presidential power. He is inexperienced and shows little interest in building coalitions. This is not a game he is engaged in so you can't gauge the effectiveness of a president in that role through his example.
Hey everybody, let's keep it on track. As a rule of thumb, if what you're saying about this congress or this president can't be generalized to past/future counterparts, you are doing it wrong™. If you must talk of Obama and recent obstructionism, tell us specifically what you think Obama could have done differently. Was it in his power to pass legislation better than what has been passed? What exactly would he have had to do to lead congress towards an outcome more to his liking?
Among other things? Learn what a carrot is.
Obama needs a carrot? He's been serving up carrot-raisin salad, he's the first Democratic President to actually bargain with Social Security.
What else do you suggest for a "carrot"?
Sorry, I was thinking in terms of first term. Both that and the gun control proposals both had some decent carrots, I will admit.
MGT when you say 'carrot' do you mean 'that which Republicans find tasty' or 'that which Democrats find painful to offer'? I didn't think the change in social security calculations was going to go anywhere, and I'm not seeing anything actually appetizing in the gun control proposal, as the interstate transfer change is one scraggly little taproot.
GWB seemed to be pretty successful too, but it's early yet for any great historical analysis to have come out of that administration.
GWB was successful, but I'd be hesitant to chalk much of that up to GWB. An avocado could have crammed through legislation post-9/11 with that bunch of spineless ninnies.
Yeah, really. I mean, what kind of pursed-lipped schoolmarm, pinky-raised-with-teacup, don't offend the "other" side horseshit is that?
Unless it's a high form of sarcasm, in which case, apologies. But I doubt it.
The dude squeaked into the Presidency on a SCOTUS decision, ended up being the "War President" by stumbling ignorance of the situation, while Republican media operatives and Democrats desperate to not appear unpatriotic enabled unbridled foolishness.
It's entirely doubtful that this sequence of events will repeat itself anytime soon. Read as: The buffoons Republicans are currently offering up as POTUS potentials cannot get elected on their own merits, the last one (W) was lucky to get in.
I think there's probably general agreement that PPACA ("Obamacare") was the largest policy change passed since Obama was elected. In case you never knew or need a reminder, its general form is the same as the Republican Party's own healthcare reform proposals of the mid-'90s, as originally outlined by the Heritage Foundation, the still-running conservative thinktank. The same policy was enacted by Massachusetts in 2006 with the support of Republican Governor Romney.
While this talking point has been strewn around the Internet, it's not very accurate. Two notes:1. Portions of Obamacare were certainly proposed by a conservative think tank in the early 90s. But with that reasoning, you'd be able to argue that legalizing marijuana is a Republican position because conservative think tanks have proposed it. I hate to break it to you, but legalizing marijuana is not on the Republican agenda.
2. Romneycare was a result of compromise by a Republican in one of the most left-leaning states in the union. If you're claiming that it was a model for Obamacare, then you're also claiming that it's far to the left of the mainstream of America given its origins.
In either case, the basic policy goal of Obamacare (ensuring universal health care coverage) is a cherished progressive goal that is virulently opposed on the right. It's hardly any sort of 'compromise' on Obama's part (and this is a large part of the reason why its unraveling so fast - he passed it without actually gaining the necessary support for it).
If you look through Obama's policies you'll discover that none of them are remotely conservative. Indeed, his entire policy emphasis has been strongly opposed to anything that could be considered part of the conservative agenda.
Even worse, he's been engaged in all sorts of meaningless poke-the-bear actions. Like Keystone. Or gun control. Or not defending DOMA. Or retaining Holder. All of these are actions that have zero upside for the Obama Administration - they were foregone conclusions before he ever started the fight - but massive downside in that he's irritating the opposition unnecessarily.
Quote:
For reference, a progressive healthcare policy would be something along the lines of single-payer or a generally-accessible government run service that directs employs providers and manages facilities. Even Vermont's plan from 2011 is only 'single-payer lite', in that private insurance companies will still be allowed to compete with the state's own agency, losing many of the administrative savings that single-payer is supposed to provide.
I think you're trapped in the echo chamber. Ask yourself instead: what does a conservative health care policy look like?
Because that's where compromise starts - understanding what the opposition wants. In the case of health care, the conservative position is that cost containment is everything - that medical care occupies a protected monopoly in this country courtesy of overreaching government regulation. This is the center of the conservative position on health care, and it is completely, utterly absent from Obamacare.
To put this in perspective, consider GWB. His major domestic initiatives were both pet Democratic areas - federal control of schools and expansion of Medicare. In both cases he reached across the aisle to address the left's concerns, and he got them passed. Given the vitriol heaped upon GWB by the left, it's hard to seriously argue that the Democrats during his term were less 'obstructionist' than the Republicans in the Obama era.
Hey everybody, let's keep it on track. As a rule of thumb, if what you're saying about this congress or this president can't be generalized to past/future counterparts, you are doing it wrong™. If you must talk of Obama and recent obstructionism, tell us specifically what you think Obama could have done differently. Was it in his power to pass legislation better than what has been passed? What exactly would he have had to do to lead congress towards an outcome more to his liking?
If there has been unique obstructionism, it comes down to (ab)using Senate procedure. The fix there is obvious. Change the rules to centralize more power in the leadership. It wouldn't be unprecedented for the President to get involved in such an effort either. In the early sixties Kennedy openly lobbied Sam Rayburn to pack the House Rules Committee.
GWB seemed to be pretty successful too, but it's early yet for any great historical analysis to have come out of that administration.
GWB was successful, but I'd be hesitant to chalk much of that up to GWB. An avocado could have crammed through legislation post-9/11 with that bunch of spineless ninnies.
That explains the AUMF, the Patriot Act and so on, but what about NCLB and Medicare Part D?
First year in office new Presidents do get some shit done. Obama had ACA, Bush got NCLB and Part D. Absent 9/11 that may well be where Bush's "leadership" dried up. He already seemed to be going into auto-pilot by the summer of 2001.
First year in office new Presidents do get some shit done. Obama had ACA, Bush got NCLB and Part D. Absent 9/11 that may well be where Bush's "leadership" dried up. He already seemed to be going into auto-pilot by the summer of 2001.
First year in office new Presidents do get some shit done. Obama had ACA, Bush got NCLB and Part D. Absent 9/11 that may well be where Bush's "leadership" dried up. He already seemed to be going into auto-pilot by the summer of 2001.
Medicare Part D wasn't until 2003.
Then he's well within the paramaters of "don't question the wartime President you traitor!".
tell us specifically what you think Obama could have done differently.
In the summer of 2009, when I was packing up to leave the country, I watched the healthecare debacle unfold with an unattached horrified interest. The most striking feature of the public discourse was the lack of focus by the Democrats.
Coming into office with tremendous support and one of the bulliest pulpits I'd ever seen, Obama could have handed down the health reform bill he wanted from on high and told the congressional Democrats to pass it. He could have annointed a representative and a senator to put together a bill in line with his vision. Instead, he declared that healtecare reform was the order of the day, and let everyone in congress who wanted to make a mark for themselves to put forward a plan. As I recall, and this is many years and much disinterest later, four to seven different plans were put forward, each with plusses and minusses. The Republicans only had to sit back and let each of these plans come out, cherrypick the downsides from each of the conflicting plans, and present the resulting amalgam as the Horror of Obamacare.
It was a sign of tremendous political naivety. Rather than taking the reigns already on his fingertips, he let them fall into an ill-disciplined congressional party, where disorder and desire for limelight led to a dischordant scramble, and was torn apart by a concentrated opposition.
The executive branch is not meant to lead the legislative branch. That's the error. The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial are supposed to check each other, but that's not what's happening. At what point have we started to expect the President to be the supreme ruler? Sometimes I suspect people just want to be ruled over...
The executive branch is not meant to lead the legislative branch. That's the error. The Executive, Legislative, and Judicial are supposed to check each other, but that's not what's happening. At what point have we started to expect the President to be the supreme ruler? Sometimes I suspect people just want to be ruled over...
This only works if you imagine a federal government limited in scope as it was originally. In the modern federal government, the legislative branch simply doesn't have the resources to put together complex legislation. So virtually anything more detailed than "Let's make May 30th annual Roses are Pretty day", you need significant executive involvement. | {
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Loss of parking areas will require greater use of shuttles on peak days
DEL MAR Crews broke ground Monday on a four-year habitat restoration project near the Del Mar Fairgrounds that will eliminate 1,250 parking spots at the venue, forcing greater use of shuttles on peak days of thoroughbred racing and the San Diego County Fair.
With bulldozers as a backdrop, fairgrounds President Frederick Schenk called the ground breaking a “symbolic beginning” to a new era that will change the look and feel of the area.
Instead of being almost fully fronted by parking lots of brown dirt, the fairgrounds will soon share part of its border with a swath of revived wetlands and sage scrub. For more than four decades, the space has been used as overflow parking, damaging sensitive areas that abut the San Dieguito River.
The restoration is part of an agreement last fall between the fairgrounds and the California Coastal Commission that allows the fairgrounds to continue using some of the area for parking in exchange for restoring some of the habitat. But it calls for the elimination of more parking areas if upcoming studies show the fairgrounds could effectively handle the cars in other ways.
The restoration area is on the southeast side of the fairgrounds along Jimmy Durante Boulevard. It will reduce the total number of spots from 10,350 to 9,100, a drop of more than 12 percent.
On Monday, fairgrounds Chief Executive Tim Fennell said the project culminates 12 years of negotiations with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and other environmental agencies.
The San Diego chapter of the Sierra Club filed suit last month seeking to have more of the sensitive area around the fairgrounds protected.
On Monday, chapter Chairman David Grubb said his group is happy to see some restoration begin, even if it won’t be as extensive as they want.
He also called last November’s pact between the fairgrounds and the Coastal Commission “a landmark agreement.” | {
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Antioxidant Protection
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**Swanson Australia is not liable for any information provided on this site with regard to recommendations regarding supplements for any health purposes. The claims made about the product on or through this site have not been evaluated or approved by TGA. The supplements are intended to support general well being, not to treat, cure or prevent any disease. Seek medical advice should you have any health related questions** | {
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Monthly Archives: February 2013
We always hear about mistakes that parents make while going through a divorce. There are many ways to do it wrong and no one does it perfectly. But instead of focusing on the myriad of things you can mess up when it comes to divorce and your kids let’s change the focus and get some ideas on exactly what you should do. Pyschcentral.com wrote an excellent post on exactly this topic that I would recommend to you if Continue reading → | {
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How to Network at a Conference When You’re an Introvert
We’re heading to Pubcon later this year, and one of the benefits of attending any conference is networking. This is an exciting word for an extrovert and a very scary word for an introvert.
In case you’re new to the world of introverts & extroverts, here’s the bullet point definitions:
• Extroverts get their energy from others (i.e. social situations) and enjoy going to networking events
• Introverts recharge when they are alone and tend to avoid networking events or go to them with trepidation
Based upon various studies; introverts make up 16%-50% of the world’s population. There are many of us (no one seems to know how many); and some are more extreme than others. I’ve been an extreme introvert for years. For those of you who know me, this might seem like a contradiction. I speak all over the world and on a Myers Briggs scale; I’m over 85% introvert.
So how does an introvert become a good networker? Let’s take a look at a few of the secrets.
Who Starts the Conversation?
The hardest part of a conversation is getting it started. Once a conversation is started, then it can build momentum and continue on its own.
Extroverts are great at starting conversations. Introverts need strategies for this simple task.
The easiest way for an introvert to start a conversation is to not start it; but let others start it. There are a few ways to accomplish this. By far the easiest is to just have a bit of publicity behind your name so someone else wants to ask you a question. For instance, these are activities that can put your name out there, so others hear you and want to ask you a question:
Social media is great for introverts. They can socialize while at home in a private & secure environment, choose their moments of when to get involved and decide when to stay silent. With podcasts, speaking events, and webinars – there’s already a topic. You get to share your expertise without having to go through small talk.
Social media can be a conundrum for introverts. It’s great for us and we totally don’t understand it or get its appeal to others.
If you join in with social media, speaking, or sharing your expertise online; others will see it and start the conversation for you. Often, they will have a question about something you said or wrote and voila – you’re in a conversation.
This is why introverts should speak at conferences. You get a chance to introduce yourself to a group without being judged and get to share your amazing ideas. Once it’s done (and it always goes much faster than you think it will); people will approach you and start the conversation. That’s introvert networking at its finest 🙂
How to Start the Conversation Yourself
Sometimes it’s difficult to start with social media or you just don’t have the time before a show to get highly involved. While just joining and posting on a LinkedIn or Facebook groups isn’t that hard (of course, this is coming from someone who logs into Facebook roughly every 6-8 weeks); there are ways that you can start the conversation.
The easiest is to just sit in a session, listen to the speakers, write down some follow-up questions, and then ask for further explanation during a networking event. Most speakers are willing to share their knowledge and thoughts. It takes a lot of work to put together a good presentation, and often material they wanted to talk about can’t fit into their limited time slot, so asking them questions will often jump into a highly detailed and interesting conversation about the topic.
Do some research beforehand. Writing blog posts, doing webinars, and participating in podcasts takes time and energy. Once again, those who write, and share are often willing to continue to do so; and it doesn’t hurt that it’s obvious you read (watched, listened to, etc) their material – which makes people happy that their message is being spread around the web.
Make some notes and follow-up questions to their content and ask them in person. It helps to first look at who is speaking at the event, or look at social groups that are going, and follow them around the web for a bit noting what they share and talk about.
Ask for an Introduction
If you’ve made a friend who seems to know someone you’d like to know – just ask for an introduction. Before every show, I generally get a few emails from friends and colleagues asking me to keep an eye out for Y as it’s their first show or something. I’m willing to say hi and make any introductions for them as there’s a shared mutual friend involved.
You can also just send a polite email on LinkedIn asking to chat at the show. If your message is replied to, then you have your opening.
Don’t fret if your message is ignored. Personally, I don’t have the time to reply to every LinkedIn email I receive, and I don’t login to Facebook enough to even know I have messages (and I have never installed/used Facebook messenger). It’s not that someone is just ignoring you – it might be a time/communication issue as well.
The Hardest Part of Networking for an Introvert
Doing some research and sitting in sessions is the easiest part of networking for an introvert. The second hardest thing is to ask a question. The hardest thing to do – actually decide to attend the networking event.
If you’re an extreme introvert, don’t jump right into the full networking events. Start during the conference. There’s time at breakfast, lunch, and between sessions for a short chat. Conference attendees are smart (that’s why their boss or themselves paid to be there) and nice people. Just ask a follow-up question between sessions or sit at a breakfast table and ask what sessions the other people are looking forward to seeing. Those are natural conversation starters?
The second hardest thing to do is ask the question and start the conversation. That’s where the ‘small talk’ is often beyond introverts. Here’s some easy ones:
• Conference based:
• What did you think of that session?
• What did you learn today?
• I think X did a great job, have you seen her speak before?
• What do you think of that idea X (insert something interesting about the session)
• What sessions are you going to go to today?
• Who do you think the must see speakers are?
• People based:
• What type of work do you do?
• How do you like working for X (look at name badge for company)
• Common interest:
• How is your job changing with X (some new industry change)?
• What do you think of Y (some new industry change)?
• Common enemies (everyone loves to share their frustration with the search engines):
• What do you think of that new change Google/Bing/Facebook/etc did that everyone seems to be complaining about?
• Industry:
• How do you see the future of this industry evolving?
• What are you doing to prepare for our robot overlords? (i.e. machine learning & AI will take over the world)
Topics to stay clear of:
• Religion & politics are the easy ones
• Pop culture: Many introverts enjoy the arts, but could care less about actor names, celebrity lives, and so forth. Unless you know the subject well; it’s best to avoid these topics as you’ll often get lost very quickly. I enjoy many TV shows. I have no idea of the majority of actor & actresses names in the shows, let alone who they are married to or their kids…
• Work complaints: You might work with some of these people one day, don’t complain about your boss or co-workers as it’ll make you look petty or question your work habits if they one day have to work with you
• How drunk you are: There’s a lot of drinks in Vegas. No one likes the idiot drunk. If you have a few too many beers, enjoy, but don’t flaunt it
• Things you find stupid. All of us have topics we just find dumb from too many cat memes to why the same person can possibly direct both Star Trek & Star Wars movies. What you find stupid someone else will enjoy and it’ll cause natural friction that you want to avoid.
Warning:
• Sarcasm: I love sarcasm – it gets me into trouble; especially when someone doesn’t have the context for the sarcasm or takes you seriously.
• Be careful of exaggeration: I’ll always remember the day when someone was boasting about their PPC budgets. It just so happened that we were one of the top spenders at Yahoo and Google as well as managing one of the top AdSense sites and one of the most frequented sites on the entire web. I knew they were highly exaggerating and never really trusted what that person said afterwards. There will be big companies at the show and people who you’ve never heard of who manage massive budgets or are highly influential. Exaggeration can come and bite you – be careful.
You can even ask some of these questions on social media before the show. If you start the conversation before the show; it’s easier to keep it going or ask a follow-up question during the show.
Taking a Break
After you sit in some sessions and have some conversations; you might feel drained. That’s because introverts recharge with alone time. In Vegas, it’s not going to rain and there’s plenty of space around the conference center to go for a walk. Just go take a break.
If you want a nice coffee, the Renaissance hotel next door has a small coffee shop in it and there are some tables you can sit and have your coffee and avoid people.
If you walk around the center outside; there’s plenty of nice sidewalks to just wander a bit. There’s a lot of traffic around so if you want to tune out the world bring a pair of headsets (watching for any traffic if you do cross a street – it’s not necessary for a long walk as you can easily just stay on one side of the street) and just wander a bit. It’ll help you recharge so you can go back to the show and learn more in sessions and talk to yet more people.
Networking for Introverts
Networking makes you feel involved in the show. It gives you valuable contacts for the future. It’s a great place to share ideas and learn new concepts. While it’s scary, it doesn’t have to be impossible.
Join in social media or share your ideas before the show.
Attend the conference and pay attention in the sessions. Ask intelligent follow-up questions that start conversations.
When you need a break, just go for a short walk – there’s plenty of open space around the conference center to go recharge yourself. When you’ve done, rejoin society at the conference.
Conferences are wonderful. You can learn a lot, meet new people, and network – even if you are an introvert by just exerting a little bit of thought and research, which is something as an introvert – you’re already great at doing 🙂
2 Comments
I enjoyed reading this, Brad. Thanks for going ever so slightly off topic.
An ex-colleague told me to read ‘Quiet’ by Susan Cain because he knew me better than I thought! Back when we worked together for a software company, I presented two-day training courses regularly. No problem. The only bit I dreaded was the coffee breaks. Small talk and I are not a good fit!
Now, as a ‘PPC guy’, I do tend to stay away from conferences where I see them as an extroverted egotist’s playground. That said, I will keep your article for reference in case that ever changes. 🙂 | {
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ABB sees a future market for 1000v and 1500v inverters
pv magazine’s Ian Clover was joined by ABB Head of Product Management Jyrki Leppänen and ABB product manager Marko Harju, to discuss the company’s latest inverter, the PVS980 central inverter.
ABB's Jyrki Leppänen with two of the Solar Superheros
It is the company’s largest inverter to date, with an extended lifespan, which is helped by its self-containing cooling system and its strong design. The pair also give their opinion on the future of the inverter market in the face of 1500v inverters. | {
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Clip of Electro from The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Released in time to celebrate this weekend’s annual Scone convention in Lilydale – either that, or Comic-Con in San Diego – Sony’s given audiences (the majority of us falling into the ‘who gives a shit?’ crowd) the first squiz at footage from next year’s “The Amazing Incredible Spider-Man Reboot Redux Sequel Part Two”. Emphasis here seems to be on promoting Jamie Foxx’s bad-guy role of Electro… he’s the dude that was married to Daredevil’s girlfriend before red tights got hold of her. I think. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
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Salgado said his homegrown medical cannabis meets the requirements and is having just as much of an impact.
"Certainly from an economic standpoint, we're bigger than green chile. The industry alone will do $45 million this year, and when you compare that to green chile, I believe their numbers came in at $41 million," Salgado said.
Briganti said the goal of the New Mexico True campaign is to attract people from out of state by promoting items that they can enjoy on vacation, and take back home. The problem with medical cannabis is that a medical marijuana card is needed in New Mexico, and is not available to people who live outside the state.
Ultra Health also applied for sponsorship at Balloon Fiesta, but was also denied. The company will be the sponsor of Gathering of Nations for the next five years. | {
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} |
(CNN) -- The only man convicted over the Lockerbie bombing is to be released and allowed to return to Libya on compassionate grounds because he is terminally ill, Scotland's justice minister said Thursday.
Abdelbeset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi 57 was serving a life sentence for bombing Pan Am Flight 103 over the Scottish town of Lockerbie, resulting in the deaths of 270 people.
The White House, which has urged Britain to keep al Megrahi behind bars, said it "deeply regrets" the decision.
Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill told a news conference in Edinburgh the prisoner was "going home to die" and would be released within an hour of the announcement shortly after 1200 GMT (8 a.m. ET).
"Our justice system demands that judgment be imposed but compassion available," MacAskill said. "Our beliefs dictate that justice be served but mercy be shown."
The Pan Am flight exploded December 21, 1988, as it flew over Scotland on its way from London to New York. All 259 people aboard the plane died, along with 11 Scots on the ground.
Families of the Lockerbie victims have been divided on whether al Megrahi should be ever be released.
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The United States has made clear to the British government and others that it believes al Megrahi should spend the rest of his time in jail.
In a statement released shortly after Thursday's announcement, the White House said it "deeply regrets the decision".
"As we have expressed repeatedly to officials of the government of the United Kingdom and to Scottish authorities, we continue to believe that al Megrahi should serve out his sentence in Scotland," it said.
Al Megrahi was convicted in 2001 after the prosecution argued he had placed the bomb, hidden in a suitcase, on a flight from Malta to Frankfurt, Germany.
There, prosecutors said, the bomb was transferred onto the Pan Am plane that went first to London's Heathrow Airport and then took off for New York.
Another man -- Al-Amin Khalifa Fahima -- was also tried in the bombing but was acquitted.
The prosecution said that al Megrahi, who worked at Malta's Luqa Airport, was an agent for the Libyan intelligence services and had been seen buying clothes that were in the suitcase that contained the bomb.
Libya has formally accepted responsibility for the bombing and has compensated the families, though Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi later denied any culpability.
A Scottish court ruled in 2003 that al Megrahi must serve at least 27 years of his sentence before becoming eligible for parole. Al Megrahi first appealed the conviction in 2002 and lost. | {
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Drake visits Odell Beckham Jr. at hospital post-surgery
New York Giants wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will have to watch from the sideline for the rest of the season after undergoing season-ending surgery to repair the fractured ankle he suffered in Week 5.
A post shared by champagnepapi (@champagnepapi) on Oct 10, 2017 at 6:06pm PDT
Since Beckham Jr.’s quick emergence as one of the premier wide receivers in the NFL, he and Drake have become close friends. Drake even alluded to Beckham Jr.’s ridiculous one-handed catch against the Cowboys in 2014 in his song “Fake Love.”
The Giants won’t have Beckham Jr. for the rest of the season as they try to salvage a campaign that has started 0-5 but there is optimism that the star wide receiver will make a full recovery for the 2018 season.
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You'll be waking up a little more awesome tomorrow. | {
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} |
September 25, 2010
Abortion Does Not Cause Depression Or Low Self-Esteem In Adolescents
by Sam Savage
A new study has determined that teenagers who have abortions are no more likely to become depressed or have low self-esteem than their peers whose pregnancies do not end in abortion.
The study conducted by researchers from Oregon State University and University of California, San Francisco, is the first to use both depression and low self-esteem as outcomes with a nationally representative sample of adolescents.
The researchers found that young women in the study who had an abortion were no more likely to become depressed or have low self-esteem within the first year of pregnancy "“ or five years later "“ than their peers who were pregnant, but did not have an abortion.
The researchers used data from 289 respondents to the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Data were taken from three survey waves, starting in 1994-1995, surveyed again one year later, and then five years after that. The study is available online and will appear in the December issue of Perspectives on Sexual and Reproductive Health.
Lead author Jocelyn Warren, a post-doctoral research associate at OSU, said the study was intended to fill a major gap in abortion research.
"We know most teen pregnancies are not wanted pregnancies and an unwanted pregnancy can be very stressful," Warren said.
She said previous research has shown that adolescent girls who get pregnant report more depression and lower self-esteem compared to those who don't. "What we didn't know was whether psychological outcomes are worse for girls who choose abortion. This study says, 'No.'"
Warren noted that a 2008 report by the American Psychological Association found no evidence that an induced abortion causes mental health problems in adult women. Because of a scarcity of evidence, no conclusions were drawn at that time about adolescents. Warren said the results of their study with teen girls were consistent with the results of studies with adult women reviewed in the APA report.
"Abortion is a very controversial issue and a hot political one, obviously," said Marie Harvey, a professor of public health at OSU and a leading national researcher in the area of women's health. Harvey was Warren's doctoral adviser and is co-author of the paper.
"In the interest of women's health, it's critical that we conduct the most rigorous studies possible and use evidence-based information to inform public policy," Harvey said. "This is our goal in public health research but it may be even more important in areas such as abortion that are highly politicized."
According to the Guttmacher Institute, a nonprofit organization that monitors state abortion policies, 34 states require parental involvement in adolescents' abortion decisions. In addition, laws in seven states mandate that women be advised only of negative psychological consequences of abortion, including "post-abortion traumatic stress syndrome," a disorder that is not recognized by the American Psychological Association or the American Psychiatric Association.
Warren said it's important to note that individual women may have very different emotional responses to abortion. "But, on average, abortion does not appear to have major psychological consequences "“ for adult women or for teens."
"We have policies being made that are not evidence-based, and that have adverse consequences for women's health," Harvey said. "I cannot think of any other type of health practice where a doctor is forced by law to tell a patient about negative consequences that have not been proven or validated."
Harvey said their study had several strengths. For one thing, the data were from a national sample and are representative of adolescents who were in grades 7 through 12. Also, the study used standard measures of depression and self-esteem. Finally, the longitudinal data examined psychological symptoms before, during, and years after pregnancy, Harvey said. | {
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Eateries
The Magpie & Stump Hotel
Built in 1850/51 the hotel incorporates the former Bakers shop as part of the Dining room and features the original wood-fired oven.
Open 11 am daily
Lunch fri – Sun 12.00pm – 2.00pm Dinner wed – Sat from 6pm
Reservations Recommended
(08) 8843 9014
Reilly’s Restaurant
Savour the flavours of the Clare Valley region by enjoying lunch in our restaurant. We source local produce to to create delicious gourmet meals including fresh-picked vegetables from our very own organic vegetable garden. Our seasonal menu changes regularly to suit the produce available and our specials change daily. | {
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} |
Engine Size:
6.2 Liter V8
Transmission Type:
Automatic
Miles:
54,103 (Actual)
Location:
Atlanta, Georgia
Look, the bottom line is that you just have to come drive this 2009 Cadillac CTS-V before you'll understand it. With the supercharged heart of a Corvette, this is arguably the best car that General Motors builds and it does everything right. But honestly, none of that matters when you mash the throttle and this luxury cruiser blasts itself to the far side of 170 MPH. So please, just come drive it and you'll understand. With just two owners, the upgraded chrome wheels, sunroof and Navigation, this one is a modern collectable ready for fun.
I know that the creased "Art & Science" look on late-model Cadillacs are a love-it-or-hate-it proposition, but the CTS is arguably the finest example yet of the angular look and the CTS-V only accentuates the aggressive shape. I'm guessing that designers sketched this one first, then took out the cool stuff to make the garden-variety versions simply because it looks so right. Dig the domed hood, the vents in the fenders that complete the angle of the windshield (I understand that this particular stamping was outrageously expensive to develop but the designers wouldn't budge on eliminating it), and, of course, the mesh grilles that are only part of the V package. The paint is what you'd expect on a car with a price tag above $70,000 and even after a few years of fun, this one still looks quite good. Sure, there are a few signs of use here and there, but after all, how could you resist driving a car this amazing??
The CTS-V is much more than just a burly engine, as you'll quickly discover the moment you open the door. The black leather and suede Recaros are sculpted and supportive, every bit a match for the car's performance and price. The leather looks great, with the only noticeable issue being a small scratch in between the rear seats. Look closely and you might see it. Otherwise, there no real notable wear, even on the high-traffic areas, including the driver's bolsters. Elegant chrome-rimmed dials dance to life when you turn the key, and like most luxury manufacturers, Cadillac uses a variety of materials on the dash: chrome, textured plastic, and "piano black" trim that looks very high tech. Everything was standard on the V, so you won't be wishing for any extra hardware, and when you get tired of the V8's song, you can fire up the stereo which sounds spectacular. The V is also a real car, meaning that you can fill it with passengers and luggage and head out on the road thanks to a spacious, fully finished trunk complete with cargo net (you'll need it!).
But the real story on the V is the Corvette-derived 6.2-liter supercharged V8, which belts out 556 horsepower and 551 pounds of torque, astounding numbers for a four-door from Cadillac, wouldn't you say? It's smooth and seamless when you're just cruising, like any modern Cadillac, but mash the throttle and boost comes up instantly, the 6-speed automatic drops down a gear or three, and suddenly the speedometer and tach needles are racing each other around the dials. The chassis settings are ideal, comfortable yet deadly accurate and this might be the most tossable car I've ever driven with just the right amount of electronic assistance. If the Corvette is any indicator, the CTS-V is going to be bulletproof now and in the future, so you can buy this one with confidence. Massive Brembo brakes live behind gorgeous V-specific alloys with Michelin performance radials.
Can you tell I love this car? Go ahead, try to find 550 horsepower for less cash than this. Call today! | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Dreena Burton demonstrates that anyone can prepare an array of delectable vegan dishes without compromising one’s health or sense of taste. The Everyday Vegan includes recipes as well as cooking and shopping tips, meal plan suggestions, and nutritional analyses. | {
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PPAR gamma Monoclonal Antibody (A3409A)
Performance guaranteed
Purchase with confidence, knowing that we stand behind
the performance of our antibodies with the InvitrogenTM
antibody performance guarantee. If an InvitrogenTM antibody
doesn't perform in your experiment as described on our website
or datasheet, we'll replace the product at no cost to you, or
if you prefer, we'll provide you with a credit for a future
purchase.*
Learn more.
* Suggested working dilutions are given as a guide only. It is recommended that the user titrate the
product for use in their own experiment using appropriate negative and positive controls.
Background/Target Information
Peroxisome proliferators are non-genotoxic carcinogens which are purported to exert their effect on cells through their interaction with members of the nuclear hormone receptor family, termed peroxisome proliferator activated receptors (PPARs). Nuclear hormone receptors are ligand-dependent intracellular proteins that stimulate transcription of specific genes by binding to specific DNA sequences following activation by the appropriate ligand. Studies indicate that PPARs are activated by peroxisome proliferators such as clofibric acid, nafenopin, and WY-14,643, as well as by some fatty acids. It has also been shown that PPARs can induce transcription of acyl coenzyme A oxidase & cytochrome P450 A6 (CYP450 A6) through interaction with specific response elements. PPAR alpha is activated by free fatty acids including linoleic, arachidonic, and oleic acids. Induction of peroxisomes by this mechanism leads to a reduction in blood triglyceride levels. PPAR alpha is expressed mainly in skeletal muscle, heart, liver, and kidney and is thought to regulate many genes involved in the beta-oxidation of fatty acids. Activation of rat liver PPAR alpha has been shown to suppress hepatocyte apoptosis. PPAR gamma 2, like several other nuclear hormone receptors, heterodimerizes with retinoic X receptor (RXR) alpha to form a transcriptionally competent complex.
For Research Use Only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures. Not for resale without express authorization. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
The Pakistan team have struggled for form in the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2016Getty
Pakistan take on Malaysia in their fifth game of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2016 at Ipoh, Malaysia, on 13 April.
Where to watch live
Match starts at 1.35pm BST/6.05pm IST. There is no live coverage of the game in the UK. In India live coverage is available on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 3. It can be viewed via live stream on StarSports.
Overview
Pakistan take on Malaysia in their fifth game of the tournament of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup on 13 April (Wednesday). The Men In Green come into this game knowing they no longer have any hopes in the title race after their humiliating 5-1 defeat at the hands of arch-rivals India on 12 April.
Their defending has always been a weak spot and it has hurt them throughout the competition. With not a lot to look forward too, Pakistan will be playing for pride and will look to get back to winning ways.
The hosts Malaysia also look like they blew their chances of a final berth drawing with Canada 2-2 on 12 April. In what has been a feature of the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup 2016, poor defending has come to hurt teams and it was no different for the hosts.
Coach Stephen van Huizen was not happy with his team and with Pakistan and India set to face them it will be a tough task. Malaysia currently sit in fifth place on the points table with five points from four games played. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Pages
Monday, March 13, 2017
Wizard World To Celebrate 20th Anniversary of ‘Buffy The Vampire Slayer’ With Nicholas Brendon and Charisma Carpenter in Cleveland
[Press release from Wizard World.]
It
was 20 years ago that the cult TV hit “Buffy the Vampire
Slayer” first hit the air. Its
fandom has grown ever since, and Wizard World is proud to commemorate
the occasion by adding two of its most popular and memorable stars,
Nicholas Brendon (“Xander Harris”) and Charisma Carpenter (“Cordelia Chase”) to Wizard World Comic Con Cleveland next weekend at the Huntington Convention Center of Cleveland.
Brendon
will appear Friday through Sunday, March 17-19, while Carpenter will
attend on Saturday and Sunday. Both will greet fans, sign autographs,
pose for dual and solo photo ops and conduct an interactive
Q&A panel on Saturday at 3 p.m. on the main stage.
One of the landmark series' most popular personalities, Brendon appeared in films like Psycho Beach Party
and Demon Island during hiatuses in the show's run, then had recurring roles in the hit dramas "Criminal Minds" and "Private Practice."
Carpenter,
who has more than 50 film and TV credits, reprised "Cordelia" on
"Angel" and was a regular on "Veronica Mars" and "The Lying Game." She
also played "Lacy" in the blockbuster film
The Expendables and its sequel.
Wizard
World Comic Con events bring together thousands of fans of all ages to
celebrate the best in pop culture: movies, television, gaming, live
entertainment, comics, sci-fi, graphic novels, toys,
original art, collectibles, contests and more. The third event
scheduled on the 2017 Wizard World calendar, Cleveland show hours are
Friday, March 17, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, March 18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; Sunday,
March 19, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Wizard
World Comic Con Cleveland is also the place for cosplay, with fans
young and old showing off their best costumes throughout the event. Fans
dressed as every imaginable character – and some never
before dreamed – will roam the convention floor and participate in the
famed Wizard World Costume Contest on Saturday night. | {
"pile_set_name": "Pile-CC"
} |
Stone Cobbles
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We can also supply stone cobbles in various other sizes and specifications to fulfill individual customer requirements.
Each stone is unique in its character and properties and hence variation must be expected.
The given sizes and thickness are an approximation only and the stone pieces may vary in color, tone, marking and texture.
Applications:
Stone cobbles are hand chiseled natural stones which are environmentally sound, recyclable, non-slip, everlasting and require almost no maintenance.
They can be put to innumerable uses and are generally used for pavements, outhouses and pool sides.
Note: Above details are standard, can make as per Buyer’s Requirements too.
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10 x 10 x 8 cm
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5 x 5 x 3 in
14 x 20 x 8 cm
5 x 8 x 3 in
Types
Granite Cobbles, Sandstone cobbles, Limestone cobbles, Slate cobbles
Finishes
All sides natural (Hand dressed). Top surface can be honed.
Available Colors
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Approx. Price: Rs 9,000 / TonGet Latest Price
Backed by a team of skilled professionals in this domain, we are involved in offering an exclusive range of Gray Stone Cobbles. This marble is perfectly processed using latest technology and high quality raw material in conformity with set industry norms. Our offered marble provides elegant look and classy manifestation to the place. Provided marble is available in different specifications and can be personalized as per the diverse requirements of our clients.
Features:
Easy to fit
Eye-catchy look
Crack resistance
Standard Specifications:
We can also supply stone cobbles in various other sizes and specifications to fulfill individual customer requirements.
Each stone is unique in its character and properties and hence variation must be expected.
The given sizes and thickness are an approximation only and the stone pieces may vary in color, tone, marking and texture.
Applications:
Stone cobbles are hand chiseled natural stones which are environmentally sound, recyclable, non-slip, everlasting and require almost no maintenance.
They can be put to innumerable uses and are generally used for pavements, outhouses and pool sides.
Note: Above details are standard, can make as per Buyer’s Requirements too.
Common Sizes
10 x 10 x 8 cm
4 x 4 x 3 in
20 x 10 x 8 cm
8 x 4 x 3 in
14 x 14 x 6 cm
5 x 5 x 2 in
14 x 14 x 8 cm
5 x 5 x 3 in
14 x 20 x 8 cm
5 x 8 x 3 in
Types
Granite Cobbles, Sandstone cobbles, Limestone cobbles, Slate cobbles
Finishes
All sides natural (Hand dressed). Top surface can be honed.
Available Colors
Black, Grey, Brown, Green, Chocolate, Beige, etc.
"Prices are available Rs 1000 - 9000 / ton"
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Item Code: ENSCP003
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Brown Stone Cobbles
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Approx. Price: Rs 9,000 / TonGet Latest Price
We are getting huge appreciation from our clients for offering a broad range of Brown Stone Cobbles. These cobbles are processed as per the present market trends with the help of highly developed technology under the supervision of our deft professionals by using best quality raw material. Our offered cobbles are available in diverse sizes, colours and designs in order to meet the diverse requirements of the clients. Moreover, we offer these cobbles to our clients at reasonable prices.
Features:
High strength
Optimum finish
Scratch resistance
Standard Specifications:
We can also supply stone cobbles in various other sizes and specifications to fulfill individual customer requirements.
Each stone is unique in its character and properties and hence variation must be expected.
The given sizes and thickness are an approximation only and the stone pieces may vary in color, tone, marking and texture.
Applications:
Stone cobbles are hand chiseled natural stones which are environmentally sound, recyclable, non-slip, everlasting and require almost no maintenance.
They can be put to innumerable uses and are generally used for pavements, outhouses and pool sides. | {
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And Let Bail Bonds in Fresno Help
You are committed to being there for your friend or family member whenever you are needed, just like Bail Bonds in Fresno is committed to our clients. To talk to a dedicated bail agent, call 559-264-0603 or visit our local bail agent in 1302 Van Ness Avenue Fresno, California 93721.
When someone you care about is in trouble, you do everything that you can to help him or her out. This includes paying for his or her bail. No one wants to spend time in jail, and no one wants to force their loved one to stay in jail longer than is necessary. That is why you want to bail out your friend or family member, and why Bail Bonds in Fresno is here to help you.
You have always been there for your friend or family member, through thick and thin, and that is not going to change with his or her arrest. You contacted Bail Bonds in Fresno as soon as you found out about his or her arrest. It is a good thing they are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Our bail agents will be as dedicated to you as you are to your friend or family member. No other bail bond company in California will take care of you and your loved one like we will at Bail Bonds in Fresno. You get the best bail help when you come and work with one of our bail agents. We will not stop working for you until we have secured your loved one’s release from jail.
We work around to the clock, just like you would, to bail your friend or family out of jail. If you want to help your loved one get out of jail quickly, which most people do, then you need to contact the professionals working here at Bail Bonds in Fresno. We will not let you, or your friend or family member, down.
Get a free consultation at any time by calling 559-264-0603 or by clicking Chat With Us now. | {
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Not new to the Open Road Forums, we have had 12 great years with a popup trailer, and have frequented the forums for discussions on that.
Now we approach retirement and find ourselves transitioning from weekend and weeklong same destination trips to traveling the country with frequent overnighters for which the popup was a bit too much setup/teardown.
While we've been preparing and researching for this purchase, the reality hit home when I suddenly had to get some things in order before towing it off the lot:
- Choose a hitch
- Swap out my small mirrors for the bigger tow mirrors
- Insurance
- Find a storage lot
Still need to pick up some chocks and choose a leveling system.
Most of our camping style will carry over to the TT, with the new experience of The Black Tank Oh yeah, need a sewer hose...
Stuff rolling in from Amazon... dogbone adapters, chocks, X-chocks, Lynx blocks... Coming: surge protector, sewer hose, water pressure regulator... Soon as we verify mattress size - sheets and a foam topper. Most of the other camp stuff we already have.
Planning mods and upgrades... (might be a full time job! )
Was thinking I would look at tires... a lot of recommendations for the made in USA Goodyear Endurance... Yesterday, I was looking at the pics of the trailer on my dealer's website, and I see a closeup of the tires. Yep, Goodyear Endurance. Yay Northwood for not cheaping out. (scratch that upgrade/expense from the list!)
Was thinking I would look at tires... a lot of recommendations for the made in USA Goodyear Endurance... Yesterday, I was looking at the pics of the trailer on my dealer's website, and I see a closeup of the tires. Yep, Goodyear Endurance. Yay Northwood for not cheaping out. (scratch that upgrade/expense from the list!)
Don't forget water filter =)
For me one of the best upgrades we did to our trailer was install the BAL version of the JT Strong-Arms, removed all of the shake, shimmy, and roll from the trailer. | {
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I use snake shot shells in my revolver, but I saw today that UGS.com which used to have another name has shot shells for sale in 9mm, .40S&W, and .45. I would like to know what semi auto will feed these plastic hulled shells? I have a couple 9s, a couple 40s and at least one .45. They are not flawless feeders though and will sometimes fail to chamber a round. Are there any semi autos out there that will feed snake shot? Thanks for the input.
Thanks for the replies. CSaw44, I was thinking more about the plastic capsule jamming on the feed ramp. I think a longer barrel would be great, but most of my semi-autos are 3"-4" barrels with only one 5" thrown in.
Thanks for the replies. CSaw44, I was thinking more about the plastic capsule jamming on the feed ramp. I think a longer barrel would be great, but most of my semi-autos are 3"-4" barrels with only one 5" thrown in.
Dave
I have never had a problem with them feeding in a 9mm and 45acp is not plastic on the nose. | {
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Govt to bring new consumer law to check misleading ads: Paswan
By
A group of ministers, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, will soon meet to finalise the amendments to the new Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, based on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he added.
Govt to bring new consumer law to check misleading ads: Paswan
A group of ministers, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, will soon meet to finalise the amendments to the new Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, based on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he added.
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Govt to bring new consumer law to check misleading ads: Paswan
A group of ministers, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, will soon meet to finalise the amendments to the new Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, based on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he added.
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Concerned over misleading ads, Food Minister Ram Vilas Paswan said the government will bring a new Consumer Protection law in the upcoming Parliament session that will have strong provisions against celebrities endorsing such advertisements as well as adulteration.
A group of ministers, headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, will soon meet to finalise the amendments to the new Consumer Protection Bill, 2015, based on the recommendation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee, he added.
The GoM had in late August, asked the Consumer Affairs Ministry to look at laws of other countries related to misleading ads by celebrities before finalising the Bill.
"For celebrities endorsing misleading ads, Parliamentary Standing Committee has made strong recommendations for provisions of penalty and jail. There should be some action on misleading celebrities," Paswan said on the sidelines of an event here.
He said there also could be a ban on celebrities from endorsements if found guilty of misleading advertisements.
"A group of ministers will soon meet to finalise the Consumer Protection Bill. We will then take this Bill to Cabinet for approval. We hope to pass this law in the upcoming session," he added.
Asked whether there will be provision of jail term for celebrities, Paswan said: "We cannot say anything now. The Group of Ministers will decide on that. I would not like to comment. If there is a ban on celebrities for 5 years or life time ban, that is also a big thing".
Earlier addressing the conference on food fortification, Paswan spoke about misleading ads and cited several examples of health supplements endorsed by celebrities for money. He also expressed concerns on misleading ads related to weight gain and loss placed on public transport like three-wheelers.
The Centre in August last year had introduced the Consumer Protection Bill 2015, in Lok Sabha, to repeal the 30 -year-old Consumer Protection Act. A Parliamentary Standing Committee submitted its recommendations in April.
The Consumer Affairs Ministry had proposed stringent provisions to tackle misleading advertisements as well as to fix liability on endorsers/celebrities.
For the first time offence, a fine of Rs 10 lakh and jail term of up to two years, while for second and subsequent offenses, a fine of Rs 50 lakh and imprisonment of five years has been proposed for brand ambassadors.
The ministry proposed similar penalty and jail term for adulteration, besides license suspension and cancellation. | {
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Prepare Venom
Information
Level
39
Start NPC
Hasisi
Finish NPC
Hasisi
Location
Cloying Wastes
Mission
If you defeat Mandrakes and catch bald eagles, you can find the materials I have asked for.
Description
Because of Mohaban Mercenaries, we can't go around peacefully. The guardsmen have taken off to fight against them, but we can't just rely on them. Besides, Chief Bartolo has asked me deeply... I can't just sit around and wait.
If you can bring me back plant poison and intestines of bald eagle from Mandrakes, I think I can make something that can help our guardsmen.
You will find the bald eagles at the peak around 180m in altitude in the direction of the Dust Wind Field in front of the town! | {
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NOBBY SOLANO is backing Kevin Keegan to do what the Newcastle United manager does not believe he can – and get the club back into the Champions League.
Keegan thinks the best United can hope for in the next couple of years is to battle it out with the clubs outside the recognised top four of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool.
But after watching from afar, the little Peruvian, who says his son is a Geordie boy after his time at St James’s Park, thinks Keegan may be under-selling himself.
The 33-year-old midfielder, who cost United £2.76m when Kenny Dalglish bought him from Boca Juniors in 1998, told me today: “Of all the memories I have of Newcastle United none are better than the Champions League, and I do not see why my old club should not get back into it under Kevin Keegan.
“Obviously, I wasn’t around when he was at St James’s Park as a manager the first time and I don't really know him.
“But when I was on the bench against Newcastle at Upton Park at the end of the season I watched him closely, especially when West Ham were two goals up.
“He clearly still had faith in his team and, just as important, his players all had faith in him.
“To tell the truth, I cannot remember many teams in the Premier League coming back after being two goals down.
“But Newcastle did that day, and in the end they could even have won it and a lot of it was down to the impact Kevin Keegan had on them.”
Solano, of course, had plenty of good days not only in a black-and-white shirt but also in the white shirt of his country.
He has a winning goal to his name for Peru against Brazil.
And he will always have a place in United’s folklore after knocking in a match-winning penalty against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Solano also sent Arsenal packing in Graeme Souness’ time as manager of United and who can forget his superb goal against 1860 Munich in the Olympic Stadium in the InterToto Cup in the summer of 2001?
But it is Europe’s top competition Nobby keeps coming back to, adding: “I have had a good career and one of the highlights has to be that season five years ago under Sir Bobby Robson.
”I was on the bench when Craig Bellamy almost beat Feyenoord on his own to take us through to the next stage, and I played in the San Siro when we came away disappointed at just achieving a 2-2 draw with Inter Milan on their own ground.
“I am a West Ham player now and my ambitions are all with them, but I would love to see my old team back in the Champions League.
“If there is one man who can take them there, that man is Kevin Keegan, although it is going to be very difficult for anyone to break the current top-four monopoly.”
Solano only appeared for a couple of minutes as a substitute against United at the end of the season – still enough for him to receive a tremendous reception from the Toon Army.
A couple of weeks later he signed his West Ham season off with a goal in the 2-2 draw with another of his former clubs Aston Villa.
Solano will be back at Upton Park next season but eventually he feels that he will return to Peru where he is still a national hero.
However, he insists: “Wherever I am in the world I will always have a place for Newcastle in my heart.” | {
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Technology
Apple and Nike, Running Mates
As corporate logos go, few are as recognizable as the bitten apple that appears on all things Apple Computer (AAPL). Few, that is, except maybe the swoosh that has appeared on Nike's (NKE) shoes and apparel from the company's beginning.
Now the two companies behind those logos are teaming up. At an event in New York, Nike and Apple said they are collaborating on a series of products that bridge the gaps between sports, electronics, and entertainment.
Their first jointly produced product: the Nike+iPod Sport kit, which involves an electronic sensor inserted under the inner sole of a new Nike running shoe dubbed the Moire (pronounce (MOR-ay). That sensor talks to a small wireless receiver that attaches to Apple's iPod nano music player.
SMARTER THAN SMART. The components work together to give voice prompts, interjected while music is playing, that tell runners how far they've gone and at what pace. The iPod will also keep track of the duration, distance, and other information on each run. The data could then be uploaded to a Mac or PC, and from there to a Nike Web site called Nikeplus.com, where users can track progress, set goals, and share results. The shoes will sell for about $100. The sensor and iPod attachment will go for about $29 The Nike+iPod Sport Kit and are expected to be available in the next two months.
Nike dreamed up the idea for the product and contacted Apple to develop the technology behind it, Nike CEO Mark Parker said at the news conference: "A while back we asked a big question: Could we harness the power of digital technology to improve a runner's experience?" It turns out the answer is a smart running shoe, equipped with a small sensor that can track motion and distance and other metrics that runners find important, but the information would only be available after their run is complete, not while running. "We quickly realized that making a smart shoe wasn't smart enough."
So Parker called a friend: Apple CEO Steve Jobs. The result was the kit, which both called simply a "great start." The two companies will develop more products as part of an ongoing partnership.
DESIGN DIFFICULTIES. The two companies are alike in design and marketing. Both are iconic brands that appeal to a consumer market that is young and considers itself hip and cool. Apple had approached Nike about being its MP3 supplier, but Nike execs came up with a bigger idea. Parker said he wanted to give more than just music to the runner. "Obviously, a lot of that was already happening," he says. "If the shoe and the iPod could talk to each other, what would they say and what's the potential of that connection? We got the creative side from both companies and we started exploring."
When Nike and Apple designers met for the first time 18 months ago, the teams clicked. "Both companies are technology-driven companies," Jobs says. "It's just that we work in completely different areas of technology. We are semiconductors and software, and Nike is anatomy and precision-molding and thin-film technologies. What's interesting is the people are very similar."
But it took some time for both teams to find their Zen state. Some of the technology challenges were tough. The sensor embedded in the new Nike Moire running sneaker was initially too big for Nike designers and too small for Apple's team. Other technical challenges centered on the duration of the battery power (close to 1,000 hours). Apple designers also had to wrestle with the wireless technology. "Wireless takes power," Jobs says. "The last thing you wanted was a wire going down your leg. It looks deceptively simple and that's how it should be. It took a while to get it right. But there is a lot of technology there."
BEAUTIFUL FRIENDSHIP. Jobs also says keeping the price at $29 for the wireless iPod adapter was another key point. "This thing is over 90% accurate right out of the box, which is huge," Jobs says. "Something like this would normally cost a lot more money. We priced it so everyone can afford it because we want everyone to try it and experience how cool it is."
Parker says Nike is offering seven styles of shoes that will be iPod-ready by allowing the sensor to be embedded into the heel. They include the new Nike Air Zoom Moire, unveiled today, as well as the Nike Shox and Air Max lines. About 4 million "PlusReady" shoes are available now and next the number could balloon to 10 million, Parker says. "If you need stability or extra cushioning, we have shoes to fit those needs that will be wired," he says.
Both CEOs say the experience of developing NikePlus is just the beginning of a broader strategic relationship. Neither would describe what they intend to tackle next but hinted they are only limited by imagination and good business. "It's turned out to be really fun," Jobs says. "It's fun to apply technology in an area where A, it's never been done before, and B, everybody involved in it wants it for themselves. That's always a good sign. Everybody involved in this says, 'This is so cool,' It's great to work on things like this." Says Parker: "The connection between the two different products and the potential it creates is huge."
NO-BRAINER. Apple and Nike aren't the first to try to crack the market for electronic gadgetry aimed at fitness enthusiasts. Nothing aside from the digital wristwatch has been all that universally successful, except digital-music players like the iPod and the Sony (SNE) Walkman before it. Nike has dallied in the digital-music realm before, having teamed up with Philips Electronics (PHG), and the now-defunct Rio before that, on MP3 players aimed at athletes.
Garmin (GRMN), the Kansas-based market leader in consumer GPS receivers, has been producing watches for runners that use the Global Positioning System to track a runner's training regimen. Its Forerunner products start at about $115 and, with certain options and features, can go as high as $377.
But to Trevor Edwards, Nike's vice-president for global brand management, the connection with Apple is obvious. "I think there are some ideas that you kind of go, 'Duh.' People are already out there running, and they run with music," Edwards says. "And some of them are trying to figure out how far they went. So we think this is already something people are doing. So you take their behavior and actually allow them to do it in a more simple way." | {
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Copyright Policy
The information here serves as a guideline and is not intended as legal advice. Refer to appropriate copyright law and University policies for full information. If you have a specific legal question pertaining to copyright law, you should contact the Office of General Counsel at (202) 885-3285.
Several texts have been useful in preparation of this resource and they are cited in the resources section at the end of the document. Material used was done so with permission and further use of this document is subject to the licenses and copyright in those original works.
What is covered by copyright?
United States Copyright Law protects authors' original "works of authorship" that are fixed in a tangible medium.
First, a work of authorship must be "original" in order to qualify for copyright protection. This means that the author must have engaged in some intellectual endeavor on his/her own and the work must show a minimal amount of creativity.
The following are not protected by copyright law because there is no minimal amount of creativity: facts; words and short phrases such as names, titles, and slogans; familiar symbols or designs; mere variations of typographic ornamentation, lettering or coloring; mere listing of ingredients or contents.
Second, the work of authorship must be fixed in a tangible form. A work is "fixed" in a tangible medium of expression when its embodiment in a copy or phonorecord, by or under the authority of the author, is sufficiently permanent or stable to permit it to be perceived, reproduced, or otherwise communicated for a period of more than transitory duration.
Ideas alone are not protected, but their forms of expression are covered.
Works, for purposes of copyright protection, include the following categories:
Literary works
Musical works
Dramatic works
Pantomimes and choreography
Pictorial, graphic and sculptural works
Motion pictures and other audiovisual works
Sound recordings
Architectural works
Works created on or after January 1, 1978 are covered automatically whether or not they have a copyright notice. In addition, an author has the option of registering his/her work with the U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright Registration gives certain legal advantages to authors who register their works.
Example: A student's web page, if original, is automatically covered by copyright.
What rights are covered by copyright and how do they affect use of copyrighted materials in courses?
Under U.S. Copyright Law, the copyright owner (who may be either the author/creator or his/her transferee) has the exclusive right to do or authorize the following:
To reproduce their works in copies or phonorecords
To use their works to create new derivative works
To distribute copies or phonorecords to the public by sale or transfer of ownership
To perform publicly literary, musical, dramatic, and choreographic works, pantomimes, and motion pictures and other audiovisual works
In the case of sound recordings, to perform the work publicly by means of a digital audio transmission
NOTES:
If your publisher holds the copyright to your work, you may not use it freely except under the exceptions and fair use clauses described below.
Many of the activities conducted in the classroom encompass these exclusive rights. For example, in the course of teaching a professor may photocopy articles, upload web sites, copy software, share computer files, create musical performances or perhaps have a public showing of a film. Generally, one must obtain permission from the copyright owner in order to use one of the exclusive rights. Fortunately, copyright law provides some exceptions to this general rule that allow educators to make use of materials in these ways, provided they follow certain guidelines or criteria.
How long does copyright protection last?
Due to many revisions of U.S. Copyright Law, the date of publication and creation is important in informing you whether or not each work is copyright protected. In general, it is more likely than not that:
Works, published before 1923, are in the public domain which means that their copyright protection has expired.
Works, created on or after January 1, 1978, are copyright protected for the life of the author plus 70 years.
Works, published between 1923 and December 31, 1977, are likely copyright protected provided that the published works had proper notice of copyright. Those published works without a proper notice of copyright are in the public domain which means that their copyright protection has expired.
Works of corporate authorship, created on or after January 1, 1978, are copyright protected for either 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation, whichever is shorter.
For a more comprehensive explanation as to how long copyright protection lasts, please refer to the charts in the resources section below for additional details including copyright terms for unpublished materials.
NOTES:
In most circumstances, Post 1923 Published Works that are out of print are still covered by copyright and if their use is beyond the scope of fair use or other exemptions (see below), permission should be obtained.
How can I use copyrighted materials in the classroom?
Use lawfully acquired copies of materials, (e.g., items you or the institution purchased, obtained through interlibrary loan, or licensed). Do not use pirated or illegally copied materials.
Even if you are permitted to use the works, include copyright notices on any copyrighted materials you use.
In general, it is a good idea to use only the amount of a work that is needed to achieve your pedagogical goals.
The SPECIFICS:
Besides obtaining the copyright owner's permission to use the work, the U.S Copyright Law provides two options that allow professors to use materials in the classroom:
110(1) Exemption: There is a special exemption in the U.S. Copyright Law that applies to face-to-face teaching. This is a situation where the professor is physically present in a classroom or similar place devoted to instruction and is using the materials in the context of a discrete class session. Under § 110(1), faculty and students may only perform or display – but not reproduce or distribute – any copyrighted work in the course of face-to-face teaching activities in a classroom, without seeking permission. If this provision doesn't meet your needs, you can see if a case can be made for fair use (see below).
Examples of classroom performances of non-dramatic music or literary works:
Group of students sings an arrangement of a Beetles' song in class as part of the lesson plan. Professor does a reading from a chapter of a novel in class as part of the lesson plan.
Fair Use: Materials may be used for teaching (including creation of multiple copies) as well as for purposes such as criticism, comment, and news reporting by applying a four factor analysis. You must weigh each factor and assess the overall impact of your use. Meeting a single factor will not suffice; similarly, failing one does not necessary mean you cannot use fair use.
The four factors to consider are:
Purpose and character of the use, including whether such use is of a commercial nature or is for nonprofit educational purposes.
Non commercial and educational uses are favored over commercial ones. Transformative uses (e.g., those that use works to create something new) are favored. Fair use of a work intended for an educational market such as a workbook may be less favored.
Example of transformative use: Professor includes portions of copyright works in a multimedia presentation for a class.
Nature of the work. Factual works are favored in fair use decisions over use of highly creative works. In general, published works are favored over unpublished works.
Amount and substantiality of the portion used in relation to the work as a whole. Use is more likely to be considered fair for small quantities, where the portion used is not significant to the entire work, and where the amount is appropriate for the intended educational purpose.
Effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the work. Factors favoring fair use are use of lawfully acquired or purchased copies of the original works, a small number of copies made, no similar product is marketed by copyright holder, and there is a lack of a licensing mechanism. Factors arguing against fair use are repeated long term use and making materials widely available as on the Web.
Fair Use is not a blanket exemption to copyright law.
Rather, it must be judged on a case by case basis. In an effort to simplify the process of determining whether a classroom use was a fair one, a set of Guidelines for Classroom Copying of Books and Periodicals was agreed upon by a group of authors and publishing organizations.
In addition, you should review the University's "Policy on Reproduction of Copyrighted Works" as to using copyrighted works.
Scenario
A professor rents a DVD of the film Hotel Rwanda from a local video store to show in her class on African History. The disc is labeled For Home Use Only. Is this use permitted?
This use falls within the 110(1) exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law that permits a classroom viewing in the context of a class session. Public performances of the video to a campus club would not be covered. Showing the same DVD to the class by "streaming" it through a Blackboard site is not covered by this exemption and certain criteria would need to be met to deliver the material in that fashion.
If I make a case for fair use and the owner disagrees can I still be held liable?
Although you still may be liable for actual damages and profits, there is a good faith fair use defense provision in the law that may remit only statutory damages even if the copying was deemed not fair use provided that the person (who is an employee or agent of a non-profit educational institution acting within the scope of his/her employment) copying material reasonably believed that he or she was following fair use. Therefore, it is a good idea to keep a written record of your rationale in making a fair use decision. Our fair use checklist is available to assist in that process.
Is it legal to use course packets for my class and if so how can I do that?
Course packets are compilations of articles, chapters and other texts that are bound together for use in a particular class. Publishers are concerned that use of course packs could undermine sales of textbooks and they rely on permissions for their income. Court cases have ruled that course packs require permission, but none of the cases have involved single non-profit educational institutions.
Permission of the copyright holders must be obtained for materials to be included in course packets, if the materials are not in the public domain and their use does not meet criteria for fair use. The Office of Faculty and Administrative Support Services can obtain the copyright permissions for you.
Allmaterials must be properly cited on the first page of the distributed, copied work. Please include author, publisher, book/text/source name, year, and page(s). If it is an article that was copied from a larger source book, include the source book citation and the name of the copied article. A copyright notice from the source should also be included.
Under no circumstances may a course packet include an entire book or journal just for the purpose of avoiding purchase of the books. Consumables such as workbooks, lab manuals or standardized texts also may not be included in course packets.
NOTE:According to the University's "Policy on Reproduction of Copyrighted Works", any faculty member may make multiple copies of an article for use in class and distribute them to students independently. Similarly, the library will place individual copies of articles on reserve for student consultation. Use of the same article for subsequent semesters requires the copyright owner's permission.
How can I use copyrighted materials on MyWCL?
The BASICS:
Use legally acquired or purchased copies of materials and always include copyright notices and remind students that copyrighted works should not be copied and redistributed to others.
Generally restrict MyWCL access to those students enrolled.
Block access to materials after the course has ended.
When possible, it is preferable to link to electronic material that is already licensed by the library rather than make digital copies.
Digital materials are covered by copyright law and fair use also applies in this environment.
The SPECIFICS:
Besides obtaining the copyright owner's permission to use the work, you can select between one of two provisions in the law that allow use of copyrighted materials on MyWCL:
You can make a claim of fair use OR
You can use the 2002 Technology, Education, and Copyright Harmonization Act (TEACH Act) provisions which were developed to address distance education. The TEACH Act permits displays and performances of copyrighted works to be transmitted and used for instructional purposes, without permission of the copyright owner, if several conditions are met. In order to qualify you must be an accredited nonprofit educational institution or governmental body. In order to transmit, a work needs to used:
By, at the direction of, or under the actual supervision of an instructor
as an integral part of a class session
as part of systematic mediated instructional activities
directly related and of material assistance to the teaching content.
The transmission shall be made solely for and reception limited to (as technologically feasible) students enrolled in the course, and technology that reasonably prevents retention in accessible form for longer than a class session, and technology that prevents unauthorized further dissemination in accessible form, and no interference with copyright owner's technological measures that prevent such retention and dissemination.
Provided that the certain above conditions are met, the TEACH Act allows you to:
transmit a performance of non-dramatic literary or musical works or reasonable and limited portions of any other work, including portions of dramatic literary works (e.g., Shakespeare on film) or musical works (e.g., a performance of West Side Story).
Display any work in an amount comparable to that typically displayed in the course of a live classroom session.
Use the work if it is directly related to the teaching content and limited to those enrolled.
The work used is not a textbook, course pack or other material typically purchased or acquired by students for their personal retention; nor is it a work that is marketed primarily for performance or display as part of a digitally transmitted mediated instructional activity.
A professor wants to make a DVD of an entire film available on her MyWCL course. Does she need to get permission?
Most films fall under the category of dramatic literary or musical works and the TEACH Act specifies use of limited portions of these works. As long as the MyWCL site were restricted to the class and the film was directly related to the class content, a segment that would be comparable to what one would show in an individual class session would probably fall within the TEACH guidelines. If however, she wants to show the entire film by streaming it through Blackboard, she must either make a fair use case or get permission. Looking at the four factors one can see that factors in favor of fair use are the educational use and impact on the market (assuming this is a one time use and that the faculty member or institution has already purchased the DVD). Factors weighing against fair use would be the nature of the work which is highly creative and the amount used. In this case, it may be prudent to obtain permission from the copyright holder.
Scenario
A professor has scanned several hundred images from various texts to represent Western culture and politics during a particular period of history. He wants to leave them on MyWCL throughout the semester so that his students can consult them as they wish in relationship to the texts they are reading.
Although the works probably would be limited to those enrolled in this professor's class and seem relevant to the teaching content of the course, aspects of this use would be difficult to justify under the TEACH Act. The amount of the work used goes beyond that which could be construed as a single classroom session and the individual images are full works. Fair Use may apply in this case, but if the works were used in multiple semesters, permissions may be required. Linking to images available in licensed databases could be a safer choice.
How can I use MyWCL for reserve readings?
You may legally scan portions of journals or books and place them on your web site or on reserve through MyWCL if:
Copies of the materials are legally acquired and restricted through technological measures to those enrolled in class;
Always include a copyright notice as it appears on the document;
The scanning is limited to portions and is not used to replace purchase of materials. In the case of journal articles you can probably make a fair use case for an entire article, but not every article from a single issue of a journal; AND
You remove the scanned images at the end of the semester or required class period.
In most cases you will need to seek permission if you intend to use large amounts of works (e.g., entire books) or use materials over many semesters. Some materials, including most library databases that are explicitly licensed for web use by AU may be used in their entirety and for repeated semesters.
May I keep the same articles on MyWCL each semester?
Except for works in the public domain or those that are licensed, a four-factor fair use analysis is required for materials you plan to reuse on MyWCL for subsequent semesters. Although a repeated use of such material could be considered fair use, it can have a cumulative effect on markets of the original work. It is safer to obtain permission for such items if they will be used repeatedly. The Office of Faculty and Administrative Support Services can provide this service. Please contact the Copy Center at 202-274-4120
or [email protected] for more information.
May I let my students download articles that I have placed on MyWCL?
In general this is not a good idea because it would be very easy for them to redistribute the electronic documents. You should include a warning in the materials notifying students that the materials are made available through fair use or the TEACH Act and further copying and redistributing the material is a violation of the copyright law.
Are there any problems with linking to web pages on MyWCL?
It appears that there is no copyright infringement in linking to another site.
There may be cases where it is prudent to link to a top site or home page rather than link deeply into a site. In the latter case you may be skirting important information about copyright, uses, advertising or other information that the copyright holder wants the user of its site to encounter. Similarly, when frames are used a user may be directed to another site that appears in the frame of the original site, potentially creating a problem of commercial competition if the user cannot tell who created the original information.
Are there any special requirements for using art, photographs or images?
Display of visual works in the classroom is covered by the classroom exemption of the U.S. Copyright Law, in section 110(1) and the TEACH Act has provisions to allow display through electronic courseware in an amount typically displayed in the course of a classroom session. Uses beyond these would require application of fair use or copyright permission.
In general, artistic works have a high level of protection under copyright law and it is more challenging to make a fair use case for their use. In the case of photographs, copyright may reside with several owners including the photographer, the creator of an original work that is being photographed, and the subject of the image.
In the classroom it will often be difficult to limit the amount of an artistic work (i.e., a portion of a picture or painting) used to achieve a fair use. In general, if using the whole work supports your teaching goals and the other fair use factors are controlled for fair use, then it may be appropriate to use the entire work in a class.
Photographs of existing works in the public domain are generally covered by copyright unless they are exact reproductions of the public domain work. Two dimensional photographs of three dimensional works such as sculpture usually involve more creativity and are therefore more stringently protected by copyright.
Some art works are covered by a special protection called the Visual Artist Rights Act of 1990.
Specifically, copyright law provides some artists of visual works the moral rights of attribution and integrity. This mostly applies to museum paintings and other limited edition fine arts intended for exhibition. One of the artist's rights "prohibits the modification and distortion of works prejudicial to the artist's honor or reputation."
It is unclear whether manipulating pictures through digital technologies is a copyright infringement, except in instances where it is used to create parodies which are considered fair use. Moral rights and defamation issues may also be implicated.
Scenario
A professor has assigned his students to use images of photographs or art works from DC museums to create a poster about a book they have read for the course. Students can use multiple images or use image software to manipulate the images. Is this use permissible?
Although the students would be creating derivative works, this application may fall within fair use assuming that no further use will be made of the material beyond the classroom (e.g., the material is not going to be posted to a public web site or displayed at an exhibit). To acknowledge the moral rights of the artist, it would be appropriate for the students to document in writing the nature of the changes they made to the original works and to cite the ownership and description of those works.
May I use copyrighted materials on a class web site without obtaining permission?
The same provisions apply here as apply through MyWCL. You should limit access to works used under the fair use provisions of the U.S. Copyright Law or the TEACH Act by password or other technological means. If you use materials for subsequent semesters you should obtain permission.
May I give my students assignments to create web sites projects that use copyrighted materials?
Most student use will fall under fair use provided access to their site was restricted to those enrolled in the class and access to the site lasts only for that class semester. If students anticipate using their projects beyond the classroom, it is a good idea to obtain permission at the time of creation.
You should remind students when they use materials from the Internet that:
materials found on the Internet may be protected by copyright even if there is no copyright notice.
they should use proper citations. For assistance, students may be referred from the library website to the citation style guides.
they should protect the integrity of copyrighted works.
May I email articles to my students?
This is not the best idea. You have no way of controlling "downstream" uses and the practice may be considered distribution, a right reserved by the copyright holder. A better choice is to link to the article from your MyWCL or secure web page.
If my use doesn't fall under fair use or an exemption, how do I obtain permission to use copyrighted works in the classroom?
You will need to identify the copyright holder and request permission for all the specific purposes you intend. Keep written documentation for all requests and responses. Some works, especially those in the arts and music often have multiple layers of copyright. You can contact the authors or creators directly or you can go through a clearinghouse.
Jones & Bartlett: They have a form that is required for submitting copyright permission requests and it can be found on this page: http://www.jbpub.com/contact/permissions.htm. It must then be faxed to Deborah Byrne at (978) 443-8000.
If the author or publisher denies permission to use the material, or demands conditions you are not willing to meet, it is safer to not use the material. Although you may still claim fair use in using a particular work, the publisher or other copyright holder may investigate to determine whether the material is being used in defiance of its demand.
If you do not receive a reply to your request within a reasonable time, or if the request is returned as undeliverable, the material should not be used. The U.S. Copyright Office can assist you in finding the name and address of the most recent copyright holder if you still want to obtain permission. There is a fee for using its service. If the Copyright Office is not able to help you, you have made a good faith effort to obtain permission and you will have protection in the event of a dispute with the copyright holder.
What resources are available to help me resolve copyright problems?
American University Offices
Office of General Counsel, x3285
University Library, x3236 or 3203
The library can provide guidance on university practices and policies and general copyright information.
The Glushko-Samuelson Intellectual Property Law Clinic of the Washington College of Law, x4148 | {
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If you need to obtain funds for debt consolidation you might want to think about an unsecured personal loan in London, Arkansas. Unsecured means that there is not any assets backing up the loan. Though a lender of a secured loan can take your vehicle or your home if you go into default, that isn't the case with an unsecured loan.
Disclaimer: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links for which we get compensated.
Do you know the most effective way to organize credit debt consolidation in London, Arkansas with an unsecured personal loan?
If you have a good credit reputation of settling your debts on time, you ought to be capable of getting a lower interest rate unsecured loan which can be used to pay off all of your debt to one small payment. You will be in a position to qualify for an interest rate as little as 5 to 6% with great credit ratings. For those who have sub-standard credit scores, you might not get accepted. Folks that can get a loan with bad credit will pay higher interest rates (potentially 15-20%).
Options for those that have unhealthy credit ratings include borrowing with home equity or setting up collateral. But then again, your odds of approval will not be good or the APR could be too much. For people who have poor credit, you might investigate other choices.
Seeking to Get an Unsecured Personal Lending option with Bad Credit Ratings
People that have a low credit score aren't very likely to acquire unsecured personal loans. If you can obtain one, in all probability it won't be affordable. In reality, you may end up having an unbelievable interest rate with a loan shark. The lender understands that you're not as likely to pay your bills promptly if you have unfavorable credit ratings. Or you have maxed your lines of credit.
When a loan company studies your credit profile and score, they might not want to take on your high-risk past. If for some reason they opt to lend you cash, they will likely charge significant service fees and excessive interest rates. Lending to you is viewed as a hazard, and the lender needs to be compensated for that risk.
The excessive service fees and interest rates connected with a bad credit score and unsecured personal loans can make it very unlikely for you to accomplish your objectives. With a rate of interest of 19 to 29 percent, you'll continue to have difficulties. Look at it this way: These substantial rates equate to as much as $29 paid on each $100 borrowed. It can be more advisable to search for alternative avenues of debt settlement.
The Way Your Credit Report Will Affect Your Eligibility for an Unsecured Personal Lending option
It is necessary for lenders to do a credit check whenever you apply for a lending option. It is unusual for anybody to obtain a loan without having their credit inspected. Your habits and history of bill paying are demonstrated in your credit rating. That lets the lender see how likely you are to pay off your loan installments promptly.
If you get offered a big loan without any credit check required, there is a good possibility that the lender isn't trustworthy. Or they will ask you for a ridiculous rate of interest or charge a lot of service fees that after you repay it, you may pay back 2-3 times what you originally borrowed. That does not sound like a great offer, right? While you might not like the idea of running your credit to acquire a new credit line, you should agree to pull your credit to get a sensible loan .
If you are worried about not having adequate credit history to qualify for a loan, then today might not be a good time to look for a loan. You need to count on any honest lender to check out your credit scores. Many people haven't any credit standing whatsoever, and they're also unlikely to obtain a loan. The most effective thing that you can do, with low credit scores or no credit history, is to focus on that prior to seeking a loan.
Guaranteed Approval
If you see "Guaranteed Approval" when seeking a borrowing arrangement, you might feel rather hopeful. It feels like all you should do is make an application and you'll be okayed for that loan. Who is going to beat that? However, this phrase could very well be deceiving.
What kinds of financial institutions give loans with approval guaranteed? I don't know of a lot of lenders who can promise to agree to a loan request without requesting verification of income or credit reports. Will a genuine loan company guarantee your approval without any earnings? Promising acceptance of a loan without knowing anything about you, your credit history, or your finances would certainly make far too much risk for the loan provider.
A real financial institution won't provide guaranteed approval. Your finances, like source of income and present personal debt, will all be looked at. Before they can decide whether you're a fine candidate for a loan, they're going to have to estimate your income to debt ratio. They are searching for proof that you could handle your financial situation, financial debt, and also a newer financial loan.
However, you can get pre-qualified. This is done with a soft reach on your credit rating which doesn't affect your credit score. That isn't the same as guaranteed acceptance, yet it's as near as you are going to get.
Look at How Much You Will Need to Borrow
If you're looking for an unsecured loan, you'll want to consider how much you want to be lent. There are various minimal loan amounts provided by various loan companies. Sometimes the minimum could be $1K; in others, it might be $5K. The highest possible loan amount differs by loan company, too.
For one loan provider, the highest possible amount could be $35,000. With others, it might be $40,000. And there are others that may enable you to borrow all the way as much as $100K. Plus, they will likely provide you with additional time to pay back these bigger lending options which gives you a lower payment amount but maybe a larger interest cost.
Keep in mind, the shorter the repayment time period, the higher your payment is going to be and the less the overall cost . You need to review the different repayment sums compared to the length of the loan to find out which option meets your financial budget. Remember that it can be hard to pay off the financing, so do not get greater than you require.
And so although you could be lent as much as $100K with an unsecured personal loan in London, Arkansas, it might not be the most effective strategy if you only need $50K. Therefore consider your alternatives, rates, payment sums and fees when deciding on where you plan to take a loan.
What Difficulties Are Connected With Finding an Unsecured Personal Loan?
How challenging it will be to acquire an unsecured personal loan depends upon a few variables. If you fulfill the loan company's standards, it shouldn't be too hard. Poor credit history and little income will make it more difficult. Without having great credit standing you can't expect to get the lowest interest rates you see offered. Even ordinary credit scores will lead to larger interest rates and additional verification of income needed.
Unsecured financial loans are harder to receive than secured loans since secured lending options have collateral to back them up in the event you ever fail to pay on your loan. However in general unsecured loans aren't hard to get for those who fulfill their minimum credit standing and income source requirements. Folks who do not meet the lender conditions have the choice of waiting for 6 to 12 months as they improve their credit history and income source. Lenders need to see punctual monthly payments and lines of credit that are not maxed. Dealing with these issues would ensure it is less difficult to receive an unsecured loan with an affordable rate.
What About Credit Card Debt?
Chances are that your credit card rates are not less than 12% - 15%, and it might be as much as 23%, despite having goodcredit standing. While loan companies are borrowing from the government with rates near 0%, they're charging you much higher APRs.
Yet, there is something you can easily do. You are able to eliminate high charge card rates by seeking out marketplace lenders who would like to boost their businesses by loaning at an affordable rate. It is possible to easily pay back your credit debt with a low rate unsecured loan. Especially if you could be eligible for a loan with a rate of interest which can start as little as 5.99%. Measure up this to the present interest rate you're paying on your charge cards today and observe the money you'll save each month.
A further benefit to unsecured loans is that they normally have a set time period rather than credit cards that revolve indefinitely. This provides you with a fixed monthly payment and can have you settling your excessive interest rate credit card debt in as little as two to seven years according to the loan length you prefer.
For anyone who is tired of paying excessive interest charges and service fees to your credit card issuers, take a look at some of the newer unsecured personal loan offers from newer online lenders which have lower fees and more competitive rates of interest.
Unsecured Loan Solutions near London
Plenty of London, Arkansas consumers would like to acquire an unsecured loan, in spite of lower income and/or weak credit. Having said that, for those who have low income or a reputation of missed monthly payments, a respectable loan company won't allow you to borrow money with a minimal APR. You should understand that if you have poor credit, low earnings or zero assets you will usually not have a lower rate loan and will more than likely get declined and have to search for alternate options for your financial debt troubles.
For people who do qualify, you'll find excellent unsecured loan solutions, like Lending Club and Lightstream, to give consideration to. They provide the best rates and best fees you can find anywhere. With Lending Club, you can receive anywhere between $1,000 and $40,000 with a rate of interest anywhere between 5.99% and 35.89%, based on what you are eligible for and need. The origin charge of Lending Club is 1% to 6% of the amount borrowed, depending on your credit scores.
Now let us compare these conditions to Lightstream. Lightstream offers loans as low as $5,000 to as high as $100,000 and their rates of interest are quite competitive. With this company, there won't be any origin fees or early repayment fines.
Lightstream and Lending Club are two of the very best unsecured personal loan services you'll find anyplace. There are other debt help solutions, though, if you don't meet the requirements for these financing options. You may opt for a company such as National Debt Relief if you need to consolidate your debt, have a low monthly installment, and pay back the financial debt for less than what you really owe. They don't loan money but they do help you to free up some money on your month to month budget and enable you to settle your pesky payments that you have been dealing with for years.
So there you've got a few top options for taking care of your financial circumstances and getting your debt under control. For those who have a good credit score and the necessary earnings look into Lending Club and Lightstream. National Debt Relief is good for people that have below-average credit. However, people who don't act quickly will consistently spend a lot more than they are able to manage and get more and more stressed by debt.
Top 3 Consolidation Companies
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It’s that dreaded third week of the month. Arriving home from working late you pick up the mail and walk slowly through the front door. In your hand is a fistful of bills. Your heart sinks and you feel nauseous and simply toss the bills aside on the front table in the hallway as you […] | {
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Opinion
From the critics
Community Activity
Comment
I like to read things that are strange and unusual, and the artwork in this book appealed to me a great deal, however, the majority of the "stories" contained are simply weird for the sake of being weird, and, in my opinion, don't measure up the the quality of the artwork. | {
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Abu Sa’eed Al-Khudri reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Verily, the most evil of people in front of Allah on the Day of Resurrection is a man who is intimate with his wife and then spreads her secrets.” | {
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Friday, 17 June 2011
Plane and Simply Father's Day
Hello!
I know it's not Father's Day till tomorrow, but I think I'm pretty safe posting these today, given that neither my Dad nor my father-in-law watch my blog. I love this Plane & Simple stamp set for making men's cards - it makes such a refreshing change from football or beer themes!
This one is for John, my father-in-law:
And here's the one I made for my own Dad. Similar, but using the motorbike stamp, rather than the plane:
I love the fact that the smaller stamps work so well for backgrounds, like the compass and goggles stamps I've used in these cards. To make the images recede, I "stamped-off" some of the ink before stamping on the card.
The maps paper is from the "Newsprint" Designer Series Paper pack. I LOVE this paper - you can use it for SO much. The sentiment is cut using the Decorative Label Punch.
Don't forget - there is still time to book for my "Cards For Men" class on 2nd July. We'll be using this stamp set and, included in the price, you'll get your very own "Plane and Simple" stamp set to keep and use time and again. Click on the link in the sidebar to book your place (I need bookings and payments by 22nd June in order to have time to order your stamp set and class materials).
No comments:
Welcome!
Hello - and thanks for dropping in! This blog is current up to the 6th February 2014. If you want to see more up to date entries, then please visit the new Sunshine Stamping website at www.sunshinestamping.com . I look forward to seeing you over there!
Copyright Statement
All items (unless indicated otherwise) have been created by me, Becki Ritson, for Sunshine Stamping. The contents of this blog are my sole responsibility as an Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator. All Stampin' Up! images are copyright Stampin' Up! 1990 - 2014
All content including text, photographs and projects are copyright Becki Ritson. My artwork is shared for your personal enjoyment and inspiration only and is not intended for submission to contests, publications or for personal monetary gain. If you wish to use the contents for any other purpose please contact me at [email protected], or on 07799 011072 | {
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Make Your Comment: Protect Flores, Protect Immigrant Children
The Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services are considering regulations that could terminate a decades-old and court-approved settlement, known as the Flores Settlement Agreement. Flores protects immigrant children in government custody by regulating the length and conditions of detention. We could be at the brink of losing a critical check against the needless jailing and abuse of immigrant children.
If this new rule is approved and Flores is terminated, the government could expand its jailing of families and promote the prolonged detention of thousands of children.
Detention centers are no place for children – particularly the toddlers and other young children who come to the United States with their families, often fleeing persecution, assault, or torture in their home countries. Medical experts – including whistleblowers working for DHS – have criticized the government’s proposed expansion of family detention, highlighting the inadequate access to medical and mental health care and lack of legal assistance and basic childcare. Evidence also shows that detention can have severe negative effects on children’s development.
Jailing children can cause severe, irreparable, and lifelong psychological harm. Scientific and medical experts, like the American Academy of Pediatrics, have issued numerous warnings about the harmful impact of jailing families and have emphatically stated that children should never be detained.
President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda has been a hallmark of his administration, resulting in widespread abuses of immigrants in detention facilities, ramped-up deportations, record-low refugee admissions, and thousands of immigrant families being separated.
It’s clear that Trump is trying to strip away every last protection for immigrants – including these protections that are critical to safeguarding vulnerable children. There are reports of rampant physical, verbal, and sexual abuses of children in custody, as well as medical neglect, unlawful restraint, forcible injection of psychiatric medication, and cruel, needless rules that can cause significant long-term harm. Pediatricians warn that even short-term jailing can cause children permanent psychological damage.
Revoking Flores would only exacerbate abuses. If the proposed regulations go into effect, Homeland Security would self-inspect detention facilities. This is especially problematic given that department’s horrific track record of failing to inspect or monitor jails with repeated allegations of sexual and physical abuse and even deaths. The proposed regulations also threaten to leave kids in HHS facilities for longer periods of time, when the law requires that they be released to appropriate homes in the community "promptly."
The Trump administration is trying to find any possible way to harm immigrant children. International condemnation, public outrage, and a rebuke from a federal judge have forced the administration into a corner on its horrific family separation policy. Now Trump is making his next move, so we can’t let up the pressure for even a moment. We have until November 6 to submit our comments to Homeland Security and HHS. Speak up now: The government must not undermine Flores’ protections for immigrant children and families.
NOTE: When you submit a public comment, your comment and the information you submit may be visible as part of the public record.
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To the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Health and Human Services:
Our government must keep Flores in place and protect immigrant children. Losing Flores would mean losing a critical check against the needless jailing and abuse of immigrant children. | {
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Kalil holds his own against Allen
Blog Post by: Mark Craig
July 30, 2012 - 7:20 PM
With thoughts of a nearby adult-beverage tap dancing in our heads, here's some of what we learned on Day 1 of the Vikings in full pads ...
FIRST DOWN: Matt Kalil not only looks like he was built to play left tackle, it seems as though he might also be able to do it at a high level in the NFL.That's the initial reaction after Day 1 of the Kalil-Jared Allen matchup passed with pretty much a fizzle because Kalil held his own for the most part.
Unlike last year, when Allen ran circles around Charlie Johnson on Johnson's first practice, there were no glaringly dominant plays one way of the other between Kalil and Allen.
"Good matchup," coach Leslie Frazier said. "Looking forward to watching that over time. It looked like Matt held his own for the most part. There were a few times that Jared got around him. But that's to be expected for the most part."
When asked to judge his performance, Kalil, the fourth overall pick in this year's draft, said: "It was a good first day. There's always something I can improve on. I was rusty on some things. You only get better at those things by practicing in pads. I'm looking forward to getting better every day."
SECOND DOWN: During the afternoon practice, it was announced that former Vikings linebacker Matt Blair will become the 20th member of the team's Ring of Honor. He'll be inducted at halftime of the Oct. 25 game between the Vikings and the Buccaneers at Mall of America Field.
"It's an honor, for one thing, to be inducted into the Ring of Honor," said Blair, a six-time Pro Bowl selection. "It's one of those things that you'll look back in a lifetime and [while] you work hard, you don't get there because of yourself. You get there because of your teammates. The guys I played with, the Purple People Eaters, that was huge."
Blair, who ranks second in team history in tackles (1,452) and first in blocked kicks (20), now spends his time in the Twin Cities doing two of the things he loves most, playing golf and taking photos. He'll be playing in Tuesday's 3M Championship pro-am at the TPC of the Twin Cities in Blaine.
THIRD DOWN: The transition from defensive end to weak-side linebacker is not going to happen overnight for Everson Griffen. He's still one of the best young defensive talents on the team. But he's also trying to do something incredibly hard, so he's going to have days like he did today. He's going to get out of position and get flattened in space by a third-string center named Quentin Saulsberry. He's going to be a step slow trying to get to his assigned guy, fullback Ryan D'Imperio, on a pass to the right flat that went for a touchdown near the goal-line. If anyone can make that transition at this size, it's Griffen. Just don't expect it to be a smooth one. That's why Griffen is likely to be stuck on the third team for awhile, and could end up back at defensive end at some point.
FOURTH DOWN: It was assumed that Frazier would give both Brandon Fusco and Geoff Schwartz at least one preseason start apiece as they compete for the starting right guard job. Turns out that's a false assumption, said Frazier, who added their their starts will be determined by how they practice. Fusco is slightly ahead of Schwartz in a battle that's still likely to including Fusco starting the first preseason game and Schwartz starting the second one. ... In the only transaction of the day, the Vikings added Chris Stroud, a rookie cornerback from Webber International, after placing rookie cornerback Nick Taylor on the waived/injured list. Taylor will have major shoulder surgery and is done for the season. Stroud worked out for the Vikings and was at the team's rookie mini-camp in May. | {
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THE ANGELS – Talk The Talk
Published on January 25th, 2014
Album review: The Angels – Talk The Talk
By ALISON HOSIE
I WAS given Talk the Talk, The Angels’ latest album to review and I must admit, I was pretty excited to give it a listen. I haven’t been keeping up with music of late and so I was a little stunned to learn Doc Neeson had declined to do pub tours with the rest of the band for their anniversary tour.However, not knowing this information I eagerly hit play expecting the unmistakable voice of Doc. What I found was something familiar but something that was not quite The Angels. I listened to the whole 12 songs, confused.
It reminded me of that classic pub rock sound that The Angels have sported for four decades but something was definitely different. It was like they had suddenly been influenced by The Screaming Jets. Funny thing that!! Thanks to trusty Google, I found out what has been going on and it turns out, the lead on this anniversary album is Dave Gleeson who once fronted the mighty Jets!
Here were two classic sounds thrown together – rhythmic, hard-hitting riffs from The Angels’ reminiscent of old hits like “No Secrets” and “We’ve Gotta Get out of This Place” but without the punchy vocals. This is mixed with the essence of The Jets’ second album, Tear of Thought a confronting yet more subtle album than their debut, All for One) but again, something was different.
“Got a Feeling” came on and I thought ‘very Oz Rock BUT kind of bluesy or border-line country rock’. And once again, this is the feel they were after – pub rock meets blues rock. Did they succeed? Yes.
Talk the Talk is an album fans of either band could listen to once the confusion dies down. In saying this, I give a warning: both bands had some pretty big “anthem” songs in the past. DO NOT expect that from any of this album.
I have taken a few days to actually decide I do like this album – ‘like’, not love. There are political messages through many of the songs such as “Nations are Falling” and “Every Man” – this song I found myself singing away to, very catchy.
Then there is Dave’s quirky humour peeking through, similar to but not as “forward” as the days of The Jets, in songs such as “Broken Windows” and “Personal Thing”.
I agree that this is pub rock and Dave is no bore live so it would probably be best experienced in that environment. Keep an open mind and this album isn’t too bad. I give “Talk the Talk” three skulls from five – as I said, it’s missing an anthem song which Dave Gleeson, Rick and John Brewster are more than capable of writing. | {
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AMD has released the latest version of its Catalyst graphics driver package for 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows XP, Vista, and 7. This version of the drivers introduces support for the Radeon HD 7800 series under Windows Vista and 7 - the 7700 and 7900 series cards were added in the last release, meaning that the Catalyst drivers now support the complete lineup of 7000-series cards. Windows XP support for these cards is slated to be introduced next month in Catalyst 12.4.
The new drivers also fix issues in a number of games, including a texture corruption bug in Skyrim that some of you mentioned was a problem with the 12.2 drivers. Other resolved issues include bugfixes in games like HAWX, Quake 4, XPlane, Alan Wake, and Far Cry 2, a crashing bug in the Furmark benchmark, and startup issues with the Catalyst Control Center.
The drivers support all Radeon HD 2000, 3000, 4000, 5000, 6000, and 7000 series graphics cards, IGPs, and APUs except where otherwise noted in the release notes, which are linked below. Support for the mobile versions of these cards is provided only to Windows Vista and 7 users. | {
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In a comment on Mythtake, and in the context of free will, I said “If I were looking to demonstrate the existence of God, it’s where I would start.” Unsurprisingly I was challenged. Red rag to a bull!
I do not hold that the existence of God can be rationally proved because God is ultimately beyond out ken: we recognise him through belief. Nevertheless, I think it is possible to demonstrate that such a belief is rationally based and that, by excluding the concept of God, we are left with questions about human experience to which we can find no other answer. I start by looking briefly at a classical argument, and I provide links for further arguments.
I summarise one line of approach which is known as the First Cause argument. It states that everything in the universe is contingent. That is, nothing in our experience exists only by reason of itself: it depends on the causes which have brought it about. We may not know all the causes (back to the Big Bang?) but we perceive directly that they are necessary. If we conceive of a universe in which everything is caused by something else, we are still faced by a need for the cause of the whole universe. Thus the explanation must lie in a first cause which exists of its own nature. We call this first cause God. Note that here Aquinas, in this context, does not describe God, nevertheless it is possible to identify the necessary attributes of such a first cause, e,g., omniscience, omnipotence, personhood etc.
An argument like this requires two factors. The first is our perception that entities require causes. This is a priori because, as a principle, it requires no empirical evidence. The second factor is our experience that entities do exist, and do require causes. Of course anyone is free to claim that entities do not require causes, but I think we can safely leave these in a little group talking to each other.
There are of course other arguments such as the argument from design and St Anselm’s ontological argument, (and you may well want to raise these in discussion) but I go directly to my claim that free will (and moral obligation) provides a starting point in considering the existence of God. I do so because both characteristics are facts of human experience and believed by everyone.
Believed by everyone? Surely not! There are many people in society from committed secularists to top neurologists who do not believe in free will. And there is a similar group (perhaps the same people) who hold that our moral sense can be explained by emotion. It appears, however, that these claims are merely intellectual. In practice such people show through their everyday behaviour that in fact they believe in both.
We only have to look at human behaviour. We act and speak the whole time in a way which shows that we accept free will. Even the most died-in-the-wool secularist will not restrain himself from blaming religion for its historical malefactions – cheerfully forgetting that he claims that religions cannot be blamed since their actions were determined and therefore not their responsibility. And of course no scientific conclusion carries weight if it is merely the outcome of unverifiable causes.
The sense of moral obligation also has difficulties. It is true that great philosophers, such as Hume and Ayer, claim that our moral sense is founded in emotion, rather than in a recognition of good and evil. But a similar inconsistency is present. Emotions, as such, cannot lead to truth. Only the recognition of right and wrong can do that. Yet secularists are often miffed by allegations that they do not accept moral obligation — again cheerfully forgetting that in their appeal to emotion they have removed obligation from the equation.
Do these considerations of free will and moral sense lead us inevitably to the existence of God? No, but they do open important questions. They confront the secularist with the problem that, in accepting only empirical facts, he is omitting the facts of human experience – facts which his own actions and insights clearly display. So we may hope that in exploring the qualities of freedom to act outside material causality and his deep instinct to follow the good and reject the evil, he will edge a step or two nearer to knowing the nature of God. It’s a start.
89 Responses to God?
Good stuff. I look forward to the debate. Perhaps we could at the same time look at arguments that God does not, or cannot, exist – which (if valid) will disprove arguments that He does. Advocatus diaboli?
I would like to go into this more deeply.
What do we mean by experience – be it a mundane experience of having a walk or a cup of coffee,
or a spiritual experience?
The question arises who or what is experiencing all these experiences?
We cannot demonstrate the existence of God with reason and discussion; reason and discussion can only be a supporting aid to communication and in coming together (and a good excuse for coming together in His name) — to mark out personal/common structural pathways, or help locate bad (mental) objects/delusions which obscure or pervert our relationship with of God.
Remember that we come to God through Jesus, not to Jesus through God.
Martyr means to “give witness”. We are asked to give witness to Jesus. Jesus gave witness to God through live-giving miracles and demonstrating his Godliness, true devotion, and perfect faith and love for us; by displaying the “fruits of the spirit” — and he confirmed and perfected all this with the once-and-for-all witness and sacrifice of the cross. Remember that the cross has two contradictory/paradoxical dimensions: on the one hand Jesus was murdered (which he sought not), and on the other hand he laid down his life of his own fee will.
So Quentin, I suggest that if you want to demonstrate the existence of God, you are going to have to become a Muslim (“one who submits to God”)… and DO:— live, love and sacrifice.
Willingly and with the freedom God gives you (in accordance with the circumstances in which you find yourself), take up your daily cross with all your heart and soul, and God will do the demonstration for you and through you.
Talk alone will not suffice, and can easily become a detestable distraction from reality.
(Quentin, I pray in respect of all this for you, and also for myself, and all other Christians).
Unfortunately, even within religious circles, and among those that would classify themselves as evangelical, catholic,orthodox Christians and theologians with secular humanism. I along with many others, disdained secular humanism, the worldview that cast aside the core message of the Christian faith in favor of one devoid of Christian values. Why has our society changed?
The answer is clear – the consensus of our society no longer rests upon a Christian basis, but upon a humanistic one. Humanism is man putting himself at the center of all things, rather than the creator God.” The result, Schaeffer argued, was a society that had lost its moral foundation and threatened to shipwreck itself on the shoals of Western civilization.
Quentin has asked me to write a little note or two on the question of the existence of God. And I have to admit that I am stumped. The question: “does God exist?” is an odd one because it has no meaning. What would count as evidence? If such were found what would it look like? Until we have decided that we can get no further.
What I can do is to suggest why human beings hope, assume, wish that God exists.
First. Man, alone in the world finding himself the catspaw of fate, victim of unruly nature and hostile circumstances, takes consolation in the thought of some Supreme Force which gives meaning to chaos and he wishfully thinks that his devotion to SF and his sacrifices will earn him favour – whether it is a good harvest or the death of his enemies. SF is his only hope of control. (The modern counterpart is praying to pass an exam or help to defeat Islamic State.)
Second. If Man is to survive there must be social communities which work together – be they peripatetic tribe or village community. How do its would-be leaders control such a society in primitive times? That’s very easy. You convince them that you have a hotline to the other world. You can communicate the people’s prayers and bring back the SF’s instructions. The promises are great and punishments truly terrible (eternal bliss versus eternal punishments. It still works.)
Since societies which, however cruel, survive better with some degree of order we would expect evolution to have supported the instinct to accept religious control, mediated through leaders. And this would have been supplemented by the growth of shame – which allows people to be controlled when authority is not watching. (This is a marvelous idea which has been ruthlessly exploited by religions. Birettas off to the Catholic church which is the expert. What a coup to inflate sexual shame of even minimal kinds with one hand, while doing unmentionable things to little boys with the other!)
Given that we have no evidence of the existence of God, and given that there are more than sufficient reasons for people to imagine that there is a God, to declare that God exists is a gratuitous and empty statement. I am surprised that Quentin is wasting your time by raising the matter.
Let us take the opposite argument : that there is no God – and can we prove it?
If we accept that the existence of God cannot be proved in a rational way – although I would argue belief in God is not unreasonable – what is more reasonable : to argue that everything is the product of a Supreme Being, or the product of chance?
AD
The modern man having moved away from the Christian consensus worldview to
a humanistic and secular attitude, having no world view is at a loss.
The humanist and secularist therefore have nothing to say about the Cosmos, or indeed the uniqueness of man, made in the image of God.
And as such, materialist thinking is reduced to meaninglessness. It would seem your moral sense is a Christian one, and from your vehemence has some place in you?
You are right, there is only one way to prove the existence of God, and that is to realize He is a personal God….. so get personal with Him, about everything.
The word God is meaningless, right enough, until one adds `content’, one aspect of which- He is personal.
It is certainly true that man seeks meaning, and is happier when he achieves a meaning he finds satisfactory. But the believer does this by conceiving of a being which, by his definition, gives ultimate meaning.So he has gratuitously invented meaning. Good luck!, I say.
Can I prove that God does not exist? it’s a pointless question. If you claim that hobgoblins exist, I fear there is no way that anyone can prove that they don’t. And I won’t bother to investigate the matter until you have produced credible evidence that they do.
Ho hum! We don’t seem to be getting anywhere on this one. I think that people who were brought up in a religious way are at a disadvantage here. The idea of God was inculcated from the word go. But perhaps we get a different picture from the angle of a convert from a non-religious background.
So what are the questions such a person might ask himself? Quentin gives us the first cause argument — and that, in various forms, takes us back to Aristotle. No one in over 2000 years has succeeded in refuting it, So the first question remains: how did it all start?
The second question is about the meaning of existence — which AD treats too trivially. Observing the widespread, perhaps universal, belief that we search for meaning our instinct is to join that search, and that would prompt the next question: what sort of thing would count as meaning? Clearly the physical alone cannot provide meaning, so the answer must be beyond the physical — literally metaphysical.
The third question comes from our ability to distinguish between right and wrong. We might well find ways to decide what comes into which category, but we cannot explain the obligation we sense to perform the right and avoid the wrong — even when it is to our disadvantage.
It is in investigating these questions that we may come to finding a religious answer — because nothing else will serve. When we embrace it the rest follows.
AD
It is true, many people have invented a deity, some many deities, but like you say they are inventions.
When the Fall came in, it was catastrophic for man and creation as a whole. For man, it meant he was separated from his Creator, Lord and God, and his mind was darkened,meaning he could not perceive God. So what did man do – he invented a god or gods that addressed his needs and his fears and the issue of death.
But the True God was not willing to leave man where he could no longer return to his first estate, but came Himself in Person to preach the Good News for mankind, and to redeem him from death
and return man to his former state, that is in communion with a God who is personal.
God spoke audibly to the people He came to and said, “This is my Son in whom I am well pleased,
listen to Him.”
Overload
Perhaps it means the state of our soul which through the Sacraments and Sanctifying Grace we will return to the ‘Garden of Eden’ sinless and live in the friendship of God in his company for eternity.maybe it is called Heaven!
overload
What state was Man in before the Fall? He was in a sinless state, he was in communion with his Creator who came down(note that) who came down in the cool of the day and communed with Adam and Eve. He was sot subject to the elements such as heat and cold, nor was he subject to dying and death.
What happened when Adam and Eve fell? God no longer came down in the cool of the day to commune with Man, and man was expelled from the Garden of Eden. He became subject to the elements of nature, and he would die. From Adam till now, the wages of sin is death.
Then the Messiah came, and he came with a message, the Good News of the Gospel.
What was that message? John 3:16 tells us He that believes on me shall never perish but have everlasting life.
The price of all that was in the death of Christ, and the fruit of it for us was the Resurrection of Christ from the dead.
Now for the first time since the Fall of Adam, Man who had ben caught by death and could not return to his former state of communion with God, for the first time man had hope; and through faith in Christ live eternally.
As to live eternally in the Garden of Eden, no. The reason for that is the Garden of Eden
is of this world.
Finally, John 14 tells us what Jesus said. “In my Father’s house there are many mansions,
if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there you may be also.”
Then in the last chapter in Gospel of Luke 24:50-51 we read that ‘He was parted from them and carried up into heaven.’
Now in fulfillment of what Chrst said in John 14, we wait believing the testimony given to us, waiting for Christ’s return.
So you see, it is biblical is it not?
“Ah, what a dusty answer gets the soul
When hot for certainties in this our life”
(George Meredith)
So the ‘God’ question rumbles on, with demands for convincing evidence flying back and forth.
What is convincing or credible evidence? Presumably evidence that compels assent, and cannot logically and rationally be dismissed, by anyone who understands it correctly.
For that to happen, the evidence must be commensurate with the nature of the argument. In this case, the demands for credible evidence usually come from those who want something that is verifiable logically or empirically, as in mathematics or natural science. They want a natural answer to a supernatural question: a physical answer to a metaphysical question. Can’t be done.
I’d say my belief is based on an accumulation of experience and circumstantial evidence. As such it must accept an element of doubt, and cannot be decisive for anyone else. Bearing that in mind, I do not consider it dishonest to profess my belief. ‘Hier stehe Ich: Ich kann nicht anders’.
Do we know of anyone raised from the dead or have we heard of anyone raising someone from the dead or healing the blind, Tec
Wonderful things are happening now for the sick as we heard the other day about the spinal drug.
Jesus said ‘ you will do even greater things than me. God is working through us in their own capacity and calling. He also said go tell your sins to a priest,He could have forgiven them,however is there a message there.?
Can’t remember who it was said that God cannot be proved but may only be encountered – but they were pretty close to it. The whole history of man with God is of encounter not ‘proof’ it would seem to me that given human history, to declare against the existence of God is to deny the experience of the larger part of humanity, not a good premise to begin from.
Suppose that free will is a quality that we acquire by virtue of some natural process that we don’t understand or know anything about. Not the illusion of free will, but an actual freedom to make choices. The whole (us) perhaps being more than the sum of the parts (the natural origins). How would the expression of that free will look any different than it does now?
Geordie – “It was accepted recently by theists and atheists alike that Man is hardwired to seek God. How has this evolved in Man and not in any other creature? And why?”
There have also been some reports about the benefits such beliefs might bring. Benefits that wouldn’t necessarily be dependant on the belief being true. Having said that there might be no “why?”. Evolution can fix traits in species by accident alone. Just so long as those traits aren’t too harmful. We for example, along with some of our closest “cousins”, all share a common genetic flaw that other species don’t.
If you assume that free will is brought about by some other agency, it would indeed resemble the free will we are discussing. But the problem lies in the fact that we perceive the principle of causality as fundamental to the material world. Thus, if free will exists, it must find its source in the non-material. This does not lead us in one step to the existence of God, but it does tell us that there are realities beyond the material.
I see your point I think Vincent. So every material outcome, including a particular choice, must have a particular material cause?
I may have to go and stand in the corner with the people Quentin roped off from the outset. If they include anyone willing to consider the possibility, rather than just advocates, I wonder who would be in there. In this assessment of the material world I wonder where I would find the higher proportion of people devoted to studying it.
Is there a reason people talk about the “material world”? Material makes me think of bricks, cushion covers and matter. That seems rather limited given some of the very oddest qualities that the material world exhibits. Does the natural world not better describe it?
I hear recently that the Prof of Biochemistry at Southampton gave him an insight into DNA and it’s relationship to his Christian faith; he said that there was no absolute connection between DNA and faith. The human mind and soul have autonomy through free will, releasing them from a pre-determined response to every stimulus received by the components of their DNA.
I think we could imagine the cosmic fabric of cause-and-effect as something like an ever (slightly) changing (or at least vibrating) DNA code, which, to exist, must replicate (or: echo/remember) itself on an infinitesimal moment-by-moment basis. It’s stability and continuation is a sustained (desired, clung-to) delusion. God can make more significant temporary (or more permanent) changes to this code which are not (necessarily) dictated/indicated by the code itself. He can also bypass the code altogether — however perhaps even when a complete bypass is made (ie. a miracle of healing where one moment a man is missing an arm and the next moment he has an arm — as opposed to a semi-miraculous healing process such as rapid recovery from terminal cancer), the code is warped/pierced for a split second, so to speak (so the code still has a form of process in the actualisation of the miracle).
So I can recognise the common sense fact that every intention/thought/(in)action/belief which constitutes “my” (rather: God’s) “free will”, is itself a product of causes and effects which are operative in time and space (and mental space) — however this does not allow me to recognise what the “first cause” is because it already assumes an examination of the proposed for-mentioned code, which is a delusionary construct.
Alan, this may just be a question of vocabulary. By “material” I am thinking material as opposed to metaphysical or spiritual. The OED gives us “of matter, corporeal”. I would say that the “material“ is in principle detectable by the senses. Example: we understand the word “justice”, but you won’t find justice under a stone because it isn’t material. But no less real for that. But when you kick the stone you stub your toe. The philosophers at Oxford in the 1960s held that the statement of God’s existence was meaningless because there was no empirical evidence which could apply.
Little note in The Times today which might amuse you and others. A poll taken in London by Ripley’s Believe it or Not found that:
55% believed in ghosts
42% in UFOs
27% in angels
25% in God
(I child in 20 believed that their mother was extra-terrestrial)
I imagine that the percentage of God-believers in a poll of passengers on the Titanic as it went down would have been higher.
Vincent, “material“ is in principle detectable by the senses. Example: we understand the word “justice”, but you won’t find justice under a stone because it isn’t material.
We have mental senses (difficult to locate/describe except emotions), and there is mind space, and there are mental objects (which, like a rock, can obscure other mental objects, of which justice could be one).
Overload, you are surely right about this. But I shy away from the word ’emotion’ because understand these as ‘feelings’. (Important in their own right but not necessarily leading to truth.) I prefer ‘perception’. I don’t merely feel that causality or free will exist, I perceive them to exist. They are realities in the mind.
Perhaps emotion is a flow of information (like water, clear or deep — or like fire, warm or burning/raging?) which does not necessarily originate in myself. Feelings would I think be some kind of personal/internal response to — and generation of — emotion (note the implied loop).
Yes I agree that emotion/feelings are a volatile thing. Does not mean that they lead away from truth; on the contrary, it is how one interprets/responds to them with freewill and free-self. Reason and logic seem to me more associated with airiness (and earthiness?). They can also lead away from truth, or for instance paint a picture (abstraction/fabrication) of truth whilst missing the point of what truth really is, and especially what it really is here-and-now.
Perception and freewill are (semi-)realities, and they are mental objects. And although both can serve in leading to or revealing truth, both are none the less subjective objects, and thus subject to delusion. Freewill is only an absolute and non-delusionary object if we recognise that God and only God is freewill (and that God lives “over all and through all and in all” — Ephesians 4:6). So by being possessed by God, and in turn possessing God (ie. Nektarios mentions “personal relationship” with God; ie. unity with God in Christ), then we can make a claim to “having” freewill that stands up to scrutiny.
Whilst we have a relationship with God which we can recognise, but know to be imperfect/confused/incomplete/unconfirmed; we therefor must talk in terms of learning obedience to God, slavery (to God and/or to sin), and pre-destination — none of which (except for obedience) give any allowance for the object of freewill as something which is belonging to our (imperfect) selves.
I think of the material world as anything which has an explanation. That’s not to say that I feel Man has an explanation, or that he will ever will. Things other than God might be forever beyond our ken.
What isn’t then material, given the point of view I have, is something that defies any explanation, by anyone or anything, ever. Even God couldn’t explain it!
Should I be looking at this differently?
Alan, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.”
What/when/where is “the beginning” and how did/does the Word happen to be both God and also with God (therefor separate, and further “He” given the male gender — derived from what?) in the beginning? How did/do all things come to made “through” a word (the Word)?
As I was trying to talk about in Where’s the Evidence? discussion, the Catholic teaching is that (as per the creed), the Word was begotten (born) of God before all ages (before time). So we have the first discernible/describable thing, which is Christ Himself when he was merely a word, not a man. I think a (ie. only one) word can choose (itself), describe (itself) and command (itself)? This is difficult to think about.
Imagine (hypothetically) if the Word was/is analogous with a human word like “finished” (Jesus’ last word on the cross if I remember correctly).
If this is how He began — ‘finished’ yet full of life, one can imagine a bit of an identity crisis!
“Should I be looking at this differently?” Yes, I think so. It depends on the kind of explanation you are prepared to accept. The first is an empirical explanation which can be verified or falsified according to the evidence. Thus the presence of a stone on the ground can be verified by our five senses. The second is a priori. It applies to those things which can rationally be held to be true without the evidence of the senses. This might include such things as the principle of non-contradiction, or causality, or the need and duty of justice. You, I imagine, would hold such things to be true – yet you cannot prove them, as you can prove the stone. God doesn’t need to prove them because, by definition, he is the source of all reality.
Interestingly, it is a truism of philosophy that even the stone cannot ultimately be proved. There is no way of demonstrating that the stone in itself corresponds to the picture which our mind has constructed from the response of our senses. Thus to be true to your principle that the material world requires explanation you would have to conclude that the material world must be discounted too.
Vincent, Perhaps I shouldn’t have switched to the term material world and should instead have stuck with natural. I meant to include explanations that were rationally held as well as those that offer empirical evidence. Where any such explanation is possible (even if it is forever beyond our reach) that is something I would consider part of the natural world. The distinction being “is there an explanation” rather than “can I imagine or do I perceive one”. Is that perhaps the wrong way to look at things?
Having said that I’m not sure about any of the examples you offer. I’ve read a few things that might call at least a couple of such perceived principles into question.
Do you know, I think that Alan and Vincent are unlikely to end up in agreement. They are debating an issue which is key in philosophy, and involved two of the greatest names in Western philosophy — Hume and Kant. It concerned the difficulty of demonstrating the truth of propositions which were not, by their nature, open to empirical verification. (Very) roughly, Alan is coming from Hume’s position, and Vincent from Kant’s.
By chance, Bryan Magee (an authoritative commentator on philosophy) used the example of free will as a truth which is known subjectively but cannot be verified empirically to demonstrate Kant’s major point.
I would not deny that the experiences people have are real, but I do have doubts about the value of experience. I think that many people are much more confident about the reliability of personal experience than I am. To the point where some would deny otherwise quite compelling evidence I feel. On an individual basis I think that we often question the personal experiences of others. I have been not 15 feet from an incident where myself and someone else witnessed an entirely different event.
But what if those experiences are shared by many or all of us? Does that make them more reliable? Not always at least. Historically there are examples of shared experiences that have hindered our discovery of the truth rather than helped it.
I find myself left with questions about the material world on one hand (questions that some others seem to dismiss rather easily with some variant of “the material world can’t explain this ….”) and an omnipotent, omniscient, supernatural answer on the other hand that can serve as the solution to absolutely any problem. I find I am more comfortable with the former.
Yes, one well evidenced characteristic of religion is that it can, for many people, answer the question about the meaning of life. The advantage it gives in terms of peace of mind, purpose etc is certainly enough to allow a plausible evolutionary explanation. But the fact remains that I, and perhaps you, find it important to identify that meaning. So, whatever its origins may be, I have to ask myself what criteria would such a meaning have to fulfill. Here I am immediately clear about what it can’t be. It certainly can’t be found in a universe which is responsible for its own origin, and which has developed simply in terms of the interplay of material factors which change according to chance. There is no source of meaning here.
Vincent
You are absolutely right.
When man puts himself at the centre rather than God the Creator, the Cosmos in which
he inhabits becomes meaningless. The universe is reduced to matter, plus energy that has been here forever, and formed only by chance.
But do you also see, that if we are part of the Cosmos, following the humanistic/secular agenda, man also loses meaning of who he is, what he is?
As for meaning, all through the Word of God, – He is not silent but speaks concerning the universe, ourselves, our relationship to Him ….. and something we are fast losing,
relationship one to another especially throughout the Christian world. The truth is that we had inbibed so much humanistic/secular philosophy which has no worldview at all
and they have sought to silence God… how daft can they get, how dangerous yet having no meaning.
Quentin.
I am not too sure when you say the Nature of God. To meHe is an all Loving Spirit beyond time and through eternity, which perhaps is our destiny for all eternity.We can maybe become like Him but not Him.
Nektarious explained a lot in his post quite accurately.
Where would we be without history, if no one wrote ”anything”down, we could be compared to the animal kingdon or prehistoric man.
We have it all in the New Testament .
I may be off track here to what your post is looking for, but I feel the only message we can give to non-believers is the Word of God!
Not sure about bringing up the ontological argument, Tomas Aquinas slapped that one down pretty hard. In my mind some of the best evidence we have of God’s existence is our own existence. The mere fact that atoms can exist is vastly unlikely, that planets exist, even more so, that life could arise from nothing, infinitesimally improbable even on its own (even a few atheist scientists admit you could burn the universe out a dozen times without this happening on its own), that some of that life might become more intelligent than it needs to be for day-to-day survival, let alone smart enough to invent computers, fly in space, and other things, staggeringly close to impossible. Honestly, atheism’s main faith is in a level of fluke luck so total and so extreme that it makes God about the only real explanation for the universe we have. To explain God would to explain everything. And maybe vise-versa.
Let’s consider the areas of metaphysics, moral, and epistemology. The metaphysical need for the existence of God implies that there must be something or someone who is big enough, powerful enough, wise enough, and willing enough to create and maintain the universe we live in. If these requirements are not met, then man is forced to admit that he is here by chance occurrence and has no special destiny.{10}
The moral necessity of God’s existence centers on man as a personal being and a being who distinguishes between right and wrong. There are only two options. Either man was created from an impersonal beginning and his moral system is a product of his culture, or man had a personal beginning and was given laws to follow and an internal sense of right and wrong.{11} The moral necessity of God is founded on the philosophical need to account for why man is both cruel and wonderful at the same time. This can only be explained in terms of the biblical account of the Fall.
The epistemological necessity of God’s existence addresses our ability to know what is ultimately real. Much of the modern problem in the area of knowledge began in the seventeenth century. As the scientific revolution developed, the criteria for truth became that which could be demonstrated in a laboratory. The result was that belief in God and the miraculous, which cannot be demonstrated in a laboratory, came into doubt and were eventually dismissed by many. The final result was pessimism regarding theological truths and, more recently, any truth at all. We have all encountered the individual who asks, “How do you know that?” And often this question is repeated for every subsequent answer.
The only answer to these three dilemmas is an appeal to the God who is there, and to His natural and special revelation. The basis of Christianity is the belief that God is there and that man can communicate with Him. If this is not true, then we are without a foundation.
“..I would not deny that the experiences people have are real, but I do have doubts about the value of experience. I think that many people are much more confident about the reliability of personal experience than I am. To the point where some would deny otherwise quite compelling evidence I feel. On an individual basis I think that we often question the personal experiences of others. I have been not 15 feet from an incident where myself and someone else witnessed an entirely different event…”
Around 40 years ago I was living what might be termed an itinerant life. Working on a farm in Wisbech I found myself picking strawberries in a field full of Algerians….not sure if they were students or just fellow wanderers . One of the young men in the row next to me stood up to stretch his weary back, grinned at me and said:
“Allah Akbar…God is great!”
I think that was the first utterance I had ever heard from the mouth of a formally religious person and I knew he meant it…
The thing that astonishes me about this kind of discussion is how little store is placed by the personal experience of individuals summed up many millionfold…as if all those hours/ weeks/years/decades of individual praying, worshipping, doubting, loving, studying , singing, trying , failing and yet believing despite oneself count for nothing; as if human beings are simple automatons not one among them able to question the validity of their own experience. It is almost as if the lived, struggled over, delighted in, slogged through, fought over and died for religious experience of millions upon millions upon countless millions of human beings, over thousands and thousands of years, is reducible to simple verbal trickery such as:
“,,But the believer does this by conceiving of a being which, by his definition, gives ultimate meaning. So he has gratuitously invented meaning. Good luck!, I say….”
Nuts actually.
Oh God,you are my God, for you I long + for you my soul is
thirsting.
My body pines for you + like a dry weary land without water.
So I gaze on you in the sanctuary + to see your strength and
your glory.
For your love is better than life,+ my lips will speak
your praise.
So I will bless you all my life+in your name I will lift up my hands.
My soul shall be filled as a banquet,+my mouth shall
praise you with joy.
On my bed I remember you.
On you I muse through the night,
for you have been my help;+
in the shadow of my wings I rejoice.
My soul clings to you;+your right hand holds me fast.
I see we have a problem when we come to God, just how to describe Him. We can’t.
We are not perfect in this world, but we can know many things about God. The most immediate for us is that God is PERSONAL. This means the possibility of relationship that is to relate to Him.
It means because He loves us, we in turn love Him.
Just as an aside, one cannot know God out of memory – He does not dwell there, only in the present.
I would also mention in passing, that experience is memory, the past, that which is old. Experiencing, on the other-hand is always in the now or present – do you see the difference?
So when it comes to our dealing with God or knowing Him in relationship through His Word, then it is in the present and one is at the threshhold of the Eternal. He will welcome you.
AD by his arguments, is claiming to be humanistic, secular, marterialist, mechanistic and many there be today just like that. However they have no answer to the Cosmos or the uniquieness of man made in the image of God.
AD also fails to understand something rather basic, if we knew everything about God, we would be gods, but we are not – well, not yet.
King David was looking forward to Christ’s coming…. ah these OT worthies, in all their human frailties and weaknesses knew God in the present in their own lives and acted upon it.
We should fair even better, because we are Post-Resurrection of Christ and have received more than they.Have we?
Nektarios, both Jesus Christ and Gautama Buddha have equality with God. Angels do not share this. We are offered this equality by dying and born again in Jesus (thus we become slaves to Christ’s true freewill, set free of delusionary freewill), however this equality is (or should be if we are truly believing baptised) fully available to us by the sacrifice, power and finality of the cross, yet we have not yet given ourselves to be fully (or at all) available to it; and we must stand firm (if we are still asleep in bed, or paralysed in bed awake, we have a problem), that we don’t forget who we are now (am I a new creation in Christ — or who this world and my instincts/delusions of self tell me I am?).
Jesus was born fully God, yet humanly speaking he was still ignorant, humanly he was not confirmed and perfected as fully God until he died on the cross. Buddha was made (through The Word) fully God, the reality which the man — (ex-)prince Gautama — sought and “awakened” to perfectly while still humanly alive. He awakened to equality with God sat alive under a living tree; Jesus (in his/our humanity) confirmed equality dying nailed to a dead tree.
What do you make of this from the Pali cannon?:
Some are born in the human womb, evildoers in hell, those on the good course go to heaven, while those without effluent: totally unbound.
I said, “the cross, yet we have not yet given ourselves to be fully (or at all) available to it”
I mean, we will have to give ourselves fully; the problem now is the opposite: that we have made ourselves to be not available to Him.
overload
I am not quite sure what you are driving at here? It is somewhat unclear to me.
Buddhism is not Christianity.
The Buddha is not equal to God. Buddha never claimed to be God.
Apart from Christ Jesus, there is no other name given under heaven whereby we must be saved.
In Buddhism there is no such a one as God. There is the Supreme Being, and that being
is totally impersonal, unknown. It is impossible in Buddhism to have a personal relationship
with God.
This is directly oposed to the revelation given in the Word of God – He is personal &c.
While Buddhism is all very interesting, and I have studied it to a degree,
please don’t believe they are speaking about the same things, they are not. Buddhism is not the Church that Christ began.
Buddha did not die for our sins, nor was he resurrected from the dead. Buddha, unlike
God is not a life giving Spirit. Buddhism has no Gospel of Salvation from God.
Finally, it will not be Buddha who will return to judge the living and the dead, but Christ Jesus.
I don’t want for the sake of the readers to go into an further this esoteric views you have on Buddhism.
“I don’t want for the sake of the readers” — am I in danger of corrupting pure faith and blaspheming against The Trinity?
I see that my comparison is ambiguous and likely to be confusing at best. So putting Buddhism to one side, and assuming that, as you say, “Buddhism is not the Church that Christ began”, and that the (or a) Buddha (The Awakened One) is NOT equal to God…
Now there is still the question of who is Melchizedek? (Hebrews 5&7) Whilst there is no mention in Holy Scripture that Melchizedek is mankind’s salvation, nor is he the reconciliation of all creation; none the less he is a man, king and high priest who is, it is clearly said — “made like unto the Son” — equal to God. (Note “made” — or in other translations, “resembling” — so he is not begotten of God; he is not the Son. And yet he has no beginning or end! Mystery.)
Do we hold that the Christ’s Church was initiated/conceived at the time of Abraham? If so, we can read in Hebrews that the Church did not begin with Abraham but with Melchizedek, who subsumed Abraham under his own authority — yet without bringing Abraham inside the walls of Salem. The Eucharist (as the gift of bread and wine, Genesis 14:18) was apparently prefigured at this conception, suggesting (to me) that Melchizedek was, in foreknowledge of The Incarnation and Crucifixion, permitting his own kingship to be superseded (not ended, but superseded) by Christ Jesus in the New Creation.
overload
Melchizekdek? Your idea is not quite right. Yes, Melchizekdek was both a king and a priest.
He appears suddenly in Scripture, and disappears just as quickly. Melchizekdek, it would appear was a Theophany, an appearance of God. I would not be tempted to go further.
” am I in danger of corrupting pure faith and blaspheming against The Trinity?”
No, its more the boredom factor I would worry about if I were you! I am curious to know why you seem to want to re invent the wheel all the time by chucking small fragments of scripture around and building obscure theories and doctrines from them.
Ignatius, “you seem to want to re re invent the wheel all the time”
What wheel are we talking about here; is it meant to turn, and is it turning?
The cross of Christ is fixed, it doesn’t turn like a swastika.
Christian Catholic dogma makes it quite clear that the home of God within you/me is in the Heart, not the mind. That does not exclude mind or mental constructs, but does not rest in the “rational” thinking, calculating, analysing, structural mind. We cannot Know or explain God but with and through God, and this Knowledge is humanly speaking seated in — and outpouring from — the Heart. The Heart does not literally refer to the physical organ, but rather to our human and emotionally grounded center (which embraces mind), and the natural seat of Spirit — (eternal) life within us.
The problem of understanding this originally lies in the fact that the Roman Catholic Church to some extent — and in some respects for (at best) dubious reasons — attempted to “rationally” fix (set in stone) its own teachings as Law, which in truth are only secondarily “rational” fixed things, and are foremost emotionally/ experientially/ livingly/ faithfully grounded. (This is along the lines of Christ’s law given in the New Testament, which is not afraid to seemingly contradict itself again and again to the mind of human reasoning.)
So I see the Heart of Catholic doctrine was over the centuries reduced (generally speaking) to triviality, meaninglessness and heavy burden, lawfully imposed; and thus broadly speaking, common sense and natural investigation were outlawed. Hence Newton — natural (scientific, explorative) common sense — and the “enlightenment” was a natural process of re-examination and escaping oppression; unfortunately this “age of reason” immediately sought to self-righteously divorce itself from the Church, Dogma, and Reason.
Because of a rigid obstruction of the Heart in the established Church, the Catholic Heart escaped to a simplified, wholesomely emotional, stable dogmatic abstraction/extraction exemplified by Mariology. Yet Mariology also exemplifies what is wrong: for instance, Mary is in some respects presented dogmatically by the RCC for self-righteous justification.
But even if what I just said and am still saying does give some kind of “explanation”, it is not in itself any kind of explanation. “God is Love”, and truth explains itself “in Love”. What is Love? It is not (an) emotion, though it can — though not necessarily — be described/ communicated/ expressed — or perverted — emotionally, and even more so, energetically, and such a process is in one way or another likely to be described/ guided/ opened up/ structurally strengthened — or perverted — with human reason — rationally.
Do you think that so many these days are digging around at the margins?
What do we mean by margins?
Our explanations of things are not sufficient. As long as so many it would appear, have put themselves at the centre of all things, such can only live on the margin, the peripheral of life, trusting in there own views and opinions rather than God’s plan and explanations about Himself, but ourselves, our relationship to Him and to each other. Yes, humanism and secularism which has infiltrated the Church reduces man to a machine like creature
an automaton to respond on cue rather than the wonderful creature he/she is, made in the image of God with all the potential that means.
It is not the Church that is our Lord, but Christ. It is not the arguments we use that save us,
but Christ. Until we as Christians make Christ Lord and Saviour in our life, centre of our
life, relating to Him and each other accordingly, are we not just living on the margins of our existence where there is little or no meaning to anything?
Nektarios, thanks for not being an automaton. I’m not sure how easy I’m finding that myself — harness the automaton or strangle it?
St.Joseph, you ask should we “go by our heart regardless of RC teaching?”
This is dangerous unless we know (or if we are anxious about offending God — trust) that what is in our heart comes from God. This is what Martin Luther did by breaking away from the RCC, and (I believe) God decreed it; problem though is that it was also schismatic (so it was not a question of black or white, or rather it was black and white), and the subsequent advent of self-righteousness on Luther’s behalf seems to have undermined the initial integrity of his search for justice and God’s grace (ie. in what he first brought into the light with the 95 thesis).
We have a desperate situation where the RCC makes claims to supremacy and infallibility yet at the same time many Christians do not agree/accept this. And same with many Catholics, only they are aclimatised to hopeless jovial cynicism, or indifference. And there are lots of questions about matters of “faith and morals” in the RCC — even if all the teaching IS “infallible” (I do not see how this can be true), we still have the problem that people are being taught to guiltily struggle to obey Natural Law (which is surely impossible but with grace) and Catholic doctrine (ie. eternal life in The-Eucharist-reduced-to-superficial-ritual-with-Aquinas-gloss) as if these things in themselves (without faith, grace and mercy, sacrifice and love, in His name) are salvation, which clearly is not so.
And yet, with all this perpetual shame and guilt and obligation, we find ourselves as sinners in a Church of sinners (thus leading one another, and others, into sin, and keeping one another in sin), as if this is acceptable, (yes, God is patient and merciful, but we must not test God), while scripture clearly attests that, as 1 John 5:18 says — “We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the One who was born of God keeps them safe, and the evil one cannot harm them.”
There is so much hypocrisy in the Church and Church teaching, I think it is in some ways a blessing to have a pope like Frances, otherwise non-Catholics and non-Christians seeking truth would more likely have no time for — or trust in — the RCC, as I myself did not some years ago. Having said that, Francis is not going to redeem the Church at all easily, and certainly not on his own (to my mind he doesn’t seem to comprehend the depth or reality of the situation). Perhaps (almost certainly, I think) the RCC is substantially irredeemable and we just have to make the best of it (ie. like protective chaff, brightly coloured to flag the seed inside) while this world lasts… God knows.
I search for Christ in myself and to give myself to Him as He has for me (ie. totally); and in the world and in respect of others, I search for Mary (Mary mother x magdalene — hybrid): the One True Church (Christ’s Kingdom in our midst). So I believe that if I am truly married to Christ I am also married to all others who are truly found in Him.
overload.
Thank you.
It would be most helpful to me if I were to know what the RC teaches that you dont agree with?
I would know then what the difficulties are that concern you.
The Doctrine or Authority. and of which subjects you find you are unable to accept.|
Even though it is not in Holy Scripture, I am willing to believe that Mary was assumed into heaven. My heart wants to believe it, though not so much my mind: the doctrine (when I read it) seemed confused in parts, which I find frustrating / agitating, and it seems to be an obstacle in relation to unity with other Christians. Perhaps not?
Most importantly, I think the doctrine of the assumption speaks to us of the ‘rapture’, which, according to Holy Scripture, is apparently when Christ’s bride (the Church, our mother) will be taken ‘up’ to heaven.
I have already mentioned in recent discussions in reference to Holy Scripture, about the burden of obligation/sin in respect of friday fasting and abstainance, and about “holy days”. These are small concerns? I think of the saying “the devil is in the detail”. Are we looking at a house of cards?
Minor faults like this are indicative to me of the spirit of the RCC’s teaching, which is warped; the Church is afraid of — or simply casually avoiding — the “burden” (freedom actually) of the cross.
One of the most memorably sayings I have heard from Pope Francis was something along these lines:
“We must not be afraid to get spiritually dirty, God cleans everything.”
I do see a danger if one was to be complacent with this mentality. However this is I feel one of the great things about Francis, this approach to faith which is very unlike the cold rigidity of Catholic doctrine. If we have this kind of mentality — not wanting to get spiritually dirty but not afraid to do so (specifically in difficult situations where we can love our neighbour who is in need, or for instance in working together to build common unity of true peace between Christians) — then we are far more humble than, for instance, someone who abstains from masturbation (when awake) for years whilst daily idolatrising about food and/or committing adultery/fornication with food. Or someone who only ever takes the sacrament on the tongue, yet who’s tongue has learnt to be more complacent, casual and possessive than a hand is likely to be able to be (in our days). My point being that we are nearly all of us steeped in sin in one way or another. (The temptation is to compensate and appease our consciences, and/or to proudly possess superficial/false humility/holiness.)
We are shown by the RCC its dish; filthy on the inside, but sparkling clean on the outside. And we are told: “go forth, make your dish clean on the inside like the outside of this one.”
Thinking of something that is particularly bothering me right now… what I feel I would find devastating is the possibility that if I (putting myself in the shoes of another), as a compassionate Catholic midwife, who sincerely seeks to proclaim the sanctity of life, might be closed off from sharing Christ’s life giving love because of a fearful rigid obsessive automaton observance of Catholic doctrine. My employers expect me in some way or another to get involved in an abortion procedure. I imagine a child who is destined to be aborted (regardless of my actions), and the child’s mother. My greatest concern in respect of proclaiming/protecting life in this situation is the spiritual life of both mother and child, and considering if an active hands-on concern on my behalf is in keeping with God’s will. Yet if I in my heart have this compassionate awareness and capacity to practically and prayerfully share the gospel in this situation, but cannot even consider the possibility of coming into contact with either mother or child on the basis that I would (or might) then be complicit in murder, then there is (perhaps) a more tragic abortion taking place, whether I consciously realise it or not.
What do you think and what would you do?
The case above (relating to a real one) is to me indicative of a more general one for the Church at large: does the RCC seek first to cling to and protect its own image and identity (believing this to be THE battleground against “the gates of hades”) — or to self-sacrificially express and share faith and proclaim mercy in love of Jesus, and work for healing, reconciliation and unity of the ill and bitterly fractured Christian Churches. I am confident that Francis would choose the latter (if he is allowed to), but there needs to be a full and accurate diagnosis and comprehension of the situation, I believe — and embracing a full, free and rigorous exploration of the Holy Scriptures (not just the 4 “gospels”; even the Book of Revelation is “good news” if we believe; and it is bad news if we succumb to fear of it) is essential in this process. — “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life” — “I” is Jesus, and “I” is Holy Spirit, so all Holy Scripture is equal, although NT is more equal than OT.
overload.
You have free will.Just look after your own soul Then you will have peace of mind!!..
In all your conflict you are missing the beauty of The Lord.And not living the real Faith.
Maybe God is testing you. Folllow Him and leave all your confusion behind.
Leave it to Him , He knows what He is doing. Pray often!
I mean that kindly.
If anyone is offended by what I said (sorry about the wording): “someone who only ever takes the sacrament on the tongue, yet who’s tongue has learnt to be more complacent, casual and possessive than a hand is likely to be able to be (in our days).”
Please understand: I am not in any way suggesting that all people who only take the host on the tongue are “complacent, casual and possessive” by doing so; rather that there may be a significant propensity to adopt this mentality.
Imagine you were observing the universe for the first time, with your faculties and intellect fully developed, never having heard or read anyone else’s view on the matter. I believe that, in time, you would arrive at one of the following 3 conclusions:
Conclusion 1: The universe has always existed more or less as we observe it today. (This is the steady-state model supported by many scientists, including Einstein, Hoyle & co, prior to Fr George Lemaitre’s Big Bang theory. It has few, if any supporters today).
Conclusion 2: The universe was created at some time in the past, more or less as we see it today, probably by some powerful superintellect or god. (Young Earth Creationism).
Conclusion 3: The universe was created at some time in the remote past, in some primordial state, by some powerful superintellect or god who also established principals and processes, which can be observed and measured. These processes resulted in the discernibly ordered and amenable state we see today. (Intelligent Design or Old Earth Creationism). This conclusion is the option which most Christians, especially Catholics (since St Augustine De Genesis ad Litteram, and later St Anselm) would identify with, even if they would prefer to avoid these labels. Both 2 and 3 are versions of the God Hypothesis.
One’s intelligent but untutored self would be very unlikely to come to the following conclusion:
Conclusion 4: The universe simply popped unannounced into existence, and then, by an extraordinary unbroken series of purely random, astronomically unlikely accidents, it became highly ordered and amenable.
The extreme unlikeliness of this scenario is explained away by the idea of a “multiverse” within which every possible combination of everything is not only possible, but inevitable – except that is, the possibility of God existing, apparently. Attempts to play this trump card at every opportunity eg by Prof Brian Cox, has been dubbed “the Multiverse of the Gaps”.
On the topic of multiverses and infinite possibility.
I am wondering about certain heavenly beings (angels / ‘devas’ / radiant or celestial beings) — might these correspond to individual stars in the universe? The bible mentions the heavenly scene “the voice of many angels . . . and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Rev. 5:11)
We have our own Galaxy with millions of stars. Now we have billions of Galaxies, which is a lot of stars! Why not multiverses as well?
Maybe each galaxy is the same thing but from a slightly different perspective — and they cannot meet each other. Each galaxy could have its own Jesus and perhaps its own me and you, and all the Galaxies will spontaniously come to the End of Time at the same moment, at which point the whole of this universe, and all other universes interdependent with this one, will “melt under the heat”? I don’t think this idea is very viable, it is merely off the top of my head. None the less, the vastness of this material universe is somewhat mind boggling. And yet in terms of age (at least, relative to space and quantity), it is a short affair — our earth is not that much younger than the universe itself.
Alasdair – “Attempts to play this trump card at every opportunity eg by Prof Brian Cox, has been dubbed “the Multiverse of the Gaps”.”
I hadn’t heard of the idea of a multiverse being dubbed “the multiverse of the gaps” but I quite like the expression. It recognises, although in your examples only for the alternative you think has little merit, that it is indeed a gap in our knowledge we are trying to fill. It’s exactly the same gap when the other answers are being considered.
Imagining that the creation of everything we see around us is similar to the way in which we, through experience, create things is very likely a popular conclusion at first. Just as it was once apparent that individual species were created independently and that the world was flat, because this are what our limited knowledge and experience would have been telling us.
That isn’t to say that such instinctive ideas are going to be wrong of course. But they certainly don’t look to be reliable. And there is quite a difference in how the natural and divine alternatives are treated I feel. One is an natural that is proposed because there are a few scientific theories that suggest that possibility, and it is an idea which some scientists are trying to find ways to investigate. They are looking for ways to provide supporting evidence. Different too is the level of confidence in this proposal. I doubt that many physicists would put much money on the hypothesis at this stage. On the other hand we have a supernatural alternative. The confidence with which this belief is held and taught is off the charts by comparison. It is promoted as being true with a capital T in many, many instances. Yet it is the same gap being filled. As was said elsewhere, a multiverse that is indifferent to our existence doesn’t have a great deal of appeal. It doesn’t come with anything like the same emotional investment. There are few benefits. Nor is it anything like as intuitive. But these things make ideas popular, not right.
It’s perhaps worth noting that even without this current guess at a natural explanation the alternative gains no weight of evidence whatsoever.
This is an overview of the history of the scientific understanding of the universe. The last fifteen minutes or so discusses in some detail the question of something emerging out of nothing. Indeed, this turns out to be the final frontier. Well worth watching.
Buddhist doctrine proposes various ‘planes of existence’. The immaterial planes of existence are perhaps an interesting proposition for this discussion. The inhabitants of these planes are said to have no body (only mind), so “cannot hear the Buddha’s teachings” (ie. the ‘Dharma’). So also therefore presumably they cannot recognise Christ as Lord of the universe?
Immaterial planes are said to be:
28) Infinite Space
29) Infinite Consciousness
30) Nothingness
31) Neither-perception-nor-non-perception
To the Buddhist meditator these are the 5th – 8th jhanas (meditative absorptions), however the meditator can apparently go one further: The Cessation of Perception and Feeling (the 9th jhana). This is said to be profound peace, however even this is not in itself ‘nirvana’ — not final peace — not ‘God’.
overload.
Have you ever thought about the appearances of Our Blessed Mother. She Assumed into Heaven body and soul like Our Lord’
Much more interesting than space images.
God asked Job ‘where were you when I made the Stars etc.?
Jesus gave us His Mother on the Cross ,She is a part of Salvation History, far more interesting than space travel and Star Wars which will only end in the same way as planet earth.
It is sad that there are people and children dying from the lack of water and we are looking at the stars…….
“It is sad that there are people and children dying from the lack of water and we are looking at the stars…….” — I agree.
Star Wars… that was part of my young childhood food, my ‘moral instruction’, along with superman, etc. — the death of Obi Wan Kenobi, who passively let himself be killed by Darth Vader in a light sabre fight, I remember disturbing me. Actually, lots of details in such films (I’m thinking now of Han Solo frozen in carbonite, I can remember how that felt to my imagination) were hyper spiritually suggestive to me of what I had no idea what; very deep. I think generally, these ‘moral’ fictional fantasies do not do much or any good, they do not inspire “faith hope love”, however much they might ignite the imagination.
I once read this about an interview with the Dalai Lama, which struck me:
“Whenever he sees an image of Mary carrying the infant Jesus he has a strong sense of maternal affection, which is something with universal impact. Images of Jesus on the cross and the skeletal fasting of the Buddha have deep meaning and significance, but lack the universal appeal that the conventional figure of the Buddha shares with Mary and child.”
So perhaps Jesus is our Brother, our Father, our Mother, and our true self (Holy Spirit)? I find this confusing in view of the Trinity.
Seriously though, about Star Wars (and pop culture), at least that was a bit original, and the first one was even made on a small budget — money was conceivably not the object. Children (especially) nowadays have junk-food-movies and video games and mobile phones and face books on overload tap, it is terrifying the part money has in consumerism (food as well) and leisure and fashion and music; the effects are disordered at best and there are spiritual forces (ie. witchcraft, and demons) at work in blatant and very subtle ways. | {
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Computing
The massive earthquake in Japan and the consequent tsunami created a worldwide scare about leakage from the nuclear plant at Fukushima. The disaster at Fukushima cost 13,000 lives and 14,000 went missing. However, A. Kakodkar, former Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission confirmed that despite the tragedy there have been no nuclear health issues in Japan. He further elaborated that the dose permissible radiation is near normal, except for some localized regions in Fukushima.
For that matter the atomic scientists claim that Kerala beaches are famous for sands containing nuclear material and people have been living close to these beaches since generations without any effect. Similar vies have been aired by the scientists of the Regional Cancer research Centre in Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala that there is no connection between natural background radiation and cancer. Of course people exposed may have a greater risk factor!
While the Government has already opted for nuclear energy, a debate is on whether to opt for it or not. If we trust the scientists with the government they say the fears of nuclear accidents are unfounded. However, no one has answer for a Chernobyl like situation or a scenario of natural calamity worse than Fukushima.
Quoting S.Bannerji, Chairperson of the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) The Hindu of March 15 2011 said ‘there was alarming news from Japan but it was not factually correct. Quoting Bannerji further, The Hindu said ‘It was wrong to say there was a nuclear cloud over Japan and what had happened was a chemical explosion and not a nuclear explosion.’ Well as a scientist he was perfectly right in his stand. Technically these plants are made to withstand earthquakes. They had also built a ‘Tsunami Wall’ along the beach. But the nature, unpredictable as it is, bluffed the man again. The tsunami waves entered the plant by over-riding the wall and the cooling plant was affected. It was forced shut by the tsunami.
Such incidents make the common man believe that the scientists take things for granted. They go by the simulated conditions of the worst possible scenarios near a nuclear plant. The common man however, imagines the worst and lives in a scare.
S.K. Jain, chairman of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) says that strict measures have been taken for all the plants in the country specially keeping the Japan incident in mind. There are regular safety audits and licenses are reissued accordingly. The plants have been reassessed for earthquake hazard, keeping in mind the threats perceived as per the latest studies.
There is ageneral conception that the eastern coast of India is more vulnerable for tsunami than the west. But this concept is wrong. The mega events of the nature are repeated at an interval of 1000 years or more. Therefore, detailed geological and hazard history of the areas where the nuclear plants are located must be kept in mind and steps taken accordingly. At present detailed information from Japan is being obtained by the NPCIL to evaluate the risk hazard for our plants.
One may be thinking, ‘we have so much potential for hydro-power then why this race for nuclear power?’ As per the population our future need for power is projected as 40% of the total energy produced in the world. That is a whopping amount. Considering the requirement, our resources are limited. Coal, oil and uranium reserves will last for another 10-12 years, similarly the hydroelectric power generation viable potential is around 5% of total energy requirement. The scenario is in fact quite dismal.
One might claim that we have many rivers hurtling down the slopes of the Himalayas and they have a vast potential. It is not so because viable options which also include consideration of earthquake safety are much lesser.
This leaves two options i.e. Solar and Nuclear energies for India. The Solar energy prospect is theoretically very bright. But in practice much of it is still in infancy. The economic viability is still a major stumbling block. With the possibilities of use of carbon nano tubes in future for tapping Solar Energy it may be possible to dream about it. At present I personally feel that the scenario of Solar energy in India is somewhat like that of computers in 1964. Those days the Oil and Natural Gas Commission had a huge hall in a building where the computer a punch card machine was installed. Now it is faded from our memory but those days common man never thought that someday the microchip will make it so convenient to communicate that he will hold that behemoth of ancient machine in his palm in a revolutionized form! Therefore one should be optimistic about the future of Solar energy in India.
There have been other hypothetical ideas too of tapping non-conventional energy sources. Like Anil Kakodkar said that Carbon Dioxide could be recycled to an artificial fluid hydrocarbon and used as a fuel. This would also reduce the impact of Carbon Dioxide on the atmosphere and help controlling the climate change.
But such ideas on a commercial scale require lots of tests before they can be really put to use! The pro-nuclear energy lobby is in favor of light water reactors and application of fast breeder technology to make India self-reliant in energy. This lobby vehemently reiterates that the advanced heavy water reactor of India is a technology that is fool proof even under dire circumstances.
The safety projections of the experts are well taken; still the common man on the street is chary of the situation. The global psychological impact of the Fukushima episode of Japan says Pervez Hoodbhoy in Science Development Net exceeded the Chernobyl’s and left the world unsure if the nuclear energy is the answer to our crisis!
Japan has undergone the worst holocaust after the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. Undaunted the Japanese became stronger and they not only developed the bomb stricken region, they also applied stringent regulations when it came to development of nuclear energy plants in Japan. Fukushima reactors were geared up to face the worst earthquakes and tsunamis. The power sensors shut down the plants, everything appeared safe. But the 20 feet high tsunami wall was easily scaled by 30 feet high tsunami waves the electric power essential for cooling the plant was snapped. Once the radiation travels to the atmosphere it is like a cloud riding the winds and it can travel in any direction irrespective of political borders. Thus the plume reached as far as Canada.
The fallouts were many. For months together in widespread areas of Japan the vegetables and many edibles were found to have radiation doses many times higher than the safety limits.
That was Japan. In India the poor are forced to consume the dead floating fish in the river which are killed due by the toxins poured by the industries on the banks. Poor and powerless villagers in India were affected by uranium and thorium mining and they were forced to withdraw their court cases, says a report. Under such circumstances the hypothetical talks of safe reactors appears to be day dreaming.
Despite the criticism if we wish to develop, there is hardly any option but to go nuclear. However, the government should consider safety aspect foremost and go for reactors which are potentially safe and never trust the oceans as far as the tsunamis are concerned - they cannot be wished away! The reactors should be built in areas with scant population, earthquake safe parts of the country. And above all take lessons from Fukushima and take lessons from Jordan. The country has other resources too yet considering the future they have decided to go nuclear by 2035. However, the Fukushima episode compelled them to consider the safety and a strict safety audit of the sites selected is on and only areas found geologically and environmentally safe will be taken up for construction work by 2013 says a report.
The present crisis in Tamilnadu seems to be taking more of a political turn. It is time that the government rises above party politics and takes up the people into confidence before pushing the nuclear button! | {
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NetRight Dailyhttp://netrightdaily.com
Right Thinking. Free Market. A Project of Americans for Limited Government.Wed, 21 Feb 2018 13:39:46 +0000enhourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.9.4Republicans need to use their Article I powershttp://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/republicans-need-use-article-powers/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/republicans-need-use-article-powers/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 13:25:46 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41364By Natalia Castro To avert constant Democratic threats of a government shutdown, President Trump and Congress have been forced to pass short-term spending bills. The next deadline to pass funding is now March 23, and Congressional Republicans must use the time before them to outline key areas to save money, achieve policy objectives and reduce the deficit to ensure fiscal […]
To avert constant Democratic threats of a government shutdown, President Trump and Congress have been forced to pass short-term spending bills. The next deadline to pass funding is now March 23, and Congressional Republicans must use the time before them to outline key areas to save money, achieve policy objectives and reduce the deficit to ensure fiscal security moving forward.
President Donald Trump immediately expressed distaste for the Feb. 9 legislation which ended an overnight government shutdown; Trump admitted via Twitter, “Without more Republicans in Congress, we were forced to increase spending on things we do not like or want in order to finally, after many years of depletion, take care of our Military. Sadly, we needed some Dem votes for passage.”
The legislation, entitled the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, ends the spending caps on domestic and military spending, known as sequestration, for this fiscal year and the next by about $300 billion while lifting the federal debt limit until March 2019. While this averted a more protracted shutdown, it also angered conservatives in favor of fiscal austerity.
Before the March 23 deadline, Republicans must use their Article I power of the purse to defund government programs which are exacerbating our national debt and causing economic harm across the country.
Among the promised defunds which are continually funded under current spending measures are the new and existing power plant regulations, the Waters of the U.S. rule that regulates every puddle in America, methane emission regulations, sage grouse protections, Planned Parenthood funding, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
The new and existing power plant regulations, a part of former President Barack Obama’s Clean Power Plan, waged a war on coal, making it much more expensive to do business in the U.S.
Obama’s methane emission regulations, implemented in Aug. 2016, places restrictions on the amount of gas released into the air during drilling operations on federal lands, placing a significant burden on producers while stifling innovation. This rule alone produced an estimated cost of $320 million in 2020 and $530 million in 2025, according to the Federal Register.
Similarly, the federal government protections of the sage grouse, a Western bird known for its flamboyant mating dance, have distorted the mission of the Department of Interior (DOI) and harmed U.S. energy security.
Despite not being considered an endangered species, the Obama era DOI instituted 98 sage grouse habitat management plans across ten states, marking a significant amount of land as protected spaces for the bird.
Congress must back the call from leaders in the Trump administration to reduce spending by defunding these unwanted programs — and then move to cut baseline spending if at all possible. Failing to adjust the baseline downward will only contribute to the burden of mounting debt.
Via Twitter, President Trump called for a simple solution to the country’s budgeting woes: elect more Republicans, since 60 votes are needed in the Senate to pass a spending measure. As Trump explained, “Costs on non-military lines will never come down if we do not elect more Republicans in the 2018 Election, and beyond. This Bill is a BIG VICTORY for our Military, but much waste in order to get Dem votes. Fortunately, DACA not included in this Bill, negotiations to start now!”
If Congress is going to implement the spending cuts our country needs, there are only two options — win over 60 Republicans in the Senate in the 2018 midterms or push the Democrats to the negotiating table. Either way, Congress must institute spending cuts this time around, no matter how difficult the path is to get there.
Natalia Castro is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/republicans-need-use-article-powers/feed/0The truth behind the Flynn prosecution is starting to come out, and it is not good for Muellerhttp://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/truth-behind-flynn-prosecution-starting-come-not-good-mueller/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/truth-behind-flynn-prosecution-starting-come-not-good-mueller/#respondWed, 21 Feb 2018 13:21:56 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41361By Printus LeBlanc On Friday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced the indictment of 13 Russian internet trolls and the companies they worked for. The timing was curious because it was a surprise announcement. Normally something leaks about an impending action, but there was no such leak this time. When you look at the few months the FBI has had, it […]
On Friday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller announced the indictment of 13 Russian internet trolls and the companies they worked for. The timing was curious because it was a surprise announcement. Normally something leaks about an impending action, but there was no such leak this time. When you look at the few months the FBI has had, it becomes understandable why they made the announcement. They wanted attention on something other than their recent failures. One of those failures seems to be the possibility former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn might withdraw his guilty plea, or his new judge may just throw it out altogether.
You may remember Flynn pled guilty to lying to the FBI on December 1, 2017. Flynn was interviewed by two FBI agents on January 24, 2017, in a meeting set up by former Deputy Director of the FBI Andrew McCabe. Since the guilty plea, a slew of revelations has called not just the guilty plea of Flynn, but the Mueller prosecution into question.
Shortly after Flynn pled guilty, Judge Rudolph Contreras was recused for a still unknown reason. What is known about Judge Contreras is he signed off on the initial Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant to spy on Carter Page. The world learned from the Nunes Memo and the Graham-Grassley criminal referral that the FISA warrant was obtained using the Christopher Steele dossier, an unverified opposition research document by the former British spy working for the Clinton campaign in 2016.
This constituted a “fraud on the court.” Was Contreras recused because he signed the illegal FISA warrant that started the chain of events leading to Flynn’s prosecution, i.e., Fruit of the Poisonous Tree?
The new judge in the Flynn case is very familiar with government misconduct. Judge Emmet Sullivan presided over the prosecution of former Alaskan Senator Ted Stevens. Following the trial, a whistleblower came forward to allege misconduct by the FBI and DOJ. After review of the whistleblower’s evidence Judge Sullivan dismissed the corruption conviction of Stevens and lambasted the federal prosecutors stating, “In nearly 25 years on the bench, I’ve never seen anything approaching the mishandling and misconduct that I’ve seen in this case.” He would go on to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the DOJ lawyers that prosecuted the case.
The government’s misconduct in Steven’s case was so egregious Judge Sullivan changed the way he handled cases. He now issues a Brady Order in every criminal case before his court. In the 2016 Cardozo Law Review, he stated, “Following the Stevens case, I have issued a standing Brady Order for each criminal case on my docket, updating it in reaction to developments in the law.”
Brady material consists of exculpatory or impeaching evidence held by the prosecution that is material to the guilt or innocence of the defendant. The Supreme Court ruled in Brady v. Maryland that the material must be turned over to the defendant if they request it, not doing so violates due process.
This is troublesome for the Mueller team considering the “pitbull” of his team, Andrew Weissmann has a sordid history of judicial malpractice. He convinced an employee of Arthur Anderson to plead guilty to something that wasn’t a crime. Mr. Weissmann was also overturned by the Fifth Circuit after making up a crime to indict four Merrill Lynch executives. And just last week it was revealed Weissmann was involved in another case in which Brady material was withheld in late 1990s. How does someone that routinely violates the civil rights of defendants continue to rise in the DOJ?
Last week we learned the FBI agents that interviewed Flynn didn’t believe he was lying. In a report from Byron York of the Washington Examiner he states, “two sources familiar with the meetings, Comey told lawmakers that the FBI agents who interviewed Flynn did not believe that Flynn had lied to them, or that any inaccuracies in his answers were intentional. As a result, some of those in attendance came away with the impression that Flynn would not be charged with a crime pertaining to the Jan. 24 interview.”
If the two agents that interviewed Michael Flynn didn’t believe he lied, why was he charged with lying?
Many people are asking if Flynn didn’t believe he lied, why would he plead guilty? The answer is simple, the weight of the federal government. The federal government does not run out of money when prosecuting someone. However, a private citizen cannot afford a $500 an hour lawyer for too long.
Former federal prosecutor Sydney Powell recently wrote an op-ed about the Flynn prosecution and an innocent person pleading guilty stating, “they simply can no longer withstand the unimaginable stress of a criminal investigation. They and their families suffer sheer exhaustion in every form — financial, physical, mental, and emotional. Add in a little prosecutorial duress — like the threat of indicting your son — and, presto, there’s a guilty plea.”
The recent revelations about the validity of the charges, the FISA warrants, and orders by the new judge call the entire Flynn prosecution into question. He should withdraw his guilty plea, as this ongoing miscarriage of justice is doing great damage to the nation. Judge Sullivan is a jurist that refuses to put up with government maleficence in his courtroom and could be the worst nightmare for the Mueller team, but Flynn has to fight.
Printus LeBlanc is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/truth-behind-flynn-prosecution-starting-come-not-good-mueller/feed/0Is a Government Agency’s Bad Science a Gift to Trial Lawyers?https://townhall.com/columnists/rickmanning/2018/02/15/is-a-government-agencys-bad-science-a-gift-to-trial-lawyers-n2449218
https://townhall.com/columnists/rickmanning/2018/02/15/is-a-government-agencys-bad-science-a-gift-to-trial-lawyers-n2449218#respondTue, 20 Feb 2018 13:11:19 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41355By Rick Manning In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the face that launched a thousand ships. When she left her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta for her lover Prince Paris of Troy, the Trojan War broke out that is mythologized by Homer, Virgil and others. Of course, Troy fell after the Greeks rolled a hollowed-out wooden horse into their […]
In Greek mythology, Helen of Troy was the face that launched a thousand ships. When she left her husband, King Menelaus of Sparta for her lover Prince Paris of Troy, the Trojan War broke out that is mythologized by Homer, Virgil and others. Of course, Troy fell after the Greeks rolled a hollowed-out wooden horse into their walled city as a gift. A horse filled with Greek warriors who opened the gates -ending Troy. Or so the story goes.
In modern America, there is a little-known government entity, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), which is an arm of the Center for Disease Control. NIOSH has launched more than 1,000 lawsuits costing companies hundreds of millions of dollars over the past fifteen years due to their determination that a naturally occurring as well as synthetically produced chemical, diacetyl, is linked to injuries and deaths involving microwave popcorn workers among others.
There is only one problem – their science may not be right.
So what is diacetyl? It is a naturally occurring chemical that is found in low concentrations of fermented foods like butter, beer and yogurt. It is also made synthetically to add buttery flavor to popcorn, chips and even coffee. Safe to eat in trace amounts, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the question is what quantity of the chemical is safe to inhale.
Bronchiolitis obliterans also known as popcorn lung is no joke, despite its almost comic book descriptor, but it is reasonable to ask whether NIOSH jumped the gun when they created the wave of lawsuits based upon their findings.
Years after the initial NIOSH finding, the Toxicology Excellence for Risk Assessment (TERA) produced a 2008 report, which casts strong doubt on whether diacetyl is actually the villain that NIOSH and trial lawyers have made it out to be. TERA states, “The causal link between diacetyl and the onset of bronchiolitis obliterans is not certain.”
NIOSH itself is listed among the recent sponsors of TERA at the outset of its report, so while the funding came from the food industry, it is safe to conclude that the contrary conclusion to NIOSH’s earlier findings should be taken seriously.
Additionally, the highly respected chemical toxicology firm, Cardno ChemRisk, has studied the impacts of diacetyl extensively over the past decade. In a study published in Critical Reviews on Toxicology, they wrote, “We found that diacetyl and 2,3-pentanedione exposures from cigarette smoking far exceed occupational exposures for most food/flavoring workers who smoke.” One line down they continue, “Further, because smoking has not been shown to be a risk factor for bronchiolitis obliterans, our findings are inconsistent with claims that diacetyl and/or 2,3-pentanedione exposure are risk factors for this disease.”
The argument against NIOSH’s findings can even be found within the Obama administration’s Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), where after eight years of controversy over regulating diacetyl, they chose not to regulate the chemical in the workplace. When Obama’s radical OSHA decides not to act, it should serve as a touch point for trying to get to the real truth of the matter.
Meanwhile, like the Trojan War of old, the trial lawyer bar is besieging the walls of business on many fronts, looking for weaknesses that might allow them to hit a massive payday. When it comes to diacetyl lawsuits, NIOSH is the Trojan horse that has been wheeled behind those walls, unleashing a horde of trial lawyers looking for industries to sue. It doesn’t matter to them whether diacetyl is the agent of illness, only that they can convince a jury, using NIOSH as their lead witness, that it does.
Given the fact that there is serious and reasonable doubt about the causal factors of bronchiolitis obliterans, combined with the Obama Administration’s determination to not impose workplace standards, it is time for a common sense approach to diacetyl.
Bruce Fein, a former senior ranking Reagan Administration official recommends that the federal government set up a process similar to the one undertaken in 1977 in examining saccharin. He wrote in the West Virginia Record, “In 1977, the FDA proposed a ban on saccharin as a human carcinogen required by the Delany Amendment. Congress balked. It passed the Saccharin Study and Labelling Act which placed a moratorium on the ban but required labels warning that saccharin could cause cancer. After two decades of further study, the National Toxicology Program delisted saccharin as a carcinogen in 2000.
This seems like a reasonable approach to what heretofore has been an intractable problem that NIOSH and the credibility of the federal government have been used as the cudgel in legal cases, when their determinations are disputed by multiple respected alternative studies.
It’s time to get to the right answer on diacetyl, rather than having the trial bar use one agency’s claims, that another agency of government has chosen not to act upon, to drive businesses engaged in innocuous activity like grinding coffee beans into legal hell.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/cartoon-schumer-shutdown-part-ii/feed/0If we are going to spend the money anyway, let’s spend it to harden the electric grid from an EMPhttp://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/going-spend-money-anyway-lets-spend-harden-electric-grid-emp/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/going-spend-money-anyway-lets-spend-harden-electric-grid-emp/#respondMon, 19 Feb 2018 12:56:57 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41345By Printus LeBlanc Earlier this month, conservatives and budget hawks lost the fiscal battle to fund the military without raising domestic spending. The Senate cut a deal to increase domestic spending for the next two years by $131 billion and raise the budget caps on defense spending by $80 billion in fiscal year 2018 and $85 billion in fiscal year […]
Earlier this month, conservatives and budget hawks lost the fiscal battle to fund the military without raising domestic spending. The Senate cut a deal to increase domestic spending for the next two years by $131 billion and raise the budget caps on defense spending by $80 billion in fiscal year 2018 and $85 billion in fiscal year 2019.
This battle is over, and it is time to move on to the next one, what to do with the $131 billion. Democrats will want to add the two-year increase in spending to the baseline budget, thereby making the increases permanent. Republicans must make sure that does not happen and if the money is going to be spent, instead appropriate the money to one-time non-baseline budget projects. The weakness of the U.S. electric grid is one such item, the perfect project to spend the money on.
The U.S. is a society wholly dependent on electricity to survive. Water is pumped into your homes by electricity. Vehicles may run on gas, but the gas gets to the vehicles via pump powered by electricity. The food in the local supermarket is kept cool, transported, and produced with electricity. Without it, tens of millions would die.
The U.S. electric grid is composed of three smaller grids, one east of the Rocky Mountains, one west of the Rocky Mountains, and one in Texas. Each of these grids is composed of three elements, power generation, power transmission, and power distribution. It is no secret there are weak points in the system. Congress even put out a report outlining what it believed was the most dangerous scenario in 2008.
Electricity is starts at a power plant. It can be coal fired, natural gas, nuclear, or a windmill. From there the electricity flows to a High-Voltage Transformer (HVT). The HVT will “step-up” the electricity so it can be transported long distances via high voltage power lines. From the high voltage power lines, the electricity flows into another HVT where it is “stepped-down.” This is a critical process because homes and businesses cannot handle the higher-level voltage used to transport electricity. After the electricity flows through the second HVT, it is transmitted via local powerlines to the end user.
As you can see, the process of getting electricity from the point of production to the end user would be impossible without HVTs, and the problem gets worse from there. Producing an HVT is a time consuming and expensive endeavor. The Department of Energy estimated it can take up to 20 months to make the larger HTVs, while costing millions. After it is produced, transporting the HVT is another adventure. The larger devices can weigh up to 400 tons and need specially designed rail cars to move via railroad. Once they are on the road, it can be even more challenging to move the house sized objects though cities to the substations.
The final problem with HVTs is they are made for specific locations in the electric grid. Because the electric grid is made up of hundreds of smaller utilities, within the three main grids, there is no uniformity. An HVT for a coal plant outside of Mobile, AL might not work for natural gas plant near Houston, TX. This hampers the ability to interchange parts during an emergency.
The HVTs are vulnerable to four types of attacks:
EMP- An Electromagnetic Pulse is generated as a result of a nuclear bomb. It is a burst of electromagnetic energy that damages electrical equipment, such as the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems regulating the voltage in HVTs. If the SCADA systems go down, the HVTs go down.
CME- The sun is perhaps the most dangerous adversary of the electric grid. A Coronal Mass Ejection from the Sun would have the same effect as an EMP, but on a global scale. A CME is an ejection of particles from the sun, also known as a solar flare. These happen quite often. The last major CME event to hit the Earth was in 1859. When it hit, there were reports of sparks shooting off telegraph wires in telegraph stations. A CME event today could shut down electronic devices worldwide.
Cyber- As we saw with Stuxnet, SCADA systems are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Attacking the SCADA systems that run the electric grid could cause severe physical damage and shutdown significant portions of the system.
Physical- Since 2013 there have been two attacks on electric substations. One in Metcalf, California and another in rural Utah. In both attacks the HVTs were targeted with rifles and caused temporary shutdowns.
Clearly the electric grid is the most important of the sixteen infrastructure sectors the Department of Homeland Security declared critical. Without electricity the banking system fails, without electricity the healthcare industry becomes non-existent, and without electricity there is no way to pump water to homes and businesses.
The fight about whether or not to spend the money is over, and we lost that fight. The fight now must be about spending it on one-time projects that are not added to the baseline budget in the future. We can choose to spend the money on needed projects, or we can let the bureaucrats make that decision for us. If we’re going to spend the money anyway, Congress should include protecting the electric grid as a one-time project in the upcoming budget as part of the increased domestic spending.
Printus LeBlanc is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/going-spend-money-anyway-lets-spend-harden-electric-grid-emp/feed/0Regulation entering mentally ill receiving federal disability into FBI gun database would NOT have prevented massacre in Parkland, Fla.http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/regulation-entering-mentally-ill-receiving-federal-disability-fbi-gun-database-not-prevented-massacre-parkland-fla/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/regulation-entering-mentally-ill-receiving-federal-disability-fbi-gun-database-not-prevented-massacre-parkland-fla/#respondFri, 16 Feb 2018 20:28:28 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41338By Robert Romano 17 people are dead in Parkland, Fla. because of the heinous actions of one Nikolas Cruz, who opened fire at the high school there. This is a national tragedy, and we all share the burden together. Cruz must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He is responsible for these murders. The victims are not […]
17 people are dead in Parkland, Fla. because of the heinous actions of one Nikolas Cruz, who opened fire at the high school there.
This is a national tragedy, and we all share the burden together. Cruz must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. He is responsible for these murders.
The victims are not — repeat, not — dead because of a regulation Congress rescinded in 2017 under the Congressional Review Act, “Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007” that had to do with certain individuals’ names with mental illness being entered into the FBI database for background checks barring the purchase of firearms.
Annalisa Merelli and Heather Timmons at Quartz wrote, “By signing the law, Trump made it easier for an estimated 75,000 mentally unstable people to buy weapons.”
Inae Oh wrote, “School officials reportedly identified Cruz as a potential threat who had demonstrated a fixation on guns. Almost exactly a year ago, Trump signed a law to revoke an Obama-era gun regulation that made it more difficult for those with mental illnesses to acquire guns.”
Now, to be fair, nowhere do Merelli, Timmons and Oh actually write that the regulation would have applied to Cruz.
Still, these articles and others, which are being widelycirculated on social media such as Facebook and Twitter, have their readers convinced, wrongly, that the regulation Congress rescinded would have somehow stopped Cruz from purchasing his firearm.
There’s only one problem. It wouldn’t have. It’s a monstrous lie. Fake news.
Those making political hay out of that regulation in the wake of the Parkland massacre are in effect diverting blame from where it belongs, on Cruz.
For an individual to have qualified for being entered into the firearm database, the regulation states he or she must have “receive[d] Disability Insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act (Act) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments under title XVI of the Act and who also meet certain other criteria, including an award of benefits based on a finding that the individual’s mental impairment meets or medically equals the requirements of section 12.00 of the Listing of Impairments (Listings) and receipt of benefits through a representative payee.”
However, nobody has presented any evidence that Nikolas Cruz was either receiving Disability Insurance or Supplemental Security Income for treatment of any of those disorders, let alone that he required someone else to file for it on his behalf, which is the lynchpin for the regulation.
Again, you have to be so impaired by your disorder, that somebody had to file for your Disability or Supplemental Security Income on your behalf, and only then would you be entered into the database as a red flag against a firearms purchase.
Federal law also bars firearms purchases by anyone who has been involuntarily committed to a mental institution. Here, Cruz, did not meet that criterium either. Nor was he ever adjudicated by a court as having a mental disorder.
Neither anything in law presently nor under the rescinded regulation would have stopped Cruz’ right to go and purchase the gun he used to commit the murders. Congress repealing that regulation simply had nothing to do with the case of Cruz.
Agree or disagree with those laws, or even with the Fifth Amendment, which states no person shall be denied constitutional rights without having been convicted of a crime, the facts are the facts. You don’t get to shape them to suit a partisan political point.
Gun control regulations, such as the one that Congress rescinded via the Congressional Review Act, are not omniscient. They are not the precogs in Minority Report.
The person responsible for those murders is Cruz, and nothing in the law could have prevented his gun purchase. He should be prosecuted, and if convicted, given the harshest possible sentence. No not guilty verdict for reasons of insanity. He should be held accountable.
Maybe if we want to stop school shooters, we should shoot them first. Post armed guards at schools. Then at least people will have a fighting chance. Make it a hard target and these attacks will be deterred.
But let us not delude ourselves. No matter what the social justice warriors on Facebook will have you believe, if the regulation in question had remained in effect, Cruz still would have never been entered into the federal database for background checks barring firearms purchases. It’s simply not true.
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/regulation-entering-mentally-ill-receiving-federal-disability-fbi-gun-database-not-prevented-massacre-parkland-fla/feed/0160 million-plus Americans see more money in pay checks thanks to Trump tax cutshttp://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/160-million-plus-americans-see-money-pay-checks-thanks-trump-tax-cuts/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/160-million-plus-americans-see-money-pay-checks-thanks-trump-tax-cuts/#respondFri, 16 Feb 2018 13:12:17 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41327By Robert Romano Feb. 15 has passed and the IRS is complete with processing the new withholding tables that take into account the new tax cuts enacted by Congress and President Donald Trump. If all has gone according plan, your employer has applied the new rates — full disclosure: my employer has — and about 80 percent of you should […]
If all has gone according plan, your employer has applied the new rates — full disclosure: my employer has — and about 80 percent of you should be seeing a tax cut in your paycheck. Out of 200 million or so taxpayers, that is 160 million people or so, who are now be feeling the benefits of the Trump tax cuts.
Overall, the lower rates will account for $94 billion of additional pay for Americans in 2018 on the individual side of the ledge before deductions, or about $7.8 billion extra a month, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation. In 2019, that will jump up to more than $135 billion, or $11.3 billion a month.
That should provide nice improvement to the economy, which is more great news for the American people. Gross Domestic Product has not grown above an inflation-adjusted 4 percent since 2000 and not above 3 percent since 2005.
If anything might help increase how much we spend, it’s giving people back more of their hard-earned tax dollars. That’s a real stimulus.
The biggest boost could come on the business side of things, with the corporate rate being lowered to 21 percent below the global average. That will be worth $101 billion in 2018, and $125 billion in 2019.
Repatriation also looms large, with trillions of dollars of foreign earnings kept overseas expected to be repatriated over the coming years. Apple alone said it would repatriate $350 billion over the next five years and create 20,000 jobs here.
All of this should help increase growth, which can have an economy-wide job-creating effect. As growth has slowed, so has the rate of working age Americans entering the labor force.
It’s all prospective, but now there is real reason to be hopeful that those numbers start to move into the right column. But there are no guarantees. In the 1980s, the Reagan tax cuts became effective Aug. 1981, but you know what happened? There was a big, ol’ recession, which had already begun in July 1981 when the business cycle peaked. Unemployment spiked and growth contracted.
The headwinds at the time including sky-high interest rates as the Federal Reserve sought to slay the inflation dragon from the 1970s. Once the dust settled, however, in 1983 and beyond, the economy roared.
There are some signs that in the U.S. we have once again reached or are ready to reach the end of the business cycle. The stock market, particularly, the Dow Jones Industrial Average peaked above 26,000 and now is in a corrective mode.
On the other hand, interest rates have not yet inverted, that is, the distance between long-term and short-term interest rates. In fact, the 10-year, 2-year constant maturity has actually risen in 2018. Usually, the business cycle ends sometime after the yield curve is inverted, meaning the short-term interest rate was higher than the long-term interest rate. Right now, we’re not there yet. That might be bullish in 2018 if there’s another rally.
Either way, whether the business cycle is over or has a little more juice left, thanks to the Trump tax cuts, about 160 million Americans will have more cash to spend and invest to take advantage of hopefully the next boom, even if there is a major correction first. Hang tight.
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/160-million-plus-americans-see-money-pay-checks-thanks-trump-tax-cuts/feed/0Jeff Sessions is trying to stop the largest jailbreak in historyhttp://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/jeff-sessions-trying-stop-largest-jailbreak-history/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/jeff-sessions-trying-stop-largest-jailbreak-history/#respondFri, 16 Feb 2018 13:09:14 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41325By Natalia Castro The Senate is planning a jailbreak, again. It has been over two years since Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley introduced the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, which aimed at reducing criminal justice costs by reducing the sentences of convicted criminals. Now, Grassley is reintroducing this measure in a renewed effort for comprehensive criminal justice reform. But […]
The Senate is planning a jailbreak, again. It has been over two years since Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley introduced the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015, which aimed at reducing criminal justice costs by reducing the sentences of convicted criminals. Now, Grassley is reintroducing this measure in a renewed effort for comprehensive criminal justice reform. But just as this bill would have done years ago, this legislation will only put the American people in danger.
The Act reduces sentences for drug felonies both in the future and retroactively. It also limits the application of 10-year mandatory minimum laws by giving judges greater discretion over sentencing. As a Senator in 2015, our current Attorney General Jeff Sessions stood starkly opposed to this legislation, a call which he echoes today.
At the time, Sessions explained his fears in a press release, noting that, “Congress must examine the potential far-reaching consequences of what has occurred before going any further. It is counterintuitive to further weaken penalties for drug traffickers, especially heroin traffickers, and to enable the release of several thousand more incarcerated drug and gun felons… Professor Matt DeLisi of Iowa State University testified before the Judiciary Committee that ‘releasing 1 percent of the current [federal prison] population would result in approximately 32,850 additional murders, rapes, robberies, aggravated assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, and incidents of arson.’”
One notable difference between this year’s version of the bill and the previous one is the inclusion of a section on Fentanyl. Section 109 of the legislation reduces the mandatory minimum sentencing guidelines for possession of a “mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin also contains a detectable amount of” Fentanyl to only 5 years.
It is, therefore, no surprise that this week Attorney General Jeff Sessions reaffirmed his distaste for this legislation.
Sessions explained in a letter to Grassley this week, “We are in the midst of the largest drug crisis in our nation’s history… The murder rate skyrocketed by a combined 20 percent in 2015 and 2016… [S. 1917] weakens penalties for repeat, serious drug trafficker, including those who used a gun and those with significant criminal histories, and would reduce the sentences of and potentially allow for the early release of many dangerous felons in prison now, including heroin traffickers, firearms felons, and those who are members of violent drug cartels and gangs like MS-13.”
Sessions argued that the legislation would dramatically increase court backlogs and “collateral litigation over retroactive application of our laws could paralyze U.S. Attorney’s Offices for months if not years,” only making it more difficult to focus on criminals who are committing crimes.
The 2017 Sentencing and Corrections Act does not solve the problems of the criminal justice system; it will exacerbate them by reducing sentences and retroactively allowing violent criminals to re-enter society. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is leading the fight to restore law and order at the Department of Justice by removing illegal immigrants, prosecuting criminals, and combatting violence from drug trafficking and gangs; passing this legislation would be Congress undermining all of these goals.
Natalia Castro is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/jeff-sessions-trying-stop-largest-jailbreak-history/feed/0Wonderland: DACA judge grants amnesty to 800,000, says President enforcing the law is ‘arbitrary’http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/wonderland-daca-judge-grants-amnesty-800000-says-president-enforcing-law-arbitrary/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/wonderland-daca-judge-grants-amnesty-800000-says-president-enforcing-law-arbitrary/#respondThu, 15 Feb 2018 13:11:01 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41318By Robert Romano U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in New York has ruled against President Donald Trump’s decision to end former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) granting amnesty to 800,000 illegal immigrants, ordering that the program be allowed to continue. Why? “The question before the court is thus not whether Defendants could end the DACA program, […]
U.S. District Judge Nicholas Garaufis in New York has ruled against President Donald Trump’s decision to end former President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) granting amnesty to 800,000 illegal immigrants, ordering that the program be allowed to continue. Why?
“The question before the court is thus not whether Defendants could end the DACA program, but whether they offered legally adequate reasons for doing so,” wrote Garaufis, as if the President needs to provide a valid reason for enforcing the law.
For what it’s worth, Attorney General Jeff Sessions, in announcing the wind-down of DACA, noted that it was unconstitutional to not enforce the law on purpose. Garaufis disagreed — apparently not enforcing the law on purpose is perfectly constitutional in his rabbit hole world — and so because of the “flawed” legal rationale he held “the DACA rescission as arbitrary and capricious.”
Here, Garaufis is ruling the President enforcing the law after it was not being enforced is “arbitrary” because the President believes the Constitution commands that the law be followed. Your head spinning yet?
What about Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution, which states the president “shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed”?
What about the Supremacy Clause? Article VI states, “This constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof… shall be the supreme law of the land…”
Just to backtrack. Obama’s deferred action in 2012, even if you buy the dubious argument in favor of it, was an exercise of prosecutorial discretion. That, the Justice Department is allowed to prioritize which laws to enforce first within its limited scope of resources. That’s wrong, but let’s just play along.
But, when President Trump and Attorney General Sessions attempted to exercise that same discretion, and begin enforcing the law once again, the judge smacked it down calling it “arbitrary,” because, Trump and Sessions cited a constitutional requirement that the law be enforced.
Apparently, under Judge Garaufis’ ruling, entire sections of the criminal code could be “repealed” by a president simply by issuing a declaration of non-enforcement, or deferring action, and then no future president would be allowed to enforce those laws, especially if he cites a constitutional requirement for enforcing the law as the reason for restoring the rule of law.
This is not only asinine, it is a recipe for anarchy.
The Trump administration for its part is already appealing to the Supreme Court on this issue, as it should, from a similar prior ruling by another nutty judge.
The real goal of these court cases is to undermine the President’s current push to use DACA as legislative leverage to get his priorities on immigration enacted into law: ending chain migration, eliminating the visa lottery and building the southern border wall.
If DACA must be implemented — that is, not enforcing the law is now mandatory — as a matter of law, then Trump has no leverage. Democrats need only doing nothing and they’ll get much of what they want.
It is hard to overstate how sick and twisted this really is.
And it underscores why Congress should take up legislation by U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) post-haste, that would clarify DACA and achieve the President’s priorities on immigration. These courts need to be stopped in their tracks. Congress can bring much-needed clarity to the chaos that was caused by Obama.
With DACA, Obama opened a Pandora’s Box to potentially unlimited illegal immigration. If Judge Garaufis’ ruling stands, all that will be needed for a complete amnesty for all illegal immigrants, which can never be rescinded as a constitutional matter, is the next Democrat president simply declaring it to be so. After that, courts might then rule that it would be arbitrary to begin enforcing the law after it wasn’t.
That is, not without “legally adequate reasons.” So much for the Constitution.
This is cementing a dictatorship. One where enforcing the rule of law is arbitrary and abandoning it is the paragon of civic virtue.
Welcome to Wonderland, where up is down, down is up — and nothing will ever be the same. If this stands, the U.S. will no longer be a nation of laws, but a nation of whims, where the rule of law is a faint memory.
Robert Romano is the Vice President of Public Policy at Americans for Limited Government.
]]>http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/wonderland-daca-judge-grants-amnesty-800000-says-president-enforcing-law-arbitrary/feed/0Permitting reform is key for economic growth, infrastructure planning, and national securityhttp://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/permitting-reform-key-economic-growth-infrastructure-planning-national-security/
http://netrightdaily.com/2018/02/permitting-reform-key-economic-growth-infrastructure-planning-national-security/#respondThu, 15 Feb 2018 13:08:18 +0000http://netrightdaily.com/?p=41315By Printus LeBlanc You may not know it, but a hearing on Capitol Hill today, in the House Natural Resources Committee, will have an impact on every American. The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is holding a hearing on legislation introduced by Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-Nev.), H.R. 520, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act. The U.S. […]
You may not know it, but a hearing on Capitol Hill today, in the House Natural Resources Committee, will have an impact on every American. The Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources is holding a hearing on legislation introduced by Rep. Mark E. Amodei (R-Nev.), H.R. 520, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act. The U.S. has become increasingly dependent on imports of these minerals despite having an abundance of many of them. Congress and the Trump administration are looking to change the permitting process for not just these mines, but for all projects.
The world as we know it cannot exist without these critical minerals. Cobalt is one of the most essential minerals on the list. Just about every battery on the planet has cobalt in it, including cell phones and electric vehicles. The military and civilian aviation use cobalt in jet engines. Life would be very different from what we know without this mineral.
A group of elements known as rare earth elements is probably the most important. The group represents 15 elements between atomic numbers 57 and 71. The elements have unusual physical and chemical properties that give them multiple applications.
The most common use for rare earth elements is in magnets. Two magnets used extensively in military technologies are samarium cobalt (SmCo), and neodymium iron boron (NdFeB). These are powerful magnets. The NdFeB magnet is considered the world’s strongest permanent magnet. This allows a small magnet to be used instead of a larger device and aides in the miniaturization of technology. SmCo magnets are used for high-temperature applications where stability over a wide range of temperatures is essential.
satellite communications, radar, and sonar on submarines and surface ships; and
optical equipment and speakers.
It’s pretty clear we do not have a worthy Defense Department without these critical minerals. Unfortunately, the U.S. is 100 percent dependent on foreign mines to supply U.S. needs, and China supplies 97 percent of the world’s supply. Yes, that is right. The U.S. military is dependent on an adversary nation for its weapons systems.
The bill has passed the House in previous Congresses but continuously dies in the Senate. That could change with President Trump’s proposed infrastructure plan, the key of which calls for a reduction in regulations for projects. Currently, the permitting process for projects takes years and crosses multiple agencies. According to the Department of Transportation, the median length of time to complete an environmental impact study is 3.5 years, and that is just some asphalt for a road.
The process gets much more cumbersome when discussing the mining industry. The average time for final permitting approval in the U.S. is 7-10 years, while Canada and Australia average just two years. Mining consulting giant, Behre Dolbear, listed “permitting delays” as the most significant risk to mining projects. Who is willing to invest hundreds of millions in a project before even a shovel of dirt can be dug up? This is not the way to stir economic growth.
President Trump and Congress must pass permitting reform before the infrastructure bill is passed. It does no good to pass an infrastructure bill without permitting reform. If that were to happen, the money would disappear into the federal bureaucracy instead of going to the needed projects. H.R. 520 must be included in the permitting reform. In fact, the upcoming budget is the perfect place to put the legislation with the rest of the permitting reform. President Trump and the Republicans should use their leverage to press permitting reform. By putting it in the budget, it is one less thing that can be bargained away in the infrastructure negotiating process.
Printus LeBlanc is a contributing editor at Americans for Limited Government. | {
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We have researched and selected some very popular traditional Christmas carols to remind and refresh your memory of this wonderful and special time of year! Enjoy them for yourself or play them for your family and friends. Perhaps on low volume in the workplace to inspire the joyous season of Christmas. You can even select your favorites and play them over your favorite iPhone docking station or AirPlay to set the Christmas mood during your... | {
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We have received an unconfirmed report that the identity of the man allegedly shot by a Clark County Sheriff's Deputy early Sunday morning, June 22, 2014, is Glenn House, Jr., 27, of 422 N. Walnut Street in Kahoka.
According to a representative of Blessing Hospital in Quincy, IL, Mr. House is in "stable condition" at Blessing Hospital.
According to a statement released by Clark County Sheriff Paul Gaudette, the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Division of Drug and Crime Control has been asked to investigate the incident. The name of the deputy who allegedly shot Mr. House has not been released to the public at this time, nor has the location of the incident.
According to Sheriff Gaudette's statement, members of the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Kahoka Police Department, and Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a call of a male subject threatening to take his own life with a gun 22 minutes before the officer involved shooting occurred. | {
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Re: advice on talktalk router please
The TalkTalk LLU kit may be tweaked so that it works better with their own hardware.
For ADSL2 that looks OK. If at 26dB attenuation is performing badly the inference is that you have bad noise in the 1.1MHz to 2.2MHz range. One option is to request a 9dB target margin from TalkTalk, though this might end up being no faster than the ADSL2 mode anyway.
Re: advice on talktalk router please
If you tweet us @TalkTalkCare or join the TalkTalk Members Forum we can investigate into this for you.
Regards
Mark
TalkTalk Online Community Department.
TalkTalk, Online Communitywww.talktalkmembers.co.uk/forums"The information contained within these posts is provided by TalkTalk
to assist in the resolution of any queries our customers may have. Should you
have a specific request for information please do not hesitate to contact me."
The above post has been made by an ISP REPRESENTATIVE (although not necessarily the ISP being discussed in the post).
Re: advice on talktalk router please
No problem this will be picked up by an Online Community Exec on the forum in due course.
Regards
Mark
TalkTalk Online Community Department
TalkTalk, Online Communitywww.talktalkmembers.co.uk/forums"The information contained within these posts is provided by TalkTalk
to assist in the resolution of any queries our customers may have. Should you
have a specific request for information please do not hesitate to contact me."
The above post has been made by an ISP REPRESENTATIVE (although not necessarily the ISP being discussed in the post). | {
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This is good, but I have a readability request, more paragraph breaks.
>That's an interesting assertion. I think it quite likely to be correct, but
>I'm far from certain that it is in all scenarios. I would be quite surprised
>if you could, in fact, prove that it is impossible, as it could be argued
>that humanity was a hard take-off, at least as far as, e.g., mammoths were
>concerned.
>You could argue that "But mammoths weren't involved in the
>development of people", however there are many extant systems that no human
>understands (groups of people may understand them, but no single person
>does).
>Any AI designed to manage such a system will, necessarily, evolve a
>"mind" that is, in at least some respects, superior that that of the people
>who operate it. At this point it is still a special purpose AI (probably
>with lots of modules utilizing genetic algorithms, to allow it to adapt as
>the system that it's managing changes).
>Then someone decides to add an
>additional capacity to the existing program. This takes a few rounds of
>debugging with, of course, the system itself, monitoring the programs to
>ensure that they won't cause it to fail, and assisting in the design...which
>WILL be outside of the understanding of any one person. (Note I don't say
>beyond...but the people who might understand it aren't the ones doing the
>development. Think Microsoft Studio templates for a rough example.)
>At this
>point the AI adds a few changes to increase it's capabilities. This scenario
>happens repeatedly, with the AI getting stronger every time. At some point
>it "wakes up", but when it wakes up it not only already has a mind
>considerably stronger than that of any individual person, it also has a
>leverage: Even if people realize that something has gone wrong, the cost of
>taking it down is comparable to, say, the cost of dismantling the traffic
>controllers at all the airports. Or possibly more like destroying the
>control system at a nuclear plant.
>It takes a lot of careful thought and
>planning to even decide that this is the correct option...and while you're
>doing this, the AI isn't sitting still. At this point the only interesting
>question is "What are the goals and motives of the AI?"
>Most likely what it
>really wants to do is the things that it was designed to do, so if you're at
>all lucky you get a hard takeoff that isn't terribly damaging. (I.e., you
>end up with a super-intelligent AI, all right, but it has goals that don't
>conflict with most human goals.
>It might even be willing to help you design
>a way to control it. [E.g., in one scenario the AI is an automated
>librarian, that has been extended to find any relevant literary reference,
>computer code, media transmission, etc. from a search of all stored knowledge
>and with even very poorly formulated initial statements of the question.
>This would eventually imply that it had to "understand" everything that
>anyone had ever created. But it wouldn't be particularly aggressive, or even
>more than mildly self-protective.]
>In this case you get a "hard takeoff",
>because you go from non-aware AIs to a superhuman, fully informed, AI with
>one program change. The *rate* of transition is ... well, it's
>discontinuous. But the goals of the AI that results are what's crucial.)
>
>I notice that you consistently say AGI, and that I say AI. Perhaps this is
>the crucial difference in our viewpoints. I don't think that any such thing
>as "general intelligence" exists. I assert that rather than a general
>intelligence there are many specialized intelligence modalities that tend to
>share features.
While I see your point, and there is no doubt humans have *many*
specialized brain modules, I think there is such a thing as "general
intelligence." It is what we use when we don't have a specialized module
to deal with some problem.
It also isn't very good compared to the specialized modules.
We can see this in autistic people--some of whom have high general
intelligence and seem to be lacking some of the modules we use for social
interactions. Using GI in place of specialized modules is really
clunky. But if GI is being used to solve a problem never faced before , it
is better than having noting at all.
>The addition of a new modality to an existing AI can, I
>feel, yield a discontinuity in the capabilities of that AI, but one never
>reaches the point of a truly general intelligence. (I suspect that this
>might even be proveable via some variation of Goedel's proof that a set of
>axioms beyond a certain power could not be both complete and consistent. I
>don't think that *I* could prove it, but I do suspect that it's susceptible
>of proof.) | {
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I am at a loss, I have a very important thing to do midday tomorrow and if I sleep at all I will likely be not anywhere nearly as clear in the head (brain fog) as if I stay awake and just not sleep at all. This is not going to be good for the rest of me though, tired muscles etc. Does this happen to anybody else? If they sleep even 3-4 hrs later, be having difficulty but later in the day--early evening, they finally start to wake up and get more energy? | {
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Ending the jewish monopoly on history
JEWS have WARPED, PERVERTED, and DESTROYED ALL history in their wake, to replace it with only their own version of things. This must stop. ONLY GOD can fully “roll it back” to Jews’ manifold perversions becoming totally UNDONE though. | {
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The Importance of Fine Arts in the Classroom
Fine Arts is defined in the Encarta Dictionary as being, “any art form, for example, painting, sculpture, architecture, drawing, or engraving, that is considered to have purely aesthetic value” (Encarta, 2004). Though this definition is used in relationship with the arts in the regular world, in regards to teaching, fine arts is defined as a subject beneficial, not essential, to the learning process and is often phased out because of lack of time, little learning potential, and no money. Fine arts is simply seen as painting and drawing, not a subject studied by an academic scholar. Writer Victoria Jacobs explains, “Arts in elementary schools have often been separated from the core curriculum and instead, offered as enrichment activities that are considered beneficial but not essential” (Jacobs, 1999, p. 2).
What is missing in classrooms is the lack of teacher knowledge of the benefits of maintaining an art- based curriculum. Teachers “have very little understanding of the arts as disciplines of study. They think of the arts instruction as teacher-oriented projects used to entertain or teach other disciplines” (Berghoff, 2003, p. 12). Fine arts expand the boundaries of learning for the students and encourage creative thinking and a deeper understanding of the core subjects, which are language arts, math, science, and social studies. Teachers need to incorporate all genres of fine arts, which include, theater, visual art, dance, and music, into their lesson plans because the arts gives the students motivational tools to unlock a deeper understanding of their education. Teaching the arts is the most powerful tool that teachers can present in their classrooms because this enables the students to achieve their highest level of learning.
From 1977 to 1988 there were only three notable reports demonstrating the benefits of art education. These three reports are Coming to Our Senses, by the Arts, Education and Americans Panal (1977), Can we Rescue the Arts for American Children, sponsored by the American Council for the Arts (1988), and the most respected study, Toward Civilization, by the National Endowment for the Arts (1988). These three studies conjured that art education was very important in achieving a higher education for our students. While these studies proved the arts to be beneficial to the learning process, it was not until 2002 when the research analysis of Critical Links: Learning in the Arts and Student Academic and Social Development “provided evidence for enhancing learning and achievement as well as positive social outcomes when the arts were integral to students’ learning experiences” was taken seriously by lawmakers (Burns, 2003, p. 5). One study, in this analysis, was focused on the teaching of keyboard training to a classroom in order to see if student’s scores on spatial reasoning could be improved. It was then compared to those students who received computer training which involved no fine art components. This concluded that learning through the arts did improve the scores on other core curriculum subjects such as math and science where spatial reasoning is most used (Swan-Hudkins, 2003).
This study shows how one little change in the way students are taught through the arts can have a powerful impact on their learning achievements and understandings. Another study showed at-risk students who, for one year, participated in an art- based curriculum raised their standardized language arts test by an average of eight percentile points, 16 percentile points if enrolled for two years. Students not engaging in this form of activity did not show a change of percentile (Swan-Hudkins, 2003). Though this may not seem like a big increase, at- risk students were able to use this style of learning to better understand their learning style thus bettering their learning patterns. The most interesting case study in this analysis involved the schools of Sampson, North Carolina, where for two years in a row their standardized test scores rose only in the schools that implemented the arts education in their school district (Swan-Hudkins, 2003). Teaching the arts needs to be incorporated in every teachers daily lesson plans because, based on these studies, students who are taught through the arts raise their test and learning levels.
Due to the high volume of attention President Bush’s, No Child Left Behind Act, has required in schools, teaching the arts is left behind. Another reason for the lack of arts in the classroom author Victoria Jacobs explains, “Given the shrinking budgets of school districts around the country, art specialists and art programs have disappeared from many elementary schools” (Jacobs, 1999, p. 4). Fine arts are being seen as non-educational or an extra-curricular activity. Therefore, when there is a lack of money in school districts, this subject is easily being cut. Teachers need to find a way to incorporate the arts into the classroom rather than rely on outside activities and Jacobs suggests teaching “through the arts… with a means of using the arts successfully and in a way that it is not just “one more thing” they must include in the curriculum” (Jacobs, 1999, p. 4).
The arts can open the minds of students in ways mere reading and writing will never be able to accomplish. Yet, the point of teaching this subject is not to teach about the arts, but to teach through the arts. Jacobs explains,
Teaching though the arts requires students to engage in the act of creative art. For example they might draw a picture, write a poem, act in a drama, or compose music to further their understanding of concepts in content areas other than the arts. Teaching through the arts helps students experience concepts rather than simply discussing or reading them. This approach is consistent with educational theories that highlight the importance of reaching multiple learning styles or intelligences. (Jacobs, 1999, p. 2)
Teaching through the arts can be done in many different ways depending on the teacher’s interests, but truly is the only way to reinforce the students learning experience. In a time where budget cuts and new learning laws are being established, teachers need to be more informed and educated on the negative impacts of the loss of the fine arts programs.
Three, veteran teachers at a public elementary school did a case study which involved teaching through the arts. They believed “our students had to experience cycles of inquiry wherein they learned about the arts and through the arts, and that they needed to see teachers of different disciplines collaborate” (Berghoff, 2003, p. 2).
The study was based on teaching a history lesson unit on Freedom and Slavery through the arts. Ms. Bixler-Borgmann had her students listen to the song “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” in many different styles of music, such as an African-American Quartet, Reggae, and Show Tunes. She then incorporated this lesson into the importance singing played to the slaves at that time. Ms. Berghoff had her students read samples of African-American folk literature and write down sentences that made an impact on them while they were reading. She then incorporated those sentences into group poems. Ms. Parr explored two art pieces entitled, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot” and had the students talk about artwork by asking three questions: “What is going on in this picture? What do you see that makes you say that? What else can you find?” (Berghoff, 2003). She also had the students focus on the images, concepts, and meanings which the artists wanted to depict. Ms. Parr felt this would teach the students how to uncover the hidden meanings in other core curriculum subjects (Berghoff, 2003). After the study, the students were asked what and how they had learned from this style of teaching.
Many students wrote in their journals that working in multiple sign systems in parallel ways heightened their emotional involvement. They found themselves thinking about what they were learning in class when they were at home or at work. They noted that even though they had studied slavery at other times, they had never really imagined how it felt to be a slave or thought about the slaves’ perspectives and struggles. (Berghoff, 2003)
The students had learned more from this lesson because they were able to use all styles of learning and were taught from an angle which is rarely used, through the arts. “Studies indicate that a successful arts integrated program will use these components to guide student learning and assess growth and development (Swan-Hudkins, 2003). The students were able to learn based on abstract thinking and find the deeper meaning of the lessons prepared by the teachers.
“The study of the arts has the potential for providing other benefits traditionally associated with arts….arts has been linked to students’ increased critical and creative thinking skills, self-esteem, willingness to take risks, and ability to work with others” (Jacobs, 1999, p. 4). With these benefits, teachers can not afford to limit their teaching of the arts in the classroom. Teaching through the arts are the key elements of learning and the traits teachers strive to establish and reinforce in their students. By working through the arts, instead of about the arts, the students’ educational experience will be achieved in a different way than just teaching the standard style of learning. Former Governor of California, Gray Davis, noted, “Art education helps students develop creativity, self-expression, analytical skills, discipline, cross-cultural understandings, and a heightened appreciation for the arts” and that “students who develop artistic expression and creative problem solving skills are more like to succeed in school and will be better prepared for the jobs and careers of the future” (California Art Study, 2003, p. 1).
Exposing students to abstract learning will teach the students about logic and reasoning and help them grasp what might not be represented on the surface. Recent Reports from the National Art Education Association (NAEA) confirmed with Governor Davis when they reported “Students in art study score higher on both their Verbal and Math SAT tests than those who are not enrolled in arts courses (California Art Study, 2003, p. 5). Attached is a copy of the test scores of students in the arts and students with no arts coursework.
What is a better way to enhance a lesson plan than to add another dimension of learning than by incorporating different levels of teaching? A company that has the basis of focusing on different learning styles is Links for Learning, [http://www.links-for-learning.com]. This company understands the importance of incorporating arts into the classroom. Former Secretary of Education, William Bennet wrote, “The arts are essential elements of education just like reading, writing, and arithmetic…Music, dance, painting, and theater are keys to unlock profound human understanding and accomplishment” (Swann-Hudkins, 2002).
An example of the benefits of teaching the arts would be the study of a teacher who taught the water cycle lesson through movement and music. The students were introduced to the water cycle in the traditional style of teaching, reading and lecturing. Yet, in order for the students to fully understand the “experience” of being a snowflake, the students listened to Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker Suite (The Waltz of the Snowflakes) and closed their eyes visualizing the adventure snowflakes encounter on there way to the ground. A great side effect of dance is that “exposure to dances foreign to them (the students) helps them to understand and appreciate differences in societies. Their minds become open to new ideas and a different perspective. This understanding helps to eliminate possible prejudice, enriching the student and our society” (Swan-Hudkins, 2003, p.17). While the music was playing the teacher asked them questions, such as, “How are they going to land” and “What do you see as you are falling”. The second time listening to the music the students were asked to act out the water cycle through movement and dance. Teachers should know “a class that includes dance can make students feel empowered and actively involved in their education. In creating their own dance, students develop conceptional thinking, which is not always expressed verbally” (Swan-Hudkins, 2003, p. 17).
With these activities, the students were able to become part of the water cycle instead of just using their listening skills and trying to mentally figure out this lesson. The teacher also had the students write a poem using words they felt while they, the snowflakes, were falling to the ground (Jacobs, 1999, p.2). “The motivational powers of the arts are significant as this teacher explained, “Hooking a kid is half, if not more than half, the battle of learning. If you can hook them, then you can get them to learn” (Jacobs, 1999, p. 6). Teachers need to gain access to all styles of learning which can only spark their motivational powers.
Harvard Project Researchers Winner and Hetland remarks, “The best hope for the arts in our school is to justify them by what they can do that other subjects can’t do as well” (Swan-Hudkins, 2003, p. 18). Teachers need to gain a better education of teaching their students through the arts. Without the arts, teachers are limiting their students’ ability to use their entire thinking process, providing less opportunity for complete comprehension. Teaching through the arts is the most powerful tool that teachers can give in their classrooms because it enables the students to achieve their highest level of learning.
With the lack of attention art is getting outside of the classroom, teachers cannot afford not to incorporate dance, theater, visual arts, or music in their lesson plans. Fine arts is the core curriculums constant and most important companion. No child should be left behind, and teaching through the arts will reinforce this idea. | {
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Global Savings Group acquires French cashback company iGraal for €123.5M
Germany’s Global Savings Group (GSG), the e-commerce content company, has acquired French cashback company iGraal for €123.5 million in a mixture of cash and stock.
Specifically, the deal was reached with iGraal’s majority owner M6 Group, and consists of €35 million in cash and the remaining made up of an exchange of shares. The acquisition is said to be one of the largest in the cashback and loyalty space in recent years, with iGraal considered the leading digital cashback player in France.
“In 2019, GSG and iGraal jointly saw more than six million members using its loyalty tools and connected advertisers to around 400 million consumers,” says GSG. “The deal makes GSG the largest rewards, savings and shopping content platform in Europe”.
As a result of the acquisition, Munich-based GSG says it expects to have more than half a billion shopping-related touchpoints and to facilitate over 40 million transactions to its merchant partners in 2020. (Coronavirus world recession permitting.)
It is also talking up the data is has access too, saying that the additional user interactions provide GSG with valuable new insights into the shopping behaviour of millions of consumers worldwide and will enable it to build an “even smarter” advertising platform for its partners.
In combination, iGraal and GSG say the two companies intend to expand their cashback and loyalty solutions into new European markets and significantly increase its member base and reach. Despite strong investments and market expansion, GSG expects to stay profitable also in 2020,” adds the company.
Launched publicly in September 2016, Pouch is best known for its shopping tool that automatically alerts buyers to working voucher codes as they visit over 3,000 U.K. e-commerce sites. The Pouch browser extension is available for Google Chrome, Safari and Firefox. | {
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* <sleep name="Nassau Inn" alt="" address="10 Palmer Square" directions="Palmer’s Square" phone="+1-609-921-7500" email="" fax="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="">A full service hotel featuring 203 elegant guestrooms, 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space and the historic Yankee Doodle Tap Room- where Einstein himself sipped on a brew and then carved his name into one of the booths.</sleep>
* <sleep name="Nassau Inn" alt="" address="10 Palmer Square" directions="Palmer’s Square" phone="+1-609-921-7500" email="" fax="" url="" checkin="" checkout="" price="">A full service hotel featuring 203 elegant guestrooms, 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space and the historic Yankee Doodle Tap Room- where Einstein himself sipped on a brew and then carved his name into one of the booths.</sleep>
Revision as of 23:26, 12 June 2012
Princeton is home to the prestigious Princeton University. Princeton is a Borough, surrounded by Princeton Township in Mercer County, central New Jersey. In 2013, the Borough and Township will merge into a single municipality named Princeton, with population approximately 30,000.
Contents
Understand
History of the Princeton area began in the late 17th century when Washington and his troops marched through several portions of Princeton and encountered the revolutionary Battle of Princeton in its territory. Princeton—currently a community of 14,239 residents—is located in Mercer County, New Jersey. Home to one of the top three University’s in the nation, Princeton is a town filled with college students, beautiful scenery, and historical features.
The University's Nassau Hall served as the Capitol of the United States for a single summer in the late eighteenth century. Princeton counts among its former residents Albert Einstein and Thomas Mann.
Visitors should note that the prestigious Princeton mailing address extends far beyond the Borough and Township limits. For example, Princeton never actually touches US Route 1, however, many businesses along Route 1 sport a Princeton mailing address.
Get in
By Air
Princeton has an eponymous airport located in Montgomery, less than 2 miles from Nassau Street and Princeton University. Princeton Airport serves mostly general aviation (i.e. hobby) flying, but it also sees its fair share of business charter flights. It has one runway, fuel stations, lots of aircraft tie-down space, and hangars. This makes the airport a very cost-effective solution for travelers who pilot their own airplanes. Car-rental service is located on-site.
Other nearby airports include the Somerset Airport, Central Jersey Regional Airport, and Teterboro airport. These airports, like Princeton, do not operate commercial flights, but anyone with his/her own airplane can fly in.
The larger Trenton Mercer aiport offers some air-taxi options.
Newark Liberty International Airport (IATA: EWR, ICAO: KEWR, FAA LID:EWR) is in Newark in New Jersey and is about 1 hour away by car. New Jersey Transit trains stop at EWR, so it's possible to reach Princeton from EWR without a car or taxi.
By Train
A small rail station in close proximity to both the University campus and the downtown district provides a shuttle service, known locally as "the Dinky," to the nearby Princeton Junction train station. At Princeton Junction, you can transfer to either Amtrak or New Jersey Transit trains.
Princeton Junction station is about 4 miles southwest of the main university campus. It is served by the Northeast Corridor Line, the main commuter rail line running from Washington DC to Boston. This line is often full during the morning and evening rush hours with commuters traveling to New York or Philadelphia.
From NY
From New York, be sure to purchase a NJ Transit Northeast Corridor line train ticket from Penn Station to Princeton (not Princeton Junction). As of 2012, it costs $16.50. The southbound train from Penn Station will stop at Princeton Junction; disembark there and hold on to your ticket, as you'll need it to take the shuttle train ("dinky") from Princeton Junction to Princeton. The shuttle's Princeton terminus is at the south edge of campus
Walking from Dinky
Reaching the center of campus from the Dinky is a bit tricky. To reach the center of campus (containing the Admissions Office, Nassau Hall, the University's oldest building, etc.), walk north from the station through a group of triangle-shaped buildings (I.M. Pei designed Spelman College), continue north on a road past a gymnasium (on your right) and a dormitory (on your left). This road dead-ends in a loop behind another dormitory, continue walking north until you reach an immense staircase terminating at an archway; this is the Blair Arch. Walk up the stairs and continue eastward along the path. When you reach a white marble building (Clio Hall), the admissions office (West College) will be just to the north, on your left, and Nassau Hall will be further north. A stair-free, less confusing path, is to take the same path through Spelman, but walk behind the gym to a road through the center of campus (Elm Drive), which leads north to West College and Nassau Hall. Visitors may wish to visit the Frist Campus Center for a campus tour. Tours depart from the Welcome Desk on the main floor of the Campus Center (take the stairs down, not up, at the front of the building). To get to Frist from the Dinky Station, the least confusing (albeit far from the shortest) path is to take Elm Drive until one reaches an east-west path running behind a white marble building. Make a right (east) on this path, and walk until you reach a major street (Washington Road). Don't cross Washington; just turn right (south), and continue until you reach the Campus Center, which is easily recognizable by "Fristhenge", a thin brickcourse supported by pillars in front of the building. (Preferably, one would continue north on Elm Drive and ask for a map at West College.)
By Bus
COACH USA (under the name Suburban) offers bus service from New York and New Brunswick to Princeton.
New Jersey Transit operates several commuter bus lines connecting Princeton with other areas. Several bus stops are located throughout Princeton Borough and Township. Buses generally leave on every half-hour between 8.30 am and 9 pm weekdays, and irregularly before and after those hours. The Saturday schedule is similar, and the Sunday schedule is hourly.
By Car
Two major highways- Route 206 and Route 27, pass through Princeton. U.S. Route 1, runs just east of the town while Interstate 95 and the New Jersey Turnpike are two alternative routes to get into the area.
The town's main street is Nassau Street, on which the majority of shops and eateries can be found. Although Princeton has parallel parking spaces along the main roads, most are metered and all are checked frequently by the infamously vigilant local parking patrol. The Princeton Parking Cash Card, available from machines in Spring Street Garage, conveniently pays for parking at all meters and allows for the reclamation of unused "time" upon return to the meter; "max out" the meter then take back unused credit upon return to forfend the award of parking tickets in the forty dollar range. There are multiple parking garages; the municipal garage on Spring Street, a few dozen feet from the Princeton Record Exchange, is the most affordable, but the pricier garages in Palmer Square and on Chambers Street are convenient to many locations as well. Infrequent visitors must note with dismay that Sunday parking on the street is no longer free.
Get around
Everything in the downtown area is easily accessible on foot from the main parts of the campus or the two hotels in town. A physically fit visitor can reach any part of town with a bicycle. The only public transit is a single bus line that makes a leisurely loop around the outer parts of the town. Taxis are easily available by cell phone, or at the taxi stand on Nassau St and Witherspoon.
The university operates several buses between campus, university housing, and several campus parking lots. These buses are for faculty, staff, students, and campus visitors, but no checking is done. See also the real-time bus map.
See
The University Campus, with many attractive buildings in "Collegiate Gothic" style as well as colonial-era Nassau Hall (the temporary capitol of the United States for a summer) and the strikingly modern Woodrow Wilson School building. Don't miss the the stately University Chapel with it stained glass and stone arches. The Princeton library has spectacular exhibits and standing collections you can get up close and personal. The Princeton University Art Museum also features an impressive collection of works by an array of well known and highly touted artists from throughout history. College tours start at the Frist College Center building; check website for times.
The Fountain of Freedom, outside the white marble-columned Woodrow Wilson School building. The fountain is surrounded by a large pool. The pool is less than 2 feet deep, and there will often be children playing in the fountain. It is also a tradition for the University's marching band to play while standing in the fountain after Princeton football victories.
The Princeton Public Library, corner of Wiggins and Witherspoon. The library has been at this location since the 1970s, but recently rebuilt a state-of-the-art facility. They offer free Internet access to all if you need to check email or print a ticket. Their wireless network reaches out to the plaza for 24/7 access. Near many cafes and less than a quarter mile from Palmer Square.
19th century mansions on Library Place, Elm Street, and nearby.
Small historical house museum at Bambridge House on Nassau Street.
Albert Einstein's house, 112 Mercer Road. At his request there is no marker but it is the small, white, ordinary home located across Mercer Road from a small park. You can see it best on foot as Mercer is busy and there is nowhere to pull over. From Nassau Street, bear left onto Mercer. Walk past elegant row houses and a large church and continue past the campus of the Princeton Theological Seminary. At the bottom of the hill on the left side of the road, small homes front onto the road directly above the sidewalk. The second one you encounter was Einstein's.
The picturesque, 18th century Nassau Inn in Palmer Square is worth visiting even for those not wealthy enough to book a room there.
Princeton Cemetery, in the geographic center of town, half a mile north of Nassau street. Contains many graves dating back to the early 19th century. Look for the resting places of Kurt Godel, Aaron Burr and Grover Cleveland.
Carnegie Lake, a manmade lake financed by 19th century steel magnate Andrew Carnegie. It is located just south of the main university campus and roughly 1 mile from Palmer Square. It is extraordinarily picturesque. The University's nationally-ranked crew team practices here, and it offers boating (no gas motors), canoeing, fishing, and, in the winter, ice skating.
Princeton Battlefield, 500 Mercer Road (5 miles outside of Palmer Square), ☎+1-609-921-0074. A healthy walk from the center of town along Mercer Road through a prosperous residential neighborhood. Site of an engagement in the Revoutionary War as Continental troops followed up their victory at Trenton by pursuing the retreating enemy. A memorial on the field incorporates imposing columns from the mansion of Richard Stockton, an area resident who signed the Declaration of Independence before renouncing the Revolutionary cause. Every other year the Battle of Princeton, the second George Washington ever won, is re-created at the site complete with firing cannons, men on horseback and charging troops. Dress warmly.
Continue away from town on Mercer Street to see the striking 18th century Quaker Meeting House (ironically adjoining the battlefield), with its simple cemetery, and the 200-year old stone bridge, still in use, across peaceful Stony Brook.
The towpath along manmade Carnegie Lake and the early-19th C Delaware and Raritan Canal (D&R) passing numerous original canal locks and other historic structures. The towpath runs for many miles between the Raritan River in New Brunswick to the Delaware River at Trenton. Look for canoe and kayak rentals at Princeton, Griggstown and other locations. If you picnic, watch for poison ivy which abounds along the banks of the canal but also be on the lookout for Great Blue Heron, turtles and deer.
Campus of nearby The Lawrenceville School, one of the oldest and most respected prep schools in the country. Also located near Princeton are the Princeton Day School, Hun School, Peddie School, and Sacred Heart Academy.
Drumthwacket - The Governor's official residence - access is restricted, but tours of the historic mansion in Princeton are available for limited hours.
Do
Whether with family or by yourself, there is a variety of things to do throughout the duration of your stay in Princeton. From walking Princeton University campus grounds, to visiting the Princeton art museum there are many cultural activities to take part in.
McCarter Theater 91 University Place, 609-258-ARTS, [2] Located on the campus of Princeton University, this Tony-award winning theater showcases several productions before they arrive on Broadway. Additionally, many famous musical and dance troupes perform at McCarter each year.
Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, a university affiliated national research laboratory. The world leader in plasma physics and nuclear fusion experiments. Offers tours on certain dates; please check with the website for more information
Princeton Garden Theater, 160 Nassau Street, ☎(609) 683-7595. Movie theater on Nassau Street that shows a great interest in independent movies as well as popular flicks. Showing only two movies at a time, this theater provides a quaint, relaxing atmosphere.
Buy
Downtown Princeton is full of shops. Many are high-priced boutiques catering to the town's non-student residents, although some are worth mentioning. Almost all are located on Nassau Street, the heart of Princeton.
Princeton Record Exchange, 20 S Tulane St, ☎+1 609 921-0881, [3]. M-Sa 10AM-9PM, Su 11AM-6PM. One of the best record stores in the country, featuring a large selection of CDs and DVD's $4.99 and under.
Zoe, 11 Hulfish Street, ☎+1-609-497-0704. One of the most well known shops especially for its upscale clothing. Although a bit on the pricey side, you will without a doubt find everything, and more than what you’re looking for. Zoe carries anything from designer men’s and women’s clothing as well as accessories, shoes, bags, and jewelry. The store also hosts many events during the summer months, that draw’s in thousands of locals from all over New Jersey.
Princeton Running Company, a local athletic store, offering a wide range of items and helpful advice.
Morning Glory, located on Nassau Street. Sells unique small trinkets and gift items.
Labyrinth Books, 122 Nassau Street, ☎(609) 497-1600. Open only a few years, this book store has become rapidy popular, selling new, used and academic books. Great prices and even better selections.
Eat
Blue Point Grill, excellent seafood (arguably the best in Princeton), but served with a meager selection of side dishes. On Nassau Street between Hoagie Haven and Tiger Noodles. Very popular in the evenings. Offers outside dining experience.
Conte's Pizza, 339 Witherspoon Street, 609-921-8041. Often said to be Princeton's finest pizzeria. Others find the pizza to be dry and dull, but if you're looking for pizza and a beer this is the place. One of the few with a liquor license.
George's Roasters Nassau St., a deli that serves hot sandwiches. Owned by the guys who own "Hoagie Haven".
Halo Pub/Halo Fete 9 Hulfish Street, 609.921.1710, Halo Pub is an ice cream shop designed to look like an old-fashioned pub and specializing in locally made ice cream using milk from nearby Halo Farm. Soft serve is known as "draught ice cream" and hard ice cream is reffered to as "Ye Olde Hard Stuff". The hard ice cream flavors are divided into categories including: "the simple but elegant," "the liquors and liqueurs," "the heath bars," and even the "We'll never make," (Tutti Frutti and Bubble Gum). Halo Pub also has an excellent coffee selection, including the most-reasonably priced espresso drinks in town. Halo Fete, Halo Pub's next-door neighbor, serves gourmet ice cream cakes and pastries.
Hoagie Haven, Nassau St., A deli in downtown Princeton serving cheap, tasty hot and cold subs. Very economical; offers a unique taste for the same price as Subways, McDonalds, or other fast food restaurants. A Princeton staple, and well-known to nearly anyone living in the Central Jersey region.
Palace of India (formerly Kalluri Corner), 235A Nassau Street (right next to Thai Village). One of Princeton's most popular - and worst - Indian restaurants.
La Mezzaluna 25 Witherspoon Street, Italian cuisine.
Main Street Bistro and Bar Princeton Shopping Center, 301 N. Harrison St., 609-921-2779 [4] Named one of America's "Great Great Neighborhood Restaurants" by Bon Apetit magazine, this restaurant features a relaxed atmosphere. In addition to the eclectic entre selection, Main Street features desserts, beer and wine.
Masala Grille, one of Princeton's most popular Indian restaurants; good food at affordable prices. 15 Chambers Street.
Mehek, on Nassau street. Widely considered Princeton's best and most authentic Indian food. Moderately priced. Right after the Nassau Street Washington Intersect.
Mexican Village, Leigh St., A small restaurant in the poorer district of Princeton. This restaurant serves excellent Mexican cuisine at low prices. Each dinner begins with nachos and an excellent salsa, in lieu of bread.
Old World Pizza Nassau St., a brick-oven style pizzeria. located right next to Hoagie Haven. Authentic pizza experience
Panera Bread, located on Nassau St. near the main gate of the University. WiFi, outdoor tables, general Panera Bread feel.
PJ's Pancake House, 154 Nassau St., 609-924-1353, [5], Su-Th 7AM-10PM, F-Sa 7AM-midnight. Expect long lines out the door for this small restaurant if coming for a weekend brunch. Also loved by the locals for sentimental reasons, if not for the food.
Red Onion, 20 Nassau St., 609 924-6667. Fantastic sandwiches.
Small World Coffee 14 Witherspoon St., 609-924-4377 & 254 Nassau St., 609-921-8011 [6] A coffee shop that is buzzing most mornings with large crowds coming to get their caffeine fix. The Nassau Street location features slow brew by-the-cup, made to order coffe using a melitta-style cone. The Witherspoon street location has live music most Saturdays and displays work by local artists.
Taste of Mexico, located in the Princeton Shopping Center, 310 North Harrison Street, 609-252-1575. Second location on Nassau St behind naked pizza
Teresa’s Café, 23 Palmer Square East, ☎+1-609-921-1974. A simple Italian inspired atmosphere located in Princeton’s Palmer Square. All seasonal pasta dishes, sandwiches, and pizza are made with fresh local ingredients, all at a reasonable price range for both families and for that special someone.
Thai Village, the only Thai restaurant in Princeton. 235 Nassau Street (right next to Kalluri Corner).
The Bent Spoon, 35 Palmer Square West, 609-924-BENT, [7] Located next to the "lion statue". Features artisan ice-cream with a gelato-like texture and European-style hot chocolate. Ice cream and sorbet flavors range from dark chocolate habenero to olive oil or avacado. A little bit expensive though.
Thomas Sweet, 179 Nassau St., 609 683-8720, [8], Su-Th 11AM-11PM, F-Sa 11AM-midnight. Ice cream and chocolates. One of the most popular menu items is a blend-in, your choice of ice cream mixed with candies, fruit, or nuts. They also offer a number of low-fat and fat-free flavors.
Twist — Yogurt Without Limits, 84 Nassau Street (Between Witherspoon St. & Palmer Square), ☎609-454-3057, [9]. This popular self-serve frozen yogurt lounge in the heart of Princeton is a favorite of college students, locals, and visitors alike. They have a wide selection of delicious live & active culture frozen yogurt with an incredible array of fresh toppings (some healthy, some just fun) in a homey, comfortable atmosphere. Create your own snack or dessert, then kick back and relax for a while... they have games, books, TV, free wi-fi and super comfy seating areas.
Witherspoon Grill, on Witherspooon Street, next to the Public Library. A popular restaurant, serves great steaks. Dine outside experience. Very expensive.
Fruity Yogurt, 166 Nassau Street, ☎(609) 921-8787. This brand new, adorable yogurt shop is located right in the heart of downtown Princeton. Fruity Yogurt has a variety of different flavors of yogurt which you prepare for yourself and even add on your own toppings! They also sell Bubble Tea.
Drink
Triumph Brewing Company, 138 Nassau St, ☎+1-609-924-7855. This is the only spot in town that brews there own beer as they have a large unique selection of beers to choose from. Not to mention they have a great, hip, atmosphere that offers live bands every weekend.
Nassau Inn, 10 Palmer Square (Palmer’s Square), ☎+1-609-921-7500. A full service hotel featuring 203 elegant guestrooms, 10,000 square feet of meeting and event space and the historic Yankee Doodle Tap Room- where Einstein himself sipped on a brew and then carved his name into one of the booths.
There are a number of hotels and motels along Route 1 to the east (outside of actual town limits), but those without cars must note that there are no public transportation links to downtown Princeton Borough from this area.
Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village, 201 Village Boulevard, ☎(609) 452-7900, [21]. The Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village is situated in the picturesque Princeton Forrestal Village shopping center. This shopping center features the Koi Spa and Can Do Fitness Center as well as restaurants and select retail stores. Located on the Route 1 Corridor right halfway between Philadelphia and New York.
This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow! | {
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NY Marijuana Laws
June 19, 2014, Assembly Bill 6357, was approved and signed into law by the New York Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 05, 2014 (effective upon signature), effectively removing all state-level criminal penalties on the use and possession of marijuana by patients in possession of a written letter from a physician stating that he or she may benefit from the medical use of marijuana for alleviating symptoms caused by debilitating medical conditions and their medical treatments.
Physicians are required to complete a four-hour New York State Department of Health (department-approved) course, as well as register directly with the Department as a course accredited physician, qualified to certify patients, in order to become a certified medical marijuana physician in New York.
Under the New York medical marijuana law, the smoking of cannabis as a delivery method is strictly prohibited, and patients are also prohibited from cultivating and having access to any plant material.
November 11, 2015, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo signed a bill, enabling an expedited certification process for patients who are seriously il, and the subsequently allows marijuana producers to register “as expeditiously as practicable”.
January 07, 2016, with the opening of eight (of the expected twenty) dispensaries statewide, the New York medical marijuana program officially launches.
In August 2017, the NY medical marijuana program was expanded to include new products, new dispensary procedures, a shortened certification process for doctors, and changes that will make growing medical marijuana legal. Patients will be able to walk into dispensaries and speak with an RO representative about their treatment options. Further, doctors will be able to take a two-hour long version of the online certification program, a faster way to get certified to recommend medical marijuana. Physicians will still have to meet the following qualifications: qualified to treat patients with qualifying conditions, licensed and in good standing with the state of NY, and registration for the DOH after completing the course. The expansion of the NY program was approved and goes into effect in Dec 2017.
In September 2017, patients will be able to use lotions, ointments, chewables, lozenges, and patches to treat qualifying conditions. However, the state program continues to only allow non-smokable forms of medical marijuana.
As of October 2017, hospitals, nursing homes, and other care facilities can register as caregivers in order to obtain medical marijuana for patients in facilities who are unable to receive their medical marijuana themselves.
In June 2018, the New York State Department Health included opioid use in the list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana. This was further expanded in July 2018 when emergency regulations made any condition for which an opioid could be prescribed a qualifying condition for medical marijuana.
New York Marijuana Possession and Cultivation Law
Marijuana and its synthetic “equivalents” are considered a Schedule I narcotic substance under New York’s Public Health Law. Synthetic equivalents include resinous extracts and cannabis derivatives that contain similar chemical properties.
For a first-time offender, the possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is considered punishable by a fine of $100. If an additional offense occurs within three years of the first marijuana offense, possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is punishable by a fine of $200. For the third or subsequent offense(s) within a three-year period, possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is punishable by a fine of $250 and/or imprisonment of 15 days or less. Possession of marijuana in excess of 25 grams but less than 2 ounces is a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 3 months imprisonment. Possession of marijuana in excess of 2 ounces but less than 8 ounces is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 1 year of imprisonment. Possession of marijuana in excess of 8 ounces but less than 16 ounces is a class E felony and is punishable by no more than 4 years of imprisonment. Possession of marijuana in excess of 16 ounces but less than 10 pounds is a class D felony and is punishable by no more than 7 years of imprisonment. Possession of marijuana in excess of 10 pounds is a class C felony and is punishable by no more than 15 years of imprisonment.
Growing cannabis is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 1 year of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $1000. *While technically cultivation of any amount of marijuana is a misdemeanor, a person who cultivates marijuana is also “possessing” marijuana under current case law. Parmeter v. Feinberg affirms the state’s ability to charge a person with the crime of “cultivation” and “possession” any time a person is caught growing marijuana. This means the more marijuana that a person cultivates the more severe the degree of possession that the state can charge.”
New York Marijuana Distribution Law
Exchange without payment of fewer than 2 grams of marijuana and/or one marijuana cigarette is a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 3 months imprisonment.
Sale of marijuana in any amount to a person under 18 years of age is a class D felony and is punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment.
Sale of marijuana in an amount less than 25 grams is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 1 year of imprisonment. Sale of marijuana in an amount greater than 25 grams but less than 4 ounces is a class E felony and is punishable by up to 4 years of imprisonment. Sale of marijuana in an amount greater than 4 ounces but less than 16 ounces is a class D felony and is punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment. Sale of marijuana in excess of 16 ounces is a class C felony and is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment.
Using a child to assist in the sale of marijuana is a class E felony and is punishable by no more than 4 years of imprisonment. This offense includes hiding marijuana on a child or otherwise directing a child to assist in a marijuana sale.
New York Marijuana Trafficking Law
A person is considered a major trafficker of marijuana if they do one of the following: Act as the director of an organization, which sells $75000 worth of marijuana over the course of a year or less; collect $75000 or more from sales of marijuana over the course of 6 months or less; possess with intent to sell $75000 or more of marijuana over the course of 6 months or less. If one or more of the above are satisfied the person may be charged as a major trafficker, this is a class A-I felony and is punishable by 15-25 years of imprisonment.
New York Hash & Concentrates Law
The term ‘Marihuana’ as used in the New York Criminal code is defined as including both plant-form Marihuana and Concentrated Cannabis. Marihuana is listed as a Schedule 1 drug on the New York Controlled Substances Schedule. Concentrated Cannabis is defined as the separated resin of the Cannabis plant, whether purified or raw, or any mixture or preparation containing at least 2.5% THC. Unlike most other states, New York uses the term Tetrahydrocannabinols exclusively to refer to synthetic cannabinoids, not Concentrates. New York does not apply its Marihuana decriminalization law to Concentrated Cannabis. There is no explicit justification for this in the statute, but specific penalties for offenses involving Concentrated Cannabis are separated from those involving plant-form Marihuana and the distinction is noted in case law.
New York Marijuana Possession Penalties
For a first offender, possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is punishable by a fine of $100.
For the 2nd offense within three years of the first offense, possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is punishable by a fine of $200.
For the third or subsequent offense(s) within a three-year period, possession of up to 25 grams of marijuana is punishable by a fine of $250 and/or imprisonment of 15 days or less. Possession of marijuana in excess of 25 grams but less than 2 ounces is a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 3 months imprisonment.
Possession of marijuana in excess of 2 ounces but less than 8 ounces is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 1 year of imprisonment.
Possession of marijuana in excess of 8 ounces but less than 16 ounces is a class E felony and is punishable by no more than 4 years of imprisonment. Possession of marijuana in excess of 16 ounces but less than 10 pounds is a class D felony and is punishable by no more than 7 years of imprisonment. Possession of marijuana in excess of 10 pounds is a class C felony and is punishable by no more than 15 years of imprisonment.
New York Marijuana Intent To Sell Penalties
Exchange without payment of fewer than 2 grams of marijuana and/or one marijuana cigarette is a class B misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 3 months imprisonment.
Sale of marijuana in any amount to a person under 18 years of age is a class D felony and is punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment.
Sale of marijuana in an amount less than 25 grams is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by no more than 1 year of imprisonment. Sale of marijuana in an amount greater than 25 grams but less than 4 ounces is a class E felony and is punishable by up to 4 years of imprisonment. Sale of marijuana in an amount greater than 4 ounces but less than 16 ounces is a class D felony and is punishable by up to 7 years of imprisonment. Sale of marijuana in excess of 16 ounces is a class C felony and is punishable by up to 15 years of imprisonment.
New York Marijuana Cultivation Penalties
Growing cannabis is a Class A misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 1 year of imprisonment and/or a fine of up to $1000.
New York Marijuana Paraphernalia Penalties
Possession or sale of scales or balances for the purpose of weighing or measuring marijuana is a class A misdemeanor and is punishable by up to 1 year of imprisonment. Any subsequent conviction of possession or sale of paraphernalia is a class D felony and is punishable by up to 7 years imprisonment and a fine of up to $5000.
* Please note: A person is considered a major trafficker of marijuana if they do one of the following:
Act as the director of an organization, which sells $75000 worth of marijuana over the course of a year or less; collect $75000 or more from sales of marijuana over the course of 6 months or less; possess with intent to sell $75000 or more of marijuana over the course of 6 months or less. If one or more of the above are satisfied the person may be charged as a major trafficker, this is a class A-I felony and is punishable by 15-25 years of imprisonment.
* If convicted of a felony offense the following may be forfeited, unless the forfeiture would be disproportionate from what the defendant gained from the offense: the proceeds from the offense, instruments used in the offense (including a car). | {
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Ssssh. Apple quietly mashes monster MacBook Pro
17-incher excised
So farewell, then, the 17in MacBook Pro. Your demise was forecast back in April by market watcher Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI, a stockbroker, and sure enough you're no longer listed among Apple's selection of laptops.
The pricey - two grand plus - bulky machine was popular with content creators looking for a large-screen - it had a 1920 x 1200 resolution - yet mobile workhorse.
Presumably, Apple hopes they'll upgrade to its £1800 2880 x 1800 15in MacBook Pro, or a lesser laptop Thunderbolt-connected to one of its big monitors.
The 17in beast was last updated, to Intel's Sandy Bridge platform, in October 2011. ® | {
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I have a confession: socks are a secret love of mine. No matter how tacky socks may look I will just fall in love with them instantly. Different patterns different colours thin socks cosy thick socks just socks man! Thats where it's at!
I just really wanted to share this with you and it's really random but trust me it works. So one of the places I went to on saturday had - wait for it - slushies in bubble cups EVEN WITH THE SEAL AND THE STRAW YOU POKE!!! Yeah for some reason this was the highlight of my night. It tasted so much more amazing than what it probably was supposed to taste like haha!
Anyway I promise a normal post will be up soon but I think I might post more of my outfit posts here that I tend to do on instagram woop woop! ;D | {
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Fisherman rescued following overnight ordeal on upturned boat
Photo: WA police pluck a man from the ocean after he spent more than 24-hours clinging to his boat in waters south of Perth.
Surf Life Saving WA
A man who spent the night clinging to his overturned boat in waters south of Perth has now been rescued.
The 50-year-old Ballajura man set out Tuesday morning off the coast of Falcon. He had gone out with his dog to pull in his cray pots when his boat overturned. His neighbour reported him missing this morning.
Police say they found his car and boat trailer at the Falcon boat ramp, and a search was launched.
As that occurred, an EPIRB was activated by the man.
Water Police, the Mandurah Water Rescue Group and the Surf Life Saving helicopter were sent out and the upturned aluminium dinghy was spotted from the air about 16-kilometres west of Mandurah.
Senior Constable Ian Davison says the man, who was rescued late this morning, was in reasonably good health. 'For a man who'd been in the water overnight, with the weather conditions we had overnight, he's actually surprisingly fit and well,' he said. 'But nonetheless the ambulance crew was concerned about his body temperature and they've taken him to hospital just to check that he's ok.'
The man's Rottweiler died a short time before he was picked up. It is the second major rescue off Perth in a week. | {
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