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Jay Leno:"I don’t think Tiger Woods understands how things work. When his wife found out about the affair he asked if he could get a mulligan. That’s why Letterman doesn’t keep golf clubs in the house. Tiger’s wife took eight strokes but only wrote down five. They’ve already made a movie about it: ‘Crouching Tiger, Crunching Escalade.’" "Shopping was crazy. I had people pushing and shoving me, and I was shopping online." "Nancy Pelosi can’t roll her eyes without jiggling her breasts." "I fly Southwest and practically get a prostate exam, this couple sneaks into the White House with no problem." "Chelsea Clinton is engaged. Bill’s already planning the bachelor party." "A Georgia judge ruled that teachers can have sex with consenting 16-year-olds. And in Georgia a lot of those kids are home-schooled." Headlines:"Man Outlasts Madonna." Church bulletin: "Gold will lead us through the Valley of the Shadow of Death." Police blotter: "Woman found feces in her toilet, and she didn’t think she put them there." Guest Bill Maher:"Afghanistan? Once we invade a country we never leave. We still have 60,000 troops in Germany. Once we enter, we love you long time." "I’ve taken the most important step to be sure my credit card isn’t abused. I’m single." "The Vatican, against her stated wishes, released all Mother Teresa’s letters. Turns out she had a crisis of faith in 1979 and started stripping under the name Original Cindy."
Jon Stewart on the White House crashers: "Real Asswipes of Washington, D.C."
Stephen Colbert: "Our guest says our schools have become prisons. Not true. Many prisoners can read."
Conan O’Brien: "In Tiger Woods’ crash his airbags didn’t deploy. He was protected on all sides by big bags of $1,000 bills." "Sarah Palin is featured in a new children’s book. We now know who shot Bambi’s mother." "’Twilight’ has raked in $230 million, $12 of that from a guy. A psychiatrist said Bella’s affair with Edward has fifteen signs of an abusive relationship. #1, he’s a vampire. He’ll drink your blood." Andy Richter: "And then not call you the next day." "’The Gayest Christmas Pageant Ever’ has opened on Broadway. ‘Cirque de Soleil’ said, ‘Is that a dare?" "A woman delivered her daughter’s baby while continuing to cook Thanksgiving dinner. Just one mistake. The daughter’s now filled with Stovetop Stuffing."
Craig Ferguson: "Christmas spending is a little below expectations so far, but that’s before the diamonds Tiger Woods is going to have to buy his wife."
Wanda Sykes: "Someone was arrested at the L.A. airport with fifteen lizards taped to their chest. Oh, Lady Gaga, what will you do next?"
Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett, HarperCollins 2009: [Nutt, a dreaded orc, on how he was created.] “The Igors did it. And they put in something very strange. It’s a part of you that isn’t quite a part of you. They called it the Little Brother. It’s tucked deep inside and absolutely protected and it’s like having your own hospital with you all the time. I know that I was hit very hard, but the Little Brother kept me alive and simply cured things again. There are ways to kill an orc, but there are not many of them, and anyone trying them on a living orc is not going to have very much time to get it right. Does that worry you at all?” “No, not really,” said Glenda.
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Villagers run to collect food supplies being dropped from an Indian Air Force helicopter in the flood-hit area of Midnapore, about 77 miles west of the eastern Indian city of Kolkata on July 8. Hundreds of thousands of people were marooned in India as monsoon rains continued to ravage parts of the country, sparking fresh flooding.REUTERS/Parth Sanyal (INDIA)
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Aircraft arrive in a random fashion into a terminal area seeking to land at a given runway. The aircraft are differentiated by their landing velocities. All aircraft are required to maintain a prespecified minimum horizontal separation distance and also fly on a common final approach. As a consequence, the minimum interarrival time separation is interactive, i.e., a function of the landing velocities of the preceding and following aircraft as well as the separation minimum and final approach length. The controller's decision-making problem in sequencing the aircraft, termed dynamic scheduling, is formulated in this dynamic environment. It is observed that the first-come, first-serve discipline is inefficient and the system properties employing optimality objectives of maximum throughput and minimum delay are investigated. The solutions must be updated with each new arrival and, as a result, the solutions employing these optimality objectives are shown to have undesirable properties, including 1) a priority structure with the potential for indefinite delay; 2) non-implementable updating assignments; 3) computationally intractable solutions in real time. As a consequence of this analysis, a decision methodology termed Constrained Position Shifting (CPS) is proposed to eliminate these undesirable properties. CPS prohibits an aircraft from being shifted more than a given number of positions from its first-come, first-serve position. The CPS methodology is then shown via simulation to be practical, efficient and extremely flexible, with the following properties: 1. increases the runway throughput rate; 2. treats individual aircraft equitably; 3. treats aircraft velocity classes equitably; 4. particularly successful during peak periods; 5. well within the capabilities of today's computers. The simulation is designed to compare identical arrival streams under various strategies. The simulation-aided analysis is then extended to include "heavy" jets (with aircraft dependent separation minima) and also mixed operations (arrivals and departures). Even greater improvements in terminal area levels of service are demonstrated for these extensions.
Description:
Originally presented as the author's thesis, (Ph. D.) in the M.I.T. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, 1976; September 1976; Includes bibliographical references (p. 316-318)
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This looks like it might be the beginning of large scale clashes between Moslem youth and Police in Europe. Reactions are muted so far, with some officials calling for a stern response, and others predictably wringing their hands at root causes and talking about throwing understanding, and wads of cash, at the ghettos. Meanwhile, the salafist youth are of course outraged at slights to their honor, as the vast moderate Moslem majority is no where to be seen.
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Also in the city of Sedan, someplace in Denmark, and I think I heard of something going on in Spain. I kind of expect (hope?) Stockholm to come into play soon and maybe some of the southern French towns such as Marseille or Nice. Then there is Italy. Of course, there is no future in being a prophet 'cause they're almost always wrong.
Reactions are muted so far, with some officials calling for a stern response, and others predictably wringing their hands at root causes
I really don't see any easy answers. Changing the economics will take 10-20 years, changing the fruity-tooty governing philosophies maybe as long. Changing the racism on both sides? Gimme a break. Ain't going to happen anytime soon. It will probably get worse.
So, let's just be happy it ain't here while they're getting hit there. And this time let's keep the fight where it belongs: Europe. No more 9/11's. I just hope that suicide bombings, beheadings, and ieds don't come into real fashion because Europe is going to get ugly if they do.
BTW, isn't tourism one of the big industries in France? I wonder how this will play.
There has never been a finer explication of how multiculturalism leads to this than this one by Dr. Dalrymple, a British psychiatrist who works with prisoner and is an incredibly gifted writer. http://www.city-journal.org/html/12_4_the_barbarians.html
Paris is so vulnerable. It is ringed with these concrete hellholes chock full of unassimilated Moslems (mostly North African) who want to combine the liberties of low class western culture and the male perogatives of their birth culture. Add multiculturalism and you give them no incentive to assimilate and leave them outside the mainstream with a false sense that their failure is the result of discrimination not poor choices. If you haven't read this. You should.
Do any of you actually know France?There has been a tense relationship between France's 'beurs'(second and third generation North Africans)and the authorities since long before Bush declared his 'crusade'. Remember France colonised North Africa, and that colonisation, the independence wars and post-colonisation attitudes towards North Africans lie at the root of the unrest.You can fantasise as much as you want, but it won't make your fantasies come true.
Malmo is almost certainly the Swedish city most at risk for Moslem rioting. I'll be heading there the end of this month and will have my antenna tuned to incoming signals. The Swedes are both logistically and culturally unprepared (is any of Europe?) to deal with it if and when it happens.
It will be interesting to see how this plays out. I suspect they will play out similarly to the '67 race riots here in the US - although they've already exceeded the number of days of rioting. I don't know enough about either event to judge which was more widespread.
Euros love to believe they are the vanguard of social progress. IMHO they are normally about three or so decades behind the US when it comes to experiencing, recognizing, and learning to deal with the difficult social issues of the ever changing human condition and are more prone to make bad choices when dealing with it. They deny and delay probolem recognition too long, then select appeasement too earnestly, and finally "crack down" with too much gusto in the end.
As this unfolds I suggest keeping as keen an eye as possible open to watch for further advances in Euro anti-semitism. The Euros will not look favorably upon the Jews for this bout of Moslems rioting.
I'm pretty sure most of the folks who participate here are familiar with the idea that "tension" between Europe and the Arabic and moslem "worlds" predates modern times by centuries.
The Astronomical Clock in Prague, which dates to the early 15th century includes the "Death" figure with "The Turk" shaking his head. This is generally believed to reflect the "Turk's" denial that his "time was up" as well as the fear of the expansionist Ottoman empire which had reached well into Hungary and, of course, had laid siege to Vienna.
"Tension" between the alternating expansionist periods of both European empires and Moslem empires is many centuries deep. It predates both 9/11/01 and French colonialism by a very long time.
Don't know. It's possible. "Race riots" have been simmering in various places in Europe (and probably for a combination of reasons) for a while. Here's a report from the summer of 2001 about flare ups in England.
I've been going to Europe periodically for more than a quarter century now and as long as I've been going it's been clear to me that there are two things that never seem to change: a strong and socially acceptable undercurrent of anti-semitism and tensions about immigrants that are generally ascribed to "skinheads", "neo-nazis", or various small and politically irrelevant "ultra-nationalist" or "seperatist" groups. I've never kept data but I'd speculate that everytime I've visited there, at least in France, Belgium, and Sweden, there has been some recent case of some small violence. I've generally assumed it was nothing more than what we can easily find here in the US. I'm no longer sure that's the case.
It has always surprised me how many fringe seperatist groups there are in Europe from the Basques to the "Skona frits".
This latest round of riots - if what little bits and pieces of reporting we can find are accurate and there's no good reason to assume that they are - seems to be something akin to a "seperatist" movement to try and wall off Moslem ghetto enclaves from "outside interference" from the, ummm..., nationals.
That could be what Jez is after. There are many people who are always seeking the "root cause" or the "epochal event". Some people seem to view the curve of history as a sort of step function with some zero point at some axis.
Me, I tend to view it as an uninterrupted flow where things like Columbus sailing the ocean blue "find" the "New World" and the "final" driving of the Moors from Andalusia were part and parcel of the same timeline and that which we think seminal or final ain't hardly that at all.
I don't think these are "race riots" guys. I do believe that many of the kids who are doing the rioting are angry, and that their anger has much of it's origin in poverty and racial ostracization, but I don't think the kids doing the rioting are purely motivated by those concerns.
Instead, I think these riots are being directed and coordinated by Jihadis.
The rioters in Denmark, for instance, admitted that they had planned their rioting for three weeks. They said they were rioting because of the Mohammed cartoons in Jyllands-Posten. They told the reporters that they knew they were coming, and they were ready with "spokesmen" to talk to the reporters.
" So do the riots in Birmingham recently point to historical tension between West Indians, Pakistanis and Europeans?" What Europeans? You threw that in just to be PC,the riots were between West Indians and Pakistanis/ Bangladeshis.As for the colonialist crap,there are far more Asians living in Bradford than the entire number of British in the whole Indian Sub-continent at the height of the Raj.If ever India and Pakistan come to blows it can be accepted that the conflict will spill onto our streets.Why is there a problem in France,easy if a country is giving away free money,peasant societies will send one of their sons to collect it,it is an income that they send back to their families.That there is no employement is irrelevant,being there is the job.
So do the riots in Birmingham recently point to historical tension between West Indians, Pakistanis and Europeans?
I suspect it is a species of the usual tensions between different immigrant groups. There used to be similar tensions between the Poles, Italians, etc, in places like Pittsburgh. On the other hand, there seems to have been some racism in play, adding a bit of spice to the mix.
I suppose one could label this sort of thing historical, because many groups have historical records of racism. It is hardly a western thing, the West is/was just another example of this universal human tendency. Heck, I remember some German disdain for Italians. I mean, how much did Italy help Germany in WWII?
Anyway, life goes on. The cure is more complicated than the simple nostrums of root causes and "understanding". What could make things really ugly is if more lethal weapons come into play. There is only so much damage one can do with knives, clubs, rocks, and matches. Thank God for modern construction and fire departments.
many of the kids who are doing the rioting are angry, and that their anger has much of it's origin in poverty and racial ostracization, but I don't think the kids doing the rioting are purely motivated by those concerns.
Instead, I think these riots are being directed and coordinated by Jihadis.
The rioters in Denmark, for instance, admitted that they had planned their rioting for three weeks.
Good points. If we take the trouble to look into most any example of widespread rioting I suspect we'll find some form of "jihadist" doing the organizing and propaganda work and using the "poverty and racial ostracization" to enlist the youthful fodder to wreak the desired havoc. Riots (and revolutions for that matter) are rarely fully spontaneous events. There's always somebody behind the scenes making a power play and/or trying to tap into a source of revenue. And those somebodies are typically well educated and economically comfortable (although not sufficiently so to meet their personal desires). Somewhere within this there are "leaders" with an agenda. The fact that some rioting yutes have some prepared talking points is a pretty good inicator that somebody who thinks a bit more long-term and deeply than yutes are normally capable of has been stoking some fires for a while.
Knucklehead,I LIVE in Europe. Anti-semitism exists, and much of it emanates from 'neo-nazis' or extreme right-wing parties.I'm not aware of anti-semitism being ascribed to sparatists, though I am aware of racism in general within separatist groups, since their 'struggles' are of a nationalistic character.Within the general population, there may well be some anti-semitism, but it is no stronger than racism in general. There is definitely a presence of anti-zionism, but that is of course not the same as anti-semitism.In fact, in recent years, there has been an upsurge (at least it's more visible) of anti-Arab feeling and islamophobia(witness the anti-headscarf ban episode and various articles and books which purport to explain the dangers of the so-called 'islamization' of France-talk about paranoid fantasy!).The idea that the riots aim to create an 'enclave' is based on the same kind of fantasy, I'm afraid.Pastorius,Jihadists? Again:fantasy.Your 'explanation' of the Danish riots doesn't show that it's the work of 'Jihadists'. I don't know the background or the situation of Muslims in Denmark, and I doubt you do either.Peter, I suggest you re-read all the comments, and then you might understand better.Chuck, racism has indeed long existed, and there are many causes, of which one is colonialism. I don't think 'understanding' is a simple nostrum. Usually, when attempting to solve a problem, one looks at the causes.
No Jez,I was replying to your comment about Birmingham,I presume you don't live in all of Europe,it would be interesting to know from whence comes your all encompassing knowledge.
Colonialism is the standard left mantra cocerning the root causes of racism,this is rather stupid considering there are at least two generations that don't even know there was an Empire.
A great deal of anti-semitism arises in the Muslim community,an EU report fudged this issue in its preamble,blaming the odious neo-nazis,but the figures in the main body of the report laid much of the responsibility on the Muslim extremists.
Your statement concerning Jihadists was riseable, in the light of the paranoid fantasy bombing of the Tube on 7/11.
It is an an uncontrovertable fact that some immigrant communities for enclaves,refusing to mix with the rest of the population.Rioters have openly created no go areas.
Incendiary statements by some Imams make it quite clear that there is a wing in Islam,which is anti-Western,antisemitic and fascist in nature.
The extreme left have combined with this wing and are apologists for it.George Galloway's party Respect comes to mind,as does the unholy alliance between the SWP and the MAB.BTW What is your position on Palestine?
In replying to your first post I purposesly changed your "Bush declared his 'crusade'" to mention of 9/11, and your talk about colonialism to pre-colonial conflicts between Islam and Europe. It was a polite way of pointing out that where a narrative starts can color how it progresses.
You want to talk about root causes? How about increasing desertification of the central portion of the Silk Road, coupled with the Europeans opening a sea route to the Spice Islands, knocking the Caliphate's economy into a tailspin it never recovered from?
What does that get us in regards to riots in France and Holland today? Precious little. The "Root Cause" business is little more than an exercise in affixing blame.
One needs to, as best as possible, understand all sides in a conflict, and have some idea how they got to be where they are -- but in the end of the day it is people today who are influencing the events of the day. We are either helpless puppets on the end of history's string or we have to accept responsibility for our actions.
I have no idea where these riots are leading. Even though I'm not sitting in a cafe drinking tea with them, I have little doubt that the religion of Mohammed is being discussed by many doing the rioting.
racism has indeed long existed, and there are many causes, of which one is colonialism.
True enough. The Frankish conquest of France led to the original "class" concept being based on the racist theme of the original natives vs the Germanic conquerors who constituted the nobility.
The Muslim conquest of India led to similar patterns of racism, and of course the arab trade in slaves is well known, as well as the continuing practice of slavery in North African countries. God forbid that the anti-slavery impositions of the religious colonial administrators should continue into the present day.
Likewise, the widespread racism in Russia can no doubt be attributed to their imperial conquests as well as being a justified response to their own days of servitude after Kievan Rus was conquered by maurauding Mongols back in the days of the Golden Horde.
I don't think 'understanding' is a simple nostrum.
It is a simple nostrum because the understanding is simple. Nor is understanding of much use to the understood, it tends to be a lazy out for the understanders. Understanding, after all, is easy. One merely mouths the proper platitudes and, voila, one understands.
Nor is France going to provide useful employment for their youth anytime soon. Even the college educated can find it work hard to come by. That is the core problem, really. The rest could be dealt with.
Therein may lie a clue. In particular it would be a clue about what is considered "normal" and "acceptable" and what one might notice and not notice.
As I mentioned earlier I've been traveling to Europe somewhat regularly for just a bit more than a quarter century now. I've been over a good bit of what was once known as Western Europe. I've been there for as long as 2.5 years (as a young soldier), 3 months (as a tourist and "guest worker" - aka "immigrant"), for days and weeks on business, and as a family member.
I do not claim to be an expert on Europe but I have been exposed over the years to a pretty good cross-section of European society. I am not overly fond of doing the typical tourist sorts of things and am prone to going "walkabout" to try and get a feel for what people do and talk about - how they live. When in Rome I make some attempt to do as the Romans do (well, except for that pinching the girls routine - too many females in my life to have the audacity to try that schtick). When possible I engage in or eavesdrop on conversation. I prefer not to select the topics.
I have also traveled extensively within the US and am reasonably familiar with my fellow countrymen. I assure you that it is my experience which, while obviously anecdotal, I consider quite valid, that "the Jews" are not only far more frequently entered into ordinary conversation in Europe than in America but the level of negativity, animosity, or anger is generally higher in Europe than in the US.
I have sometimes been shocked by it and the venues in which it occurs. There have been a few cases where it occured to me that had such a thing been said in such a place, by such a person, in the US a law suit or disciplinary action would have resulted.
It is, of course, possible that we Americans have grown hyper-sensitive to these sorts of things due to the level of political correctness imposed upon us. But I find this to be the case even in the privacy of homes among "polite company". The level of discourse I have heard would, in my experience, be considered evidence of bigotry in the US but seems quite ordinary in Europe.
This is a matter of which I have zero doubt. None whatsoever.
My own opinion re: the matter of anti-zionism vs. anti-semitism is that it is, as often as not, a thin veneer put in place to allow the proponent of "anti-zionism" the pretense of not being anti-semitic ( a bigot about Jews).
A European traveling and having business or family ties within the US would possibly find something similar to this with respect to the general attitude about blacks (although I think there would typically be less harsh commentary re: blacks from the "average American" than about Jews from the "average European").
This is a bit tricky to discern in my experience, however, since Euros seem to hold the Conventional Wisdom that virtually all Americans are bigots about blacks. I find that Euros are somewhat prone to unprovoked verbal attacks upon Americans on this topic and frequently raise it in conversation. Not sure why. I have been amused to detect a categorization of blacks among Europeans into, roughly speaking, blacks and "American blacks" with the latter being thought of pretty much as pimps, drug dealers, and criminals.
To this American's sensibilities anti-jewism is astonishingly widespread in Europe compared with the US.
Incendiary statements by some Imams make it quite clear that there is a wing in Islam,which is anti-Western,antisemitic and fascist in nature.
The extreme left have combined with this wing and are apologists for it.
I don't find this odd. One of the chief aims of the left from Marx to Lenin, Stalin, and Hitler, has been to pull down Western Civilization and its religious foundations in order to remake it. I think this fits well with the Jihadist desires.
I think Knuck is onto something, though, when he conjectures that this is just another European separatist movement. I am trying the thought on for size.
I neglected to deal with this portion of your reply to me (at least I think it was to me):
The idea that the riots aim to create an 'enclave' is based on the same kind of fantasy, I'm afraid.
Not sure what you're getting at here. The enclaves exist. Do you claim that there are no Moslem enclaves in France (or Europe) and that these aren't Moslem enclaves where the riots are ongoing?
I did not claim these riots are attempts to create enclaves. I apologize for being too lazy to go track down the link but I have searched for repoting about these riots and have seen the statement in some reasonably mainstream English version of European press words to the effect that the "riots seem intended to keep out police and other officials".
I read that to suggest that the rioters, in so far as they may have any political motivation or goal, it may be a form of "seperatist" movement to establish "autonomy" of the enclave from the larger political authority. I also indicated that, the media being the media, there is no good reason to assume their claim was correct.
It occured to me that I might be using the term "enclave" carelessly or incorrectly so I went and looked it up:
en·claven. 1. A country or part of a country lying wholly within the boundaries of another. 2. A distinctly bounded area enclosed within a larger unit: ethnic enclaves in a large city.
My original usage was consistent with #2. This is what I mean when I use the term. Enclaves by this definition are quite common. I can easily point (and travel to since they are reasonably nearby) Hindi, Polish, Russian, Chinese, and Hassidic enclaves.
This applies to our discussion here about what the rioters in Europe are after. Naturally we have to take the utterings of "youths" with the appropriate mineful of salt, but statements like:
"This area belongs to us", the youths proclaim.
Suggest that they want "others" or "them" (presumably Danes in general and/or Danish authorities) to stay the heck out of their neighborhood.
Interestingly the Reutters report that Roger links to gives up this little tidbit:
"The law must be firmly applied and in a spirit of dialogue and respect," government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope quoted Chirac as telling the weekly cabinet meeting.
"The absence of dialogue and escalation of disrespect would lead to a dangerous situation. There cannot be 'no-go' areas in the republic," Cope told reporters.
which would seem to lend at least some support the idea that at least part of what the rioters seem to want is for authorities to "keep out". Acquiescing to demands to "keep out" would, of course, render the Neighborhoods Under Test defacto areas of autonomy (with autonomy under these conditions being most likely indistinguishable from anarchy).
I'll try and summarise an answer to the last few commentsIronically bringing historical events into the debate doesn't do much for your argument.I think most rationally-thinking people will understand that there is a difference between comparing events today with events that happened less than a century ago, and comparing them with events that took place several centuries ago. Christian crusades don't mean Christians today are all fanatics.I suspect if one were to travel around the US, one would find several examples of anti-French feeling. I don't think this translates as a racist attitude, though. The same goes for anti-American feeling in Europe. Such feeling has more to do with criticism of official policy. Why would it be different regarding Israel? Why does criticism of Israel and Zionism(a political idea)racist?I very much doubt there is anymore real anti-Jewish racism here than there is anti-Arab racism. I would in fact say that there is probably more of the latter. I haven't, however, conducted a survey, it's merely an opinion.Oh, and why is it wrong for Europeans to generalise about attitudes towards blacks in the US, yet alright for Americans to generalise about attitudes towards Jews in France?Peter, again, I suggest you re-read previous posts, and you might understand.The fact that there are people in France who preach fundamentalist Islamism doesn't prove that riots are conducted by Islamists. It was suggested that 'Muslim enclaves' existed in France. That is simply not the case. There are suburbs with a high immigrant population, of which the majority come from North Africa, but these suburbs are not Muslim ghettoes.While there are probably 'no-go areas' connected to gangsterism, this is not an indicator of 'Muslim separatism' in France.Again, I believe such an idea is fantasy.Your last comment, Knucklehead, doesn't show that these are 'MUSLIM enclaves'.
Knucklehead wrote:"I'm pretty sure most of the folks who participate here are familiar with the idea that "tension" between Europe and the Arabic and moslem "worlds" predates modern times by centuries."
That's why I compared it-tongue in cheek-to the riots in Brimingham. He used the term 'Europe' so I used the term 'Europeans'. The riots in France were not between 'Muslims' and 'Europeans'. They were between youths from poor suburbs and the police. Get it?
Ambi--as usual I stand in awe of your historical knowledge re the european voyages of discovery, the diminution of the importance of the silk road, and derivetively the decline of Islamic state influence--Bravo!
I know Jez encourages not to look at historical arguments, but it seems to me if we dont understand historical arguments stemming from the battle of tours, and the reconquista, the destruction of the moslim empire of al adaluz, the decline of the silk road and its protectors, and the failure of the Ottoman Turks to take Vienna, we fail to understand the burden of total failure now faced by Islam--
Although Islam had glorious beginnings, it failed, in large part, because it never had an Aquinas who could separate faith and reason; it failed because it never had Marsilio of Padua who who could separate the temporal and sacred sword, and because it has failed in a dozen encounters with the west.
Those historical roots are overwhelming--so in a sense, Jez is correct, he just isnt casting his net far enough.
And in Arhus too? And why shouldn't the police be there? If French law is kept out, I think it a good bet that it will be replaced by general thuggery and criminal oppression of the most atavistic sort.
As to banning the Hijab, while I think it would be ridiculous in this country, religious as we are, I am multi-culti enough to understand it as a reflection of the anti-clerical strand in French society dating back to the Revolution. At least they didn't burn the mosques, execute the imams, and murder 200,000 muslims in revolt. France *has* made progress.
Jez,It took you a long time to come up with that crock,too many posts in between.Who were the rioters rioting against...the French police...South Americans to a man. Anyway,what is your position on Palestine?
RogerA,There were fabulous civilisations in the Middle East and Mediterranean,Egypt,Babylon Ninevah,Ur of the Chaldes,Persia,Greece and Rome,in some cases thousands of years before Islam.I invite you to look at the cradle of civilisation now.
...bringing historical events into the debate doesn't do much for your argument.
It may or may not depending....
I think most rationally-thinking people will understand that there is a difference between comparing events today with events that happened less than a century ago, and comparing them with events that took place several centuries ago.
Sometimes there is and sometimes there isn't. When recent events (picking the past century or whatever is fine) are relatively consistent with, or bear some overall resemblence to, events along some longer timeline then the older historic events may be germane.
Are today's "tensions" between the Western world and the Arabic/Moslem world more properly attributed to the history of the past hundred or so years or are they merely a continuation of events stretching back more than a half-millenium of which the past century is merely more of the same old same old?
Surely you recognize that cases can be made for either situation. I tend towards believing that no point in history can be siezed upon as some "starting point" at which all that went before it becomes irrelevant. Just to grab an example, without the Conquistadors there would have been no great and thriving horseback warrior culture of the plains Indians for the Evil Eurocentric Americans to have wiped out. There would have been fewer, more localized, foot and dog bound natives who were not reknown and admired for killing only as many bison as they needed because if the Conquistadors hadn't introduced horses they would still have been stampeding bison herds of cliffs in mass slaughters.
Change any history and you change all history. If Mohammedans don't sieze the Holy Land there are no Crusades to recover them. If the Moors hadn't conquered Andalusia the Spanish wouldn't have driven them out and there'd be no OBL fatwah to regain Andalusia.
But anyway...
Christian crusades don't mean Christians today are all fanatics.
Nor does it mean that the Christians of the period who undertook the Crusades were "fanatics" by the standards of the time. We tend to judge the people of the distant past by the standards of today. That is an egregious mistake to make. The context provided by the full flow of history is important.
I'm digressing again, sorry.
I suspect if one were to travel around the US, one would find several examples of anti-French feeling.
Absolutely. Anti-French feeling is relatively high (but probably remains within its historical ebb and flow boundaries) in the US.
Some of us in the US assert that France is a quasi-enemy of the US.
I don't think this translates as a racist attitude, though.
Of course not. It has nothing to do with race. Neither "American" nor "French" is a race. "American" may not even qualify as an ethnicity (I would claim it does but I'd be a dangerously thin ice).
The same goes for anti-American feeling in Europe. Such feeling has more to do with criticism of official policy.
Oh pishaw! Anti-American (now anti-US as well as anti-American) feeling goes back long before there was any official US policy regarding anything and has continued regardless of US policies. And the same is true of American feelings toward France and the French.
Do we really need to go down the history lesson timeline here? Much of our culture is through the English (and somewhat through the German) portion of our ancestry. I assure you those ancestors had no particular love for France or the French just as the ancestors of today's Frenchmen had no particular love for Americans long before there was a US.
These sorts of animosity flows survive over centuries regardless of the policiess of governments. Policies sometimes mitigate or attentuate them but generally are nothing more than excuses siezed upon for convenience. And the average Frenchman knows nothing more about "official US policy" than does the average American about "official French policy".
Why does criticism of Israel and Zionism(a political idea)racist?
What does criticism of Israel or Zionism have to do with this or this or this all of which claim to document "rising" anti-semitism in France which seems to be acknowledged by the French government itself? If it is all about "criticism of Israel" or "anti-zionism" rather than anti-semitism, why is anyone in France making life difficult for Jews in France? And why are Fearful Jews Fleeing France with no regrets?
Oh, and why is it wrong for Europeans to generalise about attitudes towards blacks in the US, yet alright for Americans to generalise about attitudes towards Jews in France?
I did not generalize anti-semitism to all French people or all Europeans. What I said, based upon my experience and compared against American standards, was that anti-semitism is astonishingly common in Europe. I stand by that assertion.
Making generalized claims is an unfortunate necessity for conversations such as this. It is a mistake for anyone to make generalized claims without recognizeng the inherent limitations. I do not have hard data that "proves" X% of European, or French, and Y% of American people harbor anti-semitic attitudes and X is greater than Y.
I do have a not inconsequential level of experience over time that tells me that anti-semitism is more common among Europeans than among Americans and is probably more strongly held where it exists among Europeans than among Americans. I recognize this as a very different thing than claiming that all Europeans (or Frenchmen) are Jew hating anti-semites.
It was suggested that 'Muslim enclaves' existed in France. That is simply not the case. There are suburbs with a high immigrant population, of which the majority come from North Africa, but these suburbs are not Muslim ghettoes.
Would you please elaborate upon the distinction within this difference?
While there are probably 'no-go areas' connected to gangsterism, this is not an indicator of 'Muslim separatism' in France.
Well, it seems as if your claim is one of distinguishing between causation (gangsterism) and correlation (Moslem religious affiliation) for the ongoing violence in the North African immigrant neighborhoods.
Regardless of the actual causation - be it gangsterism or Islamism - there are almost certainly "leaders". Time will tell (assuming that information can flow past the media and government gatekeepers) whether those leaders are gangsters, or Islamists, or some of both.
Again, I believe such an idea is fantasy.
Your assignation of "fantasy" to conjecture or opinion that differs with your own is uncalled for and unecessary. To each his own fantasies.
"here are suburbs with a high immigrant population, of which the majority come from North Africa, but these suburbs are not Muslim ghettoes.While there are probably 'no-go areas' connected to gangsterism, this is not an indicator of 'Muslim separatism' in France."
Could you provide figures for the number of non-muslim residents in those areas?
Neo-neocon (While Europe Slept) is pondering this topic and is doing yet more of her good work. She points to a Theodore Dalrymple's August 2002, Barbarians at the Gates of Paris article which is, indeed, sobering and chilling and, it seems, prescient.
PeterUK--the civilization that was once Islam is now a parody of what it once was--Ibn Khaldun, in his muqhadimmah, described the nomadic tribes that became islam--the world has returned islam to those tribes that engage in blood feuds, honor killings and the like. Rome's 2000 years ended with the Emperor John Paleogeous dying in his purple robes defending that civilization in 1453--Islam ended with young boys and girls blowing themselves up to kill other young boys and girls. What a tragedy.
I think my position on Palestine is pretty clear from my post.Knucklehead, we can debate forever on the relvance of different periods in history, but it would be chronologically more logical to refer first to recent periods when looking for causation.No doubt you will disagree, but in that case we'll just have to agree to disagree.There has indeed been criticism of US policies in France for a long time-possibly since the US took on a more agressive role in world affairs and started exporting it's culture. A lot of this criticism is exagerrated and unfounded, but it is still not racially based.The same is probably true of anti-French feeling in the US.And I'm sure the same goes for anti-Israel feeling. I never equated governments with their citizens, by the way.I repeat that I am doubtful there is any more anti-Jewish racism than anti-Arab racism in France.There are plenty of cases of anti-Arab racism, particularly within the establishment.The fact that anti-semitism exists(where doesn't it-I even saw reports of anti-semitism in Israel coming from 'fake' russian Jews)and that anti-zionism also exists does not mean the two can be equated. Furthermore, there are more reasons for Jews to emigrate to Israel than just anti-semitic attacks.Describing areas as 'Muslim enclaves' and talking of 'Muslim separatism' in France give the impression of a religiously-motivated effort to separate within France. There is no factual evidence as far as I know to support this.Good night!
I repeat that I am doubtful there is any more anti-Jewish racism than anti-Arab racism in France.There are plenty of cases of anti-Arab racism, particularly within the establishment.
Oh, I don't doubt the French are equal opportunity snobs. I say snobs for lack of a better term. Race sounds like, well, like race is involved. Anyway, I don't doubt there is plenty of prejudice of all sorts floating about: anti-American, anti-muslim, anti-semitic. I expect Le Pen appeals to all three. Such is life in a stagnating country.
No,not a single word, I waded through your turgid Chomskian parsing of the word enclave,amazing how a virtually monocultural,monotheistic suburb fails the enclave test,let alone the qualifying as a ghetto.Fortunately the French Government is not as deeply in denial as you are.BTW Did I notice a bijou stamp of the foot as you left?
"The fact that anti-semitism exists(where doesn't it-I even saw reports of anti-semitism in Israel coming from 'fake' russian Jews)and that anti-zionism also exists does not mean the two can be equated."
An antisemite will be,per se,an anti-zionist,since Israel is the Jewish state.So we are half way there.A great many of those who support a Palestinian state are fully aware that the stated aims of the Palestinian terrorist groups is "Wiping Israel off the Map"Since this can only be achieved over the dead bodies of the Israelies,who coincidentally just happen to be Jews,it is pretty certain that,at the very least, those supporters are somewhat indifferent to the fate of the Jews.So we gone quite a way to equating antisemitism and anti-Zionism.The latter is shorthand used by the hard left for antisemitism,since the hard left is closely associated with extreme Islamic groups,who openly call for the death of all Jews,the final nail is put in the Chomskian casuistry of those who live in a world of words,with no right and wrong,no is and isn't,no truth or lies.
It never ceases to amaze me how Americans are told we know nothing of Europe and yet Europeans are positively obsessive when it comes to lecturing, moralizing, passing judgment on Americans and American culture.
If you do not think that Muslim youth rioting in Paris has anything to do with radical Islam I really have to wonder about your objectivity.
As for the difference between anti semitism and anti Zionism, the latter is just the socially acceptable form of the former.
The thing that amazes me is that Europeans in general have the audacity to pass judgment on the Israelis considering centuries of persecution and ethnic cleansing not to mention genocide of the Jews.
America is not that insular or isolated. Believe it or not people from all over the world do live here and it is not as if we have never encountered Europeans or spoken with them. It seems to me that in many ways the Europeans are the ones living in isolation and denial, not us.
It's clear that we'll have to "agree to disagree" but that is irrelevant. You've argued your points - whether I or anyone else agrees - in a civil fashion.
In case you return I'd like to take up a discussion of some of your commentary...
There has indeed been criticism of US policies in France for a long time-possibly since the US took on a more agressive role in world affairs...
And when would that be? Was it when the colonists resisted (or perhaps more accurately came into direct conflict with) French expansionism in North America and France's use of Indians to attack colonial settlements?
Or maybe when the US wouldn't succumb to Tallyerand's demand for pot-de-vins.
Perhaps it was when Jefferson sent the Navy and Marines to the Mediterranean to deal with the Barbary Pirates? Or maybe when Monroe issued the Monroe Doctrine warning Europe to stay out of the Americas?
Or perhaps when, once the Confederacy was finally finished, Grant dispatched 50,000 troops under the command of Sheridan to Texas and rearmed the Jauristas effectively putting an end to the Napolean III's attempt to add Mexico to the empire.
Or Maybe it was WWI, or WWII. Or the Cold War. The Balkans?
Hard to identify precisely when "US took on a more agressive role in world affairs" that might have upset the French, isn't it. Hard to say which of the various events provided impetus to keep feelings of animosity alive into subsequent generations, isn't it.
...and started exporting it's culture.
One of the great Euro (and French in particular) cannards, that one.
Please put it to bed, tuck it in lovingly, and neglect to wake it up.
The US doesn't "export its culture". There is no agency of the Department of Commerce tasked with exporting "American Culture". If you don't want to import or copy or wear the bluejeans or watch the movies or adopt American words and phrases, don't.
The world is growing smaller every day and the vibrant or universally interesting or entertaining aspects of many cultures find their way into other cultures constantly. It's amazing how many Average Joe's eat sushi anymore. Get over it or it try to wall your nation off from the world as a whole or the American influences within it at your own peril.
I repeat that I am doubtful there is any more anti-Jewish racism than anti-Arab racism in France.
Yes, you repeated. You made the point several times and I deliberately ignored it. An assertion that there is no more anti-Jewish bigotry than anti-Arab bigotry in France (or anywhere else) is no defence for whatever anti-Jewish bigotry there is.
And the fact that French Jews emmigrate to Israel, in some cases, for reasons other than fear is no defence for the fact that some Jews flee France due to fear.
Another report from the London Times. I find it amusing that Villepin puts down the British multicultural model as a failure. Guess everyone has to be the perfect Frenchman. Maybe the poor souls in the Vendee should start their own separatist movement. Anyway, the French establishment seems opposed to Sarkozy. I wonder how is popularity is holding up among the ordinary citizens?
I'm curious as to why Jez was trying to make the argument that these riots were not occuring in Moslem ghettos ringing Paris?
Especially since he started out by pin pointing the French colonization of North Africa as the root of the problem. One would think ghettoized, down-trodden masses would come in handy for the point he seemed to be trying to make.
-------------------------
From Chuck's article, "The defiant anti-government talk of Mohamed and Sidi is the norm among the disaffected Muslims of the estates after clashes with France’s heavy-handed riot police."
From the article I linked to yesterday, "The president of SOS-Racism, an anti-racism group, called Tuesday for a 'massive investment plan' to cure suburban ills. 'The police response alone ... are not at all adequate to the problem in question,' Dominique Sopo said on France-Info radio, calling for a 'real policy of breaking the ghettos.' The money must go not only to building, but also to caring for the people via local associations, he said.
I'm curious as to why Jez was trying to make the argument that these riots were not occuring in Moslem ghettos ringing Paris?
I have no idea what Jez's hangup about the words "enclave" or "ghetto" is. Possibly a linguistic thing. Don't know if his native language is French and those words have some stronger connotations or not.
The point he seems to be trying to make is that they are not "moslem" enclaves/ghettos/whatevers but, rather, immigrant whatevers which just happen to be primarily North African immigrants who just happen to be moslem. He clearly wants to disconnect the riots from "Islamist" causation and connect it to "gangsterism" or something else more "universal".
It is possible he is at least partially correct. I don't know enough about the ghettos of Paris but what I do know suggests they are predominantly occupied by people who are moslem to varying degrees. The fact that there is rampant violence in ghettos in a major western city is not historically unusual. Given that the primary generators of rampant violence these days happen to also be moslem is a good indicator of where the impetus for violence is centered but, heh, maybe they are just urban gangs run amok who happen to also be North African muslims. That doesn't strike me as the way to bet on this one but it's his nickle dropping in the slot.
Knucklehead,It was a standard,"Move along,nothing to see here", screed.No enclaves,no ghettos,antisemitism and anti-zionism can not be synonymous,no Islamic separatism.Not really very helpful in a fraught situation.It perturbs me since a tunnel was thoughtlessly dug under the channel linking us to all this by train.All EU citizens are free to move to other member's countries.Odd that this occured in more than one European country at the same time.
The interesting thing is that often times it is the second generation that seems to feel the most isolated. Sometimes I wonder if the original immigrants from a generation ago were more desirous to be a part of the larger culture and thus made a greater effort at assimilation.
Terrye,Some communities are totally enclosed,the first generation came to work,but never assimilated,often the men come first bringing their families later,often the wives cannot speak the language of the host country,their culture disbars women from mixing with host society.Wome are not allowed to be educated,leave the house without permission or a male relative and always covered.Many immigrant groups have large families,and here is the rub,it is a common practice for the children of immigrants to have arranged marrriages with partners from the old country.Thsi means that even someone born and raised in the West can have a spouse who cannot speak the language or have skills required in the west.Teenage girls for example disappear from school on reaching puberty and are sent back to the old country, returning with a husband,a westernised female can find herself living the life of her forebearers.So whilst the next generation is born and raised here,one parent is still rooted in the old country.These groups may work amongst us but they do not socialise in any real sense.I would hazard that this situation obtains in Paris also,it is a recipe for disaster.
Investigation into this is discouraged,figures are not kept,but anecdotal information from teachers suggests it is fairly common in the Bangladshi community.I needn't spell out the difference with the Greeks.So far the US is lucky, you are not all competing for the same space,Leicester and Bradford will be cities with Muslim majorities in a few years,this has all occured within a few decades.There is a point where numbers mean the immigrants do not have to assimilate,and yes large ghettos are forming.
The countryside is remarkably empty. Moreso, I think, than 50 years ago. Meanwhile, the Mennonites are buying up the abandoned farmland and spreading. I think Dearborn may be a Muslim majority city but no one really cares. The Michigan banks offer Muslim acceptable loans, etc., and tests may be rescheduled around Ramadan. Not a whole lot different, really, than Jewish holidays in NYC schools. At least, ISTR some Jewish holidays. Anyway, this country really does adapt, and why not if you can make a buck doing so? The dollar is the universal solvent. I think problems here are really quite different than in Europe, but living in the sticks as I do, I would hate to put money on it.
Chuck,The problem is,see Freedom of Speech in Denmark,that governments cannot silence the bombers and the screamers and so silence the natives.Some immigrant groups will not adapt,we have to.There are also some disfunctional and totalitarian nations who feel that they now have a say in our affairs.
There are also some disfunctional and totalitarian nations who feel that they now have a say in our affairs.
Well, didn't the Europeans bend over forward to give them that priviledge? I can't see the French staying in that position forever. Whatever else they are, they *are* French. What is disheartening about England is that the Tories have wimped out. What sort of conservative party is that that doesn't care about tradition and spouts touchy feely fluff?
BTW, I was reading that the V for victory came from Agincourt as the English archers taunted the French by showing the fingers that the French threatened to cut off if any archer was captured. True?
European nations really did not examine the ramifications of large scale immigration into developed and settled society.The possible downside was never envisioned,only the positive aspects were promoted.Poor little Denmark never imagined that a third world country would take them to task on a domestic issue.I hate to say this but we acquired political correctness from you,there was nothing wrong with burgers and rock and roll,but PC!!In my view the Tories are finished,I wouldn't vote for Captain Lip Trembler Blair and I am damned if I will vote for his touchy feely clone...but you know what political are like,somewhat similar to R&R acts in that they always chase that which as been successful,hence the preponderance of Boy bands at one time..it really is too much though these Boy politicians.
Sorry,I forgot the archers,probably a myth sine it took three fingers to draw a longbow,index on top of the arrow middle two beneath,contrary to popular conceptions,it was the string that was pulled back not the arrow.Ferocious weapon,I would rather get shot with a modern metal jacket slug.
I hate to say this but we acquired political correctness from you,there was nothing wrong with burgers and rock and roll,but PC!!
Yeah, sorry about that. We sent you syphilis too and got socialism in return. Not sure who lost most by that yet.
As to the V sign, the fingers to be cut off were the thumb, first, and index fingers. Why the French omitted the third finger, I don't know, but I expect removing the listed fingers would be effective nonetheless. It is remarkable how few long bows have survived to the present, is it not? The Mary Rose seems to have been the largest source for historical specimens.
Sorry Peter, my mistake:I got confused with the 'other' debate I'm in: http://www.blogusblogaeblogum.blogspot.comThere, that should help you!I won't comment any longer on the anti-zionism/anti-semitism debate, since in the face of logic, most of you just answer with standard fallacies. I'll just say this, in case somebody did'n get it: I have never claimed anti-semitism doesn't exist in France. There is no excuse for anti-semitism or any other kind of racism. I am of Jewish origin, as well as various european origins. I don't claim to be a 'victim' of racism(that would be stupid), but I have felt it. Racism is a loaded word and an innacurate one most often, but it's the best we have in this debate, I guess.Knucklehead, I knew you'd pick out one small phrase in my last post and string it out into a debate, and I knew that would be the phrase-how clairvoyant of me! I did mention, did I not, that a lot of anti-american feeling in France is exagerrated and unfounded, just as it probably is in the reverse form. You seem to wish to turn this into a french vs american debate, but I'm not interested in that.If you visit my blog, you'll realise I am far from being a french patriot or even a british patriot. And my native languages are irrelevant, by the way!The 'muslim enclave' debate is becoming rather stupid too, I'm afraid, still I'll add this:sometimes(often), words are important. There is a difference between an 'immigrant suburb'(or ghetto if you must) and a 'muslim enclave'. While dictionary definitions are important, common usage is also important. I am not that familiar with US-English(though I do watch Saturday Night Live sometimes!), but in UK English 'enclave' is not a word often used to describe an area with a high population of one ethnic/religious group. Ghetto might be, but remains a loaded term. I have no doubt Peter will correct me, but I can assure you I have plenty of experience of growing up and living in the UKOh, and Terrye, you seem to have missed something:Israel does not represent Jews. You can repeat fallacies like a mantra as long as you like, but it won't make them any more true.Peter, I see BNP-style speech is alive and kicking. No doubt it's members love Israel for dealing with the 'Jewish problem'. If only there could be a 'Muslim democracy' which would deal with all those troublesome Muslims, eh?Thanks Rogera, thanks Knucklehead. You are welcome anytime too!
Well if Israel does not represent the Jews perhaps you should tell that to the Palestianians and their fellow Arabs not to mention the mad mullahs of Iran..perhaps then they will stop threatening to drive the Jews into the sea. Maybe then they will stop chanting Kill the Jews in reference to Israel.
In fact it is highly unlikely that if not for European homicidal antisemitism Israel would ever have come to existence following WW2. Or at least not in the way it did.
After all the Arab Muslims had declared a fatwa against the Jews many years before the establishment of Israel and that fatwa simply became a declaration of war against the state of Israel.
So if Israel does not represent Jews then those brave resistance fighters from Hamas are sending brainwashed teenagers off to blow up themeselves and the wrong people.
Terrye,While I abhor the harming and killing of innocent civilians, it seems to me that the terrorists (be they fanatics or simply misguided individuals)attack citizens of Israel, NOT Jews in general. Furthermore, why I should have to tell them is irrelevant to our discussion here. I am neither muslim, nor a terrorist.As for 'European homicidal antisemitism', sure there was such a thing, though it was more specifically German, and even more specifically Nazi. The Americans, Northern and Southern, murdered natives by the...well, I don'thave the figures and will not make them up. Does that make Americans today homicidal? More recently, Blacks were segregated against and generally treated as second class citizens. Are Americans slave masters? What about the Afrikaaners? Could they be accused today of being a bunch of murdering slave-masters? If you want to fight racism and bigotry in general, you ought to refrain from using such hyperbolic language. Then again, perhaps what drives you is not so much fighting bigotry as defending Israel.
"I won't comment any longer on the anti-zionism/anti-semitism debate, since in the face of logic, most of you just answer with standard fallacies."
This of course the standard argument of someone who has not got one,pathetic.It is your duty to point out those fallacies.
"Peter, I see BNP-style speech is alive and kicking. No doubt it's members love Israel for dealing with the 'Jewish problem'. If only there could be a 'Muslim democracy' which would deal with all those troublesome Muslims, eh?"
Another standard screed for those who don't have any logic.Of course we are entitled to ask hard questions,it is us they are killing,everything is on the table after 7/11.
You of course can keep on running,we have to live here,so it is entirely reasonable to question an immigration policy which results in a sizeable minority in conflict with society.
Britain has been extraordinarily generous with its immigration policy,billions have been expended on the special needs of immigrants,in housing,health,education,jobs.Millions of people have been settled,in what is an already densely populated country, without the bloodshed that would have been encountered in many parts of the world.
Yes I will correct you ghetto is the official term,Trevor Phillips of the Commission for Racial Equality,stated that it was dangerous for communities to become "ghettoised".We generally use the term "Immigrant areas",enclave is so French is it not,never "immigrant suburbs", simply because immigrants here mainly live in the inner city areas.Anyway keep on trawling for commenters for your site,and do keep moving,travel broadens the mind,you know, go to Iran to conduct some dialogue on this subject which seems to fascinate you.
For your own sake, Peter, I suggest you spend more time researching factual and rational arguments rather than relying on sarcasm which really has nothing to do with the matter at hand. You really don't come accross as very serious.
While I abhor the harming and killing of innocent civilians, it seems to me that the terrorists (be they fanatics or simply misguided individuals)attack citizens of Israel, NOT Jews in general.
This is beyond the paleSorry but your leftoid dissembling has gone too far here,the attacks are on Jews,not Zionists,after all do the Muslims ask them before assaulting them? It is quite possible to be a Jew and not a Zionist.
I reitterate,are you left or a muslim? From your statements you are one or the other,of course you could just be stupid.
"For your own sake, Peter, I suggest you spend more time researching factual and rational arguments rather than relying on sarcasm which really has nothing to do with the matter at hand. You really don't come accross as very serious."
Jez you dont have any factual rational arguments,you are merely a poseur,I don't treat you seriously because your arguments are so grossly erroneouis which can only be classed propaganda.You 6:07 post is tantamount to "we only kill Jews by mistake" and is utterly despicable.It can only be attributed to you being a leftist,a muslim or so morally bankrupt you will say anything to get hits on your site.
While I abhor the harming and killing of innocent civilians, it seems to me that the terrorists (be they fanatics or simply misguided individuals)attack citizens of Israel, NOT Jews in general. Furthermore, why I should have to tell them is irrelevant to our discussion here. I am neither muslim, nor a terrorist.
Jez,
Well, it only took a day, but at last we can call a Moslem a Moslem and a ghetto a ghetto. I suppose that is progress of sorts.
You might want to reread what you've written, which I have quoted above. Misguided individuals killing citizens and why should you be bothered condeming such acts? Nearly perfect, if only you could come up with a euphamism for killing... perhaps life-impairing would do?
To be blunt, you spend so much time noodling around with words you bleed them of all meaning. Parsing and reparsing commonly understood words and then declaring you've pointed out obvious fallacies isn't exactly the height of serious debate.
I said:"While I abhor the harming and killing of innocent civilians, it seems to me that the terrorists (be they fanatics or simply misguided individuals)attack citizens of Israel, NOT Jews in general."
Peter said:"Sorry but your leftoid dissembling has gone too far here,the attacks are on Jews,not Zionists,after all do the Muslims ask them before assaulting them? It is quite possible to be a Jew and not a Zionist."
So who is assuming Israeli citizens are all Zionists?I didn't. I said I abhored the KILLING of innocent civilians.
"it seems to me that the terrorists (be they fanatics or simply misguided individuals)attack citizens of Israel, NOT Jews in general." But they ARE attacking Jews in general,all across Europe.Your mealy mouthed qualification,elides the fact that there is a large Jewish population in Israel,ipso facto,if you target Israeli citizens,you target Jews.You abhore the "killing of inocent civilians",yet seem to be unable to see that this could be prevented by ceasing attacks on Israel.Or ar you another omelette person?
Subsaharan Africans are Christians as well as Muslims. Subsahara Africans Muslims, follow on the whole a very different type of Islam, much less strict, than in Arab or southern Asian countries.Jeremy, Jonathan? Hardly Muslim names, are they?
Peter, do you have Attention Defficiency Syndrome?You really should go over those last few posts again, slowly, making sure you don't miss anything out, and that you understand the links between each argument.Failing that, I reccommend a course in argumentative discourse.
It's a shame your clairvoyance is not matched by your reading comprehension and converstaion skills. You'd be interesting to chat with if that were the case.
I've completely lost whatever point(s) it is you are trying to make. I've made a reasonable attempt to follow and have spent way too much time reading and rereading your comments.
A minor thing, admittedly, but it might help if you learned to press the carriage return key from time to time and organize your thoughts into something resembling paragraphs rather than blatting them out in giant, undifferentiated streams. That would make it easier for your audience.
But back to your points, whatever they are. I realize it is a character flaw on my part but I don't know how to be any more accomodating than I've been. I've gone as far as to restate what I think are the major points you are making. That's a conversational technique intended to provide you an opportunity to correct any misunderstanding I've arrived at.
You don't seem interested in or capable of taking the opportunity to help me out. Instead you chose to rattle around about how enclaves that aren't enclaves but maybe they are ghettos but they're really just immigrant suburbs, how bigotry isn't bigotry if there is equal or greater bigotry toward multiple groups, how anti-zionism is some how magically different than anti-semitism without ever, as far as I can detect, offering so much as a brief description of what either is in your secret version of "common usage".
I've followed along wherever you wanted to go with the conversation, have repeatedly mentioned that while I disagree it is entirely possible that you are more or less correct, and yet you insist I am trying to "turn it into" something.
To cut to the bottom line, you are impossible to have a chat with. You don't read what people say, you make no attempt to clarify or elaborate, and you insist people said things they did not say.
Which all forces me to bid you good day and wish you well on whatever blustery journey it is you have embarked.
Well, Knucklehead, if that's the way you feel, I can only bid you farewell. I will however address the points which seem to have elluded your understanding:
The post being about immigrant suburbs and the assumption being that these are 'Moslem enclaves' as you yourself put it, I think I was entirely justified in opposing that belief, which to me, is un-justified.It's very convenient for you to make incendary comments and then claim that I am 'rattling around'.I never claimed 'bigotry isn't bigotry if there is equal or greater bigotry toward multiple groups', but simply showing that there is no monopoly of anti-semitic violence, despite what some would like to believe.As for Anti-Zionism/Anti-Semitism, I assumed you were knowlegeable enough to grasp the difference yourself. Still, I guess I was wrong, so here goes:Anti-Semitism, at least in today's usage, defines an irrational dislike for people of Jewish origin, akin to racism.Zionism, again in today's usage, is a political stance which advocates the necessity of a Jewish state. As Peter himself pointed out, Israeli citizens are not necessarily Zionists. So surely there is even more chance that Jews are not necessarily Zionists. Therefore, anti-Zionism is an opposition to the Israeli state. Nothing more. While some anti-Zionists are no doubt also anti-semitic, it is not a pre-requisite. Unless of course, 'Zionism' has magically changed definition to take on the meaning 'Jewishness'.
Peter, do you have Attention Defficiency Syndrome?You really should go over those last few posts again, slowly, making sure you don't miss anything out, and that you understand the links between each argument.Failing that, I reccommend a course in argumentative discourse.
Oh dear! Am I getting to the lie that is at the bottom of your assertions.they are not arguments.
Here,""While I abhor the harming and killing of innocent civilians, it seems to me that the terrorists (be they fanatics or simply misguided individuals)attack citizens of Israel, NOT Jews in general.""
IT SEEMS TO YOU,that dwells purely in the realm of opinion.
Which course in argumentative discourse do yoy recommend?Obviously not the one you took since that is obviously run by charlatans.
Ambi,No it is quite permissable to kill little children in the course of attacking Zionism.A Murder bomber, for instance who wishes to make his ant-Zionist statement by blowing himself up on a bus is only killing non-Jews and non-Zionist Jews incidentally.Abhorrent but there you are.It would be useful here to note that it has been categorically stated that there are "No civilian Israelis".
"Maybe then they will stop chanting Kill the Jews in reference to Israel."
To that I answered that the terrorists he/she was referring to attack and kill Israelis, not Jews in general.
No, I don't think it is right to harm ANYBODY, unless it is in self-defense. I don't think it is justified to harm anyone physically for their opinions or beliefs.I have never claimed that it was RIGHT to do such a thing.
Terry wrote:"perhaps you should tell that to the Palestianians and their fellow Arabs not to mention the mad mullahs of Iran....perhaps then they will stop threatening to drive the Jews into the sea."
If I wanted to twist the meaning of the above comment, and take it out of context, as many here enjoy doing, i could point out that the 'fellow Arabs' in Al Qaeda have killed Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus and no doubt more.What it does mean, is that there is not a specific threat to the Jewish people as a whole(I have to clarify for all to understand) from Islamist fundamentalists compared to members of other faiths. None of these faiths have states created for them, in their name.
I do Jez but do you? You seem to have the inability to understand so many things,you would have done better to read St Thomas Aquinas,rather than that old fraud Chomsky.Incidentally why won't you answer the question,is it perhaps leading you to areas that you will not discuss here?
It means shoot the son of a bitch when he threatens you, right? I knew we had something in common somewhere. Now if only France and Britain would allow the guns needed by the good citizens in self defense...
The post being about immigrant suburbs and the assumption being that these are 'Moslem enclaves' as you yourself put it, I think I was entirely justified in opposing that belief, which to me, is un-justified. It's very convenient for you to make incendary comments and then claim that I am 'rattling around'.
I am attempting to discover what lies behind your increasingly obvious anger on this topic. I remain unsure about what, precisely, you believe are the "incendiary comments" I have made.
From your comment which I just quoted above I take it what you find particularly "incendiary" is my use of the term "moslem enclave".
I suggested in other comments above that we may be having some linguistic difficulty. Since this is clearly an English language sight with American English predominant, it is incumbent upon you to accept "standard usage" rather than upon me to try and discern whatever "standard usage" is for whatever your native language is. Enclave is a term that is not the least bit freighted with any incendiary connotation in it's standard American English usage. I provided the definition far above and the definition is entirely consistent with standard usage and my usage of the term is quite standard. If you find it incendiary too freakin' bad. Get over it.
Furthermore, if you would have spent even a piddling level of effort attempting to put aside your own crankiness long enough to read what I wrote rather than what you seem to wish I wrote, you'd have read this comment from me:
The point [Jez] seems to be trying to make is that they are not "moslem" enclaves/ghettos/whatevers but, rather, immigrant whatevers which just happen to be primarily North African immigrants who just happen to be moslem.
Is that, or is that not, a central point you want to make with respect to the ongoing events in Parisian "immigrant suburbs"?
And just to touch yet again on the matter of words, linguistic difficulties, and "standard usage", would you please be kind enough to define for us what you mean by the term "suburb"?
I have poking around at this story and have come to the conclusion that the "standard usage" of the term "suburb", when used by French speaking people, is something much closer to the American English term "inner city". In standard American English usage "suburb" is most decidedly not equivalent to what we would typically refer to as "inner city ghetto".
If you, Jez, will climb down off your cranky, high-horse long enough to make as much of an attempt to understand what I am saying to you as I have made to understand what you are saying to me, we may begin to stop talking past one another and, instead, have a conversation.
Until such a thing happens I will stand by my assertion that you have little interest, or perhaps are incapable of, having a conversation.
And you know, because I stated it clearly enough, that I don't believe in killing innocent civilians unless it is in self-defense (which I suppose could include bystanders). Ok, I expect you're going to need an example:If you come at me to hit me, and I hit you in defense, and you subsequently fall on top of a bystander, then my hitting you would be justified, even if I unintentionally caused physical harm to the bystander.Somehow, I think we have drifted from the original question. But since you wanted me to define a term for you, I've done it.
KH,Ok, so you're now claiming you didn't use the term 'Moslem enclave' in an effort to define the riots as 'Moslem riots'?
KH wrote:"his latest round of riots - if what little bits and pieces of reporting we can find are accurate and there's no good reason to assume that they are - seems to be something akin to a "seperatist" movement to try and wall off Moslem ghetto enclaves from "outside interference" from the, ummm..., nationals."
I am aware of the differences between UK and US english, and the differences in meaning between French(from France) terms and UK and US terms. A suburb remains a suburb, though. In France, predominantly immigrant areas happen to be in the suburbs. I was obviously not talking about 'suburbia' or 'leafy suburbs'. As is clear from my translated quotes a bit further up, these 'ghettoes' can not be simplistically defined as 'Moslem' and neither can the riots or the angry youths.
BTW, for any still attending this thread, here is a post at Big Lizards - Is This the "Third Intifada" -- Or Not? (Daffydd) which touches on the matter of trying to determine, from the outside and using the sparse reporting (some of which is tracked and pointed to) on the Paris riots, whether this is a "Muslim" uprising or nothing more than another example of inner city rioting where, in this case, the rioters just happen to be predominantly of North African ethnicity which includes, of course, Muslim religious affiliation.
Daffydd is asking, and finding no good answers, if what seems to be Jez's claim about the "nature" of the riots is correct.
I see from your dancing around over my question about asymetrical warfare and self-defense, that you think you're avoiding a trap I'm setting for you. Actually, I was simply curious as to how honest of an answer you would give me.
To get back on topic in this thread, I was struck and rather puzzled by your objections to me using the term Moslem Ghettos. After probing a bit -- and seeing you so fervently try to get the label changed to North Africa, immigrant, or gangster -- I gather it is far more the Moslem then the Ghetto part that you're objecting to.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but from reading your comments and blog you define yourself as multicultural and un-national. I assume you believe the Nation State has outlived its usefulness. In fact, Nations are liable to cause strife. I assume you believe that a better social organization would be some sort of International organization replacing nationial governments. You also believe that the level of natural social organization exists at a much smaller scale than nations and that borders should dissappear so that people could freely move where they wanted?
Amb,I am not here to discuss my beliefs regarding states and nations. I came here to discuss the original post which commented on the riots in France.I gave perfectly valid answers to your questions about innocent civilians and self-defense. I'm no longer willing to play your silly little game.
That's exactly what I thought. The whole business of trying to remove Islam from French Moslem neighborhoods is just whistling past the graveyard.
In the pit of your stomache you know that large numbers of violent and aggressive Islamists render your happy and peaceful multicultural montage moot. If they are there, all the wishing in the world won't make them go away.
KH,Ok, so you're now claiming you didn't use the term 'Moslem enclave' in an effort to define the riots as 'Moslem riots'?
Not exactly, but close.
The riots are happening in what apparently qualify as "suburbs" in Paris. Call them what you will, it ultimately makes no difference to me.
Whatever they are, areas where the preponderance (and what indicators there are available to me suggest that the vast majority, some 80% or more in this case) of the inhabitants share some commonality of ethnicity and/or religious affiliation and/or economic status can accurately (and not incendiarily!) be called "enclaves". Whether the area is urban, suburban, exurban, or rural has no bearing upon whether the term "enclave" applies or not.
It is perfectly natural when using the term enclave to attach a further descriptor such as "Polish" or "Russian" or "Hindi" or "Hassidic" or "Moslem".
I had presumed, and have acknowledged several times, that I may be incorrect or partially so, that the strongest commonality among the inhabitants is that they are moslem. Clearly they are. They are also, as you pointed out, North African and immigrants.
You are, as far as I can tell, asserting that the "moslem" commonality among the inhabitants is far less a "unifying" characteristic than their "North African immigrants" or economic commonality is. I have acknowledged that you may be correct or at least partially so.
So, yes, I referred to them as "moslem enclaves" in the belief that that is what sort of enclave they are. I did not, however, use the term to define the riots as "moslem riots". I presume they are "moslem riots" but have repeatedly indicated that I do not know that to any degree of certainty.
You are reading far too much - and especially far too much "incendiariness" - into my use of the terms "moslem" and "enclave". Let it go - the angst over this "moslem enclave" thing is yours, not mine.
Which brings me back to this:
"This latest round of riots...
There have been other recent riots in, IIRC, Paris during which public housing was either set afire or the local inhabitants took action to hinder the police and firefighters. Therein lies my "latest round of riots" wording.
- if what little bits and pieces of reporting we can find are accurate and there's no good reason to assume that they are - ...
This acknowledged the difficulty in finding reporting on the riots in the media as well as stating my opinion (which I believe is well founded) that the veracity and/or capability of the media to get the facts or analysis correct is suspect.
seems to be something akin to a "seperatist" movement to try and wall off Moslem ghetto enclaves from "outside interference" from the, ummm..., nationals."
And this refers to the fact that the reporting, such as it was, sometimes referred to things such as...
...This area belongs to us’, the youths proclaimed. ‘The police have to stay away. This is our area. We decide what goes on down here’.... from reporting on the Danish riots,
“‘If we park our car it will be damaged – so we have to go very often in two vehicles, one just to protect the other vehicle,’ said Rolf Landgren, a Malmo police officer. Fear of violence has changed the way police, firemen and emergency workers do their jobs. There are some neighborhoods Swedish ambulance drivers will not go to without a police escort. Angry crowds have threatened them, telling them which patient to take and which ones to leave behind.”
which all suggest that in Paris, Denmark, and Sweden (at least) there is a commonly acknowledged attempt, by the inhabitants, to make some or all of these "immigrant suburbs" off limits to the standard local or national authorities. That, it sure seems to me, suggests some form of "seperatism" desired by the inhabitants in general or the rioters in particular.
And that is the fullest possible elaboration I can make regarding my earliest comments regarding this matter. I continue to believe that the "moslem-ness" of the inhabitants of these various "immigrant suburbs" is a strong factor in both the "no go" nature of them as well as in the impetus behind the rioting. You clearly disagree.
I will point out, however, that while these various "immigrant suburbs" scattered around Europe (they exist in or around cities other than Paris and in countries other than France) do not all share "North African", or "Middle Eastern" or "Arab" ethnicity. They do share "immigrant" and "moslem" commonality. Which is more important to what is going on I do not know for sure but if I were somehow required to make a wager picking one of the two, I'd opt for "moslem".
"If you come at me to hit me, and I hit you in defense, and you subsequently fall on top of a bystander, then my hitting you would be justified, even if I unintentionally caused physical harm to the bystander."
What if you knew there was a danger of collateral damage,you have to realise that the above could be no defemce in a court of law.
A Hamas sniper is shooting at you from behind a group of schoolchildren,you have no cover,there us no way to hit the sniper without hitting the children.Do you:-a)Return fire?b)Remonstrate with the sniper for being cowardly and underhand?c)Obligingly drop down dead?
I commented only on France.Not on Denmark or Sweden, of which, as I have said, I don't have much knowledge.
KH wrote:I will point out, however, that while these various "immigrant suburbs" scattered around Europe (they exist in or around cities other than Paris and in countries other than France) do not all share "North African", or "Middle Eastern" or "Arab" ethnicity. They do share "immigrant" and "moslem" commonality. Which is more important to what is going on I do not know for sure but if I were somehow required to make a wager picking one of the two, I'd opt for "moslem".
In France, you are right that they do not all share North African, Arab or Middle Eastern ethnicity. You are wrong, however, in claiming they share moslem or even immigrant commonality. Look, I know areas such as the ones we are discussing. I've been there, known people there, go to university there(though not in the Parisian area). So, I'm not making a wager. I'm speaking from experience. Did you read the translated quotes?Peter, you're still playing the same game. Take a leaf out of Knuclehead's book.
"Look, I know areas such as the ones we are discussing. I've been there, known people there, go to university there(though not in the Parisian area). So, I'm not making a wager. I'm speaking from experience."
I tried to run a free text translator against the stuff at Jez's URL but couldn't get past "Emeutes of Clichy-under-drinks the young ones accuse the police Between provocations and police oppressions".
Well, buck up Emuetes of Clichy, ol' sod, and quit under drinking the young ones! And yo, young ones. Can't y'all find something better to do between provocations and police oppressions than accusing police. Like, get some sleep and stop burning stuff.
Jez,
I read your translations but fail to see how the fact that some of the "young ones" carry given names like Jeremy has much to do with this?
The question that interests me is who is behind the riots, what is stirring them up, and what is it they think they might accomplish. I'm also interested in what the implications are for Europe and, ultimately, me.
If the riots are nothing more than frustrated and oppressed young ones run amok then they are awful long-lived and widespread. This is into the 7th day now and that's an awful long time to go around burning stuff to rage against the machine. There aren't many examples I am aware of the buring and trashing portion of riots lasting more than two or three days. Longer than that seems a good indicator of someone behind the scenes working hard to keep things going - "leaders".
The fact that some of the young ones doing the rioting sport nice christian names like "Jeremy" doesn't tell us much about who the leaders are. Therein lies the key for what this is ultimately all about and what they are after.
A hint of at least what they are after is contained in the "keep out" demands that seem to be remarkably consistent across the various countries which are experiencing these riots recently.
My speculation is that despite the presence and presumed sincerity of Young Jeremy and Jonathan there are some older and quite craftier birds with very different names who would like to establish autonomy from the normal organs and processes of law and order and replace those with "something else" in some or all of the "immigrant suburbs" where the riots are taking place. I further speculate that the "something else" will turn out to be sharia.
Jeremy and Jonathan are likely to be none to happy if whoever is pulling their young strings achieves what they are after.
Regardless of all that what is it anyone over there proposes be done? The French press was positively gleeful with contempt for the stupid, barbaric Americans when we didn't clear 20,000 people away from the Superdome within three days following a hurricane. What is the position of the French press now that it seems France has no clue about how to stop widespread rioting after a week has gone by?
BTW, if anyone over there should happen to run into Young Jonathan they might wanna point out that he don't know diddley about what its like in America and he might want to drop the Nostradamus nonsense ;)
Pretty much everything I've written here shows that there is little, if any, rational basis for the idea that these riots are about religion. All you have offered is speculation.And yet, if there is burden of proof, it lies heavily on your shoulders.
By the way, you said you had often 'eavesdropped' on conversations in France. I hope your translator was better than the one you just mentioned!
"Pretty much everything I've written here shows that there is little, if any, rational basis for the idea that these riots are about religion. All you have offered is speculation.And yet, if there is burden of proof, it lies heavily on your shoulders."
Now that is what I CALL projection.You like parsing words,if you just change "shows" to "asserts" the "you" and "your" to "I" and we might be achieving a rapprochement
Ah, Jez, your French hubris and arrogance is showing. I did not say I often eavesdrop on conversatons in France.
I said that while in Europe (please note that despite French opinion to the contrary there is far more to Europe than France) I try, whenever possible, to eavesdrop on or engage in conversation. French is extremely problematic for me - I have no ear for it, no training or long term exposure to it, and no interest in it. It is not possible for me to eavesdrop on, or engage in,conversations conducted in French - I neither speak nor read the language beyond the level of menus and directions.
If you were to review what I've said you'd find very little, if any, specific to France. My comments have been generalized to Europe and while I have been to France several times my exposure to other parts of Europe is more extensive.
Ambi,I particulary like those called Jeremy and Jonathon,sound more like a couple of English public schoolboys.They ssem to have done a lot of damage between the two of them,I always thought these exchange students were more trouble than they are worth.
Jeremy and Jonathon,sound more like a couple of English public schoolboys.
Gap year, perhaps. A chance to do something different while resurrecting the traditional English approach to France. When they return to University they will roll back their sleeves, bare their hearts, show their scars, and say, "These wounds I received on the way to the Feast"
Chuck,We were cruelly oppressed by Bloody Duke William of Normandy,who inflicted a line of monarchs who to say the least,gave us a bad name around the world.this was seared,dry roasted and cooked at gas mark 7 into our psyche.Just think of Agincourt,Crecy,Trafalgar,and Waterloo as our riots.It is a pity for the poor French,but one would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh.
An excellent point and one I expect will survive the after action reporting. I saw a report, however, that the press has pulled out because the rioters were mugging for the cameras (another very un-Amish behavior, BTW). It is possible we just haven't yet seen the evidence of the tidying. Also, we wouldn't know about the planting of crops, at least not definitively, until after the winter (does winter wheat thrive in Paris?)
KH,Being Franco-British of Austrian-Jewish and Italian origin, I doubt I could be accused of thinking there is nothing more to Europe than France.You, however, as you have just admitted, generalise about Europe on the basis of speculation and 'eavesdropping' conversations that apparently are not in French. Imagine, for a moment, that I were to judge Americans and the US based on my one week in New York(and an hour at Seattle airport!).And yet, the US is one country with one official language.Europe is not, and despite what some want us to think, Europe is nowhere near being a close-knit community, as much as I want to believe in that idea. It seems to me, you(and others)would like to equate the French with their leaders. If you really knew the French(a cross section) you wouldn't think they thought of Europe as nothing more than France. Many French tend to overreact to what they percieve as foreign threats(Brussels, Britain, US, Turkey, Muslims), but I think you'll find French thinking is not as simple as the actions of French governments.Again, should I come to the conclusion that Americans are bible-bashing, flag-waving belligerant morons, just because that's how President Bush comes accross? Thankfully, I have a little more jugment than that.
BTW, Jeremy and Jonathan are more likely to be Subsaharan Christians, but you couldn't know that, could you?Of course, they could well be Jewish (no sarcasm), even if that is less llikely. First and foremost, however, they are likely to be French. Probably more French than I am-despite my white skin.
For your own good beg, borrow, steal, lease, rent, grow, or otherwise procure a sense of humor. They really are helpful and you really need one.
...as you have just admitted, generalize about Europe on the basis of speculation and 'eavesdropping' conversations that apparently are not in French.
WTF is that supposed to demonstrate? You got me, dude. I've generalised about Europe based upon conversations which weren't in French. High crimes and misdemeanors!
Imagine, for a moment, that I were to judge Americans and the US based on my one week in New York(and an hour at Seattle airport!
Well, actually, dear child, it would be a bit different. Let's see... rough calcs... 27 into 3... carry the 3... call it 11... probably a bit overstated... chop off 20%... call it 8% of my adult life spent in Europe. You've got one week and an airport visit in the US. Presuming you are older than say, 19, that would make your exposure to the US somewhere seriously south or 2% or your adult lifetime.
Now, you certainly have a big advantage on the multi-lingual front but no so great as may presume. In case you haven't noticed it is quite common to find conversations carried on in English whilst aboard European trains and planes, in hotel lobbies and restaurants, and also during business functions drawing people from several countries. And I an not hopelessly uni-lingual. I can manage to function reasonably well in several places where kings and/or queens still exist. My German, while never strong, has gone hopelessly rusty. But, heh, language is a fascinating thing. It provides an enormous amount of situational clues. One needn't, for example, speak or understand a single word of Estonian to recognize that the Estonian gents are speaking very favorably and animatedly about the young woman who just passed by.
Knucklehead, if you think this is a game of who spent most time in the other one's country/continent, too bad.As you have admitted you generalise about Europe. You said you could be wrong about the Islamic background to the riots in France, and I think I have shown that there is no basis for such an idea. If you can't accept that speculating is not evidence, too bad. I'm bored now. Either come up with some kind of evidence that what you are speculating is true, or accept that you are wrong. Failing that, there really is no point in carrying on. If you want claim to have 'won', fine:I'm not after recognition, I just can't stand speculation based on nothing and/or lies. I think we've had a reasonably civil debate.I'm sure Peter was trying to be funny...
if you think this is a game of who spent most time in the other one's country/continent, too bad.
You're the one who brought forward the "as if" comparison. I simply responded.
You said you could be wrong about the Islamic background to the riots in France, and I think I have shown that there is no basis for such an idea. If you can't accept that speculating is not evidence, too bad.
I have never claimed to be presenting "evidence". I have labeled my speculations as precisely that - numerous times. And I have provided elaboration about why I arrive at the speculations I make and, to a lesser extent, how they may be flawed.
It is you who seems to believe your speculation is the equivalent of presenting evidence - it is you who claims to have "shown" this or that. You have done nothing of the sort. You have speculated, presented some basis for you speculation, but accept no flaw. You declare your speculations to be facts.
Boring is as boring does.
Either come up with some kind of evidence that what you are speculating is true, or accept that you are wrong.
That may be the single stupidest thing you've said. Why would I accept the incorrectness what I fully admit is speculation based upon, well, nothing but contrary speculation?
Why don't you return when all this has become clearer and there is some actual evidence about who, if anyone, is pulling strings behind the rioters and then we'll discuss whether or not various speculations proved to be correct or incorrect and to what degree.
Everyone in this thread has consistently spoken of these riots as if they were the acts of Muslims, led by Muslims, coordinated by Muslims. If you want to now act as if you were just guessing, that's fine with me. I've wasted enough time. What interests me is reality, not empty speculation, based on what I'd like to believe. I'm sure you think all I want is to defend Muslims. In fact, I spent several months in a similar kind of debate with people who claimed the Jews were responsible for all the ills of the world, and who praised Bin Laden. They may have been more extremist in their beliefs, but like most of the people here, they just wanted to believe in something, and no amount of reasoning could make any difference.
I suppose I need to plead guilty as charged. The road to Stuck-on-Stupid is sometimes paved with good intentions. In this case it was a good faith effort gone awry. I'll the results in mind for the future but I am increasingly forgetful so the lesson may not stick - I'll likely repeat the error 'fore too long.
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National Guard and Reserve worth the money
I have long known that the National Guard and Reserve are a bargain for our state and country. Itís gratifying to finally see the numbers in black and white.
Last month, the Reserve Forces Policy Board issued a report to the Secretary of Defense on the full cost of military personnel.
Itís the first official report from a Department of Defense entity that makes it clear that the cost of a National Guard or Reserve member is much less than that of an active-component member.
The report, which looked at all costs such as health care, dependent education, housing and retirement, shows that in fiscal year 2013 the annual cost to the federal government for a reserve-component member is $123,351 while the cost of an active-component member is $384,622.
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I point this out because as part of the Presidentís 2013 Defense Budget, the Air Force proposes to reduce the size and capability of its most efficient and cost-effective forces Ė the reserve component. More specifically, they plan to close the Air Force Reserveís 911th Airlift Wing based in Pittsburgh this year.
Governor Tom Corbett and I continue to work with members of Congress, urging them to support a 2013 budget that honors national security yet promotes fiscal responsibility. Based on the defense departmentís own report, it would make the most sense to take a small cut in the active-component in order to maintain or expand the capabilities of the Department of Defense by shifting forces to the reserve-component. Itís a 3 to 1 cost savings that should not be ignored.
Troops serving in the Guard and Reserve are as highly trained as their counterparts in the active-component yet they only get paid when they work. Taking advantage of this cost-effectiveness is certainly not a novel idea, but one that the Air Force must seriously consider.
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Marriage Equality
Since the founding our church on October 6, 1968, we have provided religious ceremonies for both opposite and same-gender couples who wish to make a public declaration of their love.
It is estimated that Founders Metropolitan Community Churches around the world perform more than 5000 same-gender Blessings, Marriages and Holy Unions every year. It is true to say that we have led the way in providing safe religious communities where these ceremonies can be held.
In California, we have been active in the political arena as well. We were very active during some of the most anti-gay ballot initiatives that attempted to write discriminations against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, and queer peoples into our constitution. One such ballot initiative that is still being determined in the courts as to its validity is Proposition 8. This initiative was voted on in 2008 and, following a legislative ruling that found that denying civil marriage to same-gender couples was unconstitutional. What followed was a constitutional amendment passed by the voters that ultimately defined marriage in California as “between one man and one woman”. During the “Summer of Love,” as it has been referred to, 18,000 same gender couples married and remain married under California law.
Clergy at Founders Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles married more than 250 of these couples, including many of its members and friends.
We will continue to speak out against this new layer of discrimination and have written several Amicus Briefs, or “Friend of the Court” briefs to support our belief in full civil and religious equality. Our clergy will continue to offer religious marriage to both opposite and same-gender couples and look forward to the opportunity to performing legal marriage again, in the near future.
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Hosting a Tasting
Hosting a Tasting
Holding a wine tasting can be a great way to learn a little more about wine, try some new styles, or just a good excuse to open a few bottles with friends and family.
A wine tasting doesn’t have to be enormously complicated, or difficult to organise. Here are some tips and suggestions for hosting your own.
What you will need:
A good table
Some good wine glasses
A spittoon (optional, but advised!)
Paper, pens and a tasting sheet (see below)
Jug of water to rinse glasses between tastings
Getting started
First of all you’ll need to decide on what sort of format you’d like your tasting to take, and organise your wines - these can be your own personal preferences or some bottles you’ve never tried before.
Tasting by varieties
One of the easiest and most flexible of tastings - pick a few grape varieties to taste, with varying vintages and styles, and line up according to the main rules: left to right, whites to reds, going from the least powerful grape to the more perfumed and full-bodied, and going from the youngest to the oldest vintage. You could choose to concentrate on just one variety, or maybe just whites or reds to start off with.
'Horizontal' and 'vertical' tastings
Slightly more ambitious, and used for more professional style tasting:
A horizontal tasting compares wines from a specific region and vintage – across a number of different producers.
A vertical tasting compares the wines of just one estate or producer. This will be over a number of different vintages and is designed to show the evolution of the wine and the effect different growing conditions have on the production of a wine.
Blind tasting
Referring to a tasting where the wines are masked (as opposed to your guests). This is a fun way of dispelling any preconceptions you may or may not have of a wine, and can be an interesting way to taste. Disguise your wines before your guests arrive with brown paper bags on the bottles or by pre-pouring to avoid cheating.
Food & wine matching
A vast and varied topic – which can lend itself well for an interesting tasting. Try preparing a selection of cheeses - hard and soft varieties, blue veined, sheep and cow's milk – and try partnering with a few different red, white and dessert wines. If nothing else, have a good supply of dry crackers to hand to help neutralise and cleanse palate throughout the tasting.
To spit or not to spit?
Apart from the obvious point, that after several glasses of Clare Valley Shiraz, your notes might be getting a little ‘untidy’, your palate does tire after swallowing a number of glasses, as ‘palate fatigue’ sets in (the alcohol creeps into your taste buds, even if you don’t swallow, eventually numbing them). So make sure plenty of water is to hand.
Take notes
There is actually a ‘system’ to writing tasting notes which follows the general pattern of tasting – appearance, smell, taste, finish and overall comments and judgements. Most professional tasters rate their wines – wine judges score out of 20 and awarding bronze, silver and gold medals, while Robert Parker and others wine critics review out of 100, or award stars.
We always like to keep in touch with our customers. It's a great way to share our passion for wine and winemaking with people who feel the same way. If you'd like to receive our newsletter and stay up to date with all our big news, please enter your details in the form below.
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I would like to suggest the possibility of changing the search text through the Argument Entry Box. This is a feature that I used a lot in BibleWorks to quickly switch to a different bible version through the command line, and do a search command straight after.
An additional feature would also be to include command-line entries for the additional 'Range', 'Scope' and 'Bracketed Words' options (because for now they can only be accessed by clicking the '+' buttons).
Yes, I already know about the RANGE standalone command. But this isn't the same as the 'Range' feature accessed with the 'More Options' button. Dr. J showed in Podcast 82, at the 2:48 mark onwards, that there is a difference between the 'Range Option' and the 'Range Command'. The feature that I would like to request is, along with 'Scope' and 'Bracketed Words', to also have access to the Range Option (and its corresponding feature) through the command line.
Thanks!
--anthony
Hi James,
Well, that's right...I'll try and get used to this way of switching through the prioritized texts.
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My ‘now’ song: Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi woh barsaat ki raat
Do you ever have a song, an idea, a storyline, or an image stuck in your head? And it just refuses to go away? For sometime at least. I have this with music—it could be a song, an instrumental piece, a jingle, etc. This becomes my ‘now song, and the ‘nowness’ (pardon my English here) could be for any length of time.
I prefer Lata Mangeshkar’s version (featured above) to Mohammad Rafi’s, arguably more popular, version. To me, Lata’s angst-filled voice just reaches out and envelops you in a kind of bittersweet longing, not just for love, but beautiful memories, relationships…
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PARK FOOT BALL by Grant Orchard
With the World Cup in full swing now, it’s a perfect time to share Grant Orchard’s two-minute masterpiece PARK FOOT BALL (2005), which can be seen on the studio AKA website. The film was created entirely in After Effects, and it’s one of the most brilliant bits of animation I’ve seen in a while. All the characters in the film – people, birds and a dog – are reduced to abstract blocks of color, yet their actions are not only clear, they’re also funny. The sound design by Nic Gill is equally perfect and inspired. I’d previously written about another of Orchard’s films, WELCOME TO GLARINGLY, here.
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There actually are four railroad projects in various stages of construction, design, testing or study in Springfield.
Members of the Springfield Rail Improvements Project — an advisory committee formed to keep the public and local government updated on high-speed rail and related construction — provided an update of each at a meeting of The State Journal-Register editorial board last week.
Railroad consolidation, the estimated $315 million relocation of Third Street trains to 10th Street, has gotten most of the attention, said committee members.
But construction is expected to begin in 2014 for crossing and safety improvements on the Third Street corridor separate from rail consolidation.
Soil testing and surveying also has begun for new underpasses on the 19th Street railroad corridor. A study has begun for a project even farther down the tracks — separation of the Union Pacific-Amtrak line from the Norfolk Southern line near Southern View.
The history
Rail consolidation got a big boost in late 2012 when the Federal Railroad Administration signed off on long-term plans to move Union Pacific freight trains and Amtrak passenger trains from the Third Street corridor to 10th Street. City and county officials lobbied hard for the alternative with backing from the Illinois Department of Transportation.
The Springfield project is part of the larger plan for regular 110 mph Amtrak service on most of the St. Louis-Chicago route in late 2015. As of July, $1.45 billion in contracts had been awarded for high-speed rail work, according to IDOT.
“All of this plan hinges on funding,” said Jim Moll, rail project manager for Hanson Professional Services of Springfield and a member of the advisory committee.
An IDOT commitment of $8.6 million toward consolidation planning and design is the only solid funding up to now.
But members of the advisory group said it was always expected work would be done as federal funding became available.
“We’ve known all along, this money was going to come in increments and not all at once,” said Kevin Seals, chief environmental scientist for Hanson.
Moll and Hanson said the first tangible signs of rail consolidation would be work on the Carpenter Street underpass. City and county officials expect to learn soon whether the federal government has approved a $14 million grant to begin construction.
Third Street upgrades
Union Pacific freight traffic already has begun to pick up on the Third Street line, according to the advisory group. UP has estimated the five trains a day in 2010 would increase to 27 a day by 2030 as a result of demand and completion of a new shipping yard near Joliet.
“The railroads have all told us their train traffic is going to increase,” said Seals, though he said no formal update of daily traffic has been taken.
Page 2 of 3 - Anticipation of more trains and congestion were among city and county justifications for rail consolidation. But the federal government also has approved $30 million to $40 million worth of upgrades on Third Street to handle longer and heavier trains in the interim.
Advisory committee members said the Third Street work was needed regardless of rail consolidation.
“There’s been a lot of confusion,” said Janet Henderson, senior project manager with Images Inc., a public relations firm based in Wheaton.
The main construction is expected in 2014, including four-quadrant gates and vehicle detectors at crossings, safety fencing to encourage crossing use, pedestrian crossing gates and road upgrades. High-speed rail funding already approved is paying for the work.
Henderson said, once completed, the city could apply for a “quiet zone” along the Third Street corridor. She said the city would have to show the Federal Railroad Administration that trains no longer needed to sound horns as a result of the safety improvement.
19th Street
Early on, city and county officials pushed to include the CN (Canadian National) line on 19th Street in railroad consolidation. However, the federal government determined it was not viable at this point.
Instead, early testing has begun for construction of underpasses at South Grand Avenue and Ash Street.
“We’re doing soil testing and surveying,” Moll said. “They’ve been out there for a couple of months.”
Long freight trains and traffic backups already are a problem at both the South Grand and Ash crossings, Moll said.
Construction, though, could be years away, said advisory group members, as 10th Street crossings likely would take priority in the early stages of consolidation.
The ‘Springfield Flyover’
Congestion also is a problem where UP-Amtrak trains and Norfolk Southern trains cross at the south edge of Springfield, according to state and federal transportation planners.
Hanson has begun a study of a “the Springfield flyover” that would take one set of tracks up and over the other.
Henderson said the environmental analysis should begin this fall of the area at the west edge of Southern View. No construction money has been approved, she added.
Who pays?
The advisory group provided the following breakdown of the estimated $315 million cost of rail consolidation:
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Stephen D. McGiffert
Payne & Jones, Chartered
Stephen D. McGiffert is a principal in the firm, practicing in our Business Law Practice Group, with emphasis on business law matters affecting individuals, corporations and other business entities. Steve has significant experience in corporate and real estate law.
Steve has been engaged in the practice of law in the Kansas City area since 1975. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Kansas in 1972 earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting. He attended the University of Kansas Law School and received his Juris Doctorate degree in 1975.
From 1978 to 1983, Steve served as corporate counsel to a large cooperative wholesale grocery company serving retail grocers in the Central Midwestern United States, during which time he gained extensive experience in the general legal affairs of business entities.
Steve is admitted to practice before the bars of the States of Kansas and Missouri and is admitted to the federal district court in both states. He is a member of the Johnson County, Kansas and American Bar Associations.
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A one page color illustrated fact sheet featuring endangered fishes, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates of Australia, plus a page of 6 discussion questions for upper elementary/middle school and a page of completion and multiple choice questions for elementary students. Also includes teacherís notes. Part of an abcteach series of fact sheets on endangered species.
A one page color illustrated fact sheet featuring five endangered animals of North America (4 reptiles & 1 amphibian), plus a page of 6 discussion questions for upper elementary/middle school and a page of 7 short answer questions for elementary students. Also includes teacherís notes. Part of an abcteach series of fact sheets on endangered species.
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Ivanka Trump and her father, real estate mogul Donald Trump, are facing resistance from Trump Entertainment Resorts after they filed a lawsuit to remove the family moniker from the struggling Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
The father and daughter team are in the midst of a legal battle with TER, a company Donald Trump used to head. At issue is the Trump name, which was removed from the company's Trump Plaza when it shuttered last month.
Earlier this month, TER agreed to take the Trump name off the Plaza. Ivanka Trump detailed the decision to The Wall Street Journal, saying that the licensing deal with TER required the company to maintain high standards of quality and luxury in order to continue using the Trump name.
"The company has been in default of the standards for both the Plaza and at the Taj as well," Ivanka Trump told The Journal. "They had a similar benchmark, and they did not live up to the standards we agreed to. Both the standards were not met."
Trump Entertainment is pushing back against the name change of its last remaining casino, calling Ivanka and Donald Trump's lawsuit "baseless and value-destructive" litigation that it can’t afford to fight, according to the AP.
"The debtors face many challenges, and the last thing these chapter 11 cases can afford is the significant expense, distraction, and uncertainty of state court litigation over whether the debtors can preserve the very name under which they do business," TER wrote in court documents.
While the name issue continued to brew between the Trumps and Trump Entertainment, the company won a major victory in court against the UNITE HERE Local 54 union Friday, allowing the casino to immediately cut employee benefits at the Trump Taj Mahal, according to the Press of Atlantic City.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Kevin Gross in Delaware charged that the union did not negotiate in good faith with the company and did not present witnesses at two evidentiary hearings in October, the newspaper reported.
Ivanka Trump and her father, real estate mogul Donald Trump, are facing resistance from Trump Entertainment Resorts after they filed a lawsuit to remove the family moniker from the struggling Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City.
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Fusion Women's Sandals - Teal
Fusion Women's Sandals - Teal
$59.95
Powerstep Fusion Orthotic Sandals provide the perfect blend of Powerstep's trusted support and stability in a true orthotic sandal. Fusion Orthotic Sandals help alleviate pain from Plantar Fasciitis and other common foot conditions.
Contoured foot bed with built-in arch and heel cup for support and stability
Lightweight outsole with non-slip tread for traction
Comfortable straps with soft lining
Cushioned midsole to absorb shock and impact with each step to reduce fatigue
Product Attachments
Additional Information
Description
Powerstep Fusion Orthotic Sandals provide the perfect blend of Powerstep's trusted support and stability in a true orthotic sandal. Fusion Orthotic Sandals help alleviate pain from Plantar Fasciitis and other common foot conditions.
Contoured foot bed with built-in arch and heel cup for support and stability
Lightweight outsole with non-slip tread for traction
Comfortable straps with soft lining
Cushioned midsole to absorb shock and impact with each step to reduce fatigue
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Kane leads Blackhawks past Blues, 4-3 in OT
CHICAGO (AP) — Patrick Kane had his shot all along. Same for his dazzling puck-handling skills and the vision that sees the plays before they happen.
What Kane got back on Wednesday night was his legs, and the result was a familiar one.
Kane scored his second goal of the game at 11:17 of overtime, and the Chicago Blackhawks beat the St. Louis Blues 4-3 to even their first-round playoff series at two games.
"Special player. Patience, play recognition, delays, just at a different level you don't see often," Blackhawkscoach Joel Quenneville said.
Kane missed the final 12 games of the regular season after he hurt his left leg during a 4-0 victory over St. Louis on March 19. He scored in his first game back in the series opener against the Blues, but Game 4 was by far his best performance since the injury.
"Every game feels like I've gotten a little bit better," he said. "Whether it's timing or getting used to playing in the playoffs again, whatever it may be, just try to keep getting better and better and use these games to my advantage."
Kane carried the puck down the left side in OT as teammates Ben Smith and Brandon Saad rushed toward the net, and beat Ryan Miller with a well-placed wrist shot for his 32nd career postseason goal.
Kane, who won the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP last season, also had a shot go off the crossbar earlier in overtime.
"He's a dangerous player," Blues coach Ken Hitchcock said. "He's dangerous off the rush. The most dangerous player in the league."
Andrew Shaw and Bryan Bickell also scored for defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago, which blew a 2-0 second-period lead. Jonathan Toews had two assists and Corey Crawford made 30 saves.
Game 5 of the best-of-seven series is Friday night in St. Louis.
Vladimir Tarasenko scored two goals for the Blues, and Miller finished with 30 stops. Maxim Lapierre also scored his first goal of the series.
"We knew it was going to be a tough battle and I think we're right where we want to be," Lapierre said. "We won our two games at home. We came were and played good hockey. Now we've got to focus, regroup and play good hockey in St. Louis again."
Tarasenko's fourth goal of the playoffs made it 3-2 at 12:26 of the third, but Bickell tipped Michal Rozsival's slap shot past Miller to tie it with 3:52 left in regulation.
The Blues were without captain David Backes again after he was scratched for the second straight game with an upper-body injury. Backes hasn't played since he absorbed a big hit from Blackhawks defenseman Brent Seabrook in the third period of St. Louis' 4-3 overtime victory Saturday.
Seabrook served the second of his three-game suspension, giving Sheldon Brookbank his second straight start with top defenseman Duncan Keith.
Blues forward Brenden Morrow also was scratched after Hitchcock said earlier in the day that he would miss the rest of the series. Morrow missed the final three games of the regular season with a foot injury. He played in Games 1 and 3 against the Blackhawks.
Playing in front of another loud sellout crowd, the Blackhawks used their maligned power play to grab the lead in the second.
St. Louis defenseman Alex Pietrangelo had his stick knocked away by Toews, who fired a shot that went off Shaw's right skate and popped up in the air. Shaw then swiped it in with a backhand for his first goal of the postseason at 8:40.
It was the Blackhawks' second power-play goal in 17 opportunities for the series.
Kane got an assist on Shaw's score, and then scored one of his own to make it 2-0 at 16:09. Defenseman Johnny Oduya made a beautiful cross-ice pass to a streaking Kane, who shot it over Miller's glove for his second of the series.
"I just try to play off instincts and have the feeling that you're going to make things happen instead of waiting around," Kane said. "I'll try to keep that going."
St. Louis appeared to be in big trouble before Kane committed a delay of game penalty with 1:16 left in the second, giving the Blues an opening. Just seven seconds into the resulting power play, Tarasenko beat a screened Crawford for his third goal of the series.
It was the Blues' second power-play goal in 21 chances in the series.
St. Louis then got another late-period goal when Lapierre's shot went off the right post and then Crawford's left shoulder before going into the net with 3.1 seconds to go. Five of the Blues' goals in the series have come in the final two minutes of a period.
NOTES: Blues C Derek Roy returned after missing Game 3. ... Blues C Vladimir Sobotka was shaken up after a big hit from Bickell in overtime, but quickly returned to the ice.
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Category: Valentines day gift ideas for men
The subject quickly imb to whether you could message in a bottle riff lesson the Village police if you had a criminal record. Apparently he had ambitions. The message was set afloat by an Iranian and retrieved by Azuma Rysuke, a resident of Kikaijima, an island between Kyushu and Okinawa.
You should sell that bottle you made. beautiful. We launched at the message in a bottle conception at Orient Point around 11:15 it was already flooding pretty messabe around the point and a very small tide race starting.
He wanted to put sparklrbox good back into the world. He sent the police message in a bottle GPC in bottles out via his social worker. The one I found read: If you find this message it will bring you good luck and happiness. I made contact with this man.
The messages come from the newspaper archives. Found messages were regularly printed in newspapers, often in a column titled Messages from the Sea, which is where the name of the book comes from. Before the message in a bottle advertising techniques telegraph, the message in a messsge was a useful and legitimate means of communication.
Angela Erdmann, 62, never met her grandfather, Platz, as he died before she was born. But receiving the bottle on Tuesday was an extraordinary moment for her. I would add a caveat on 19. Message in a bottle nuty sto may movei to watch out for crabs (the classic crab-pinching-your-nose-or-foot) and jellyfish (they mfssage sting you to high heck).
Cpub gifts for each room does not have to be expensive, just a little something to work him up - a sign to show he is ready to work for sacrxmento love. The postcard asked the finder to record where the bottle was found and when. The reward for turning it in: one shilling to be mailed sacramnto the participant upon completion. I've drilled a hole in the back of each bottle to ensure maximum air flow message in a bottle club mix sacramento your incense will burn with ease.
I bet kids would love this. Thanks for the lens. Over the years we've message in a bottle cd soundtrack a few notes from people who have found our bottles, but mesxage from as far away as Ireland. he wrote.
It infuriates me to no end when my friends go out and drink themselves into a near coma several nights a week, then criticize me and even look down bttle me for smoking marijuana. It makes so little sense that its mind-boggling.
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These armed civilians want to take border security into their own hands
These armed citizens wear military-style uniforms, surround migrants with rifles and issue commands to stop and sit. The armed groups believe they are helping to enforce immigration laws along the southern border.
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Spring has arrived with fresh green shoots and an abundance of flowers. Simple, seems suddenly very appealing. This spring lettuce & pea soup with new potatoes is super simple, both in the making and in the eating. The flavours taste fresh and clean. There are only six ingredients involved, seven if you make your own stock from the pea pods, eight if you add croutons. As a bonus, it’s also vegan and fat-free (excluding croutons).
Cornish asparagus is up and out and I’m at the ready with my knife and fork and pan of boiling water. Not quite, but I couldn’t resist buying a bunch when I passed our local greengrocer yesterday. Apart from grilling them and eating them for breakfast with scrambled egg on toast, I thought a fresh and simple Cornish asparagus risotto with peas and wild garlic pesto would be just the thing.
It’s been many a year since I set foot in an Iceland shop. I moved back down to Cornwall from Leamington Spa nearly twenty years ago and I certainly haven’t been to one since then. However, when I was challenged to “Go Frozen with Iceland” and create a tasty and nutritious meal, an idea for a green vegetable galette sprang to mind. It was time to track down an Iceland store and see what I could find.
Connect with me
Hello, I’m Choclette. I’m a vegetarian whole food recipe developer. I have a sweet tooth and a passion for baking and chocolate. Welcome to my award winning blog. Here you will find nourishing home cooked food with a twist as well as wholesome foodie tales.
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Subscribe To
Tuesday, 27 March 2012
Nigeria - Flight chaos
--The collapse of the airline industry continues as airlines cut back on everything else in a scramble to pay for fuel. And a lot of very expensive technology is failing. African carriers are getting extremely hard hit, but so are big ones like Lufthansa which is considering dropping its fleet of freighters. Some airports like Budapest are shutting down terminals and cancelling expansion. We have it on the World News Desk. -- MCR
Nigeria - Chaos At Airports As FAAN Resorts to Manual Check-in
Passengers travelling to international destinations from Lagos airport were yesterday delayed for hours because of the difficulty in checking them in manually.
The Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) was shut down and individual airlines had to resort to the gruesome process of visual identification of the passengers before issuing them boarding passes.
That was the aftermath of the forceful termination of the services of Maevis Limited, which provides Airport Operations Management System (AOMS), which includes CUTE, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos and Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, respectively by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
Since 2007 when Maevis signed concession agreement with the agency, it had been widely acknowledged that the firm was providing easy passenger facilitation that provided timeliness, easy profiling of passengers and comprehensive security checks.
The concession agreement was for 10 years, renewable for another five years, but in the midnight of last Friday, a team of FAAN officials with its security operatives allegedly forced Maevis officials out of their offices and terminated its services.
When THISDAY visited the international terminal of the airport yesterday, it observed that all the flight display monitors and the data systems were off and in their stead the airlines pasted handwritten posters that were almost invisible in the semi-lit check-in counters.
A senior passenger handling officer for one of Europe's major carriers told THISDAY that the manual check-in system was causing a lot of delays, adding that the flight that was supposed to leave at about 10:00 pm ast Friday left at about 2:00 am on Saturday.
"Today, the same thing is going to happen because there are even more passengers than yesterday. Today is March 25, the summer season has started today and the number of passengers will multiply. Why did FAAN have to wait till this summer season to do it? If you look, rehabilitation work is going on at the airport and this is discomforting both passengers and the airline workers and in addition to this, we are doing manual check-in," he said.
Asked how the handling officers identify the passengers that met the criteria to travel, the source said: "When we get the passenger ticket, we take it in to cross check it with our system before we issue boarding pass. It is slow and cumbersome. It will be extremely difficult to cope with summer passengers."
Meanwhile, at a press conference yesterday in Lagos, Maevis Executive Director, Marketing and Finance, Mrs. Tokumbo Fagbemi, narrated how the Maevis officials were moved from their offices.
Fegbemi said: "FAAN's conduct is not only shameful and despicable; it is in complete disregard for the rule of law. Justice B.F.M. Nyako of the Federal High Court in suit no. FHC/CS/1155/2010 had ordered FAAN to desist from interfering with the implementation of the agreement until the dispute is resolved by arbitration."
She said that FAAN was not interested in resolving any perceived differences by civil means.
"It is bent on its chosen path and course of intimidation, perhaps to advance certain vested interests," she said.
She alleged that FAAN was economical with the truth saying, "referring to a purported termination letter of March 2011, which the court on May 19th 2011 correctly derided as being inimical to its standing order in the ruling of 17th December 2010".
Fagbemi called on President Goodluck Jonathan, the regulatory and security agencies and all well-meaning Nigerians to help protect "our investment and stop these acts of impunity" and also to call FAAN to order to make sure it respected court rulings.
In another development, in a statement signed by the General Manager, Public Affairs of FAAN, Mr. Akin Olukunle, FAAN said that it took a major step on Saturday to improve its services and revenue profile in line with the transformation agenda of the Federal Government as it enforced the termination of its concession agreement with Maevis Limited.
The agency explained that it entered a concession agreement with Maevis on October 31, 2007 but "in compliance with a directive from the Federal Ministry of Aviation to FAAN, stemming from a decision of the three Honourable Ministers of Aviation, Labour and Justice, a notice of termination was duly issued to Maevis on 24 February 2011 with a two-month notice period with regards to the Concession Agreement. Thus the Concession effectively terminated on expiration of this notice on the 23rd of May, 2011".
"It is also necessary to recall that a year earlier, specifically in May 2010, the Senate Committee on Aviation had invited both parties to a public hearing. After listening to both sides and reviewing the terms of the agreement and implementation thereof, resolved that FAAN should dispense with the services of Maevis Ltd since it was not adding value to FAAN's revenue profile,"â€Ã‹,he added.
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10 Self-Publishing Trends to Watch
Ten trends shaping the future of publishing
By Mark Coker
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Jul 22, 2016
The future of publishing is fraught with opportunity and peril. Here are 10 trends shaping your future as a writer and/or publisher.
The rise of e-books: Ten years ago, e-books accounted for less than 1% of the trade book market. Today, e-books account for about 25% of dollar sales and 40%–50% of units. Although the rate of growth has slowed for e-books, the affordability and accessibility of digital will continue to erode print readership.
Publishing and distribution democratized: Ten years ago, agents and publishers were the bouncers at the pearly gates of authordom. Publishers controlled the printing press and the access to retail distribution. Today, thanks to free e-book publishing platforms, writers enjoy democratized access to e-book retailers and readers.
E-books going global: Much of the opportunity for authors in the years ahead will come from international markets. Billions of potential readers now carry e-reading devices in the form of smartphones. Every e-book is potentially a couple of clicks away from being discovered and purchased.
The rise of indie authorship: Indie authorship has become a global cultural movement. Writers are drawn to e-book self-publishing for the total creative control, faster access to global markets, and pricing and promotion flexibility. Writers retain all rights while earning 60%–80% of the list price as their e-book royalty. Traditionally published e-book authors earn only 12%–17%.
Indie authors are taking market share: Every week, indie e-books top retailer bestseller lists, and hit the USA Today and New York Times lists. Indies will continue gaining digital market share as they pioneer tomorrow’s best practices for pricing, production, and promotion.
The stigma of self-publishing is disappearing: Ten years ago, self-publishing was viewed as the last resort for writers. Today, self-publishing is becoming the first choice for many writers. Writers are learning to outsell and outcompete the larger publishers with e-books. Each time an indie author hits a bestseller list, it inspires fellow writers to recognize that they, too, can self-publish with pride, professionalism, and success.
The glut of high-quality, low-cost e-books will worsen: Ten years ago, the economics of print publishing and retailing limited the supply of books. With shelf space at a premium, retailers returned unsold inventory to make room for the next books. This forced many new books out of print within a matter of months. With e-books, however, retailers have unlimited virtual shelf space. This is a double-edged sword for writers. It means that your e-book will forever be discoverable. But it also means that more books will chase fewer readers. It’s simple economics that when supply exceeds demand, price competition ensues as desperate producers cut prices to reach readers.
Amazon is devaluing books with Kindle Unlimited: Amazon is exploiting the glut of books to drive massive devaluation with its Kindle Unlimited e-book subscription service. Kindle Unlimited provides readers with access to more than one million e-books for $9.99 per month, or about the cost of a single traditionally published e-book. Nearly all the books in Kindle Unlimited are supplied by the inventory of KDP Select, which in turn is powered by self-published authors who make their books exclusive to Amazon. Kindle Unlimited devalues what the customer thinks a book should cost and reduces author earnings. Authors earn only half a cent per page read. Producers ultimately shoulder the burden of ever-lower prices. Authors must either lower their production costs or accept less for each sale. Unlike manufacturers of commodity products, authors can’t outsource their writing to China. In the future, writers willing to write for less will reach the most readers at Amazon.
Kindle Unlimited is undermining single-copy sales: Kindle Unlimited is eroding the market for single-copy e-book sales. Amazon’s product pages for KDP Select titles encourage readers to read the book for free as part of their Kindle Unlimited or Prime subscription. An author who would otherwise earn $2.80 for a single-copy sale of his or her $3.99 200-page book will now earn about $1 or less with Kindle Unlimited. It also means that Amazon is training its most voracious customers to consume books for what feels like free, rather than purchasing single copies. Even single-copy purchases of 99¢ e-books will begin to feel expensive.
Indie authors are writing the next chapter of their industry’s story: The power center of the publishing industry is shifting from publishers to writers. Writers will determine the fate of publishers and retailers by deciding when, where, and how they publish. If indie authors continue to enroll books in ever-greater numbers into KDP Select, competing retailers—starved of inventory—will go out of business, further solidifying Amazon’s stranglehold on the market. In a cruel twist of irony, indie authors are slowly forfeiting their long-term independence by enrolling books in KDP Select.
A version of this article appeared in the 07/25/2016 issue of Publishers Weekly under the headline: A Look Ahead
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Overview
For an international student, a study & co-op program is one of the best ways to invest in your education and career during your short stay in Canada. Study & co-op programs range from 6 to 12 months and are structured to give you both academic skills and out of classroom, real workplace experience.
“Co-op” is a frequently used term in Canadian Universities & Colleges. Being in a Co-op program means that a student must complete a work term to earn a diploma, degree or even higher level of academic credential. For international students, study & co-op programs are offered by private colleges in Vancouver and they are all governed by federal or provincial bodies that ensure your education in Canada meet the quality standards. Private colleges have admission processes, academic standards and refund and cancellation policies that are very similar and subject to accreditation by the Canadian government.
To accept international students for full time study or study and co-op programs, private colleges must be approved by Canada Immigration and have a unique designated learning institution number assigned. This is required to apply for study or study & work permit.
VALUE OF CO-OP EXPERIENCE
It’s pretty obvious that graduates must have academic knowledge as well as hands on skills to find a meaningful career opportunity. Experience you have outside of the class room will provide you with the opportunity to network and work with Canadian professionals, further improve your business English communication skills, and grow your understanding of North American work culture. It will also help you set your expectations, and challenge yourself to adapt in a new work setting and grow as a professional in a field you are interested in.
LENGTH OF PROGRAMS
Co-op programs range from 24 weeks to 48 weeks and even longer. 50% of the course is delivered in class and the other 50% is an unpaid or paid co-op placement by Springboard agency.
TYPE OF STUDY AND CO-OP PROGRAMS
You will find Business study and co-op, International trade study and co-op, Hospitality & Tourism and co-op, Web design & development and co-op (Web design program will be added to our website by October 2015).
UNPAID AND PAID CO-OP PLACEMENTS
It would be most ideal if all work experience (co-op) offers were paid. The reality is that students with less experience, not so fluent English skills and on a shorter stay in Canada will be limited to an unpaid co-op.
Should you still do an unpaid co-op?
Yes. You should consider the unpaid co-op term as part of your program and also recognize the fact that your future employer will look for both academic and hands on experience on your resume.
Paid co-op is available for students meeting these requirements;
• Registered for 48 weeks Study and Co-op program (24 weeks study & 24 weeks co-op)
• Advance level of English communication
• Work experience from student’s home country or abroad (Minimum of 1 year experience in IT, Business & Finance management, Sales & Marketing, International trade, logistics, Tourism, Hospitality, Culinary etc)
• Professionalism & Flexibility
PAID CO-OP EARNINGS
It really depends on your professional experience and language ability. Some co-op positions will pay more than $15 an hour and some will just meet the provincial minimum requirement. BC’s minimum wage by law is $10.45 per hour since September 2015. The hours you work during the co-op term may range from 25 to 30 hours a week.
WORK PERMIT FOR YOUR CO-OP PLACEMENT
When you are accepted into a study & co-op program, you will have an official letter from the college supporting you to apply for a work permit. You are required to have a work permit to start your co-op term.
WORK OUTSIDE OF YOUR CO-OP PROGRAM?
Yes, anyone accepted and registered for a study & co-op program is authorized to work off campus throughout the entire length of the program. If you signed up for a 24 weeks program, you are legally allowed to work 20 hours a week from day 1 at college.
VISA APPLICATION
Springboard agency does not handle visa application for students. Students from abroad can visit VFS GLOBAL website and check out their visa processing services and support available for international students applying for a study permit. You can also visit Canada Immigration’s official website and browse under “I want to study”. Study permit application process is done online, there is a cost to it and it will take about 6 to 8 weeks to receive the approval letter. Plan ahead!
If you are in Vancouver and would like to extend your study and co-op, Springboard agency will refer you to a licensed immigration consultant to help you change your visa or extend.
COST OF THE PROGRAM
Most of the private colleges in Canada have market specific fees. The tuition costs you see on the standard program brochure may not be the fee you will be charged. Fees shown on the standard program brochure are the full prices without any discounts. Colleges also have seasonal promotions. So the total cost you end up paying for your education and co-op may be lower than what you see on the standard program brochure.
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The sleep of Reason brings forth monsters – Goya
Rutland MoveOn 31Jan2017 Newsletter
If you have additions/recommendations for this newsletter (including issues you want handled) please let me know.
NEXT MOVEON RUTLAND MEETING
February 11 at noon – Glenn is working on getting a room at the Rutland Library
Proposed Agenda:
Postcard writing party to Paul Ryan
ACA EDUCATIONAL SIGN-HOLDING EVENT
Last Saturday, Carol Ballou hosted an ACA educational event in front of the hospital in Rutland. We held signs to educate passersby about what the ACA actually does, ramifications of repeal, and Planned Parenthood spending. It was a success! We got some supportive honks and waves. Carol is planning another event, possibly at another location in order to broaden our reach.
MEDIA OUTREACH
Facebook page Indivisible Rutland
MoveOn Rutland resources (starting with newsletters) have been added to www.Mindsworth.blog. Please let me know if you’d like to post any information here. I will rename the section if we choose a different name.
SUCCESSES (since this is a new section, I’m including more than just the past week)
NEW ISSUES REQUIRING ACTION (taking just 1 action helps!) (Note: It’s been suggested that the Media is incorrectly identifying some of tRump’s actions as Executive Orders when they’re actually memoranda. I’ve stuck with calling them “Executive Orders.” My apologies if that’s not correct in every instance.)
ACA Enrollment ends today
Action: If you haven’t signed up, do so
Action: The White House phone appears to have been turned off. So, write tRump a letter:
Senator Maggie Hassan is looking into why DHS was overruled by White House regarding Green Card-holders (DHS apparently recommended that Green Card-holders shouldn’t be subject to the ban, but White House overruled that recommendation) https://twitter.com/senatorhassan/status/825559761190019072 (Note: You can look at Twitter even if you don’t have a Twitter account)
Script: I am one of the senator’s constituents in Vermont. I would like to thank him for condemning tRump’s discriminatory ban on travel for individuals originating from certain Middle Eastern countries. I would also like to ask him to support Senator Feinstein’s legislation to rescind the order and limit tRump’s ability to unilaterally ban immigrants.
Second call: I am one of the senator’s constituents in Vermont. I would like to thank him for condemning tRump’s discriminatory ban on travel for individuals originating from certain Middle Eastern countries. I would also like to ask him to look into allegations that officials denied legal counsel to legal residents and ignored the federal judges’ orders to stay execution of this illegal Executive Order. This infringement upon the judicial branch constitutes a threat to our separation of powers and amounts to a Constitutional crisis.
Action: Count your House Representative (If it’s Peter Welch his local number is 802-652-2450
Script: [If Peter Welch or other representative who has condemned Executive Order] I am one of the representative’s constituents in Vermont. I would like to thank him for condemning tRump’s discriminatory ban on travel for individuals originating from certain Middle Eastern countries. I would also like to ask him to support representative Lofgren’s legislation to amend “the Immigration and Nationality Act stating that the government cannot reject people for entry based solely on their religion or nationality” and to defund tRump’s Executive Order.
[If representative hasn’t condemned Executive Order] I am one of the representative’s constituents in Vermont. I would like to ask him to condemn tRump’s discriminatory ban on travel for individuals originating from certain Middle Eastern countries. I would also like to ask him to support representative Lofgren’s legislation to amend “the Immigration and Nationality Act stating that the government cannot reject people for entry based solely on their religion or nationality” and to defund tRump’s Executive Order.
Script: I would like to thank the governor for his opposition to tRump’s discriminatory ban against travellers from seven Middle Eastern countries. I am asking the governor to follow through on his commitment to equality by making Vermont a sanctuary state to immigrants and refugees.
Script: I oppose the executive order banning entry to the US by green card-carrying residents, dual passport-holding residents, legal citizens, and vetted, peaceful refugees. This action is unconstitutional and unamerican.
Tweet: @realDonaldTrump How foolish it looks for a POTUS to prevent legal residents + peaceful immigrants from entering the USA.
Action: Consider contacting other Senators
Thorough list of US Senators’ positions on Muslim ban. Has referenced public positions, contact info, and re-election year.
made already existing Hyde Amendment permanent and bars insurance from paying for abortion
does allow exceptions for cases of rape, incest or if the mother’s life in danger
Action: Call Senators Leahy and Sanders to ask them to vote against HR 7
Sanders: Local office 802-862-0697
Leahy: Local office 802-863-2525
Script: I’m , a constituent who is appalled that the House passed HR.7. Women deserve to make their own medical choices and I want to protect legal access to safe abortion by voting NO on HR.7. I expect my senator to stand up for women’s reproductive rights, and will be watching closely.
Script: I am a constituent of the Senator in Vermont. I am concerned about the appointment of Bannon to the National Security Council and the downgrading of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence. According to 50 U.S. Code § 3021, the council shall consist of “the Secretaries and Under Secretaries of other executive departments and of the military departments, when appointed by the President by and with the advice and consent of the Senate.” This transformation of the National Security Council makes the USA less safe. I would like to thank the Senator for verbally opposing the reorganization of the National Security Council. What other steps will the senator be taking to ensure that the law is followed and this appointment is submitted to the Senate for approval?
Action: Sign petition for “a Constitutional Amendment that eliminates all reference to slavery from the Vermont State Constitution. We are also calling on legislators to provide appropriate funding to implement effective transparency into the criminal justice system. Grants must also be funded to provide resources for racial justice organizations for research, training and education. Vermont must make racial profiling illegal. Legislators should integrate Racial Impact Assessments into the law making process. Anti-bias training for all law enforcement officers must be expedited. Anti-bias policy and training must be implemented for all of the remainder of justice system personnel immediately. It must be enforcedly mandated that race traffic stop, use of force, plea, sentencing and other metrics related data be made publicly available to the fullest extent the law permits. It is imperative that law enforcement civilian oversight (with a community reporting apparatus, independent investigative, and prosecutorial and decertification powers) be implemented to reinforce trust and legitimacy in communities of color and increase overall public safety. S.W.A.T. or other heavy-handed punitive policing tactics to address suspected drug crimes must be prohibited and replaced with use of data-driven and community oriented policing. Racial disparities in Vermont touches additionally upon access to housing, educational institutions, access to healthcare, employment and various aspects of the political process. It is for this reason that we are asking that the Governor appoint a Racial Justice Oversight Board with the responsibility of administering a program that continuously assesses, reviews and addresses racial disparities in Vermont.” https://www.change.org/p/vermont-racial-justice-reform-and-constitutional-amendment-that-removes-all-reference-to-slavery-from-vermont-constitution
ACLU collecting signatures as part of its FOIA request regarding tRump
There is, however, evidence for suppression of minority voters by Republicans using Crosscheck, an initiative which deleted voters with matching names (looking only at first and last names). This targeted minority voters, who are more likely to share names than non-minorities. http://www.gregpalast.com/election-stolen-heres/
tRump could be laying groundwork for imposing voter id laws, which already exist in several states, across the country. These laws discriminate against impoverished individuals who do not have ready-access to the required documents, the required funds, or transportation to obtain the voter IDs.
https://impeachdonaldtrumpnow.org/ – Calling upon Congress to pass a resolution calling for the House Committee on the Judiciary to investigate whether sufficient grounds exist for the impeachment of Donald John Trump, President of the United States.
https://swingleft.org/ – Identifies the right-wing district nearest you and provides resources for you to help the district swing left in the next election
https://5calls.org/ – Sign-up to receive recommendations for five calls you can make every day to influence your representatives (it’s worthwhile even if you decide not to call every day because it will help you keep up to date on urgent issues)
https://dailyaction.org/ – Sign-up to receive one text message every workday about an issue that we have determined to be urgent based on where you live. You tap on the phone number in your message, listen to a short recording about that day’s issue, and from there you’ll be automatically routed to your Senator, member of Congress, or other relevant elected official. Takes 90 seconds each day.
Welcome Rutland http://www.rutlandwelcomes.org/ – held rally in Rutland on Saturday to protest ban on travel from Middle Eastern countries. This is the group involved with supporting refugees in Rutland (two families have already been settled).
Rights and Democracy http://www.radvt.org/ – held rally in Burlington on Sunday to protest ban on travel from Middle Eastern countries
Indivisible Vermont has a Twitter account: @IndivisibleVT and they’re currently trying to add followers.
Council on American-Islamic Relations https://www.cair.com/ – Raising a Constitutional challenge to tRump’s ban on travel from 7 Middle Eastern countries.
ACLU https://www.aclu.org/action – Note that they were responsible for bringing the cases to federal court in order to place a stay on enacting tRump’s Executive Order regarding travel to the USA from the Middle East.
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Leoville Barton 1990
Chateau Leoville Barton
29 years
Believe it or not, the 1990 Leoville Barton can actually be drunk - something that cannot be said about the broodingly backward, still excruciatingly tannic 1982. The exceptionally concentrated 1990 reveals more polished, sweeter tannins along with a big, sweet kiss of black currant, forest floor, cedar, and spice box notes. While it still has some tannins to shed, this full-bodied, powerful, long wine is approachable. It should continue to evolve for another two decades. Release price: ($350.00/case)
Chateau Leoville Barton is an expansive vineyard in the Saint Julien appellation, located in Bordeaux, France. The primary red wine produced by here is also labeled Chateau Leoville Barton, and is rated a Second Growth according to the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855.
Chateau Leoville Barton does not have its own traditional chateau building, as is common for most wine production estates. The Chateau building depicted on the label of the Leoville Barton bottles is actually the Chateau Langoa Barton, which is also where the wines are produced.
Leoville Barton along with Leoville Las Cases and Leoville Poyferre used to be one large Leoville estate. Since 1836, the Leoville Barton estate was under the ownership of the Barton Family, and currently it belongs to Anthony Barton, who has run the property since 1986.
The property extends around 48 hectares along the Gironde river, with soil dynamics of mainly gravel and clay. Grape composition consists of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Along with the primary wine, another second wine labeled La Reserve de Leoville Barton is also in production.
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Checkers Book Review Summary
Detailed plot synopsis reviews of Checkers
There is the main character in the book who is female, she remains nameless throughout the book. She lives in the Mental hospital after her family is continually pestered by the media because her father is the member of a group that continues to deny any input to the fraud that they have commited. This name-less girl is living in the mental hospital, she refuses to talk to the psycological counsellor in "group". She would probably go home if she had anywhere to go.
The review of this Book prepared by georgia marett
What did you like or hate about this book:
Name:
Email:
Anti-Spam mechanism: Please enter the number 42 plus two in the right box.
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Warranty:5 years warranty thermopro warrants this product to be free of defects in parts, materials and workmanship for a period of 365 days, from date of purchase. Should any repairs or servicing under this warranty be required, contact customer service by phone or email for instructions on how to pack and ship the product to thermopro. Customer service telephone: 1-877-515-7797 (us&ca only) email: service@buythermopro. Com hours: weekdays 9:00 am- 5:00 pm est.
Get the Info You Need to Take Action with a Temperature and Humidity MonitorIt's the perfect companion for your humidifier and dehumidifier. Using a digital thermometer with humidity reading to ensure proper indoor humidity control has important skin, allergen and other health benefits by inhibiting the growth of mold, bacteria, viruses, fungi, mites and other asthma inducing agents. Digital thermometer with humidity reading features a precision hygrometer and thermistor, which allows you to check comfort conditions at a glance. And you'll appreciate how the handy Humidity Level Icon takes the guesswork out of maintaining proper indoor levels.
High & Low Records -- The digital thermometer-hygrometer displays the highest and lowest temperature and humidity readings measured in the past.
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Magnetic Backing -- The Temperature and Humidity Monitor is simple to use and features a variety of mounting options. Stands upright for tabletop use, and offers a magnetic backing for easy placement on metal surfaces such as your refrigerator.
CERTAIN CONTENT THAT APPEARS ON THIS SITE COMES FROM AMAZON SERVICES LLC.THIS CONTENT IS PROVIDED ‘AS IS’ AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR REMOVAL AT ANY TIME.
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“The Defeat of Little Red v0.3” Visual Novel Game Released!
Alright everyone, the newest version of the game is ready for play testing!
You can find the PC version HERE.
You can find the Mac Version HERE.
((A special thanks to the Hypnopics Collective for hosting the files))
Here’s the change log for this version:
– Added in all the typo/spelling corrections people have caught and told me about. Slight tweaks to some of the introductory dialog.
– Added in the first run through of a new section, with a hulking red sewer mutant. Eventually there will be options to be taken down or choose to go down into the sewer and face more of them. But that will require purchasing some new files.
– Added a new set of choices to The Gasser’s section.
– Added in a new choice during the IntelliTek ending.
As some of you may notice, there isn’t any changes to the white slavery ending. I had something planned for that that I worked on for a few days, but the files I had for what I was attempted looked awful. The idea will have to wait till I have the funds for some new sets.
And as always I want to hear any suggestions you have and please point out anything that needs fixing/tweaking. AND if you’re feeling kind you can always head to Patreon to financially support the project and get pretty frequent updates.
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Update: Sorry guys. Marvel Studios said to take the illustrations down. But enjoy the interview!
Captain America: The Winter Soldier hasmade over $303 million worldwide in it's opening weekend. By contrast Captain America: The First Avenger
made $407 million in it's entire run. The movie is a hit and one of the
many skilled artists that helped bring the Russo Brother's vision to
the screen is Jamie Rama.
MM: As a concept illustrator you probably worked on many things in this film. What did you spend the most time on?
JR: I pretty much worked on a bunch of sets. Lots of Triskelion
interior and exterior stuff, the Smithsonian and the retro Zola
workstation interior to name a few. No costumes or vehicles on this one.
MM: You worked on several superhero movies in the past (ex. Dark Knight,
Spider-Man and X-Men First Class). Is there a trick to creating artwork
for a superhero film that feels real?
JR: I think my style leans more photo real in general so I really don't
have any tricks up my sleeve. Just lots of googling for techy stuff
mixed with a bit of 3D modeling.
MM: The Russo brothers talked about making a political thriller out of this film. Did this change the way you approached working on the film?
JR: Since I work for the production designer, Peter Wenham in this
case, I just have to be in sync with him. I relied on the fact that
Peter had many meetings with the Russo brothers and then passed that
info on to me. So my basic approach to working on any movie is to do
whatever the production designer tells me to do. And once he is happy
with the illustration he then presents it to the director and studio
for approval.
MM: Was there a part of the concept design that you remember working on the most?
JR: Probably the S.H.I.E.L.D. Helicarrier ship
hangar. Lots of complexity and depth happening in this set. We did a
ton of versions for what this space might look like and there were a
lot of people involved which often times happens with a set where there
is significant visual effects set extension. My job is basically just
make it look cool even on the 68th iteration.
MM: What's the next film we'll see your work on?
JR: I've been working on Jurassic World, Insurgent and Pixels, all due out next year.
What is Film Sketchr?
This blog is about the often unseen world of concept design and storyboarding in science-fiction films and television. These artists work to bring the vision of the writer and director to life. My hope is you'll learn a little bit more about them. If you're an artist I hope you find inspiration from the talented artists featured.
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The images featured are the property of the respective artists and companies. They are shown to feature and demonstrate the artistic talents of the artists. I'm not affiliated in any way. No implication of copyright is implied in their use.
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Lemon Basil Olive Oil Cake
As the plane lifted, I caught my last looks at California through the gauzy clouds. I was already thinking about the restaurants I couldn’t try, the neighborhoods I hadn’t seen, and the gems I didn’t discover. The state was simply too big to experience in a mere week and a half. When we’d parted, my friend and host C- said, “But you’ll get to see Seattle!” I rolled my eyes and told him, “I live in Seattle.”
During this summer, I’ve lived up north by the bluest water in Maine. In Atlanta, I embraced the heat in sundresses, the warm air dampening my skin in minutes. And in California, I rummaged through antique cast iron skillets and pearl rings at farmer’s markets and artisan festivals. I’ve visited more places in the past year than ever before. But the few days I spent at home? I sat around, spinning the dusty globe in our office.
By the time I unpacked my suitcase and fell onto my bed, I’d decided to make things different. I needed to change my perspective. What would I do if I only had ten days in Seattle?
We live slightly outside the big city, enough distance that it can feel foreign or familiar depending on my mood. I tackled Seattle with a fearlessness I’d never shown.
Downtown, I drove in circles trying to find parking before giving up and walking a good distance to reach any kind of store. I explored the U District alone, the little boutiques and second hand shops. I ducked into the independent theaters, painted seafoam green and dusty pink, outlined in bulbous lights, signs cracked with age… Somehow, the same movies come alive in a new way inside a theater with character.
My favorite sweets come from Seattle. In Boston I craved bullseye donuts from Top Pot, sticky with sugar glaze and raspberry jam, and Molly Moon’s Theo chocolate ice cream, so thick it’ll snap your spoon. I’m realizing just how much is still undiscovered. Last week I walked into a Middle Eastern restaurant the size of a closet and ordered something I couldn’t pronounce. I still don’t know what it was, but it was tangy and spiced, followed by a slice of cake drenched in honey.
If I approach summer in Seattle as an extended trip, the potential is incredible.
When I exit I-90 after an afternoon in the city, I’m filled with a strange appreciation for home. I pass my favorite old school diner, the one with the dumpy sign and the bad coffee. I like to drive slowly around the gentle, winding curves of my neighborhood.
Inevitably my eyes are drawn up to the unbelievable trees. Until I spent time out of Washington, I never knew how special our evergreens are. They tower, so tall and old, so richly green you can smell the color. In other cities the trees feel planted for decoration – but here, the houses have been nestled where the trees allow space. And when the sun is at the right angle, the light filters through in hazy planks, and suddenly my life is breathtaking.
My house is green, from the soft moss carpeting our cement patio (Mom hates this, I sort of like it) to the homegrown lettuce patch beyond my bedroom window. Our family doesn’t have the greenest thumb, but plants line our living room window, stems bowing towards the glass. My favorite of the bunch is the fragrant pot of basil.
Basil is my favorite herb. I like it sautéd with pasta, baked onto pizza, layered in sandwiches and churned into ice cream. With bunches of fresh basil at my fingertips, it’s hard to resist experimentation. When it results in something as lovely as basil olive oil, can you blame me?
We had a bag of bright lemons, so olive oil cake was necessary. I love the way this cake gently rises and falls, the way the sugar-sprinkled crust cracks, the way it perfumes the mouth. Each bite tastes like sunlight and comfort and dare I say it… green.
[Unsure about the 4th? Why not tackle my 4th of July Flag Cake? People have been making it ever since its creation 2 years ago. It’s deceptively simple and always impressive. Check out the post for instructions, plus a video of me making it. Have a great weekend!]
This cake is a little tough to describe. It’s dense, the way that egg cakes are dense, but tender and pillowy at the same time. I’m awed by the short list of ingredients and simple techniques that bring this batter together. For all its simplicity, I think it also looks elegant, good with after dinner tea.
Preheat the oven to 350 F. Use oil to grease a 9” springform pan. Line the bottom with a round of parchment paper, then oil the parchment.
Whisk the lemon zest and cake flour in a small bowl and set aside.
Beat the yolks and 1/2 cup white sugar in an electric mixer at high speed for 3 minutes, or until thick and lightened. Reduce the speed to medium and add the basil olive oil and lemon juice, beating until just combined. Use a wooden spoon to gently stir in the flour-zest mixture until just combined.
In a new, clean bowl, beat the egg whites and salt at medium-high speed until foamy. Gradually add the remaining 1/4 cup white sugar, a bit at a time, beating until the egg whites hold soft peaks (about 3 minutes.)
Fold a third of the whites into the batter to lighten it, then gently fold in the remaining whites until no streaks remain.
Transfer the batter to the springform pan and gently rap it against the counter once or twice to release air. Sprinkle with the raw sugar. Bake until the cake is puffed and golden and a toothpick comes out clean, about 45 minutes. Let the cake cool 10 minutes in the pan before running a knife around the edge and removing the sides of the springform. Cool completely to room temperature, about 75 minutes, before peeling off the bottom parchment and transferring cake to a plate.
Basil Olive Oil
2 cups fresh basil leaves, washed and dried
1 cup virgin olive oil
In a food processor or blender, puree the basil leaves and olive oil until completely smooth.
This sounds so lovely. I can’t wait to try it. I’m a bit of a olive oil fiend…and lemon………..ok, and basil too. I love how the flavours are combined to make a sweet dish out of such savoury flavours. Thanks for sharing!
Elissa,
It’s always so nice to see you back on 17! Another lovely post… I love to travel and always manage to feel at home while abroad, depending on the time I’m given, or the right mindset. So I found it very interesting, this new lens on your eye you shared here. :)
Gorgeous post! Also, one of my good friends works at Top Pot, so now that you’ve recommended it, I have to go! I’m an Angeleno myself (so glad you liked California!!) but living in Seattle this summer for work.
Would love more recommendations of things to see (places to eat) here in the city! Thanks for the great recipes!
Yes, I remember the weirdness of that summer after the first year of college: you go home because you want to, but also a bit out of default, and you may find you don’t fit that well anymore. I found work up at school the next few summers for that reason. Later on, it gets easier to go back, but when your independence is still so new it’s a little tricky for everybody involved.
kyleen – I didn’t, mostly out of laziness, but you could. I made the oil intending to bake it into this cake – if I just wanted basil infused olive oil, I’d probably strain it and heat it for 30 seconds or so.
“… ice cream, so thick it’ll snap your spoon.” “… so richly green you can smell the color.” Oh Elissa, how I LOVE your writing! And – basil is also my favorite herb. I tell people that I love it so much I would like to rub it on my like perfume.
Yummmm. I have piles of basil growing (finally!) in my kitchen garden, and I happen to have some lemons left over from the libations I mixed on the 4th. So I’m trying this tonight. Thanks for the gorgeous recipe. . .
I moved to Seattle for the trees. I’ve lived in many states and traveled to several places around the world, and have never seen such beautiful trees anywhere else. Trees are comforting, like good food. Hope you enjoy your time at home before school starts again. Looking forward to your next posting.
my goodness! it looks fantastic and i’m sure it tastes delectable! i love to bake, and i’m at uni..just about to return to my second semester actually, so i can empathize with the juggling you’re doing with baking and writing, etc! keep at it, you’ve clearly got a talent.
Looks delicious! Your blog is so full of wonderful recipes and photos!! I loved looking through it. I will definitely be trying this one out very soon…I’m always looking for something to do with all my basil in the summer.
Weird, that cake came out not being green at all. I usually blanch my fresh basil (works with mint or other leafy herbs too) for some seconds, then chill in ice water, drain and press out as much water as possible. Then I weigh it, blend with the double amount of olive oil and leave it for an hour. Optionally you can drain it through a coffee filter. The result is a really green oil with outstanding basil flavor. I don’t know if it will help the cake to keep its green color after baking, but maybe its worth a try.
btw: I’m a great basil fan too, I like to use them candied as decoration in desserts. You can candy them just like rose petals.
I know I’m late, commenting now, but I just found your blog today and I LOVE it. This recipe looks so up my alley- I absolutely love basil. Been thinking of making an olive oil cake for a while- might have to try this one. :)
Emailed this one to my hubby! My husband’s Italian so the basil(during outdoor gardening season) and olive oil is always on hand at our place! He is going to love the simple ingredients and flavors of this cake! Also,the lemon zest really gives this cake appeal! Can’t wait!
Hi. I have a pot full of gorgeous basil to harvest. The other day I was thinking that it would be an interssting addition to olive oil cake. I am going to try your recipe. Your writing is superb and convinced me. I will let you know what my dinner guests think! One is a baker and former innkeeper.
Thanks for a marvelous posting! I actualpy enjoyed reading it,
you might be a great author.I will be sure to bookmark your blog
and will come back in the future. I want to encourage you to definitely continue your great
work, have a nice morning!
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Sharing is a great way to care for the people around you, and to have fun! Let’s all share together!https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Cocomelonkids/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
Lyrics:
Can you share? Hmmm...Can you share? Hmmm...Can you share? Hmmm...Please? Okay!
We can shareSharing makes us all happy!We can shareSharing makes us all happy!
Sharing is caring,Oh sharing is fun!We can all share together,Be kind to everyone!
Let’s all share! Yay!Let’s all share! Yay!Let’s all share! Yay!Let’s all share! Yay!
Related Videos
Subscribe for new videos every week! https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1 A new compilation video, including one of our most recent songs, "The First Day of School"!
Watch your favorite song by clicking a title below: 0:08 First Day of School 2:58 Humpty Dumpty 5:25 The Color Song (Ice Pops) 9:56 The Thank You Song 13:00 Sorry, Excuse Me 16:54 Wheels on the Bus 20:26 Winter Song 23:06 Baa Baa Black Sheep 25:34 The Duck Hide and Seek Song 28:21 Three Little Pigs 31:30 The Hiccup Song 33:42 Are You Sleeping
Subscribe for new videos every week! https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1 A new compilation video, including one of our most recent songs, "The Boo Boo Song"!
Watch your favorite song by clicking a title below: 0:08 Boo Boo Song 3:38 Twinkle Twinkle Little Star 6:39 Getting Ready for School 9:55 Breakfast Song 12:18 Wheels on the Bus 2 15:46 Five Little Monkeys 18:53 The Clean Up Trash Song 21:55 Old MacDonald Had a Farm 24:27 The Sick Song 26:45 B-I-N-G-O 29:29 Finger Family 31:43 Happy Birthday 33:53 Three Little Kittens
It takes teamwork to build a bridge! Have fun singing along to this favorite classic!https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Cocomelonkids/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
It’s so much fun to get together! Everything is better when you’re doing it with friends! Have fun singing and dancing along with this classic nursery rhyme song! https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Cocomelonkids/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
Lyrics:
The more we get together,Together, togetherThe more we get togetherThe happier we’ll be!
For your friends are my friendsAnd my friends are your friendsThe more we get togetherThe happier we’ll be!
The more we sing together,Together, togetherThe more we sing togetherThe happier we’ll be!
The more we dance together,Together, togetherThe more we dance togetherThe happier we’ll be!
The more we play together, Together, togetherThe more we play togetherThe happier we’ll be!
Share this video with your friends!
Cocomelon (ABCkidTV) is a nursery rhyme channel designed especially for kids under 6 that helps them to learn all about letters, numbers, shapes, colors, animals, and so much more! Your kids will love our friendly characters and colorful 2D and 3D animation while learning both classic nursery rhymes and original songs.
It’s almost bedtime! Sing along with Mom and J.J. while you get ready to climb under the covers for a nice sleep!Subscribe for new videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/c/cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CocomelonkidsTWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
Bath, bath, it’s time to take a bathYes, yes, yes I want to take a bathGood, good, a bath is good for youYay, yay, yay, I like it oohSee, see, Elephant likes the bathOne, two, three, almost clean you seeYes, yes, yes, you see, I’m all done now!Splash, splash, splash, we like it wow
Pajamas, pajamas, it’s time to wear pajamasYes, yes, yes I want to wear pajamasGood, good, pajamas are good for youYay, yay, yay I like them, oohSee, see, Monkey likes pajamasOne, two, three, almost on you seeYes, yes, yes, I’ll put them on right nowSoft, soft, soft, we like them wow
Bed, bed, It’s time to get in bedYes, yes, yes I want to get in bedGood, good, sleep is good for youYay, yay, yay, I like it, ooohSee, see, Mousie likes the bedOne, two, three, cozy warm you seeYes, yes, yes, I’m warm and happy nowCozy, cozy, cozy, we like it wow
Story, story, story, it’s time to read a storyYes, yes, yes, I want to read a storyGood, good, the story’s fun for youYay, yay, yay, I like it, ooohSee, See, Teddy reads the storyOne, two, three, almost done you seeYes, yes, yes, the story is all done nowFun, fun, fun, we like it, wow
It’s winter time, the air is cold, and there’s snow all over the ground! It’s time to go outside and play!Subscribe for new videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/c/cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CocomelonkidsTWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
Lyrics:
Come on, let’s go!There’s brand new snow!It’s on the ground!It’s all around!It’s in the air!It’s everywhere!
Let’s build, build, build a Snowman!Build, build, build a Snowman!Let’s build, build, build a Snowman!We’re playing in the snow!
Let’s slide, slide, slide down the hill!Slide, slide, slide down the hill!Let’s slide, slide, slide down the hill!We’re playing in the snow!
Let’s throw, throw, throw some snowballs!Throw, throw, throw some snowballs!Let’s throw, throw, throw some snowballs!We’re playing in the snow!
Let’s skate, skate, skate on the pond!Skate, skate, skate, skate on the pond!Let’s skate, skate, skate on the pond!We’re playing in the snow!
Merry Christmas from your friends at CoCoMelon! Have fun singing along and making gingerbread houses with us!Subscribe for new videos every week: https://www.youtube.com/c/cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/CocomelonkidsTWITTER: https://www.twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
See the blazing Yule before usFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laStrike the harp and join the chorusFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laFollow me in merry measureFa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-laWhile I tell of Yule-tide treasureFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Fast away the old year passesFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laHail the new year, lads and lassesFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-laSing we joyous, all togetherFa-la-la, la-la-la, la-la-laHeedless of the wind and weatherFa-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
Sing along with our brand new original song, which is great for introducing yourself, and learning everyone’s names!https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Cocomelonkids/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
Lyrics:
How do you do?How do you do?Nice to meet you,Nice to meet you
What is your name?What is your name?My name is _______ !
I like your name, wow!I like your name, wow!Let’s play together, let’s all be friends!
I like your name, wow!I like your name, wow!Let’s play together, let’s all be friends!
Oh no! Everybody wants to play outside, but it’s raining. Sing along with this classic nursery rhyme, and hopefully the rain will go away soon!https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Cocomelonkids/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
What happens when a little star falls out of the sky? We have to find a way to help him get home!https://www.youtube.com/c/Cocomelon?sub_confirmation=1WEBSITE: http://www.Cocomelon.comFACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/Cocomelonkids/TWITTER: https://twitter.com/Cocomelonkids
Lyrics:
Twinkle, twinkle, Little Star!How I wonder what you areUp above the world so highLike a diamond in the skyTwinkle, twinkle, Little Star!How I wonder what you are
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Centralised Online Undergraduates Registration System (CORS)
Select Faculty first to display the module listing under that selected
faculty.
Narrow down your search to department by selecting the Department and
the module information listing will be specified only to that selected
department. The Department Selection Box will only appear after a faculty
is selected.
To search all modules begins with a prefix, simply type the prefix together with a "%" in the "Module Code" box: e.g. type "MA%" to get all modules begin with "MA".
Faculty :
Module Code:
Click on the module code to view detailed information pertaining
to that module.
NOTE:
For cross-listed modules that do not have tutorial groups of their own, please check the tutorial groups under the parent code even though you are registered under the cross-listed module code.
EC3303 Econometrics I; or
BSE3703 Econometrics for Business I; or
BSP4513 Econometrics: Theory and Practical Business Applications; or
ST3131 Regression Analysis;
(or equivalent to any of the above prerequisite modules).
1) Exempted from NUS Qualifying English Test, or passed NUS Qualifying English Test, or exempted from further CELC Remedial English modules; AND
2) Grade 'B4' and above in Higher Chinese (HCL) at GCE 'O' Level or Chinese (CL) at GCE 'AO' Level; OR Grade 'C' and above in Chinese Language (H1CL) at GCE 'A' Level.
1) Exempted from NUS Qualifying English Test, or passed NUS Qualifying English Test, or exempted from further CELC Remedial English modules; AND
2) Grade 'B4' and above in Higher Chinese (HCL) at GCE 'O' Level or Chinese (CL) at GCE 'AO' Level; OR Grade 'C' and above in Chinese Language (H1CL) at GCE 'A' Level.
Students must have completed BK1003 or BZ1002 or BH1002 or FNA1002/ACC1002 or FNA1002X/ACC1002X or FNA1002E or BH1002E or EC3212 or EG1422 before they are allowed to take FIN2004.
Students who have taken CS2251 or EC3209 or EC3333 or BK2004 or BZ2004 or BH2004 or FNA2004 are not allowed to take FIN2004. 1st Year BSc(PFM), all BSc (RE) and Computational Finance are not allowed to take FIN2004.
CS1010 or CS1010E, CS1010FC, CS1010S, CS1101, CS1101C, CS1101S, GEK1511. SoC students and engineering students. Science students requiring this module for their minor should not register it as ULR-Breadth. Arts and Social Science students reading CNM as a subject/concentration and matriculated before AY2001/02 are not allowed to read this module as URL-Breadth
This module is meant for students with no prior knowledge of the target language. Students with prior knowledge (including spoken proficiency) must contact CLS to take a placement test.
Hindi 1 is intended for students who are complete beginners. It is not suitable for students who are:
- native speakers of Hindi or Urdu
- students who have studied Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati, Marathi or Punjabi at 'O' or 'A' levels (or equivalents) or have previously undertaken any formal study of Hindi, Urdu, Gujarati or Punjabi for any duration of time
- Students who are from India have to provide a complete transcript of subjects studied to prove that they have not taken Hindi at any level.
Cohort 2008 and before:
Nil.
Cohorts 2009 to 2011:
Obtain a grade of B- or above in NM1101E Communications, New Media and Society (applies to students from ALL faculties except School of Computing). Students who fail to meet the B- criterion in NM1101E will have the opportunity to take a department conducted test, which will act as an alternative prerequisite.
Cohort 2012 onwards:
Nil
Cohort 2011 and before:
(Not applicable to SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs, including 28 MCs in NM, with a minimum CAP of 3.50 or be on the Honours track.
(For SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs and obtain a minimum CAP of 3.50.
Cohort 2012 onwards:
(Not applicable to SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs, including 28 MCs in NM, with a minimum CAP of 3.20 or be on the Honours track.
(For SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs and obtain a minimum CAP of 3.20.
Cohort 2011 and before:
Completed 80 MCs, including 28 MCs in NM, with a minimum CAP of 3.50 or be on the Honours track.
Cohort 2012 onwards:
Completed 80 MCs, including 28 MCs in NM or 28 MCs in GL/GL recognised non-language modules, with a minimum CAP of 3.20 or be on the Honours track.
Cohort 2011 and before:
(Not applicable to SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs, including 28 MCs in NM, with a minimum CAP of 3.50 or be on the Honours track.
(For SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs and obtain a minimum CAP of 3.50.
Cohort 2012 onwards:
(Not applicable to SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs, including 28 MCs in NM, with a minimum CAP of 3.20 or be on the Honours track.
(For SOC/SDE/ENG students)
Completed 80 MCs and obtain a minimum CAP of 3.20.
At least a B- in both PL1101E and PL2131, OR has declared Psychology as a major. Students who fail to meet the B- criterion in either of the modules, or both, will have the opportunity to take a department-conducted test, which will act as an alternative prerequisite.
As the emphasis of the class is on practical approaches to art as a way of appreciating and understanding Southeast Asian Studies, students should ideally have genuine interests in drawing, painting, and the creative arts.
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Tapping potential of golden fibre
The present government has played a crucial role in increasing jute’s significance and uses in a bid to revive the golden fibre.
Jute is turning out to be an important thespian as its demand is increasing abroad against the backdrop of the world’s inclination towards to ‘green’ solutions. In addition, jute’s diversified use is expanding its market size.
To promote jute globally, the country’s jute diversification centre has now 233 types of jute products.
Various consumer goods like shoes, handkerchiefs, bed sheets, caps and other items are now being made using jute. Since 2009, diversified jute products have started gaining a foothold in markets worldwide. To increase demand for jute, the government also made jute packaging mandatory for 17 products, fostering domestic support for the industry.
Bangladesh started enforcing the mandatory packaging rule for commodities–mainly rice, wheat and maize–from the last quarter of 2015 to limit the use of environmentally harmful plastic bags.
The country has started producing viscose from jute as an alternative to cotton. Viscose is used to make yarn in cotton yarn spinning mill.
Bangladesh imports viscose amounting to $700-800 million every year and this item is made of wood. The country has the potential to produce viscose from jute.
To this end, a factory is set up in Ghorasal of Narsingdi district for producing it under the government’s initiative. It will be possible to produce 35 tonnes of viscose in the factory annually. The project is a boon for the country’s jute economy since value addition to the raw material, when converted into viscose, will be substantially more than when either used in traditional jute mills or exported.
Export of jute and jute goods, another top earner, jumped 6.56 percent to $1.03 billion. In the category, jute yarn and twine saw their earnings rise 6.55 percent.
Dr Mahmudul Hasan, chairman of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), told Bangladesh Post that there was huge demand for jute and jute goods of Bangladesh in around 90 countries.
According to BJMC and Indian jute mill association, Bangladesh has 65 per cent share in global export earnings from jute whereas India’s earnings stand at around 25 percent. The remaining 10 percent share goes to China, Nepal, Pakistan and other countries.
In 2016-17 fiscal, the total export of jute goods was worth $79 crore whereas India earned $32 crore during the time.
In the last fiscal, the country’s earnings stood at $74.60 crore while next-door neighbour India fetched $29.60 crore.
The fabric is mainly exported to Australia, China, Turkey, Vietnam, some African and European Union countries.
Apart from jute goods, Bangladesh also exports raw jute. The country is earning megabucks from the sector, albeit most of the jute mills here are running with old machinery. Therefore, there is a bit lack of diversity in jute products compared to its competitors.
The country has all the possibilities to strengthen its position in the global market by enhancing its skilled manpower.
The global market based on jute products will stand at $260 core by 2022 as many EU countries imposed a ban on plastic bags. Jute product producing countries like Bangladesh, India and China have great opportunities to enter the market, according a study of Research and Markets.
To redeem the advantage, the government has taken many steps to develop the jute industry, said secretary to jute and textile Fayzur Rahman.
Diversified jute products are being produced given its global demand, he also said.
Farmers are provided with incentives and financial assistances for boosting production. The non-government sector is also getting all the facilities as well, he mentioned.
Besides, the government organisation BJMC is also working more actively than any other time, he added.
For the first time the government has initiated bale-based sales of jute as well as digital buying system, he maintained.
|
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Entry Description: Vald is a wearable rescue supply that gives miners 24 hours of oxygen when they get stuck underground. It reimagines breathing tools and offers a longer lasting oxygen source by using different materials and a working principle.
|
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|
Target Isn’t Selling Clown Masks This Year Because Of The Creepy Clown Epidemic
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
The Creepy Clown Craze Conspiracy of 2016 is a hoax, but it's inspired some truly disturbing incidents across the United States and elsewhere since its mysterious emergence in August. Concerned about roaming clowns and the public's potential violent reaction to them, law enforcement officials are on high alert, warning people to forgo the clown garb and to please, please refrain from harnessing the national fear to play pranks. At least one big box store doesn't want anything to do with the social media-fueled trend, and Target has announced it isn't selling clown masks this year ahead of Halloween. Considering the very bad press that has haunted clowns the past few months, it may be a welcome decision.
"Given the current environment, we have made the decision to remove a variety of clown masks from our assortment, both in stores and online," Target spokesperson Joshua Thomas told WCOO Minneapolis Sunday, explaining why the store had opted to pull now-potentially-dangerous costumes.
The move, of course, is a precautionary measure, after children in a South Carolina apartment complex reported that clowns had been trying to lure them into the woods — wholly unsubstantiated claims that nevertheless set off a nationwide panic and series of unsettling clown incidents across the United States.
As the (false) news of a clown conspiracy to harm children spread, onlookers began jumping on the bandwagon. Arizona teens wearing clown masks were busted after robbing two fast food restaurants; authorities arrested a 13-year-old girl in Chicago after she allegedly asked a "clown" on social media to kill one of her teachers. Unrelated incidents like this accompanied a slew of unsettling clown sightings and incidents in many states, revving up the public's aversion to the characters.
And the situation devolved for clowns too, naturally. In early October, thousands of rowdy Pennsylvania State University students mobbed the streets armed with "tennis rackets, baseball bats, and hockey sticks" searching for clowns after there were reports of a sighting there, OnwardState.com reported. Just days before that, also in Pennsylvania, a 29-year-old man allegedly fatally stabbed a 16-year-old boy wearing a clown mask.
The fear of more reprisals and continued unrest stemming from the clown scare has prompted authorities to warn against wearing clown costumes. The Dartmouth Police Department in Massachusetts, for example, released a PSA warning that it would take a zero-tolerance approach to clown sightings.
"Please keep in mind that disturbing ones peace, trespassing and enticing of a child are arrestable offenses, and that anyone who takes partakes in this senseless and potentially dangerous behavior may be subject to arrest under Massachusetts General Laws," Detective Kyle J. Costa says in the oddy circus-themed video.
For people who make their living entertaining others as clowns, the massive scare has been a disaster, and it even inspired activists to host a "Clown Lives Matter" march in Tucson to show people that clowns are the good guys this week, according to Rolling Stone.
"They are being unfairly targeted," an activist who identifies as Zweebo the Clown told the outlet. "Being threatened with violence. Worst of all, this is driving them out of their jobs ... There have been sheriffs who have even said that 'if you are wearing a clown costume, expect to be beat up.' What kind of message is that sending to people who do it as a job?"
The real-life implications of what could seem like a harmless hoax on the surface show that Target is smart to get out of the clown business, at least for now. Dressing up as a classic ghost or witch is certainly the safer route for Halloween this year.
|
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Redstone Lofts
165 Davis Road Burlington, VT, 05401
Redstone Lofts
rsvt-admin July 20, 2018
Property Description
The Redstone Lofts provides residents modern amenities in a contemporary living environment on the campus of the University of Vermont. Located between Redstone Campus and the university’s athletic facilities, the Lofts features community focused common areas that encourage resident connections.
Independence, On Campus
Our residents appreciate the convenience of living on campus and our proximity to central campus, campus transportation resources, and the Gutterson Fieldhouse and Campus Recreation Facilities. Our on-site property management and maintenance teams are here to support students, while assisting them in making the transition to living independently.
Going Beyond Basic Amenities
The Lofts feature fully furnished apartments with modern furniture and appliances. High speed wired and wireless internet is offered free of charge, and washer and dryers are provided in most units. The heart of the Lofts is the Lantern, featuring a fully-equipped, spacious entertainment area with a cozy fireplace and game tables surrounded by ample study space, a state-of-the-art media room, and a 24-hour fitness center.
Supporting Residents 24/7
Extended office hours evenings and weekends, 24 hour on call service for maintenance emergencies, and mobile app technology for building communications are just some of the ways we provide support to our residents. Our professional property management and maintenance teams, alongside our student staff members, are here to and happy to help!
Community Connections
At Redstone we think meaningful connections to our campus and local community is important. We’re excited to offer residents on-site access to deliveries from the Intervale Food Hub and to be one of the first locations for Burlington’s Greenride’s bike share program. We’re also proud to have supported student groups like UVM Feel Good,AERO, and ASME and to serve as the exclusive sponsor of ‘The Den’ student section at Virtue Field, Patrick Gymnasium, and the Gutterson Fieldhouse.
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Winners Eventex Awards
Sponsored by
A couple of months ago I had Ovanes Ovanessian, organiser of the Eventex Awards, in our studio to introduce their new awards for the event industry. Today, he will reveal the winners of the worldwide event competition.
Transcript
A couple of months ago I had Ovanes Ovanessian, organiser of the Eventex Awards, in our studio to introduce their new awards for the event industry. Today, he will reveal the winners of the worldwide event competition.
Hi Ovanes, welcome back to our studio.
Hi, glad to be here again.
We talked before about the Eventex Awards and now is the time the winners are announced. Who's the winner of the biggest category, the event of the year?
The event of the year category has been won by Electric Island Dancergy.
And why was that? What was so special about that event?
Well, I really liked that entry because, as people were dancing, the energy was supplied by a generator, they also used solar energy and people could see the effect they had on the sustainability of the event.
Okay, so it was a really green event.
Yeah. Actually, the jury had decided that this should be the winner, and all their ratings and comments are public, so anyone can see them on the website.
So, on your website, we can see why the jury did choose this event to be the winner.
Yeah, exactly. It's just public, and it will always be. It's really important for us to be transparent about this.
Yeah, that's very remarkable, because most of the awards shows don't have that transparency. How are the reactions on that, did the participants, the jury, did they like this way of working?
Well, some of them were surprised maybe a bit, but most of the people really liked that approach because it really shows transparency, and they can be 100% sure the entries can't be manipulated and these are the real winners.
Did you get any negative remarks on that? For example, a participant that says 'I don't agree with that jury member' ?
Well, we've done four awards up to now, and we've had that issue once or twice, but actually, if a jury decides that an event is not so great, and the event organiser knows how much energy and effort was put into organising the event, of course he'll not be happy with the rating.
Indeed, indeed. You also had other categories. We won't talk about every category, but for example, the conference of the year. It was won by a Dutch event.
Yeah, the Buiten Congress.
Yep. And what was special about that one?
Well, I didn't judge this category, so, the most important part for each entry is the way they present their entry, because, I think many people have this problem, they have a great event, they put so much effort into it, and after, when they participate in the awards competition, they just do it for twenty minutes and after that, the judges can't see what the event organiser knows that he has done, but if they haven't shown it, they can't win.
One of the categories I was in as a jury member was the Event Technology of the Year, and I really liked that category, because of the new technologies. The winner of that category was sl.ido.
Yeah, great actually, I met the guys at a conference, in London and I really love their software. We'll actually use it for our next event, which is this Thursday. And, I really like the simplicity because you don't have to install a mobile app on your mobile. You just go to an address, which is really easy, sli.do something, and you can leave your feedback or ask a question.
So, it's a platform for interaction with your audience.
Ah, it's more a platform for interaction of the audience with the speaker. So, they can ask a question, and the speaker can answer, and it's a great way that people can ask their questions and get the answer they ...
Thank you. Will there be Eventex Awards next year?
This year, actually.
This year?
Yeah, there will be, and there will be a ceremony, and it will be part of Eventex Congress, which will be in Bulgaria, 25th and 26th of February 2015.
Okay, okay. And, did you learn something from these awards, that you will change in the next version?
Yeah, of course. We'll remove some of the categories, and add new ones of course, because we had some categories that were really, with strong competition, like Technology of the Year, which was great, but we had some categories that were not so good, so we won't be having them again for next year.
Okay. Looking forward to that, Ovanes.
Me too. And, I hope more people take part in next year's event.
Thank you very much for your time.
Thank you.
And you at home, thank you for watching our show. I hope to see you next time.
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Understand the relationship between reinforcement learning and psychology
Implement 17 different reinforcement learning algorithms
Requirements
Calculus
Probability
Markov Models
The Numpy Stack
Have experience with at least a few supervised machine learning methods
Gradient descent
Good object-oriented programming skills
Description
When people talk about artificial intelligence, they usually don’t mean supervised and unsupervised machine learning.
These tasks are pretty trivial compared to what we think of AIs doing – playing chess and Go, driving cars, and beating video games at a superhuman level.
Reinforcement learning has recently become popular for doing all of that and more.
Much like deep learning, a lot of the theory was discovered in the 70s and 80s but it hasn’t been until recently that we’ve been able to observe first hand the amazing results that are possible.
In 2016 we saw Google’sAlphaGo beat the world Champion in Go.
We saw AIs playing video games like Doom and Super Mario.
Self-driving cars have started driving on real roads with other drivers and even carrying passengers (Uber), all without human assistance.
If that sounds amazing, brace yourself for the future because the law of accelerating returns dictates that this progress is only going to continue to increase exponentially.
Learning about supervised and unsupervised machine learning is no small feat. To date I have over SIXTEEN (16!) courses just on those topics alone.
And yet reinforcement learning opens up a whole new world. As you’ll learn in this course, the reinforcement learning paradigm is more different from supervised and unsupervised learning than they are from each other.
It’s led to new and amazing insights both in behavioral psychology and neuroscience. As you’ll learn in this course, there are many analogous processes when it comes to teaching an agent and teaching an animal or even a human. It’s the closest thing we have so far to a true general artificial intelligence.
What’s covered in this course?
The multi-armed bandit problem and the explore-exploit dilemma
Ways to calculate means and moving averages and their relationship to stochastic gradient descent
Markov Decision Processes (MDPs)
Dynamic Programming
Monte Carlo
Temporal Difference (TD) Learning
Approximation Methods (i.e. how to plug in a deep neural network or other differentiable model into your RL algorithm)
If you’re ready to take on a brand new challenge, and learn about AI techniques that you’ve never seen before in traditional supervised machine learning, unsupervised machine learning, or even deep learning, then this course is for you.
See you in class!
NOTES:
All the code for this course can be downloaded from my github:
/lazyprogrammer/machine_learning_examples
In the directory: rl
Make sure you always “git pull” so you have the latest version!
HARD PREREQUISITES / KNOWLEDGE YOU ARE ASSUMED TO HAVE:
Calculus
Probability
Object-oriented programming
Python coding: if/else, loops, lists, dicts, sets
Numpy coding: matrix and vector operations
Linear regression
Gradient descent
TIPS (for getting through the course):
Watch it at 2x.
Take handwritten notes. This will drastically increase your ability to retain the information.
Write down the equations. If you don’t, I guarantee it will just look like gibberish.
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Frederique Constant and Alpina, a brand owned by Frederique Constant, jointly announced the Swiss Horological Smartwatch presenting it as a solution to the apparent incompatibility between classic watch and smart watch.
Instead of adopting a digital screen, the Swiss Horological Smartwatch uses the sub-dial at 6 o'clock to offer an analogue representation of the smart technology that is at the heart of this unique timepiece.
Inside the watch is the new smart technology which supports the following functionality: MotionX activity tracking, Sleeptracker sleep monitoring, sleep cycle alarms, active alerts and adaptive coaching. All the data can be backed up and stored in the MotionX cloud.
The Swiss Horological Smartwatch synchronises automatically with applications on Apple and Android smartphones. On the iOS and Android apps, simple and easy-to-understand graphics highlight how much one has moved and slept during the day, week, or month.
The innovative quartz module has a battery life of two plus years, a dramatic improvement compared to what most smart watches offer.
To fully exploit this new technology, the owners of the Frederique Constant Group created MMT (Manufacture Modules Technologies Sàrl), a Swiss joint venture formed with Fullpower Technologies, Inc., a California-based company specialised in the development of wearable and sensor-based solutions.
Two models have been presented: the first is the Frederique Constant ref. FC-285V5B4 in a rose gold plated stainless steel 42 mm case with a silver dial. Water-resistant to 5 ATM.
The second model, from Alpina, is the reference AL-285BTD3C6B featuring a polished and brushed 3-parts stainless stainless steel 39 mm case with a black dial and 11 hand- set diamonds. Water-resistant up to 10ATM.
MMT also licensed the Swiss brand Mondaine - well known for its timepieces modeled after Swiss railroad clocks - which presented the Helvetica No 1 Smart.
Frederique Constant and Alpina, a brand owned by Frederique Constant, jointly announced the Swiss Horological Smartwatch, a new approach to the apparent incompatibility between classic watch and smart watch. The owners of the Frederique Constant Group created MMT (Manufacture Modules Technologies Sàrl), a Swiss joint venture formed with Fullpower Technologies, Inc., a California-based company specialized in the development of wearable and sensor-based solutions. Frederique Constant ref. FC-285V5B4. Alpina ref. AL-285BTD3C6B. Mondaine Helvetica No 1 Smart
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Mirwaiz Farooq, leader of pro-independence group in India-administered region, says Kashmir has no military solution.
By
Srinagar, India-administered Kashmir - A top Kashmiri leader has said that the provision in the Indian constitution, which grants India-administered Kashmir autonomous status, only exists on paper as the status has been diluted over the decades.
Pro-Independence groups such as Hurriyat Conference led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, 41, told Al Jazeera that the entire debate focuses on Srinagar-New Delhi relationship when the Kashmir dispute is about the future of the state that existed prior to August 1947.
India's new government led by Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ran into controversy after a junior minister called for a debate on Tuesday on the future status of India-administered Kashmir.
Pro-India parties such as National Conference and People’s Democratic Party have criticised the minister’s remarks, who later said that he was misquoted.
The BJP manifesto calls for the repeal of Article 370, which guarantees special status to the Muslim majority region that has witnessed an armed rebellion against Indian rule.
Live Box 2013927135832671882
The region has been disputed by both India and Pakistan since the subcontinent was divided into two countries on religious grounds in 1947. The two countries have fought three wars over the territory.
Thousands of people have been killed, including Indian soldiers, during the conflict and thousands have disappeared in one of the world's most militarised regions.
In a freewheeling interview with Al Jazeera, Farooq says the Kashmir conflict cannot be solved by removing provisions but either by implementation of UN resolutions or by a negotiation in which all parties to the conflict: Kashmiris, Pakistan and India could collectively come up with some new alternative acceptable to the people of Kashmir.
Al Jazeera: A junior minister in the new government has called for a debate on Article 370. Even the new prime minister, Narendra Modi, has openly endorsed a debate on this provision. How would you react?
Farooq: Removing Article 370 is a non-issue for us. We must understand that the provision exists only on paper. On the ground, Kashmir has become an army and police state. The men in uniform run it. Kashmir dispute is not about Srinagar-New Delhi relationship; it is about the future of entire Kashmir that also includes parts under Pakistan’s administration.
We used to have autonomy under Indian constitution (pre-1953 status), but successive Indian leaderships have already diluted it. I think the BJP should have avoided talking about it at this stage. Hurriyat is always pro-dialogue, but at the same time people have lost faith in the dialogue, as nothing substantial has yielded so far.
India has to be very clear about the dialogue process. We have 6,000 unmarked graves in Kashmir, besides 9,000 people are disappeared. If new government can come clean on these issues, then we are ready to engage in talks. But if Modi government follows the same approach and policy as his predecessors followed, then there would no movement forward.
Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to Al Jazeera: "The biggest problem that India and Pakistan face right now is security and development, and both are related to Kashmir." [File: AP]
Farooq: Hurriyat Conference welcomes the gesture of Modi when he invited Pakistan’s prime minister to India. We also welcome Sharif’s decision to come to India. I think it is in the interest of the people of Kashmir, because eventually the solution to the dispute cannot happen until both the countries come closer to each other. I hope leadership of both the countries realise that they cannot live in animosity and they have to address problems.
The biggest problem that India and Pakistan face right now is security and development, and both are related to Kashmir. We can tell for a fact that India’s defence budget has crossed $48bn while Pakistan’s defence expenditure is $18bn. So, it is a huge expense which they are putting at the cost of development when 40 percent of children in India are suffering from malnutrition. And same is the case with Pakistan.
So, we believe that if Modi’s agenda of development and economic progress is to be implemented because he fought elections on that plank, then it is important he has to look at the core issues - which is obviously Kashmir.
Al Jazeera: But Hafiz Sayeed of Jamaat-ud-Dawa - which India believes is a front of Lashkar-e-Taiba - had insisted that Sharif reconsider his decision to visit India. Besides, the rebel groups associated with United Jehad Council too seem reluctant to endorse this approach. Do you think there is a disconnect between political and armed groups in Kashmir on the issue?
Farooq: Look, I can only speak about political leadership, as a chairman of the Hurriyat Conference. And the Hurriyat and I firmly believe that there is no other way to solve Kashmir issue but to address it politically.
That is why, it is important that India-Pakistan peace process should be set in motion. And if this process is taken forward then they have to come out with a mechanism - as how to involve Kashmiris on both sides of ceasefire line. In this context, I think it is important that all sides need to be represented, including both the political leadership and the militant leadership.
Indian people have given Modi a strong mandate, and so is the case of Sharif. Both the leaders can take bold decisions. We hope to see them accommodate the mission and aspirations of the people of Kashmir.
Al Jazeera: Do you think outgoing Congress party 'wore out' and 'exhausted' Kashmiri leadership since 1947. Do you think the BJP will be able to solve the oldest dispute on the UN agenda?
Farooq: History has given a chance to the BJP and its leader to solve the Kashmir conflict once and for all.
Congress party has always taken a traditional approach on Kashmir since 1947. And it is the Congress party, which is responsible for the mess in Kashmir. I believe, the Congress party has lost many opportunities to settle the issue. But now, Modi-led BJP government has a golden chance to solve the dispute.
Al Jazeera: Amid the bonhomie, how do you see Indian media and its army? Some Kashmir watchers say they have become fourth and fifth party of the otherwise tripartite dispute?
Farooq: Indian army is now in the political arena of Kashmir. They have been taking political decisions and it tells a lot about India’s power structure. It is unfortunate that the army is consolidating its position in Kashmir day by day. And India also seems to have more of a military approach than a political approach. But that policy has already failed.
In fact, we have been demanding that there should be demilitarisation, removal of army from towns, borders and districts. And yes, the same applies for some selective Indian media, which are adding confusion on Kashmir conflict by projecting a misleading picture of Kashmir.
Al Jazeera: Do you think good relations with Pakistan will affect Indian Muslims who are still seen with suspicion? Is it connected?
Farooq: Well in a sense, it is connected, because Indian Muslims also face the wrath at times by the Hindu fundamentalist forces. Instances show that they are still dumped as pro-Pakistan. Look, Indian Muslims have taken decision to be the part of India. And the same should be respected by all, especially by the people who are at the helm of affairs. They should not be always viewed with suspicion. And as for as Kashmir is concerned, yes, it definitely impacts Indian Muslims. And that is why, Kashmir issue has to be viewed from a political angle and not from religious angle.
Al Jazeera: Modi believes in Hindutva (religio-cultural nationalism). Do you think Kashmiri leadership can do business with him?
Farooq: The people of India chose Modi and one cannot overwrite this decision. We saw a change in the mindset and approach at the time of [Atal Bihari] Vajpayee (former India prime minister from the BJP], who offered a solution in the ambit of humanity. He talked about shedding the beaten tracks. He talked about open borders and open engagements. So, if that change is there, we will welcome that.
Al Jazeera: When we talk about your capabilities, your stand on Kashmir dispute is quite clear. But do you think, it is enough to throw some out-of-the-box solution on the dispute?
Farooq: There are only two ways to address the Kashmir dispute: one is obviously implementation of UN resolutions on Kashmir. And the second way out is to adopt alternative negotiated settlement - which means all parties to the conflict: Kashmiris, Pakistan, India can collectively come up with some new alternative, acceptable to the people.
In that backdrop, the four-point formula of former Pakistan president General Parvez Musharraf gave some sort of flip to this concept of out-of-the-box solution. And, I believe there are many ways and means, provided there is a political will especially, in New Delhi.
Whenever we talk to Indian leadership, it is seen in the context of Indo-Pakistan relations. The common Indian looks Kashmir through the prism of Pakistan: the problems created by Islamists, the militants and the jihadis. They don’t try to go into the background of the conflict. So, I think that the out-of-the-box solution will emerge if all the three parties to conflict agree to take that process forward.
Al Jazeera: Does a recent spurt in armed attacks by rebels indicate Kashmir will return to the situation such as the 1990s?
Farooq: It is difficult to say that, but let me tell you something. The policy of choking adopted by New Delhi in Kashmir, where they deny political space to youth will have its backlashes.
Though Hurriyat wants to keep the movement very peaceful, but then if the policies adopted by New Delhi keep pushing youth towards the wall, then there is a possibility of re-emergence of militancy in the valley. Hurriyat wants to keep the movement very peaceful but the policies adopted by New Delhi keep pushing youth towards the wall. In such a scenario, there is a possibility of re-emergence of militancy in the valley.
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Alcohol, after caffeine, is America’s favorite over-the-counter drug. And after caffeine, it is the drug of choice among Americans both old enough and too young to consume it legally.
Alcohol use—especially excess use—is a risk factor both for being victimized and for perpetrating youth violence. This violence may take the form of bullying, gang violence, assaults that take place in bars and on streets and in homes, and sexual aggression.1 The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism concludes that life within a gang has two endemic features: violence and alcohol.2
For both males and females, a riskier drinking style is associated with dating violence. A study published in 2011 in The Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs characterized dating violence as attended by “more frequent alcohol use, alcohol-aggression expectancies, drinking to cope, and beliefs that alcohol is disinhibiting and that being drunk provides a ‘time out’ from behavioral expectations.”3
George Washington's Center for Alcohol & Other Drug Education estimates that 85 percent of all campus rapes nationwide involve alcohol.
Those who have a drink or two daily (slightly less for women than for men) are not prone to abuse.45 But such moderation does not constitute the drinking pattern of most American youths.
Teens Drink, Older Teens Drink More, Young Adults Binge MoreMost parents underestimate the extent of teen drinking and see it as less of a problem than teenagers themselves do.6 In 2006, 54 percent of Americans ages 12 through 20 had used alcohol in their lifetime, and 46 percent had used it in the past month. Rates of consumption increase with age among underage persons.
In a 2007 survey, more than 3 percent of 12- and 13-year-old Americans, 15 percent of 14- and 15-year-olds, 29 percent of 16- and 17-year-olds, and 51 percent of 18- to 20-year-olds had drunk alcohol within the 30 days leading up to the time they were surveyed. Binge drinking—five or more drinks on one occasion—peaks in the early adult years.8
Much (if not all) of this age-specific drinking behavior is attributable to the prefrontal cortex, the part of the brain responsible for rational decision-making, planning, and impulse control. The prefrontal cortex is not fully developed in the adolescent and probably does not finish developing until one’s mid-20s. (Cracks Jennifer Senior, author of just-released book All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood, "The only group of people who seemed to figure this out before neuroscientists was car insurance companies.")
Young adults (ages 19–24) have the highest prevalence of heavy or high-risk drinking9 and also demonstrate an accelerated trajectory to dependence.10 While 50 percent of 18-year-old heavy drinkers age out of those drinking patterns, 50 percent have the same drinking pattern 12 years later.11
Candy’s Dandy, Liquor’s QuickerAlcohol is absorbed more quickly and with greater effect on an empty stomach or if carbonated. It moves rapidly to all vital organs. Chiefly metabolized in the liver, alcohol’s deconstruction requires much more time—roughly three hours for each ounce of alcohol drunk—than its absorption.12
By depressing both inhibitory and excitatory neurons, alcohol remakes different people differently—rendering one the recluse, another the flirt, another the fighter, another the life of the party, and another the death on the highway.
It isn’t what you drink (beer versus wine versus hard liquor) that makes you inebriated to the point of dysfunction; it’s specifically how much alcohol you consume. If liquor seems to make the consumer more violent than beer, it is simply because its higher-percentage alcohol content makes the drinker drunk faster.13 By contrast, if you tried to get drunk on so-called nonalcoholic beer (whose alcohol content is about 1/12 the amount of regular beer), given the speed at which the body metabolizes alcohol, by the time you got drunk… you would be sober.
The Numbers on Binge Drinking Are StaggeringLarge numbers of underage drinkers binge.14 Eighteen to 36 percent of high school students report binge drinking within the previous 2 weeks,15 and two in five college students report binge drinking.16 The problem may be underestimated, for some research suggests that students regularly overestimate the size of a standard drink and thus underestimate the extent of their drinking.17
The point of binge drinking can vary. Some drink simply to get drunk fast, others to show how well they can “hold” their alcohol. But addictions scientists think the young drinker with the “hollow leg” may be more prone to alcoholism than one who feels (and appears) inebriated quickly.1819
What to Do About This Dangerous Drug?Analyses of public policy related to alcohol purchase and consumption offer evidence that policy change and enforcement can be an effective deterrent.2425 Effectively limiting the access to alcohol to persons under legal drinking age not only directly reduces teen drinking but also communicates a clear message to the community that underage drinking is unacceptable.26 Checking would-be buyers' IDs more rigorously and reducing the number of alcohol outlets in a neighborhood are two strategies associated with decreases in violence.
Two school-based programs—Brief Alcohol Screening and Intervention of College Students (or BASICS) and Safe Dates—have been shown to be effective in reducing risky drinking behavior and dating violence among college students and middle and high school students, respectively.
Listed as an effective program in OJP’s CrimeSolutions.gov, BASICS is aimed at college students 18 to 24 years old who drink alcohol heavily and have experienced or are at risk for alcohol-related problems such as poor class attendance, missed assignments, accidents, sexual assault, and violence. BASICS is designed to help students make better decisions about using alcohol. The program’s style is empathic, rather than confrontational or judgmental. BASICS uses brief, limited interventions designed to prompt students to change their drinking patterns. The program is conducted over the course of two 50-minute interviews. For more information, see http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=138.
Another CrimeSolutions.gov effective program, Safe Dates is a school-based prevention program for middle and high school students designed to stop or prevent the initiation of dating violence victimization and perpetration, including the psychological, physical, and sexual abuse that may occur between youths involved in a dating relationship. Safe Dates relies on primary and secondary prevention activities to target behavioral changes in adolescents. The Safe Dates program includes a curriculum with nine 50-minute sessions, one 45-minute play to be performed by students, and a poster contest. For more information, see http://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=142.
System of Care Expansion planning grants and implementation cooperative agreements, awarded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will support efforts to develop, expand, and maintain a system of care providing mental health services for children and youth with serious emotional disturbances and their families. Planning grant applications must be received by March 19; implementation grant applications are due March 21.
Registration is open for the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges' Family Law Institute for Judges and Lawyers, March 2–5. Topics will include e- discovery and ethics, psychotropic medication effects, child toxic stress, neglect, cyberstalking, and modern parenting.
CAMDEN’S METRO MODEL ADDS 100 OFFICERS TO CITY FORCEby Dave Marsden
Camden, N.J.—A great story* occurring in one of our Forum cities is the dramatic change taking place in this New Jersey town of 77,000 people, across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pa.
Camden, N.J., has the unenviable distinction of ranking near the top of the nation for cities its size in both violence and poverty; however, things are changing fast.
On May 1, 2013, Camden’s city police department had 230 sworn officers. Despite having state-of-the-art technology and an outstanding police chief in Scott Thomson, the department was fighting a losing battle. The city suffered 52 murders in 2012 alone. In fact, the number of nonfatal shootings was so high that each city resident stood a 1 in 270 chance of being shot sometime in the next year.
Today, the Camden Police Department is the newly constituted Camden County Police Department under Chief Thomson’s leadership, with 330 officers—a full hundred more than last May. Eight-nine officers have recently graduated from the academy and joined the force. In addition, there is a new academy class under way that will bring the force to 411 by June. How did this happen?
The answer was to start with the best of the old force and add new officers dedicated to providing the public with the highest level of public safety. Officers from the old city force re-interviewed for jobs in the new Camden County Police Department. One hundred fifty-five officers made the transition, while 45 officers were not selected or chose not to apply. All of the officers had to retake their oaths, according to Chief Thomson. The new department motto is “Service Before Self,” according to the chief, who adds that his officers have been to “hell and back” on the way to reinventing themselves and getting a fresh start. “Morale is up,” says the chief, and positive results have begun to appear.
From May through December, there has been a 38 percent reduction in violent crime from the same 8-month period in 2012, and homicides are down 15 percent, according to the chief. Although it has only been 8 months since the personnel change, the trends point in the right direction. While adding more officers who are rededicating themselves to their public safety mission is critical, there has been a major change in policing philosophy and strategy taking place at the same time. In the old force there were only enough officers on board to take a reactive approach to the job. Officers were largely in cruisers responding to crimes as best they could; prevention appeared to be out of the question. But with additional staff and a switch to community policing, there appears to be a new sense of safety and trust among the police and the citizens they serve. There has been a “tenfold increase in citizen contact, and despite that increase the actual number of officer demeanor complaints is down,” says the chief. So what is going on in Camden?
The answer is that officers are out of their cruisers and on foot, reintroducing themselves to residents and developing relationships. The results have been an increase in the perception and reality of public safety. Ordinary citizens are coming out on the streets, driving the drug trade into the background. People are talking to the police, and as a result gun seizures are up 75 percent. The concept of procedural justice and legitimacy, a recent topic of a Forum site call, is well known in Camden and is being actively practiced. People are more engaged in informing on those who are engaging in criminal activity, and police are catching more folks in the act of committing crimes because of their increased presence where crime is committed.
Chief Thomson also polled the citizens of Camden to find out what their reaction has been to the changes in the way the department operates. Three of every four (75 percent) citizens surveyed have a positive view of the police.
What is also groundbreaking about this turnaround is what it may portend for New Jersey as a whole. With a 2 percent cap on any yearly tax increase for any county in New Jersey, the other 36 municipalities in Camden County may be looking to join this new county police agency. With 37 police departments in Camden County, the duplication of overhead (dispatch, administration, etc.) is creating huge budget headaches in these difficult financial times. The separate police “silos” that exist are a barrier to communication and to catching criminals. Chief Thomson expects 6 to 12 additional municipalities to join his county-based force over the next 5 years through “shared service agreements.” This could make Camden County a more efficient and effective police entity, as the economy of scale in this potential consolidation is substantial.
This bold action taken in Camden was not without political risk. Mayor Dana Redd was challenged over her decision to go with a county model in her recent reelection bid, but her judgment was vindicated when she garnered 80 percent of the vote.
According to Mayor Redd, the success of this effort stemmed from “a collaboration between our state, city, and county partners as well as the contributions of the federal government.” She added, “Our success was also due to the resources and technology we provided the police before the conversion to the Metro County Model, and the fact that we had the community at the table from the inception of the effort.” She also attributes much of Camden’s success to “the Congress of Resident, Faith-Based, and Community-Based Organizations” that stood with her “for the needed change in public safety and policing.”
*This story was based in large part on an interview with Police Chief Scott Thomson.
NEWS& VIEWS
Reports
Chronic Violence and Community Health: Reflections on a Symposium SeriesJacob & Valeria Langeloth Foundation, 2014This 23-page report (http://frontlinesol.com/Reports/
Chronic_Violence_and_Community_Health.pdf) describes drivers of violence and recounts recommendations for action from the symposium series held between October 2012 and February 2013 in five U.S. cities: Chicago, Ill.; New Orleans, La.; Oakland, Calif.; Philadelphia, Pa.; and Washington, D.C. Discussions from the symposium centered on three learning objectives:
Identify approaches that are reducing the effects of chronic violence.
Understand the challenges communities face in stemming violence.
Document models of effective collaboration in the field.
The foundation commissioned the social change organization Frontline Solutions to run the symposium series and write the report.
City Voices and PerspectivesPrevention Institute, 2013Street outreach and violence interruption can prevent shootings and killings, and in City Voices and Perspectives (http://www.preventioninstitute.org/component/jlibrary/article/id-340/127.html) Health Commissioner Oxiris Barbot describes how the Safe Streets program reduced violence in Baltimore, Md. Because of Safe Streets, one neighborhood went nearly 2 years without a homicide, and nonfatal shootings dropped by more than a third. Part of the City Voices and Perspectives series, this publication shares evaluation data on Safe Streets, including cost savings figures. Safe Streets is the longest-running replication of the Cure Violence model.
National Standards for the Care of Youths Charged With Status OffensesThe Coalition for Juvenile Justice, 2013These standards promote system reform and adoption of research-supported policies, programs, and practices that address the needs of youth, their families, and communities, without unnecessary involvement from the juvenile justice system involvement. The standards aim to inspire policymakers, legislators, decision makers, and practitioners in how local and state systems can best respond to youths who are at risk for or charged with status offenses.
From Courts to Communities: The Right Response to Truancy, Running Away, and Other Status OffensesCenter on Youth Justice, 2013Solid research on youth charged with low-level offenses shows diverting delinquent juveniles from court and responding with community-based programming are more effective strategies for preventing future crime. This report raises awareness about law enforcement responses to noncriminal status offenses, encourages dialog about the circumstances behind youth misbehavior, and explores whether courts are equipped to effectively address status offenses.
A Generation Later: What We've Learned About Zero Tolerance in SchoolsCenter on Youth Justice, 2013This policy brief looks at research that suggests zero tolerance discipline policies do not make schools more orderly or safe and, in fact, might have the opposite effect. Some of the most rigorous studies show out-of-school suspension can severely disrupt academic progress in detrimental, long-lasting ways. The brief describes alternatives to strict policies to keep young people safer and in school.
Patterns of Girls' Delinquent BehaviorOffice of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2013Part of a series on the Girls Study Group findings, this bulletin examines data on developmental patterns of girls' offending from childhood through adolescence. OJJDP created the series to assess trends of offending among boys and girls, highlight risk and protective factors, and reveal causes and correlates of girls' delinquency.
Howard Spivak, director of CDC’s Division of Violence Prevention within the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control will address “Why Youth Violence Prevention is a Public Health Issue.”
Deborah Gorman–Smith, professor from the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration and director of the Chicago, Ill., Center for Youth Violence Prevention, will discuss “Helping Communities Use the Evidence for Youth Violence Prevention.”
Sheila Savannah, Health Planning Division manager of the Houston, Texas, Department of Health and Human Services, will speak on “How Comprehensive Youth Violence Prevention is Working in Houston.”
First Public Hearing Held by Task Force on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to ViolenceAt its first public hearing on Dec. 9, 2013, the advisory committee of the Attorney General's Task Force on American Indian/Alaska Native Children Exposed to Violence focused on domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse of tribal youth, and how to better identify, assess, and treat traumatized children.
First Universal Children's DayNearly 8,500 children visited more than 4,000 federal inmates in December on the Bureau of Prisons' first Universal Children's Day. The event gave inmates an opportunity to connect with their children through storytelling, parenting workshops, family worship services, arts and crafts, and other activities.
Turning the Curve on Youth ViolenceJudges, law enforcement, elected officials, youth counselors, parents, and city workers attended the December Santa Cruz County Status on Youth Violence Summit, which presented current data and focused on making a positive change in youth violence trends. One community director said a strategic plan would be developed to move from data to action.
Other Resources
The Status Offense Reform Center is a resources hub for policymakers and practitioners working to keep youth with noncriminal status offenses out of the juvenile justice system. In addition to the toolkit for planning, implementing, and sustaining status offense system reforms, the site contains research briefs, Webinars, podcasts, a blog, and a help desk.
New Safe Routes to School Policy WorkbookThe Safe Routes to School Policy Workbook is a customizable tool for school board members, administrators, families, and communities to create and implement policies that support active and safe transportation to school.
Evidence-Based Treatments for Homeless YouthProfessor and researcher Natasha Slesnick answers questions about the work she and colleagues have undertaken to discover which evidence-based treatments are effective in working with homeless youth.
Starting a Youth ProgramThis guide provides information for adults and teens interested in starting a youth-serving nonprofit organization. The guide takes users through four distinct steps, each with interactive videos and helpful tools.
IACP Youth Focused Policing: Program Impact ToolsThe International Association of Chiefs of Police and OJJDP have created online program impact tools for law enforcement agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of youth programs. The tools include an eight-step guide that can help identify youth-related issues, set program goals, and measure outcomes to determine the impact.
The National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Newsletter is prepared under Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) Cooperative Agreement No. 2012–MU–FX–K009 with Development Services Group, Inc.
The views, opinions, and content of this newsletter do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or policies of OJJDP.
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Q&A: Next steps in the Benghazi case
Article by: ERIC TUCKER
Associated Press
June 30, 2014 - 8:55 PM
WASHINGTON — In the court of public opinion, the 2012 Benghazi attack has been contentious. In the court of law, it's going to be a grind.
The suspect in the first prosecution arising from the attack is due back in court this week. His trial promises to be a thread-the-needle effort to prosecute and defend an alleged terrorist without spilling security secrets or running afoul of the rights accorded the accused in the U.S. justice system.
Questions and answers about what's ahead in the case of Ahmed Abu Khattala, charged in the assault that killed U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens, security officers Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty, and information specialist Sean Smith:
Q: What's the next step?
A: A detention hearing Wednesday in the federal courthouse in Washington where Abu Khattala pleaded not guilty over the weekend.
Prosecutors will get the opportunity to release more details of their case as they outline why he should continue to be held, not released on bond or under any condition. He will almost certainly be directed to remain in custody.
___
Q: What's the Justice Department doing?
A: Picking its steps carefully.
For the moment, Abu Khattala faces a one-count indictment accusing him of providing support to terrorists. That count is punishable with a life sentence, but the Justice Department has said it expects an additional indictment. If a criminal complaint unsealed after his capture is any indication, he could be looking at harsher punishment if convicted.
___
Q: What's his story?
A: Back when he was a free man in Benghazi, frequenting cafes and other public places, Abu Khattala acknowledged he had been at the scene of the attack but said he only went to help rescue trapped men. He said it was then that he learned the city had a U.S. consulate. A witness told AP he appeared to be directing fighters. The trial is sure to probe those conflicting accounts.
He also stated that the militant group he'd commanded, the Abu Obaida bin Jarrah Brigade, disbanded after the 2011 ouster of Moammar Gadhafi and he went to work as a construction contractor. He'd been in and out of the notorious Abu Salim prison four or five times during Gadhafi's rule. Prison mate Abu Sedra, an Islamist lawmaker, said Abu Khattala was "depressed all the time" and "I always thought that he was not normal."
Late last year, after the U.S. had identified him as a suspect, Abu Khattala, who wasn't hard to find around Benghazi, shrugged off the prospect of being captured and taken away. "I am in my city, having a normal life and have no troubles," he told The Associated Press.
___
Q: Who's his lawyer?
A: Michelle Peterson, a veteran assistant federal public defender.
Peterson's clients have included Afghan drug trafficker Haji Bagcho, sentenced to life in prison in 2012, and Eric Justin Toth, a private school teacher who appeared on the FBI's list of most wanted fugitives. Toth was sentenced in March to 25 years in prison on child pornography charges.
___
Q: What's the government's story?
A: Much of it is under wraps.
Prosecutors on Saturday unsealed a two-page grand jury indictment charging Abu Khattala with conspiring to provide material support and resources to terrorists, knowing that they would be used to carry out a killing during an attack on a federal facility.
Earlier, the U.S. accused him of being a member of the group believed to be behind the attack, Ansar al-Shariah.
Abu Khattala was freed from Libyan prison in a 2010 general amnesty. In 2011, he was a suspect in the killing of Gadhafi's security chief, gunned down after he defected to the rebels.
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The Dark Souls series was one of the defining video games series from the last generation into this one, garnering a sizeable and dedicated fan following. The RPGs are known for their crazy difficulty, and deep and rewarding lore. With such an expansive universe, there’s plenty of iconic characters for fans to cosplay, and they’ve done just that.
The most popular cosplays seem to still be from the first Dark Souls, although you see a few from other games. There’s even a few Demon’s Souls costumes that pop up here and there. Still, the most popular cosplay from all of Dark Souls seems to be from one of the first game’s DLCs, Artorias of the Abyss. Knight Artorias is by far the most popular character, and you can pretty much understand why. His sleek wolf themed armor, giant sword, and overall dark look are all appealing. Other Knights like Solaire , Havel, and Lautrec also have some impressive cosplays made.
The armor is the especially amazing thing about Dark Souls cosplayers, as it oftentimes looks very realistic. One can only wonder what methods and materials these cosplayers use to make things seem so realistic. With that, some of the other cosplays you see are different armor sets that you can get in the game, or even different character builds.
Finally the last kind of cosplay you see, are enemies from the games. The Black Knight is an enemy across the series, and it seems to be one of the more popular. However, you also see things like the Desert Sorceress or various bosses.
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UPS Decides Not to Oppose
Postal Service's Discount Offer
By
Rick Brooks Staff Reporter of The Wall Street Journal
Updated Oct. 17, 2002 1:08 p.m. ET
ATLANTA -- United Parcel Service Inc. said it doesn't oppose a request by the U.S. Postal Service to offer reduced postage rates to a unit of Capital One Financial Corp. that is the country's largest producer of first-class mail.
In a filing with the federal Postal Rate Commission, UPS said it "does not object to the granting of that experimental authority," which would include per-piece discounts on certain solicitations...
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The History and Mythology of Rhodes Town
Rhodes Town is soaked in mythological wonder and historical significance, maybe more so than any other city in the world. It's impossible to avoid the layers of architectural history, ancient ruins and medieval relics that meet you at every turn.
The city's Old Town lies in its very heart, and is a preserved medieval time capsule with seven gates leading you back to a classical, medieval, Ottoman and Italian historical wonderland. The Old Town is where this city comes to life and is the best place to start your cultural and mythological education.
The Old Town of Rhodes
In the centre of Rhodes Town stands one of the best preserved medieval towns in Europe, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
It's a cobblestone maze of the empires that created it, from the Byzantine, Ottoman, Italian, and Greek. This bustling neighbourhood now holds several art galleries, archaeological museums of the Church of our Lady of the Castle.
The city is divided into two parts, the northern section holding the internal fortress of the Knights, also called the Castello, and the southern Chora section where the Greeks and Jews lived.
The medieval walls that encircle the city were meant to protect it and to keep its citizens safe. But today they are a sight-seers dream come true, and holidaymakers can walk along them, taking in the city's architecture from impressive heights.
Colossus of Rhodes
One of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Colossus of Rhodes was a Greek statue built in 280 BCE to celebrate Rhodes' victory over Cyprus' attack on the city. This impressive creation depicted the Greek god of sun, Helios, and was approximately the same height at the Statue of Liberty.
The Colossus of Rhodes would have been the tallest statue of the ancient world. In 226 BCE it was destroyed by an earthquake. The people of Rhodes were afraid they had offended the sun god and decided not to rebuild.
Recently there have been talks to build a new Colossus in Rhodes, but construction hasn't yet begun.
Olympic stadium and Apollo's temple
The Acropolis of Rhodes sits on the western edge of the city on top of the hill of Ayios Stefanos. Looking out over the water this landmark holds some fascinating Greek history and ruins, and today consist of sanctuaries, public buildings, temples and an Olympic stadium.
The list of archaeological sites here will make any history buff weak at the knees, especially since so many of them are easily accessible.
The two hillside temples include Temple of Pythian Apollo and Temple of Athena Polias and Zeues Polieus. The latter temple is where Rhodians kept the treaties they had made with other states.
The Olympic stadium is by far the biggest crowd pleaser. This 600-foot long stadium was used for athletic competitions in the Haleion Games. Haleion refers to the god of Sun Helios, the same god the Colossus of Rhodes was built for.
The Street of the Knights
The most important street in the whole of Rhodes Town is the street of Knights. This completely preserved street is lined by ancient buildings where holy warriors, knights of the Order of St. John, lodged. This cobbled stone street leads from the Acropolis of Rhodes to the port.
The knights hold an important historical significance in Rhodes Town as they helped restore 30 castles and served as soldiers, nurses and clerics. During their time defending the city the Ottoman Turks made several attempts to capture the island and ultimately they lost their fight and were granted safe passage in 1522.
The knights were made up of all the major European Catholic countries and helped to secure Christianity in Rhodes. Today the Saint John's Ambulance Brigade continues the knight's tradition and brings help to sick and ailing people around the world.
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Ron Paul Supporters Lash Out At Fox News
January 1, 2008 / 11:16 AM
/ CBS/AP
ABC and Fox News Channel are narrowing the field of presidential candidates invited to debates this weekend just before the New Hampshire primary, in Fox's case infuriating supporters of Republican Ron Paul.
The roster of participants for ABC's back-to-back, prime-time Republican and Democratic debates Saturday in New Hampshire will be determined after results of Thursday's Iowa caucus become clear.
Trending News
In a nationwide poll conducted Dec. 14-20 by The Associated Press and Yahoo, Thompson had the support of 11 percent of GOP voters and Paul was at 3 percent.
Paul was tied with Thompson for fifth in New Hampshire in the most recent Los Angeles Times/Bloomberg poll, each with the support of 4 percent of likely voters. Among all New Hampshire voters, Paul led Thompson 6 percent to 4 percent, but that was within the poll's margin of error.
Jesse Benton, Paul's spokesman, said it was a "big mistake" not to include his candidate, especially given Paul's recent success in fundraising. He said the campaign has been trying to reach Fox News to explain the decision, but its calls had not been returned.
"There very well might be some bias," Benton said. "Ron brings up some topics that aren't very popular with Fox News, as in fiscal responsibility and withdrawing from the war in Iraq ... that does leave us scratching our heads a little bit about whether it was deliberate. Based on metrics, I don't see how you can possibly exclude Dr. Paul."
Some livid Paul supporters are distributing e-mails calling for a boycott of Fox advertisers.
A Fox representative did not immediately return calls for comment about the complaints.
Paul has been invited to a GOP forum that Fox News is sponsoring in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Jan. 10, Benton said.
To participate in ABC's Saturday night debate, Republican and Democratic candidates must meet at least one of three benchmarks: place first through fourth in Iowa, poll 5 percent or higher in one of the last four major New Hampshire surveys, or poll 5 percent or higher in one of the last four major national surveys.
ABC News anchor Charles Gibson said the criteria were actually quite inclusive. He defended the network taking the initiative in effectively narrowing the field at a point when no actual voters had cast a ballot, except for Iowa caucusgoers.
"You will have had a year's politicking," he said. "You will have had, I think by count, about 641 debates. You will have had national polls and state polls and one state's vote. I think that's pretty indicative."
Gibson said ABC explained the rules for participation in a conference call with all the campaigns and "nobody said, 'How dare you!'"
Gibson is moderating both debates, each 90 minutes long, with a brief intermission between the two.
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Six Singapore satellites will be launched from India and they include a dedicated 500 kg earth observation spacecraft. The target for the launch is mid-December.
"The 500 kg dedicated satellite (TeLOS-1) will be a commercial launch for Singapore Technologies Electronics Ltd while five other smaller satellites are from Singapore universities," Indian space agency's commercial arm Antrix Corporation Chairman and Managing Director VS Hegde told IANS in Bengaluru.
ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) will be using the most reliable polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV) for launching the satellites into a near-equatorial orbit inclined 15 degrees lower to the
south of equator.
"As Singapore has a cloudy weather most of the year, the observatory satellite will be put in a sun-synchronous polar orbit 550km above the earth so that it could transmit signals round-the-clock, cloud
"The observatory spacecraft will be used disaster and environment monitoring, maritime safety, urban planning and homeland security," Hegde noted.
Of the six satellites, one is a 500 kg earth observation spacecraft that will be launched in December. "The 500 kg dedicated satellite (TeLOS-1) will be a commercial launch for Singapore Technologies Electronics Ltd while five other smaller satellites are from Singapore Universities," said Hedge.
"Of the 23 satellites we have commercially contracted for launches in the earth's lower orbit from nine developed and developing countries, 21 smaller, micro and nano type are from Algeria, Canada, Indonesia, Japan and the US for communication, remote sensing, observational activities," he added.
All six satellites will be put in a sun-synchronous polar orbit 550 km above the earth to ensure that the they work round the clock, transmitting uninterrupted signals.
India will also be launching another 900kg dedicated communication satellite Aisat for the German space agency (GLR) from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh in 2016.
The demand for launching 1,500 satellites for various space and science applications from countries around the world is soaring. For this, India is increasing its capacity so that they can launch as many of them.
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The new social site is “the place to discover and share original fine art online.” Okay, it’s easy to say that. But Art.sy’s approach is to make it easy to discover this art through searching. Their custom search engine allows you to find art by period/style, the portion of their career that the artist is in, or the regular stuff like size, color, and, of course, price.
They’ll also recommend new art to you based on preferences from your social graph. And there’s a Facebook application to leverage the largest social graph. Plus they believe the Art.sy domain will be key for sharing art on Twitter. They also hint that an iPad app is coming.
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About My New Series; “ZOUMITU WONDERLAND”
This year I began to make my new series; “ZOUMITU WONDERLAND”. It is difficult to explain “ZOUMITU” in words. “ZOUMITU” is like a prototype of primitive Buddhism of ancient times in Buddhist language. In other words, “ZOUMITU” can be said as a piece of faith. If you feel compassion for kittens in the forest and, further, find something in them in your heart, I think that the kittens, little birds flying in the sky, and small fish in the stream become “ZOUMITU” for you. Because I live in the forest, “ZOUMITU” exists abundantly around me. So it is my next work to incorporate them into paintings.
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Arctic Adventure
March 31, 2014
We caught up with a weasel named Wally from Churchill Manitoba to see what living in the Great Canadian North is all about!
Hi, my name is Wally. I’m a Shorttail Weasel – better known as an ermine. I’m much smaller than a cat, but a little bigger than a mouse. I live at the Churchill Northern Studies Centre, which is in Churchill Manitoba. Researchers travel from all over to visit the Centre and study the wonders of the north; yup it’s that cool of a place!
I run security around the building, keeping out mice, voles, shrews and squirrels, they’re an important part of the environment, but they sure can make a mess in the building. Animals aren’t the only visitors to the Centre there are also lots of people around like scientists, university students, volunteers and even groups of children.
Exploring the Centre
The Churchill Northern Studies Centre is such a big place that it takes me quite a while to make my security rounds. The building is really well built for our cold northern climate and is more environmentally friendly with lights and heat that use a lot less energy. There’s even a large plastic dome on the roof where you can watch the northern lights or even the polar bears when they come by the Centre in October and November.
Tracking a Polar Bear
Scientists at the Centre study some pretty amazing and sometimes cute things like polar bear moms and their cubs. Polar bear cubs born in December are still too small and weak to leave the den in March when their mom needs to go hunt. This can be a tough time for mommy polar bears, their low body fat makes them really weak and they need good sea ice to help them hunt seals. When the weather is nice one of the scientists from the Centre will head out in a helicopter looking for these families to see how the cubs are doing.
Solving the Mysteries of the North
It is really important that we study the north because our planet is changing in ways we don’t completely understand and we need a lot of really smart people to help figure it out. Churchill Manitoba is the perfect spot to study the north, not only is it beautiful and full of wildlife it sits between two very important ecosystems – the northern boreal forest to the south and the arctic tundra to the north.
A Day in the Life
Life at the Churchill Centre can be pretty exciting, visitors get to meet the scientists; sleeping, eating and learning just like them! During the day visitors go on hikes and see hundreds of different kinds of birds, caribou, foxes, and all kinds of plants and insects. They also take a boat to see the beluga whales or even ride a tundra buggy to see the polar bears.
Go on an Arctic Expedition!
Now that you know about the wonders of the north it is up to YOU to help protect it! You can do your part at home by reducing the amount of energy you use, learning lots about the Arctic and packing your bags to visit! Yup you read that right, you could be the lucky winner of an incredible adventure to visit the Churchill Northern Studies Centre!
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What can the Journal Sentinel offer of greatest value to the people of Wisconsin?
First, we can bring you in-depth reporting of a depth and breadth no one else can approach. This kind of reporting is essential to self-government. Nothing gets fixed in our democracy unless enough people understand the problem and care enough to demand better. It's how we improve and move forward.
We are guided by this mission of serving our democracy. More than ever before, we rely on our subscribers to do this work.
Here are just a few examples of the work subscribers have supported this year:
Dairyland in Distress: A detailed examination of the crisis facing the state's signature industry. The number of farm closings in Wisconsin continues at more than two a day — a rate higher than any time since the Great Depression. What can and should be done?
Turned Away: Did you know hospitals can and do turn away ambulances at their own discretion, even when they are the nearest, best place to treat the patient? Our investigation, which grew out of the story of a stroke patient who died after being turned away by Froedtert Hospital, found the little-known practice is prevalent around the nation.
Country doctor: More than three decades ago, a doctor followed his calling to a tiny western Wisconsin town, even though it meant little money. Now, as we told you in a feature story, he's involved in diagnosing and treating some of the rarest diseases on the planet.
Cycles of Violence: Our reporting found fewer than half of all homicides in Milwaukee end in a suspect being convicted, which helps fuel a corrosive cycle of violence. You can still track violence according to maps drawn by the federal government in the 1930s to discourage banks from investing in areas deemed "unworthy of economic investment by virtue of the races, ethnicities, and religions of their residents." We examined the problems through the stories of victims — and potential solutions, here and elsewhere.
Biologic drugs: Our investigation into a class of immune-suppressing drugs that have been on the market for two decades found the drugs were linked to reports of more than 34,000 deaths and more than 1 million adverse events, including nearly 500,000 deemed serious.
A great example of beat reporting happened with our reporting on how the chairman of the Fire and Police Commission, who is an attorney, accompanied a corporate client to an interview with Milwaukee police in a sexual assault case, creating what critics say is a major conflict of interest.
The chairman had been single-handedly delaying a vote on a full term for Police Chief Alfonso Morales. When that vote was scheduled for late Wednesday evening, we provided up-to-the-minute coverage online and followed up with stories about what the divided vote over Morales — and divisions within the community — say about the road ahead.
Our newsroom has been serving the people of Milwaukee and Wisconsin for generations, a legacy that dates back 182 years. We have always delivered trustworthy, accurate and thorough reports as if Milwaukee and Wisconsin were the center of the world — because, for our readers and us, it is.
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Iran continues to execute Kurds
Hewler: Authorities of the Islamic Republic of Iran executed five Kurdish rights activists in the northwestern Urmia city, officials and local activists confirmed on Friday.
The Kurdish rights activists Naji Kiwan, Ali Kurdian, Haidar Ramini, Nadir Muhamadi and Ruhman Rashidi were arrested on Wednesday on charges of “conspiring against the Islamic Republic of Iran”.
They were publicly hanged to death in central Urmia in front of hundreds of people, including their families who have been obliged by the Iranian authorities to witness the execution.
“The victims were human rights activists who used to document violations by Iranian security forces against civilians in the Kurdish city of Urmia,” member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party in Iran Dara Natiq told ARA News.
“By executing those activists, the Iranian government tries to prevent any reporting about its violations against human rights,” he said.
The Kurdish official added that Iran is executing an average of seven civilians and activists every week.
“Public executions have become a common scene in the main cities of Iran, mainly conducted on baseless charges,” Natiq told ARA News. “The Kurdish people have been for long suppressed and persecuted by the Iranian Islamic government. However, our activists will keep documenting those violations with a hope that the international community would ever take action and stop such barbaric acts by this tyrannical government.”
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Our Services
Prepare and Prevent, Don’t Repair and Repent…
Because “red flags” and risk are a normal part of construction, hiring/engaging someone who has “been there, done that” is a smart business strategy.
We specialize in proactive, preventative corporate ethics and compliance program design and implementation. We can perform assessments and find solutions that meet the needs of your business. Our services include legal and regulatory compliance assessments and gap analysis, integrity monitoring, auditing and assurance reviews, education and training, design and implementation of “best practice” regulatory policy and procedures and investigations.
What we can do for you:
Risk Assessment and Advisory Services
Let us review your code of conduct, standards policies and procedures and align your policy and process with current regulations and update them when those regulations change.
Education and Training
Let us educate and enhance employee awareness of the risky regulations particular to your business (M/WBE, DBE, Prevailing Wages, Davis-Bacon, Conflicts of Interest, Buy America and more) and train them to identify those red flags thereby mitigating the risk of a compliance failure.
Let us develop and conduct training for your employees on compliance-related subjects and company procedures related to those risky areas.
Assurance Reviews
Let us periodically audit and monitor your compliance with regulations to give you peace of mind that you are doing all you can and that the standards, policies and procedures you have in place are working to protect you and your company.
And where gaps are detected, let us recommend and oversee the implementation of appropriate corrective action.
DBE, MWBE and other Socio-Economic Program Development
Let us, experienced and proven experts in this area with a track record of success, analyze and review your company’s policy and develop a procedure that will minimize your risk in this area.
Let us train your staff on the regulations.
Let us develop a “best practice” for you.
Let us tell you if you are “doing it right” by reviewing your participation plans and seeing if they are in conformance with the appropriate regulation and contract requirements.
Assistance with Reporting to and Training of the Board of Directors and C-Level Executives
Let us help you create a corporate culture that “means it.” Most companies have now realized the benefit of having a compliance program and have designed them to conform to the legal mandates of the FSGO. What businesses continue to struggle with is how to integrate the compliance function into the business strategies and processes to go beyond a “check the box” mentality. At businesses that have been successful, the culture supports ethical decision making without compromise. The culture message begins with your board of directors.
Contract and Project Compliance Monitoring and Reporting
Let us audit and monitor company compliance with Federal, State and Local laws, rules and regulations, including, but not limited to M/WBE, DBE and other social policy goals, wage and hour laws, diversity and workforce goals, immigration laws, pre-qualification and other responsibility questionnaires.
Let us guide you through your interactions with the regulators and provide independent assurance that your reports are compliant.
Business Ethics Code of Conduct and Policy Development
Let us create, develop, revise, update, review your ethics and compliance program to ensure that the company is exercising due diligence to operate with integrity and prevent and detect improper conduct.
Investigations and Fraud and Corruption Detection
Let us investigate and work with you to resolve any situation where your company’s ethics or compliance policies may be compromised.
Integrity Monitoring
Let us act as your outside, independent monitor to assure those you do (or want to do) business with that you are acting with integrity and that your business practices, process and procedures will serve to prevent and detect fraud and compliance failures.
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Category Archives: Reviews
Well, kudos to GG. I figured I would have an impossible time finding contact information for him or her online, but it came right up. Who would have thought? This is a comic that’s almost entirely about mood, so it’s inherently difficult to review. A woman gets a message from a group of her friends who have gone camping that they’ve run out of food and they’re hoping that she’ll be willing to drive more food to their location. She’s miffed, as she would have liked to have been invited initially, but she gets over it and decides to help them out. But this is all in the wilderness, so communication and cell phone service is unreliable at best. She ends up getting lost herself, but in a warm area with fog and what looks like a natural hot spring. She eventually hears back from them that they’ve decided to go home, but she’s in a state of bliss, so… what’s the rush? It’s more quiet and understated than that, but that message is beautiful. We should all be required to get lost at least a few times a year to keep our heads on straight. Oh, if only I was the ruler of the world. Anyway, this book is beautiful, so give it a look.
There’s naked people and some fucking in this comic, so if such a thing is a dealbreaker for you, watch out for this comic! How anybody could live their daily lives in this current (the hellscape of 2017, future readers) mess and have nudity be a bridge too far is beyond me, but what do I know. Now that all the puritans are gone, what’s in this comic for the rest of us? There are a few stories in here, involving sex in one way or another. The first bit is about a young lady who wanders into a Dungeons and Dragons game and finds herself turned on by the dungeon master. It takes awhile to clear the room, but they get to business eventually. Spoiler alert? Does that count in porn? Internet pedants, discuss. Other stories involve enjoying the shower a little too much, letting your mid get away from you while focusing on a nude male model, and trying to figure out the best speed to seduce a first date without scaring him away for being too aggressive. Sure, there’s plenty of sexiness here, but Carrie throws in plenty of funny lines as well. The punchline on the artist story was hilarious, as were the troubles of the woman who couldn’t seem to find the right pace for her dates. So yeah, this is definitely worth checking out. There’s more here than just sex, but if that’s all you’re after there’s plenty of it as well. $4
For those of you who are too young to remember it (myself included), the title of this comic refers to a real thing. There were a few rivers, particularly in the 50’s and 60’s, that were so polluted that they would sometimes burst into flames. Yes, really! This comic briefly details the history of the Cuyahoga River, Chicago River, the River Rouge in Detroit, and the Buffalo River. These rivers were spectacularly disgusting, the the Buffalo River being so bad that some fishermen would intentionally take their boats through the water because it was so acidic that it would burn the barnacles right off the hull. See, and people say that pollution is harmful. Caitlin really packs a lot of information into this comic, as is her way, and once again I learned a lot that I didn’t know/had no idea existed. Each city had their own ways of dealing with the problem, with the Chicago River still being over a decade away from being really fixed. The reactions of the locals was also fascinating, as the man in the street seemed more worried about the perception of them being seen as dummies for letting their rivers get this bad more than anything else. Hey, whatever works, and shame is a potent weapon against dummies. Not always immediately (the words “President Trump” spring to mind), but it eventually catches up to ever the most thick-headed of people. This is well worth checking out, so go buy it from her! Buy as many of her other comics as you can while you’re there too. Eventually she’ll have enough of these books that there could be a whole college class dedicated to expanding on her findings in these books. $4
Longtime readers of this website know that I occasionally have nothing to say about a book. Or at least nothing coherent and/or remotely insightful, but I usually bluster through it by offering a series of impressions or apologies about my deficiencies. And… here we are again! This is a remarkable book, all angles and ideas, thoughts about impossibilities and how to get over them (if they can be overcome), and a doomed love affair that never seems all that passionate. Most of the images look they were finished by an act of will; Keren could have just kept going with some of them until they filled the page, or spilled through the pages onto the rest of the book, or drawn onto and even into you if you sat still long enough. I rarely flip back through a book immediately after finishing it, but I did that here, taking time to ignore some of the captions just to see if I could get where she was going with the images alone. In most cases I could! Or at least I could get to where I thought she was trying to go, imperfect though my thoughts might be. It makes quite an impression, there’s no denying that. Subjects in here include a trapped horse and how to get him down, polishing bones with your moustache, whether or not the planned buried railroad cars exist, telling stories to get the person to fall in love with you, a young lover wondering when and if her teacher was watching her, and the watching witch. This book reminded me, above all else, of the feeling people sometimes gets that everything and nothing are both just a little bit off to the side, out of reach but not impossibly so. It’s all right there, if you tilt your head just right, angle your arms just so that they can slip through that veil and grab a bit of what’s on the other side. If you angle too far you’ll slide right through and never return, and if you don’t angle them enough you’ll never see a thing. Get yourself and your mind into exactly the right position, take a deep breath and dive right in. $19.95
So what exactly is your tolerance level for word puns? If it’s your favorite thing in the world, boy howdy do I ever have a comic for you! If you can barely stand them, you might want to save yourself some time and move on to the next review. Keith wrote these stories, all either one or two pages, and they all feature a comedic theme based on a specific type of wordplay. The strip I sampled (where the story works in using every day of the week) is the clearest example of it, but other stories in here use puns based on books, punctuation, cows, India, chess and minerals. If your eyes naturally roll to the back of your head every time you/read hear a pun, this book might just kill you. If not, there are some genuinely funny bits here and there, and just seeing how they manage to work all these words into each story can be interesting. So… get this with your eyes wide open. I doubt there will be much middle ground for an opinion here, but you might just love it. No price listed, but I’m guessing it’s a buck or two…
OK, one thing first, just to make sure you get it: I’m going to talk about spoilers here, because this is the last issue of a series so of course I’m going to talk spoilers, either read the series before reading this or don’t read the series ever, in which case spoilers will never effect your life. But it’s a fun series overall, so you might want to read it. Anyway! My main conclusion after reading this last issue, ambiguous Soprano’s-style ending notwithstanding? Scar might be an immortal. Sure, he’s a three foot tall blue bear, so the rules for his existence were never clearly defined, so maybe that’s on me? But he was shot eight times in the back (and arm) in the last issue, and it is never mentioned or addressed in this issue. Thanks to Erin, he manages to escape what seems to be certain death in that nightclub, not seeming to be slowed down in the least, and then goes to a diner to get some food and talk some more to his dead friend Black Jack. So are we to assume that he was hit with a paint gun? That he had body armor that covered his back? Which wouldn’t do a thing to explain those 8 bloody bullet holes we see in the last issue. If it seems like I’m focusing too much on this aspect, hey, maybe you’re right! But if you or I were shot eight times in the back, maybe we could get a burst of adrenaline off long enough to take a few more assassins out (in real life we’d almost certainly just be dead), but once the adrenaline wore off that would be it. It seems like Brian sacrificed the natural flow of the story for a more dramatic gunfight in the last issue, and considering the care he took with the rest of the series, it strikes me as a misstep. Still, putting aside that one aspect (with great difficulty, obviously), we do get a final battle with Scar and Malt, we get to see him confront Cypris, and we finally get the real answer of what happened to Black Jack. I was wrong in my guess, which is always gratifying as a reader. And I’d still recommend this series as a whole. There’s intrigue, betrayals, an overarching mystery… a lot to love here. There were a couple of missteps here and there, but there’s more than enough good here to overshadow those things. $3.99
It’s the penultimate (I love being able to use that word and have it fit) issue in the series, so you can be sure that there’s a lot of gunplay going on in this one. Brian doesn’t waste any time with it either; our hero tosses back a few more drinks, gets warned off one more time by the ghost of Black Jack, then puts a gun to the head of Cypris. Unfortunately his mustache disguise fell off during those drinks, so now all the assassins at this party recognize him. It’s one of the more baffling aspects of this story, the fact that that disguise worked so well, but it’s not much of a stretch to think of most of these assassins as not being all that bright. Oh, and Erin (Scar’s lawyer/lover) is there as well, and she’s armed, so she also gets a few murders in, although I lost track of her in all the chaos. Things take a turn towards the end of the issue, as Scar is finally tagged with some gunfire. 8 bullets in the back to be exact, which seems like enough to murder just about anybody. But who kills off the hero before the last issue? So Scar is still standing, if just barely, as he tries to summon the strength to find and kill Cypris (who ran away in all the confusion). One issue left to go, then I’ll have some thoughts about the whole series to wrap it all up. If you’re a weirdo who only buys one issue of a series and doesn’t care about the larger story but loves guns, this would be the one to get. $2.99
Boy, Brian has really picked up the pace on his release schedule as the end is in sight (says the guy who is reading the last half dozen issues in a chunk). This one came out in March 2016 and #10 came out in February of the same year. In small press comics that is lightning fast! Things start off this time around with Scar having a drunken/hallucinating conversation with Black Jack, who he pictures as the bartender. During that conversation we learn that Scar really doesn’t want to have to kill the man who raised him, and that the ghost of Black Jack (as imagined by Scar) doesn’t want Scar to get himself killed trying. Our hero makes his way to the bathroom, where we learn that he is definitely drunk, and his washing his face to try to sober himself up ends up making his terrible disguise fall off. Oh, and one of the hitmen is also in the bathroom, and was apparently completely fooled by said disguise. A pretty brutal fight follows, and Scar gets out of the bathroom just in time for Cypris to get introduced. Two issues left in this story, and I’m guessing they’re going to be bloody messes, but this relatively quiet issue was a good chance to get in Scar’s head one last time before everything falls apart. Or unless everybody gets a happy ending, which is not something I’d bet any money on. $2.99
Scar has one very immediate problem to take care at the start of this issue: who sold him out during his escape in the last issue? He uses some casually psychotic methods to get to the bottom of it, but he gets there: it was Cypris, biggest crime boss in the city, and the guy in charge of all the hitmen. Oh, and the guy who more or less raised Scar. So this is a problem! Scar manages to come up with one of the worst disguises I’ve ever seen (how do you hide a three foot tall blue bear?), gains access to the birthday party for Cypris, and tries his best to blend in. As of the close of this issue (back in dicey spoiler territory here, I know), the disguise is still working, but Scar comes across a familiar face tending bar. This is probably the closest this series has come to slowing things down a bit, as only one person gets killed (granted, it’s not a pleasant death), and there’s not even a cliffhanger to speak of. Catch your breath here, as I’m guessing our hero being in at a birthday party, surrounded by hitmen on all sides, is not something that’s going to work itself out peacefully. Just a hunch! $2.99
When we closed out the last issue, our hero was getting stabbed at the end of a prison riot. As we open up the new issue, our hero is getting zipped up into a body bag. I’d say that things were looking a little grim for him, but luckily he still has a few friends out in the world. And one of them had a master plan for getting him out of prison that (spoiler alert, I guess, which is a tricky concept when I’m reviewing an entire series in two weeks) actually involved him getting stabbed by somebody on the inside who knew how to make it look good without killing him, so it’s all fine. Some smart writing from Brian and some great work keeping the tension high. After Scar regains consciousness he gets the whole story from his lady lawyer friend and her two accomplices, right before someone starts shooting up the ambulance that he’s escaping in. Hey, why make things easy on the guy? The rest of the issue involves a whole lot of gunplay, a few people getting shot and some solid suspicions of betrayal, which keeps the story moving right along. No time to waste, I have more comics to read! $2.99
It’s prison riot time! Scar sees everyone in the prison as the man (OK, gorilla) who killed his friend Black Jack, so he has no trouble taking his rage out on all of them. The vast majority of this issue is pure mayhem, so you’d be forgiven for thinking that not much happens with the plot this time around. Still, there’s a brief sequence where Scar remembers a mental image of Black Jack, lying bloody on the ground… with Scar standing over him. Delusion caused by multiple blows to the head? Guilt at failing to prevent the death of his friend? Or something more ominous? Guess we’ll find out at some point over the next half dozen issues, huh? Other notable happenings this time around include a whole lot of punching, more than a little bit of stabbing and the unfortunate occurrence of our hero ending the issue on what looks like a fatal note. I guess we won’t know whether or not that’s true until the next issue. Since that would mean that we’d have the next five issues without a protagonist I’m guessing he pulls through, but tune in for the next review to find out! Or just read the comics. Technically the series is over while I’m writing this, so this only has to stay a mystery to you if you prefer it that way… $1.99
Here we go, back to the story we all know and love. Or at least you love it if you’re fond of figuring out what’s going to happen between the gorilla and the bear like I am. Scar’s still in prison, but his briefly “peaceful” existence is coming to an end, as tensions are about to boil over. Various factions are going to go at it, nobody knows who’s going to come out on top or what’s going to happen. Brian does a nice job here bringing things slowly to a boil and then bringing on the mayhem towards the end of the book. It’s well worth a look, as are most of the other issues in this series, and now you have the chance to catch up through this website (if I may toot my own horn for just a moment). $1.50
Aw, dammit! I was having such a good time with this series, really getting into the characters and wondering where this whole thing was heading. Then Brian had to go and put himself in the comic. This has always struck me as a fairly ridiculous thing to do, especially in a case like this where it’s a fictional comic. Sure, Dan Clowes or Chester Brown showing up in a story of theirs isn’t the worst thing in the world, at least in the autobio stuff. But this… blech. This issue starts off with Scar walking up to the front door of the home of Brian Canini. You may be thinking that we get all sorts of answers to the story here, or at least his presence moves the plot along. No and no. Brian does mention the origin of why Scar looks the way he does (he looks like a teddy bear Brian had as a child), but that’s the extent of the useful information we are given here. Unless you’re curious about the life of Brian, as he does go into why he moved out of Ohio, which is fine if that had the slightest bit to do with the actual story. At least there’s a big old prison brawl in the last few pages (after Scar “wakes up” to find himself back there), but it can’t save this issue. At the end of the issue you’re exactly where you were at the end of the last issue, and that’s a hard thing to ignore in an ongoing series like this. Maybe when all is said and done this will have some significance to the storyline and I’ll be proven an idiot (not the first time), but for now I say again, blech. Oh, and don’t think this means I’ve given up on this. Not by a long shot, it’s still a lot of fun and I’m still wondering where this is all headed. This issue by itself just didn’t do a thing for me, that’s all. $1.50
This issue seems to represent a bit of a lull in the series, which I suppose makes sense if you consider the fact that it’s entirely inside the prison, so what exactly can a hitman, bent on revenge, do in there anyway? In this issue Scar wins some cigarettes, gets the crap beat out of him, and meets his “lawyer”, in which we get some hope that he might get out of all this yet. All in all a decent issue, not something that does a whole lot for me on its own, but probably as a piece of a larger whole it’ll make everything run together more smoothly. That’s assuming, of course, that the series is going to keep moving right along. The steady pace of these things coming out has kept me, cynical as I can be about people giving up on their various comic series, hopeful about there being a beginning, middle and end here, as well as a will to keep it all moving. Go Brian go! $1.50
Update 6/30/17: The pessimist in me was hard at work when I first reviewed this about a decade ago, but Brian proved me wrong and finished his series. Young artists who are stuck at #2 or #3 in their series, follow his lead!
Things just keep getting worse for Scar, as this issue shows him entering prison and immediately picking a fight with one of the most powerful guys in the place. Which I’ve heard is sometimes sound advice if you find yourself stuck in prison, although maybe not the best idea for an unarmed three foot tall bear. There are also a few flashbacks in here, showing us a bit more why Scar cares so much to avenge the death of his friend, and a few new characters get introduced who are already in prison. Hey, the guy’s a hitman, it makes sense for him to already know people in the place. What can I say, I still can’t wait to see what happens in the next issue, and that’s all I can ever ask from a series. $1.50
What, did you really think that fight scene was over with just because it got interrupted? This issue has the best of both worlds, as there’s plenty of mayhem to go around and we get the answers to some burning questions. Like why the hell does Scar wear those giant boxing gloves anyway? Did Malt have something against Black Jack? And who is the woman who comes to his door? OK, one of those questions has no relevance to the larger story, but it’s up to you to figure out which one. Another excellent, fast-paced issue, nothing to complain about here once again. $1.50
Update 6/26/17: How did I not mention that ending the first time around? It’s just about the last way you’d think a prolonged fight (featuring multiple gunshot wounds and stabbings) between two professional hitmen would end. Kudos to Brian for that one.
OK, I’m offically over my problems with the main character of this story being a three foot tall bear. Watching him getting his ass kicked for the better part of an issue will do that for me, apparently. While the last issue set up the story, this one was all action, with Scar confronting the assassin who killed his friend (a giant gorilla named Malt) and them both shooting and stabbing their way through each other and the issue. Great pace, good fight scene, nothing to complain about here, unless you wanted more character development or something, in which case move along. I just got issue #3 and 4 today, so obviously things are going to move right along from here. And kudos on the choice to drop it down to $1.50 and lose the color cover. Sure, it looks a whole lot better the other way, but this way there’s more of a chance for people to just pick it up and give it a chance. Besides, the eventual collected edition can have a fancy color cover to make up for it…
Oof, look at all those old timey scans down there. If I had all the free time in the world I would rescan all that nonsense, but that’s exceedingly unlikely. I always love getting stuff from people whose work I saw years ago, whether or not I liked the old stuff, because it always does me some good to see that people really do stick with this comics thing through thick and thin. This one is an uneven effort, but it has its moments. This is the story of Scar, an assassin that’s pictured on the cover. Yes, the giant blue bear with the boxing gloves, which is a large part of the problem. He’s portrayed as a hardcore killer who doesn’t blink to torture a man for information about his murdered friend, but… well, just look at him. Terrifying isn’t the first word that comes to mind. The story, if you can ignore the teddy bear aspect, is done really well. Scar finds his friend (another assassin) dead to start the comic, and Brian makes excellent use of flashbacks interspersed with the real time action in a bar, keeping everything moving at a good pace. We learn a bit more of the backstory of his murdered friend, get to see him torturing a guy in a bathroom for information, and get a solid impression of Scar as a tortured soul. The art, though, was the best pleasant surprise of the book. If you look at the other samples they look somewhere between amateurish and so-so, with backgrounds existing only in your mind. This time around there the settings are tremendously detailed, the people look more like actual people and everything is just… bigger. This makes you believe that it’s happening in the real world. Until, that is, you get back to the big teddy bear, which is obviously something I wasn’t able to fully get over. Maybe it gets explained to some satisfaction in later issues, and he did send #2 along with this, so I should have a review for that one up in the coming weeks to help clarify. If you can get past the bear and like a (potentially) good mystery/suspense/action story, it’s well worth a look. $2.95
You know what the clearest sign would be that I had somehow become the leader of the free world? If every new issue of King Cat became a national holiday. Why not? It would give everybody the day to go to their favorite coffee shop or park, read the book and contemplate what they just read. There I go again, dreaming of a better world. As always, this review is not going to be particularly objective, because I doubt very much that this website would exist without King Cat. For this title I have no cynicism. This time around John talks briefly about his recent health and family problems, various interactions he’s had with neighborhood animals (he even includes footnotes if you wonder where he got some of his research), his latest top 40 (which, as always, is not exactly 40 things), and includes another lengthy and thought provoking letters page. But wait, there are also comics! It’s actually mostly comics, as always. Those stories include the time that his dogs caught a possum (and how he ended up saving it), the other time his dogs cornered a possum and caused it to play dead (which led to him googling how long “playing dead” took; it’s about 40 minutes to 4 hours if you’re curious), his toad Vincent from when he was a kid, that time when he took a caterpillar home as a kid and how it became a butterfly, the frogs that he kept a kid, how he kept spotting big cats in Illinois and how the authorities were oddly hesitant to admit that there was a problem, and his other time spotting a big cat in Wisconsin. Yep, a lot of nature this time around, as he’s clearly been doing some exploring. OK, what are you waiting for? There’s a new King Cat out, go buy it! $5
Hey look, SnowCone City has given up numbering the issues! Joseph explained that these are mostly self-contained anyway, but then kind of talked himself out of that (in the letter he sent with the comic) because this one ends on a cliffhanger. So who knows what the next issue will bring! This time around our heroes have decided to take the fight to the big bad guy who has been sending them weekly monsters to fight instead of just defending the city against all the monsters. They get into a ship, head off into space and everything goes fine, the end. Or possibly they have a series of adventures before finally confronting their nemesis, you tell me what would make the better comic. There’s a lot to like about their encounter with the sentient space tofu and the space rabbits, as they naturally assume that the cute ones are the victims and vice versa. When they finally do land at their destination they encounter a miniature version of their own city, complete with tiny penguin figurines. This leads to another confrontation and a pretty great godzilla-style fight among the tiny buildings. Then there’s the nemesis, but I can’t say anything about that, because come on now. I’ll just say that it turns everything you thought you knew about this series on its ear, leaving a whole lot of explaining for the next issue. It’s still a fun book, there are still plenty of funny bits, so check it out if you’re a fan of power rangers/space fights/sentient penguins. $5
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"They see no future in Somalia and many of them are so desperate that they are willing to risk their lives and the lives of their families to escape."
The UN agency said it was working "to convince people not to get on those very dangerous smugglers' boats", and is also working to provide aid to those arriving in Yemen to alleviate pressure on the host government.
Somalis are fleeing heavy fighting that worsened two months ago when armed groups stepped up an offensive against the internationally-backed government of Sharif Ahmed, the Somali president.
Deadly attack
Mortar attacks by al-Shabab disrupted a parliamentary session on Monday as heavy fighting erupted between the groups and African Union-backed government forces, officials said.
At least seven civilians were killed and 18 others wounded in fighting, police in the capital said.
The parliament was meeting for the first time since al-Shabab and Hizb al-Islam groups launched an anti-government offensive in May.
The violence comes as Somalia's president prepares to meet Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, during her seven-nation trip to Africa next week.
The meeting is scheduled to take place on the sidelines of an annual trade forum with sub-Saharan countries, which will be held in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, on August 5, the US state department said on Monday.
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Double LP version. Berlin-based Sub Static co-owner Falko Brocksieper presents his second full-length release on his label. After a remarkable number of EPs and remixes, Heavy Day is chock-full of tough and tasty techno. Brocksieper is always king of the hill on his tracks, sovereignly dominating beats and melodies, again and again transferring it all into his trademark airy, funky groove. In addition to floor-pushers like "Lament" and "The Whole Story," Heavy Day also features a great portion of organic organ-house, plucked violin-techno and pleasant dub-tronica. Also featured on this release are stellar guest vocal performances from Richard Davis and Big Bully. On Heavy Day, Brocksieper spins out true techno heaviness while still retaining an austere minimalist gesture.
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The celebration of the Quinceanera has been compared by many years with the celebration of a wedding. Just as majestic and equally important. Generations ago quinceaneras used to wear white dresses, the traditional color and so were also compared with brides. Today you can find dresses in any color you can imagine. One would think that wear white is passé and that the pink or turquoise have taken its place. We will demonstrate the opposite with this collection of beautiful and elegant white Quinceanera dresses that you can wear either at a traditional party or combine it with any other theme you choose and you do not see you at all boring!
Want look like a princess day on your Quinceanera? A princess like-strapless white dress, with a wide tulle and organza skirt,may be what you’re looking.
Here we show you other princess-like dresses with tight corsets and also strapless. This type of dress looks great on any figure.
It’s all in the detail! If you want a dress that has a touch of charm, check out this dress that has an embroidered corset with a swirl detail that gives a touch of sophistication and elegance to it.
Now, if wearing an all white dress does not convince you at all you can always opt for a model with some touches of color, like small embroidered flowers or some precious stones or beads. Details can be in the corset or down to the skirt.
Another option is to wear the dress all in white and decorate it with a ribbon or a belt the color of your choice, or the color that match your theme.
Regardless of the dress, you choose you don’t have to worry, white never goes of fashion!
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Growing up, I never liked the idea of a fundraiser, and that feeling hasn't gotten any easier as a father who now has to deal with the catalog-style efforts to raise money for my sons' schools. Going around to sell candy, tins of cashews, and rolls of wrapping paper for obviously inflated prices isn't my style and I don't think it's yours, either. Well, I'm going to make this very easy for you. I am now introducing the Table Talk Math Fundraiser Kit. Here it is... just click on the image to customize it for your site:
There. That's it.
See? Easy.
So here's the deal: a good fundraiser needs to be mutually beneficial. It needs to benefit the person who is contributing their hard-earned money to your efforts, which in this case means a copy of Table Talk Math for the Amazon sale price (more or less. They change the price a few cents every week or so). It also needs to benefit the school in a way that it makes sense for the parents to contribute and the school to spend their time. Yes, for every book your school orders, I am going to send $5 back to the school.
For example, let's say your school gathers enough support to buy 125 copies. You email me at [email protected] and tell me that you need 125 copies of the book as part of the fundraiser. I reach out to Wendy, the magician behind the scenes that makes it all work. She places an order for 125 copies of Table Talk Math and you send the check for 20*125. As soon as we receive payment, we turn right back around and send your school a check for $625. There!
No minimum order (although it would be great if your order was greater than 10), no extra paperwork from me, and no concerns about getting chocolates or wrapping paper to people before they melt or go out of style. You get to help parents have more math-based conversations at home and they get to help you raise money for the supplies and activities you have been waiting to pursue.
Not sure if Table Talk Math is a good fit for your parent community? This is what Christopher Danielson had to say:
If you have any questions, please feel free to comment below or reach out to me on Twitter. I hope to hear from you soon!
Happy "Chocolate Covered Cherry-less Fundraising" Fishing
Fine print: as of now, this is only available to schools in the United States. Sorry folks, but it's just too much to ship international. If you're international and interested, email me and let's talk.
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Thursday, September 27, 2012
Scene: Blood
He woke with a groan, his memory of the
night before hazy. He moved to sit up and his eyes snapped open. He
attempted to raise his head to look and discover what was holding him
down as panic bloomed in his breast like some kind of exotic flower.
Metal bands over his wrists and upper arms, near the shoulder, held
his upper body immobile. A similar band went about his hips, and then
two more secured each leg. A single band went about his brow and
forced him to stare up at the ceiling.
The metal table beneath him was cold,
as was the room. He looked from side to side and saw only the sterile
white walls and ceiling. The sound of footsteps on the tile floor
clicked loudly in his ears. A tall, graceful woman with her hair
bound up into an intricate knot wearing a white set of scrubs
approached him. Her face was implacable and he suddenly wondered if
he was in a hospital. The incongruity of the scrubs and the high
heels he heard clicking on the floor took a long moment to connect.
A small wheeled cart was brought up on
his left side, he could hear one of the wheels squeaking as it
turned. “Hey,” he said, “What happened? Where am I?” Her flat
expression moved to his face. Something in the utter lack of emotion
told a primal part of his brain that he was in danger. “What's
going on?” he said, unable to keep the fear from creeping into his
voice. A small hand settled on his wrist as she turned her gaze to
her watch. The fog in his mind suddenly became much more ominous as
she turned away from him.
There was a small click and an
electronic whirr of a tape recorder. The woman spoke quietly into it.
“Subject 43 is conscious. He appears to have no ill effects from
the sedative. No visible defect is apparent from confinement
procedure.” she said emotionlessly, as though she were reading a
grocery list. She clicked the tape recorder off and set it back on
the tray. She turned her attention to the man restrained on the table
before her. After a moment, she picked up a pen light and shined it
into his eyes. “Open your mouth,” she said, wielding a tongue
depressor.
Obedient to the 'nurse', he complied.
She looked into his mouth and took the popsicle stick out. She put it
aside and shuffled some items around. “What's going on? Did
something happen?” he said anxiously. She looked over at him. After
a moment, she gave a small, tired seeming sigh. He did a mental
checklist, discovering that he didn't feel injured. He flexed his
fingers and toes, finding them to be entirely under his command. She
wheeled the cart away from him and walked out of the room, leaving
her nude 'patient' in the middle of the room. He wracked his brain
trying to determine how he landed himself in this position.
After what felt to be an eternity, she
came back into the room. A small paper mask was over her face as she
took up an item he couldn't identify at first. As she turned it in
her hand, his eyes widened in horror. The scalpel glittered cold in
the flourescent light. She brought it down and rested it flat on his
chest. “Oh god,” he gasped, “I...” she looked at him, that
cold, flat look in her eyes. She dragged the unsharpened side of the
blade along his ribs. He let out a shriek of terror, certain that she
was going to carve him to pieces. At his cry, she gave a low,
sinister chuckle.
The cold steel wandered over his flesh,
occasionally pressing harder and making him cry out in fear. She
lifted it away and turned it around in her hand. Slowly, she lowered
it down to his left cheek. Lightly, the sharpened edge whispered over
his skin. Gradually, she applied pressure as his eyes rolled and he
pissed himself in fear. A thin, stinging line was scored along his
cheekbone before she lifted the scalpel away. She leaned back away
from him, turning to the side with her menacing blade. She set it
down upon the wheeled cart.
“I'll do what ever you want,” he
gasped, “I...” She turned and walked out of the room. He screamed
after her, “No! Don't leave me! Don't leave me here!” He writhed,
attempting to free himself from his bonds. He only succeeded in
exhausting himself. “Goddamn it!” he shouted, his voice nearly
deafening in the small room, “Let me go!” As he gave up the fight
against his metal bonds, she returned to the room still wearing her
paper mask. She pushed the cart over to against the wall.
She picked up a hose from off the floor
and began to hose him down, washing away the urine with ice cold
water. He thrashed against his bonds, listening to the liquid drip
down to the floor and then run down the drain positioned beneath the
table. She put the hose aside and walked out of the room again. She
returned with a bottle of isopropal alcohol and a handful of gauze.
She set her supplies down on the cart across the room and looked over
at him with a calculating expression. She picked up a q-tip and
walked over.
Rolling it gently over his wound, she
took a sample of his blood. She dropped this into a test tube when
she returned to the cart. After a few minutes of rustling, he heard
the click and whirr of the tape recorder. “Subject 43's blood type
is O negative,” she said in her eerie, dispassionate tone, “There
is reasonable speculation that the RNA type will be compatible.
Additional testing is required.” She turned off the tape recorder
before picking up a syringe. She approached him again and put a cold
hand on his forearm. Ignoring his entreaties and pleas, she took a
larger sample of his blood.
She took her syringe full of blood back
to the cart and shuffled some things around. She then walked out of
the room, leaving him alone again. Minutes ticked by and time seemed
to lose meaning. He wept softly despite himself, worried that he was
going to be murdered by the silent woman. As he was on the verge of
giving up all hope, the door into the room opened again. There was a
soft shuffling, as though someone was stumbling in slippers.
A masked woman in a hospital gown
looked nervously towards the door. “Do what she wants,” she
whispered, “Then she won't hurt you.” The masked woman looked
around the room, her body speaking fear. “I'll come back again.
Don't tell her,” she whispered. The masked woman shuffled out of
the room as quickly as she could. Time ticked by and then the 'nurse'
returned. She wheeled an IV stand into the room and with ruthless
efficiency, she hooked him up to it. As the slow drip fed fluids into
him, his heart began to hammer with panic.
The 'nurse' made a few notes on a
clipboard which she rehung at his feet. She turned to the cart and
picked up vial. As she put a syringe tip into it, his mouth went dry
with fear. She filled it with a clear liquid. As she flicked the
syringe and pushed the bubbles out of the needle, he began to thrash
again. “Let me go,” he howled, “Let me go!” She walked over
to the IV, ignoring his protestations, and put the fluid into his
veins. Warmth spread from where it flowed. With the warmth came a
deep relaxation of his muscles. His thoughts became confused and
disjointed as the syringe's contents took full effect.
Suddenly, he felt comfortable and a tad
tired. The fact that he was laying down seemed to make things all
that much easier. And the quiet, ominous woman at his side, while
disturbing, was no longer a source of utter terror. “You need
rest,” she said primly, “You have a big day ahead of you
tomorrow.” She turned and took a blanket off of the lower portion
of the cart and covered him with it in all the seeming tenderness of
a mother's care for her child. She adjusted the bags of fluid hanging
off the IV stand and brought a bed pan.
She unlocked the restraints holding his
legs and hips down, lifting them with relative ease. She slipped the
bedpan under him and left him to the drugs. As his body voided into
the pan, he blinked owlishly, feeling his strength run out of him
like water through a sieve. A part of him insisted that the situation
had gone from bad to worse but he couldn't think of the reason why
for the life of him.
When he woke, he was restrained again.
The IV bag had been changed. He was hooked up to a catheter and a
colostomy bag. A mask was strapped over his nose and mouth with a
hose that snaked down over his chest. The quiet woman was back,
writing notes on her clipboard. Groggy from the drugs, he looked
around himself. He found no change to the room and groaned. She hung
the clipboard from the foot of the table and turned back to the cart.
She manipulated something and he could feel cool air blowing against
his face from the mask.
He held his breath, determined to
resist what ever she was doing. She walked around him, watching how
his body tensed with his struggle. She looked him over and made a
tsking sound. She walked back to the cart. She picked up something
that looked unfamiliar and ominous. The tiny vise was cold on his
fingers as she slipped it on to one of his hands. He opened and
closed his fingers, attempting to resist in some small way. She took
hold one of his fingers and wrenched it back.
He screamed in pain. That cold, distant
look in her eye gave way to something hungry, but he had missed it.
She gradually closed the vise over the first knuckle of his right
index finger as he breathed hard, trying not to scream again. His
left hand flexed and he pulled against his restraints as the crushing
pressure reached excruciating degrees. She stopped as he made pained
noises. She walked around the foot of the table and to the cart.
She picked up another set of
thumbscrews and walked to his left side. “Oh god no,” he moaned,
“No, please don't. No!” Her cold, cold hands applied the
thumbscrews to his left hand, grinding down the horrible pressure
against his fingers. Screaming hoarsely, he flailed against his
bonds. As he did so, she watched him. The colostomy bag and the
catheter did their jobs as terror went to work on his bladder and
bowels.
The cold kiss of the scalpel's edge
pressed against his throat. He went dead silent, eyes rolling in
terror. She ran it down his throbbing vein and over his chest. With a
lover's caress, she traced the lines of his body with the razor sharp
blade, careful not to break the skin. While he couldn't see it, she
was breathing faster and hunger made her gaze wild. She scored a
long, shallow cut over his pectoral muscles.
As the blood welled up, she could feel
her heart hammering in her chest. It took all of her will not to rub
her face in that ruby, salty sweet fluid. Her hand shook slightly as
she struggled with the temptation to cut him again. She turned away,
her harsh groan lost in the sobbing of her victim. Her control
slipped as she turned back to face him. With a single, feather light
touch, she dipped her fingers into the oozing blood. It burned hotly
against her cold fingertips.
She turned away, determined not to let
her victim see the look on her face. He was too busy crying in pain
and fear, convinced that she was going to kill him. She put her
bloody fingertips to her lips. Closing her eyes, she took a deep
breath in, savoring the scent even as her tongue flicked out and
gathered the few drops. With a small growl of frustration, she wiped
her fingers on the white apron she wore and walked out of the room,
her heels clicking a staccato beat.
He was blinded by pain, unable to tell
how long had passed when the woman in the mask stole into the room.
She looked him over for a moment. She then took the thumbscrews off
of his fingers. At the sudden release of the relentless pressure, he
wept. Feather light kisses landed on his bruising hands. “Oh, I'm
so sorry,” she sighed, “I'm so, so sorry.” Her pity filled
voice moved him to greater sobs. She lay light kisses over his face
as she cast her arms about him.
The light in the room dimmed. She
looked up suddenly, her eyes widening in what could be presumed to be
fear. As she fled from the room, he wailed, “Don't leave me. Don't
go.” She fled from the room, taking the thumbscrews with her. The
door stood open wide and a cold breeze blew in. Outside of it, he
could only hear the sound of feet on the floor until the slam of
another door down some phantom hallway. Then came the sound of
another door opening followed by the click of high heels. The slow
pace stopped at the entrance into his room and his heart hammered.
She walked in, closing the door behind
her. The white paper mask was replaced with another, this one with
mint green elastic. Her apron was pristine white, not showing even a
trace of his blood from her fingertips on it. One slender hand
reached towards his face and he stared at her, paling. The thought of
possibly biting her hand flew through his mind and then he realized
he couldn't see her other hand. A wild vision of her slashing his
throat open after biting the hand that was near his face made his
blood run cold. He bit his lips and gave a silent prayer that this
strange monster would just go away.
With a light touch, she looked his face
over, carefully checking the bones of his cheeks and then moving
along either side of his jaw. The temptation to bare his teeth was so
strong that he wasn't sure if he did for a moment. As her free hand
came up, he closed his eyes. She dragged her nails against the column
of his throat. Beneath her mask, she licked her lips in a small,
nervous gesture. She could feel his pulse throbbing, fluttering like
a trapped bird beneath her fingertips. In the back of her mind, a
small, quiet voice said she could just drug him again, rip all the
equipment out, bundle him in clothes, and drop him in a bad part of
town. It said that she could go back and let all of this be like some
kind of awful dream.
The look in his eyes as he stared up at
her fanned the hunger inside her. She struggled to maintain
detachment as she continued to run her hands over him. When her
fingertips came to the line of clotted blood where she had cut him,
her control wavered and she dug them into the minor wound. He bared
his teeth in a hiss of pain. She stared down at him, seemingly
entranced by how his whole body vibrated with sudden tension. She
pressed her nails down hard into the scratch, drawing blood again.
She slowly lifted her hand away,
looking at it as though it belonged to someone else. With that same
mute fascination, she turned and picked up the scalpel. He said in an
angry voice, “Just kill me. That's what you're going to do isn't?”
She looked over at him as though seeing him for the first time. While
he couldn't see the beautiful smile that curved her lips, he could
see hellfire that lit her eyes. She stepped up close to him.
She leaned down, her body heat warm
against his nude side. Beneath the rustling paper mask, she again
licked her lips as she brought her face close to his throat. She took
in a deep breath, enjoying the musky scent of his body and the acrid
tang of fear in his sweat. She stood there, her eyes closed and
breathing. “C'mon,” he yelled at her, his tone wild with panic,
“Just do it!” She moved her face until it was near his left ear.
Her voice was rich and sensual, just a
touch breathy with excitement, as she said, “You are in no position
to tell me what to do.” He thrashed against his restraints and gave
a wordless scream. She looked him over, giving a soft growl as she
set the scalpel down flat on his chest. At the cold, cold touch of
steel, he froze. “I'm not going to kill you,” she whispered,
“Though you may wish I had later.” She stood up and turned. As
she walked out of the room, he realized that she left the scalpel
laying on his chest. He struggled to think of some way to possibly
manipulate his bonds or anything about the situation to free himself.
When he realized that he was too securely fixed, he screamed. An
angry, hoarse sound, it echoed in the room and nearly deafened him.
He heard the sound of some sort of broken weeping, realizing in some
abstract way that it was himself.
The room was plunged into darkness and
he silently begged what ever gods that would hear him that all of
this was a hellish nightmare. Trembling, he dropped into fitful
sleep. When he woke the room was unchanged. As he dropped deeper into
sleep, the lights gradually came on. She returned with a syringe and
injected the sedative into his IV.
Hours later, he woke to his chest,
arms, and legs feeling like they were on fire. He lifted his head,
discovering that he was free from what ever strange place he had
been. Shallow cuts crisscrossed his body. He ached all over and felt
his gorge rising. He rolled onto his side and dry heaved before
pulling the thin blanket over himself. Sitting in the corner was the
masked woman with her arms wrapped tightly around herself. He looked
at her in her thin hospital gown. He saw faded cuts healing on her
arms and legs.
He slowly sat up on the cot, rubbing
his aching brow. As he looked about the room, he realized that there
was no window. He slipped out from beneath the blanket and moved to
try the door, feeling unsteady on his feet. “It's locked,” the
woman said in a voice that sounded vaguely familiar. He looked over
at her, despair in his eyes. She stepped up to him and put one of his
arms over her shoulders. With greater strength then he had expected
in her small frame, she helped him back to the cot. He pulled the
blanket over his lap and sat with his head hanging down.
The masked woman's hands moved over his
shoulders in a comforting gesture. At her kindness, he gave a sudden
sob. “Oh no,” she gasped, “No, no, no, no.” Her hands shook
when he took them suddenly in his own. He brought them to his lips.
The sight of the 'nurse's' eyes burning with unholy lust rolled over
his mind. He shuddered and turned away. The masked woman wrapped her
arms around him, gently but firmly guiding his head to be pillowed
against her breast.
He wrapped his arms around her waist,
breathing in the scent of her and striving to forget the cold,
antiseptic sterility of the chamber he had been held in earlier. The
sudden rush of the fact that he was alive having seen what he was
sure was his own death staring him in the face rolled over him like a
wave of heat. He buried his face in the hollow of her neck, ignoring
the musky sweetness of the leather mask and breathed in the heat of
her skin. She moved against him, somehow knowing what he ached for.
In a smooth motion, she settled herself
in his lap, taking his erection deep inside her. He leaned back
against the cot, letting her take hold of his wrists and press them
down firmly against his chest. With wild abandon, she rode him giving
loud moans and groans that just heightened his arousal. When his
orgasm finally came he shuddered from head to toe, surprised by the
force of it. He collapsed back against the cot, dropping down into
deep, dreamless sleep, exhausted by the horrors he had experienced
and the desperate fucking that happened.
She stood and picked up the blanket
that had fallen to the floor. She dropped it over him with a smile.
As she turned and walked out of the room, she reached up and
unbuckled the mask. She let the door swing shut and locked it before
taking the mask off. She brought her fingers to her lips. Fresh blood
from his pleasantly aggravated cuts clung to the heel of her hand and
on the backs of her fingers. With a catlike expression, she licked
the blood. She decided that she would bleed him again later, but
first she wanted to rest.
About Me
I am happily married to my best friend. We have two wonderful little boys that are helping me to lose my mind. I'm an avid reader of books and poetry. I adore medieval and renaissance music. And I have more fiber art projects then I can count going on at a given time. It's to keep me from killing people. ;)
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The box score tells the story of Game 6. The Bucks shot just 33% from the field and 27% from long range, and were outrebounded 52-41. The Bucks’ backcourt (Brandon Jennings and John Salmons), which has played so well of late, shot a combined 6-of-28 from the field for 20 points. Milwaukee just couldn’t find a rhythm offensively for much of the game.
Credit the Hawks’ defense here. They were solid throughout the game, and although the Bucks cut the lead to seven in the middle of the fourth quarter, Jamal Crawford and Joe Johnson were there to hit a few big shots to put the game away. This was a nice (and surprising) performance from a team that has been terrible on the road in the playoffs in recent years.
Who is Corey Peters you ask? He was the Falcons’ selection at No. 83 in the third round of last week’s draft and had Atlanta not taken him, he more than likely would have ended up a Brown. That’s because according to Yasinskas, Cleveland GM Tom Heckert was “leaning heavily” towards taking Peters with the No. 85 pick, which was the selection Cleveland used to take McCoy.
What’s interesting about this report is that Mike Holmgren wanted McCoy at No. 85. So had the Falcons not intervened and taken Peters at No. 83, there would have likely been a debate between Holmgren and Heckert over whether or not to take McCoy.
It’s also kind of noteworthy that many draft pundits (including Mel Kiper) criticized the Falcons for reaching on Peters (who had a late round grade) in the third round, yet as it turns out, he was wanted by at least two teams (Atlanta and Cleveland). It’s always interesting to hear how things play out in the war room and this story is no different.
The Pittsburgh Steelers’ star quarterback joins an elite roster of those with the dubious honor of being dissed in rhyme by Eminem. In this case, Big Ben’s recent off-field problems are name-checked in the new Em cut “Despicable,” which debuted online yesterday.
“I’d rather turn this club into a bar room brawl/Get as rowdy as Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall,” Eminem raps.
The line references a March incident in which Roethlisberger allegedly sexually assaulted a 20-year-old college student in a women’s restroom in a Georgia nightclub.
I haven’t heard the song yet, but it can’t be any worse than the ultra-horrendous “We Made You,” in which he dresses up like Tony Romo for the video. I’m not a big fan of Eminem’s “work” as it is, but I’ve dropped deuces that were more impressive than that song. (Although I’ll be the first one to admit that “Til I Collapse” will always be on my MP3 player when I hit the gym.)
It’s kind of amazing that Big Ben has gone from two-time Super Bowl MVP to the butt of one of Eminem’s jokes in just a couple of years.
In Saturday’s MLS match against LA Galaxy, Kansas City Wizards striker Kei Kamara made history. He found himself right in front of an open net, managing to miss an open goal from less than six INCHES with no one near him.
Instead of netting the sitter in the middle of the goal after the ball hit the post, leaving keeper Donovan Ricketts stranded, Kamara took a wild swing, missed it completely, fell over and knocked the ball in with his ARM.
The stunned linesman immediately flagged, and Galaxy defender Gregg Berhalter admitted: “It was one of the most unbelievable things I’ve seen in soccer.
“It was unfortunate for Kamara but it was handball and credit the linesman for seeing it.”
At age 25, James becomes the second-youngest to win back-to-back MVPs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was a couple of months younger when he won his back-to-back award in 1972. The others two win back-to-back are Steve Nash, Tim Duncan, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Moses Malone, Wilt Chamberlain, Bill Russell and Abdul-Jabbar. Only Bird, Chamberlain and Russell ever won the award three years in a row.
Last year James won in a landslide, getting 109 of the first-place 121 votes given out to sportswriters and broadcasters who cover the league. This year, James is expected to approach winning the award unanimously.
LeBron has a good chance to win this award again and again, though NBA writers are fickle and they’ll start looking for reasons to give the award to someone else once voting for LeBron wears thin. The same thing happened to Michael Jordan.
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Hyundai Cars Dealers and Showrooms in Bankura
Locate 2 Hyundai Showrooms in Bankura. CarDekho connects you with authorized Hyundai Showrooms and dealers in Bankura with their address and complete contact info. For more information on Hyundai Cars Price, Offers, EMI options and test drive contact the below mentioned dealers in Bankura. For Certified Hyundai Service Centers in Bankura Click Here
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Caption: Chevrolet Volt assembly line. Workers installing the lithium-ion battery pack in a Chevrolet Volt. The Volt is powered by electricity. It uses a small gasoline engine to generate electricity after the car's lithium-ion battery is depleted. Photographed at the Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Plant of General Motors, in Detroit, Michigan, USA.
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Collection of texts, edited on the occasion of the exhibition of the same name at Marbriers 4, Geneva. A series of young artists, curators, and other Swiss cultural actors were invited to produce a short text with the only requirement being that it not exceed a half page, and that it not speak directly about my work. The texts were diffused uncredited during the course of the exhibition via the Marbriers 4 web neswletter, thus disrupting the classic means of communication. During the exhibition around six hundred people unsubscribed from their newsletter.
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September 15th, 1990
"Before They Call, I will Answer"
Mrs.
N.D. Daniel
Isaiah 65:23 & 24
Here we read the prophecy of Isaiah the prophet of God and his
experience. The Word of God says, "...before they call, I will answer; and while they
are yet speaking, I will hear." Last time we considered Matt.17:20 & 21. "If
ye have faith as much as a mustard seed, nothing shall be impossible unto you." Today
we shall consider Isa.65:23 & 24. "Before we call God will answer and while we
are yet speaking God will hear." Jesus stood at the grave of Lazarus and He lifted up
His eyes to heaven and said, "I thank you Father that you have heard my prayer."
He knew that God had already heard His prayer. He had only to thank God. Isaiah 65:24
speaks of this same thing. Jesus did not say, "Lord raise up Lazarus from the
grave." Jesus knew God had heard His prayer. Therefore Jesus thanked His Father. He
knew God always heard His prayer. The prayer of true children of God will always be heard
by God. The Spirit of God was always upon Jesus Christ and God always heard His prayer. If
the Spirit of God is with us He Himself will pray through us. The Spirit of God helps and
teaches us to pray. Jesus Christ told us that we should pray and God will hear our prayer.
"Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened
unto you." That kind of persevering prayer also should be learnt. For all our
problems, we need faith. We must ask the Lord for that mustard seed level of faith. Not
only that, we must have the experience that even before we ask we get the answer. God
wants us to have that experience. If we get the Spirits thoughts we can receive the
Spirits prayer also. So if the Spirit of God leads us in prayer it will be very
easy. It will be also very edifying and it will bring us great joy. Then we can bring
great glory to God.
Romans 8:26 says we do not know how to pray. But if the Spirit of God
is upon us, we will know how to pray the Spirits prayer. Even for prayer we need the
help of the Spirit of God to guide us. Jesus always sent out His disciples, two by two,
for the ministry. If both the disciples prayed in oneness of spirit it would bring great
blessing to the ministry. We do not see that bond of oneness in some of our workers.
"This is my area, these are my souls," they claim. That is not what the Word of
God says. The whole world is a field for the service of God. We have to go to all the
world and preach the gospel. When we went to labour for God, my husband, Joe and myself
were of one spirit to glorify God. There was nothing in which we differed. Our only aim
was to the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word of God became a power. The spirit of prayer was
upon all those who attended the retreats. We were encouraged to go forward in the work of
God. Since the Spirit of God was in our midst the work of God was not difficult. There was
no confusion in the work. No trouble-makers were able to disturb the meetings. The Word of
God gripped the attention of the people. Oneness of Spirit is needed in the Fellowship. If
all can join whole-heartedly in our united prayer, it shows that we have the spirit of
oneness. Satan will not sit still when any good work is going on. He will tempt us. But
Jesus will keep us from falling. We will be tested and tempted, but Jesus will seek to
uphold us so that we may glorify Christ.
The Lord honours those that honour Him. There is much grace made
available for those who take the gospel to other countries. The Lord has got great things
for us which we are yet to see. We should be humble to glorify God according to the Word
of God, that we are allowed to preach.
Big problems had to be faced in the ministry and there were hard nuts
to crack. A certain man became very ungrateful for all the love the Fellowship had showed
him and was grieving the Lord by his ungodly ways. He began to tremble when we sent word
to him to come. He said, he never expected it and began to fear and perspire. Another
person, a lady, who refused to listen to her husband began to change. A hard-hearted boy,
who did not respect his parents began to hear the Word of God. He asked pardon of his
parents for his disobedience. These mountains began to move. But on the whole, we tend to
veer off from tackling hard cases. We pray for a person for sometime. Then we say,
"It is a very hopeless case." With that attitude we start praying for that
person. We do not believe our prayer will be answered. How then can we get results? So we
do not see victory.
We have to rise to the level of this prayer: "Before they call I
will answer." That means we must learn Spirits prayer. We must fast and pray
also for hard cases and then only we can see results. Such prayer will not be a laborious
one. The Spirit will guide us into all truth. We went with fear and trembling and came
back rejoicing. The Fellowships prayers surrounded us and so it was answered. We did
not get sick. We did not catch even a cold or cough or fever. We went healthy and came
back healthy. The Lord was very gracious to us. In the retreats the Lord did not allow any
deaths. Even if a baby dies in a retreat it is a blow to our faith. The Lord protected all
of us. There is an open invitation to all to attend our retreats around the world. There
is no restriction in the invitation. Jesus said, "Go ye into all the world and move
the hard mountains and win souls to the glory of God." We shall go forward in
following Jesus. God bless you.
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Paul Gazelka to seek re-election in Senate District 9
Published February 27, 2012 at 2:40 pm
Sen. Paul Gazelka announced Monday that he is seeking re-election to the Minnesota State Senate in Senate District 9.
Gazelka currently serves as state senator in District 12, which covers almost all of Morrison County and the southern half of Crow Wing County. Senate District 9, per the boundaries released by the courts recently, contains Morrison County, Todd County, most of Wadena County and the East Gull Lake area of Cass County.
Gazelka said he and his wife, Maralee, had considered moving to East Gull Lake prior to his running for his current Senate seat. East Gull Lake is about 10 miles from their current home and about four or five miles from his State Farm Insurance office in Baxter, he said.
“Before I was in the office we looked at this area, because that’s where my business is and a few miles from where my daughter’s school is,” he said. The Gazelkas have a 10-year-old daughter still at home, with their other four children already graduated from high school. But, the family couldn’t make the move at the time, because that would have put them out of the then Senate District 12B, for which he was a candidate.
The family plans to move by the May deadline, as candidates must live within the district for which they are running at least six months prior to the election.
“Now that they’ve cut the district in half, I’m choosing Morrison County,” said Gazelka. One of the key areas he serves is Camp Ripley, because he serves on the veterans committee, he said.
“I want Camp Ripley in my area,” said the Senator. “It’s an important part of what I do here — to have oversight on Camp Ripley. They’re more than just training the troops,” he said. Camp Ripley is also the training site for the state highway department, the Department of Natural Resources, Minnesota state troopers and law enforcement.
“They’ve become really a center for training throughout Minnesota and the nation for that matter,” said Gazelka.
Republican Sen. Carrie Ruud will run in the new Senate District 10. “She was in the northern part of Crow Wing County, and is in the new part of District 10,” said Gazelka. “She’ll be a good fit there as well.”
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RESEARCH IS DISCOVERING that Earth has a water crisis! Changes in the environment, climate and weather can cause dry air, dry eye, dry skin, dehydration, allergies, many diseases and blindness … not to mention water wars and lack of economic development.
I invite you to listen to the SHARON KLEYNE HOUR each week (live or in archive), as my guests and I explore the many aspects of this life-or-death crisis that impacts everyone.
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SERVICE
Can’t find what you are looking for? Create your own Quality Control with us. We would like to support your R&D!
Tailored designed products for your needs: A higher concentration? Another mutants? Another Allelic Frequency?
You want to In-License our products? You have developed your own „Diagnostic Kit“ and want to include controls? You have developed your own instrument and need human test material? You need materials for customer presentations?
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29.05.2015.
Fine Threads of Local Development
Vandana Shiva on 4th Food Sovereignty Forum in Croatia
"Companies that brought us the poisons are trying to make us believe that without them we would not be able to produce enough food. They want us to forget that all of us can save seeds, that we all can grow our food – no we will not forget!" said dr. Vandana Shiva on 4th food sovereignty forum in Croatia: Fine threads of local development, Sisak 2015. That sentence could be signed by many initiatives and farmers from all over Croatia and neighboring Slovenia that came to meet dr.Shiva and share their products and ideas. In two days forum was telling a story about main resources that we need to grow food - traditional varieties and breeds and the fertile soil. Besides message of dr. Shiva, on the first day there was a fair of organic and small scale farmers in the city park, seed swap and the opening of photography exhibition by local amateur photographer, activist and seed saver Andrea Shipush. Forum was also an opportunity to promote a new book of traditional varieties in Dalmatian coast. The next day, after four interesting presentations about soil management, preserving traditional breeds on common pasture as it was tradition in Croatia, and presentation on Anti TTIP campaign, the group of participants from different food sovereignty initiatives worked on their plans for joining the fortnight of action for seed freedom.
Sisak is an industrial town in Central Croatia that was very prosperous in the times of ex Jugoslavia together with its rural surroundings. But after the civil war (1991-1995) and privatization that came after it, the whole region was destroyed, factories closed and many people left unemployed and with the deep scars that war leaves to individual as well as the local communities. Despite all that, natural potentials of that area allows it to be the one among counties in Croatia with the biggest number of organic growers – professional small scale organic farmers as well as traditional producers and home gardeners. The organization of Forum was leaded by NGO Green network of activist groups but the local host was Citizen Initiative “Seed” together with Public library “Vlado Gotovac”. For many years initiative is gathering as a group of local producers and gardeners in a public library that gives them the great support. On regular bases they organize lectures, workshops, presentation of local farms and of course seed swaps. As the library administration sees it, the library should be the place of gathering and sharing the knowledge and information. So, in order to help them, they are working on establishing catalogue with offer and demand of local seeds and products. In Croatia there are also several other initiatives of seed savers organizations and informal groups that are working on protecting traditional varieties and developing diversity of our crops. Most of them came from the North Croatia such as Duga and Bio Garden in Cakovec, Living Earth in Nova Gradiska, Gredica and Hajdina in Varazdin, Life in Ludbreg, and so on. They are gathering seed savers, enthusiasts and organizing workshops and seed swaps.
A seminar entitled "Implications of TTIP in Southeast Europe" took place on the 07 - 08 April 2015 in Sofia, Bulgaria. It brought together activists and engaged researchers who campaign against TTIP (Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership).
Ever since the rise of Italian fascism and German Nazism in the first part of 20th Century and up till today the term fascism comprised the terminological core of left-wing (especially socialist) theoretical and political projects. In the first part of 20th century this term was used to characterize both Italian and German regimes or even any regimes and movements that mimicked German Nazism or Italian fascism. On the political front the term was used as a swearword, which is why its use probably expanded as much as it did. With regards to this it is instructive to remember Stalin, who angrily denounced social democracy as but the “moderate wing of fascism”. The concept of fascism thus rapidly lost its analytical value: it was either used as such an abstract concept that it could cover an unlimited amount of political actors or phenomena, or it stifled a sober-minded reflection and evoked primarily emotional responses with its denunciatory tone.
Until too long ago, even amongst parts of the left the historic decline of the relevance of the state was taken as a 'given'. Under the umbrella of 'globalization theory' far-reaching proclamations on deep tectonic shifts were the height of fashion. At closer inspection, however, the...
Peace Event Sarajevo 2014 will serve as an acknowledgment for all peace initiatives which have been flourishing for decades and are minder that peace still needs to be fostered. Furthermore, it will represent an international exchange platform for debate and information on different topics related to nonviolence and peace.
CriticFest took place between May 15 and May 17, at Spațiul Platforma (the annex of the Romanian Contemporary Art Museum) in Bucharest. The presentations were framed by the connections between art, nature and capitalistic property relations.
Social inequality, unemployment and poverty continue to grow all over Europe. A new cycle of privatization is aimed towards the remaining legacies of the welfare state - subsidized healthcare and education, social benefits and public spending. Neoliberal austerity politics, instead of the expected prosperity, is only provoking waves of protest all over the continent.
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Ugh!!! As if TV execs needed another excuse to pander to the too often xenophobic masses!
A bunch of analysts at Q Scores just did a bunch of polling on each and every late night talk show, calculating each host's recognizability and "positive Q score," and the results were startling to say the least!
The overall winner was Stephen Colbert. The dude is hilarious, kind, and The Colbert Report recently dominated the Emmys, so it's not at all shocking that he tops the rankings!! Congratz to him!
But further down the list is where everything goes kaplooey!
Now that George Lopez is out of the game, Arsenio Hall is pretty much the only late night TV host of color. Well, the totally endearing dude came in dead last!!!
With a positive Q score of only 9 - compared to, say, Chelsea Handler's 12 or Colbert's 20 - Arsenio was deemed the least likable person on the entire list!
Ugh!! That's really a shame!
We hope network execs don't use this data as an excuse to continue excluding minorities from late night gigs!!!
For the record, HBO's new host John Oliver was deemed second most likable and Jon Stewart came in third! Wow, those Comedy Central alum are really doing it right!
19 comments to “Late Night TV's Only Person Of Color Was Just Voted Late Night TV's Least Likable Person! WTF!?”
The most xenophobic countries are the home countries of minorities. Black South africans are so xenophobic of illegal zimbabweans, the united nations warned of a possible future genocide (there is already a black on white genocide there). They are on genocide watch. Asians in asia are so xenophibic.. you can still find "no foriengers allowed" signs in japan. When you are non asian in japan… you go to clubs that are "gaijin friendly" not just… any ol' club. Google "gaijin friendly". And arabs are so xenophobic of anyone who is not muslim. Cant even wear a cross in saudi arabophobia. Even mexicans in mexico are xenophobic and do not grant illegal guatemalans amnesty. Xenophobia exists worldwide not just white countries. Anyways, america is a diverse country with millions of non whites…. who also answer poll question. He apparently ranks low with minorities too.
Maybe it's just that people don't love him or his show as much as the others and has nothing to do with race? When did everything become more and more about that, people are people regardless of anything else.
This is a great example of why Perez is such a simpleton.
Perez is argueing STATISTICS ! Then race baits with a poorly thought out posting.
Would you as a company put in money for a show that has low ratings ?
Would Perez lower his advertising fees on here if it were a minority owned company ?????
Does anyone see any minority owned company adversting on here ?
So, why don't minority owned businesses advertise on your website Perez ? Your readership is mainly white college girls-thats why and "network execs" have to make monetary decisions based on FACTS.
Look at Oprah, Tyra, Wendy, all successful BLACK daytime talk shows. Teh you have Peirs, Mom Kardashian, Skinny ugly girl-all FAILED shows-but you don't mention that.
You NEVER see the overall picture do you Perez.
Somebody had to finish last, so what if he's black. Just stop calling it the "least liikeable.
Perez, you paint a distorted picture with crayons, stick to posting "imaginary boyfriends of the day" and hustling after straight guys.It's more on your I.Q. level and leave the social politics to experts.
Erm..So because he's black, he's immune to criticism? If he ranked the lowest that has zero to do with race..This is just too stupid for my high IQ brain to comprehend. So because he's black he should be favored and if he isn't that's racism? Erm..ok. Definitely aren't helping anything with this nonsense. It's just too stupid to the point I don't know what to say to argue this. This rarely happens..
This is so stupid I don't even know where to begin. It is not an issue of race. I don't really know who this guy is, but a quick Google search tells me his show has only been on since this past fall. Every single other person on that list has been around for years, if not decades. Do you think that possibly has ANYTHING to do with this ranking? I truly hate racism and discrimination, but it's also annoying when people cry racism when it's not the case. Think critically. Use your brain.
Perez, you got too much of that white guilt. Not everything is about race, have you ever thought that maybe, just maybe, he was actually the least likable, and that it has nothing to do with the color of his skin? Yeah, black people can be the worst at something, too.
Why do they always play the race card it is really getting old. Maybe just maybe no one likes him because he is so phony. The bit where he puts his head down and try's to look so shy give me a break. I am surprised he got another year.
Since when was Lopez "coloured"? Pretty sure his ancestory is Spanish, which last time I checked has always been a white European contry…sorry I don'y count being 1/16th Aztec or whatever as qualifying for coloured status….just more bullshit leftist identity politics that fosters this bizarre modern phenomenon of people longing to be part of some fashionably oppressed minority. (Of course if he'd shot some little black thug those same leftists would be at pains to officially recast him as a "White hispanic" LMAO!!!)
Oh and whilst the first syllable of Arsenio's name is appropriate if yiu speak with an English accent….I too can;t believe anyone could be rated lower than Chelsea Black Cock Handler…..biggest c u next tuesday & oxygen thief to ever (dis)grace the small screen…which is quite the achievement when you think about it….
Not everything is about race but somehow you seem to make it everything about someones race. You are the cause of racism, segregating african americans from white americans. As far as im concerned we are all the same. It just so happens that the least likable person was 'of colour' as you put it. Thats not racism. Racism would be not voting for him or only voting for him because of what colour skin he has. So cut all the racism shit ok. We are all the same. So stop giving pitty where its not needed. Idiot.
It just comes down to numbers. Arsenio is a fave of mine and was on his last run, too.
If you wiki ethinicity in the U.S., only 12.4% of U.S. citizens statistically identify as blacks or African Americans, so his Q score is actually high, considering.
You should really know what a word means before you use it. Xenophobia is a fear of strangers or foreigners. Arsenio is neither, unless you are referring to the fact that, since he's been off television so long prior to this new show, he's somewhat of a stranger again to television. Seriously, stop trying to make this a racial issue. The bottom line is, he's not funny. What worked for him in the late 80s/early 90s just doesn't work today. It has nothing to do with the color of his skin.
Re: mlyjn – You are obviously young. Aresenio Hall used to be quite hot back in the day. "The day" being the late 80s/early 90s. He had a television from '89 - '94 called The Arsenio Hall Show which was quite popular. What Perez fails to realize is that something that worked and was relevant 20 years ago, isn't today.
But now, that's all about to change, at least according to TMZ! That's because a week from tomorrow -- on December 17 -- Khloé and Lamar's split will be legal, final, and FULL! And that's all she wrote!
As the final divorce docs are set to be stamped by a judge on that day just over a week from right now, the final terms are pretty standard and straightforward, too:
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The ceremony to open the symbolic white tap of the gas pipeline in the town of Lubmin in northern Germany was also attended by Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte and French Prime Minister Francois Fillon.
"This is a long-awaited event which signifies the strengthening of relations between Russia and the European Union. This event will enhance the security regime, including energy security in Europe," President Medvedev said at a news conference.
Russian natural gas and the electricity produced with it will "make the life of a large number of people more comfortable," Medvedev said, adding he he hoped the European economy and gas demand would grow.
'We expect that the economy of the European Union will be able to overcome all current difficulties and attain steady growth, after which annual additional requirements of our European partners for gas may increase to quite high levels by 2020 - to 200 billion cubic meters, according to expert estimates," he said.
Natural gas transportation via the first stage of the Nord Stream pipeline will reach its full capacity of 27.5 billion cu m as soon as 2012, Gazprom Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev said.
"In 2012, the first stage of Nord Stream will transport up to 27.5 billion cu m. Specific volumes will depend on customers' requests but the contractual volume for 2012 is 27.5 billion cu m," he said.
The pipeline will deliver Russian gas via the Baltic Sea to Germany, bypassing key transit countries Ukraine and Belarus. Gazprom's Medvedev said the company would not cut gas transit via Belarus after the launch of Nord Stream.
Russia currently provides almost 30 percent of the gas consumed in Europe.
The $11-billion Nord Stream project includes two roughly parallel pipelines with an overall annual capacity of 55 billion cubic meters.
Russia's gas giant Gazprom, which holds 51 percent in Nord Stream, has already signed long-term gas contracts via the Nord Stream pipeline with several European countries, including Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Britain.
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The A’s clinched their first playoff spot since 2006 with a 4-3 win over the Texas Rangers, tying the Orioles for the No. 1 wild-card spot with identical 92-68 records.
Like the Orioles, the A’s still have a shot at their respective division crown. Oakland enters the second-to-last game of the regular season one game behind the division-leading Rangers as the two teams play head to head in the final two games of the season.
If the Orioles and A’s end the regular season with the same record as the wild-card teams, the Orioles would have to travel to Oakland to play the AL wild-card game Friday because the A’s won the head-to-head season series with the Orioles, 5-4.
Needless to say, the Orioles' loss was costly. They went from being able to completely control their own fate for a division title to needing help to prevent becoming the No. 2 wild-card team.
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Double Room
Single Room
Luxury Cologne hotel in Lindenthal, near Rhein Energie Stadium
Location
Located in Lindenthal, this luxury hotel is within 3 mi (5 km) of Rhein Energie Stadium, Keramion Museum, and Cologne Carnival Museum. Volkstheater Millowitsch and Cologne Cathedral are also within 6 mi (10 km).
Hotel Features
2 restaurants, a 24-hour business center, and coffee/tea in the lobby are available at this hotel. WiFi in public areas is free. Other amenities include a meeting room, concierge services, and dry cleaning.
Room Amenities
All 40 individually decorated rooms feature free WiFi and minibars. Thoughtful touches include pillow menus and slippers, and guests will also find separate bathtubs and showers and TVs.
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
Dining is available at one of the hotel's 2 restaurants. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary. This 4.5-star property offers access to a 24-hour business center and a meeting room. This luxury hotel also offers a terrace, multilingual staff, and a garden.
Nearby Things to Do
Hotel Policies
Check-in
Check-in time starts at 3 PM
Special check-in instructions:
The city of Cologne imposes a culture tax (Kulturförderabgabe) of 5%. The amount is not included in the total price displayed. Business travelers may be exempt from this tax and need to contact the hotel for further information or ask the hotel at check-in. Guests can contact the property using the information contained in the confirmation received after booking.
Check-out
Check-out time is noon
Payment types
Pets
Pets allowed, Only dogs are allowed
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on hotel policy.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
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Collection STOCKING STUFFERS + SMALL GIFTS is empty
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FOUNDATIONS
The Ænon’s approach grew out of a desire to create a line of skin care in keeping with the tenets of minimalism, from the purity and quantity of our ingredients to the simplicity of our packaging and design.
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Sometimes it's hard to remember that the lives we see on stage and television are not the lives lived in private. And this week, there has been so much talk of same sex marriage at the supreme court, and on this weekend, when the christian religion focuses on renewal, our "person of the week" is marie osmond, who is telling us all lessons about living life we have not heard before. ♪ Good day sunshine ♪ Reporter: She was always endlessly sunny, impossibly cheerful. ♪ Little bit country ♪ ♪ little bit rock and roll ♪ ♪ little bit country ♪ ♪ little bit of rock and roll ♪ Reporter: M osmond says her real life wa lived in the valleys, where you pray hard for a spirit to get you through. The god I believe in is the god of love, not fear. I don't -- I don't tell my children, if you're not good, you're going to hell. I tell my children that god will be there for them when they struggle. That's the god I believe in. Reporter: Growing up, there were nine children, all boys except for her. In her own family, eight children, with all the joys and worry. Like the day her daughter came to tell her mormon mom she is gay. My heart broke for her. I think it's easier now, but not as a 17-year-old. Not as a child, you know? And I still think there is judgment. I think there's still judgment on many things. If you are hispanic and jewish and more more. Reporter: And on this week of the supreme court hearing, marie osmond says she hopes all of us set aside fear and let love lead toward marriage equality. I believe in our civil rights. As a mother, I think my daughter deserves everything that she desires in life. She's a good girl. She's a wonderful child. I don't think god made one color flower. I think he made many. Reporter: And it's not the only lesson she learned as a mother. She was 48 when we saw her on "dancing with the stars," not knowing life was preparing to hand her a shattering blow. Her son, michael, had a long time battle with depression and drugs. One night, she says, she followed her intuition and went to find him. Everybody was like, no, he's fine. I knew he wasn't. This particular night, I found him wandering in a park. And he -- he was not going to live very long. Rushed him down to emergency room and -- it was horrible. Reporter: That night, he survived, but later, he did not. She writes in her book, how the coroner's office called to give her the news of his suicide, writing, "i thought someone had run a knife into my heart." And so now, she's written a book of lessons for everyone else. How to walk on stage smiling, while in private, you take the hard times and let them become a path to more life. Well, bad things happen. And you can either medicate it or you can learn from it. Move on from it. Learn from it. Say, I made a mistake. I've made many mistakes. But it's only a mistake if you stay there. Reporter: And so we choose marie osmond, whose book is called "the key is love," lessons from her mother about strength, self-respect and joy.
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
Person of the Week: Caroline Kennedy
A member of one of the most intriguing families in America shares part of her past.
Person of the Week: Amanda Lewis
Her obituary for her father quickly became known as "the best obit ever."
{"id":18843387,"title":"Person of the Week: Marie Osmond's Personal Renewal","duration":"3:17","description":"The star discusses life after son's tragic death in new memoir, \"The Key Is Love.\"","section":"WNT","mediaType":"Default"}
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Kissing Tips and Techniques:
Kiss Types - Location Based:
PROM !
My bf and i were at the school prom together, i started to cry as i really didnt want to leave school. We were in the corridor alone and we could hear the song ,Baby, by Justin Bieber, i was about to go back to the hall, to where all my friends were. As i stood up he got hold off my arm and pulled me to him, he told me everything was going to be fine, and he kissed me. It was amazing, he was sooooo sweet !!!!!!
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Altimaster N3
Another jumper in love!
I am another one of those guys who gets more from numbers than a needle position. Out of a half-second glance, I can get a more complete grasp of my altitude from the two large digits than I can seeing a needle's relative position on a dial. And then, of course, there are the sweet logging features (my standard fallrate is THAT slow? :P ), the backlit face (turned out to be the "post-sunset" load), the straight-forward navigation, and small size and light weight (I never took it off, even while packing).
I highly recommend it to my fellow left-brain jumpers out there who feel more at ease with numbers than with pictures. And the logging features a little bits here and there (rate of climb, time to altitude, clock, etc) are a big gob of icing on the cake.
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Comments on: Activity #188: Cook and freezehttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/
Two geeky girls' guide to the first years of motherhood.Wed, 07 Dec 2016 22:49:23 +0000hourly1https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6.1By: Less tushy wiping. More fun.http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-245047
Mon, 03 Feb 2014 21:21:28 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-245047[…] winner of the Windows 7 phone was Miranda with the suggestion of: Less cooking. More enjoying. She makes double batches and then freezes food so that she can cook once but enjoy […]
]]>By: Sunday Supper: cooking big with One-Dish Dinnershttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-130865
Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:39:18 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-130865[…] Activity #188: Cook and freeze […]
]]>By: What to feed a picky toddlerhttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-130015
Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:30:02 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-130015[…] toast (Sunny makes a whole loaf at a time and freezes […]
]]>By: Kitchen remodel lessons learnedhttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-129430
Sun, 25 Jul 2010 23:51:16 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-129430[…] silly extolling the virtues of a granite counter top, but here’s why: it magically defrosts bricks of food in the time it takes us to spend an afternoon at Totland. (oh yeah, and the granite counter was the […]
]]>By: The Month in Review: Running, Fundraising, and Mominatrixinghttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-128554
Wed, 05 May 2010 14:52:14 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-128554[…] Activity #188: Cook and Freeze […]
]]>By: Clairehttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-128498
Sat, 01 May 2010 20:23:46 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-128498Batch cooking has revolutionized my life! It makes cooking so much easier. Two of my recent favorites come from Aimee of Simple Bites and Under the High Chair.
]]>By: Get some stuff done before baby arrives — Rookie Momshttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-98967
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 15:39:17 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-98967[…] your own crazy nesting projects — for me it was cooking, freezing, cleaning, shopping (it all seemed to have happened on the Tuesday before my water broke), for you […]
]]>By: Start a baby food swapping co-op — Rookie Momshttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-80016
Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:55:10 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-80016[…] activities: Swap your food cubes Cook and freeze Feed a picky […]
]]>By: What to feed a picky toddler » RookieMoms Bloghttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-59837
Mon, 04 Aug 2008 21:52:47 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-59837[…] toast (Sunny makes a whole loaf at a time and freezes […]
]]>By: lucas' momhttp://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze/#comment-30
Thu, 10 Nov 2005 06:24:47 +0000http://www.rookiemoms.com/cook-and-freeze#comment-30get a whole loaf of bread, vanilla, and a dozen eggs. make an entire loaf’s worth of french toast. then wait for it all to cool a bit and freeze it. then, when you and your hungry muchkin want some french toast for breakfast or a snack, just pop a couple slices into the toaster. it’s so yummy and super easy!
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U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Architecture and Engineering Occupations
Aerospace engineering and operations technicians operate and maintain equipment used in developing, testing, and producing new aircraft and spacecraft. Increasingly, these workers are using computer-based modeling and simulation tools and processes in their work.
Agricultural engineers—also known as biological and agricultural engineers—work on a variety of activities. These activities range from aquaculture (raising food, such as fish, that thrive in water) to land farming to forestry; from developing biofuels to improving conservation; from planning animal environments to finding better ways to process food.
Chemical engineers apply the principles of chemistry, biology, physics, and math to solve problems that involve the production or use of chemicals, fuel, drugs, food, and many other products. They design processes and equipment for large-scale safe and sustainable manufacturing, plan and test methods of manufacturing products and treating byproducts, and supervise production.
Civil engineering technicians help civil engineers plan and design the construction of highways, bridges, utilities, and other major infrastructure projects. They also help with commercial, residential, and land development. Civil engineering technicians work under the direction of licensed civil engineers.
Drafters use software to convert the designs of engineers and architects into technical drawings and plans. Workers specialize in architectural, civil, electrical, or mechanical drafting and use technical drawings to help design everything from microchips to skyscrapers.
Electrical and electronics engineering technicians help engineers design and develop computers, communications equipment, medical monitoring devices, navigational equipment, and other electrical and electronic equipment. They often work in product evaluation and testing, using measuring and diagnostic devices to adjust, test, and repair equipment.
Environmental engineering technicians carry out the plans that environmental engineers develop. They test, operate, and, if necessary, modify equipment used to prevent or clean up environmental pollution. They may collect samples for testing, or they may work to mitigate sources of environmental pollution.
Environmental engineers use the principles of engineering, soil science, biology, and chemistry to develop solutions to environmental problems. They are involved in efforts to improve recycling, waste disposal, public health, and water and air pollution control.
Health and safety engineers develop procedures and design systems to prevent people from getting sick or injured and to keep property from being damaged. They combine knowledge of systems engineering and of health and safety to make sure that chemicals, machinery, software, furniture, and other consumer products will not cause harm to people or buildings.
Industrial engineers find ways to eliminate wastefulness in production processes. They devise efficient ways to use workers, machines, materials, information, and energy to make a product or provide a service.
Marine engineers and naval architects design, build, and maintain ships from aircraft carriers to submarines, from sailboats to tankers. Marine engineers work on the mechanical systems, such as propulsion and steering. Naval architects work on the basic design, including the form and stability of hulls.
Materials engineers develop, process, and test materials used to create a range of products, from computer chips and aircraft wings to golf clubs and snow skis. They work with metals, ceramics, plastics, composites, and other substances to create new materials that meet certain mechanical, electrical, and chemical requirements.
Mechanical engineering technicians help mechanical engineers design, develop, test, and manufacture mechanical devices, including tools, engines, and machines. They may make sketches and rough layouts, record and analyze data, make calculations and estimates, and report their findings.
Nuclear engineers research and develop the processes, instruments, and systems used to derive benefits from nuclear energy and radiation. Many of these engineers find industrial and medical uses for radioactive materials—for example, in equipment used in medical diagnosis and treatment.
Surveying and mapping technicians assist surveyors, cartographers, and photogrammetrists. Together, they collect data and make maps of the earth’s surface. Surveying technicians visit sites to take measurements of the land. Mapping technicians use geographic data to create maps.
|
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|
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Information
For information concerning PCT member countries, see the notice
appearing in the Official Gazette at 1350 O.G. 73, on January 12, 2010.
For information on subject matter under Rule 39 that a particular
International Searching Authority will not search, see Annex D of the PCT
Applicants' Guide.
European Patent Office as Searching and Examining Authority
The European Patent Office (EPO) may act as the International Searching
Authority (ISA) for an international application filed with the United
States Receiving Office or the International Bureau (IB) as Receiving
Office where at least one of the applicants is either a national or
resident of the United States of America. However, the EPO is no longer
a competent ISA, within the meaning of PCT Article 16(3), for
international applications filed by U.S. residents or nationals on or
after March 1, 2002, in the USPTO or IB as a Receiving Office, and where
the application contains one or more claims directed to the field of
business methods. For the definition of what the EPO considers to be
precluded subject matter in the field of business methods, applicants
should see the "Notice from the President of the European Patent
Office", dated November 26, 2001, and which was published as Annex A in
the "Notice Concerning EPO Competence to Act as PCT Authority" in
the Official Gazette at 1255 O.G. 878, on February 19, 2002.
The European Patent Office may act as the International Preliminary
Examining Authority (IPEA) for an international application filed in the
United States Receiving Office or the International Bureau as Receiving
Office where at least one of the applicants is either a national or
resident of the United States of America, provided that the European
Patent Office acted as the International Searching Authority. However,
the EPO is no longer a competent IPEA, within the meaning of PCT Article
32(3), for international applications filed by U.S. residents or nationals
in the USPTO or IB as a Receiving Office where the corresponding demand is
filed with the EPO on or after March 1, 2002, and where the application
contains one or more claims directed to the field of business methods.
The search fee of the European Patent Office was increased, effective
January 1, 2010, and was announced in the Official Gazette at 1350 O.G. 72,
on January 12, 2010.
Korean Intellectual Property Office as Searching and Examining Authority
For use of the Korean Intellectual Property Office as an International
Searching Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority for
international applications filed in the United States Receiving Office,
see the notice appearing in the Official Gazette at 1302 O.G. 1261 on
January 17, 2006.
The search fee of the Korean Intellectual Property Office was increased,
effective January 1, 2010, and was announced in the Official Gazette at
1350 O.G. 72, on January 12, 2010.
Australian Patent Office as Searching and Examining Authority
The Australian Patent Office (IP Australia) may act as the International
Searching Authority (ISA) for an international application filed with the
United States Receiving Office or the International Bureau (IB) as
Receiving Office where at least one of the applicants is either a national
or resident of the United States of America. However, IP Australia is not a
competent ISA, within the meaning of PCT Artical 16(3), for international
applications filed by U.S. residents or nationals in the USPTO or IB as a
Receiving Office, and where the application contains one or more claims
January 19, 2010
US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
1350 OG 201
directed to the field of business methods or mechanical inventions.
IP Australia may act as the International Preliminary Examining
Authority (IPEA) for an international application filed in the United
States Receiving Office or the International Bureau as Receiving Office
where at least one of the applicants is either a national or resident of
the United States of America, provided that IP Australia acted as the
International Searching Authority. However, IP Australia is not a competent
IPEA, within the meaning of PCT Article 32(3), for international
applications filed by U.S. residents or nationals in the USPTO or IB as a
Receiving Office where the corresponding demand is filed with IP Australia
and where the application contains one or more claims directed to the
fields of business methods or mechanical engineering or analogous fields of
technology as defined by specified areas of the International Patent
Classification System, as indicated in Annex A to the agreement between the
USPTO and IP Australia. See the notice appearing in the Official Gazette
at 1337 O.G. 261 on December 23, 2008.
For use of IP Australia as an International Searching Authority and
International Preliminary Examining Authority for international
applications filed in the United States Receiving Office, see the notice
appearing in the Official Gazette at 1337 O.G. 265 on December 23, 2008.
The search fee of IP Australia was increased, effective January 1, 2010,
and was announced in the Official Gazette at 1350 O.G. 72, on January 12,
2010.
Fees
The transmittal fee and search fees for the USPTO were changed,
effective January 12, 2009, and were announced in the Federal Register on
November 12, 2008. The fee for filing a request for the restoration of the
right of priority was established, effective November 9, 2007, and was
announced in the Federal Register on September 10, 2007.
International filing fees were increased, effective January 1, 2010, and
were announced in the Official Gazette at 1350 O.G. 72, on January 12, 2010.
The schedule of PCT fees (in U.S. dollars), as of October 1, 2009, is
as follows:
International Application (PCT Chapter I) fees:
Transmittal fee $240.00
Search fee
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as
International Searching Authority (ISA)
- Search fee $2,080.00
- Supplemental search fee, per additional
invention (payable only upon invitation) $2,080.00
European Patent Office as ISA $2,515.00
Korean Intellectual Property Office as ISA
- for international applications filed in English $1,092.00
IP Australia as ISA $1,397.00
International fees
International filing fee $1,300.00
International filing fee-filed in paper
with PCT EASY zip file or
electronically without PCT EASY zip file $1,202.00
January 19, 2010
US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
1350 OG 202
International filing fee-filed
electronically with PCT EASY zip files $1,105.00
Supplemental fee for each page over 30 $15.00
Restoration of Priority
Filing a request for the restoration of the
right of priority under § 1.452 $1,410.00
International Application (PCT Chapter II) fees associated
with filing a Demand for Preliminary Examination:
Handling fee $195.00
Handling fee-90% reduction, if applicants meet criteria
specified at:
http://www.wipo.int/pct/en/fees/fee_reduction.pdf $19.50
Preliminary Examination Fee
USPTO as International Preliminary
Examining Authority (IPEA)
- USPTO was ISA in PCT Chapter I $600.00
- USPTO was not ISA in PCT Chapter I $750.00
- Additional preliminary examination fee,
per additional invention
(payable only upon invitation) $600.00
U.S. National Stage fees (for international applications entering
the U.S. national phase under 35 U.S.C. 371) can be found on the USPTO's
Web site (www.uspto.gov).
December 16, 2009 DAVID J. KAPPOS
Under Secretary of Commerce for
Intellectual Property and Director of the
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Notice of Maintenance Fees Payable
Title 37 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Section 1.362(d) provides
that maintenance fees may be paid without surcharge for the six-month
period beginning 3, 7, and 11 years after the date of issue of patents
based on applications filed on or after Dec. 12, 1980. An additional
six-month grace period is provided by 35 U.S.C. 41(b) and 37 CFR 1.362(e)
for payment of the maintenance fee with the surcharge set forth in 37 CFR
1.20(h), as amended effective Dec. 16, 1991. If the maintenance fee is
not paid in the patent requiring such payment the patent will expire on
the 4th, 8th, or 12th anniversary of the grant.
Attention is drawn to the patents that were issued on January 9, 2007
for which maintenance fees due at 3 years and six months may now be paid.
The patents have patent numbers within the following ranges:
Utility Patents 7,159,246 through 7,162,745
Reissue Patents based on the above identified patents.
Attention is drawn to the patents that were issued on January 7, 2003
for which maintenance fees due at 7 years and six months may now be paid.
The patents have patent numbers within the following ranges:
Utility Patents 6,502,244 through 6,505,348
Reissue Patents based on the above identified patents.
Attention is drawn to the patents that were issued on January 5, 1999
for which maintenance fees due at 11 years and six months may now be paid.
The patents have patent numbers within the following ranges:
Utility Patents 5,855,021 through 5,857,214
Reissue Patents based on the above identified patents.
No maintenance fees are required for design or plant patents.
Payments of maintenance fees in patents may be submitted electronically
over the Internet at www.uspto.gov. Click on the "Site Index" link at the
top of the homepage (www.uspto.gov), and then scroll down and click on the
"Maintenance Fees" link for more information.
Payments of maintenance fees in patents not submitted electronically
over the Internet should be mailed to "United States Patent and Trademark
Office, P.O. Box 979070, St. Louis, MO 63197-9000".
Correspondence related to maintenance fees other than payments of
maintenance fees in patents is not to be mailed to P.O. Box 979070,
St. Louis, MO 63197-9000, but must be mailed to "Mail Stop M
Correspondence, Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, P.O.
Box 1450, Alexandria, VA 22313-1450".
Patent owners must establish small entity status according to 37 CFR
1.27 if they have not done so and if they wish to pay the small entity
amount.
The current amounts of the maintenance fees due at 3 years and six
months, 7 years and six months, and 11 years and six months are set forth
in the most recently amended provisions in 37 CFR 1.20(e)-(g). To obtain
the current maintenance fee amounts, please call the USPTO Contact Center
at (800)-786-9199 or see the current USPTO fee schedule posted on the USPTO
Internet web site. At the top of the USPTO homepage at www.uspto.gov, click
on the "Site Index" link and then scroll down and click on the "Fees,
USPTO" link to find the current USPTO fee schedule.
Service by Publication
A petition to cancel the registration identified below having been filed,
and the notice of such proceeding sent to registrant at the last known
address having been returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable, notice
is hereby given that unless the registrant listed herein, its assigns or
legal representatives, shall enter an appearance within thirty days of this
publication, the cancellation will proceed as in the case of default.
Sunset Tan Corporate & Consulting, LLC. Los Angeles, CA, Registration No.
3593880 for the mark "LA SUNSET TAN A HAMAN & BOZZ PRODUCTION", Cancellation
No. 92051785.
ROCHELLE L. RICKS
Paralegal
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, for
LYNNE G. BERESFORD
Commissioner for Trademarks
Service by Publication
A notice of opposition to the registration of the mark in the application
identified below having been filed, and the notice of such proceeding sent to
applicant at the last known Address having been returned by the Postal Service
as undeliverable, notice is hereby given that unless the applicant listed
herein, its assigns or legal representatives, shall enter an appearance
within thirty days of this publication, the opposition will proceed as in the
case of default.
Di Stasi Group, Inc., Miami, FL, Application Serial No. 78441807 for the mark
"ACQUA DIVA", Opposition No. 91190757.
AMY MATELSKI
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, for
LYNNE G. BERESFORD
Commissioner for Trademarks
Service by Publication
A petition to cancel the registration identified below having been filed,
and the notice of such proceeding sent to registrant at the last known
address having been returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable, notice
is hereby given that unless the registrant listed herein, its assigns or
legal representatives, shall enter an appearance within thirty days of this
publication, the cancellation will proceed as in the case of default.
BostonLimousine.com, Inc., Somerville, MA, Registration No. 2906809 for the
mark "1-BOSTONLIMO", Cancellation No. 92051695.
MILLICENT CANADY
Paralegal
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, for
LYNNE G. BERESFORD
Commissioner for Trademarks
Service by Publication
A petition to cancel the registration identified below having been filed,
and the notice of such proceeding sent to registrant at the last known
address having been returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable, notice
is hereby given that unless the registrant listed herein, its assigns or
legal representatives, shall enter an appearance within thirty days of this
January 19, 2010
US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
1350 OG 243
publication, the cancellation will proceed as in the case of default.
G.I. Tech Group LLC, Evansville, IN, Registration No. 1810869 for the mark
"JOYRIDE", Cancellation No. 92051745.
CLARA VELA
Paralegal Specialist
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, for
LYNNE G. BERESFORD
Commissioner for Trademarks
Service by Publication
A petition to cancel the registration identified below having been filed,
and the notice of such proceeding sent to registrant at the last known
address having been returned by the Postal Service as undeliverable, notice
is hereby given that unless the registrant listed herein, its assigns or
legal representatives, shall enter an appearance within thirty days of this
publication, the cancellation will proceed as in the case of default.
Benny Barton, Plano, Texas, Registration Nos. 3458800, 3528159, and 3519131
for the marks "NOODLENET", "NOODLENET", & "NOODLENET LEARN * PLAY * EXPLORE
SAFELY", Cancellation No. 92051746.
KARL KOCHERSPERGER
Paralegal
Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, for
LYNNE G. BERESFORD
Commissioner for Trademarks
37 CFR 1.47 Notice of Publication
Notice is hereby given of the filing of an application with a petition
under 37 CFR 1.47 requesting acceptance of the application without the
signature of all the inventors. The petition has been granted. A notice has
been sent to the last known address of the non-signing inventor. The inventor
whose signature is missing (Urs SCHERRER) may join in the application by
promptly filing an appropriate oath or declaration complying with 37 CFR 1.63.
The international application number is PCT/EP2005/013777 and was filed 21
December 2005 in the names of Urs SCHERRER and Anna SPARATORE for the invention
entitled COMPOUNDS FOR TREATING METABOLIC SYNDROME. The national stage number
is 11/722,406 and has a 35 U.S.C. 371(c) date of 04 September 2008.
37 CFR 1.47 Notice of Publication
Notice is hereby given of the filing of an application with a petition
under 37 CFR 1.47 requesting acceptance of the application without the
signature of all the inventors. The petition has been granted. A notice has
been sent to the last known address of the non-signing inventor. The
inventors whose signatures are missing (Viktor F. Dekhtiaruk and Volodymyr V.
Krasnoholovets) may join in the application by promptly filing an appropriate
oath or declaration complying with 37 CFR 1.63. The international application
number is PCT/GB2007/001957 and was filed 25 May 2007 in the names of Viktor
F. Dekhtiaruk, James Heighway and Volodymyr V. Krasnoholovets for the
invention entitled MANUFACTURE OF BIODIESEL. The national stage number is
12/227,707 and has a 35 U.S.C. 371(c) date of 23 April 2009.
Closing of the Patent and Trademark Office on Monday, December 21, 2009
Closing of the United States Patent and Trademark Office on
Monday, December 21, 2009
In view of the official closing of the Federal Government offices in the
Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, including the United States Patent and
Trademark Office (USPTO), on Monday, December 21, 2009, the USPTO will
consider Monday, December 21, 2009, to be a "Federal holiday within the
District of Columbia" under 35 U.S.C. § 21(b) and 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6, 1.7, 1.9,
2.2(d), 2.195 and 2.196. Any action or fee due on Monday, December 21, 2009
(or the preceding Saturday (December 19, 2009) or Sunday (December 20, 2009))
will be considered as timely for the purposes of, e.g., 15 U.S.C. §§ 1051(b),
1058, 1059, 1062(b), 1063, 1064, 1126(d), or 35 U.S.C. §§ 119, 120, 133 and
151, if the action is taken, or the fee paid, on the next succeeding business
day on which the USPTO is open, that is, Tuesday, December 22, 2009. 37
C.F.R. §§ 1.7(a) and 2.196.
37 C.F.R. §§ 1.6(a)(2), 2.195(a)(4) and 2.198 provide that correspondence
deposited in the Express Mail Service of the United States Postal Service
(USPS) in accordance with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.10 or 2.198 will be considered filed
on the date of deposit (as shown by the "date-in" on the Express Mail mailing
label) with the USPS. Thus, any paper or fee properly deposited in the
Express Mail Service of the USPS on Monday, December 21, 2009, in accordance
with 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.10 or 2.198 will be considered filed on its respective
date of deposit in the Express Mail Service of the USPS (as shown by a "date-
in" of December 21, 2009, on the Express Mail mailing label).
37 C.F.R. § 1.6(a)(4) and 37 C.F.R. § 2.195(a)(2) provide that patent and
trademark-related correspondence transmitted electronically to the USPTO will
be considered filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the electronic
transmission. Thus, any patent and/or trademark-related correspondence
transmitted electronically to the USPTO on Monday, December 21, 2009, will be
considered filed in the USPTO on the date the USPTO received the complete
electronic transmission. Correspondence successfully received by the USPTO
through the patent Electronic Filing System (EFS-Web) will receive the date
as indicated on the Acknowledgement Receipt.
December 22, 2009 DAVID J. KAPPOS
Under Secretary of Commerce for
Intellectual Property and Director of the
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Errata
"All reference to Patent No.D 606,589 to Volkmar Rommel of Schwaebisch-
Gmuend, Germany for WRITING INSTRUMENT appearing in the Official Gazette of
December 22, 2009 should be deleted since no patent was granted."
"All reference to Patent No. 7,635,001 to Julian N. Nikolchev, et al of
Portola Valley, CA for CONTRACEPTIVE TRANSCERVICAL FALLOPIAN TUBE OCCUKUSION
DEVICES AND METHODS appearing in the Official Gazette of December 22, 2009
should be deleted since no patent was granted."
"All reference to Patent No. 7,635,175 to Keji Matsumoto, et al of
Matsumoto-shi, Japan for LIQUID EJECTION APPARATUS appearing in the Official
Gazette of December 22, 2009 should be deleted since no patent was granted."
"All reference to Patent No. 7,635,823 to Tetsuya Ide, et al of Yokohama-
shi, Japan for PLASMA PROCESSING APPARATUS WITH DIELECTRIC PLATES AND FIXING
MEMBER WAVELENGTH DEPENDENT SPACING appearing in the Official Gazette of
December 22, 2009 should be deleted since no patent was granted."
"All reference to Patent No. 7,636,270 to Ibrahim Hur, et al of Austin, TX
for MEMORY CONTROLLER WITH PROGRAMMABLE REGRESSION MODEL FOR POWER CONTROL
appearing in the Official Gazette of December 22, 2009 should be deleted
since no patent was granted."
"All reference to Patent No. 7,636,491 to Noriaki Kitada, et al of
Tokorozawa-shi, Japan for INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS AND DECODING METHOD
appearing in the Official Gazette of December 22, 2009 should be deleted since
no patent was granted."
"All reference to Patent No. 7,636,729 to Daniel C. Battagin, et al of
Redmond, WA for METHOD, SYSTEM, AND APPARATUS FOR EXPOSING WORKBOOKS AS DATA
SOURCES appearing in the Official Gazette of December 22, 2009 should be
deleted since patent was granted."
"All reference to Patent No. 7,636,850 to Scott A. Moskowitz of Sunny
Isles Beach, FL for OPTIMIZATION METHODS FOR THE INSERTION, PROTECTION, AND
DETECTION OF DIGITAL WATERMARKS IN DIGITAL DATA appearing in the Official
Gazette of December 22, 2009 should be deleted since no patent was granted."
Summary of Final Decisions Issued by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board
SUMMARY OF FINAL DECISIONS ISSUED BY THE TRADEMARK TRIAL AND APPEAL BOARDDecember 14-December 18, 2009
Date Issued
Type of Case(1)
Proceeding or Appn. No.
Party or Parties
Issue
TTAB Decision
Opposer's or Petitioner's Mark and Goods or Services
Applicant's or Respondent's Mark and Goods or Services
Mark and Goods Cited by Examining Attorney
Issued as Precedent of TTAB
12-15
EX
77361961
Cornerstone Advocacy Service
2(d)
Refusal Affirmed
"KNOW ABUSE" [non-profit educational services and curriculum, namely classes, workshops and individual instruction in the field of violence prevention and distribution of course materials in connection therewith]
"GREEN THUNDER" [floor and carpet care products, namely, cleaners for household use on floors and carpets, and not including use on vehicle engines]
"RED THUNDER" [biodegradable cleaner and degreaser for use on engines and interior and exterior surfaces of vehicles] and "BLUE THUNDER" [all-purpose degreasing cleaning preparations, not for use in or on vehicles or vehicle engines]
Mailing and Hand Carry Addresses for Mail to the United States Patent and Trademark Office
MAILING AND HAND CARRY ADDRESSES FOR
MAIL TO THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
MAIL TO BE DIRECTED TO THE COMMISSIONER FOR PATENTS
For most correspondence (e.g., new patent applications) no mail stop
is required because the processing of the correspondence is routine.
If NO mail stop is included on the list below, no mail stop is required
for the correspondence. See the listing under "Special Mail Stops
Applicable To Both Patent And Trademark Mail" for additional mail stops
for patent-related correspondence. Only the specified type of document
should be placed in an envelope addressed to one of these special mail
stops. If any documents other than the specified type identified for each
special mail stop are addressed to that mail stop, they will be
significantly delayed in reaching the appropriate area for which they are
intended. The mail stop should generally appear as the first line in
the address.
Some correspondence may be submitted electronically. See the Office's
Internet Web site http://www.uspto.gov for additional information.
Please address mail to be delivered by the United States Postal Service
(USPS) as follows:
Mail Stop _____
Commissioner for Patents
P.O. Box 1450
Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
If no Mail Stop is indicated below, the line beginning Mail Stop should
be omitted from the address.
Except correspondence for Maintenance Fee payments, Deposit Account
Replenishments (see 37 CFR 1.25(c)(4)), and Licensing and Review (see 37 CFR
5.1(c) and 5.2(c)), please address correspondence to be delivered by other
delivery services (Federal Express (Fed Ex), UPS, DHL, Laser, Action,
Purolator, etc.) as follows:
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Customer Service Window, Mail Stop _____
Randolph Building
401 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Mail Stop
Designations Explanation
Mail Stop 12 Contributions to the Examiner Education Program.
Mail Stop 313(c) Petitions under 37 CFR 1.313(c) to withdraw a
patent application from issue after payment of
the issue fee and any papers associated with the
petition, including papers necessary for a
continuing application or a request for
continued examination (RCE).
Mail Stop AF Amendments and other responses after final
rejection (e.g., a notice of appeal (and any
request for pre-appeal brief conference)),
other than an appeal brief.
Mail Stop Amendment Information disclosure statements, drawings, and
replies to Office actions in patent applications
with or without an amendment to the application or
a terminal disclaimer. (Use Mail Stop AF for
replies after final rejection.)
Mail Stop Appeal For appeal briefs or other briefs under
Brief-Patents part 41 of title 37 of the Code of Federal
Regulations (e.g., former 37 CFR 1.192).
Mail Stop Public comments regarding patent related
Comments-Patent regulations and procedures.
Mail Stop Conversion Requests under 37 CFR 1.53(c)(2) to convert a
nonprovisional application to a provisional
application and requests under 37 CFR 1.53(c)(3)
to convert a provisional application to a
nonprovisional application.
Mail Stop EBC Mail for the Electronic Business Center including:
Certificate Action Forms, Request for Customer
Numbers, and Requests for Customer Number Data
Change (USPTO Forms PTO-2042, PTO/SB/124A and 125A,
respectively) and Customer Number Upload
Spreadsheets and Cover Letters.
Mail Stop Expedited Only to be used for the initial filing of
Design design applications accompanied by a
request for expedited examination under
37 CFR 1.155.
Mail Stop Express Requests for abandonment of a patent
Abandonment application pursuant to 37 CFR 1.138,
including any petitions under 37 CFR
1.138(c) to expressly abandon an
application to avoid publication of the
application.
Mail Stop Applications under 35 U.S.C. 156 for patent term
Hatch-Waxman PTE extension based on regulatory review of a product
subject to pre-market review by a regulating
agency. This mail stop is also to be used for
additional correspondence regarding the
application for patent term extension under
35 U.S.C. 156. It is preferred that such initial
requests be hand-carried to:
Office of Patent Legal Administration
Room MDW 7D55
600 Dulany Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
Mail Stop ILS Correspondence relating to international patent
classification, exchanges and standards.
Mail Stop Issue Fee All communications following the receipt of a
PTOL-85, "Notice of Allowance and Fee(s)
Due," and prior to the issuance of a patent
should be addressed to Mail Stop Issue Fee,
unless advised to the contrary.
Assignments are the exception. Assignments
(with cover sheets) should be faxed to
571-273-0140, electronically submitted
(http://epas.uspto.gov), or submitted in a
separate envelope and sent to Mail Stop
Assignment Recordation Services,
Director - U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
as shown below.
Mail Stop L&R All documents pertaining to applications subject
to secrecy order pursuant to 35 U.S.C. 181, or
national-security classified and required to be
processed accordingly. Such papers, petitions for
foreign filing license pursuant to 37 CFR 5.12(b)
for which expedited handling is requested, and
petitions for retroactive license under 37 CFR
5.25 may also be hand carried to Licensing and
Review:
Technology Center 3600, Office of the Director
Room 4B41
501 Dulany Street (Knox Building)
Alexandria, VA 22314
Mail Stop Missing Requests for a corrected filing receipt and
Parts replies to OPAP notices such as the Notice
of Omitted Items, Notice to File Corrected
Application Papers, Notice of Incomplete
Application, Notice to Comply with Nucleotide
Sequence Requirements, and Notice to File Missing
Parts of Application, and associated papers and
fees.
Mail Stop MPEP Submissions concerning the Manual of Patent
Examining Procedure.
Mail Stop Patent Ext. Applications for patent term extension or
adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154 and any
communications relating thereto. This mail stop
is limited to petitions for patent term extension
under 35 U.S.C. 154 for applications filed
between June 8, 1995 and May 29, 2000, and patent
term adjustment (PTA) under 35 U.S.C. 154 for
applications filed on or after May 29, 2000.
For applications for patent term extension under
35 U.S.C. 156, use Mail Stop Hatch-Waxman PTE.
For applications for patent term extension or
adjustment under 35 U.S.C. 154 that are mailed
together with the payment of the issue fee, use
Mail Stop Issue Fee.
Mail Stop PCT Mail related to international applications filed
under the Patent Cooperation Treaty in the
international phase and in the national phase
under 35 U.S.C. 371 prior to mailing of a
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German Chancellor Angela Merkel has issued a curt rebuke of Donald Trump and his assertion that Germany is a “captive” of Russia, telling journalists in Brussels that Berlin is a sovereign nation that makes its own decisions.
Read more
Having just arrived in Brussels for the start of a two-day NATO summit, Merkel found herself swamped by media pressing her for a response to provocative comments made hours earlier by the US president regarding Berlin’s alleged dependence on Russian energy.
“I have experienced myself how a part of Germany was controlled by the Soviet Union,” Merkel told reporters upon her arrival at the NATO summit on Wednesday. “I am very happy that today we are united in freedom, the Federal Republic of Germany. Because of that we can say that we can make our independent policies and make independent decisions. That is very good, especially for people in eastern Germany.”
She also pushed back against allegations that Germany was not contributing enough towards NATO’s budget.
“Germany does a lot for NATO,” she said. “Germany is the second largest provider of troops, the largest part of our military capacity is offered to NATO and until today we have a strong engagement towards Afghanistan. In that we also defend the interests of the United States.”
With cameras rolling, Trump lashed out at Germany during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, accusing the Germans of paying “billions of dollars” to Russia for energy deals while still requiring the US military to “defend them against Russia.”
Trump’s markedly critical tone sets the stage for what is expected to be a highly-contentious summit between deeply divided allies.
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Your Entertainment Destination
Ke$ha Settles Legal Battle With Her Former Managers
December 6th, 2012 9:51am EST
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Ke$ha has struck a deal to end a long-running legal stand-off with her former managers.
In 2010, the TiK ToK hit-maker was hit with a $14 million lawsuit from her former representatives at DAS Communications, who claimed the singer owed them commission for unlawfully terminating her contract before she signed a major music deal.
Ke$ha stepped up the legal battle by filing a counter-suit, accusing talent agency bosses of booking concerts for her without completing the proper paperwork.
However, it has now emerged the two sides have reached an agreement to end the legal action.
The terms of the settlement were not disclosed, but a statement obtained by the New York Post reveals the resolution was "agreeable to all concerned."
Photo Credits: PR Photos
, American Broadcasting Companies, Inc
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Wine Tasting at The Pub
Wine Tastings
Love Wine? Learn more about it! This is a great oppurtunity to familiarize yourself with new and different wines. Come and learn more about varietals, vineyards and wine makers. Entering the world of wine can a times be a bit daunting, let us assist in your wine education.
Wine tastings are conducted several times during the semester. Tickets are sold in the Pub during Pub hours. The tickets are sold in advance, but because the seating is limited, they do go fast! The wines sampled are carefully selected for each tasting-which are normally organized around a central theme. Ticket holders will sample several different choices at each tasting. Hors d'oeuvres are also served. Attendees are encouraged to participate in our fun quizzes, which are conducted at the end of each tasting (and you win prizes too!)
Fall Tastings: TBA
Wines that have been sampled in the past hail from South Africa, Australia, Chile, the United States, Italy, New Zealand, and France. Check out the links below to get a glimpse of where a Pub tasting can take you:
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Those peoples look live naked slavs) I'd never hang such clock on the wall it my home. Maybe it's deeply conceptual, but I find it stupid. There are so many different interesting clock designs, and this one is just ridiculous.
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Real Facebook Likes
Hey guys, I was wondering if anyone out there has or knows of a service where I can get some real Canadian Facebook likes.
You see these all over the place, some are legit, some aren't but I haven't found ANY that legit and targeting Canada. Interests/Age isn't an issue at this point, I just need retainable Canadian likes. If anyone can help me with this or point me in the right direction it would be greatly appreciated
Interesting, thanks for the suggestions guys I had no idea about getting really cheap targeted likes from Facebook ads, always thought those were just worldwide so I never really looked into it. Cheers,
Note that adblockers might block our captcha, and other functionality on BHW so if you don't see the captcha or see reduced functionality please disable adblockers to ensure full functionality, note we only allow relevant management verified ads on BHW.
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nudity reviews for Along for the Ride
member submitted
This movie is a heartfelt romance, but it has a bare body. The scene is as follows: Patrick Swayze is stopping to get a room for him and Melanie Griffith. He is in the process of paying when the owner of the motel asks if melanie is with him. He says "Yes what is a matter." The owner says that she is buck naked swimming in the pool. He (Patrick) asks for a towel to put over her. You get a distant shot of Melanie on the diving board and than a bit closer shot showing her fabulous breasts and her crotch. The crotch hair is cut into a little strip. This is definently her because you see her face and there is no body suit because I see her butt crack apart for a brief second. She is still hot.
Although the scene includes full frontal nudity I'm not sure that it is really Melanie as you can't see her face clearly. The character stands on a diving board naked and we get to see her from the other side of the pool, even when she pulls her hair away from her face, her face is not clear. Later when talking to Patrick by the side of the pool she pulls away and it looks like she is wearing something over her breasts, suggesting that she was not willing to do any nudty in this film. Also, Melanie is wearing earrings that sparkle frequently which appear to be missing when the character is on the diving board. Even so, it is still a very good scene. If I was sure that it was Melanie I would definitely give this 4 stars.
As described by the others she was on the diving board totally naked. But it was too far to be appreciated. You can't quite make out her face too well. Her breasts look good but her hips seems rounder (flab?) nevertheless she looked very good. If that is her. Moving the camera closer by about 10 feet or using a telephoto lens would have been great. The film was also called "Forever Lulu".
What a treat !
Mélanie is seen fully naked in this scene ! Ok the shot is from a distance but we definitely get to see her wonderful breasts and her pubic area... Melanie is still very hot and she's trimmed her pubic hair in a very sexy way... She only has a narrow and thin strip of it left... How sensuous ! I have always found her quite attractive so I'm delighted to see that she is still so appealing at 40 something...
It's Melanie alright, but it's sad to see that her once-terrific figure has frankly become bloated. Even at a distance, you can't hide it.Everyone should know how to quit when they're
ahead. Leave us with memories of the glorious days,Melanie
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Groups joined together to stage event
MANY thanks to the Observer for your coverage of the EcoFabulous event.
It was indeed a fantastic day, with visitor numbers exceeding our expectations. This was all due to the very hard work of the organising group.
While it was reported that I was the organiser, I was in fact part of a group that included the Bridge Community Centre (Tanya Vice and Julie Sutton), Hastings Borough Council (Chantal Lass, Jan Papworth), In2Play (Clare Moutrie) and the Sussex Coast College (Mark Jackson, Joshua Brister).
Jodie Cornford and the Community Enablers from the Hastings Trust also played a key role.
We were all magnificently supported by a team of very conscientious volunteers, two in particular should be mentioned. Kate, a Future Jobs Fund worker at the Bridge, organised and set up the Music programme as well as helping with the overall organisation, and Anthony, a L-earn project employee of the Hastings Trust, helped with the organising and preparation of the site and worked tirelessly the whole day to ensure the safety and welfare of all involved.
The fantastic spirit of these two young people shows just how much initiatives like the Future Jobs Fund and L-earn project provide the opportunity for the true talents of our local population to shine.
The adventure playground provided a great venue and the In2Play team who run the playground were very pleased with the day and hope to see children and their parents returning to use the playground throughout the year.
So well done everyone involved this year, next year Pathway to Construction will be back in Alexandra Park and will include the EcoFab focus, we hope to see you all there.
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Bernanke says U.S. economy far from running at full strength
Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke said Friday the U.S. economy is far from operating at full strength and reiterated his commitment to record easing."With unemployment at almost 8 percent, we are still far from the fully healthy and vibrant conditions that we would like to see," Bernanke said at a meeting in Moscow of his counterparts from the Group of 20. "The United States is using domestic policy tools to advance domestic objectives."The U.S. central bank has faced criticism from some foreign officials, including Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega, who in October said that its accommodation has weakened the dollar, threatening to fuel a "currency war" of competitive devaluations. The Fed under Bernanke has expanded assets to a record exceeding $3 trillion and pushed down the benchmark interest rate close to zero."We believe that by strengthening the U.S. economy we are helping to strengthen the global economy as well," Bernanke said.The Fed last month affirmed a plan to buy $85 billion per month in bonds, seeking to foster growth and reduce a 7.9 percent jobless rate. "The Federal Reserve continues to provide accommodative monetary policy in our effort to foster maximum employment and price stability," Bernanke said.Since it last cut the main interest rate in December 2008, the Fed has engaged in three rounds of large-scale asset purchases and offered more guidance on its intention to spur growth. Vice Chairman Janet Yellen in October defended the Fed's policies in Tokyo, saying that emerging nations have the tools to manage excess capital flows.Swiss National Bank President Thomas Jordan, who caps the Swiss Franc against the euro, said in Geneva this week he doesn't see a currency war brewing as "central banks' monetary policies are internal programs."Bernanke said financial regulation will be "one of the most important topics" of the meeting, reiterating the U.S.'s commitment to implement new banking standards known as Basel III."Because we live in a globalized financial system where transactions can take place in any jurisdiction and money flows easily across borders, it is critical that we have consistent financial regimes across all members of G-20," he said. "We will work with our partners to establish consistent policies on matters such as derivatives reform and the resolution of systemically important financial institutions."bc-bernanke
CALENDAR
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Holiday Park Show is the trade event entirely dedicated to Britain’s holiday park industry. Whether you have an existing business or want to use your land to offer camping and caravanning, you will find new and exciting ways to put your park on the map. From camping to glamping and caravanning to luxury homes away from home, you will find the seminars, workshops and suppliers you need to make your business a success. Put your holiday park on the map by attending the Holiday Park Innovation Show.
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Supporters
connect2grid
Utility, Commercial and Residential energy developments.
For the Utilities market we are pursuing large scale energy storage batteries to assist in grid balancing for the national grid network. These systems require 1-2 acres of land which we require a long term lease. This is a great opportunity for landowners to secure a long term secure income within the energy market. For landowners who have suitable natural gas services on or close to their property we can also discuss a gas generator peaking plant to produce power to the nation grid on request. These systems typically run for 350 hours per year and have a low profile design. All our developments come at no cost to the landowner, We will even cover all your legal fees and discuss the development schedule to work around your annual timetable.
Our commercial team are looking for all properties with a large energy demand to reduce the cost of energy. We have currently designed systems from 50kW - 2.5MW across a wide range of development types (Solar, Wind, Biomass, Gas CHP, Batteries, Air source, Ground source.....) We have worked on projects with Leisure centres, Dairy farmers, Poultry Houses, Cold Storage Warehouse, Office Power and Heating, Pig Farming, Food Packaging Plant .....) Our design team will analyse the annual energy consumption details and energy trends to build a bespoke solution that returns the best savings for the property.
If capital is not available to purchase a commercial system then we will Supply, Install and Maintain the energy plant free of charge and agree terms on a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) typically our PPA rates are 20 - 30 % less than the existing energy rate being paid by the property so you will be saving money every year. As energy prices are rising this is a great way to secure a long term low energy price. For FREE!!
Residential energy is where we started many years ago. Although there are no large subsidies for roof mounted Solar any more we can still offer an affordable installation and in some cases source funding for these installations. However, if you are interested in becoming a more responsible energy consumer then we can assist you in getting carbon neutral. We deploy Solar, Batteries, Thermodynamic heating, Ground source heating...
If you would like to discuss any aspect of the energy market, want more information on how to either save money on you energy consumption or gain a larger income for a small area of land for a Utility development then give us a call.
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We noticed that you're using an unsupported browser. The TripAdvisor website may not display properly.We support the following browsers:Windows: Internet Explorer, Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome. Mac: Safari.
Quite good food but prices are too high. The restaurant sells very good ice-cream, you can buy some souvenirs. There is close to ferry terminal. Rooms in hotel are clean and good-equipped, but also too expensive.
I have been here many times. My Mother used to live on the island and we would go to visit her many times and Mamie Forbes the owner of the Boardwalk is a wonderful person. She has now left the business and my Mother has...More
Well. . . .I read the previous 10 reviews. We just returned for a few days on the island. As a spur of the moment trip we found no hotels/motels/inns available OR less than $200-$300 per night. We were quite surprised at the prices. So...More
2 Thank Janette H
Response from Amee F, General Manager at Boardwalk on the WaterResponded 23 August 2015
This property has been purchased by a lovely family who is working lovingly to repair and remodel the cottages to the utmost comfort and cleanliness. They are amazing waterfront homes that yes you can sit all evening and watch wildlife and ferries and yachts float...More
I regret using a booking that charged our credit card at the time the booking was made because there is no backing out. The (New?) owner was working on the property when we arrived from the ferry and told us to show up later. When...More
This is a little mom and pop establishment. The hosts are as sweet as can be. The cottage was quaint and a little out dated but for the price and the view with the location it is well worth it. We woke to the amazing...More
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Friday, August 18, 2017
How I Magically Messed Up My Life In 4 Freakin Days by Megan O'Russell
The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 1
Published August 15, 2017 by Curiosity Quills Press
Reviewed by Jenn
4 Magcial Stars
Synopsis:
Ever wanted to grow a five-story tall flower in central park? How about fight a deadly battle under the subway tunnels of Manhattan?
Don't worry. I never wanted to either. But if you're ever being chased by ladies made of mist and you have to save the girl with the sparkly eyes you've never had the guts to say actual words to, there's an app for that.
I found a magic cell phone, opened an app I shouldn't have, burned down the set shop for my high school's theatre, and it was all downhill from there. A drag queen seer who lives under a bridge is my only hope for keeping my mom alive, and I think the cops might be after me for destroying my dad's penthouse.
But it gets better! Now I'm stuck being the sidekick to the guy who got me into this mess in the first place. It'll be a miracle if I survive until Monday. (Goodreads)
Cabs in New York are a luxury, so when a pale drunk guy stumbles out just as you are hailing one, you don't take the chance of someone snagging it while you return his cell phone to him. But, unlocking the phone and checking it out, not a good plan. And don't play with apps you don't understand either. Bryant learns this the hard way.
This was a cute romp through the Big Apple...lots of action...and a love story to boot. I really enjoyed this book. I am glad I took a chance on it!
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jaw surgery
Thursday, March 3, 2011
WATERPIK
I have to admit, everyone who has braces, gets stuff stuck in their teeth all the time, has permanent retainers, or just likes a clean mouth needs to get a waterpik! I will endorse this product over and over because I love it! I am not so excited to use it because it leaves my teeth feeling super clean. I still have my wisdom teeth and I find it so impossible to reach them well brushing, let alone floss them, they are a pain!!. I'm always getting stuff stuck back there, thank goodness the waterpik gets everything out!
I got it with attachments including one to clean braces which will be very useful in the near future.
The only thing, the first time was so hard, I couldn't get my brain to remember that water sprays out of it so you shouldn't remove it from your mouth without holding the pause button down. My bad! I got water all over myself, my mirror, and everything else in the washroom. I bought it in Canada and it was around $67 which sounded pretty cheap to me, there are probably places that have it for cheaper online, and its probably cheaper in the USA.
1 comment:
I absolutely LOVE my Waterpik. I could never floss, I sucked at it. At first it was really hard for me to even use the Waterpik at level 1, but now I can use it on the highest level and not have pain :) It really works well too, I was told that it's not as good as flossing but I can't see why it isn't, I'd say it's more effective.
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Blood plasma freezer / box Lmb Technologie GmbH
Lmb Technologie GmbH
Compression unit with separate cold transmission from the lid and the base Plate - water or air cooled (water pressure: 3 bar) Horizontal freezing process with stainless steel plates Night storage control (-40 C) Temperature Display - For both of the cold plates - For the dummy bags Variable to accommodate different bag size and forms Connection for dummy bag sensor Rollable, ready-to-plug Serial interface Storing and archiving of all automatically displayed temperatures according to -Data, time, user -Entire freezing process
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Government
6:28 am
Wed June 4, 2014
Kentucky City Sues State Pension System Over Risky Investments
A Kentucky city is suing the state's public pension system over its investment of county employees' retirement money into "risky" hedge funds.
An attorney for Ft. Wright, a northern Kentucky city of 5,700, filed a class-action lawsuit Monday alleging that Kentucky Retirement Systems improperly used money from one of its subsidiary funds to make investments that were illegal under state law.
The civil suit, filed in Kenton Circuit Court, alleges that KRS put an "unreasonably large percentage" of money from a subsidiary fund -- County Employment Retirement System (CERS) -- in "high risk investments which are not appropriate investments for fiduciaries under the common law of Kentucky."
KRS has come under increasing scrutiny over the last couple of years due to poor performance, investments in risky hedge funds and, more recently, the handsome fees those hedge funds reaped from its contracts with the state's beleaguered $15 billion pension system. KRS was recently named among the worst-funded pension system in the nation, at under 24 percent funding.
The lawsuit seeks a court order of damages in total of at least $50 million, which Ft. Wright argues was spent on "management fees" charged by hedge funds and private equity groups per KRS' investment strategy. The lawsuit also seeks to establish a separate investment portfolio for the subsidiary fund, CERS. This would effectively divorce it from the current system whereby CERS' assets are "co-mingled" with KRS.
The city's lead attorney on the case, Ronald Parry, says that in doing so, CERS funds and the local government employees who pay into it wouldn't be financially tethered to the bad investments made by KRS.
"What we would like to achieve by this lawsuit is that they have to be invested in separate portfolios," Parry said.
Parry said that the basis of the lawsuit boils down to a matter of law. Assets held by the CERS cannot be legally invested into hedge funds because KRS is prohibited from doing so under state statute. Specifically, Parry said the law -- KRS 386.020 -- provides a list of "authorized investments for trust funds," and hedge funds aren't included on that list.
The lawsuit would affect about 500 CERS member entities across the state. If successful, the suit could set a precedent for other city and county groups seeking to divorce themselves from KRS.
On Friday, a federal judge in Louisville ruled quasi-governmental agencies that participated in KRS' non-hazardous pension plans are private entities, and can flee the ailing system to escape rising pension costs.
Some parts of the state are already trending in that direction. Republican Louisville Metro Councilman and 33rd House District candidate Jerry Miller sponsored a resolution which advocates that metro government employees under CERS be emancipated from KRS. The resolution recently passed the Council.
That under-funding scenario was created in large part by the Kentucky General Assembly and the governor, whom have funded the KRS at lower-than-recommended rates for the better part of the last two decades.
The under-funding of pensions by lawmakers also prompted legal maneuverings by a group of Jefferson County public school teachers, who are pursuing a lawsuit of their own against the unrelated Kentucky Teachers Retirement System over billions in unfunded pension money.
Todd McMurtry, a city attorney for Ft. Wright, said the city wants out of KRS for two reasons.
"The city believes that it will be able to limit its exposure to the Kentucky Employee Retirement System, and also hopefully stem the ... annual increases that occur in paying for the retirement system overall."
"By co-mingling [the funds], we're paying these huge costs to hedge funds that we shouldn't be paying, and we're being exposed to higher risk that we don't need to take on," he said.
McMurtry also said that it's unfair that city and county governments, whom have to pay higher contributions into the CERS, pinch their pennies when the KRS does not.
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TORRINGTON — A state police lieutenant who fatally shot a knife-wielding man with Alzheimer's on Route 8 in July was justified in using deadly force, the Litchfield state's attorney has found.
Lt. Clayton Brown "reasonably and justifiably believed" that he and stopped motorists were in imminent danger, David Shepack stated in an 8-page report released Monday.
The 78-year-old man who died, Frank Escribano, repeatedly advanced on the state trooper while brandishing a knife "in a threatening and proficient manner," the report concludes.
He earlier had pulled a knife on his sister and told her he was going outside to "make the cops shoot him," it states.
Brown, who did not have a Taser, retreated several times — four of them by backing up his patrol car. In all, he traveled nearly 255 feet in an attempt to get away from Escribano, the report states. When the man came within 10 feet of the trooper, Brown shot him once in the chest.
An autopsy showed that Escribano had Alzheimer's disease and cerebral arteriosclerosis.
According to the report, Brown, the commanding officer at the Troop B barracks in North Canaan, was driving a patrol car north near exit 43 about 9 a.m. July 12 when he saw an "elderly man walking along the highway shoulder."
Brown, beeped his horn in an attempt to get the man's attention, it states. The man, later identified as Escribano, ignored the horn and continued to walk north, Brown told investigators.
Brown, who was in uniform, parked the police car, got out and walked to within 12 to 14 feet of the man, he told police. He called out to Escribano, who "turned around quickly, crouched down, and reached into his right side waistband area with both hands," the report states. Brown drew his gun.
Escribano pulled out a large knife — its blade was almost six inches long — and would not comply with Brown's command to drop it. It was the first of a half-dozen times Escribano would ignore his orders, the report states.
Escribano quickly flipped the knife in the air and caught it, handling it in what Brown said was "an extremely proficient manner." He then thrust the knife in a stabbing motion, after which Brown got into the police car and backed up, according to the report. Escribano continued to advance.
The trooper again got out and ordered him to drop the knife, but Escribano "rapidly charged at Lt. Brown, reaching the left front area of the cruiser," the report states. Brown got back in the car and backed up a second time.
He backed up two more times, once blocking the entrance ramp and then travel lanes of Route 8, the report states. In addition to getting away from Escribano, he wanted to block traffic, he told investigators.
Brown got out of the police car, his gun drawn, and for the fifth time yelled for Escribano to drop the knife. Escribano refused, walked to front passenger side of the car and then started coming around the front of the cruiser, Brown said.
Brown continued to yell as loudly as he could for him to drop the knife, he told investigators, but Escribano only turned to face him. Brown told investigators he had nowhere to go; he moved to the left front fender.
Escribano began flipping the knife in a rapid motion, catching it with his right hand while staring at Brown, the lieutenant told investigators. Brown fired once.
"After the shot, the officer appeared very shaken up," one witness told police. The man was one of seven motorists who saw at least part of the encounter. The witnesses confirmed that Brown had tried to avoid using deadly force by retreating.
"I don't know what else the trooper could have done," another witness said.
Escribano's nephew, a retired Watertown police officer, told investigators that his uncle was "always looking to stir things up with family members to get a reaction," the report states.
He also said, "I feel bad for the State Trooper, because I know that Frank must have pushed him to shoot him, that is something Frank would have done for a reaction."
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How bad is alcohol for your gains? In our newest article, Menno Henselmans and I discuss the effects of alcohol on [...]
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Estimating your Glute recovery time: a calculator I've been getting a lot of questions about workout schedules, and especially how often to train the Glutes. Well here's my answer: when they're recovered.
Multiple factors affect recovery time.
As you can read in my article on optimal training frequency for ...63 comments
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Guy Pulls Out Gun To Distract Beer Pong Opponents, Oops Shoots Two People
Saturday was a day meant for getting belligerently drunk in the name of freedom. It was not a day meant for getting shot. However, one Fourth of July party turned sour when a guy shot two people by accident. How does this happen? It all started with a friendly game of beer pong. One man, Manus Shannon, whipped out a gun to try to distract his opponent. Wrong move, because the gun went off. He shot two people.
Manus Shannon, 27, was playing beer pong at a Fourth of July party in Roseland about 9:20 p.m. Saturday when he pulled out a 9mm semiautomatic gun, according to police and prosecutors.
Shannon began waving the gun in his opponent’s face to distract the 24-year-old South Chicago man during his turn, Assistant State’s Attorney Erin Antonietti said during a bond hearing Monday.
The opponent pushed Shannon away, and as he did, the gun went off — striking the opponent in his finger and a 20-year-old Roseland man in his shoulder, prosecutors said. According to Antonietti, the 20-year-old was sitting nearby texting at the time and not involved with the game.
Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt from this idiot’s idea to pull out his gun. Both men hopped in their car and drove to the hospital where their conditions were stable. Police arrested Shannon later that evening and are holding him on a $100,000 bail. Sucks to be the innocent bystander who was there to celebrate America and throw a few back, only to get clipped in the shoulder by a bullet originating from a friendly game of beer pong.
Generally, beer pong distractions are for the weak. Unless you’re a girl with nice cans, there’s no reason for you to be doing them. You’re basically saying that you aren’t confident enough in your game to win it straight-up..
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According to the Marxist theory superprofit is the surplus profit above average profit. The economic literature describes it as a surplus profit that was gained above capital gains in a perfect competition. It's nature is temporary since it is the result of special circumstances. Others think that the term is nonsensical since a capitalist always pursues as much profit as possible.
Maximizing profit, obtaining superprofit is the goal
of a capitalist market economy. Superprofit is the defining motivation of all
business activity.
Interest rate
as a base cost for capita is the initial component of profit. Globalization has increased liquidity and relative
abundance that revalued capita. Official interest rates in developed countries
were around 2-4% in the last decade, occasionally they were approaching zero.
Real interest rates have rarely exceeded inflation rates. The options to acquire
capita have mostly become favorable and globalizing capita markets played a
major role. Simple capita has become easy
and cheap to acquire.
The situation is different with quality, enterprising capita. Enterprising capita which owns
innovation and development capacity and which is able to optimize resources,
manage effectively and to acquire and keep markets. Apart from modern
globalization the major partners in this are transnational corporations. This capita bears special abilities,
and yields over average.
The main creators and beneficiaries of superprofit in today’s
global market are transnational corporations. They are not necessarily large
but can be small or medium corporations (transnational networks). A
transnational corporation is the product and user of modern globalization, a
modern producer and manager organization which is able to maximally utilize
global production organization and optimization and the advantages of aquiring
a market.
The increase of superprofits can be traced to many factors. a)
Globalization
makes utilizing comparative advantages
broadly. In the last few decades we could witness the strong liberalization
of the world trade which had been fully realized in certain regional
integrations. The process has abolished significant obstacles in utilizing comparative
advantages. b)
Superprofit could
be considered the benefit of innovation
(which can be lead back to new techniques and products) which as we know it are
accompanied by a high but risky yield parallel to technical revolutions and
globalization. c)
The source of
superprofit could be the optimal
allocation of resources, better efficiency and better management. Some
parts of globalization profit could be viewed as dynamic comparative profit
because quick innovations and technical development create the possibility of
huge profit if they are done in a country that has lower wages and costs.
Profits that come from the global allocation of resources and optimization are
especially importantt as global
management profit. This profit could be substantial. d)
Additional incomes that were built in based on some other factor (like land and mine
incomes or patent-innovation income)e)
Monopolistic profit usually based on the abuse of the producer's technical or market
advantage. Monopoly profit is the redistribution of income, it's nothing more
than the withdrawal of the income of corporations operating legally. Suboptimal
fund allocation and management, the corruption of welfare. In the current world
economy transnational corporations dominate certain market structures in an
oligopolistic nature and this can provide monopoly profit.In a closed
market or countries with a protectionist economic policy the situation is
different. The basis of monopolprofit this time is the protectionist policy of
the particular country which hurts efficiency and leads to a loss to welfare.f) Superprofit can come from speculation. Speculation undoubtedly has an important role in
regulating and monitoring the economy and correcting an erroneous economic
policy. Limiting speculation can easily lead to the impairment of freedom of
enterprise.
The situation is different of course if
the bases of speculation is the violation of the law (fraud, stealing,
embezzlement) or is possible through the loopholes of the law. With
globalization and in the last decades the related liberalization and deregulation
the possibilities of speculation have increased dramatically. As the financial
crisis has shown us the risk of criminal speculation has grown and with the
lack of regulation speculation can lead into a major crisis. Having regard to
inequality these factors have a particularly huge role in the hostility towards
globalization.
Superprofit coming from comparative
advantages, technical innovation and based on a more efficient management like
enterprising profit or performance based
income contribute to public welfare, they are unquestionably justified. Any
kind of discriminative restrictions (i.e. extra taxation) is not just
undesirable but can become harmful. In many respects preferential treatment
(i.e. incentive taxes to help innovation) is recommended.
Although additional incomes stand close
to monopolistic profit however they are legal parts of the creation of income.
The base of additional income could be the quicker and favorable return of a
large-scale reconstruction investment. This is what happened in some sectors (bank,
energy or infrastructure) of transforming countries. Later on without
competition and regulation these could transform into monopoly profit.
However market and other monopolies are
not desirable by society and are regarded as illicit or illegal. Serious problems can
arise of monopolization and speculation because there is a wide grey zone
between legal and illegal speculation. Hidden and informal monopolies have a
wide variety which are usually intertwined with politics and can be the source
of abuses that are hard to identify.
In developed democratic countries
abusing monopoly position is regulated by rigorous competition policies. This
has arose seriously about the European common market. The conditions of
competitive market was already regulated by the Treaty of Rome, the treaty
banned for example „directly or indirectly fix purchase or selling prices or
any other trading conditions” or „share
markets or sources of supply” (article 85). To enforce regulation fees and
penalty fees can be issued (article 87).
With the unified market and the
validation of the four principles of liberty competitive market has been
valorized. The Treaty of Lisbon has endeavored to answer questions such as:
The protection and
improvement of efficient competition in the domestic market
Protecting the
unified market from attitudes restricting competition of the member states
and corporations
Regulations
about states: public sector, regulation of state subsidies, preventing
state owned enterprises from gaining unfair advantage, eliminating the
distortion of the competition from the economical engagement of states
WTO and OECD have similar authority, actions against discrimination
(WTO) or regulating investments and profit transfers (OECD)
Discriminating monopolprofit in superprofit has a very
importantt practical context besides academical discussions. We must act
decisively against the pursuit of monopolies or illegal speculation. Reducing
monopolprofit (domestic and foreign) is not just a national interest but an
international duty.
Dr.
Tibor Palánkai
economist,
university professor, academic
(Hungary,
March 1st, 1938) Award winning Hungarian economist, university professor,
member of the Hungarian Science Academy. Renowned researcher of European
integration and international division of labour. Deputy rector of Karl Marx
Econonim University between 1977 and 1983, rector of Budapest Economic
University (successor of Karl Marx University) between 1997 and 2000)
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The Ultimate Guide To assignment help online
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