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Spot came to live at our house last September. He is well loved, and he needed his own little quilt, so my sweet boy and I worked on making one together.
We designed it together and he even got to help with the sewing. I guided the fabric, he pressed the foot pedal. That is very exciting stuff for a little guy. There was lots and lots of stick-your-tongue-out concentration going on...it was adorable. My sewing machine will sew 1500 stitches per minute - luckily he didn't find that out. :)
Anyway, I finished hand stitching the binding last night, so he could see it before he went to school this morning. He told me that he really likes it a lot, the only thing he didn't care for is the fact that you really can't see the star quilted in the center of it so well.
My son had definite ideas for this quilt-right down to the quilting. Normally, I am not the most patient person when it comes to crafting with kids (terrible, I know), but it was very enjoyable to work on this project with him. | <urn:uuid:8852f2b2-47b9-49e2-bb80-3c13de7506f2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/01/quilt-for-spot.html?showComment=1199980020000 | 2013-05-18T06:02:26Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986706 | 235 |
Friday, July 04, 2008
born on the 4th of July
I don't have a cute photo of me when I was small (or one of me now, for that matter) to share with you today. I tried to get my kids to draw portraits of me so I could post some great kid artwork, but that didn't pan out, either. So here are a few of my flickr favorites instead. To see the photo credits, click here.
Today I turn 33. It's pretty great having a birthday on the 4th. I always get fireworks for my birthday. It's my sister's birthday, too, so I always have someone to celebrate with (even if it is from a distance). When I was working, I always got the day off with pay. And usually my birthday celebration carries on for several days. It's pretty dandy. I started off my day with a birthday phone call from my dear friend. My husband bought me a new laptop(!!!), and I should get some sewing time in. It's going to be a good birthday.
Happy 4th to you! | <urn:uuid:de595bc2-1e40-43d0-ac43-de6c452ac8aa> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/07/born-on-4th-of-july.html?showComment=1215269640000 | 2013-05-18T06:57:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.983603 | 228 |
I decided to make mine a wedding or anniversary card.
The sentiment says "Congratulations to the perfect couple" It's from My Creative Time's "many greetings" stamp set. I added some pearl flourishes and inked the edges of the card and ta-da! : ) My papers are from DCWV. The shiny gold of the couple looks so much nicer in person. It didn't photograph well.
Thanks for taking the time to look. Every comment is a blessing so don't forget to leave one. ; ) | <urn:uuid:96de25bf-58eb-44eb-8cad-ec49a6d370ca> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://creationsinbloomat.blogspot.com/2012/02/couples-heart-challenge.html | 2013-05-18T06:43:06Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956164 | 109 |
"We hear the phrase ‘security trumps trade’ but the fact is energy security is part of security. To suggest they are separate and apart is a lot of baloney.
I don’t think the average person understands how closely we co-operate already on information and technology in the military or people would not be throwing around the word sovereignty so loosely."
"We’ve brought NORAD and NorthCom together - the Canadian and US staff below command level are fully integrated. The civil assistance program is already operational. Ready to help RCMP during the Olympics, we prepositioned forces south of the border – another example of the great cooperation we have with CanCom."
Michael Wilson : "We should have joined the US in BMD. I hope discussions can be reopened."
Canada Minister of Public Safety Vic Toews and DHS announced a first of its kind plan to establish a comprehensive cross-border approach to critical infrastructure resilience, focused on sharing information and assessing and managing joint risks.
Moreover, last month, President Obama and Prime Minister Harper signed a landmark "Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness" that sets forth how our two countries will manage our shared homeland and economic security in the 21st century." | <urn:uuid:9643722c-d913-4324-abc9-d6e84d455d2e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://creekside1.blogspot.com/2011/03/homeland-perimeter-security-blanket.html | 2013-05-18T08:07:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.942964 | 254 |
No Longer an Enemy
the days of the American Revolutionary War there lived in Ephrata,
Pennsylvania, a preacher by the name of Peter Miller who enjoyed the
friendship of General George Washington.
There also dwelt in that town one Michael Wittman, an evil-minded
man who did all in his power to abuse and oppose this preacher.
day Michael Wittman was involved in treason and was arrested and sentenced
to death. When the old
preacher heard this news, he started out on foot and walked the whole
seventy miles to Philadelphia to plead for this man's life.
He was admitted into Washington's presence and at once begged for
the life of the traitor.
said, "No, Peter, I cannot grant you the life of your
preacher exclaimed, "My FRIEND?? Why, this man is the bitterest ENEMY
cried, "What? You've walked seventy miles to save the life of an
ENEMY? Now that puts the matter in a different light. I will
grant the pardon."
so he did. And Peter Miller
took Michael Wittman from the very shadow of death back to his own home in
Ephrata -- no longer as an enemy, but as a friend.*
to our sins, you and I have been found guilty and sentenced to death.
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," and
"the wages of sin is death" (Romans 3:23; 6:23). However, Christ
walked the road to Calvary to seek reconciliation to God for US (His
enemies) Romans 5:10. But unlike Peter Miller, Christ did not just enter
"the very shadow of death" to save us; He actually gave His life so
that we might be reconciled to God.
see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for
the ungodly. Very rarely
will anyone die for a RIGHTEOUS
someone might possibly dare to die. But
his own love for us in this: While we were still SINNERS,
Christ died for us! Since we have now been justified by his
blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
For IF, when we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him
through the DEATH of his Son, HOW MUCH MORE, having been
reconciled, shall we be saved through his LIFE!" (Romans 5:6-10).
Christ you and I can be reconciled to God, IF… we will respond to Him in faith
(Hebrews 11:6), repentance
(2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confession
(Romans 10:9-10), and baptism (immersion) for
the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16).
Then, as we CONTINUE to walk in the light of His Word, the
cleansing blood of Jesus will CONTINUE to wash our sins away (1 John 1:7).
VALUE of something is often determined by the PRICE one is
willing to pay for it! Consider the GREAT price that was paid for OUR
OUR response should be to walk with Him now, not as an ENEMY, but as a
Church of Christ at Creekwood
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Mobile, Alabama 36695
Subscribe to "Living Water"
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Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website | <urn:uuid:4c45ea89-5c79-496b-bd59-72f8a2eef9bd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://creekwoodcc.org/lw_No%20Longer%20an%20Enemy.htm | 2013-05-18T07:12:17Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.939613 | 813 |
Despite the star power of Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds, "Safe House" is earning lackluster reviews from critics.
The action thriller features Washington as a rogue CIA agent and Reynolds as the rookie tasked with watching him. AP Movie Critic Christy Lemire gave the movie just one and a half stars out of four, saying: "This is a frenetically paced jumble of shaky-cam tricks and quick edits, dizzying car chases and deafening shootouts."
Receiving even weaker reviews is "The Vow," starring Rachel McAdams as a woman who loses her memory after a serious car accident and Channing Tatum as her husband, who tries to remind her of the life they shared. Lemire also gave this one and a half stars, saying: "'The Vow' serves as a series of precise if obvious moments and emotional cues we must endure en route to the inevitable reconciliation, complete with an intrusively heart-tugging score and too much explanatory voiceover from Tatum."
Here's a look at how these movies and others fared on the top review websites as of Friday afternoon. Each score is the percentage of positive reviews for the film:
-- "Rampart": Metacritic, 70; Movie Review Intelligence, 64.8; Rotten Tomatoes, 75. Average: 69.9.
-- "Safe House": Metacritic, 52; Movie Review Intelligence, 59.2; Rotten Tomatoes, 53. Average: 54.7.
-- "Journey 2: The Mysterious Island": Metacritic, 40; Movie Review Intelligence, 46.4; Rotten Tomatoes, 44. Average: 43.5.
-- "The Vow": Metacritic, 45; Movie Review Intelligence, 45.3; Rotten Tomatoes, 29. Average: 39.8. | <urn:uuid:12fcde29-2b0a-417c-a7b9-d0efa5225b64> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crescent-news.com/ap%20financial/2012/02/10/movie-scores-how-the-critics-rated-the-new-movies | 2013-05-18T06:30:49Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.912425 | 379 |
MY VIEW: Erskine Bowles Make a Deficit Deal Now
As the President and leaders of Congress begin to look for a compromise to replace the fiscal cliff, the next step is to decide what a compromise would look like. Fiscal Commisson co-chair and Fix the Debt co-founder Erskine Bowles writes that lawmakers do not have to reinvent the wheel to find models for bipartisian alternatives:
What does that alternative look like? We already have the blueprints.
It’s the type of bipartisan package toward which the fiscal commission I co-chaired with former senator Alan Simpson, the Domenici-Rivlin group, the Senate’s “Gang of Six” and the Obama-Boehner negotiations all worked. It’s a package large enough to put the debt on a clear downward path, relative to the economy, and designed well enough to promote, rather than disrupt, economic growth. It’s a package that includes real spending cuts and structural entitlement reforms to make Social Security solvent while slowing the growth of federal health spending while protecting vulnerable populations. And it’s a package that institutes fundamental tax reform that simplifies the code and encourages economic growth by cutting spending in the tax code to reduce rates and generate additional revenue for deficit reduction.
Most important, it’s a package that can get bipartisan agreement. I was very encouraged by House Speaker John Boehner’s remarks Wednesday indicating his willingness to support increased revenue from tax reform if it were accompanied by meaningful entitlement reform. Based on my conversations with President Obama, I am confident that he is willing to do his part to put our fiscal house in order and would support a comprehensive plan based on the general framework the fiscal commission put forward. While there will undoubtedly be many honest disagreements about the specific elements of a plan, I believe that both leaders are willing to make the type of principled compromise necessary to reach an agreement.
Though we won’t be able to enact the entire plan in the few legislative weeks before year’s end, policymakers could agree in the lame-duck session on the basic framework of the deal. Congress could enact a “down payment” of savings from spending and revenue policies, along with a process for achieving the remaining savings by July 4, with enforcement mechanisms to ensure that the promised savings are achieved. Designed appropriately, such a package would be credible enough to allow for a temporary delay of the scheduled sequestration policies and extension of expiring tax cuts.
We know what needs to be enacted in the lame duck, and many people from across the country have said as much.
I am confident that the president and Congress can agree to such a plan. Nearly three years’ worth of work has gone into developing the policies and raising awareness on the need for a comprehensive plan. Members of both parties and both houses understand this. So do concerned citizens across the country — 300,000 of whom have signed a petition at FixTheDebt.org, demanding that Washington act.
The only ingredient missing is political will. Betting the country in the hopes of generating that political will is not the answer. Coming together for the greater good is.
The full piece can be found here.
"My Views" are works published by members of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, but they do not necessarily reflect the views of all members of the committee. | <urn:uuid:62b8ce7a-dfaf-4797-bbb8-ccb5dab4fc60> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crfb.org/blogs/my-view-erskine-bowles-1 | 2013-05-18T06:29:39Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.954418 | 701 |
|Birth Date||October 12, 1970|
|Family|| Unnamed grandfather (deceased)|
Elizabeth Prentiss (mother)
Unborn child (deceased)
|Job|| Chief of the London Interpol Office |
Former BAU Supervisory Special Agent
Former JTF-12 member
Profiling of terrorists
|Portrayed By||Paget Brewster|
|First Appearance||The Last Word|
Emily Prentiss was a former Supervisory Special Agent with the BAU who joined the team two episodes after Elle Greenaway resigned from the FBI for good. At the end of Season Seven, she resigned from the BAU. She accepted a position with Interpol in London. She was replaced by Alex Blake, who holds the position to this day.
Due to her mother's diplomatic background, Prentiss traveled a lot when she was a child, living in several middle eastern countries and at one point in Rome. In "Demonology", she reveals that from wanting to fit in, she fell pregnant as a teenager in Rome. When she went to talk to her priest, he said that if she got an abortion, she would not be welcome in the church. Her friend Matthew Benton encouraged her to go to an abortion clinic, and after the abortion, he helped her find the courage to come back to church.
In her first appearance, she recognizes Hotch from one of his first commands: security clearances for her mother, Elizabeth Prentiss, a US diplomat. Her arrival surprises both Hotch and Gideon, as neither of them had signed off on the transfer. Prentiss insists her parents have not pulled strings for her.
She is a graduate of Yale and has been working for the FBI for a little under ten years, primarily in the Midwest. Due to spending her early life with her parents on diplomatic missions to the Middle East, she speaks fluent Arabic and is familiar with that area's local culture. She also speaks fluent Spanish, French, and Italian and some Russian. She appears skilled at chess, and it is possible that she is better at the game than Reid. JJ once asked Prentiss how she could handle the stress from being with the BAU, especially since her last position was a desk job. Hotch concurred that she had "never blinked," and Prentiss could only reason that she "compartmentalizes better than most ("Revelations")." After a bad date in the following episode, she admits to Derek Morgan that she is a "nerd," despite how much she tries to hide it.
For this reason, she hasn't had much success romantically. She discovers that she and Morgan share similar tastes in books when they begin discussing Kurt Vonnegut, particularly Slaughterhouse 5.
Prentiss is very level-headed and calm, sometimes it could be said that she seems to be dealing with the cases in an even more professional manner than some other members of the BAU. However, in a few occasions, like Greenaway before her, Prentiss lets her own emotions get the better of her. She has been shown to react emotionally at crime scenes and feels a strong surge of empathy for the victims. She also appears highly intelligent and driven. Prentiss is willing to put herself at risk to protect others and has a very sarcastic sense of humor.
On the JobEdit
At the end of season 2, BAU section chief Erin Strauss reveals to Emily that she arranged for her to join the BAU, contrary to Emily's belief that she was accepted on her own merit. Strauss asks Emily to sabotage Hotch's career by spying on him and relaying confidences back to Strauss, especially concerning Elle Greenaway's shooting of a suspect and Reid's struggle with narcotics. She seems to consider this offer, and the season ends with a cliffhanger until the second episode of season 3, in which she resigns from the FBI to avoid betraying Hotch. She decided later not to resign.
Emily has previously told Hotch that she thinks politics "makes people distrustful" and "tears families apart," ("Sex, Birth, Death") implying that her home life as a child was not pleasant due to her mother's job. After some convincing from Hotch she returns to the team in the next episode, her resignation having never gone through system due to technical interference from Garcia, and the issue has not been brought up since. Upon her return, Section Chief Strauss remarks that neither Prentiss, Hotch, nor the rest of the team would be able to climb the ladder to the top because of all this, thus putting an end to some of Prentiss's future ambitions. In episode 319 ("Tabula Rasa") a high school photo reveals that Emily was a goth or emo. Also, in episode 312 ("3rd Life"), she implies to Hotch that she smoked as an adolescent as a way to rebel against her parents. In the season 3 finale "Lo-Fi", she shoots and kills an armed suspect after the suspect shoots a New York police officer.
In season 4 episode 3 (Minimal Loss) she and Reid are held hostage by a religious cult. When the cult leader finds out that one of them is an FBI agent, Prentiss admits her identity, partially to protect Reid, and ends up getting beaten by the cult leader. Prentiss antagonizes the leader by twice repeating "I can take it" to keep the rest of the team from coming in, knowing that they are listening via bugs and that it would put everyone inside of the building in danger. Later, Prentiss reassures Reid that it was not his fault and asks him not to feel guilty.
In Retaliation, Prentiss is in a car accident while transporting a prisoner to the local police station. Despite sustaining severe injuries, Prentiss manages to escape the police cruiser via the windshield and fire on the fleeing suspects as they escape. Morgan finds Prentiss on the roadside and she is taken to the hospital where she is treated for a concussion and several cuts and contusions. She insists on quickly returning to the job and plays an instrumental role in solving the case.
In The Thirteenth Step, Prentiss learns from a former colleague at Interpol, Sean McCallister, that Ian Doyle, an apparently highly dangerous criminal, has escaped from his North Korean prison and gone off the grid and apparently killed a man and stole his car. Sean warned her that he might come after her and that everyone is in danger. In the beginning of Sense Memory, in her apartment, when the phone rings and the caller ID is unknown, Prentiss lets it go to message and listens to the recording. The caller, presumably Doyle, is completely silent and hangs up. In response, Prentiss sets up some noise-traps near all entrances and exits in the apartment, sits down in the hallway with a gun, turns off the lights and waits.
When Prentiss returns to her apartment after a case, she finds a package by her door. When she opens the package, it turns out to contain a small, purple-white flower. There is a flashback to some time earlier when she is working in a flowerbed filled with the same flowers, apparently by a mansion somewhere in France. When authorities, presumably Interpol, arrive and drive away with her, Doyle watches her from a balcony. He calls someone and tells the other person to "stay on on top of [it]". As he is arrested by English-speaking authorities, he looks down at one of the flowers that Prentiss dropped.
In Valhalla, Doyle resurfaced in DC and began killing people connected to his case as well as their families. During the investigation, he kills one of Prentiss' former colleagues, Tsia Mosely. It is also revealed that Prentiss, Sean, Tsia, and two other colleagues were part of a team assembled by Interpol that profiled terrorists and helped apprehend them, codenamed JTF-12.
In Lauren, Prentiss goes after him alone. As she attacks him and his men near The Black Shamrock, a bar in Boston at which he and Prentiss (as "Lauren Reynolds") first met. As she holds a submachine gun at his men, he flanks her and shoots her in the abdomen. She survives, wearing a bullet-proof vest, and is abducted and taken to the group's HQ. She is tortured and beaten as Doyle recounts what happened after his arrest: he was taken to a prison in North Korea, where he resisted in interrogation for two years, hoping to see his son, Declan, again. When he was shown a series of pictures of Declan and his legal guardian being executed by a mostly unseen figure, he broke down completely and would remain there for another five years. Unbeknownst to him, the pictures were actually staged by Prentiss in order to save Declan from his father's life. The BAU, having found the photos, notices that the nails of the hand holding the gun are completely bitten down; Prentiss was a compulsive nail biter when nervous. Obtaining the address of the house, they conduct a stealth raid on it, killing all of Doyle's men. As Doyle, furious to learn how he was deceived by Prentiss, begins furiously beating her. She gets the upper hand and knocks him to the floor with a wooden stick. Once she drops it, Doyle grabs it and stabs it into her abdomen. Hearing the gunfire approach, he escapes and isn't seen for the rest of the episode. The BAU arrive and take Prentiss to a hospital, where they are told that she didn't survive. They all attend Prentiss' funeral. Her headstone is marked "Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity", the motto of the FBI. In the final scene, JJ is seen approaching a woman (whose face is unseen) in France and giving her passports for three different countries and a bank account in each one. The woman's hands are shown to the viewers to have completely bitten-down nails, implying that it is Prentiss, who is alive and has faked her own death in order to go into hiding from Doyle, thus protecting the rest of the BAU team from him. The characters miss her dearly and struggle to cope with the loss.
In Proof, the second episode of Season Seven, Emily and JJ received the cold shoulder from Reid because he was not informed that she was still alive after Doyle supposedly "killed" her, viewing that as betrayal. She eventually made amends with Reid, telling him that she regretted every moment of not letting him know but that it was necessary in order to protect herself and more importantly, the team. She reminds him that while he lost one friend, she lost six. Reid forgave her and they became friends again.
In Unknown Subject, Emily started to deal with her traumatic experience caused by Doyle.
In February 2012, Paget Brewster announced she would not renew her contract for the eighth season of Criminal Minds, meaning season seven would be the last for Emily Prentiss as a series regular.
In A Thin Line, Emily is shot in the arm by the unsub. She is temporarily injured and forced to wear a sling. Morgan feels guilty that Prentiss was again hurt on his watch and tries to apologize to Prentiss. After gently teasing him, Prentiss tells Morgan that what happened to her was not his fault, it was just part of the job.
In Divining Rod, Emily places a sealed bid on a house in the upscale DuPont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C. When her bid is accepted, Prentiss seems reluctant to go forward with the purchase.
At the beginning of Hit, Morgan joins Emily on an inspection of the DuPont Circle house. Emily shares with Morgan her doubts about going through with purchasing a home. When the team is called in to work a bank robbery and hostage situation, Clyde Easter contacts Prentiss to help identify one of the robbers, an international criminal. Clyde also offers Emily a position at Interpol, as chief of the London office. She appears to consider the offer.
In Run, Prentiss risks her life to defuse a bomb attached to William LaMontagne Jr. At JJ and Will's wedding, Prentiss confesses to Morgan that she is unable to feel comfortable in her old life after her near-death encounter with Doyle and subsequent period of hiding. She admits that she is strongly considering Clyde's job offer. At JJ's reception, Prentiss is shown looking mournfully at the rest of the team before joining each of them to dance. It is implied that she will leave the team and accept the job at Interpol.
In the Season Eight premiere The Silencer, Morgan and Garcia come back from England, where Morgan was on temporary duty, after visitng Prentiss. They say she has settled in nicely.
- Her sidearm was a Glock 19.
- Speaks Spanish, Arabic, French and Italian fluently, as well as Russian.
- Her transfer to the BAU was not known to Hotch, and he was caught off guard when she reported for duty.
- Her first case was in the episode "Lessons Learned", where she helped to interrogate Jamal Abaza behind the scenes.
- According to Reid, she was born on October 12th, 1970 at 7:12am (Cold Comfort).
- At the age of fifteen, she had an abortion (Demonology).
- Her mother is an ambassador and she spent her childhood traveling all over the world.
- She lived in an expensive apartment while in college and "was determined to make it" so she worked as a waitress but she sucked at her job and accepted her mother's money to pay for it; both pretended that it wasn't even happening. (The Performer).
- Has a black cat named Sergio that appeared in Sense Memory. After her "death", Garcia took care of him until Prentiss returned in It Takes a Village. Prentiss would later use Sergio as an excuse to her psychiatrist that she's recovering, stating that she dates him.
- Emily has two tattoos which Ian Doyle asks her about before he brands her with a clover. (Lauren)
- JJ, Reid, and Garcia are the few to call Prentiss by her first name, Emily. The others just call her Prentiss, though Morgan called her Emily a few times, he usually called her Prentiss.
- She mentioned she quit caffeine to help her relax more. (Dorado Falls)
- After Derek Morgan had mentioned Prentiss had to live in Reston, Virginia for a while, Penelope Garcia confirmed that she had rented a big house in a culdesac there before they met her to be closer to Declan. Later Ian Doyle also confirmed that she likes culdesacs. (It Takes a Village)
- Her grandfather retired to the French Alps mountains and lived there until he died. There was a 10-year stretch where he didn't come down off the mountain. He had no electricity, no running water, and his food supplies came from the land. Emily spent time with him whenever she and her mother were in France, which was often. (Open Season) | <urn:uuid:50b839f1-9336-4457-b39c-f67f6e074c83> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://criminalminds.wikia.com/wiki/Emily_Prentiss | 2013-05-18T06:55:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982633 | 3,161 |
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Saturday, October 4, 2008
My eldest turns seven today, which makes today her birthday, and my BirthDay.
I know you are told by everyone (and your mother) that kids grow up quickly and before you know it the early years will be a blur and a distant memory, but when you are in the trenches of the first few months/years of sleep deprivation and are functioning in survival mode----it just doesn't seem that way.
Now it does.
I see this kid, this real life KID, with big teeth, a big heart, and big ideas and I'm shocked. How did this happen?
Wasn't it just yesterday that I was walking the shag-green carpet halls of our apartment night after night after night jostling her to Nick at Nite theme songs?
Wasn't it just yesterday that I spent way-too-many hours with a baby that just would. not. sleep. precariously balanced on my lap while I consulted Dr. Google during marathon nursing sessions?
Hug your babies. And make them caramel apples. Don't pay attention to the caramel dripped on the carpet. It will come out with a baby wipe---or scissors.
--caramel candies. This time of year in the produce section, there should be bags of soft caramel complete with popsicle stick handles.
--apples (one bag of caramel makes 4 large apples)
--2 T water
Use a 1.5 quart or larger crockpot---I used a 4 quart.
Unwrap all of the caramel, and add them and 2 tablespoons of water to the crockpot. Cover and cook on high for 1 to 2 hours, checking every 20 minutes or so. The caramel is ready when it is shiny and can be stirred easily.
Put the popsicle sticks into the apples by the stems. Use a spoon to ladle the caramel over the apple, and swirl to completely cover the whole thing. Dip into chopped nuts or sprinkles if desired.
Let cool on parchment paper or Release foil.
These are messy and sticky and absolutely wonderful. I am happy with the way the crockpot melts evenly, and it wasn't so hot I was scared about the kids helping. | <urn:uuid:4e891047-82af-4f48-9afa-3d680fde78c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crockpot365.blogspot.com/2008/10/crockpot-caramel-apples.html?showComment=1223136780000 | 2013-05-18T05:33:37Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935934 | 461 |
If anyone knows a decent orthopaedic surgeon, I did some serious damage to my wrist. Reading this article caused me to facepalm so hard, I may have fractured something:
In his closing submissions, defence lawyer Doug Marion said Mr. Phillips “consented” to a three-on-one fight with the men and “could have walked away from this fight if he wanted to. You can see him in the video, he’s backing away but his arms are open and he’s screaming ‘come on!’ and then pointing to his chest,” Mr. Marion said. “The reality is, that is consent.”
I feel a bit bad for Mr. Marion, having to defend clients who are the cowardly scum of the Earth. This desperate grabbing at straws defense is about as feeble as the fighting skills of his clients. I wonder what would happen to Mr. Marion if he was accosted by three people on racial grounds, and forced to defend himself. Would he have walked away from the fight? Better question – would he have dared to turn his back on three drunk rednecks who were trying to hit him and screaming racial obscenities at him? The fact is that when you look at the video, it’s pretty obvious what’s happening. Far from egging his attackers on, Mr. Phillips is doing pretty much the same thing a cat does when threatened – making himself appear larger.
Mr. Phillips says that he refused to allow the verbal assault to go on without reaction, since lack of dissent was, in his mind assent. He saw himself as standing up for other members of the black community who face similar discrimination but don’t speak up. I’m inclined to believe Phillips’ account, given that racism of the type evinced by his attackers rarely happens in a vacuum – there’s always something going on in the community that feeds that. Of course, there is always more to the story. Jay Phillips is no saint, having had run-ins with the law in his past; however, that doesn’t matter one bit. There is no excusing the actions of three cowards who shouted racial epithets at a person on the street, then stopped their truck and engaged in a three-on-one beating.
My sympathies for Mr. Marion are somewhat blunted by the fact that he’s going to the same default excuse that accused rapists like to use: “look at what she was doing – she was asking for it!” There is a fantastic article about this issue on a feminist blog called The Curvature. The subject matter is different, but the take-home message is the same: nobody ever asks to be assaulted, regardless of what twisted interpretation of their actions you might be able to produce.
My concern in all this is that as stupid as this defense obviously is, it might work. Racism of the type that seems to be endemic in Courtenay means that the members of the jury may be swayed by the argument. Either subconsciously or consciously, they may want to find a reason to excuse the actions of these pea-brained thugs and may seize upon this flimsy argument as sufficient grounds for acquittal. I hope I’m wrong about this. | <urn:uuid:5c265a6f-1b71-46c4-a343-9c70f166a11a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crommunist.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/update-of-courtenay-bc-attack-he-was-asking-for-it/ | 2013-05-18T06:43:30Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985746 | 692 |
Crossfit San Diego is a Fitness Learning Center.
We believe that every aspect of life is connected, if you put a limit on your potential in any area, such as physical, it can spread to your mental and emotional well being. Likewise if you stretch yourself in any one area it can help you in all other areas of life.
We specialize in creating an atmosphere where these limits are battled and failure is okay (if temporary). Where you are encouraged to push beyond what you thought you were capable of. This plays not only in the physical aspect of life, but mental, emotional, and even spiritual as well. We push ourselves DAILY to approach these limits and push through.
Through consistency we learn to accept blood, sweat, and tears as a pathway to success. (and of course, you’ll look good naked)!
The key is walking the pathway with other people with the wisdom to support you. Whether you are one of our talented Crossfit San Diego trainers, a long-time member, or a first timer, sharing this human experience with the community and support at CFSD is what guarantees our success. | <urn:uuid:6317d915-254b-42d2-98e3-6a4a971ea1e9> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crossfitsandiego.com/about-us/our-facility/ | 2013-05-18T06:56:18Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956594 | 229 |
We have redesigned our site and as a result, some links have moved. If you arrived at this page from a bookmark, please use the link below to return to the homepage and navigate to your desired section and update your bookmark.
We apologize for the inconvenience.
If the link you clicked was incorrect, click the back button on your browser to return to the last page you visited,
or click the link below to go to the home page.
Return to the home page. | <urn:uuid:11cee7f1-4a9c-439c-906a-f593fc920870> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crossroadstoday.com/pages/14185957.php?contentType=4&contentId=11389415 | 2013-05-18T08:11:07Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.908522 | 98 |
CROSSVILLE — The North junior varsity girls won the Upperman Invitational at Upperman High School the week of Oct. 22. In the first round, they defeated Monroe County, KY 36-15. They defeated Sparta in the semi-finals 23-22. For the championship, they won over Macon County 24-17. The team members include Reece Stover, Paige Selby, Skylar Lewis, Emery Smith, Emma Capps, Katie Coudriet, Lauren Tabor, Bailey Hicks, Kelli Carroll, Katelyn Tabor and Chloe Reagan. | <urn:uuid:9c5c2b21-af3b-44ad-9aca-f94dc953584a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crossville-chronicle.com/localsports/x699473102/Wins-Upperman-tournament/print | 2013-05-18T05:25:31Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.925594 | 122 |
A quick blindfold test: Night In Tunisia
Here is a little blindfold test for all the Boppers out there (certain people who might guess that they are meant are not allowed to take part). So who might be playing the cute little arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie’s Night In Tunisia on this 78 rpm record?
Again congratulations to Bo Scherman (see comments)! It is indeed not easy to spot Persiany – after all you have to know him first. Although Persiany is not relying on block chords here, the Milt Buckner influence is evident. These are indeed the Be Bop Minstrels.
To learn more about this 78 rpm, go to the Don Redman 1946 tour page. Alan Jeffreys and Jackie Carman were the two young white boppers who came to europe with Don Redman’s Orchestra. Some months after the Redman band broke up they went into the studio with some french musicians in Paris. The result was what is usually called the first french be bop record. I have to say that I like the interpretation very much, although you could not call the trumpet playing brilliant. “Enthusiastic” may be fitting though. | <urn:uuid:65e97bc6-762f-4c22-833a-e13d1f3c7ed6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crownpropeller.wordpress.com/2012/10/06/a-quick-blindfold-test-night-in-tunisia/ | 2013-05-18T07:13:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95356 | 246 |
The Richboro Elementary Meadow Project
Students in the Richboro Elementary Ecology Club have been planting a meadow each year since 2008. We were the first school in Council Rock School District to do so, and our project has inspired the District to plant four acres of meadows at several other Council Rock school locations.
Why plant meadows? Meadows provide habitats for more insects and other animals than green lawns. The first year we planted the meadow, we found two praying mantids had moved in! Additionally, meadows do not need to be mowed more than once a year, so they save fossil fuel. Below are photos and descriptions of our current meadow as well as meadows from previous years.
The Fourth Planting of
Richboro Elementary School's Meadow
Students in the Richboro Elementary School Ecology Club planted its fourth meadow this spring. Students sowed the flower seeds harvested last fall in the newly prepared plot. Additional native seeds, including sunflower and asters, were planted. Students and teachers look forward to seeing what surprises await when returning to school in the fall.
The Third Planting of
Richboro Elementary School’s Meadow
The Ecology Club at Richboro Elementary School planted its meadow for a third growing season this April. Using seeds harvested from the meadow last fall, the club members, ranging from grades two through five, took turns planting seeds in a grid-like pattern across the meadow plot. Sunflower seeds were pushed into the ground with planting sticks, and the soil was raked to cover the seeds. As the club ended, the clouds gathered and watered the meadow, as if on cue. We look forward to watching our garden bloom as the seasons turn.
Richboro Elementary School’s Meadow
The Ecology Club at Richboro Elementary School planted its meadow for a second growing season this April. The club, with over 40 students and 5 teachers, worked together to sow seeds on a drizzly, windy day. The seeds had been harvested by the students last fall from the meadow’s first dried flowers. The charming sign, including drawings by 13 children, will be posted at the front of the meadow.
Richboro Elementary School’s Meadow Blooms
and Seeds are Harvested
Last spring the Ecology Club at Richboro Elementary School planted seeds to create a meadow in the front of the building. Not certain how successful the meadow would be, the club members were greeted at the beginning of this school year by a surprisingly full field of colorful blooms. This fall the flowers matured to produce seeds. To complete the cycle, the Ecology Club plans to plant the seeds next spring.
The Earth Laughs in Flowers
Richboro Elementary School’s Meadow Project
The Ecology Club at Richboro Elementary School planted a meadow for their final big project of the school year. Ecology Club students pulled out clumps of grass, and then teachers gave students seeds to plant in the plot. The students zig-zagged their way across the plot to ensure even coverage of the seeds. At the end of the day, each child received a small bag of seeds to plant at home with the saying, "The Earth Laughs in Flowers." The seeds had been sorted and packaged by students in the Autistic Support classes at Richboro Elementary.
The flowers hopefully will grow throughout the summer. In addition to adding beauty to the school, the meadow will reduce the fossil fuel needed to mow the grass all summer and will help insects gain a new home. The students and teachers look forward to seeing a wildflower meadow in full bloom at the beginning of the new school year in September. | <urn:uuid:2eca6211-a85f-472b-b3f3-ac4fa26c2e16> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://crsd.org/Page/16977 | 2013-05-18T06:48:58Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963566 | 751 |
The 91,000-ton, 2,070-passenger Celebrity Infinity debuted in 2001 as the second ship in Celebrity Cruises' four-vessel Millennium-class series. Like near-identical sister ships Celebrity Millennium (2000), Celebrity Summit (2001) and Celebrity Constellation (2002), Infinity debuted with a bevy of once-novel features, including a two-story library, a retro ocean liner-themed alternative restaurant and a lovely bank of seaview glass elevators. These days, however, the Millennium quadruplets have been surpassed in size, amenities and technical innovation by Celebrity's grass-covered, partially solar powered Solstice-class ships.
To that end, Celebrity has invested heavily in refurbishing the series. Following a November 2011 dry-dock in the Bahamas, Celebrity Infinity emerged with a slew of Solstice-class dining venues, including Qsine (interactive comfort food), Blu (Mediterranean spa cuisine) and Bistro on 5 (creperie), a new iLounge computer lab, new balconies, as well as more than 100 new or redesigned spa cabins. (The ship also got more crowded -- 60 new cabins were added, bringing the double occupancy from 1,950 up to 2,070.)
Much has changed for the ship in the form of decor and onboard features, but Constellation's most visible alterations focus on the Deck 4 and 5 social hub, which forms a two-floor, shiplong link between the main dining room (aft) and theater (forward). The focus here is on casual food and drink options. The old Martini Bar has been replaced with a new version, a glowing green pod with a shaved ice-topped bar and juggling bartenders. Cellar Masters, a wine venue with self-service dispensary system, has replaced the original, staid Champagne Bar. Bistro on Five, a for-fee creperie that was a surprise hit on Solstice (and on Equinox, Eclipse, Silhouette and Reflection, the ships that followed), has been added to Deck 5. Infinity's old coffee bar has been redone, and the line has added a gelataria.
Despite these significant alterations, the ship still retains much of what has made it a fan favorite, stylistically, for more than a decade. The whimsical art, use of natural woods and lots of glass, especially in the stunning Solarium, have always lent Celebrity Infinity and its sisters an elegant, contemporary air. Those touches remains. So too does the high passenger-to-crew ratio, which has earned the line high marks for service. And at 2,070 passengers -- compared to 2,850 on the Solstice-class vessels -- those looking for a more intimate Celebrity experience will do well to consider the "mid-sized" Millennium class.
The striking Trellis Restaurant, Celebrity Infinity's main dining room, offers formal breakfast, lunch and dinner. The highlight of the two-tiered restaurant is a huge, paned showcase window that extends from floor to ceiling. Tables are mostly set for combinations of six, eight and beyond (more intimate settings are extremely limited).
There are two options for dinner in the Trellis Restaurant. Passengers can go with traditional, set seating (two times to dine) or opt for the more flexible Celebrity Select dining option, which was introduced in early 2010. With Celebrity Select, passengers have the option to dine any time between 6 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. and to decide whether they want to eat with their own party or at a mixed table with other cruisers. They can also make specific dinner reservations for each day of their cruise online in advance, make reservations onboard or simply show up when ready to eat.
Cuisine at The Trellis is generally well received; the menu features a mix of traditional and imaginative fare that included vegetarian options for each course. Other options include The Ocean Grill and Cafe, which is the ship's poolside buffet restaurant. The Ocean Grill has something available nearly 24 hours a day. Pizza and pasta are freshly made; you can choose your own ingredients. From 6:30 to 9 p.m., what is a sandwich station during the day becomes a sushi bar with a range of items from California rolls to tekka maki. Ginger, wasabi and soy sauce are all available, too. The SS United States, Celebrity Infinity's $45 per head alternative restaurant, is excellent, serving no-holds-barred four-course meals. The most commonly ordered entree is the buttery soft filet mignon, preceded by a prepared-at-the-table Caesar salad. In addition to the regular menu, you can opt instead for the Five Senses menu, which presents six courses paired with wines, for a higher surcharge of $89 per person.
Celebrity's Champagne High Tea, which takes place once or twice a cruise, is also offered in the SS United States. While a string quartet plays, premium tea and coffees, savory sandwiches and desserts are served on fine china for a $25-per-person charge.Carved out of a portion of the main dining room on Deck 5 is Blu, Celebrity's spa-dining venue, exclusively for AquaClass passengers. Those booked in suites are allowed to dine there, space permitting. The fee-free restaurant (a $5 gratuity is recommended) is open for breakfast (7:30 to 9 a.m.), serving light meals like smoothies and muesli, and dinner (6 to 9:30 p.m.), with a changing menu of clean and simple cuisine, such as a roasted chicken breast or blackened ahi tuna. The venue is gorgeous, done in white with bright blue accents and a row of large porthole windows along one side.
Qsine (pronounce "cuisine") is Infinity's for-fee "creative comfort food" venue at which patrons order whimsically presented dishes off of iPads. Instead of waiters, you get culinary tour guides, and presentation -- think sushi lollipops or spring rolls served in actual springs -- is the focus. It's $45 per person to eat here.
The final for-fee venue is the casual Bistro on Five. Bistro's main fare is crepes, including breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert crepes. It also features panini sandwiches (steak, chicken or vegetable), soups and salads. Popular choices include the sweet banana, nutella and pistachio crepes and the savory Cowboy crepe, featuring marinated flank steak. Bistro on Five is open from 6 a.m. until "late" and requires no reservations, though there is a $5-per-person service charge.
The AquaSpa Cafe is the ship's fee-free healthy eatery. It serves light meals in a cafe surrounding the spa's thalassotherapy pool. Fresh fruit and vegetables are available until 2 p.m.
Late risers can partake of pastries at Cova Cafe di Milano (Cova Cafe for short); the noshing is free, but you'll have to shell out for coffee in whatever form.
Room service is available 24/7; passengers can order selections from the menu during dinner, and a door-hung card assures you'll get breakfast when ordered. Tipping for room service is customary and greatly appreciated.
The Grand Foyer, a three-deck atrium, lies at the center of Celebrity Infinity; its highlight is a sprawling onyx staircase. The main "cruise business" area is here -- including the shore excursion boutique, bank, and guest relations.
The photo gallery is located on Deck 4, across from Michael's Club.
Forward of the coffee shop is Infinity's enormous shopping venue, the 14,000-square-foot Emporium. Along with the usual logo shops and duty-free items, there are several jewelry and watch shops, and, instead of cluttering the aisles with specials as on most ships, there is a circular central kiosk area for the daily discount offerings.
The Celebrity iLounge is found on Deck 6 midship. There, iMac computers are available for Web browsing, or you can sign up for a Wi-Fi account, as wireless Internet access is available shipwide. Prices start at 75 cents a minute, or you can purchase a package: 38 minutes for $25, 90 minutes for $50, 208 minutes for $100, 555 minutes for $200, or 1,666 minutes for $400. Computer and technology classes, mostly focusing on Apple products, are held there and cost extra.
There are also several meeting rooms. The ship's two-story library on Decks 8 and 9, features a spiral staircase, glass walls and deep armchairs.
There are no self-service launderettes.
Activities mostly follow cruise ship standards (art auctions, bad hair day seminars, vegetable carving, wine tastings, bingo and ballroom dance lessons). Celebrity's nightly theatrical performances, ranging from Broadway compilations to piano concertos, take place in the lovely three-deck Celebrity Theater and are generally well regarded. Shows include typical Vegas-style song-and-dance reviews alongside performances given by comedians and musical outfits.
Constellation, the forward-facing lounge at the top of the ship, is surrounded with floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides. It's used during the day as an observation station and for various activities. At night, it's turned into a dance club.
Deck 4 is also something of an entertainment hub. The Rendezvous Lounge, lined with windows opening onto the promenade, features dancing and karaoke. The Martini Bar and Crush, complete with ice-topped bar and juggling bartenders, make great pre-dinner cocktail spots.
The casino, located midship, seems impossibly small for a vessel of this size, but it gets the job done with a variety of slots and table games.
Michael's Club feels like a private men's club with cushy chairs, flat-screen televisions showing sports, and a bar stocked with more than 60 generic, international and craft beers, along with high-end Scotch and whiskey. Of course ladies are welcome. The piano, once a mainstay, has been removed, though a live guitarist may make an occasional appearance.
Up one deck is Cellar Masters, a wine tasting venue comprised of enomatic vino-dispensing machines. Taste wine on your own at any time or during a scheduled wine-tasting led by a sommelier.
Celebrity's enrichment and activity program, called Celebrity Life, is split into four categories -- Taste, Learn, Revive and Play -- but the terms aren't used in the daily Celebrity Today newsletter, and all the passenger sees is a variety of onboard programming. Taste activities include cooking demos and wine appreciation; Learn encompasses dance classes, language learning with Rosetta Stone, and computer skills workshops; Revive is just your typical fitness classes and spa seminars; and Play includes "Dancing with the Stripes" officer-and-passenger ballroom competition, trivia contests and pool games (weather permitting). Other activities include bingo, karaoke and Wii games.
Of the 1,085 cabins aboard Infinity, more than 80 percent are oceanview, and some 75 percent of those have balconies. The ship also offers a range of suites, from sprawling penthouses (1,400-plus square feet) to more petite but elegant Sky Suites, as well as 26 accommodations that are fully ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible.
Infinity's standard cabins, from the least expensive insides to outside balcony cabins, are well configured and nicely decorated with soft hues, elegant furnishings, rounded-end beds and comfortable seating options. Standard inside and outside cabins come in at 170 square feet. Balconies add 38 square feet of outdoor space. (The standard cabins on Infinity's Solstice-class fleetmates feature more interior and exterior space.)
The handful of Family Verandah cabins are at 271 square feet with disproportionate 242-square-foot balconies. Sliding doors with translucent windows separate the master bedroom areas from the living areas, where the kiddos can bunk on pullout couches. The huge balconies each feature two lounge chairs and a table with two chairs.
ConciergeClass cabins measure 194 square feet with 54-square-foot balconies. Concierge passengers receive extra perks, including a pillow menu, daily fresh fruit, sparkling wine on embarkation day, nightly hors d'oeuvres, use of binoculars, robes, Hansgrohe shower heads, handheld hair dryers, a Celebrity Cruises tote bag and expanded room service breakfast menus. Also included are the services of a concierge, priority check-in, use of an exclusive pre-departure lounge with free coffee and juices, express luggage service, priority disembarkation, shoeshine service and main/specialty restaurant seating preference.
Infinity's AquaClass cabins, added in November 2011, are the same size but come with different perks. In-cabin amenities include daily delivery of bottled water and tea, an upgraded room service menu, pillow menu, extra toiletries (shower gel, lip balm), use of plush bathrobes and slippers, and a Hansgrohe shower panel. Plus, AquaClass cruisers get exclusive spa privileges, such as access to dining in Blu, complimentary passes to the Persian Garden steam and sauna room, and on-demand wellness programming.
Infinity features four basic types of suites. Twenty-six Sky Suites come in at 251 square feet with a 57-square-foot balcony. They're essentially just bigger cabins with no separation between living and sleeping areas. Eight Celebrity Suites -- at 467 square feet with 85-square-foot balconies -- are true suites with separate sleeping, living and dining areas. The eight Royal Suites are 538 square feet with 195-square-foot balconies. Not only are there separate sleeping, living and dining spaces, but the spacious balconies each feature a whirlpool and cushy lounge furniture.
The two Penthouse Suites are each a whopping 1,432 square feet with a 1,098-square-foot balcony. You'll find a baby grand piano, butler's pantry, motorized drapes, entertainment centers, complimentary scotch and vodka, a master bath with a whirlpool tub and a second bathroom, and another whirlpool, bar and dining table on the balcony.
Stay in any of these suites, and you'll receive butler service; priority check-in, debarkation, tender service, restaurant seating and theater seating; afternoon canapes and tea service, and daily in-cabin specialty coffee; one or two complimentary specialty restaurant meals; and a welcome bottle of sparkling wine.
Of the 26 wheelchair-accessible cabins, five are inside, four are outside, eight are standard balconies, three are Concierge Class, and six are Sky Suites.
Cabin on Infinity consists of light woods and pastels, with added luxuries like little throw pillows on the sofas. Storage space is adequate for two people, with several closets for hanging clothing, small shelves next to the desk/vanity for books and other items, and two large cupboards under it. The only drawers are in the nightstands, which also have lamps attached to the top.
The bathrooms are large and well lit, with plenty of storage space for cosmetics and toiletries. Standard accommodations, Concierge Class and AquaClass cabins have roomy showers, while suites have whirlpool baths. There are wall-mounted hair dryers in the standard cabins; upper-category accommodations get handheld dryers, but there are no outlets for them in the bathrooms. You have to use them in the desk/vanity areas, which is kind of a pain if you aren't using that area for grooming.
There are two 110-volt outlets and two 220-volt outlets at the desk. If you bring a converter kit, you can convert one of the 220's to a 110 (or vice versa), giving you three outlets to use for sundry electronics like laptops, digital cameras and cell phone chargers.
Balconies in standard verandah staterooms are furnished with strapped chairs and small tables; Concierge Class and AquaClass balcony furniture has canvas pad covers, and suite passengers get a mix of mesh and wooden furniture.
Infinity's lido deck (Deck 10) has an inordinately large overhang toward the forward part of the ship and a series of angled overhangs toward the aft. They are so big that the ship was built with a row of stanchions that angle down from the overhangs. Rooms at the top level under the Resort Deck, therefore, get interrupted views and little sun. Although such rooms are great in almost all respects, they would be better with more sun and less interference with the outdoor vista. Also, while soundproofing is excellent from cabin to cabin, this is not the case with the ceilings, and being right under the pool deck can make for a noisy cruise.
All standard cabins come equipped with mini-bar fridges (for-fee), safes, telephones and interactive televisions with excellent programming (including CNN, ESPN, several movie channels, several in-house channels and TNT). The "interactive" part includes ordering room service (works well!), checking your daily bill balance and playing video slots and blackjack (for those who are bored and need to spend money gambling on a television).
The well-equipped Fun Factory is located at the aft end of the Sunrise Deck, and it has programs for kids, ages 3 to 17. Note: There are no facilities for teens, however, except for the adjacent video game room. (Teens do have their own full menu of programs though, called X Club.)
Participation in the kids' program is complimentary (with some exceptions) and is broken nicely into compatible age groups. Potty-trained children are welcomed from age 3 and join the Ship's Mates (3- to 5-year-olds). Cadets (6 to 8), Ensigns (9 to 11) and Teens (12 to 17) make up the balance of the groups. Age-appropriate activities are available for each, and trained counselors are in attendance.
Activities include dinosaur studies, sushi-making, miniature boat-building and treasure hunts, while indoor/outdoor Fun Factory facilities include climbing frames and ball pools, paddling pools and water chutes, computer areas (offering plug-in guitar lessons) and The Tower -- a tall, large-windowed space for teens at the prow end of Deck 11. Parents with children younger than 3 are invited to accompany their toddlers into the playrooms. (Infants who sail must be at least 6 months old as of the first day of the cruise. However, for transatlantic, transpacific, select South America and other select cruises, infants must be at least 12 months old.)
It's $6 per hour, per child, to participate in the "Afternoon Party" from noon to 2 p.m. on port days and/or the nighttime Slumber Party from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. daily. In-cabin baby-sitting is available for $8 per hour, for up to two children (12 months minimum) within the same family.Celebrity Infinity Fellow Passengers
Celebrity Infinity passengers tend to be sophisticated, well-traveled adults in the 45 to 65 age range, and indeed, the Celebrity experience is ideal for the "baby boom" generation. Most of the passengers are North American, with Britain and other European countries represented.
The two levels of dress on Infinity are smart-casual and formal. Four- to six-night cruises have one formal night; seven- to eleven-night cruises have two; and Twelve- to fifteen-night cruises feature three. Infinity's passengers typically dress for the occasion, which means you'll see a fair share of suits and tuxedos on men, and cocktail dresses and gowns on women. T-shirts, swimsuits, robes, bare feet, tank tops, baseball caps and poolwear are not allowed in the main restaurant or specialty restaurants at any time. Shorts and flip-flops are not allowed in the evening hours.
Celebrity automatically adds gratuities for your restaurant and cabin services to your onboard Seapass account on a daily basis in the following amounts: $11.50 per person, per day, if you're in a standard cabin; $12 per person, per day, if you're in Concierge Class or AquaClass; and $15 per person, per day, for passengers in suites. A 15 percent gratuity is added to all bar bills.
|Fitness and Recreation|
Infinity's main pool area, located on Deck 10 midship, features cushioned loungers, day-beds and wooden accents. The pool itself is divided into a shallow end for dipping and a deeper end for swimming; a circular lounge area sits on a raised platform in the middle. Anyone who wants to swim laps can do so early in the morning before the pools get busy. There are four hot tubs, a bar and table tennis on the port side.
A jogging track and shuffleboard can be found one deck up on Deck 11, along with a basketball court on Deck 12 at the top of the ship.
The 25,000-square-foot AquaSpa, operated by Steiner, is a destination unto itself. The sprawling complex features a generous-enough work-out room with floor space for fitness classes, the AquaSpa Cafe, the thalassotherapy pool (free of charge to use), comfy seating areas, the spa service and treatment areas and a beauty shop.
Spa services at the Steiner of London-operated facility include facials, massages, wraps and scrubs with specials offered on shore days. More unusual options include the Bamboo Massage, where bamboo shoots of various sizes are rolled and used to massage muscles. Celebrity also has a trained acupuncturist onboard Millennium. In fact, it was one of the first lines to introduce the now-standard cruise spa option. Celebrity Millennium has licensed doctors onboard and offers Restylane(R) and Perlane(R) treatments, as well as Botox.
Day-passes to the Persian Garden are free to AquaClass passengers and cost $20 per day for everyone else. (Cruise-long couples and singles passes can be purchased for a discount off the daily rate.) Spa services at the Steiner of London-operated facility include facials, massages, hair styling and nail treatments with specials offered on port days. More unusual options include the Bamboo Massage, where bamboo shoots of various sizes are rolled and used to massage muscles. Celebrity Millennium has licensed doctors onboard and offers Restylane(R) and Perlane(R) treatments, as well as Botox.
Celebrity also has a trained acupuncturist onboard Millennium. In fact, it was one of the first lines to introduce the now-standard cruise spa option. A special acupuncture area is located on Deck 7 with four treatment rooms.
The fitness area offers the usual cardio machines and weights. In the aerobics space, abs workouts and stretching sessions are free, but classes in Pilates, spinning and yoga are offered with an additional fee of $12 per person (plus 15 percent gratuity). However, some of the best workouts onboard are to be found in the dance classes, which are offered free of charge.
|Expert reviews are provided by CruiseCritic.com, an award-winning cruise community. This objective information can help you choose just the right ship for your next cruise vacation.| | <urn:uuid:dc88bfae-3854-4539-ad97-96eb2fa3de30> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cruises.orbitz.com/reviews/expertreview.asp?type=C&vessel_id=55&line_id=11&itineraryID=887111&startdate=&enddate=&dsc=y | 2013-05-18T06:31:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.935138 | 4,993 |
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Media Contact: Shelly Han
WASHINGTON—The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) announced today the following hearing:
“From Arab Spring to Coptic Winter: Sectarian Violence and the Struggle for Democratic Transition in Egypt”
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Room 210 Cannon House Office Building
Please join the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe for a heaing that explores the nexus between sectarian violence and democracy.
On Sunday October 9, 2011, 25 people were killed and more than 300 injured when the Egyptian military attacked a peaceful group of Coptic Christians protesting the burning of a church in Aswan. In what has been deemed the “Massacre at Maspero,” referring to the location of the demonstration, witnesses say the army fired on the demonstrators with live ammunition and plowed into the crowd with armored vehicles. The military denied the use of live ammunition and claimed that their soldiers were attacked by an armed mob. The military has arrested at least 28 people, almost all Copts, including prominent blogger Alaa Abdel Fattah, and brought them before military prosecutors. The hearing will focus on violence perpetrated against the Coptic Christians in Egypt, the implications of the events for that community and the current Egyptian leadership, and prospects for the consolidation of democracy in Egypt.
Witnesses Scheduled to Appear:
Mr. Michael H. Posner, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State
Ms. Dina Guirguis, Egyptian democracy activist and attorney and member of the Egyptian American Rule of Law Association (EARLA)
Mr. Samuel Tadros, Research Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute
Dr. Michele Dunne, Director, Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, Atlantic Council
The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is an independent agency of the Federal Government charged with monitoring compliance with the Helsinki Accords and advancing comprehensive security through promotion of human rights, democracy, and economic, environmental and military cooperation in 56 countries. The Commission consists of nine members from the U.S. Senate, nine from the House of Representatives, and one member each from the Departments of State, Defense, and Commerce. | <urn:uuid:0be94678-a562-4d34-8118-33d9917e5a5e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://csce.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=ContentRecords.ViewDetail&ContentRecord_id=1035&Region_id=56&Issue_id=0&ContentType=P&ContentRecordType=P&CFID=9165044&CFTOKEN=78430451 | 2013-05-18T06:51:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.946205 | 466 |
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Recent blog posts | <urn:uuid:73693bc6-b18d-451e-bbc4-fbc28b2f6722> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://csounds.com/user/register?destination=comment/reply/104%2523comment-form | 2013-05-18T06:20:01Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.868449 | 74 |
Not Early Release?
Assertions that prison realignment is “not an early release program” are deceptive.
Realignment changed penalties and the level of parole supervision for most felons convicted after November 1, 2011. It shifted the responsibility for tens of thousands of felons to counties where jail space is already filled to capacity, and changed the definition of who qualifies for community service programs. REALIGNMENT AUTHORIZES THE EARLY RELEASE OF THESE FELONS.
Convicted felons now sentenced to county supervision instead of state prisons include:
Career drug dealers
Habitual auto and I.D. thieves
Criminals with long criminal histories including felonies involving assault and firearms | <urn:uuid:07b99a79-c6bc-4efc-b098-8ed685a9cc17> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cssrc.us/web/4/ | 2013-05-18T05:26:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.907084 | 145 |
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The Huffington Post
By Joan Z. Shore
I am really dismayed by all this speculation about Fidel Castro's state of health -- almost like undertakers, waiting for the corpse. Will the disappearance of this man instantly change American policy, eliminate the embargo of nearly half a century, and appease the Cuban-Americans who are still feeling bitter and bereft?
Three years ago, I had the good fortune to visit Cuba.
I did not smuggle myself in via Canada or the Bahamas, as some of my friends and colleagues have done, but went under the auspices of the Chopra Foundation. It was one of those rare group visas issued by the American government for medical or cultural visits; they are almost impossible to get today.
After the three-day health conference, many of us stayed on for the rest of the week to visit Havana and absorb the country's atmosphere. We drank a lot of mojitos and danced a lot of salsa, puffed on fragrant Cohibas and bought souvenir T-shirts with Che Guevara's image.
Perhaps nowhere else on earth can you travel just 90 miles from your nation's border and find yourself plunged into another culture, another era, another world. Cuba is a fascinating blend of simplicity and complexity, the raw and the romantic, the practical and the lush. There are no commercial billboards, no neon signs, no strip malls. School children all wear plain red outfits with white blouses. Ancient American automobiles rattle along pock-marked roads, and many taxis are little more than a bicycle-rickshaw pedalled by a young man.
At the same time, one is surrounded by brilliant colors, opulent vegetation, round-the-clock music, and friendly people. Groups of musicians play on the streets, in restaurants, in roof-top cafès. There are no boom-boxes, no Muzac. Open-air markets sell colorful crafts and vivid, original art. Havana's long seafront promenade, the Malecón, is washed by ocean waves against a backdrop of elegant but decaying buildings.
The unfortunate economic truth, of course, is evident: there is very little money for restoration and new construction. Several families sometimes live together in one apartment, and people are allowed to use their homes as ad hoc restaurants, to earn a little money. Trained professionals (doctors, engineers, teachers) often switch to menial jobs (waiters or tour guides) because, with tips, they will actually earn more. A single dollar bill is a much-appreciated tip for many services -- and the dollar, in fact, is legal tender. There is no need to buy pesos. Medical care is excellent, and free to all, but simple supplies like Band-Aids, aspirin, vitamins are missing from pharmacy shelves. The foreign visitor is politely requested to bring these items and distribute them freely.
With the break-up of the Soviet Union, Cuba lost a strong trading partner and a major source of economic support. America has not stepped into the breach. In fact, what few people realize, it was America's rejection 47 years ago that caused Castro to turn to the U.S.S.R. Initially, Castro was not a Communist, and his uprising against Batista was tacitly approved and encouraged by the U.S. government. Three months after his successful revolution, he went to Washington to see the president. Eisenhower refused to receive him. Castro had a 15-minute talk with vice-president Nixon, and returned to Havana empty-handed. We know the rest of the story.
There is no bitterness or resentment today in Cuba against Americans. Cubans blame the American government, not the people, for the embargo that has isolated them and blighted their economy. Surely, they must also remember that under Batista their country was not fully autonomous: it was a playground for American tourists and a goldmine for American mobsters, who ran the casinos, the prostitution, and the drug trade. Sadly, as events unfolded, Soviet-style Communism replaced syndicated crime. Cubans have paid dearly for their revolution.
I wonder what America might have offered them in 1959? And what can we offer them today? Big Macs and iPods and Calvin Klein jeans?
I hope that Cuba, after Castro, will manage to establish democracy and at the same time keep its vibrant, unique culture -- that wonderful blend of African, Indian and Spanish. I pray that Cuba will not become an American clone or colony -- a target for unscrupulous developers and investors, a dreary suburb of Dade County, Florida.
After Castro, we should all make a toast, and mean it: 'Viva Cuba libre!' | <urn:uuid:492677f3-7703-44a4-920a-007c9b1bdab2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cubajournal.blogspot.com/2006/11/cuba-libre-american-hangover.html | 2013-05-18T06:30:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.959691 | 965 |
19 11 / 2011
The buzz at the front lines of the Versace x H&M opening is just as expected and it’s Bedlam all over Manhattan. Because the opportunity for label-conscious New Yorkers to snag something that carries the blessing of the Queen Mother of Eurotrash at H&M prices is too good to pass up. The Racked team has been liveblogging the inaugural in-store day of the highly anticipated collaboration since the early morning hours and the scene involved lines snaking around city blocks, wristbands for entry, and mounds of leopard print. Because I believe that the only thing worth waking up for that early on a Saturday morning is free food, I decided to follow the chaos from my couch. Perusing the H&M website, I refreshed my initial impression of the collab after viewing the sneak peak a few weeks ago. Ultra-body con dresses with hooker-mesh illusion panels up the side, studded leather jackets, and Kool-aid colored leopard print skirts scream the definitive message. THIS IS VERSACE!!
(From top left: “Stampa” Dress, $129; “Stampa” Jeans, $69.95; “Pelle Borchie” Skirt, $129; “Bottoni Oro” Dress, $149)
Dressing like an Albanian club owner’s trophy wife is not quite my thing, but different strokes for different folks. As long as the price is right, and it’s understandable that wallet-watching Versace fans will flip for this collection. Also, if I had the disposable income to spend on a Showgirls-style alter-ego wardrobe, I could see myself in one or two of the dresses:
(“Frange” Dress, $199; “Pelle Borchie” Leather Jacket, $299)
The one hitch about this high/low retail fusion is that the designer mandate allows the company to hike the prices up way beyond the H&M range. The cheapest thing on the menu is a pair of lame’ leggings for 29.99, while most of the dresses sell for $150-$300. No fooling. Donatella is playing a sick joke on every person braving the sudden drop in temperatures to wait for the release of her “accessible collaboration” with H&M. Nonetheless, people don’t seem to be discouraged from purchasing. The most money spent today on the merchandise was reportedly $9,000 according to Racked. And so continues the ironic cycle that Versace epitomizes, in which people drop more and more cash to make it themselves look cheap. Only now, it’s marginally cheaper to do so!
But Nomi Malone likes conspicuous consumption, and would resoundingly approve. | <urn:uuid:9a34b0a7-d778-461b-84d6-d49ce553aafd> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://culturecabaret.tumblr.com/tagged/Nomi-Malone | 2013-05-18T05:27:54Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.923158 | 588 |
created over 2 years ago | Tagged:
McDonald’s has moved away from the strategy of having regional variations of its menu, with the exception of the Northeast’s McLobster and a few others, instead establishing a more easily promoted national menu. But it still needs to test new items in a few select markets, and that process seems to be accelerating.
McDonald’s this week acknowledged The new McDonald’s flatbreads have fewer than 300 calories, slightly lower than in previous incarnations. The four varieties—each with grilled chicken—are Tuscan Tomato Basil (basil pesto, tomatoes, garlic aioli), Four Cheese (with a blend of Cheddar, Monterey Jack, mozzarella and fontina, plus garlic aioli), Southwest (guacamole, pico de gallo) and BBQ Bacon Ranch (bacon, BBQ Ranch Sauce, four-cheese blend).via Twitter that it is testing a four-item line of Chicken Flatbreads. Reviewed (very positively) by blogger GrubGrade in August when they were testing in Baltimore, the flatbread sandwiches now are getting a tryout in Nebraska and New Mexico as well. What’s under consideration are new versions of a menu item McDonald’s first introduced as a national limited-time offer in 2002 to very enthusiastic response. Taco Bell has a similar Grilled Chicken Flatbread item on its menu now, as does Subway.
The priced at $1.89, putting them 10¢ below the Angus Snack Wrap.
The flatbreads are similar to the Chicken Grande Wraps that McDonald’s also is testing. These full-size tortilla wraps are offered in Roma Pesto and Santa Fe BBQ varieties. Earlier this year, the chain tested a McBistro Chicken sandwich in Albuquerque, Baltimore and Omaha, Neb. | <urn:uuid:1123052c-70bb-438e-b035-46724d971ccb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://culturewav.es/public_thought/102397 | 2013-05-18T07:20:26Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931224 | 387 |
Posts Tagged ‘marine ecology’
Once I dreamed a dream of being an evolutionary biologist. As I imagined it, I would hang out in a natural history museum, comparing fossils to one another, taking notes on the minute differences, and piecing together the history of life. It wasn’t until a job fair years ago, when I babbled to an evolutionary biologist about morphologies, collecting specimens, and, pretty much word for word, “working in a dusty basement full of drawers of fossils,” that I realized it was an unlikely future. The scientist looked at me like I was nuts: “Um… that’s not really what I do. I work with DNA and genomes.” I pushed him further, but his answer was clear: The job I described did not exist anymore.
But while the job does not exist (or is a rare find at best), the specimens do. There are still huge archives at museums stuffed with bones, skins, ad infinitum. I am fortunate to have a friend who works at the American Museum of Natural History in New York in the mammals department. When I visited Catherine back in October, she was spending most of her time with the bat specimens, ensuring that they were in proper order and condition.
She gave me a tour of the place and I was blown away: I had always dreamed of walking into a room, stacked ceiling to floor with hippo skulls, and there I was! Catherine showed me the cleaning rooms, where fresh skeletons are picked clean by flesh-eating beetles; slid open a case in which hung tiger skins, as if it were her coat closet; and, by far my favorite, the marine mammal room, with massive whale vertebrae lined up on shelves. It’s funny to imagine a whale complaining of back pain, but there was even a pair of calcified vertebrae among the bunch.
After walking through the maze of rooms and seeing this vast collection with my own eyes, I couldn’t help but wonder: What are these even used for anymore? Certainly, education, but the museum was already packed with skeletons and stuffed animals without this backup. Catherine told me that sometimes researchers try to extract DNA from specimens, but that purpose alone doesn’t seem to make the best use of this huge collection. If taxonomy is now prescribed by genomics, are these collections, compiled and curated over centuries, going to waste?
In the past couple months, I stumbled upon three papers describing three different ways that these collections can be used to study ECOLOGY! (O, be still, my heart!) The first, in Marine Ecology, online on Feburary 16, 2011, argues for the use of natural history collections to inform us about past species assemblages of areas that haven’t been heavily studied — baseline data. The researchers used Saba Bank, a reef in the Caribbean Netherlands, as a case study, studying coral specimens collected by divers in 1972. In this older collection, there were five species of corals collected that are no longer found in Saba Bank, suggesting that this understudied reef may need greater protection.
This may seem like an obvious use – but the authors note that it’s relatively unexploited. This may be because of poor record keeping, or the difficulty of locating collections from a specific area that have been shipped off to another museum. Another problem is that, if earlier sampling methods weren’t written down, it’s hard to know how representative a collection is of the area. Divers, not scientists, collected the Saba Bank specimens, so they may not have been trying to take note of all the species there at the time. But finding five species that survived there previously but don’t now is very useful information, no matter the completeness of the collection.
Certain organisms can provide information about their growth through growth rings, which makes their presence in natural history collections useful for learning about environmental conditions. Robert Scott is remembered for failing to reach the South Pole before Roald Amundsen – and part of the reason he was so slow is that he was so busy collecting specimens and taking measurements for SCIENCE. During his 1901 and 1913 expeditions, Scott collected Cellarinella nutti, a bryozoan that develops growth rings. Because this species was collected throughout the twentieth century, scientists were able to date the rings based on collection date, and create a timeline of relative growth: did the bryozoans grow significantly more in one decade than another?
The scientists found no change in growth between 1890 and 1970, but a sharp increase since the 1990s, as they published in Current Biology on February 22, 2011. Based on studies in related species, they think that this growth acceleration is either related to (a) greater production of phytoplankton, the food chain base or (b) a switch in the dominant species of phytoplankton, which could alternatively be more nutritious, speeding their growth. If they’re correct, it means that these museum specimens provide evidence for a recent increase in carbon storage on the seafloor in the Antarctic.
Natural history specimens can also be useful for tracking the development of disease in an animal population. Avian pox is caused by a DNA virus (the aptly named Avipoxvirus) that causes lesions either externally, on feather-free areas, or internally, in the mouth, windpipe and lungs. Beyond the metabolically draining effects of the virus, the pox symptoms can cause trouble feeding, cleaning and breathing. The virus is carried by mosquitoes and has been linked to the extinction of Hawaiian bird species.
Avian pox has been identified recently in the Galapagos islands, affecting mockingbird, warbler, and finch species that are only found there. To figure out when the virus arrived to help trace the progression of the infection, scientists used natural history specimens. Digging through past collections, the researchers selected birds with lesions like those found on avian pox victims, and looked for viral DNA to confirm that these lesions were caused by the virus. Their research, published on January 13, 2011 in PLoS ONE, reports the earliest specimen with avian pox they found was infected in 1898, and that the infections generally followed the pattern of human colonization. This suggests that the virus has been spread not by mosquitoes moving between islands, but by chickens and other pox-carrying fowl brought by settlers.
These perhaps unexpected uses for natural history collections — to reconstruct species assemblages, extrapolate climatic or ecological variability reflecting growth, or trace a disease through a population — should force scientists to rethink their collection methods. Historically, these collections were created to answer a simple question: What species are out there? As a December 2010 paper in the American Journal of Botany notes (hat tip to Colin Schultz), this mindset often leads to (a) oversampling of rare species, as just one or two specimens can misrepresent their abundance proportionally and (b) undersampling of common species, since just a couple specimens will do.
But gathering fully representational collections is easier said than done. These are real people out in the field, digging in the dirt or seafloor and may not have the space or energy to haul back many examples of a single species. Plus, you can go too far in the other direction; there is also no need to destroy the ecosystem for the sake of fair sampling!
But it does make clear that the age of DNA and genomics does not exclude the need for sampling. To ensure that past collections remain useful as ecological tools, scientists need to keep sampling for the sake of future science.
Edit: Fabulous commenters leave links to relevant articles! They each get a gold star sticker
- Tracing the history of the parasite Wolbachia in butterflies using museum collections
- Utilizing museum specimens to map deep sea creatures
- Using bivalve fossils to study the latitudinal diversity gradient extending from the equator
>Barnes, D., Kuklinski, P., Jackson, J., Keel, G., Morley, S., & Winston, J. (2011). Scott’s collections help reveal accelerating marine life growth in Antarctica Current Biology, 21 (4) DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2011.01.033
Hoeksema, B., van der Land, J., van der Meij, S., van Ofwegen, L., Reijnen, B., van Soest, R., & de Voogd, N. (2011). Unforeseen importance of historical collections as baselines to determine biotic change of coral reefs: the Saba Bank case Marine Ecology DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0485.2011.00434.x
Parker, P., Buckles, E., Farrington, H., Petren, K., Whiteman, N., Ricklefs, R., Bollmer, J., & Jiménez-Uzcátegui, G. (2011). 110 Years of Avipoxvirus in the Galapagos Islands PLoS ONE, 6 (1) DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0015989
Steege, H., Haripersaud, P., Banki, O., & Schieving, F. (2010). A model of botanical collectors’ behavior in the field: Never the same species twice American Journal of Botany, 98 (1), 31-37 DOI: 10.3732/ajb.1000215
Ever wonder what benefit clownfish bring to anemones that make it a mutualism? At Sleeping with the Fishes, my marine ecology blog on the Southern Fried Science Network, I wrote about some new research about nutrient transfer in this symbiotic relationship between clownfish, anemones, and zooxanthellae. Excerpt below!
Anemones and clownfish: a true mutualism?
Of course anemones aren’t famous for their symbioses with zooxanthellae, but rather with the brightly-colored clownfish or anemonefish. Although anemones have nematocysts that they use to sting and shock their prey before consuming it, the anemonefish are able to swim among their tentacles unharmed. (We still don’t know how they develop this ability!) These little guys were made famous by the movie Finding Nemo to their own detriment, ironically, considering the message of the film. But I knew about anemonefish before they sold-out and became famous: in 1999, I wrote my 6th-grade research paper on these puppies!
The benefit to the fish in this symbiotic relationship is clear: living amongst tentacles armed with automatic stinging cells provides a lot of protection to this conspicuous (and tasty!) little fish. But what can a little fish do for an anemone? In my 6th-grade paper, I summarized a 1986 study by Dr. Daphne Fautin suggesting that they provide protection to the anemone:
Dr. Daphne Gail Fautin did an experiment in the Great Barrier Reef. She removed clownfish from their sea anemones to discover what would happen to the fish and the anemones. When she checked back the next day, the anemones had disappeared… It turned out that butterflyfish had eaten the anemones and the clownfish had swum away… The butterflyfish were able to feast on anemone because the clownfish weren’t there to protect their anemone by baring and chattering their teeth or making other threatening noises. Dr. Fautin’s experiment proved that the clownfish/anemone relationship is two-sided because the anemone protects the clownfish and the clownfish protects the anemone.
(I haven’t improved much in the past decade.)
Even as an 11-year old, I remember forcing myself to belabor this point. Despite the results of Dr. Fautin’s experiments, the protection of a non-threatening, bite-sized snack of a fish did not seem to be enough benefit to the anemone for this to be a true mutualism. Is teeth-chattering really the only thing that clownfish bring to the table?
Read on here | <urn:uuid:4d8463a0-f4ee-4fba-85a0-52077a2fb688> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://culturingscience.wordpress.com/tag/marine-ecology/ | 2013-05-18T08:08:27Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.948087 | 2,559 |
Prior to being a mom, I used to go to NYC with Crusaders Stacy and Elisa quite a bit. We have friends and family that live there, we love going to shows, and taking a day trip is so easy from our location. I ended up missing our annual spring overnight trip, which means that the last time I was there was when I was pregnant, a year and a half ago. Since I was craving a NYC girls’ trip and missing my friends, Stacy and I drove up for a day trip this fall.
Stacy did all the research and planned our very ambitious day…six cupcake stops, five of them in walking distance (5–15 minute walks). We arrived in the city and made our way to the East Village. Our first stop was Butter Lane Cupcakes.
Butter Lane Cupcakes:
The menu setup at Butter Lane Cupcakes was a little confusing at first. They offer three cake flavors (vanilla, chocolate, and banana) and then a long list of frostings to choose from. If they don’t have the combination you want already assembled, they will fix it up for you. When we first arrived there were people standing outside of the shop eating their cupcakes and it was crowded inside (always a good sign!), but it cleared out quickly with the quick service that staff provided. Stacy noticed a Foursquare offer on the first check-in for a buy 2, get 1 free, so we took advantage of it.
(Cupcakes from left clockwise: Chocolate with Chocolate Sea Salt frosting, Banana with Maple Pecan frosting, and Banana with Cinnamon Honey frosting.)
Banana with Cinnamon Honey frosting: Possibly one of my favorite cupcakes ever. I was really surprised because the frosting looked crunchy, but it wasn’t. After biting in I couldn’t believe how moist the cake was and it had the perfect balance of flavors.
Banana with Maple Pecan frosting: Stacy thought that the maple overpowered the banana cake (I didn’t think so), but she still loved the frosting. Same super moist cake that was on the dense side, because of the banana.
Chocolate with Chocolate Sea Salt frosting: Moist light chocolate cake with a rich, salty frosting and caramel drizzle. I would recommend this to anyone who loves the sweet and salty combination.
Prohibition Bakery is a basement bakery with just enough room to order your cupcakes, and a small bench inside. Luckily it was a beautiful day and the ledge leading down into the shop ended up being a great spot for Stacy and I to try our cupcakes. Prohibition Bakery only offers mini cupcakes at $2 each or three for $5.
(Top cupcakes from left to right: Margarita and Beer and Pretzel. Bottom cupcakes from left to right: Shiny Apple, Mulled Wine, and Birthday Cake.)
Margarita: I was surprised by how strong the booze in such a tiny cupcake could be! But, it was definitely a cocktail in cupcake form. This cupcake stuck to wrapper a little more than I like for minis (since every bit of cake you can get is precious). But any margarita lover would appreciate this treat. The salt was perfect, like a salted rim.
Beer and Pretzel: This cupcake didn’t stick as much to the wrapper, but it had a weird taste. Maybe it was the beer that’s used? I usually like beer breads and cakes, but I wouldn’t recommend this cupcake.
Shiny Apple: Stacy said this cupcake tasted just like a Washington Apple shot (whiskey, Apple Pucker, and Hot Damn—instead of cranberry juice). She gave me a bite and I thought it was like spiked apple cider. It became our favorite here at Prohibition Bakery and was perfect for the autumn season.
Mulled Wine: This mini treat was sweeter than the others, but definitely had a mulled wine taste. It was really good, but not a favorite.
Birthday cake: Stacy said the vodka in this cupcake was strong and that it tasted exactly like what it was, a vanilla cupcake with vodka. The cake was moist, but a little crumbly.
Sugar Sweet Sunshine:
After eating lunch at One More Thai (across the street from Prohibition Bakery and highly recommended), we met up with Guest Crusader Jen and her husband James and all headed to Sugar Sweet Sunshine. We were pleased to see that there was seating inside, although it was packed, because more friends, Joanna and Greg, joined us. It was nice to be able to find a few chairs to hang out for a little while. Sugar Sweet Sunshine offers more than just cupcakes, and is also known for their pudding trifles. We were all shocked to see that the regular size cupcakes were only $1.75 (especially our New Yorkers friends who are accustomed to higher prices).
(Cupcakes from left to right: Pistachio and Pumpkin.)
Pistachio: I got this cupcake out of curiosity, but was a little wary since I’ve never had a pistachio cupcake. I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh nutty flavor, and moist, light cake. Because of the uniqueness, this may have been one of my favorite cupcakes of the day (coming in behind the Banana Honey Cinnamon from Butter Lane).
Pumpkin: Stacy picked this cupcake and said the cake was also moist and light, especially for pumpkin, which tends to be heavier.
(Cupcakes from left to right: Strawberry cake with Peanut Butter Frosting and Banana.)
Strawberry with Peanut Butter frosting: James got this cupcake and really liked it. He was surprised and pleased that it tasted just like PB&J sandwich, even having a taste of sandwich bread.
Banana: Jen ordered this cupcake and thought it was good. She was expecting the cake to be moister for banana, but it had a good flavor and a tasty, light cream cheese frosting. Jen isn’t usually a fan of cream cheese frosting, so the fact that she liked this one speaks volumes.
Coconut (not photographed): Greg and Joanna shared this cupcake. Joanna isn’t much of a sweets person (I know, I don’t get it either!), but they both enjoyed how light and moist the cupcake was, and that it wasn’t overly sweet.
BabyCakes is a well know vegan bakery that uses spelt instead of wheat flour and doesn’t use refined sugars, but sweetens their cupcakes with agave nectar. They also make gluten-free vegan options, and all of their cupcakes are soy-free. The prices varied and were on the higher side. With the price and limited selection Stacy and I decided to share one. We were expecting it to be over $4, based on the price marked on the display, but it ended up being $3.75 (still the highest price of the day for a normal size cupcake). My guess is the specialty ingredients make BabyCakes cupcakes cost more, but it was our least favorite of the day and perhaps the worst cupcake we’ve ever had.
Vegan Lemon: Stacy recognized the texture of the cake was a lot like Sticky Fingers vegan bakery, which we tasted over the summer. The cupcakes at BabyCakes are served cold, which is always a downside. Our first bite did not make a good impression and we only took a second bite to try and pin point the flavors. Despite the lack of wheat flour, the cake tasted floury and also bitter, probably from the spelt. It was hardly sweet, almost like a sugar cookie that suffers from too much salt and flour and not enough sugar in the batter. The frosting, which can sometimes redeem a cupcake, just made it worse. It was sticky, like a runny fondant that solidified due to being chilled.
While we commend BabyCakes for their commitment to being all-natural and offering a healthier, non-processed option on the cupcake scene, it just doesn’t work for the normal cupcake lover.
Little Cupcake Bakeshop:
Little Cupcake Bakeshop was the biggest venue we visited during our cupcake crawl, with the most seating. Just like most of the bakeries, they were very busy, perhaps the busiest one we visited since people linger at the tables. They have a large display for their cupcakes and other confections, areas to watch bakers apply frosting and prepare confections, and a full service coffee shop. Although they were packed, they are also very well staffed. The selection looked amazing, so it was hard to choose. Their cupcakes range from $3–$3.50 for normal size cupcakes, but that’s average in NYC.
(Cupcakes from left clockwise: Mott Street, Peanut Butter and Jelly, and Luscious Lemon.)
Peanut Butter and Jelly: Stacy finally got a PB&J cupcake, one of her new favorites, and thought this one was delicious. She really liked how the jelly was swirled in the cake.
Luscious Lemon: I choose this cupcake, which had a vanilla cake and was topped with lemon butter cream and a meringue swirl. While this cupcake was well made and tasty, I think the name is a little deceiving. I was expecting much more lemon flavor, but the flavor was subtle. But after the previous lemon cupcake from Babycakes, I still thought it was refreshing and just what I needed.
Mott Street: I took the Mott Street home with me, because after hearing the description, I had to have it. It was a vanilla bean cake soaked in Illy espresso and topped with mascarpone cream cheese frosting, then dusted in cocoa powder. The girl who described it compared it to tiramisu. I thought this cupcake was really great, with a light, fluffy, and moist cake.
Baked by Melissa: October Flavor of the Month
There was no way we could go to NYC without visiting Baked by Melissa, especially will all the locations they have now. Crusader Elisa even gave us her order before our trip, so we had to bring some back for her. We headed uptown, to Grand Central Station where there is a Baked by Melissa next door (a convenient location and also nearby to the restaurant our friend, Liz, works at and where we had dinner). The only new flavor we tried was the flavor of the month (read previous reviews here).
For October, Bake by Melissa offered a carrot cake with mini chocolate chips. Stacy’s thoughts were, “It was interesting because it tasted like carrot cake, but it had no visible carrots, or any of the other usual carrot cake fixings (like raisins or nuts). It was tasty, but the chocolate chips kind of overpowered it.”
We had a great day, filled with cupcakes and friends, so what more could we want? Stacy and I discovered a few new cupcake places that we now call favorites. It would be hard to choose just one place to visit. Super Sweet Sunshine had their amazing prices and above average cupcakes, Butter Lane had their unique menu approach that allowed for amazing flavor combinations, Prohibition has booze, and Little Cupcake Bake shop has treats that give the feeling of high-end cakes. So depending on where you are in the East Village or Lower East Side and what type of treat you are looking for, we recommend checking out any of these four great places. Then stop by Baked by Melissa for bite size cupcakes to-go. I can’t wait for our next trip to NYC, which will no doubt include cupcakes, but maybe next time we’ll also fit in a Broadway show!
- Posted by Cupcake Crusader, Jenn (Westminster, MD) | <urn:uuid:bbeca760-d92d-43b5-a8b3-46a063d1b90c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cupcakecrusaders.com/tag/lemon/ | 2013-05-18T06:55:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978917 | 2,506 |
ALL Orders Require a Minimum of 24 Hours Notice Local Delivery to The Following Cities in the DFW -Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex: Rockwall, Rowlett, Forney, Heath, Lavon, Wylie, Fate, Dallas, Uptown Dallas, Lake Highlands, Downtown Dallas, Murphy, Allen, Plano, Frisco, McKinney, Richardson, Addison, Mesquite, Las Colinas, Highland Park, Farmers Branch, North Dallas, Sachse, Garland, Irving, Carrollton, Please Inquire before placing an order if your city is not listed.Call 972-999-9262 or Email Us
CupCake FabuLous Review
Let Me Tell You My Sugary Secrets...
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**We have a minimum order of ONE DOZEN Cupcakes on ALL Orders** With atleast 24 HOURS Notice!
We are a delivery only bakery! We deliver within a 30 mile radius of the Dallas area. Cupcake Delivery in Dallas, North Dallas, Downtown Dallas, Uptown Dallas, Lake Highlands, Highland Park, Plano, Richardson, Rowlett, Wylie, Murphy, Rockwall, Sachse, Garland, Heath, Forney, Irving, Las Colinas, Grapevine, Frisco, Allen, Addison, Farmers Branch, Mesquite, Royse City, Fate, Carrollton, Mckinney, and surrounding DFW areas.
We strive to accommodate all of our customers, but we do need at least 24 hours notice on an order, and if it is a busy week, during the Holidays we'll need at least 48 hours notice...
For Cupcake Toppers or any type of Specialty CupCakes , we'll need at least 48 hour notice. The more advanced notice we get, the better since we bake all of our CupCakes "Made to Order" and only have available what our customers have ordered each day.
We DO NOT OFFER SAME DAY DELIVERIES!Any questions, contact us at [email protected] or at 972-999-9262 for information or if you have questions. For a faster response send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!! | <urn:uuid:eaaf4415-661a-4329-a191-f6e3925b87ba> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cupcakefabulous.blogspot.com/2012/03/fun-for-easter-eggs-and-peeps.html | 2013-05-18T06:25:43Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961472 | 1,679 |
cURL Mailing List Monthly Index Single Mail
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On Wed, Dec 13, 2000 at 08:08:10AM +0100, Joern.Hartroth_at_comma-soft.com wrote:
> Hello Daniel!
> I think I'm speaking for the majority of the curl user community when I say
> that there's nothing to feel sorry for, quite to the contrary.
> You've been doing a marvellous job in developing curl into one of the most
> useful net-oriented tools in existence, and your responsiveness to feature
> requests or bug reports has never left anything to be desired.
> The latest "flood of memory bugs" is exactly what you called it, a temporary
> inconvenience. And concerning the memory leaks discovered in and around
> urlglob the fault lies with me, anyway. Your memory debugging initiative as
> a whole is certainly appreciated because it will ultimately lead to a more
> stable tool.
> So quit rambling and get back to coding :-)).
yeah, get back to coding! :))
-----[ Domenico Andreoli, aka cavok
--[ 3A0F 2F80 F79C 678A 8936 4FEE 0677 9033 A20E BC50
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Welcome to my show, “Viewpoint with Eliot Spitzer,” which offers a nightly opportunity to take a deeper look at the day’s news — from politics to Wall Street, civil rights to sports — with guests who are experts and thought-leaders in their fields.
As New York’s former attorney general and governor, I relish debate. I won’t shy away from giving you my view, but perspectives from all sides will be welcome on “Viewpoint.” Far from an exchange of talking points, debate on the show will serve a greater quest to find the facts that inform.
Whether taking a CEO to task for passing the buck on the 2008 financial meltdown or talking with political strategists to get behind the campaign rhetoric, I hope you’ll find “Viewpoint” thought-provoking and illuminating. My experience as a prosecutor will guide me as I ask incisive questions and demand real answers, and my tenure as New York’s governor will inform my analysis of the 2012 race.
So please join us every Monday — Thursday at 8/7c on Current TV, as we get tough on Wall Street, track the economy and map the political landscape to discover exactly what it all means in real-world terms. | <urn:uuid:8d144528-7c81-4d75-9a7a-80d5f2144f43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://current.com/shows/viewpoint/blog/welcome-to-viewpoint-with-eliot-spitzer/ | 2013-05-18T07:13:21Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958823 | 263 |
Second meeting, Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters
Gore panel watches revived tug-of-war on FCC regulations
Originally published in Current, Dec. 15, 1997
Testimony before the so-called Gore Commission generally avoided common ground Dec. 5, as commercial TV execs argued against new regulations for DTV, while public-interest folks pushed for new rules and the return of old ones.
Members of President Clinton's Advisory Committee on Public Interest Obligations of Digital Television Broadcasters listened politely to disagreeing panels of public-interest advocates and broadcasters. For its second meeting, it was still "information-gathering."
CPB President Bob Coonrod, one of six speakers, reminded the panel that pubcasters "do the things you want done." But otherwise the only talk about public TV responded to questions from CPB Vice Chairman Frank Cruz, a member of the committee. Cruz asked for comments on spectrum fees to support pubcasting--an idea floated over the past year by House telecom Chair Billy Tauzin (R-La.).
Paul Taylor, key advocate of required free air time for political candidates, called the idea "a promising piece of a solution." But Taylor also wants rules putting freetime speeches in front of the bigger audiences that tune to the major TV nets. That's "the place to find the 'information-poor'," he said.
Andrew Schwartzman, president of the Media Access Project, vehemently opposed a spectrum fee for DTV, comparing it to "buying your way out of the draft."
Also opposed was NBC President Robert Wright, who said commercial TV is already fulfilling many public-interest objectives--with its news coverage, for instance.
Wright also objected to any increase in FCC obligations for his industry. If stations end up airing single-channel HDTV, which he sees as inevitable, they will have extra transition and simulcasting costs with no matching increase in revenues. Multicasting on DTV is another matter, Wright said, and one he opposes. But as long as DTV remains a single-channel service, "there is no occasion to create additional obligations" for broadcasters, he said.
Wright said the government should be looking to cable companies as well as broadcasters. If it's looking for "a bank to rob" to support public-interest services, cable is large, growing and government-licensed, he said.
Schwartzman disputed the view that DTV is a downer for TV firms. Stations are selling at stunning prices despite well-known conversion costs ahead, he said. "People are investing because digital is going to be a great business."
Mark Lloyd, director of the Civil Rights Telecommunications Forum, testified from his own experience as a broadcaster that the FCC's old ascertainment rules were valuable for pushing broadcasters to know their communities, and should be reinstated in a less cumbersome form. (Wright said ascertainment isn't needed any more because commercial broadcasters "have to be running around like mad" learning about audience needs just to do well in business.)
The committee reconvenes Jan. 16 for speakers on digital technology and on education and pubcasting. Topics are not set yet for later meetings--March 2, April 14 and June 8. The White House directed the committee to complete its report by then, but committee leaders plan to ask the White House for a deadline extension.
Jose Luis Ruiz, executive director of the CPB-funded National Latino Communications Center, attended the meeting as its latest member.
To Current's home page
Earlier news: Advisory committee appointed, October 1997.
Later news: Advisory committee members discuss swaps that would support public TV or other third-party programs, January 1998.
Outside link: Advisory committee's web site.
Web page created Feb. 21, 1998
The newspaper about public television and radio
in the United States
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July 3, 2012
Breakingviews: Qatar evolves into active not activist investor
By Una Galani
Qatar's demand that Glencore sweetens its offer to merge with Xstrata doesn't mean the Gulf state has suddenly become a gutsy activist investor. But it does show that Qatar won't sit...
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Welcome to Custom-Fireplace.com. Here you can find information, pictures and deals on electric fireplaces and much more. Browse our site and find articles, photo gallery, the best offers from the most reliable retailers and wholesalers, certified and verified. We strive to provide the best online search and shopping experience. If you can dream it we can find it.
Electric fireplaces are extremely popular because they use up-to-date technologies and of course have safety options. Such fireplaces can be easely installed and are not difficult to maintain. Electric fireplaces are equipped with power saving facilities and many of them are actually versatile to change the allocation as well. Still it is substantial to learn how to select the proper design and size of electric fireplace for your house.
In contrast to a real fireplace, an electric one is blowing heat directly into the room, which induces the circulation and prevents the warm air from raising to the ceiling. Moreover, such type of fireplace has no chimney. Just like regular gas fireplaces, electric ones can be switched on and off by pressing the button. Furthermore, almost all of the electric fireplaces come with a remote control, so you can operate them even without getting out of your recliner or sofa.
Before picking out the fireplace, remember to meter the wall of the room where you plan to put the item, both its width and height. The dimensions of the fireplace must be between half to one-third of the height of the room's wall, and approximately the same for the accessible open width, not considering any cabinets, shelves or doors that may occupy the space of the wall.Watch video to learn more about electric fireplaces
electric fireplace in wisconsin how do electric fireplace work amish electric fireplace corner electric fireplace electric fireplace dealers in tennessee realistic electric fireplace Fireplace Inserts vent free electric fireplace corner electric fireplace Electric fireplace Gas Fireplaces indoor electric fireplace | <urn:uuid:838de49e-73f6-4f5c-9b65-7169634743f3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://custom-fireplace.com/electric-fireplace/ | 2013-05-18T06:33:54Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.906731 | 387 |
w-0nderlaand-deactivated2012082 asked: You are actually so pretty! I'm so jealous ur so damn gorgeous!!xx
Anonymous asked: holly you are so gorgeous! i would kill to look like you omg xoxox
Anonymous asked: haha don't you snack?? i snack like crazy i eat my whole house down after school omg.
Anonymous asked: Why so pretty:3
Anonymous asked: What have you eaten for today?(:
Anonymous asked: How do you curl your hair? It's so lush x
Anonymous asked: HOLLY I LOVE YOU AND YOU ARE AWESOME(: yeah ignore those who doesn't treasure you xxx you're so pretty and hot any guy who doesn't want you is a blind ass haha. | <urn:uuid:99d12ba5-1351-42e4-a472-28f8c4e1ff4f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cute-cunts.tumblr.com/archive/2012/7 | 2013-05-18T06:56:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.918231 | 163 |
View Full Version : Went to the doctors office today....
13-03-09, 04:57 PM
And got some really bad news.
As some of you know, I was diagnosed with kidney problems. I was given treatment with medications and a dietplan, but to no avail
The treatment was unsuccessful, and now I face the prospect of maybe having to go through dialysis or even a transplantation. My doctor wants to go for a final option, which might hold me being hospitalized for some days on end, with another big dose of Prednison's big cousin running through my system. But the doc thinks this might not work at all...
So...well...anyone wanna donate a kidney?
13-03-09, 06:46 PM
oh shit oh shit oh shit
Thats really really bad. OMG. Are you going to die Enthilza?
I know I like CDG, but i don't want YOU to be a CDG, not yet no no no man!
13-03-09, 07:02 PM
Entilzha is not going to die feetboy, One of my mates, two years ago had the same prognosis with his kidney problems, yes he had a tough time for 8 months with the heavy duty medication and the trips to the hospital twice a week for dialysis and after being told he might have to wait up to 5 years for a suitable transplant, he did get very depressed, but now only two years on he has had his transplant is fit and healthy and is getting married in july, so stay posotive, things will turn out fine i'm sure. All it takes is time. P.S. YES I said he's getting married, unfortunatly he is straight and after his illness he lost a lot of weight and is fit as fuck and has a realy cute ass - for a straight guy.
13-03-09, 11:26 PM
ho no!!! sad! sad! sad!....hope you get better.
14-03-09, 02:26 AM
i am so sorry, entilzha. don't worry. you are not going to die. there's a saying in Chinese: people who think about death all the time never die easily. you are a necro who love death as much as sex. i am sure you won't die so easily.
17-03-09, 07:13 PM
Go Entilzha (http://cutedeadguys.1stfreehosting.com/forums/member.php?u=4) man for that final option your doc suggested, you are young and strong, I am sure you will make a full recovery.
Be patient and think positive, sometimes it takes months but you will get over this shit.
Keep us updated.
Powered by vBulletin® Version 4.2.1 Copyright © 2013 vBulletin Solutions, Inc. All rights reserved. | <urn:uuid:fed8c338-e5c5-4d29-a6c1-45db4cde8e39> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cutedeadguys.net/archive/index.php/t-1991.html | 2013-05-18T05:53:58Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.964136 | 618 |
As soon as the referee announced the end of Uruguay’s 1-0 loss to Great Britain in their final group match on Wednesday, their captain, Luis Suarez, fell down to his knees due to the disappointment of crashing out of the 2012 London Olympics.
He remained in that crouched and dejected position until one of his teammates approached and helped him get back on his feet.
This little post-match incident highlights just how badly Suarez wanted to stay alive at London 2012, and its importance to him, his football crazy countrymen, and fans betting on Olympic football, this summer.
Before the London Games, Uruguay had not participated in the Olympics’ football tournaments for 84 long years. Having decided to end their exile from the event this summer, they were determined to go deep and even capture a medal if possible.
This South American country has only won two gold medals at Olympics and their football team in the 1924 and 1928 events won both of them.
Hence, it would not have been a shock if they had managed to find themselves on the podium at the end of the tournament. After all, Ondino Viera, a famous Uruguayan football coach had once famously summarised his countrymen’s enthusiasm for the sport by saying: “Other countries have their history. Uruguay has its football.”
Their current football coach, Oscar Tabarez, had also seemed pumped up for the tournament and had reportedly shown his players the archived footage of Uruguay’s wins of the 1924 and 1928 to get them motivated.
La Celeste arrived in London will full of confidence and an abundance of talent on their roster but, unfortunately, they couldn’t translate that into winning football on the field.
At the start of the competition, they were expected to win their group with ease, but a solitary win, followed by double defeats, meant that their hopes of replicating their forefathers’ Olympics success came to an instant halt in the very first hurdle.
Great Britain’s hopes for the Olympics are looking somewhat brighter than Uruguay’s: Betfair is backing Becky Adlington to win the gold medal in the women’s swimming event.
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Are you a new dad, old dad, soon to be dad or just wish you were a dad? Check out Like A Dad, a blog that touches on doing parenting....like a dad. | <urn:uuid:e61a505e-f45f-4d85-a00a-f61eefbef131> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cuzoogle.com/2012/08/03/uruguay-feeling-olympic-blues/ | 2013-05-18T08:08:29Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.98196 | 512 |
This week’s episode is full of vulnerability. Finally, we find our favorite characters exposed and out of their comfort zone. But don’t fret! As usual, we are left with a happy ending!
Carrie doesn’t seem all that broken up about having Manhattan ripped from her fingers, but she clearly can’t hide her worry over Sebastien. And I have no idea why! Sebastien is being the best boyfriend any girl could dream of this time around. Why in the world is she crying so much?! She’s afraid their relationship is a ticking time bomb. Goodness woman! Just be happy that this guy is being good to you now and you can be the real Carrie! Honestly, she needs to fight for her Manhattan life, not this relationship. Sebastien is great, but we want Carrie Bradshaw in NYC, not Carrie Crybaby. Luckily, Sebastien sees through her silly worries and saves the day (and the relationship) once again! Sebastien just might be the right guy for her after all. He brings out the real Carrie and wants her to be the real Carrie. You go, KiddShaw! Also, huge shout out to the legendary Chelsea Hotel!
Speaking of historic references, the Rocky montage with Mouse and Donna had me cracking up. Mouse dawned the red jumpsuit and the training headband while training in a diner and eating raw eggs. YUCK! But seriously, Mouse, why are you so crazy about being #1? In the grand scheme of things, being #2 isn’t so bad. Be happy to come second to such a charming, young stud as Wes! He really is the total package, and I hope we see more of him in the remainder of the season.
I would also love for Walt to truly realize his sexuality! I guess it does take someone outside to bring out the inner feelings, but I never expected Donna would be the one to do it. Dawning her Victoria’s Secret pink lingerie, Donna finally brought out the truth about Walt and his distaste for the female touch. Maybe now that someone truly believes he’s gay, Walt will be able to embrace his true, awesome, fabulous self!
On a side note: Why does everyone want a piece of Papa Bradshaw? Seriously, who knew being a widower could be such a turn on?! Keep doing whatever you’re doing, Tom, cause it’s working. And thanks again for caving so quickly and letting our beloved Carrie get back into Manhattan.
As happy as I am that Carrie is back in Manhattan, I am a tad worried about that super “we’re all perfectly happy now” ending to this episode. It left me with two questions for everyone to mull over:
- Where’s Maggie and why didn’t anyone mention her?
- Why should I watch the next episode if everyone is so perfectly happy?
Read more Carrie Diaries reviews here.
Kristel Lugo/CW44 Tampa Bay | <urn:uuid:468a1063-269a-4ea7-ad99-5f30980f9639> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cwtampa.cbslocal.com/2013/03/12/the-carrie-diaries-episode-9-review/ | 2013-05-18T06:51:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.952553 | 627 |
Comics for May 28, 2001 – 05/28/2001 – Wow. 725 strips. Campus Safari has ended in this incarnation. It began a LONG time ago as one of my first comics and I want to redo it with better art and updated writing.
I had to stop doing it primarily to avoid ‘fixing’ events in Akaelae and closing off avenues of story that I may want to change and well.. I don’t really intend to CHANGE the majority of Campus Safari. I intend to ADD to it! | <urn:uuid:479df536-c444-47f2-8352-396729f56644> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cyantian.net/csafari/2001/05/28/05282001/ | 2013-05-18T07:20:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.97326 | 113 |
I’ve been blogging for years, and I have well over 10 blogs on WordPress.com, self hosted WordPress and Blogger. No, I do not try to update them all, just as I would not try to wear all my clothes on the same day. They are there for when the mood strikes me to post about xyz; I go to the blog that applies and post. But recently I began teaching my online courses out of WordPress blogs. I started with WordPress MU (multi-user), which was pretty close to a nitemare, but recently when WordPress updated to 3.0 the networking and multi-user features were built. Well, sort of. There’s one little step that needs to be done to activate it, but that was a lot easier to do than setting up WordPress MU.
Setting this all up as my course management system to replace Blackboard required a lot of experimenting. In fact, in this second semester of using it for my online classes, I’m still experimenting. For instance, with my ENG101 course last fall I installed BuddyPress to add more networking features, but in my ENG102 and ENH295 courses I did not.
BuddyPress: Social networking in a box. Build a social network for your company, school, sports team or niche community all based on the power and flexibility of WordPress.
I decided I liked the added social networking features of BuddyPress, but I wasn’t comfortable with using it or the look of it just yet, so I put that on hold. Instead I’ve been experimenting with some other plugins to add similar features.
One of my favorite plugins is Who’s Online. I have 72 students in 3 sections of ENG102, and it helps to know who has logged in recently. With this plugin I can add a widget to the sidebar that displays all 72 students’ pictures, names and last logged in status. Or if they are currently online, it will display that. I love looking at all the avatar photos of my students, and it’s easy to take “online roll call” with this feature. What would really be cool is if I could click on the photo or name and be taken to a profile page to read more about each one. Oh wait, that’s what BuddyPress does. Ah, I’m not ready for that just yet. Maybe next semester.
So I’m not really stalking my students. That was a pretty good attention getter though. Don’t you think? If you’d like to see a pretty good WordPress site running BuddyPress, you should check out @Teach42′s Fit42 Challenge. Not only is he running BuddyPress, but he also installed the Achievements plugins that allows him to award badges to users for completing various tasks. It’s really cool. I’ll save more on that for a later post. | <urn:uuid:282c1729-654d-41b2-b7a3-c374ba8b59da> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cybersalonaz.com/blog/category/buddypress/ | 2013-05-18T06:20:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953734 | 605 |
Although Iran may try to sponsor terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, the United States is well-equipped to prevent them, said Michael Leiter, former National Counterterrorism Center director, on April 12.
Leiter, who served as NCTC director from 2008 to 2011, spoke on a panel at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington, D.C.
A system of preventative, investigative, intelligence-gathering and outreach work in the United States works well "especially when you have time to prepare, which is what we largely have now," in regards to an attack by an Iranian proxy, he said.
John Cohen, principal deputy coordinator for counterterrorism at the Homeland Security Department, touted the sophisticated counterterrorism operations in major city police departments as an indication that the United States can protect itself from threats.
In recent months, DHS, along with the FBI and NCTC, has conducted outreach to the American Jewish community to encourage vigilance and share information about the risk that Iran poses, Cohen said. He suggested that efforts like this, plus the system Leiter described, add up to a comprehensive strategy that effectively protects the nation from attacks.
Leiter also said that even though the vast majority of counterterrorism resources have been focused on al Qaeda for the last decade, those skills and capabilities transfer to other threats.
"It's not a perfect hand-off," he noted, but the structure, tools and communication techniques apply to any terrorist threat.
Leiter also said that a Iranian cyber attack is more likely than an attack on U.S. soil. He pointed out that sanctions have disconnected Iran from the international financial world, so a cyber attack on financial institutions may be especially attractive. Plus, it is easier to find proxies to conduct cyber attacks than kinetic attacks, and Iran has a history of carrying out attacks via proxies.
But he said other countries exceed Iran's cyber capability and that the United States can defend against the kind of cyber attacks Iran is likely capable of. | <urn:uuid:ac53f5d7-3c7c-44e7-b4d0-e79733684fd8> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cyberwarzone.com/cyberwarfare/us-counterterrorism-system-can-handle-iranian-threat-homeland-say-experts?page=325 | 2013-05-18T05:25:46Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956518 | 401 |
I’ve had a cyclocross bike for a while now. I was shooting to do my first race last year but a motorcycle took me out. A year later, I’ve accomplished another cycling goal.
Cyclists in general like to suffer… seriously suffer. In fact, I think the more we suffer, the better we feel at the end of the ride. You with me? If so, you must try cyclocross.
The whistle start sends you off into a lactic burning sprint. Soon after, you feel your lungs pushing their way up your throat searching for more air. Your mouth is so dry from the dust storm created in the first turn, you push your tongue around your cheeks trying to find some relief. That’s about the first 60 seconds… then you settle in for 29 more minutes of an all out grind. Yep, just like I titled it, “gut-wrenching fun.” Man, did I have a blast. My fitness isn’t where it should be… but I was tired of messing around. I needed to experience my first cyclocross race. So what was I thinking just before the start?
I’m thinking, “I’m not really sure how much pain I’m about to put my body through.”
Out on the course, I named this potting soil hill…
Here’s the face I made each time I conquered potting soil hill…
Wait… here’s a closer look. I’m calling it my cyclocross growl…
Wait again… I believe my good pal and his friends are laughing after witnessing my cyclocross growl up potting soil hill.
Anyway… I felt I kept a pretty good pace tackling my first cyclocross course.
Thanks to my good friend and sopro cyclist, Brian Sain, I had some pretty good coaching on what to expect and how best to approach it. But you’re still wondering… if this was a race… how’d you do? Well, I finished 57th out of 63 cyclists. Sure I wanted to finish better but I’m not complaining. I rode without a crash, without a mechanical and with my pride… because I would have never finished if I hadn’t signed up.
So, what to do as I prepare for my next race? (Yes, I’m hooked and you will be too if you try it.) Time to crank up the training.
There’s nothing like hitting the greenway on the trike. I was sitting at my desk in the newsroom when my wife sent me this pic. Wishing I could be pedaling with my little buddy!
“The bicycle has a soul. If you succeed to love it, it will give you emotions that you will never forget.”
- Mario Cipollini
“It’s yourself you’re climbing. If you don’t want to know, stay at the bottom.”
Need For The Bike
On September 29th, I was truly in the best shape of my life and pedaling the 101 mile Bridge to Bridge ride in the beautiful North Carolina mountains. Twenty-four miles in… I was descending a mountain road. I never saw mile 25. There was really no time to react. I remember seeing the burgundy color of the motorcycle’s gas tank turning into me. I heard the crunch. That was about it.
Cruising close to 30 mph… my bike stopped dead. I took flight. I’m not sure how many feet I flew but my back took the brunt of the pavement landing. My first thought… get up and get back on the bike. But that thought was quickly pushed away by pain… intense pain. It was in my right hand, right leg and lower back.
I wasn’t scared. I had a comforting thought knowing I’d be OK… I didn’t break my back… I would still be able to walk. Considering the speed and impact, I am truly blessed! It was a quick response by EMT’s and volunteer firefighters. It seemed within ten minutes of the crash, they had me in a neck brace and on a backboard. I called my wife from inside the ambulance on the way to the ER. She was on her way to the finish, cowbell in hand, to cheer me up the climb of Grandfather Mountain. She was miles away… but she was right there with me.
Fast forward almost seven weeks later. The crash wasn’t good for carbon. My 2007 Tarmac is basically a wall ornament.
So, with my leg healing and the Doc’s “ok” to get back on the bike… it was time to head to the shop to get a new ride. My wife was right there with me. I’m comforted knowing I can get back in the saddle and climb my way back to being in the best shape of my life. Even better… my biggest supporter will be pedaling next to me on some of my first rides back.
Sorry shadow… second place for you today.
Another successful year at 24 Hours of Booty. I’m so grateful to the Sain Family as I pedal with them to remember Aaron, to honor my mom and dad… and so many more. Thank you all again for your loving support and generous donations! While watching the video… look for Denise, a brain cancer survivor. She’s on a tandem bike with her husband. What makes it even more inspirational… Denise told me she found out before Booty her cancer had come back. But she pedals and continues her fight. People like Denise make me push even harder… adding more and more miles every year! Inspired? Please consider joining us in 2011!
24 Hours of Booty 2010 from CycleHere on Vimeo. | <urn:uuid:04ce83b9-e708-4723-bc53-b8d6a6bb745b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cyclehere.wordpress.com/ | 2013-05-18T05:17:41Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967089 | 1,237 |
Portrait of the collie as a young pup.
When someone wants to know what the point is of working so hard to conserve working drives and temperament.
When someone questions my sanity for jumping on an airplane and flying across the country, then driving over the Cascades in the fog and into the high desert, so that Pip could meet the exact stud dog I wanted.
This is why.
Pictured above: Young Audie, when his name was Andy. Janeen's dog, just biding time at my house where he happened to be born, waiting for me to get around to taking him home. | <urn:uuid:91b45f7f-235c-48ee-b643-a35ca34e449e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cynography.blogspot.com/2009/06/this-is-what-i-breed-for.html | 2013-05-18T05:24:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.967942 | 127 |
Great Stuff for Union Rabble Rousers
I have a soft spot in my heart for the Wobblies. There is something so pure about wanting to overthrow the government and to eliminate all social classes. When did we lose our resolve to such big ideas? Would ANYONE put their life on the line for ANY cause these days? At least in the U.S.?
Nah...we're too easily bought off. Myself included. We've traded in our political zealotry for a steady paycheck and the pursuit of the "American Dream" -- paid for with credit obtained at the interest rate CitiBank says I gotta pay.
And that makes this link to REALLY COOL UNION HISTORY STUFF even more important to look at. So we can remember what it was like to go after something with everything we've got and risk losing it all. Damn! That's an exciting thought. Look this over and GET FIRED UP!
Thanks to OmieWise | <urn:uuid:8c850bfd-16c8-46b5-8848-33085e0f59e7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://cyphering.blogspot.com/2005/10/great-stuff-for-union-rabble-rousers.html | 2013-05-18T06:20:07Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.957933 | 202 |
Hi, my name is Mike. And I am a recovering statist. Through the redeeming power of anarchocapitalism, I’ve gone two years without advocating a single drop of state intervention. You see, I came to admit that I was powerless over the state — that my addiction to it had rendered my life unmanageable. And I came to believe that an idea greater than statism could restore me to sanity.
My addiction to the state started in high school. I saw that all the coolest people — Naomi Klein, Tom Morello — wanted me to drop out of free society and free exchange. They always seemed to know what was best for everybody else, and I wanted to be smart like them. So, I started experimenting with statism.
In university, I got into the hard-core stuff: socialism and communism. All of my friends were doing it. I thought we were so revolutionary with our union buttons and our “Free Tuition Now” banners. Calling for state intervention to solve every social problem let me avoid thinking about my own problems.
In 2007 and 2008, I got hooked on the hypnotism of state theater. I gobbled up every YouTube clip of the US Democratic nomination fight I could get my eyeballs on. Everyone I knew thought Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton would save the world. And when that nomination bottle was empty of all surprise, I couldn’t stop; I just starting using the Republican nomination to get high.
But somebody had mixed some crazy stuff into that contest, as I bet you know. The clean stuff hit me hard, and I hit rock bottom.
I woke up under my state-funded grad-student desk, heaped high with the papers for my state-policy-recommendation thesis, knowing that my black hole of student debt was papered over only by state scholarships, and I saw what I had become.
All of my friends were still users. So, it was hard, but on the Internet I found other people who were clean. I started volunteering and getting involved.
In 2009, I got hired as a copyeditor for the Mises Institute. At first it was just something to keep my browser busy, so that I wouldn’t drift back into statism. But then I found out I could read and talk with great anarchists all the time, people who helped me see the source of my problems and stay on the wagon. The Mises Daily was fun and challenging and uplifting every day.
My life has started to come back together. I can spend time with my family now without even getting that itch to regulate something. I feel free again.
And today, I get to start work as the editor of the Daily Anarchist. I’m here to share the road with people who’ve already got the message, and I can’t wait to share the cure with those still doing tricks for a fix. I want to help the whole human race remember what it means to be free from addiction to the state.
So, send me your stories, your experiences, your take on the world. This is the Daily Anarchist, and this my rehab. | <urn:uuid:7c3cd822-ff76-4bd6-a1fe-fc6377b581a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailyanarchist.com/2011/09/23/the-daily-anarchists-new-editor/ | 2013-05-18T08:08:02Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972622 | 653 |
‘I never made any remarks other than horse,’ the boy said in his testimony
Assistant principal was looking for a picture posted by another kid
Boy’s effort to save world thwarted; principal’s story allegedly keeps changing
‘She will always get teased,’ school official allegedly advised
15-year-old threw gang signs after beating up Las Vegas middle schooler
Senior Obama adviser partners with ‘Born This Way’ organization
With the Romney bullying story, the mainstream media has sunk to a new low.
The critically acclaimed documentary “Bully” explores schoolyard bullying.
Its agenda will deliver another blow to the idea that people should take personal responsibility for the things that they do.
Lawmaker says social network leads to children ‘exposing themselves’ and ‘bullying’
School choice allows kids who attend violent public schools to transfer to safe private ones.
‘She was wearing 16-inch heels. She was eight feet tall … It was a little intimidating’
‘Every single American — gay, straight, lesbian, bisexual, transgender — every single American deserves to be treated equally in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of our society’
“It is all being done under the guise of ‘bullying’”
Christian group: Christie's position against gay bullying could turn off social conservatives - TheDC
Family Research Council president says potential presidential candidate could repel social conservatives because he approved anti-bullying legislation
After gay bullied teen takes his life, the Grammy Award winner says bullying should be against the law
The popular kids channel starts anti-bullying movement to reach out to young viewers
Bill would require local schools to report bullying of students with disabilities to federal government
White House pressures schools, principals, to creep on student profiles
Obama's bully pulpit - TheDC
White House seeks government monitoring of children’s speech | <urn:uuid:d205f2f8-1c72-4550-a565-cfa4f1b3c16a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailycaller.com/buzz/bullying/ | 2013-05-18T07:24:49Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.951197 | 405 |
Rebecca Miller Ffrench of Phoenicia sweetens family ties with dessert recipe book
“Sweets for the sweet” — as well as the grumpy, BFFs, children, grandparents, neighbors, nosy and otherwise, bosses, employees — and anyone else who craves a little sweetness.
Author Rebecca Miller Ffrench, in her debut cookbook, “Sweet Home,” has all of them covered. But she also offers insights into making an ordinary day a celebration to remember for a lifetime.
In a delightful — and sweet interview (Ffrench had brought along as a treat for the newsroom a heavenly-scented cardamom cake) — the Phoenicia author discussed the impetus for the book, the tribulations of recipe success and making recipients feel special with small, but thoughtful, details.
“I come from a heritage of dessert lovers,” Ffrench, a food writer and stylist, said in a recent interview. She said her grandparents shared time together over dessert and, at home, her mother’s kitchen was always redolent with the fragrant aroma of fresh-baked brownies, or some other foil-wrapped treat, waiting on the counter.
“Growing up, dessert was really important in my family,” Ffrench said. Main courses came and went, but “desserts stayed,” she added.
“I want to instill that same essence of shared time in the kitchen with my own children,” Ffrench said.
She recounted an unexpected encounter with a four-legged sweets lover. She had been baking maple cookies for hours and had left the kitchen window open, she said.
“I was in the front of the house, when a heard a huge crash,” she said. She went to the kitchen to investigate and found the whole window was gone. Looking out the back door, she saw a rather large black bear heading quickly into the woods.
“The bear had ripped out the window!” Ffrench said. Continued...
She encourages families to save menus even for modest occasions, date them and store them in a specific place to pull out to share or recreate if the opportunity arises.
“We are such a transient people. We’re losing touch with our heritage, our roots,” Ffrench said. “Looking back, it was such a slower time. We need to slow down and bring our families together over something even as simple as dessert.”
Ffrench observed with regret that the tradition of weeknight desserts has been lost. But, she added, parents are beginning to acknowledge the loss of family time and sharing over dinner and are seeking ideas from the past to cherish moments in the present.
“There was a time when store-bought and ready-made were not available,” she said. “Many people are returning to homemade, and nostalgic desserts are a good place to start.”
Ffrench said she is a home baker with more than 20 years of practical experience. “I’ve been baking since I was 10,” she said. For the cookbook, she had experts professionally test each recipe.
Ffrench was a former contributing writer for Conde Nast’s Cookie, with her children’s party how-tos appearing in the magazine for four years. She appears regularly on “Good Morning America,” NBC-TV’s “Today in New York,” as well as NBC’s “Today” and ABC’s “Live with Kelly” and other television programs.
Ffrench has worked for 20 years in the publishing industry for such publications as Conde Nast Traveler, Martha Stewart Living, Fodor’s travel guides and Town & Country magazine.
Ffrench said her Norwegian heritage brought home to her the idea for “Sweet Home.”
“My great aunt died and left me her journal,” Ffrench said. The journal was not only filled with a lifetime of memories and cherished events, she added, it also had recipes handed down by generations of bakers.
“All those wonderful recipes would have been lost if my aunt had not taken the time to write them down in her journal,” Ffrench said. “I didn’t think much of the journal upon receiving it, except how lovely it was to have such an old family book in my possession.” Continued...
Then, a short time later, she began to read it, studying the entries, imagining her great-grandmother cooking from the now-tattered pages that once were new and pristine.
The journal began a dialogue that Ffrench had longed to start for years, she said, adding she was able to spend time on the phone with her grandmother, Aline Koebernick, 91, using the recipes to start a conversation.
“The stories that unfolded were unbelievable,” she said. “I learned of feuds, family traditions and idiosyncrasies.”
Her grandmother was relieved to learn that Ffrench was the keeper of the journal, she said.
“She had sent me two rosette irons to make a delicate Norwegian cookie,” she said. “I never used them and had put them away. My grandfather recently had died, so my grandmother had more time to spend with me on the phone.”
Ffrench said she pulled out the rosettes to try the cookie recipe. “I had my grandmother on speaker phone in my kitchen coaching me,” she said.
She began to collect and record recipes from her mother and grandmother, according to Ffrench, as well as her mother-in-law, other relatives and friends. She also baked them. Recipe-by-recipe, a book gathered momentum.
Ffrench said she broached the idea to the publisher, Kyle Books. “The company is trying to grow in the U.S.,” she said. “I feel so lucky to have worked with such fine editors and designers.”
The 160-page cookbook, with about 80 recipes and beautiful photographs, is divided into four sections: Preserving, celebrating, giving and creating.
“It was clear, once the recipes were gathered, that the book fell easily into those sections,” Ffrench said. “My heritage was evident in the baked goods my family cherished,” Continued...
She also said other families value different traditions. The “preserving” chapter would give readers ideas for documenting their own family history, Ffrench added.
“Celebrating” shares ideas for holidays, birthdays and other important milestones in families, along with suggestions to carry on traditions so they become part of celebrations for future generations, Ffrench said. “Giving” offers trusted recipes that are great for gift-giving and travel well, she added. There also are inventive ideas on wrapping, packaging and sending sweets.
Some people are reluctant to make a dessert, Ffrench said, because all they want is a “taste. You don’t have to eat the entire dessert. Sometimes, a sliver is satisfying. Then, give it away. It’s more about sharing.”
Finally, in “creating,” Ffrench encourages families to start their own traditions unique to them. “These foods, these recipes are a way to tell stories about a family,” she said, adding that the recipes, with stories attached, open the door to a family’s history.
“Don’t wait just for the holidays,” Ffrench said. “Make every day a celebration.”
And, don’t bake just for guests, Ffrench said, noting that baking often becomes part of the fabric of family.
Ffrench offers numerous suggestions on ways to make even the slightest occasion special. “Decorate with tissue flowers,” she said. “Even a note or card tucked into a homemade dessert makes someone feel special.”
In addition to birthdays and anniversaries, the occasion can be as significant as a promotion, a sports victory or good grades on a report card.
“My parents always did this for me, and it made me feel happy and special that someone cared enough to do this,” Ffrench said, adding that she carries on the tradition with her family. “I learned from my parents to do this for other people.”
Ffrench had advice for those who inherit cherished items, such as the rosettes from her grandmother.
“Every year, make rosettes” or something from your heritage, she said. “It’s a wonderful way for adults and children to bond and share. It also gives everyone something to look forward to every year.”
“Sweet Home” is available now at The Golden Notebook and other local bookstores, as well as Barnes & Noble and Amazon.
Further information about “Sweet Home” may be obtained by visiting www.sweet-home.com.
See inaccurate information in a story? Other feedback and/or ideas for us to consider? Tell us here.
Location, ST | website.com
National Life Videos
- Dick Trickle, former NASCAR driver, dies at 71 (7185)
- Kingston High School crew coaches can keep jobs, board decides; athletic director's suspension lifted (4407)
- Law & Disorder (May 17, 2013) (3262)
- Kingston's Trolley Museum marking 30th anniversary (video) (1177)
- Kingston baseball primed for postseason (video) (1076)
- Rosendale resort proposal clears state hurdle (895)
- Saugerties taxpayers off the hook for drainage project's costs (689)
- Group raps Hinchey over change of heart on Cantine Dam viewing (63)
- Dick Trickle, former NASCAR driver, dies at 71 (55)
- Catskill 3500 Club members hike region's highest peaks (video) (9)
- Kingston High School coaching volunteer charged with rape after alleged sexual contact with two teen girls (9)
- Injured turkey vulture rescued in Kingston is released after rehabilitation (video) (8)
- Rhinebeck Aerodrome ready to fly (video) (7)
Recent Activity on Facebook
Life Editor Ivan Lajara talks about living in the Hudson Valley, language, the Web, cats and even politics. But he shouldn't.
Official blog of Nancy Donskoj, Kingston Main Street Manager.
New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly's blog was started to promote her new book, published by Chronicle, and has evolved into writing and cartoons about anything. | <urn:uuid:62456031-1ae5-43c1-a787-11ce93faa694> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2012/06/14/life/doc4fd912c3282b1512994924.txt?viewmode=fullstory | 2013-05-18T06:56:36Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971773 | 2,303 |
'A Christmas Carol' opens Saturday in Woodstock
Holiday spirits won’t be the only thing soaring when the musical version of “A Christmas Carol” opens for the first of five performances starting Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at Woodstock Playhouse, 103 Mill Hill Road, Woodstock.
In this production presented by Woodstock Playhouse Productions, the Ghosts of Christmas will fly Scrooge about the stage. courtesy of magical flying effects by the Las Vegas effects company Flying by Foy.
Under the direction of Randi Conti, the cast features a corps of professional actors return from Woodstock Playhouse’s summer presentations. The cast includes Tony Mowatt as Jacob Marley, Tim Russell and Mallory Cunningham as Bob and Mrs. Cratchit, Equity actor Noah DeBiase as the Ghost of Christmas Present,and Douglas Farrell as Scrooge.
With lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, joined with Alan Menken’s score and Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens’ book adaptation, the Charles Dickens story dances, laughs and sings onto the playhouse stage. It will all be complemented by an orchestra under the baton of Brendon Shapiro.
Additional performances will take place this Sunday at 2 p.m., Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at 7:30 p.m. and Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $28, $32 and $36. Audience members can take advantage of photo opportunities with Santa and Dickens characters in a winter wonderland.
Call (845) 679-6900 or visit www.woodstockplayhouse.org for more tickets or more information.
See inaccurate information in a story? Other feedback and/or ideas for us to consider? Tell us here.
Location, ST | website.com
National Entertainment Videos
- Dick Trickle, former NASCAR driver, dies at 71 (7185)
- Kingston High School crew coaches can keep jobs, board decides; athletic director's suspension lifted (4407)
- Law & Disorder (May 17, 2013) (3262)
- Kingston's Trolley Museum marking 30th anniversary (video) (1177)
- Kingston baseball primed for postseason (video) (1076)
- Rosendale resort proposal clears state hurdle (895)
- Saugerties taxpayers off the hook for drainage project's costs (689)
- Group raps Hinchey over change of heart on Cantine Dam viewing (63)
- Dick Trickle, former NASCAR driver, dies at 71 (55)
- Catskill 3500 Club members hike region's highest peaks (video) (9)
- Kingston High School coaching volunteer charged with rape after alleged sexual contact with two teen girls (9)
- Injured turkey vulture rescued in Kingston is released after rehabilitation (video) (8)
- Rhinebeck Aerodrome ready to fly (video) (6)
Recent Activity on Facebook
Life Editor Ivan Lajara talks about living in the Hudson Valley, language, the Web, cats and even politics. But he shouldn't.
Official blog of the WFF. Each year film and music lovers from around the world gather for an innovative variety of films, first-class concerts, workshops, celebrity-led panels, an awards ceremony, and fantastic parties. | <urn:uuid:67755de2-fea6-4ef6-a8c5-af0c585c3b16> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2012/11/23/entertainment/doc50ae6cd9d1dc6743463767.txt?viewmode=fullstory | 2013-05-18T06:56:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.886698 | 696 |
Friday, February 15, 2013
By DAVE MALACHOWSKI
ARTIST: The Margo Macero Project
ALBUM: It Is What It Is
(no label listed)
Glens Falls singer-songwriter-guitarist Margo Macero has been making waves way up north lately, and now her circles will start to widen with the release of her CD. “It Is What It Is.”
Music is in Macero’s DNA, her uncle, the late Teo Macero, was a famed producer known for his landmark work with Miles Davis (“Kind Of Blue,” “In A Silent Way,” “Bitches Brew”) and Dave Brubeck (“Time Out”). It kicks of with “Colors In the Sky (You Say).” a lush LA-style rocker with Macero’s capable voice singing of a love gone wrong. Mid-way through, however, there’s an explosion — Macero’s soaring guitar. Her chops, phrasing and power are jaw-dropping, and the throaty, round tone unique and enticing.
Soon, the tables turn in “You Are The One.” Here, it’s her emotional voice that steals you away in this strong song about love gone right. Her free-spirit ode “It Is What It Is” has a retro vibe (as does many of the others) and an expansive chorus. The slinky guitar fills and solo just add to the enjoyment. The exhilarating, self-penned “Dream On Boulevard” is a highlight. It’s a soulful, bluesy ballad that will give you chills as Macero’s passionate vocal delivery and luxurious long notes hit home, while the dramatic “Make Believe” is a fitting closer, majestic and grand.
Macero is simply spectacular. While her voice and guitar may battle for attention, it’s we who win. Well done.
David Malachowski is a guitarist, producer and freelance journalist living in the Hudson Valley. The Freeman seeks CDs by local artists or artists appearing locally for review. Please send all CDs (please, no CD-Rs or demo CDs) to Daily Freeman c/o Preview, 79 Hurley Avenue, Kingston, N.Y. 12401 | <urn:uuid:5e3bfa21-4311-4258-bab6-6a3c98e2afc3> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dailyfreeman.com/articles/2013/02/15/entertainment/doc511d24cb3ca7e328665197.prt | 2013-05-18T05:31:13Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.920133 | 500 |
I am a big fan of this series of books on the Victoria Cross. There are literally hundreds of books out there about the VC, and with many hundreds of winners there are plenty of subjects to write about. The problem I find is, that often we read about the same or similar stories in books. Some of the VC stories are well known – and for very good reasons, of course. But isn’t it great to read about some of the lesser-known deeds as well? Therefore I think it’s quite a nice touch to cover all of the Victoria Crosses awarded for a particular campaign, in one volume. This particular volume looks at the Battle of Passchendale – more properly, Third Ypres – fought between July and November 1917. A remarkable 61 VC’s were awarded, to men from Britain, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and South Africa. There were a couple of VC winners at Passchendaele with strong Portsmouth connections.
James Ockendon was a 26 year old action Company Sergeant Major in the 1st Royal Dublin Fusiliers, who won the Victoria Cross at ‘t Goed ter Vesten Farm on 4 October 1917. Born in Portsmouth, Ockendon had joined the ‘Dubs’ pre-war in 1909, and was serving in India when war was declared. When the Battalion were recalled in 1914, he joined the 29th Division and subsequently fought at Gallipoli, before being sent to the Western Front in 1916. Apparently on the eve of Battle, Ockendon’s Battalion were adressed by a General, who asked ‘who is going to win a Victoria Cross tomorrow?’, to which Ocekdon replied, ‘I am, sir, or I will leave my skin in dirty old Belgium’. Two months previously he had been awarded the Military Medal. When a platoon officer was killed by a Machine Gun and another wounded, Ockendon found himself in charge of his company and took it upon himself to charge the position, killing all but one of the Germans. He chased the survivor for some distance before bayonetting him. After the attack Ockendon gathered the survivors of his company, and headed for ‘t Goed ter Vesten Farm. Although they were met by heavy fire, Ockendon somehow managed to convince the Germans to surrender. Ockendon wad described as a quiet, unassuming man, and was feted when he returned to Portsmouth on leave later in 1917. He was discharged from the Army in 1918 after suffering from the effects of Gas. James Ockendon VC MM died in 1966, at the age of 75. His son, also called James, is still a member of the Portsmouth Royal British Legion, and to this day Ockendon’s VC is the only one that I have seen outside of a display case.
Dennis Hewitt was serving with the 14th Battalion of the Hampshire Regiment, the 1st Portsmouth Pals, when he won the Victoria Cross at St Julien on the first day of Third Ypres, on 31 July 1917. Born in London, his maternal grandfather was a deputy lieutenant of Hampshire, which might explain why he joined the county regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1916 after studying at Winchester College and then Sandhurst. At the age of 19 he found himself commanding a company, in the second wave of the attack near Steenbeck. Resistance was stiff along Pilckem Ridge, and Hewitt tried to re-organise his company, despite being badly wounded by a shell blast. Refusing treatment, he led the company on to the next objective line, and although the objective was secured, Hewitt became a casualty in the hail of machine gun fire. He has no known grave, and is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial. He might not have strictly speaking been a Portsmouth lad, but he died serving with and leading many a young man from Portsmouth.
Montague Moore was serving in the 15th Hampshires, the 2nd Portsmouth Pals, at Passchendaele. Born in Bournemouth in 1896, he went to Sandhurst in 1915 at the age of 18. Commissioned into the Hampshire Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1916, he was wounded in the leg at Messines Ridge in 1917. Back in time for Third Ypres, he led 120 men in an attack at Tower Hamlets on 20 October 1917. They captured the objective, but suffered heavy losses. They remained on the objective overnight, and were shelled the next day by British artillery, who thought that they had all been killed. Eventually Moore had only 10 men left. Moore and his party sat out the rest of the day and the next night, and returned to the British lines under the cover of the morning mist, after being in no mans land for almost 48 hours. Their return was greeted with amazement. Moore retired from the Army in 1926, and retired to Kenya, where he died in 1966.
All of the stories are very well written, and have been researched in fitting detail. It’s a very inspiring read. Of course, I’m a big fan or researching, writing and reading individuals stories, whether they be decorated or not. They all have something different to teach us. I’m thinking out aloud here, but wouldn’t it be interested to see a book of ‘near misses’ to the VC sometime?
- Portsmouth-based soldier’s 1914 VC sells for £276,000 (dalyhistory.wordpress.com)
- Victoria Cross sells for £276,000 (bbc.co.uk)
- Victoria Cross to fetch £140k (scotsman.com)
- Recognising the Portsmouth Pals Battalions (dalyhistory.wordpress.com) | <urn:uuid:03aa1dc4-4a70-4865-8f6c-03bc9e23c46a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dalyhistory.wordpress.com/tag/german/ | 2013-05-18T06:31:07Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981431 | 1,195 |
Monday, September 1, 2008
Knaus Continues To Learn The TV Game
SPEED viewers have watched Chad Knaus work alongside of Larry McReynolds and Bootie Barker on NASCAR Performance for several seasons. Talking about the most detailed and intricate technical issues associated with the sport seemed to be a natural for Knaus.
It was interesting this season when SPEED decided to add Knaus to the re-vamped Monday night show now called This Week In NASCAR. This show features conversation about a wide variety of issues, almost none of them technical.
New host Steve Byrnes was feeling his way through this program when it first began and the pathway was a bit rough. Working with Michael Waltrip, Greg Biffle and Knaus proved to be a challenge.
Added to that task was the format that SPEED demanded. After a very brief chat, Byrnes and his panel offered a thirty minute preview of the race that was six days away and never touched the highlights from just the day before. Needless to say, it did not work with the fans.
While all the behind-the-scenes chaos was going-on with the format, a funny thing happened on-the-set. Waltrip and Knaus began to develop a relationship that continues to evolve. Waltrip discovered that Knaus could take a joke and actually had a sense of humor. Knaus discovered that the only way he was going to survive on this TV series was to learn to ignore Waltrip on a regular basis.
The resulting on-air dynamic has been fun to watch and played a major role in making Monday nights on SPEED interesting again. It also helped that the network executives finally relented and let the race review lead the show. It made a big difference.
This week, Byrnes, Waltrip and Knaus were all tired from a long California weekend and a three hour time zone shift. Waltrip started slow, but got himself back on-track by suggesting California go to restrictor plate racing immediately.
Of course, this resulted in Knaus trying to find the words to disagree while not gloating on the fact he had the dominant car all weekend long. It was too late, Waltrip was gone off on a tangent and Byrnes was laughing so hard he could not talk.
"I can't believe we still have a show," said Knaus while rubbing his temples and shaking his head. Byrnes and Waltrip had long since gone to "giggle land" and the movie references were flying. For veteran viewers of this show, it was somewhat ironic that Knaus sounds more-and-more like a former TV partner of Waltrip.
Kenny Schrader spent many Mondays shaking his head at Waltrip's comments. Eventually, Schrader developed a style of ignoring Waltrip just like Knaus is trying to perfect. This week, Knaus cut-through the clutter and the chaos like a veteran TV professional.
The Richmond preview featured some excitement after a very boring weekend at California. The TWIN production team pulls the best footage to back-up the comments from the panel and this week was no exception. Just seeing the three-wide racing, hot tempers and racing action served to finally help fans actually look forward to a COT race.
A key element of this program's success is the features and interviews that the NASCAR Media Group can put together. They have all the resources from the track and the NASCAR footage vault, so things like the outstanding feature on Clint Bowyer and his dad can result. I have the feeling we might see that one again on RaceDay.
As this program goes forward, Knaus is clearly going to grow his role as the voice-of-reason while Waltrip just continues to be himself. These two have already combined for some memorable moments this season and things should only get better. If the TV executives will just let them come back next week, of course.
The Daly Planet welcomes comments from readers. Simply click on the COMMENTS button below and follow the easy instructions. The rules for posting are located on the right side of the main page. Thank you for taking the time to stop by. | <urn:uuid:10eb5c1d-3a22-439a-9b1e-ef9cca2b8c43> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dalyplanet.blogspot.com/2008/09/knaus-continues-to-learn-tv-game.html?showComment=1220379960000 | 2013-05-18T06:56:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976933 | 863 |
If I’m a sarcastic asshole when I talk to you its either because I really like you and feel comfortable teasing you
Or I really hate you and don’t care if you know it
Good luck figuring out which one
i’m literally so happy and surprised that my aunt is flying up just to attend college visits/accepted students days with me in two weeks. I was just asking on a whim because I didn’t think my mom could come because she has work and all, but next thing I know she books her ticket up here. It was kind of pricey, but she said it’s worth it (: and because she is in need of a mini-vacation. Woot, looking forward to this! Now I can catch up with her and my brothers can have a break from her because i know they hate how strict she is with them. | <urn:uuid:84663255-82a8-48d9-9352-435f71e74b6d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dana-nguyen.tumblr.com/ | 2013-05-18T05:55:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.988305 | 184 |
this is the arrow of destiny. reblog this and see what comes up next. this person/saying/thing will have something to do with your future
omfg i got a couple in bed god bless life
last time I reblogged this i got cereal so I can’t wait to see what I get this time
SHERLOCK SERIES 3 BITCH
LAST TIME I GOT MUSIC WITH WORDS I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND.
THAT WAS NOT AN INVITATION TO IMMEDIATELY POST MUSIC WITH WORDS I CANNOT UNDERSTAND.
WHAT WILL I GET THIS TIME???
The post above was suprised patrick.. I don’t understand someone please explain this to me.
Oh fuck it’s an Augustus Waters quote
“There are things between Daisy and me that you’ll never know, things that neither of us can ever forget.” - Tom Buchanan
Favourite show of all time.
On April Fool’s day everyone on tumblr should change their icon to different variations of Nicolas Cage’s face
Or all follow Cole Sprouse on Twitter, then unfollow him the next day and say it was a social experiment
everybody reblog this
spread the news
Page 1 of 48 | <urn:uuid:fca7685b-033f-43c7-a8c4-e2290fd95bf0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dancecraziness.tumblr.com/ | 2013-05-18T07:13:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.854555 | 274 |
Much of the Dandemutande website is temporarily off-line while we recreate ourselves in a modern idiom.
The Forum (email listserve) is very active with concert and workshop announcements and music discussions. Subscribe for free.
Major sections of the site such as the Catalog & Discography, Forum Archives, and Resource Guide will be reborn soon — with bells on.
In the meantime, if you have any questions about Zimbabwean music recordings, musicians, instrument makers, or discussions, please don't hesitate to ask. | <urn:uuid:ebd064cf-8b23-4600-b37c-24a89bbcfb9b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dandemutande.org/catalog/?track=pachinyakare&catno=386 | 2013-05-18T06:24:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.884016 | 107 |
notice what’s going on in the video around the 2:00 mark: a whole stageful of musicians, ranging over at least a span of 60 years of age, takes up bows and dives into the music. No one’s tracking them in an FMS (Fiddle Management System); no one’s worried about the failure to capture and embed Shareable Audio Objects. People put time and effort into becoming better at an activity they find worthwhile.
Dave Ferguson via http://www.daveswhiteboard.com/archives/5314
Hat tip: Stephen Downes, http://www.downes.ca/cgi-bin/page.cgi?post=59600 | <urn:uuid:8e7126fd-e128-4fde-9a0a-233dec976712> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dangerouslyirrelevant.org/tag/dave-ferguson | 2013-05-18T05:01:04Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.889024 | 143 |
Esquire’s Chris Jones has written a thoughtful post about the hazards of journalism following revelations that CBS News reporter Lara Logan was beaten and sexually assaulted during the celebration in Cairo’s Tahrir Square last Friday. I recommend it highly.
I think we tend to take the courage of celebrity television reporters for granted. Though we might understand that a newspaper reporter traveling outside the glare of the camera is running risks, TV reporters — with their crews, equipment and live feeds — can seem pretty much invulnerable. That is clearly not the case. As we know, CNN’s Anderson Cooper and ABC News’ Christiane Amanpour had some hair-raising moments in Cairo.
Let me join those who are praising Logan not just for her courage and dedication in reporting the story for the benefit of us viewers at home, but also for letting it be known that she was sexually assaulted.
It’s a detail she could have kept to herself, and I suspect a lot of women would have done just that. But it’s important to our understanding of what happened, and she should be saluted for sharing it with us. (Via Don Van Natta Jr.) | <urn:uuid:b3bc7e0a-9427-4da1-8580-6d119ae1eb2e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dankennedy.net/2011/02/16/the-courage-of-lara-logan/comment-page-1/ | 2013-05-18T06:24:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.975338 | 241 |
Film Screening: The Return of the Js at Quogue Library
Designed to compete for the America’s cup between 1930 and 1937, only ten J-Class yachts were ever built – six in the USA and four in England. Of these, only three have survived – Shamrock V, Velsheda & Endeavour. Return of the Js is their story and it will be screened at the Quogue Library on Wednesday, August 22nd at 6 p.m. Call 631-653-4224 ext. 4 to reserve your seats. | <urn:uuid:91515c30-d32d-41f1-9e2c-cb9ef581569a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://danshamptons.com/event/film-screening-the-return-of-the-js-at-quogue-library/ | 2013-05-18T06:31:35Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.961277 | 119 |
I have decided to go a different direction with the tangerine fabric. With the weather pretty much warmer these days, attempting a jacket seems like a waste of time. I just don’t wear jackets that much during the late spring and into summer.
So the fabric is going to become a dress. This is fabric acquired earlier this year from Gorgeous Fabrics.
I am going to take the design of using contrasting neck band and welt pockets shown on the black and white dress, and use this on the pink style. I am not a fan of v-necks on me so not using that look. Here is the contrasting fabric:
I fell in love with this color combo because of a pair of shoes I found on the web; and because that color is found in the dress I just completed.
I still need to make swayback adjustment and FSA. With my ongoing neck/shoulder pain, I have to do this in spells. It is very frustrating. More updates later. | <urn:uuid:a53c32c7-73ca-4628-8c17-ff60ec4aa917> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://danvillegirl.blogspot.com/2012/05/girl-can-change-her-mind-cant-she.html | 2013-05-18T07:21:05Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.966498 | 205 |
My name is Danyelle. I'm a student at Ashland University. I love making movies. All of my movies will be on here for all to view. I also love just being with friends and Family. I'm pretty outspoken and straight forward but I have a lot of respect for people. No matter who you are, unless you gave me a reason not to respect you. I love just being me :)
Just because I listen to specific music, watch certain movies, and read different books doesn’t mean it’s wrong. How do you know what you like if you don’t try something new? So stop criticizing me for expanding my knowledge and liking or disliking things you don’t like or have never tried. | <urn:uuid:d0a9ea83-c8de-4877-8152-94ebde6f5076> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://danyellekupfer.tumblr.com/ | 2013-05-18T05:27:53Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.95342 | 154 |
Love it or hate it, social media has proven itself to be lucrative. It’s not just those spying on old school friends that are at it, everyone has jumped on board the social media revolution, even international multi million pound businesses.
Small businesses in particular can really benefit from what it has to offer. There are of course the negatives associated with social media such as the time and effort it requires to maintain it, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives, and whether you prefer Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, it can be a great platform for you to shout out about your business and gather clients, friends, colleagues, new suppliers, and job opportunities.
The Positives to Social Media:
#1 Great for networking
Social media can provide a great support network. You can see opportunities from others instantly and share news through live feeds. By joining other associations, or blogs in these social media sites, you can share experiences with other business owners and get to know your competitors; this is a great support when you are setting up.
Twitter and Facebook in particular is a great place to find suppliers, job opportunities and industry news, and by following the right pages, you can see all opportunities in one place from a wide range of fellow professionals. It has known to bring people together, the more you put in, the more you will get out of it.
#2 Brilliant for marketing
When you set up a business page on a social media site, you can list photographs of what you have to offer, post videos, links, and run competitions. This shows others what you do, how you do it, and you can draw people to your page and website, and in time convert them from ‘followers’ or ‘fans’ into clients or customers. The more you interact and make your page interesting, the more interaction, page shares or tweets you will gain in return. Gradually your business name begins to spread further and further.
You can target the right potential customers by sharing your page or commenting on blogs where those with the same interests might be based. For example if you make home accessories, you can interact with other home interior fan pages and blogs, and your updates will be followed by those who have an interest in what you do, so you will be gathering a set of people who want to see you new products or services.
#3 Reach wider audiences
Initially it is likely your friends and family will like your page. As you add content and make your page interesting, soon you will find friends of friends following your progress, and gradually this continues to spread. It opens your business up to a great potential for followers all over the world. To be found it is good to network with other pages and to keep your page interesting so people comment on your images, tweets, or updates so there is plenty of interaction to be seen.
There are over 700 million Facebook users, by being on these social media sites; you have the opportunity to show them what you have to offer.
#4 Customer interaction
Customer interaction is great for any business. It is a great way to get feedback instantly and find out exactly what your customers think of your business. It also allows you to build relationships with them and get to know them. It can humanize your business and make it more personal to them.
You can understand what sort of people like your business, what age groups they are, whether they are male or female, and generally establish exactly who you should aim your business at. It is a great way to gather information and opinions from others especially when launching new products.
#5 Stay ahead of competitors
It is likely you will have competitors; it is also likely they are on social media sites advertising their business. You don’t want to be left behind, and it is a good way to stay ahead and keep your business current. You can also keep an eye on what they are doing to attract customers and develop upon this.
Written by Kristen. Edited by Aritra Roy.
Kirsten works for hosting review site whoishostingthis. They gather a wide range of hosting customer reviews so that users can determine which hosting company to use for thier own website. Please see more here. | <urn:uuid:7a0c79b1-3421-45f6-b650-ddcc6b4786c1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dapazze.com/2012/06/reasons-business-social-media-ladder/ | 2013-05-18T06:50:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956173 | 865 |
The UvA-LINKER will give you a range of other options to find the full text of a publication (including a direct link to the full-text if it is located on another database on the internet).
De UvA-LINKER biedt mogelijkheden om een publicatie elders te vinden (inclusief een directe link naar de publicatie online als deze beschikbaar is in een database op het internet).
journal id: "astrophysicalxjournal"
| Authors||R.G. Arendt, D.Y. Gezari, S.R. Stolovy, K. Sellgren, R. Smith, S.V. Ramírez, F. Yusef-Zadeh, C.J. Law, H.A. Smith, A.S. Cotera, S.H. Moseley|
|Title||Comparison of 3.6-8.0 µm Spitzer/IRAC Galactic Center Survey point sources with Chandra X-ray point sources in the central 40 × 40 parsecs|
|Faculty||Faculty of Science|
|Institute/dept.||FNWI: Astronomical Institute Anton Pannekoek (IAP)|
|Abstract||We have studied the correlation between 2357 Chandra X-ray point sources in a 40 x 40 pc field and similar to 20,000 infrared sources we observed in the corresponding subset of our 2 degrees x 1.4 degrees Spitzer/IRAC Galactic Center Survey at 3.6-8.0 mu m, using various spatial and X-ray hardness thresholds. The correlation was determined for source separations of less than 0.5 '', 1 '', or 2 ''. Only the soft X-ray sources show any correlation with infrared point sources on these scales, and that correlation is very weak. The upper limit on hard X-ray sources that have infrared counterparts is < 1.7% (3 sigma). However, because of the confusion limit of the IR catalog, we only detect IR sources with absolute magnitudes less than or similar to 1. As a result, a stronger correlation with fainter sources cannot be ruled out. Only one compact IR source, IRS 13, coincides with any of the dozen prominent X-ray emission features in the 3 x 3 pc region centered on Sgr A*, and the diffuse X-ray and IR emission around Sgr A* seems to be anticorrelated on a few-arcsecond scale. We compare our results with previous identifications of near-infrared companions to Chandra X-ray sources.|
Use this url to link to this page: http://dare.uva.nl/en/record/304284
Contact us about this recordNotify a colleague
Add to bookbag | <urn:uuid:322dee39-d07e-47cb-8d55-ea88de5a7c61> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dare.uva.nl/cgi/b/bib/bib-idx?c=uvadare;type=simple;rgn1=ujo;q1=astrophysicalxjournal;sort=publicationyear;cc=uvadare;view=reslist;fmt=long;page=reslist;size=1;start=69;lang=en | 2013-05-18T07:21:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.709795 | 597 |
We proudly serve Coca-Cola® products -- in both cups and cans. It's what our customers have demanded from Day 1. Looking for less fizz? There's Iced Tea, Bottled Water or Milk (1% or Chocolate). Most shops also offer three Beer options.
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Get the details... | <urn:uuid:71ae3ff9-bccf-4deb-a739-5ea396fda7ed> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davannis.com/Drinks | 2013-05-18T05:28:30Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.885771 | 83 |
It's time to read and vote for your favorite article in the 2013 Write-Off Contest! The four finalist's articles are featured in the May 13 newsletter and can be found through this link. Hurry! Voting ends May 18.
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
I planted strawberries last spring, this year they look wonderful, full, gave me a nice amt of berries this last month (they are june-bearing). My problem is when I planted them, I probably planted them too close together and I never kept them in rows. So now my bed is full of strawberry plants. Yesterday I tried to pull some plants out in the middle and transplant them into an adjoining space, but they are really packed in there. My question is, should I leave them the way they are and chalk it up to lesson-learned, or should I run a tiller straight down them and recreate the rows, and if so, should I do that now or wait until next spring? I'm afraid the overcrowding might eventually kill off my bed. | <urn:uuid:8e734beb-d366-4d14-9f1a-36d46f26e1fb> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/876812/ | 2013-05-18T05:51:11Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.958841 | 261 |
Wood Anemone - Dainty Spring Bloomers for the Woodland Garden
It's time to read and vote for your favorite article in the 2013 Write-Off Contest! The four finalist's articles are featured in the May 13 newsletter and can be found through this link. Hurry! Voting ends May 18.
If your garden is has dappled shade and you are looking for a lovely spring woodlander to combine with spring bulbs, Trillium and Hepatica, then try growing wood anemone, Anemone nemorosa. Available in white, pink or blue shades, this charming spring flower is sure to delight you!
(Editor's Note: This article was originally published on June 5, 2010. Your comments are welcome, but please be aware that authors of previously published articles may not be able to promptly respond to new questions or comments.)
One of the harbingers of the European spring is drifts of wood anemone growing under the deciduous forests of beech, oak and maple.Botanically, wood anemones are called Anemone nemorosa. Plants produce wiry stems to 10 to 25 cm.Each stem produces a whorl of three, trisected leaves and is topped with a single 2 to 3 cm diameter flower.Each bloom normally has 6 to 8 tepals (the ‘petals' are actually modified sepals).In the wild, white is the normal colour but pink and blue forms do exist.Plants may be grown from seed but the seed needs to be sown as soon as it is ripe (they quickly lose viability if left dry on a shelf).They require a stratification period (essentially a winter) before they will germinate.
Due to the fussy nature of seed germination, plants are more commonly grown by division of their narrow rhizomes.If happy, wood anemone will multiply quite rapidly via underground rhizomes to produce a large-size colony.If dug after flowering, you can separate the plants into numerous plantlets. All you need is a growing stem and a couple of inches of the rhizome.
In the garden, wood anemones prefer dappled shade.Their soil should be moderately moist and organic-rich.They make admirable groundcovers under deciduous trees but in warm climates, may go dormant by mid summer.In cool climates, they will stay green well into September.
Wood anemones have been grown as garden ornamentals for hundreds of years.As a result of their natural variation, many named varieties now exist, most which were selected many years ago.While the wild form has small 2 to 3 cm diameter flowers, some selected forms have flowers approaching 6 cm in diameter.
Availability of this woodland anemone is variable. Generally you will need to seek out a specialty woodland plant nursery.‘Lychette' has white flowers twice the size of the wild type.Two of the largest-flowered selections include ‘Allenii' and ‘Robinsoniana'.Both have lavender flowers but the outside of the tepals is lilac-blue on ‘Allenii' while the exterior is more grey-blue on ‘Robinsoniana'.Also quite large-flowered is ‘Blue Beauty' and ‘Blue Bonnet', both which are pale blue. The richest blue colour is found on ‘Royal Blue' but its flowers are a little smaller than the previous selections.
Shown above is 'Allenii' (top left), 'Robinsoniana' (top right), 'Royal Blue' (bottom left) and 'Blue Eyes' (bottom right)
‘Rosea' and ‘Westwell Pink' have very pale pink flowers that age to deep pink.One of the prettiest is ‘Vestal'.This selection has small flowers that are white but has a double, pompom-like center.‘Monstrosa' has flowers double flowers that are a mix of white and green while ‘Blue Eyes' has double white flowers with a blue center.If unusual flowers are your thing then try ‘Green Fingers' whose white flowers have a small, central leafy tuft.More bizarre still is ‘Bracteata' whose tepals are replaced by tiny green leaves!
Shown above is 'Vestal' (top left), 'Green Fingers' (top right), 'Monstrosa' (bottom left) and 'Westwell Pink' (bottom right)
Closely related to wood anemone and sometimes growing in the same area isA. ranunculoides with small buttercup-yellow flowers.In areas where the two species overlap, you many encounter a natural hybrid called A. x lipsiensis.From this hybrid comes the selection ‘Pallida' whose flowers are 3 cm and a pretty butter yellow.
Shown above is A. ranunculoides (left) and A. X lipsiensis.
I would like to thank the following people for the use of their pictures: Galanthophile ('Green Fingers'), KMAC ('Westwell Pink'), kniphofia ('Monstrosa') and wallaby1 ('Blue Eyes').
About Todd Boland
I reside in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada. I work as a research horticulturist at the Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden. I am one of the founding members of the Newfoundland Wildflower Society and the current chair of the Newfoundland Rock Garden Society. My garden is quite small but I pack it tight! Outdoors I grow mostly alpines, bulbs and ericaceous shrubs. Indoors, my passion is orchids. When not in the garden, I'm out bird watching, a hobby that has gotten me to some lovely parts of the world. | <urn:uuid:bf061e3f-b581-4fd7-834d-39e9b10a5b97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/2893/ | 2013-05-18T08:06:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.931139 | 1,208 |
You've found the famous Dave's Garden website! Join this friendly global community that shares tips and ideas for home and gardens, along with seeds and plants!|
Check out the DG homepage for a brief overview of what you'll find in this gardening mega-site.
|Neutral ||htop ||On Dec 17, 2007, htop from San Antonio, TX (Zone 8b) wrote:
I have not grown thus plant. Aechmea blanchetiana is both a terrestrial or epiphytic bromeliad which attains a height of up to 4 feet (1.2 m) and a width of at least 3 feet. (1 m). The color of its leaves ranges from reddish gold, orangish gold, goldish yellow to green, depending upon the amount of sunlight it receives.
|Positive ||jungleboy_fl ||On May 7, 2005, jungleboy_fl from Naples, FL wrote:
This is one of my favorite sun-loving bromeliads. Tough as nails, this species thrives in Southwest & South Florida. Best color is achieved in full sun, and although some claim it needs a lot of water, I've had best results with minimal supplemental watering. In fact, mine are most colorful during the dry, parched winter months.
There are apparently a few popular cultivars circulating right now in Florida. Some forms have wider leaves, and are of an overall more robust nature. Others have slimmer foliage, and are more profuse in suckering. Some take on a more red/raspberry color, while others are more orange/yellow.
Be sure to give them some space. In just a few years, these giant bromeliads can quickly fill a large area in your xeriscape. I've grown ours in the native soil- a sandy, rocky, seashell filled, alkaline limestone mix, and they love it. They pair exceptionally well with cacti and succulents.
***Beware*** A word of caution- these plants are viciously armed with the typical Aechmea, super sharp, tiny, saw-teeth spines along the margins. Not to be messed with, these bromeliads will inflict mean slashes if one bruses up against them. Weeding around them requires long sleeves, a hat, gloves, eye protection, jeans, and a lot of caution- or really long arms.
|Neutral ||smiln32 ||On Nov 29, 2004, smiln32 from Oklahoma City, OK (Zone 7a) wrote:
Gorgeous flowers (multi-branched) sit high above the foliage. Plant can reach a height of 48". It is also salt tolerant.
|Positive ||Monocromatico ||On Sep 5, 2004, Monocromatico from Rio de Janeiro
Brazil (Zone 11) wrote:
This is a magnificent bromeliad, largely cultivated here in Rio de Janeiro on sunny gardens, often playing the central role on beds thanks to its showy foliage and atractive inflorescence.
This plant stays around the height of someoneīs knee, with upright and straight, leathery leaves, with a beautiful color that may vary from green to gold, with red tips. The inflorescence comes from the center of the plant, reaching up to 1,8-2 meters tall. The branched stalk is entirely covered with red bracts, and the flowers are yellow, and ephemeral, protected by red bracts with yellow tips. The flowers donīt last long, but the inflorescence stays showy for months. Hummingbirds are seen flying around it.
It needs organic soil, full sun, high temperatures and regular watering. Always keep the center of the rosette full of water.
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
San Diego, California
Bay Hill, Florida
Big Pine Key, Florida
Broward Estates, Florida
Cocoa Beach, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Kenneth City, Florida
Naples, Florida (3 reports)
Palm Beach Gardens, Florida
Spring Hill, Florida | <urn:uuid:4ce742fb-e83d-4769-aaa1-632bc1d94412> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/74038/ | 2013-05-18T05:16:47Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91815 | 866 |
Hotels, ryokans (Japanese style inns and eating and drinking establishments in Hirado city are to simultaneously start offering whale cuisine on new speciality product menus. A final taste testing event was held at the city's northern community centre on the 18th.More coverage of this story can be found in Japanese here.
Whale food culture permeated through the Hirado region, where whaling history extended from the Edo era (1603 ~ 1867) to early Showa (1925 ~ 1989). The Hirado and Matsuura regions tourism human resource development council, made up of local government and commerce and industry associations from Hirado and Matsuura was commissioned by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare to work towards the creation of the new speciality food menus.
Around 30 people from local women's groups and tourism operators were invited to the taste testing event, where the Hirado industry cooperative prepared four dishes, and the Hirado food and drink industry produced ten. In addition to standards such as sashimi, items including shabu-shabu, sukiyaki, chilli sauce, bacon pizza and salads made up the elaborate new menu.
Takada Kumiko (56), a Hirado city tourist guide from Iwanoue town was full of expectation, saying "This was my first time to eat it, but it is surprisingly delicious. My image of whale has changed. Many middle aged and older people have a desire to eat whale meat, so I can confidently recommend this to them. I hope it becomes a Hirado speciality".
Once the cooperatives have reviewed the results of questionnaires from the test tasting event, they will decide on respective items to be included in the unified menu. They will start promoting the menus to tourists from next month.
Brandifying modern whale cuisine - Hirado's whaling history for tourism - Sales from mid-FebruaryInteresting stuff. I suppose western environmental groups might suggest that Hirado residents look to boost tourism through whale watching instead of whale cuisine, but the people who decide the way forward will be the people who are actually stakeholders, and they will do so in accordance with their own cultural values.
On the 18th, Hirado city's restaurant business unveiled modern dishes using whale meat, as they set to bring "whale cuisine" to the market as a new brand for the region, leveraging the region's Edo era history as a prosperous whaling post. In Hirado city, the Hirado Tourism Association is conducting an experiment to test the concept of "dinner / lodging separation", where by tourists are lodged over night in hotels and ryokans, but enjoy local speciality food for dinner in the town. The association aims to appeal to tourists and reinvigorate the region through the development of the unique menus.
This was the second such event since November last year, being conducted as a part of a joint project between Hirado city and the Matsuura region to develop tourism human resources.
Whaling was well underway in the waters of Genkainada based out of Ikitsuki Island (a part of modern day Hirado city) by the early stages of the 18th century. By the 19th century, the "Masutomi group" had expanded their fishing grounds into Iki and Goto, making the group the largest kujira-gumi in Japan. Later, yields reduced and traditional whaling waned.
"Tasty", was the word on the lips of most participants. The same cooperative apparently has plans to offer various whale cuisine in conjunction with the "Hirado hot springs / castle town doll festival", in which hina dolls will be displayed in 130 locations throughout the urban area.
Building on this historical background, the thought is that the creation of "whale cuisine" peculiar to the region, following on from the "Hirado Flounder" that was introduced in January 1997 as a regional brand, will become a new tourist attraction, and boost sluggish tourist numbers in the region.
Restaurant operator Miyakuni Kazuhiko (30), a resident of Kouyamachi, Hirado city, who entered a pie offering to the event, said "we got rid of the smell of whale meat, and softened it by marinating it overnight in salad oil, olive oil, and ginger and laurier. I really hope people will taste this healthy sensation".
June 2004 July 2004 August 2004 September 2004 October 2004 November 2004 December 2004 January 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 June 2005 July 2005 August 2005 September 2005 October 2005 November 2005 December 2005 January 2006 February 2006 March 2006 April 2006 May 2006 June 2006 July 2006 August 2006 September 2006 October 2006 November 2006 December 2006 January 2007 February 2007 March 2007 April 2007 May 2007 June 2007 July 2007 August 2007 September 2007 October 2007 November 2007 December 2007 January 2008 February 2008 April 2008 May 2008 June 2008 July 2008 August 2008 September 2008 October 2008 November 2008 December 2008 January 2009 February 2009 March 2009 April 2009 May 2009 June 2009 July 2009 August 2009 September 2009 October 2009 November 2009 January 2010 February 2010 April 2010 May 2010 June 2010 July 2010 August 2010 September 2010 February 2011 March 2011 May 2013 | <urn:uuid:af465c0f-06dc-45c2-96f5-8ecc2d2f0511> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://david-in-tokyo.blogspot.com/2007/01/more-whale-meat-offerings-for-kyushu.html | 2013-05-18T06:02:07Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972773 | 1,056 |
"California here I come, right back where I started from..."
I'm back in the Bay Area after six years in Pittsburgh. I'm still working with BodyMedia, although my role has changed to a research consultant focusing on the noninvasive glucose project. I've just started a new company called Cerebellum Capital, which will set up a machine learning based hedge fund. We're still in the fairly quiet stage, so that's all I'll say for now. | <urn:uuid:4f91f585-2745-492e-a4c1-4e234551935c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davidandre.com/drupal/blog | 2013-05-18T04:55:28Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.976322 | 96 |
Total Information Awareness? NSA (the National Security Agency) is building a mammoth electronic spy center in Utah. The $2 billion Utah Data Center, to be completed by Sept. 2013, will be five times the size of the US Capitol. Its purpose: to intercept, decipher and analyze torrents of information flowing through the world’s communications databases— with an ability to handle yottabytes of data. Much of it international but a fair amount obtained by sifting intra-U.S. phone and email traffic.
What does this have to do with transparency and freedom and all that?
Our protectors of online liberty, ranging from the ACLU and EFF and Privacy NGOs all the way to European Privacy Bureaucrats, are all very well-meaning - but clueless if they think laws, regulations and procedures will prevent elites (over the long run) from seeing anything that they want to see, or knowing whatever is within reach to know. Why? It's simple and basic. We’re monkeys! And a powerful monkey will not let you prevent him from seeing. Name one nation in all of human history where the elites allowed this to happen. One.
The chilling thing about the new NSA facility is not how much better it will let government “protectors” see, in order to better protect us. The scary thing is that there won’t be officers of a uniformed and independent Inspectorate, roaming the halls on our behalf, making sure that protection is the only thing going on. Or better yet, dozens of randomly chosen citizens (with security clearance) whose universal-access badges give them the right to poke their heads in any door and ask any question.
Inconvenient? Irksome? Will the protectors complain? Tough. We need to demand that price! In exchange for their omniscience, they must surrender any chance of omnipotence, by letting us wrap them in chains of accountability. A chain we can yank, to remind our watchdog THAT he is a dog... lest he start thinking like a wolf.
==An App for Reporting Crime==
Want to report a crime, terrorist alert…or just snitch on your neighbors? The new Suspicious Activity Reporting Application, a crime-reporting app for your Smartphone, lets you snap a pic, and anonymously voice your suspicions to authorities. Developed by the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security, the free app is available through Itunes. “The longer you wait the less accurate eyewitness information becomes and evidence fades,” said Thom Kirk, Director of the West Virginia Intelligence Fusion Center. “Enabling the information to be sent at the time the activity is taking place will not only improve the accuracy of the report, but also improve the ability of the authorities to respond quickly.”
Is this an aid to community policing or a way to harass your neighbors; a powerful tool against terrorism or the next step toward Big Brother?
Or rather... clearly if we all have this, then Big Brother becomes impossible! But (as I explore in The Transparent Society) might this lead to a nation and world filled with oppressive little brothers? With nosy neighbors bullying each other, or tyranny by a perfectly democratic 51%? I show good reasons to believe we may evade this pitfall too! But not if we remain mired in civil war.
== Sci-Tech Miscellany ==
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is funding Boston Dynamics’ development of a prototype robot called the Cheetah. (Recall Boston’s incredible robot donkey... and the satires it inspired?) The cat-like bot managed to gallop 18 mph on a treadmill, setting a new land speed record for legged robots. (The previous record: 13.1 mph, set at MIT in 1989.) The company has a prototype human-like robot in the works called the Atlas that can walk upright and use its hands for balance while squeezing through narrow passages on surveillance or emergency rescue missions.
Smart lighting: Philips has a system being widely used all over the world now with some statistics to back it up. They have just one camera in each light, facing straight down, with the light around the camera (concentric). The result is a computer vision system with mesh-based computing that estimates the number of pedestrians, cyclists, etc., and their speed and direction of movement, and predictively adjusts the light outputs on all the lights, to optimize for the activity detected by the vision system. One result is a 75% reduction in energy usage with no noticeable reduction in light output.
Ah, but will all lamps on public streets and areas then come equipped with cameras? (As I already portrayed in EXISTENCE.) Oh, what they'll see... and report.
Meanwhile.... more sci-tech miscellany!
A radical Japanese biplane design flies supersonic airspeeds without the sonic boom. Misoru (sky in Japanese) uses two wings to reflect shock waves back at each other, zeroing out the pressure shockwaves.
NASA has released a mosaic of images covering the entire sky as observed by the Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE).
A gorgeous visualization of the Universe – dark matter and all.
== The Ideal Language for Human Speech? ==
In our increasingly interconnected, global economy, we will need to communicate effectively with the rest of the world. What is the best language for this generation to learn? By the numbers, Mandarin Chinese seems an obvious choice. Spanish or Japanese may be essential for international business. We will also need more interpreters of Arabic... A fascinating question, as humanity is busy re-erecting the Tower of Babel.
Of course English is today's lingua franca (an ironic term) for business and science. But soon, we'll all carry translation devices that will make the question at least somewhat moot. So what is my long term answer to this question, in my role as a science fiction author? Over the long haul... my candidate?
Hawaiian. Really. In a hundred years, translation and computer assistance will be automatic/invisible, conveying both surface meanings and underlying gloss and nuance. Meaning will become separated somewhat from the sonic specifics, or even which language has the most speakers or largest vocabulary or greatest catalogue of literature. Hence, we'll choose the language to come out of our physical mouths by one criterion only.
Beauty. The sounds, themselves. And by that token, there is only one truly beautiful language. You cannot say anything in Hawaiian without it sounding just perfect. Any man or woman would choose a Hawaiian-sounding name. It's what our descendants will speak, whether to each other or to machines or to aliens, even to dolphins.
Okay so is YOUR last name a piece of scientific nomenclature? "B. mori fibers were made up of two brins of irregular shape embedded in a proteinaceous coating. Failure occurred by fracture of the brins, whose fracture surface presented a fine globular structure corresponding to the ends of the nanofibrils of 1–2 lm in length and 100 nm in diameter, which form the B. mori silk brins according to the analysis of the brins by atomic force microscopy."
== And finally... two related items...
Disphoria, Normopathy, and Aporia… Ten Psychologica states you’ve never heard of…and when you experienced them.
And,,, The best bottled water ad, ever? Well. It ain't Hawaiian. But Kamehameha would've liked it. | <urn:uuid:89462588-5a48-41b0-915e-6dc5148eb64d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2012/03/total-information-awareness-and-crime.html?showComment=1332267021248 | 2013-05-18T07:13:45Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.92455 | 1,557 |
Scott Bradley Davis was called home Friday afternoon while preparing for a scouting trip with his son Monte. He will be deeply missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a loving father, son, brother, and a friend to all.
He married his eternal wife, Kim, in the Salt Lake Temple. Together they lived in Bountiful and had 3 children: Monte (13), Syndey (9), and Kari (7). Scott is survived by his mother, Susie, sister Becky (Craig), sister Mandy (Jon), and his brothers Steven (Jennifer), Ryan (Stacey), and Matthew (Celeste).
Scott had an enormous capacity to serve others. He put his family and friends first. He was happiest when outdoors with his kids and dogs, hunting, hiking, fishing, shooting, and exploring. He was incredibly physically fit, having trained for and participated in several ironman triathlons, marathons, and century bike rides, among his many other activities. Recently Scott had been co-hosting the Trail Master Outdoors radio show with his good friend, Chris Draper, and enjoyed many associations with others through the show.
Scott had a curious mind and a strong desire to learn from and teach others. Scott served an LDS mission in Sao Paulo, Brazil, earned a Bachelor’s degree in Manufacturing Engineering from BYU, and was an Eagle Scout.
He was a very spiritual person, relying on inspiration from Heavenly Father to lead him through hardships and difficult times. He was serving as a High Councilman in his Stake at the time of his passing.
He died Friday doing what he loved: preparing for a camping trip when an old revolver accidentally discharged while he was packing.
He lives in our Father’s mansion now, reunited with our father Karl, Grandpa Burk, Uncle Dennis and his dogs Skip and Squire—all of whom loved Scott and knew his heart. We miss you, Scott, and we’ll miss you forever. Be in peace and know we love you.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, November 23, 2010 at the Bountiful South Stake Center, 1250 South Main. A viewing will be held Monday evening from 6-8 p.m. at Russon Brothers Bountiful Mortuary, 295 North Main, and Tuesday 9:30-10:30 a.m. at the church prior to services. Interment-Lakeview Cemetery. Online guest book at www.russonmortuary.com | <urn:uuid:869e289e-359f-4059-8103-63e45d8ecad1> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://davisclipper.com/view/full_story/10423174/article-Scott-Bradley-Davis | 2013-05-18T08:11:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.987036 | 523 |
The Australian Collection primarily features trees and shrubs native to Australia. Tall eucalyptus trees, with their distinctive aromatic leaves, dominate the north bank of the creek. With more than 50 species of this native Australian genus, the trees vary from tall and erect specimens to broadly-spreading small trees. Throughout the collection, their characteristic camphor-like fragrance fills the air. A fine collection of bottlebrush, Callistemon, and honey-myrtles, Melaleuca, lines the path near the old bridge. Across the creek, new plantings of showy Australian flowering plants complement older plantings that feature plants from various regions in the world with a Mediterranean climate. | <urn:uuid:5d076aac-97a6-4506-8fec-bbcef9ffd4c5> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://daviswiki.org/Australian_Collection | 2013-05-18T07:25:58Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.894315 | 138 |
Singh threatens to quit over corruption allegations
NEW DELHI: Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has denounced fresh allegations that he turned a blind eye to corruption within his government and has vowed to resign if any wrongdoing is proved against him.
Singh reacted angrily to accusations from the anti-corruption movement headed by veteran campaigner Anna Hazare, which prepared a list of graft charges against 15 ministers including the premier.
“If there is even an iota of truth in it, then I will give up my public career and the country can give me any punishment,” Singh told reporters late Tuesday on his aeroplane back to New Delhi from Myanmar.
Singh, a media-shy academic who came to power in 2004, previously enjoyed a blemish-free reputation within India’s turbulent political world but his administration has been hit by a series of corruption scandals in recent years.
“You don’t need to take bribes yourself in order to be guilty of corruption offences,” Prashant Bhushan, a prominent member of Hazare’s anti-graft movement told the CNN-IBN news channel on Tuesday evening.
“We do not believe that the prime minister takes bribes himself but it is also clear to us that he is allowing a thoroughly corrupt cabinet to be in place… and allowing his cabinet ministers to loot the public exchequer.”
The latest accusations raised by Hazare’s supporters focus on coal deposits that were given away by the government rather than sold at auction.
The allegations come as the government struggles to limit damage from the “2G scam” in which the then telecoms minister A. Raja is accused of handing out second-generation mobile phone licences to select firms at knock-down prices.
“This is precisely what the prime minister appears to have done prima facie in the allocations of these coal blocks,” Bhushan, a high-profile Delhi lawyer, said.
Graft has become a hot political issue in India due to a string of high-profile scandals including the “2G scam” and contracts awarded for the 2010 Commonwealth Games.
Anna Hazare galvanised millions of people last year when he held a 12-day anti-corruption hunger strike in New Delhi that triggered huge rallies of support across the country.
Many Indians complain that corruption is a part of daily life and occurs in all transactions, from getting a driving licence to property sales. Graft is also seen as a major deterrent to international investment in India.—AFP | <urn:uuid:ff251d78-932e-49c1-b48f-2e388dde528c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dawn.com/2012/05/31/singh-threatens-to-quit-over-corruption-allegations/ | 2013-05-18T08:03:38Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.96639 | 528 |
No conflict among state institutions: PM Ashraf
KARACHI: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Friday said Pakistan’s institutions were undergoing a process of evolution and that there was no conflict between them, DawnNews reported.
Speaking at the launch of the developmental projects in Gwadar, Prime Minister Ashraf emphasised upon the need to prevent conflict from occurring between the state institutions.
PM Ashraf said conflict between the institutions should be prevented at any cost because it could only result in destruction.
He further said that democracy was peaking in Pakistan and the first democratically elected government in Pakistan was finishing its full term in power.
Moreover, he said that the Pakistani media has more freedom as compared to the developed countries. However, the media must demonstrate its ability to behave responsibly.
He also added that the judiciary had gained its freedom after many sacrifices.
Furthermore, the prime minister added that the army had given everlasting sacrifices that every Pakistani was proud of. He also said that the Baloch people were a patriotic and amiable nation.
The prime minister also announced a number of development projects in Gwadar. Ashraf said that Balochistan was rich in mineral resources and it was important to utilise those resources together.
Prime Minister Ashraf also issued of permanent employment letters to the temporary employees of the Gwadar Port Authority.
He also announced the integration of the Gwadar Fish Harbour into the Gwadar Port Authority, as well as laid down the foundation for East Bay Express Way and launched the Gwadar Port Civil Centre. | <urn:uuid:b2530db8-93c4-41fc-8f58-4483641761a6> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dawn.com/2012/11/09/no-conflict-among-state-institutions-pm-ashraf/ | 2013-05-18T05:50:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.982026 | 321 |
|Viewing Single Post From: Spoilers for the Week of February 11th|
|Lil||Feb 1 2013, 09:58 AM|
Don't care about Chloe/Taniel/Jen-Jen. Don't care about Sami, really, but hoping that we get some good "SAMANTHA GENE!!" Marlena Death-Stares out of it. And "newfound" feelings. Please. If only.
STEFANO!! STEFANO, STEFANO, STEFANO!!!! :cheer:
|Spoilers for the Week of February 11th · DAYS: News, Spoilers & Discussion| | <urn:uuid:39147604-bfbe-4ed5-b19c-54105f8ae8a7> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://daytimeroyaltyonline.com/single/?p=8906650&t=8780053 | 2013-05-18T05:48:59Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.82321 | 142 |
Aloha from DBEDT!
The Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism is Hawai‘i’s resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages.
- State Economists See Continued Positive Economic Growth - May 10, 2013
- Office of Planning Seeks Proposals for Research Reserve Site - April 22, 2013
- State Forecasts Strong Economic Growth - February 22, 2013
- Hawai‘i Leads Nation in Energy Savings Performance Investment per Capita - December 29, 2012
- Hawaii First in Nation to Receive Mitsubishi’s First All-Electric Vehicle Made for North American Consumers - December 12, 2012 | <urn:uuid:4267020f-31ac-4119-97c3-54bb2bd70a4f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dbedt.hawaii.gov/ | 2013-05-18T06:26:19Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.841428 | 146 |
Dominican College is Pleased to Announce the Addition of a Course in Sustainable Management Practices
Sustainable Management Practices is a broad survey course dealing with matters of sustainability in civic, professional, and personal life. While there is much highlightling of sustainability in our public discourse, there has not been an equal push to practice it. Wasteful government spending, depletion of natural resources, and over-the-top consumer consumption leading to debt and bankruptcy are all examples of the failure to translate discourse into practice.
The course will also tackle some of the paradoxes inherent in sustainability. For example, genetically-engineered seeds produce huge crop yields and reduce hunger, but many of the crops that are produced this way have been stripped of their reproductive properties, leaving farmers to buy seeds year after year instead of harvesting seeds from their own crops. Another paradox: we know that too much consumer spending leads to unsustainable debt, but we also know that the economy is sustained through consumer spending. How do we reconcile the paradoxes ?
The course has no pre-requisites. It will be an engaging and thought-provoking journey through our current and future sustainability landscape. | <urn:uuid:feccfb60-9df7-4ed0-9423-3c1bcb1178a0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dc.edu/w_content.aspx?pageid=5225&id=5887 | 2013-05-18T05:25:41Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.953009 | 231 |
William (“Doubting”) Thomas, born March 20, 1947, who has been vigiling outside the White House since June 3, 1981 for Wisdom, Honesty, Truth, Justice, and Global Nuclear Disarmament, died this morning after a long illness and a year-long government stay-away order from Lafayette Park.
Concepcion Picciotto, his 27-year vigiling partner, needs friendship and help.
There will be a special memorial for Thomas in Lafayette Park at noon on March 20th, Thomas’s 62nd birthday. We hope you can come.
I need your help in spreading the word. Please send me emails with your favorite anecdotes about Thomas.
Thomas was very ill for the past two years, and I believe he is glad to be at peace now.
1233 12th Street NW,
Washington DC 20005 | <urn:uuid:cfa2aeb9-b16b-4546-baa3-cbbc97047e21> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dccatholicworker.wordpress.com/2009/01/ | 2013-05-18T05:24:06Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.956792 | 182 |
All ya'll know what ASP is, the link is on the right if you want to check it out, but this is not there. I got this in an email and CJ says I can use any or all as I wish. I'm just gonna post the whole damn thing and let you read it.
I still have tears on my face.
There's been a lot of talk about who the mystery ASP blogger was at the recent meeting with the President. No, it wasn't the President of local chapter of corn growers and spider hunters. The President of the United States. I'm sure to most
people, it was pretty obvious who the "representative from A Soldier's
Perspective" was. Yes, I was there. Not only was I there, but I was able to take
the Texan seat of honor next to the Man himself - Mohammed of Iraq the Model.
Oh, I sat next to Mr. George W. Bush as well.
A few weeks ago, I was contacted by the Office of Media Liaison and told that I was being invited to the White House for a "special event" with select milbloggers. For the record, CPL M was also invited but unable to attend because he's busy doing the work of this country to ensure our continued safety and way of life. The meeting was
strictly close hold and we weren't to discuss it with anyone outside those with a need to know (in my case - my chain of command).
Eight milbloggers were present and two attended via a VTC (video teleconference) from Baghdad - Bill Roggio of the Long War Journal, Bill Ardolino of INDC Journal. Those present and accounted for in the West Wing were, Matt Burden of Blackfive, Mrs. Greyhawk of Mudville Gazette (Greyhawk was also
attending to the nation's business and unable to attend), NZ Bear of TTLB
and the Victory Caucus, Steve Schippert of Threats Watch, Ward Carroll of
Military.Com (an all-around great guy and pleasure to be around) and, of course,
Mohammed of Iraq the Model.
We arrived at the White House on time at 0900. After processing through security and getting checked in at the lobby, we were ushered into the Roosevelt Room of the West Wing. For those that aren't aware of White House history, the Roosevelt Room was the original office of the President back when the West Wing was built back in 1902. When the West Wing was expanded and the Oval Office was created, the Roosevelt Room became sort of a waiting room for those meeting with the President. The room is set up to handle secure conferences and also serves as the place the President meets with his National Security team. You can take a 360 degree virtual tour here. The camera is set at the position where the President sits.
Anyway, we sat for a few minutes of nervous chatter admiring the fact that any minute we're going to be in the presence of the most powerful man in the world, politically speaking. We had no idea exactly when the President would come in. Each time the door opened our hearts stopped beating only to be greeted by aides, assistants, and other important staff types. Along with the milbloggers present, placards were on the table that read "Kevin Sullivan" (Assistant to the President for
Communications), "Tony Snow" (this meeting was taking place on Mr. Snow's final
day of work), "Dana Perino" (Mr. Snow's replacement as Press Secretary),
"Stephen Hadley" (Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs),
"Mark Pfeifle" ( Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security
Advisor for Strategic Communications and Global Outreach), and General Lute (the
one and only War Czar, officially Assistant to the President and Deputy National
Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan ). Without waiting on any of his
staff, the President entered the room at 0951 - nine minutes ahead of schedule.
As he walked in, he personally shook each of our hands, thanking US for
being there. One by one we introduced ourselves. The President ordered us (well,
he is my Commander in Chief. To everyone else it was probably more of a request)
to have a seat and sat down himself. Now, I need to take this opportunity to
explain what a down to earth guy we have as President. He made each of feel
genuinely welcome. When he sat down he didn't sit in a dominating posture at the
end of the table. He got comfortable and was slightly slouched in his
comfortable leather chair. As he did so, his tie sort of drooped to his left
side, his jacket unbuttoned and open. However, he was also a very Presidential
man, obviously aware of his responsibilities and role. He thanked us for being
there and gave us an opening statement, unprepared and unwritten. It came from
his heart as he spoke about his determination for victory in this global war on
terrorism. I was so in awe while he sat there speaking literally inches from me
that I didn't think to take any notes. We weren't allowed to have cameras or
audio recorders, so we had to rely on our notes.
"I looked at my schedule today, and I found it interesting that I would be sitting down with bloggers." That's how it started. It should be noted that this is the first time in history that a sitting President has sat down with a group of military
bloggers (probably ANY group of bloggers). There was no other media present and
no press releases were given to announce the meeting before or afterwards.
After his opening remarks, he opened up the floor to questions from us,
beginning with the guys in Iraq. Bill Ardolino recently visited Fallujah to
check on progress since his last visit there in January. "The progress in
Fallujah especially has been remarkable between January and September," he said.
This is going on all over the country as the surge works its magic allowing the
government to begin its political reconciliation (a phrase I probably heard more
times than my ten fingers can count). The President remarked that over $2.6
billion has been distributed to local governments for reconstruction and jobs.
This year alone, over $227 million in oil revenue has been pushed down to local
governments. Counter to what the media is reporting, the government has a
working budget process that is getting better with each day. They are still
trying to figure that piece out.
Another interesting tidbit of information that came out during the meeting is that Marine Major General Douglas Stone is managing a predominantly Sunni-occupied prison system in Iraq. This isn't like the prison system you'd probably imagine. Gen Stone has a brilliant plan for rehabilitating the prisoners. Most of the Sunnis jailed in
the prisons are accused of crimes of affiliation. Some were in the wrong place
at the wrong time. Still others committed their crimes so Al Qaeda terrorists
wouldn't kill their families. Gen Stone has instituted a vocational training
school into his prison system to teach these young Sunnis valuable skills they
can use to earn money and take care of their families. He teaches them
alternatives to violence. He also brings in moderate religious leaders to teach
them the truly peaceful nature of Islam. The goal is to show them that the
extremist religious views they've been taught are incorrect. The other way this
is being done is by teaching these young men to read so that they can open up a
Koran and see for themselves the way their religion has been bastardized by
extremist Imams. While there aren't any metrics to prove the system is working
yet, the theory behind it is brilliant as a concept. I can't see how it could
I kept my eyes on the President almost the entire time. He made sure that he kept eye contact with us as he spoke. There wasn't a person in that room who wasn't included in his speech. President Bush spoke candidly to us. He didn't speak at us and he didn't speak down to us. He treated us like respectful Americans. When he spoke of his father's WWII service, he literally teared up.
Being right next to him, I caught a single tear attempt to roll down his left
cheek before he casually wiped it away. No one else seemed to notice. Looking in
his eyes as he spoke about the pride he felt in his father, his eyes began to
glaze and behind them was a real person who happens to be our 43rd President.
George Bush is a man of values and he brought this out.
He's also a man of responsibility. When we got on the subject of the despicable behavior by members of Congress (my point, by the way), he made it a point not to talk down about Congress either. I had thanked him and Tony Snow for their recent strong statements against the reality that the media and our elected officials seem to have a problem with acknowledging, even applauding, success by our military. He
took ownership of his plan. He made sure we knew that he does not govern this
country at the polls. He does what is right. I wrote this quote down immediately
after he said because it should be a headline when a book is written about him.
In all caps I wrote the word "OWNERSHIP", which was followed by his quote: "This
is George Bush's policy. I am a Commander in Chief. I expect to be attacked
politically. But, do not attack those Generals!" He went on to talk about the
noble profession of military service and the kind of honorable Soldier that Gen
David Patraeus is.
President Bush is not concerned with his legacy and he has no need to be. I explained to him that after the USS Cole bombing I was so prepared to go to war at that point. I was utterly frustrated that nothing was done, especially after the embassy bombings and the first WTC bombing. I decided to do something about it myself and changed professions to one that would get me closer to the fight if one ever did break out. As it turns out, while I was in training for this new position, September 11th happened. I can't remember exactly what I asked the President because I was choking up having just mentioned my good friend SSG Stevon Booker who died in front of me in Iraq. I just started babbling after that. It was pathetic, you should have seen it. I thanked him for finally taking the fight to the enemy and having the nerves of steel to see it through to the end - whatever that means. Those guys did not die in vain. He mentioned that he recently finished reading a new book about George Washington, the third one he's read. "If they're still talking about the first
president, the 43rd has nothing to worry about," Bush said. How right he is.
We sat there for an hour and would've stayed longer had Marine One not landed when it did. President Bush was scheduled to be at Quantico, VA for the induction of brand spanking new Marine Corps Second Lieutenants (God help the Corps!). He wrapped everything up and thanked us again and asked if we'd like to see the Oval Office before he takes off. Uh, yeah!! He led us into the brightly lit, surreal room where all the magic happens. "This is the Oval Office. What do you think?" the President asked. "It's alright," piped in someone behind me, probably Blackfive or Steve Shippert!! This is the room where the decision to go to war was made. This is the room where a lot of very difficult decisions are made. This is the room where presidents and diplomats from all over the globe gather to discuss policy. And we were there!!
As you walk into the Oval Office you can't help but notice the magnificence of the lighting and decor. The lighting is so well done that you don't even notice the absence of shadows. You half expect to hear angels usher in your entrance to the office. Everything about it is upbeat and positive and warming (and not because of global warming either). We took turns getting individual photos with the President in front of his desk. He gave each of us a coin as we finished. He invited us out to the south lawn to watch him take off in Marine One. He climbed up onto the platform
like he has hundreds of times. However, instead of waving to the cameras, he
turned towards our "group of eight" and gave a hearty wave BEFORE turning to the
cameras so they could get their photo op. I couldn't help but chuckle under my
breath at the subtle jab.
Marine One took off and we were invited back into the West Wing. As we walked down the sidewalk along the Oval Office, we caught a glimpse of Barney. I think Barney has a blog too come to think of it.
He stopped whatever he was doing and watched us walk by, almost as if to say
thanks as well.
And that was how I spent my morning at the White House.
The moral of the story is that it pays to be a Texas boy!! | <urn:uuid:b6aaee3b-a8b8-44ad-8139-e91b9798b230> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dcprotestwarrior.blogspot.com/2007/09/this-from-cj-at-asp.html | 2013-05-18T06:20:15Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.986089 | 2,744 |
Anon mindfucks girlfriend von ShameBonerin 4chan
[–]Subhazard [score hidden] 23 Minuten zuvor
You just said 'if you exposed it as a ruse'
You can't just rapidly change your position because it doesn't favor you.
[–]Subhazard [score hidden] 56 Minuten zuvor
Life is interesting enough without 'magic'.
US - Take fast survey via a Web Link - Tantamount Technologies - $0.20/<1 min. - (>=85%, >50) von cjt45in HITsWorthTurkingFor
[–]Subhazard 0 Punkte1 Punkt2 Punkte 1 Stunde zuvor
Unable to submit. I got a 'thank you for taking the survey' page, and now confirmation code. Dicks.
Why is linearity in gaming so often dismissed as being negative? von Bronxstain Games
[–]Subhazard [score hidden] 3 Stunden zuvor
It's not, actually. That was a debate during the 'sandbox era' (GTA, crackdown, saintsrow, etc).
We've come to accept linearity as another style of game design.
Heavily scripted is in a down trend. Just like WWII games were universally hated (due to being so ubiquitous) in the early 00's. Call of Duty is heavily scripted, but so is The Walking Dead, so there you go.
Damn right. von ElDerpin funny
[–]Subhazard 0 Punkte1 Punkt2 Punkte 3 Stunden zuvor
See? can't NOT do it can you.
That being said, Canada's certainly a good neighbor to have.
A friend of mine who plays the bass just posted this on facebook. von finkaliciousin funny
[–]Subhazard 0 Punkte1 Punkt2 Punkte 5 Stunden zuvor
Your fingers do, maybe.
As a skinny guy who can't run for shit, this is true.
[–]Subhazard [score hidden] 5 Stunden zuvor
I don't know, that would trip me the fuck up, and I got a Ph.D in space n' shit.
[–]Subhazard -1 Punkte0 Punkte1 Punkt 6 Stunden zuvor
It is not difficult to drum one monotonous beat very quickly.
It is tricky to keep multiple rhythms and use everything at your disposal.
You must play shitty drums.
[–]Subhazard 21 Punkte22 Punkte23 Punkte 9 Stunden zuvor
One blowjob, but everyone hears about it.
[–]Subhazard 48 Punkte49 Punkte50 Punkte 9 Stunden zuvor
The universe where in shape, highly energetic men who can really hold a rhythm get laid?
Dear Class of ’13: You’ve been scammed. You paid 300% more for your degree than someone graduating 30 years ago, even adjusting for inflation. von T1macin politics
[–]Subhazard 1 Punkt2 Punkte3 Punkte 10 Stunden zuvor
What can be done about this?
[–]Subhazard -4 Punkte-3 Punkte-2 Punkte 10 Stunden zuvor
Ah yes, just like Canada, NZ's cultural identity is almost entirely about 'look at us, we're not our bigger neighbors'
What's a stupid game mechanic that infuriates you? von deadhawk12in Games
"Grabbing: Press these buttons to grab during this situation"
Boom, done. How hard is that?
JJ Abrams: "Star Trek felt too philosophical" Wil Wheaton: "That's the whole point." von HarryKilmerin startrek
[–]Subhazard 1 Punkt2 Punkte3 Punkte 13 Stunden zuvor
It's like there aren't other stories out there. It just feels kind of cheap, especially if that's all you do.
Herbert, Asimov and Stephenson all wrote great sci-fi stories that weren't about such tired concepts such as 'racism' and 'war is bad'
It sort of reminds me of art college students who think metaphor and symbolism are straight tickets to quality.
Just because you obfuscate your story, doesn't make it better. It's still the same, tired story.
Female motorist completely loses the plot when confronted by a cyclist von Soupynormanin cringe
[–]Subhazard 6 Punkte7 Punkte8 Punkte 15 Stunden zuvor
It would set a frustrating and dangerous precedent if a cyclist always went up on the sidewalk when a car got in his way. Then all cars would do it, and would be a lot more aggressive/reckless, endangering cyclists.
Top Doggs new photo, this shit just got incredibly real! And yes he is being serious von Livelouddieproudin cringepics
[–]Subhazard 2 Punkte3 Punkte4 Punkte 15 Stunden zuvor
[–]Subhazard -7 Punkte-6 Punkte-5 Punkte 15 Stunden zuvor
Not all good scifi is a boring metaphor for racial issues.
[–]Subhazard 0 Punkte1 Punkt2 Punkte 15 Stunden zuvor
I actually found that to be kind of charming.
I had absolutely zero issue figuring out planetside 2's mechanics.
[–]Subhazard 2 Punkte3 Punkte4 Punkte 1 Tag zuvor
Grinding in games where grinding isn't the thing you were already doing.
For example. Grinding is okay when it's like 'get 500 kills' in an open world game.
Feathers in assassin's creed? Go fuck yourself.
[–]Subhazard 27 Punkte28 Punkte29 Punkte 1 Tag zuvor
Slow ass tutorials.
I'm not retarded.
Hell, give me the control scheme and a couple tool tips along the way, and I'm golden.
Mass. man receives first of its kind bionic arm, hand (It's happening.) von MellowTimein Deusex
[–]Subhazard 9 Punkte10 Punkte11 Punkte 1 Tag zuvor
I feel like I read this headline every year, and the prosthetic is always the same with the same functions.
What are some of your favorite in-game user interfaces? von SyrioForelin Games
So did Dystopia, but I don't think it was neccesary.
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π Rendered by PID 8427 on app-29 at 2013-05-18 07:24:31.689059+00:00 running 3ff46f6. | <urn:uuid:878c99c4-5fbe-4bf3-9b7a-56c29b1cac97> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://de.reddit.com/user/Subhazard | 2013-05-18T07:24:32Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.719964 | 1,535 |
Jeff Novitzki was an IRS agent. Not an avenging angel sent from above, nor an earthly crusader for all that is good and pure in America, but a bureaucrat. Somewhere along the way he got it into his mind that it was his job and his job alone (and his only job) to eradicate the peril of steroids in sports. He's with the FDA now, but he continues his myopic, monomaniacal quest to bring down the users.
With today's mistrial in the Roger Clemens case, let's take a look at some of Novitzki's targets and what came of the copious amounts of man-hours and taxpayer money that went into securing justice.
• Marion Jones pleaded guilty to making false statements. She was sentenced to six months in prison.
• Track coach Trevor Graham was convicted for making false statements; a mistrial was declared on two other counts. He was sentenced to a year of house arrest.
• Cyclist Tammy Thomas was found guilty for perjury and obstruction. The jury rejected two other perjury counts. She was sentenced to six months house arrest.
• Dana Stubblefield pleaded guilty to a count of making false statements. He was sentenced to probation.
• Barry Bonds was convicted for obstruction. A mistrial was declared on three other counts.
• The case against Roger Clemens was declared a mistrial. The government will have to decide whether to re-pursue charges, if a judge even allows it.
• Since 2008, Novitzky has been investigating Lance Armstrong. It remains to be seen if charges will be brought.
In summary, Jeff Novitzky is not very good at punishing people for using steroids, but he's great at punishing people for saying they didn't use them.
In Les Miserables, the similarly obsessed Javert could not reconcile the fact that laws and morals were not one and the same. He removed himself from the case (permanently) and the entire menace disappeared — it had never been an actual menace beyond what the investigator made it. | <urn:uuid:9633d567-9064-4b17-a316-4c92ccb99f9d> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deadspin.com/5821286/despite-jeff-novitzkys-lifes-work-cheating-at-sports-is-still-not-a-crime?tag=barry-bonds | 2013-05-18T07:22:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981995 | 424 |
Yesterday afternoon's much-hyped grudge match between USC and UCLA went in the Bruins' favor immediately, and for good; the score was 24-0 midway through the second quarter, and, despite a spirited comeback to bring the Trojans within three, UCLA won by 10. The Bruins have the better record in the Pac-12 South, and will at the end of the regular season no matter what happens next week.
At a school with as rich a football history as USC, any high-profile and highly paid coach is going to have to do some explaining when their crosstown little brother thumps them in a late-season match-up. So it was especially galling for Trojan fans when tweets started coming out of L.A. saying that Kiffin ducked the media and left through the visitor's locker room emergency exit last night. (We even saw one saying he'd set off alarms in the process, but it's been deleted.) It fit perfectly into the well-established narrative that Kiffin lacks the dynamism to coach such a storied program, the integrity to lead young men, and the perspective to learn from defeat. From what we can tell, this is the report that got things rolling:
From that point on, there was no reasoning with the mob:
There's a lot more like that out there; the Scott Van Pelt summation has been retweeted 869 times as of this writing, the original Pedro Moura report 252 times. And yet, here's Lane Kiffin's post-game presser, suggesting that he did, in fact, talk to the media:
He takes blame, and gives credit to his opposition and his players. It's not masterpiece theater, but he had just lost. Pedro Moura later clarified his original report, but the clarification still used words like "retreat," and "abnormal" to describe the way Kiffin left after the game, and hardly anyone retweeted those.
Who cares which exit he took? What do we learn from this? Nothing. It's just meant to confirm previously formed opinions and fit expectations. There's generally little reason to defend Lane Kiffin, who is demonstrably a lot of the bad things people say about him. This, however, is a relative of the basest types of media manipulation, stoking already burning fires with tricky phrasing and the selective use of facts. Lane Kiffin couldn't face the media last night! What a chickenshit! Except for the seven minutes right after the game, when he answered tough questions, calmly and professionally.
It would have been a great story if he fled the way it sounded like he had—so symbolic, so perfectly Kiffin—but sometimes facts get in the way. Oh well. It should soothe everyone who revels in Kiffin's defeats that he's coming back to coach the Trojans next year. | <urn:uuid:1279f958-3791-40fe-9d4a-6090fa512436> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deadspin.com/5961555/why-does-everyone-care-which-exit-lane-kiffin-used-when-he-left-the-visitors-locker-room-last-night | 2013-05-18T05:32:48Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.978873 | 590 |
Owl Creek Asset Management, the hedge fund founded by Jeffrey Altman that survived the financial crisis relatively unscathed, is now suffering, with the flagship portfolio off 13 percent through November.
The quantitative hedge fund, whose cadre of science and math Ph.D.’s deploys complex computer trading strategies, has flourished amid the bloodletting of August.
With the stock market shedding billions of dollars in value and uncertainty in Europe stoking fear, some funds are watching their returns sink by double digits.
Maverick Capital, the $11 billion hedge fund run by Lee Ainslee, has set aside millions to fund start-up hedge funds having trouble raising funds, the latest in a growing list of prominent investors entering the space, Bloomberg reports. Read more »
That $950 million is the largest amount of money ever raised by a start-up in a round of venture capital financing.
Lee S. Ainslie III tells his investors he matched the Standard & Poor’s 500-stock index in the third quarter, and little else.
Some of the world’s most successful hedge fund managers said they have turned more bullish on the stock market against a backdrop of stronger corporate and consumer balance sheets, as well as low interest rates.
Castlight Health, a start-up financed by prominent venture capitalists and the Cleveland Clinic, is aiming to allow American to comparison-shop for health care by building a search engine for health care prices.
Youku, the Chinese video-haring Web site has landed $40 million in fresh funding and is in “active” discussions to take on another $40 million.
The Managed Funds Association, the hedge fund industry’s main lobbying group, has selected Darcy Bradbury, a former assistant Treasury secretary and a senior vice president for the D.E. Shaw group, to serve as its chairwoman. | <urn:uuid:63e52760-cda0-4dcd-b0db-7c6165a02753> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dealbook.nytimes.com/tag/maverick-capital/ | 2013-05-18T06:55:22Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.941818 | 387 |
Here’s a good Sonic Charmer post about how JPMorgan could have prevented the London Whale loss by imposing a liquidity provision on the Whale’s desk:
Liquidity provision means: ‘the more illiquid the stuff you’re trading, the more rainy-day buffer we’re going to withhold from your P&L’. And since one way a thing becomes illiquid is ‘you’re dominating the market already’, you inevitably make it nonlinear, like a progressive income tax: No (extra) liquidity provision on the first (say) 100mm you own, half a point on the next (say) 400mm, a point on the next 500mm, 2 points on the next 1000mm, etc etc. (specific #s depend on the product). Problem solved. In fact, it’s genuinely weird and dumb if they didn’t have such a thing.
The London Whale’s problem (one of them) was that he traded so much of a particular thing that he basically became the market in it. That means among other things that even if on paper “The Price” of what he owned was X there would have been no way for him to sell the position for X. A liquidity provision is a rough and dirty way of acknowledging this fact.
This suggestion isn’t a matter of GAAP accounting: JPMorgan wouldn’t report its asset values, or its revenues, net of this liquidity provision. It’s just an internal bookkeeping mechanism: his bosses informing the Whale that, for purposes of calculating his P&L and, thus, his comp, they would take the GAAP value of the things he had and subtract a semi-arbitrary number for their own protection.
It is weird and dumb that they didn’t do this although you can sort of guess why: the Whale portfolio started very small, and by the time it got big the Whale was both profitable and a (mostly imaginary) tail risk hedge, so it would have been hard for a risk manager to take a semi-punitive step to rein in his risk-taking. “Just tell the Whale to take less risk” does in hindsight seem like a sensible suggestion, but I suppose if he’d made $6 billion it wouldn’t.
Something else though. Here you can read about an exchange between the SEC and JPMorgan about the Whale newly released yesterday. Read more »
When is a loss a loss? That is the question. Read more »
This Bloomberg article about accounting differences between the US and Europe for derivative-y things comes down pretty squarely on the side of Europe, which is to be expected: European (well, IFRS) standards tend to gross up the size of bank balance sheets, compared to US GAAP standards. Grossing up bank balance sheets makes for bigger numbers and scarier banks, and “US banks are scarier than they seem” is more newsworthy than “European banks are less scary than they seem.” Also intuitively truer. As Bloomberg puts it:
U.S. accounting rules allow banks to record a smaller portion of their derivatives than European peers and keep most mortgage-linked bonds off their books. That can underestimate the risks firms face and affect how much capital they need.
Or it can overestimate the risk European firms face. Or any estimating of risks based on any measure of balance-sheet size is necessarily indeterminate. Risk happens tomorrow, not yesterday.
Anyway though some of these accounting differences are puzzling insofar as they are not accounting differences. Here is the mortgage bond one: Read more »
Every financial contract is subject to a bunch of risks, and in some sense each of those risks affects its value. There’s some chance that an asteroid will crash into the earth next year, rendering your 30-year interest rate swap considerably less valuable, and if you’re so inclined you can discount its value for that possibility.
One nice thing to imagine is that your financial contract is, like, one contract, and all the risks are spelled out in that contract, and you can figure out the value of the contract based on real or market-implied probabilities of all the risks happening etc., and you add them all up and you conclude “the market value of this contract today is 12!” or whatever and you go on your merry way. But that doesn’t need to be true. Some of your risks live in the contract and are part of the contract; some live in the counterparty and have to do with the counterparty’s riskiness; some live in whatever collateral arrangements you have with the counterparty and have to do with the mechanics of your collateral; some are asteroids.1
Anyway, remember the Deutsche Bank whistleblower story? I said last week that the question of whether DB’s actions constituted accounting fraud was not a particularly interesting question, but that is all relative and you’d be surprised what I find interesting. One thing I find interesting: those Deutsche Bank trades! And umm their accounting.
So, some background. As far as I can tell, DB sold a bunch of credit protection in sort of normal ways, CDX and stuff. And it bought a bunch of protection in leveraged super senior tranches. A super senior tranche, classically, is:
- You have a pool of reference assets,
- You pay some spread to a protection writer,
- If defaults wipe out more than some unlikely-seeming percentage – 15%, say – of those assets, then the protection writer gives you money, more or less 1% of notional for every 1% of losses over that threshold,
- So for instance if there are 40% losses you get paid 25%.
- The protection writer is like a big bank or monoline or whatever and, in 2005, is either AAA/AA or is posting mark-to-market collateral or both.
So there’s your trade. A leveraged super senior is the same thing, except replace that last bullet point with:
- The protection writer posts a bunch of collateral – 10% of max exposure, say – day one.
- The protection writer is a Canadian asset-backed commercial paper conduit or some other non-credit party.2
- If certain bad things happen that make you worry that you don’t have enough collateral, you can ask the protection writer to post more collateral, but (1) they don’t have to, (2) they don’t want to, and (3) they can’t.3
Read more »
Oh man, what is going on in this FT article? Here is the bottom line:
In a series of complaints to US regulators, two risk managers and one trader have told officials that Deutsche had in effect hidden billions of dollars of losses.
“By doing so, the bank was able to maintain its carefully crafted image that it was weathering the crisis better than its competitors, many of which required government bailouts and experienced significant deterioration in their stock prices,” says Jordan Thomas, a former US Securities and Exchange Commission enforcement lawyer, who represents Eric Ben-Artzi, one of the complainants.
The “in effect” does a lot of work there; Deutsche Bank “in effect” hid billions of dollars of losses because there were no losses. Other than that!
Here’s a synopsis of what seems to have been going on:
- Starting in 2005, Deutsche did some credit trades where they bought protection from some Canadian pension funds and sold protection to hedge funds, etc.
- The bought and sold protection were not identical, with various technical bits of non-overlap that you can read about at your leisure down below.1
- A credit crisis occurred, changing the risks involved in those non-overlapping bits from silly, abstract, purely theoretical risks into significantly more alarming and more-likely-to-occur but still purely theoretical risks.2
- Deutsche’s people sort of ran around dopily trying to figure out what to do about it. Here’s a condensed version of the running around they did about the main risk, the “gap option” that DB was short in its leveraged super senior trades:
Read more »
Have you given up on this week yet? Of course you have. Libor Libor Libor Libor, we get it, mistakes were made. Next week though we get the start of bank earnings season, which will at least kick off with a whaling expedition, so that’s something.
One thing that we’ve had to look forward to in recent earnings seasons is getting to talk very seriously about how banks “make money” by becoming worse credits, or less amusingly “lose money” by becoming better credits. This is more or less referred to as “DVA,” for “debit valuation adjustment,” and stems from accounting rules that allow and/or require banks to reflect changes in the fair value of certain of their liabilities – including changes in fair value due to their own deteriorating or improving credit – in their accounting net income. The counterintuitive result is that the worse the bank looks, the better its earnings look. This provides cheap irony, which is a valuable social function because earnings reports are often pretty boring and what else are we going to talk about; it also provides countercyclical bank confidence-boosting (though not countercyclical actual capital), which is also a valuable social function especially if you take away other countercyclical confidence-boosters like lying about your unsecured borrowing costs. (Libor Libor Libor.)
The effect should be particularly interesting this quarter as there’ll be dueling credit effects on earnings. On the one hand, bank credit is broadly wider – I see JPM 5y CDS +44bps for Q2, C +50, BAC +38, GS +46, MS +45 (from Bloomberg CMA) – and when I last did any math on it 1bp of CDS spread seemed to translate into anywhere from ~$2mm (for GS) to ~$22mm (for JPM) of DVA earnings. So there’s potentially $2bn in imaginary earnings in those numbers. Read more »
When the London Whale thing came out, JPMorgan made one sort of clever attempt to minimize it by saying this:
Since March 31, 2012, CIO has had significant mark-to-market losses in its synthetic credit portfolio, and this portfolio has proven to be riskier, more volatile and less effective as an economic hedge than the Firm previously believed. The losses in CIO’s synthetic credit portfolio have been partially offset by realized gains from sales, predominantly of credit-related positions, in CIO’s AFS [available-for-sale] securities portfolio. As of March 31, 2012, the value of CIO’s total AFS securities portfolio exceeded its cost by approximately $8 billion. Since then, this portfolio (inclusive of the realized gains in the second quarter to date) has appreciated in value.
What did this mean? Well, I think it roughly meant what it said, which is that as if March 31, JPMorgan’s Chief Investment Office had about $375bn worth of bonds for which it had paid about $367bn, and that after March 31 (1) that portfolio of bonds increased in value to at least $375,000,000,001 and (2) JPMorgan had sold at least some of those bonds at a profit. But one nice thing about it is that, if you squinted, you could read it as “our hedge decreased in value, yes (and by $2bn), but that’s because the underlying portfolio increased in value (by $8bn), so net-net we’re way ahead, and it was a hedge, and whaddarya gonna do, hedges go down when things-hedged go up, that’s life.” That turned out to be an entirely wrong reading but hey they tried!
Reuters moved that story forward a bit with this kind of interesting parsing of Jamie Dimon’s words, including particularly the statement that JPMorgan had realized $1bn of gains on the CIO portfolio of available-for-sale securities between the end of the first quarter and the beginning of that super-awkward whale-confession conference call. Read more »
When exactly did this “blame the test” game start? At what point exactly was it when the fact that Jr. can’t add three plus three became “well, of course not. The test is unfair.”? What level of absurdity have we reached when it is the accounting rules that force the reporting of “dismal results,” and are therefore to blame in large part of the financial disaster we are coping with?
The audit watchdog agency is considering issuing additional guidance on fair value accounting, which banks have blamed for forcing them to report dismal results, chairman Mark Olson told Reuters on Monday.
Olson, who leads the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (PCAOB), said U.S. accounting regulators need to keep examining consequences of the standard, but lawmakers should not get involved.
Audit watchdog weighs more fair value guidance [Reuters]
The debate over mark-to-market accounting rages on.
The accounting standard known as FAS157 has been criticized by some bankers, notably Blackstone Group chief Steve Schwarzman, for needlessly causing big write-downs and encouraging financial panic. It’s defenders include Goldman Sachs, which pointedly left the Institute for International Finance in June, a banking lobby group, over the IIF’s anti-mark-to-market stance. Last week Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson defended mark-to-market during a talk he gave at the New York Public Library (which, ironically, is now officially called The Stephen A. Schwarzman Library.)
“I believe in fair value accounting,” Paulson said.
Over at the Deal, Robert Teitelman cries foul, accusing Paulson of restating the debate in question-begging terms.
Now “fair-value accounting” has been around for awhile, but increasingly its patrons are using it to nudge aside the far clearer and more precise term “mark-to-market.” “Fair value” contains a kind of moral imperative. Mark-to-market lays its weary head on the markets. Fair value, is, of course, by definition, fair. Who can argue with that?
Paulson and the triumph of fair-value accounting [TheDeal]
Earlier this morning we discussed how changes in the way accounting rules treated auction-rate securities helped drive corporate investors out of the market. (For a rousing debate of exactly which accounting changes stamped out demand, click here.) Credit market concerns and the changes in the way auction-rate securities are treated on cash flow statements contributed to the rush out of the securities by bringing additional scrutiny to the once obscure financial instruments. At the end of 2007, many companies made the decision to shift assets out of auction rate securities as these changes were implemented for the new fiscal year.
The Apollo Group owned as much as $365 million in ARS at the end of 2007, according to a recent filing. But by February 19, 2008, all but $107 million of the ARS investments had been liquidated and not reinvested in the ARS market. Apollo says this well-timed exit was part of a plan to intentionally reduce its exposure to the auction rate securities, although they do not reveal what prompted the exit. The timing wasn’t perfect, however, and Apollo found itself unable to liquidate approximately $79 million in ARS due to auction failures.
Despite not completely exiting the ARS market, we’ll count Apollo a winner. So who’s still holding the securities? After the jump, we reveal two companies trapped by the auction failures.
Read more » | <urn:uuid:a6cc80e6-a5d3-4cbb-8936-b49e6be0866e> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dealbreaker.com/tag/accounting/ | 2013-05-18T06:43:14Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.962696 | 3,350 |
4th July is approaching and you must be finding ways to decorate your house in a new patriotic manner. No one can deny the fact that flowers are most important role players in every decoration. Flowers can verbalize your feelings in a very beautiful and wise manner. In this article, we will discuss about different ways to decorate your house with flowers, for this July 4th.
Beautiful Door wreaths: Let freedom ring with this beautifully preserved wreath arrangement in true independence colors of red, blue and white silk flowers with blue eucalyptus and caspia, measuring 16″ in diameter. A flag ribbon acting as a wreath hanger gives it more patriotic look. Door wreaths like this will provide more loyal welcome to your guests on independence day.
Flower bouquets: American spirit of hope and freedom is very well reflected through a red; white and blue flowered bouquet. Bouquets in classic pitchers, topped with the stars & stripes displays a lovely floral arrangement ruminate respect to your country. This lovely bouquet includes Red gerberas, Matsumoto asters, white button spray chrysanthemums, alstroemeria and blue iris – accented with sinuata statice, seeded eucalyptus and salal in an ivory handled pitcher with an American flag.
Hanging flower baskets: You will definitely like to have a hanging flower basket at your entrance. These baskets look beautiful when engaged with flowers of different colors and will provide a delightful look to your balcony or garden area. This independence day you can add red, white and blue accessories like ribbons, stars, and flags to your basket and let it reflect pride for your country. | <urn:uuid:bf7dda16-26e0-4368-aafa-a8d1c1088200> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dealrocker.wordpress.com/2009/07/01/flowers-decoration-for-july-4th/ | 2013-05-18T08:02:34Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.915836 | 351 |
Cultured, historic, and global, Montreal is a worldwide center for the arts, education, and finance. Sample the best of the city during your stay in one of Starwood’s hotels in Montreal. Stroll through the colorful Mile End neighborhood before heading off to see the famous dome of the Bonsecours Market in Old Montreal. The massive Mount Royal Park is more than just a place to rest and admire the city, but after an incredible meal or an exciting hockey game, you might be tempted to do just that.
Old Montreal & Downtown Hotels
Inspire your senses at Montreal’s newest hotel, steps from historic Old Montreal, the Palais des congrès, and downtown.
Meet, relax and reconnect in the heart of downtown Montreal, near the business district and steps from shopping, dining and entertainment. | <urn:uuid:aea8ed52-cb58-4965-ae8d-ecdd60271659> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deals.lemeridien.com/Montreal-Hotels | 2013-05-18T06:51:15Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.91714 | 171 |
Hmm... you're wanting to take your vote back?
Well, that's a bit tricky. See, we do a lot of stuff with your vote, using it to work out the popularity of what you voted for, compare that to all the other things voted on, tally up our leaderboard, work out your reputation. Someday we'll do a little cartoon showing just how hard your vote is working.
Anyway, taking votes back messes all that up, so we give you five minutes, in case you just mis-clicked. After that we've got to say no take-backs. Luckily, votes are free, so feel free to throw them around left and right wherever you see fit. | <urn:uuid:b58a8d8b-85bf-49c1-9e75-380bc13aa79a> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/1b6654ab-06da-4c51-9031-b857adb952cc/krispy-kreme-free-doughnut?utm_source=twitter | 2013-05-18T06:20:09Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.963468 | 144 |
Give your garden a tropical look this year with this large Elephant Ear. Known for its giant green leaves and the baseball-sized bulbs, Elephant Ears are perfect for any sunny garden. When looking at the leaves, its easy to see where this plant received its name: each leaf can reach 2-3 feet in length and 1-2 feet in width. You will truly have the neighbors talking when this guy reaches his full height of six feet in your landscape this year!
Perennial in Zones 9 - 11. Colocasia esculenta bulb size 13/15 in. This item will Bloom/Grow Summer to Frost 2013. | <urn:uuid:3224dba8-3013-4a6a-a601-e3f8cd0db59b> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deals.woot.com/deals/details/65685919-19bf-49eb-863e-1fd5cb1603ac/elephant-ear-malanga-bulbs-50-off | 2013-05-18T06:20:57Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.944694 | 131 |
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Wednesday, 30 April 2008
Seanad Eireann Debate
Minister of State at the Department of Foreign Affairs (Deputy Dick Roche): I thank Senators for delaying the start of business today. I am not quite certain what the confusion was. However, as I was in the Czech Senate three short hours ago, I am very pleased to be here now. I am very grateful to Members and I hope it did not inconvenience any Member of this House.
I am pleased to introduce into the Seanad, on behalf of the Government, the Twenty-eighth Amendment of the Constitution Bill, which has completed its passage through Dáil Éireann. Through this Bill, the Government proposes to hold a referendum seeking the approval of the people to ratify the EU reform treaty. The importance of this referendum can hardly be overstated. It is the culmination of a prolonged period of consultation, reflection and negotiation. This process began in December 2001 with the convening of the European Convention, a unique experiment involving national governments and parliaments together with the EU institutions. It considerably broadened the debate about changes to EU structures and procedures, and ended with the treaty signed in Lisbon on 13 December 2007.
Throughout this period the Government carefully examined and assessed each proposal, and ensured that whatever was agreed was in our interest and that of the wider Union. The Government also facilitated a broad-based consideration of developments under the auspices of the National Forum on Europe, where representatives of a wide spectrum of public and civil-society opinion have engaged in lengthy debate over the future direction of the European Union. It is often said that the European project is cobbled together in backrooms. It is often said that treaties are put together away from the eyes of the citizens of the Union. Nothing could be further from the truth in this case. The Convention on the Future of Europe was a convention of 200 men and women drawn from the parliaments and governments of the 27 states and from the institutions of the European Union. It did its work in public. It listened to and consulted with the public. It is important to put that on the record because one of the distortions often made in the debate here is that somehow or other it was put together in secret. It certainly was not.
The Government is pleased to recognise the overwhelming support in the Oireachtas for the reform treaty. The referendum Bill was passed by the Dáil with a mere five Deputies expressing their opposition to it. The reform treaty represents the views of the vast majority of the democratically elected Members in Dáil Éireann and, I am sure, in this House also. We are men and women who serve our country and although we differ on politics we do not differ on this matter. This reflects the deep understanding across the political spectrum of the essential role played by the European Union over more than three decades in the development of our country, society and economy and that the Oireachtas was directly represented in the Convention.
We were unique at the Convention on the Future of Europe in that Government and Opposition came together. We had people from across the political spectrum in the Convention on the Future of Europe. Former Deputy John Bruton served on the presidium. Proinsias De Rossa, MEP served with extraordinary distinction on the social Europe group. It was my privilege to replace Mr. Ray MacSharry representing the Government. Deputies Pat Carey and the Minister, Deputy Gormley, also came out to represent the Dáil. The political spectrum in Ireland was represented in the Convention.
Support for this treaty transcends normal political divides. Ratification of the treaty is a true national priority. It is notable that even those opposing the reform treaty now feel obliged to claim — I would say falsely — that they are strong supporters of the European Union. These treaty opponents know that outright opposition to the Union would gain them few votes. However, their support for the Union is paper thin and unconvincing. Opponents of the reform treaty rarely say a good word about Europe aside from ritual claims that they are somehow mysteriously pro-European. Their deeds indicate otherwise.
The only Oireachtas party campaigning against the reform treaty, Sinn Féin, has an extraordinary record in this regard. At least one could say it is a record of consistency. Sinn Féin has opposed every European treaty since we voted on accession to the EEC. However, it still claims to be pro-Europe. It has a funny way of showing it. The reality is that either Sinn Féin members do not understand the EU and how it operates, or they are opportunistically dressing themselves in a cloak of concern for a mythical better deal for Ireland. To give one example: Sinn Féin argued in Dáil Éireann that the treaty should not be ratified unless Ireland secured a specific protocol guaranteeing that we could continue making our own decisions on taxation. This proposal typifies Sinn Féin’s duplicitous approach. First, it ignores the fact that the Government has absolutely ensured that we will continue to make our own decisions on taxation, including of course corporation taxation, by the maintenance of unanimity in this area.
It was not just the Irish Government or the Irish political representatives who went to the Convention who were interested in retaining unanimity. Other governments in Europe want to maintain unanimity in this area, not for any selfish or self-interested reasons, but because we believe that taxation is directly related to democracy. In the words of the President of the Commission, José Manuel Barroso, addressing the National Forum on Europe earlier this month, “one thing is already crystal clear — no member state, either under the current rules or under the Lisbon treaty, can be obliged to accept a tax proposal to which it objects”. The chairman of the independent and impartial Referendum Commission, Mr. Justice O’Neill, has also confirmed this in the clearest and most unequivocal language.
Sinn Féin’s proposal for a protocol on taxation is redundant. The opportunism of Sinn Féin is astonishing. Barely 12 months ago, the same party was calling for a near 50% increase in our corporation tax rate, and for perhaps a trebling of the rate in respect of financial institutions. Mr. Adams, MLA, MP, will finally appear before the National Forum on Europe tomorrow, having dodged the forum to date. I look forward to him answering questions on that matter. I somehow doubt that Irish business people or those employed in multinational companies in Ireland believe that Sinn Féin is the party to look after their interests.
The Libertas group has also cynically claimed to be pro-Europe while denouncing anything and everything to do with the European Union. The people will be wary of such false friends. Farmers will want to note that the leader of this self-appointed think tank, who warns against “Mandelson’s Europe”, wants to abolish completely the Common Agricultural Policy, which has been the bedrock of Irish agricultural production for 30 years, and which has brought immense benefits to rural families. I want to put this on the record of the House because I was challenged on this point recently by one of the multifarious spokespersons of Libertas. He said I was misquoting Mr. Ganly. In order to make certain that I did not, I looked up an article written by that gentleman entitled “Europe’s Direction? a Voice from Ireland”, published in 11 March 2003. In discussing the invasion of Iraq, which that gentleman supported, he chastised the democratic leaders of a number of European states for daring to argue about weapons of mass destruction. He stated:
Deputy Dick Roche: He may be well said. I do not believe it is right to support the impoverishment of rural families nor the downgrading of agricultural and rural life. I do not believe, in terms of infrastructural development, we should rob Peter to pay Paul. I believe there are more appropriate ways of approaching this matter. I made the quotations because this gentleman, who proposes that he is somehow a friend of Irish farmers, wants to end the CAP. Some Senators may agree with that goal but I do not.
It would not be appropriate to devote any more time to these organisations and their hollow arguments or to their dubious rationale. Their myths have been exposed and their yarns are beginning to unravel. I would instead like to turn to the substance of the Bill and outline its specific provisions. The substance of the proposed amendment to Bunreacht na hÉireann is set out in the schedule, containing what, if approved by the people, will be subsections 10° to 15° of Article 29.4 of the Constitution.
The proposed subsection 10° provides that the State may ratify the reform treaty and be a member of the European Union provided for in the treaty. This is straightforward and reflects the language and approach of previous amendments. It should be noted that the reform treaty creates greater clarity by dispensing with the current and somewhat confusing distinction between the European Union and the European Community. Henceforth there will be a single entity, the European Union. I do not understand why some people find the establishment of a single title to represent different bodies sinister. This is simply an act of common sense.
The proposed new subsection 11° of Article 29.4 mirrors the provision that has been in place since our accession to the EU 35 years ago. It will ensure legal compatibility between the reform treaty and the Constitution. It carries forward the concept of constitutional cover for laws, Acts and measures necessitated by the obligations of our EU membership. It is not, as some might suggest, a sinister legal move; it is in accordance with what has existed for 35 years.
This provision has attracted attention from some opponents of the treaty, who have cynically tried to suggest that it is a new departure and will make our Constitution completely subservient to European law. The truth is that this constitutional provision is as old as our membership of the Union. In essence, this provision means that we agree to implement EU law in areas where we have conferred a specific competence on the EU. European law does not have primacy in any area where the EU does not have a specific competence. Indeed, a very important provision of the reform treaty clarifies the respective competences of the Union and the member states and recognises that ultimate sovereignty lies with the member states. Also, in establishing the principle of conferral, it makes it clear the Union has no powers other than those it is given by member states. It also clarifies that powers given to the EU by member states can be taken back.
The wording I have outlined reflects the general principle of international law, recognised since 1937 by Article 29.3 of Bunreacht na hÉireann, that states must comply with international legal obligations freely undertaken by them in the exercise of their sovereignty. Bunreacht na hÉireann will continue to be the basic legal document of the State and Irish sovereignty is fully protected. It is important to make this point because the sovereignty argument has been recycled in every referendum since 1972.
The new subsection 12° provides for the State to avail of certain options and discretions and to agree to certain legal acts under the treaty on foot of the prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas. This has been portrayed as somehow sinister by those who wish to distort the facts. The subsection updates the provisions inserted relating to the treaties of Amsterdam and Nice covering those situations where, because the discretion exists to opt into a given action, Irish participation is not deemed to be legally necessitated by the Union. Some of the provisions, relating to the areas of freedom, security and justice, are specific to Ireland while others, relating to enhanced co-operation, are relevant to all 27 member states.
The new subsection 13° makes specific provision for the possibility of withdrawing, in whole or in part, from the opt-out provided for in the Ireland-UK protocol in the area of freedom, security and justice. We discussed the opt-out at length in this House and many Members felt it was not necessary. This gives us the right to withdraw from the opt-out. The subsection provides that prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas would be a condition for such a withdrawal. This is an important point because we have written into various subsections that positive confirmation from the Houses of the Oireachtas will be necessary. In other words, things cannot simply happen with the passage of time; the Oireachtas will have to approve them.
This subsection relates to an area that was subject to significant change between the constitutional treaty, signed in 2004, and the reform treaty. This is one of the areas of fundamental difference between the two documents. The amendment of the Ireland-UK protocol, which has existed since 1997, extends our existing opt-out arrangement with regard to visas, asylum, immigration and judicial co-operation in civil matters to judicial co-operation in criminal matters and to police co-operation. Due to the sensitive nature of co-operation in this area, and particularly the fact that Ireland, like the UK, has a distinctive common law system of criminal justice that differs from the legal systems in place in the majority of our EU partners, Ireland decided to avail of an extension of these flexible arrangements.
There were mixed views relating to this and I shared such sentiments but what we have done is prudent because it gives Ireland the right to opt in on a case by case basis with the involvement of the Oireachtas. The protocol means that we will be able to choose, on a case by case basis, in which criminal justice or police co-operation measures we will participate. We have clearly indicated, in a declaration attached to the Intergovernmental Conference’s final act, that we will examine how EU policy evolves in this area and review our arrangements within a period of three years.
Ireland has consistently and strongly supported practical EU anti-terrorism measures and concerted action against organised crime and we will continue to do so. For this reason, the declaration annexed to the final act states our clear intention to participate to the maximum extent possible in relevant proposals and particularly in the area of police co-operation. Withdrawal from the opt-out arrangements contained in the protocol would require prior approval of both Houses of the Oireachtas.
Subsection 14° states that prior approval by the Houses of the Oireachtas would be a condition for action on a number of Articles. This includes the use of the general passerelle provision in the treaty, which allows the European Council, where the member states are unanimously agreed, to change the voting method for a particular Article from unanimity to qualified majority voting, or to extend the co-decision procedure between the Council and the European Parliament, in specified areas — excluding defence and military matters — subject to the right of any national parliament to veto such a change.
It should be emphasised that for this to happen every member state in the European Council would have to agree as would the Government of every member state. Such a measure would have to have the support of the majority of members of the European Parliament and, as we will see, it would need the effective support of every parliament in the European Union. Each parliament in the European Union will have the right of veto. Both Houses of the Oireachtas will have the power to exercise a veto. Ireland has added an additional clause that ensures both Houses of the Oireachtas must agree to such measures proceeding.
The use of specific passerelles relating to the common foreign and security policy, judicial co-operation in regard to family law, the environment, the adoption of the multi-annual financial framework, social security and the use of passerelle mechanisms within enhanced co-operation is covered. It also covers certain decisions in the areas of freedom, security and justice, namely, to extend the scope of judicial co-operation in aspects of criminal procedure in specific areas with a cross-border dimension; to extend the scope of measures concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in the areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension; and to establish a European public prosecutor office for dealing with crimes affecting the Union’s financial interests. The cross-Border crimes in question are human trafficking, money-laundering, fraud, drugs and arms dealing, crimes every civilised nation wants to stamp out.
This requirement to seek the positive endorsement of the Houses of the Oireachtas in respect of any of these areas enhances the treaty provisions, which allow for a negative veto by any national parliament in the case of the general passerelle.
The new subsection 15 carries forward the prohibition on Irish participation in any future EU common defence. This was originally inserted in the Constitution by the people in October 2002, as part of the approval of the ratification of the Nice treaty. To avoid any possible doubt about the constitutional prohibition on Irish participation in an EU common defence, this subsection refers to the relevant provision from the Nice and the reform treaties. There is no serious proposal for a common EU defence. In any case, a change in Ireland’s position can come about only if the Irish people were to decide so in a referendum.
The Bill allows for a referendum permitting the State to ratify the Lisbon reform treaty. It reaffirms the prohibition on Ireland participating in any common EU defence. It provides for a significant role for the Oireachtas in respect of options and discretion contained in the treaty. It provides uniquely for an extension of powers in the Seanad as it will, as in the case of the Dáil, make a positive affirmation in QMV.
The Bill provides for a vote on Ireland’s continued participation at the heart of Europe. Over decades, Irish people have demonstrated repeatedly their commitment to the European project. They have recognised the immense benefits the country has enjoyed as a result and the benefits that have accrued to the wider continent.
Would a country of our size have more control over the major factors influencing the global economy if it were to stand apart from the Union? The best way to shape our external environment, to deal with international crime and to manage the threat of climate change is to work intensively with our EU partners. The Union has provided the space and the framework for Ireland to fulfil its destiny as a proud, independent and successful nation.
One key purpose of the reform treaty is to improve accountability and enhance the democratic legitimacy of the Union. In particular, the increased role for the European Parliament and national parliaments will strengthen the democratic character of EU legislation. The role of the European Parliament will be strengthened in drawing up the Union’s budget.
The treaty also provides for a strengthened role for national parliaments with regard to draft legislation. The introduction of the yellow card and orange card procedures can be used to oblige the Commission to reconsider legislation if it is felt to conflict with the principle of subsidiarity. The treaty makes national parliaments the guardians of subsidiarity. National parliaments may bring legal challenges to the European Court of Justice if they believe any legislative act breaches that principle.
The Oireachtas and other national parliaments will have a red card in certain areas, allowing them individually to block the movement of a given article from unanimity to QMV. This process is designed to strengthen the role of national parliaments in the Union without distorting the Union’s institutional balance. Some hours ago I discussed this with the Czech Senate’s committee on EU affairs and it was discussed last night in an Oireachtas committee. The level of involvement and the powers given to national parliaments by the treaty are a revolutionary move and a significant innovation.
There is no question of future referenda in Ireland being ruled out by the treaty as suggested by some of its opponents. This was reiterated yesterday by the Referendum Commission. Article 1.56 of the treaty, inserting a new Article 48 into the Treaty on European Union, makes clear any future move to confer additional powers on the EU, to alter the provisions of the treaty or even to amend EU internal policies in a way that does not increase the Union’s competence, must be approved in accordance with the constitutional requirements of each member state. In Ireland this means advice will be sought from the Attorney General on each occasion as to whether a referendum is required. The Government will be guided by the advice of the Attorney General in each instance.
Two core issues in Ireland’s approach to the reform Treaty and the EU — neutrality and taxation policy — demonstrate the essential safeguards and checks and balances which are an integral aspect of the Union and consistently ignored by the treaty’s opponents.
Ireland proposed the provision originally inserted in the Maastricht treaty in 1992 that the policy of the Union in the security and defence sphere shall not prejudice the specific character of the security and defence policy of certain member states. This was an explicit recognition of our tradition of military neutrality. It was also welcomed by Sweden, Finland and Austria when they later joined the EU. This formulation has been maintained since and is repeated in the reform treaty. The recognition of our military neutrality demonstrates the Union respects diversity and accommodates those with differing traditions.
Taxation policy is of long-standing importance to Ireland. We have consistently maintained our principled position of opposition to harmonisation of taxes or any movement away from unanimity in decision-making. We have always pointed out that a competitive corporation tax rate has been a key element of successive Governments’ policies. Tax competition is beneficial, not harmful. Others who respect our success are free to emulate us. They are not free to oblige us to increase or harmonise our taxes. No provision in the current treaties or the Lisbon reform treaty gives the power to other member states or the Union’s institutions to affect our tax rates. Taxation remains a key national competence. No amount of spinning by the treaty’s opponents can change this. I hope the comments by the chairman of the Referendum Commission, Mr. Justice O’Neill, will put this particular canard back in its box until the next referendum, when no doubt it will be resuscitated.
The EU originated with six member states 50 years ago. Its working methods and institutions have proved remarkably durable. Nevertheless, enlargement and the passage of time have highlighted areas for change and reform. This is what the Lisbon reform treaty is about. It is not about deciding exactly what Europe will do in the coming decades. That will be for decision by the member states. Instead, it is about providing a structure for those decisions to be taken. The Union has worked well and has enlarged substantially because it has provided a unique model. It has managed to combine a shared community of values with respect for the rights and prerogatives of member states.
None of Ireland’s national interests will be jeopardised by the reform treaty. None of our national interests was jeopardised by joining the Union. We should be confident and forward looking to continue to engage to good effect with our European neighbours by supporting the reform treaty at the referendum.
Senator Maurice Cummins: The European Union is the most advanced form of voluntary integration between sovereign states in history. The Lisbon reform treaty embodies a unanimous agreement that emerged from more than five years of intense public and private discussion between democratically elected representatives of 27 member states representing 500 million people. Most of the content of the treaty was the subject of consensus in a convention consisting of the democratically elected governments of all EU states. The Lisbon treaty is an agreement which can only come into effect if every one of these 27 countries formally ratify it. The Irish people now have the power to accept or reject this treaty. I believe they will accept it, on balance, for a wide range of reasons. The Irish people have had a direct hand in creating this voluntary and multinational democracy which is one of the great achievements of 20th century political leadership.
The Fine Gael party has organised in excess of 30 public meetings nationwide to inform people of the contents of the Lisbon treaty. Our youth branch, Young Fine Gael, has also held several public meetings at locations throughout the country. We believe it is important that people know exactly what is in this treaty and that we nail the lies which some people continue to spread on issues which have nothing whatsoever to do with the treaty.
Take for instance, the issue of abortion which was raised at a public meeting which I attended recently. It was suggested that abortion would become more freely available if we ratify the Lisbon treaty. Nothing could be further from the truth. The protocol of the Maastricht treaty states that nothing in the treaty will affect member states with regard to abortion and euthanasia. This will remain within the competence of the Government and the Constitution. I was furious that Alive magazine carried an advertisement recently stating that a “Yes” vote for the Lisbon treaty would be a “Yes” vote for abortion. This is a downright lie and I am saddened to say that the church allowed such a leaflet to be distributed which tries to confuse and muddy the waters for decent, honourable churchgoers. I suggest that allowing such lies to be spread breaks one of the Lord’s own commandments. I listened to the radio this morning and I heard these lies trotted out again, in a deliberate attempt to confuse people as to the provisions of this treaty.
The Minister of State, Deputy Roche, mentioned the farming community and it, rightly, has concerns about the world trade talks and especially about how Commissioner Mandelson is conducting these talks. The Taoiseach is on record as stating that Ireland will use its veto if the WTO talks are not favourable to Irish agriculture. Surely, such a commitment could not be reneged on by any Government. Farmers can therefore vote on the Lisbon treaty on its merits, based on the guarantee which the Taoiseach has given on behalf of the Government on the world trade talks. The talks have nothing to do with the Lisbon treaty.
Ireland is more dependant on jobs, prosperity and on the foods and services it sells abroad than almost any other country in the world. It is therefore in Ireland’s interest to be a full voting member of a democratic body like the EU, which guarantees that our closest export markets will stay open, on a basis of free and undistorted competition and as of right, not as a favour granted by a powerful neighbour.
We currently have 980 foreign companies in Ireland providing almost 140,000 jobs. Some 434 of these firms are from the EU member states and this number is, thankfully, growing. One of the important consequences of EU membership is that it guarantees that all EU Citizens will have the right to live and work in any other EU State. Irish people know, from history, how valuable that right is.
However, if people can cross borders, then so too can criminals, terrorists and illegal drugs and arms. This is the reason the Lisbon treaty has been drafted. The treaty will help the EU to develop more rapidly rules to enable member states to work together against crime by sharing intelligence and evidence, apprehending accused persons and by recognising penalties imposed by the courts of other EU States.
The Lisbon treaty will enable the EU to be more effective in dealing with cross-border crime. This will be achieved by introducing majority voting in this area, in place of the current rule which requires all 27 countries to agree before the EU can take action. The problem of cross-border crime, including the drugs menace that is now visible in every Irish county, is too urgent to wait for unanimity. This change is one of the most important reasons we should approve of the treaty.
Climate change is a major challenge for Ireland. We cannot tackle it on our own, nor can Europe. We are too small and the problem is too big. However together in the EU the 27 member states can, with sufficient diplomatic and trade muscle, ensure that all countries of the world act together in addressing this significant issue.
It is difficult to believe that the first official visit of a British Prime Minister to meet a Taoiseach in Ireland, rather than in Britain, did not take place until 1974. Membership of the EU enabled the two countries to develop a more mature relationship which has served both countries well in the intervening years.
Under the Lisbon treaty the EU’s foreign relations will be put under the unified management of one person. However, foreign and defence policies will still have to be settled by the unanimous agreement of all member states.
The European integration process has proven to be beneficial for all participants. It has been reasonably well managed and pursued. It has shown a capacity to adapt to the emergence of new demands and challenges from the world. The whole process has been overseen by the changing constellations of political forces which have produced a wide variety of governments in members states over the past 50 years. Whatever its faults or the criticisms of it which we make, which are deserved at times, it has given us something of value. We should continue to develop the EU and a “Yes” vote for the Lisbon treaty is the best way to continue its development.
Some people have suggested that Fine Gael should oppose this referendum as a means of embarrassing an already discredited Government, but my party has always put the country and its people first. We believe passionately in the European movement which has ensured peace, above all else, and contributed significantly to the prosperity we have enjoyed in this country.
The Lisbon treaty is another step on the European ladder which puts proper structures in place to meet the exciting challenges which lie ahead resulting from increased membership of the European Union. Ireland has built up a good deal of goodwill over the years with other member states, which has served this country well on many occasions. I believe the Irish people will not jeopardise this goodwill and will support the treaty when they are fully informed of its content. I urge the Irish people to vote “Yes” to this treaty on its merits and not use their vote to censure this Government. That opportunity will come later. That the “No” campaign has, according to a recent opinion poll, gained support is a cause for concern. Hopefully, complacency will be put aside and the Government will concentrate on discussing the Lisbon treaty’s many positive aspects.
While I am not criticising the Minister of State, I was approached by a number of people today who told me that he got angry on yesterday’s edition of “Five Seven Live” due to some suggestions that were made. This can occur when lies are told about various matters, but we should explain the treaty’s contents in a rational and thoughtful way. If the information is provided to the people, they will make the right decision on the day.
Senator Ann Ormonde: I welcome the Minister of State, who has made a significant effort to attend this debate. Three hours ago, he addressed the Parliament of the Czech Republic. His attempt to attend the Seanad in a timely manner reflects his energy and drive in getting the debate off the ground. I appreciate his work in this regard.
The purpose of the Bill on the 28th amendment of the Constitution is to pave the way for the ratification of the European Union reform treaty, which is concerned with simplifying structures. There were six member states 50 years ago, but there are 27 members today. The treaty responds to current needs, aims to simplify the workings of the institutions and will bring them into the 21st century. It is a question of making changes to their workings to enhance efficiency, transparency and democracy. The treaty will give everyone a stronger voice in the decision making process.
The yellow and red cards system is welcome and appropriate, as it will give national parliaments a greater role. Under it, any decision proposed in Brussels must apply the subsidiarity concept. If it does not, we can use the yellow card system to return the decision to the Commission for further discussion. If necessary, we can refer it to the European Court of Justice. This is a significant improvement in terms of linking us with the Union’s decision making process instead of it being a question of Europe being over there and Ireland over here. This is how I want Europe to work for us. The treaty will bring citizens closer to the decision making process and provide us with a real say in European policies.
I welcome the role of the National Forum on Europe and the discussions of the Joint Committee on European Affairs in driving the reform treaty forward. The amendment will give legal status to the Charter of Fundamental Rights, including the freedom to choose occupations, equality between member states, the right to life and respect for private and family life. The charter puts the interests of the citizen firmly in the heart of the Union.
The treaty allows the EU more scope to address major problems such as climate change, energy security, cross-border crime, trafficking, immigration, poverty and injustice. These issues cannot be addressed by any country acting alone. We must work together and pool our resources. By doing so, we will make a difference. The treaty will provide the means to meet these challenges, allowing Europe to do more for our people. We may discuss cross-border crime and how to curtail the drugs and trafficking businesses, but we cannot handle those matters alone on the periphery. By pooling resources, a global team can combat trafficking and so on.
I do not understand the comments by those in the “No” campaign on the issues of neutrality, taxation and abortion. It is clear that the principle of unanimity will apply. We will decide what is to be done on taxation and neutrality, not Europe. The “No” campaigners believe that, in terms of abortion, taxation and neutrality, our identity will be subsumed into Europe. That one voice can object to a proposal at a Council of Ministers and prevent it from progressing is welcome. That we and not Europe will decide on these issues, the key areas on which the “No” campaign is harping, must be repeated to keep the message tight and simple.
In terms of economics, Ireland has access to an EU market of more than 500 million people. As Ireland is a peripheral country, the EU is good for our businesses and consumers. In 2006, for example, Ireland exported goods and services to the other 26 member states to the value of more than €56 billion. In 1998, we exported goods and services to the comparative value of €39 billion. Our national income per head has increased from less than 60% of the European average to above average. When we joined the EEC in 1972, our foreign direct investment was worth €16.1 million. Today, it is measured in billions, such as a level of capital investment to the value of €2.6 billion. The number of people employed in small to medium-sized industries has doubled since 1973. No longer is it inevitable that parents see their children departing for foreign shores in search of employment. By virtue of being citizens of the EU, they have access to new horizons. The EU has enhanced our national well-being and our capacity to further the interests of the people. Ireland’s place is at the heart of Europe.
The citizen’s initiative, a new concept included in the treaty, means that 1 million citizens will be able to table a proposal to have a particular issue debated in the European Parliament or at the Council of Ministers. This is a significant improvement. Under qualified majority voting, the requirement of 55% of member states comprising 65% of the EU’s population will ensure that small countries will be taken care of. A full-time president of the European Council will be elected every two and a half years to chair and co-ordinate the work of the European Council. That is a way to show they are reflecting the views of member states. We will have a full-time high representative for foreign affairs who will co-ordinate the EU’s policies on external relations.
This treaty is not a radical document. It will protect our vital interests and give us a voice in Europe. It would be a dreadful mistake to vote “No” because doing so would create uncertainty within the European Union. Failure to ratify the treaty would be damaging to smaller countries such as Ireland and would erode our standing on the European stage. Ireland has benefited hugely from EU integration. It is clearly in our economic interest to vote “Yes”. Rejecting the treaty would suggest to the other 26 member states that we should return to the drawing board.
Senator Ann Ormonde: Membership of the EU has transformed us. We have a voice in Brussels and a place in the world from which we can influence the formation of key policies which affect our future. We must be at the table when issues such as climate change, trafficking and cross-border crime are discussed. We cannot address these issues alone. My philosophy for being in Europe is that we should be part of the global scene while retaining our own identity.
Senator Ann Ormonde: We should focus on economic management, climate change and peace and stability around the world. We must vote “Yes” because doing so will bring us political goodwill and solidarity from fellow member states, as well as greater international co-operation and equality. This treaty transcends political divides and I am delighted that so many people are putting Ireland first.
I do not understand the flaky thinking of Libertas which claims to be pro-Europe while denouncing everything and anything connected with Europe. It advocates the abolition of the Common Agricultural Policy which has been the bedrock of Irish agriculture for the past 30 years. The treaty is a separate issue to the World Trade Organisation negotiations. Our national interests will not be jeopardised by it and it has nothing to do with taxation or neutrality. We have unanimity on these issues. Subsidiarity means that issues of importance to Ireland will be debated in Ireland. Scrutiny has been introduced and proposals can be discussed by national parliaments and sent back to Europe if they are not liked. What is wrong with that? Why would we want to stay out of Europe when we have all these protections?
I compliment the Minister of State and his colleagues on the 50 meetings held the length and breadth of Ireland. Ministers have attended all these meetings which were organised by the Minister of State, Deputy Roche. We have left the starting blocks and I have addressed several meetings in my constituency. The “No” side seems very flaky to me, so let us keep driving this the way we have driven it thus far. This treaty must be passed because it would be an embarrassment to say “No”.
Senator David Norris: I welcome the Minister of State to the House. He is a vigorous and intellectually challenging representative of the Government. I am distressed to say, however, that I have to speak as a bit of a flake, in the words of my good friend and colleague, Senator Ormonde. I face the ghastly prospect of embarrassing the Senator and encouraging Ireland to be perceived as mean. These are terrible alternatives. I enjoyed the Senator’s contribution, although I have not always felt the same about interventions by the Government and, indeed, the Minister of State.
One of the reasons I have decided finally to vote “No” to this treaty — this is my first time to do so, although I declared my reservations about the earlier treaties — is because of the supercilious and contemptuous way in which those of us who have a conscientious series of objections to the treaty are treated by the Government and other spokespersons. We are accused of lying and of being flaky and it is claimed that we have never been good Europeans. I do not accept that and it certainly cannot be said of myself.
I know nothing whatsoever about Libertas, having only heard about the organisation recently on foot of an intervention from the Minister of State. It has not persuaded me in the slightest on this issue. However, I am concerned about certain specific issues, principal among them being the undoubted and growing militarisation of the European Union. On that issue there can be no question, despite what the Minister of State might argue.
I have always supported the EU and my support is not paper thin or unconvincing. There are, however, unconvincing elements to the treaty. It would be perfectly legitimate for the people of Ireland to use their democratic vote to reject this treaty. If they did so, they would be going over the heads of the megalocrats that run the EU to speak directly to the heart of Europe, a democratic right which none of its other citizens have been given the opportunity to exercise. That tells us something about the management of this matter. What are the megalocrats afraid of in terms of democracy and why will they not give the people the right to vote? Why are we the only ones to do so?
While I am speaking about evasion and confusion, I wish to address the question of why the referendum is being held. We are told by the Government that it is a constitutional requirement but, according to the court judgments, it is only a constitutional requirement if there is a prospect of a substantial constitutional or legislative changes. On the one hand, we have a referendum caused by this major shift and, on the other, the Government says there is no shift and nothing is happening. Some people have suggested that Europe will come to a shuddering halt if we vote against the treaty but Europe will continue unchanged. What will change it is the passage of this treaty.
That requires an explanation. According to the Commission President, José Manuel Barroso, there is no fall-back position. They are arrogantly assuming we are going to bullied into passing this referendum.
Why was the date moved from October to June? Had it something to do with the leaked memo in which we were told that June was chosen over October because of “the risk of unhelpful developments during the French presidency, particularly related to EU defence”? Perhaps Mr. Sarkozy might be inclined to tell the truth but that would be terribly embarrassing and we might be justified in being mean to the megalocrats.
Something else concerns me. We hear a great deal of rubbish about liberal issues, people concerned about abortion and so on but we know one thing. I have a motion on the Order Paper about the exemption from equality legislation of the churches, even in the light of and despite the revelations of the Ferns Report. Decent, upstanding citizens like myself could be fired from a teaching job by the authorities with impunity because of the exemption granted under that legislation.
This came to the notice of the equal opportunities Commissioner, Vladimir Spidla, and he proposed action in the European Court. There was then a little squawk from the Iona Institute and others, unelected and unrepresentative people, and in order to smooth the way so that there would not be any turbulence from the right wing religious element, this has been dropped. Again, we have sacrificed equality and principles to ease through this treaty. Mr. Barosso stated: “There is no intention to bring Ireland to court on that ground. That is not going to happen”. It was stated that the Minister of State with responsibility for European Affairs, Deputy Dick Roche, strongly welcomed the news. He stated, “Mr. Barosso’s comment are very positive. I look forward to seeing the final adjudication”. They are not positive and the Minister of State knows it but I will not call that a lie. I will call it an evasion because we must be polite in this House, but it is a damnable day for equality when this happens.
Senator David Norris: People have said the treaty is difficult to read and have been patronised for saying that. One learned commentator said it was like trying to read Finnegans Wake backwards in Latin. Even for a Joycean like myself I imagine that might pose some difficulties.
If we examine the statements of other senior politicians, Monsieur Valéry Giscard d’Estaing is on record as saying that the Lisbon treaty is a direct clone of the failed constitution “except for certain cosmetic changes making it easier to swallow”.
When the constitution was voted down in France and the Netherlands the Commission Vice-President, Günter Verheugen, stated: “We must not give in to blackmail”. When the citizens of Europe exercise their democratic right it is blackmail but when the megalocrats stuff something down the throats of 26 of the 27 countries that is democracy in action. I have a different way of using language.
On the question of language, I recall pointing out to the Minister of State’s colleague, Deputy Mary Harney, that in a statement on health approximately three pages long she used the word “competition” seven times and she was embarrassed by that. Let us examine the language of the treaty. The word “market” gets 63 mentions and “competition” gets 25 mentions. There is no mention whatever of full employment. In other words, we are going to exchange social Europe for the neoliberal economic model of Europe.
Senator David Norris: That was not a tract. It was an article by Susan George in The Irish Times. I accept the Minister may be right but will he accept also that there are 63 mentions of the word “market” and 25 of the——
Deputy Dick Roche: I would just make the point that in a response which The Irish Times very decently carried I pointed out the number of times she had been inaccurate in the article. I will deal with it in my response.
Senator David Norris: Okay. Could the Minister also comment on the fact that in Strasbourg on 10 July last year Jose Barosso stated: “Sometimes I like to compare the EU as a creation to the organisation of Empire. We have the dimensions of Empire”. There is an imperial level to it, therefore.
With regard to the economic aspect, there is the business about spreading the European economic message by what is described as “the integration of all countries into the world economy through the suppression of barriers to international trade”. We could have a whole debate on that and the impact on southern hemisphere countries.
I did not fully follow what the Minister of State was saying but he mentioned in his contribution the war in Iraq. I never felt that the war in Iraq was a good thing. I believe he was quoting Mr. Shanley or somebody from Libertas but I do not want to be dragged into that kind of debate. That is why I am concerned about the erosion of our individuality.
The Minister of State is probably aware that on Bastille Day last year there was a triumphal military procession in Paris. Monsieur Sarkozy was in a military jeep. The armed forces of 27 countries, including Ireland, were present and I quote from a description from Reuters:
That is the theatrics behind it. However, there is a philosophical agenda. For example, on 13 November 2007, during the French Presidency, Monsieur Herve Morin spoke of the need for a more muscular presence by Europe on the world stage and outlined France’s plans to press ahead with a Europe of defence. That is worrying.
Chancellor Angela Merkel was reported on 23 March 2007 in Bilt. She stated: “Within the EU itself, we will have to move closer to establishing a common European army”. We are going to replace the United Nations, for example, with this extra military organisation. David Miliband, in a characteristically English intervention, stated: “It’s frankly embarrassing that European nations — with about two million men and women under arms — are only able, at a stretch, to deploy around 100,000 at any one time”. The Portuguese Defence Minister, when Portugal had the EU Presidency, stated: “Defence is a vital driver of integration today and the EU has to strengthen its military rapid response capacity, bolster its defence industry, etc. And all this should complement NATO”.
I wish to turn to the defence industry and the European Defence Agency because that also raises a question of language. This used to be called the European Armaments Agency. Why the coy change of title? Why is it now the European Defence Agency instead of what it really is, namely, the European Armaments Agency?
One should take note of the statement from this renamed agency. In September 2005, Mr. Nick Witney, who was the chief executive of the European Defence Agency, addressed the Institute of European Affairs in North Great George’s Street, just up the road from where I live, and outlined the benefits to Irish industry of EDA membership. He described some Irish or Irish based companies as being key players in some defence related sectors such as armoured fighting vehicles and defence electronics and that co-ordinated procurement could put them in a better position to be awarded defence equipment contracts.
The Minister of State will be aware that a conference on cluster munitions will be held soon in Croke Park. Some of the states with which we are entering into collusion with this treaty will go there and try to lobby for exemptions for cluster munitions they are manufacturing.
I will end by speaking on the reservations of some non-governmental organisations. There is no statement about partnership and independence in the treaty, which the European Community Humanitarian Office previously included. Many organisations are concerned, as I am, about the increasing militarisation of Europe and our incorporation into a manufacturing industry that is a disgrace to the human community.
Senator Déirdre de Búrca: I welcome the Minister to the House and the opportunity to debate this Bill which is necessary to enable the State and Irish people to ratify the Lisbon treaty. As we are aware, we are the only country in the European Union that is to have a referendum on the treaty, which places a particular responsibility on us. As we know, the treaty is a legal document which represents a compromise between the interests of 27 member states. It is complex document which takes some reading and understanding and there is a particular responsibility on those of us who belong to the political classes to promote, explain and interpret aspects of the treaty for members of the public. The public must also educate and inform itself over the coming weeks.
It is a shame other member states in the European Union are not having a referendum. At the time of the drafting of the EU constitution, the Green Party supported the idea of an EU-wide referendum where a double majority would be sought, made up of a majority of states supporting the treaty and a majority of population. Unfortunately that was not supported. I have every confidence that in future we will see these kinds of EU-wide referenda but we must accept that for the moment, the constitutional requirements of other member states are that they do not need to do as Ireland is doing by having a popular referendum. Parliamentary ratification is the mode of ratification for European treaties in other cases. We have an opportunity and responsibility to educate and inform ourselves and I hope the Irish people will participate in this so they can feel they can go to vote on the treaty on 12 June with a very clear idea of what the it is about.
I am obliged to respond to some of the points raised by Senator Norris. I am disappointed to see the Senator join the ranks of people whom I can only describe as demonising the European Union. I do not mind anyone finding fault with the treaty; it is not perfect and is a compromise between the interests of 27 member states. There are areas in the treaty which are of concern to the Green Party and we have not pretended otherwise. However, the list of negative descriptors of the European Union is unfair.
Senator Norris admitted he has supported previous treaties. There are many ways in which the European Union has been very positive for this country and its people. We have emphasised how it has been very important economically in terms of market access, the attraction of foreign direct investment and protecting those countries in the eurozone from instability in the international financial markets. That is happening today and we have been protected because of our membership of the eurozone.
We also have influence within organisations such as the World Trade Organisation, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund and so on. As a small country our influence would be absolutely minimal but as a part of the European Union, we can exert more influence for the good of other parts of the world.
Senator Déirdre de Búrca: Socially, this country has benefited enormously from our EU membership and I am sure Senator Norris would be very aware that most of the progressive employment and equality legislation we enjoy in this country is a direct result of our EU membership. It is easy to forget all that, and it seems the EU is now bad, has evil intentions and just wants to create an army and dominate the rest of the world. I cannot recognise the European Union that both of us know in the description by Senator Norris.
Senator Déirdre de Búrca: On the environmental side, as far as the Green Party is concerned, the European Union is the best thing to happen to Ireland where protection of the environment is concerned. Most of the positive environmental legislation which we have taken our time in implementing has come directly from the European Union.
Senator Norris is also very aware that the European Union has united what was previously a divided continent. There has been peace on the continent for the past 50 years and the Union is playing a positive role in other parts of the world, such as Aceh, Bosnia and Kosovo. It is keeping the peace and helping those areas maintain stability in difficult circumstances.
It is also the largest donor of financial aid to the developing world, a fact of which Senator Norris is also aware. These are important points to make on a day he is being so critical of the European Union.
Senator Déirdre de Búrca: We must also consider the new emerging world order where there are leading countries such as India, China and Russia with human rights records that do not bear comparison with the European Union. It is important to think of a strong European Union operating on the global stage, promoting values such as democracy, the rule of law, equality, sustainable development, the rights of minorities and their protection, etc. It is important we have a strong European Union operating at a global level.
I will touch briefly on some elements of the Lisbon treaty. One of the very positive factors of the treaty is the way it sets out the values of the European Union very clearly. It discusses the promotion of human rights, democracy, the rule of law and equality between men and women, which is very important and a value from which Irish women have benefited.
It speaks of the rights of the child and a commitment to tackling and reducing poverty internationally. There is also the promotion of sustainable development, which will be absolutely essential in an age when we are realising there are limits to economic growth and we must respect the natural limits of our planet. Climate change is one of the factors forcing us to do so.
The values expressed within the Lisbon treaty are very positive. It is clearly up to us as politicians, as a member state of the European Union and as citizens to push the Union to uphold and promote those values. We should not be complacent and we must ensure they are being implemented and respected in all the actions and policies of the European Union.
The Lisbon treaty sets about reforming the institutions of the European Union. Some people are crying loudly that Ireland’s influence is being seen to be reduced. There has been a reduction in some of Ireland’s influence in some European institutions but we must consider that the Union has expanded enormously from the community Ireland entered into originally.
As Ireland becomes accustomed to working with other member states and has increasing confidence in its ability to form alliances and so on, we do not necessarily need to hold on to vetoes. It will become impossible to operate with 27 member states if the veto is to be used in many policy areas. With many of the reforms in the Lisbon treaty, although Ireland may find its influence reduced somewhat, we have the confidence in our own ability to be able to operate. We recognise that for a supranational body such as the European Union, it would not be possible for it to continue to make effective decisions if we held on to some of the decision-making processes in place in the past.
The Lisbon treaty also makes the European Union more democratic. There is a role for national parliaments in keeping an eye on the subsidiarity principle, ensuring decisions are being made at the right level. There is the citizens’ initiative, where citizens can come together to petition the European Commission to introduce new legislation. There is also the substantially increased powers of the European Parliament, a directly elected institution, so citizens of Europe can ensure the institution that most directly represents them can exercise significant clout in decision making.
The Lisbon treaty is also strengthening the European Union’s ability to act globally, and there are a number of different measures in this respect, including the creation of a more permanent Office of President of the European Council. The External Action Service is created by the Lisbon treaty and a legal personality will be given to the European Union that will allow it to sign up to international treaties such as the Kyoto Protocol. There is also the role of the high representative for foreign affairs and security matters. That brings more coherence and concentration to the common foreign and security policy of the European Union.
There is also a clear and welcome commitment to tackling climate change. Some opponents of the treaty have said it contains only six words in respect of this matter. As far are the Green Party is concerned, however, these are probably the six most important words in the treaty. Without any doubt, climate change is the most serious and gravest threat facing the global community. The European Union has shown great leadership on this issue to date. More needs to be done and the Union must to be able to bring member states with it in the context of making some of the changes that will be necessary. If it is successful in this regard, our economy will be much more adaptable to the new circumstances in which we will find ourselves. There will have to be a “greening” of the European economy and the latter will have to become much more sustainable in the coming decades. The European Union’s track record on climate change indicates that it will be committed and successful in the way it approaches this matter.
Energy is a new policy area in respect of which the European Union will gain competence under the Lisbon treaty. If the treaty is ratified, the European Union will become a world leader in the area of renewable energy. There is a real need for the latter, particularly because it is one of the serious responses to the threat of climate change and will help us decarbonise our economy. Many new employment opportunities will be created as a result of developments in this regard.
The Lisbon treaty strengthens the concept of EU citizenship. The Charter of Fundamental Rights clearly sets out the rights and entitlements of EU citizens in respect of health care, education, fair and just working conditions, protection in the event of dismissal, etc. If they examine the provisions of the Lisbon treaty, people will be aware of the particular benefits, rights and entitlements that are theirs as a result of their being citizens of the European Union.
Senator Michael McCarthy: I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, and wish him well with his brief. One of my first contributions in the previous Seanad related to the Nice treaty and if memory serves, I believe the Minister of State also held responsibility for European affairs at that stage.
Senator Michael McCarthy: He later became a member of the Cabinet following the positive result in the second referendum on the Nice treaty. I am sure such good political fortune once again lies around the corner if the Minister of State can pull this one off at the first attempt.
In light of the various points made recently, it is worth recalling the history of the European Union. The original aim behind it was to bring about peace, stability and prosperity in Europe after the Second World War. The two world wars in the previous century ravaged Europe, divided its peoples and gave rise to much hatred and violence. The original aspiration behind what became the European Union was to bring together European nations in order to ensure that they would become prosperous, peaceful and stable.
It was important that the divisions which existed in the aftermath of the Second World War were overcome by a successful gathering of European nations. The EU has been extremely important in the context of ensuring economic and social development among member states. One need only consider local villages and towns to see the major benefits that have accrued to communities and sporting organisations and clubs as a result of our membership of the European Union. How many road infrastructure projects would have been completed if Ireland had remained outside the European Union?
The late President Hillery, was instrumental in ensuring that Ireland joined the then EEC. He was one of a number of far-sighted visionaries who could see the benefits of involvement in Europe for a small country such as Ireland on its western periphery. Dr. Hillery and others saw the benefits that lay ahead as a result of our membership of what has become the European Union. They also saw the contribution Ireland could make. The late poet and playwright Victor Hugo said in the 19th century that he imagined a peaceful united states of Europe. Not too many years later an American President inquired as to who he should ring if he wanted to contact Europe.
We now have a union of European countries working together for economic stability, peace and the prosperity of all nations. Since the establishment of the EU, many poorer countries have become members under the process of enlargement. In recent years the European Union encouraged the reunification of Germany following the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989. With the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the former communist countries of central and eastern Europe decided that their future lay within the family of democratic nations. Those countries had been under the thumb of communism and were broke in more ways than one. The enlargement process continues to this day.
Much of the opposition to the Nice treaty focused on enlargement. A certain element of selfishness and greed coloured the arguments put forward by opponents of the enlargement of the European Union. This was a form of nimbyism — an attitude of “I’m all right Jack, to hell with everybody else”. Those who espoused it felt Ireland had enjoyed its bite at the cherry as a result of its membership of the European Union and had got as much as it could out of the latter while the going was good. They were of the view that we should be selfish and that others should not enjoy the same benefits. We must recall the advantages that have accrued to Ireland and other countries as a result of their EU membership. I wish such countries well and I hope they enjoy the same level of success and prosperity Ireland has experienced.
The origins of the EU were in peace. However, one cannot ignore its successful economic origins. We must bear in mind the contribution of the larger countries — for so long they were net contributors — that helped smaller nations such as Ireland. This country would not be able to compete, in economic terms, in the global market. It is only as a result of our membership of the European Union that we were able to compete on the world stage with other major economies. Until Ireland joined the then EEC, the economic outlook for the country was quite bleak. At that time we were dependent on our partners in the UK but once we joined the EEC, the floodgates opened in the context of investment.
People must be made aware of the benefits of European Union membership. The agricultural community and the farming organisations have benefited tremendously from our involvement in the Union. We have received €60 billion in funds from the EU, €40 billion of which went to the farming community. That is outstanding. If the treaty is to be passed, we must ensure that everyone is aware of the advantages and economic benefits involved and of what Ireland has received as a result of its membership of the EU. In the spirit of the treaty, we must consider ways of making procedures easier in the context of dealing with the enlarged Union. I do not believe that anyone present when the European Coal and Steel Community was established by six founder members in 1951 could have envisaged the Union that now exists.
Administrative burdens have arisen over the years and we must consider ways to modernise procedures and simplify the workings of the European Union and the Commission to ensure that the former becomes more efficient. In the late 1950s, the Treaty of Rome established the Common Market. The then European Economic Community was expanded to nine members in 1973. Some of the visionaries of that time, the late President Hillery, and the late Jack Lynch, a former Taoiseach, ensured that Ireland would become a member state.
The first direct elections to the European Parliament took place only in 1979. We must recall the Irish political legends who went to Europe. It is easy to forget that MEPs were appointed before elections were introduced in 1979. If one peruses some of the older editions of Nealon’s Guide, one is left puzzling how so-and-so was a Member of the European Parliament if direct elections were not introduced until 1979. Talk about being a favoured son or daughter. In those days, one could serve in Europe for a full term and never have to canvass for one vote.
The Maastricht treaty established the European Union in 1993. In 1995 the membership of the Union expanded to 15 countries and the common currency was introduced in 2002. Most recently, a further enlargement took place in 2004.
We must be extremely clear in the context of the message that must be sent out to people. I am concerned that if the perception is created that there is a lack of information regarding the treaty, suspicion will arise. In many ways, that could be a good development. I have listened to the debates in recent weeks and some of those who are opposing the treaty conversely will be responsible for promoting it. One could not possibly agree with the points these people make. They are clearly misinterpreting the truth, lying or uttering falsehoods, call it what one will. In many ways negativity can be a good thing because it can create positivity, making it clearer to reasonable thinking people who are undecided. The important middle ground concerns those who have not yet decided on the matter. There is no point in preaching to the converted. There are those who will oppose the treaty no matter what is in it. It is important, however, that reasonable thinking people in the middle ground are informed through good debates and factual information. They must be told what this is about.
The leaked memo in The Irish Times is very unhelpful. It is incumbent on the powers that be to explain what happened and what was being referred to. People should be informed and educated by letting them know the thinking behind it. We should not allow a perception to be created by people who have a vested interest in putting viewpoints that are not based on facts.
I also wish to refer the report in The Irish Times today concerning the Referendum Commission’s comments on corporation tax. The statement by the commission used the term, “It is our informed opinion”, but something more concrete is needed from the commission to ensure our corporation tax rate will not be affected by ratification of the Lisbon treaty. The opportunity exists for others to take advantage of the issue and exploit it by claiming critically that this is what is being planned with regard to corporation tax, that our sovereignty will be lost and that there is a military dimension. As we know, speaking in economic terms nowadays has a negative impact. We do not have the luxury of a buoyant economy, as we had in 2004 for the second attempt at ratification of the Nice treaty. Things are on a downward spiral and the “No” campaigners could take full advantage of that.
Pat Cox’s term as president of the European Parliament was an outstanding political achievement, especially as he was an independent member of that assembly. He brought credence, stature and status to the debate on the last occasion. He was informed, competent, articulate and had an easy way of communicating what was good about the European Union. Reasoned and rational debate by such people who are respected, not just in Ireland but internationally, would not do the Lisbon treaty any harm in terms of its ratification.
Previous speakers have referred to the legislative benefits of EU membership. We bravely took cases to the European Court of Human Rights and can attest more than anyone else as to the benefits of that type of legislative support in terms of justice, equality and other important issues. A workforce of 300 or 400 people is entitled to force majeure leave, parental leave and other benefits that came from Europe. The former Tánaiste, Michael O’Leary, who was a Minister in the coalition Government of 1973 to 1977, introduced much of that revolutionary legislation which was bound by Europe. Otherwise we may not have had it. We need to ensure people who take full advantage of those legislative rules and regulations are aware they originated in Europe.
Despite their best intentions, it is not helpful for someone from a neighbouring European country to say we have to ratify this treaty. That is a gun-to-the-head situation which Irish people will not accept. As Britain’s nearest neighbour, we resisted British rule for as long as we did. Countries such as Australia, New Zealand and India were colonised by the British down through the years, yet London faced the greatest resistance from the smallest country and its nearest neighbour. That mentality still exists and it amounts to us saying to people not to tell us what to do because we will decide ourselves. That type of intervention, despite good intentions, could have an adverse effect.
We fought tooth and nail for democracy in Ireland. I am sure that all of us who subscribe to the democratic process and believe in equality and justice for all will always be aware of the roots of democracy in this country. We can never forget it and we celebrate it as often as we can. Why would we turn around at the beginning of the third millennium and start handing over our sovereignty and independence to Europe? It is not as simple as that.
I have no doubt about the Minister of State’s ability. The last occasion I addressed this House on the issue of Europe was concerning the second Nice treaty referendum. At the time the Minister of State, Deputy Roche, had been appointed Minister with responsibility for European affairs. It was not an easy brief and he had a more difficult ministerial portfolio than many of his Cabinet colleagues. I believe he ended up in Cabinet as a result of that ratification. Who knows but that political good fortune may be around the corner for him again. That kind of political competence and ministerial ability is needed to push this through. There is a lot at stake but we must ensure the Lisbon reform treaty is not rejected for the wrong reasons. We must banish the myths and put these lies to bed. We must also ensure there is proper, reasoned debate based on facts. I have no doubt that is the case but it is important to reiterate the arguments all the time. For example, an MEP on “Morning Ireland” this morning was continually interrupted by an opponent of the treaty. If that continues it will paint a picture to the reasonable thinking person of those who are against the treaty. For a variety of good reasons we need to ratify the treaty.
Senator John Hanafin: If we ever needed proof of the true nature of the Lisbon treaty we got it this week when one country, Lithuania, was able to prevent a treaty with Russia from going ahead. That situation would remain the case after the Lisbon treaty is ratified. There is no doubt in my mind that it would be in the best interests of Europe for both the EU and Russia — both members of the European family — to have an economic treaty. Russia has a population of 140 million with vast reserves of oil and timber. It is said that in Siberia the rivers are so full of salmon they use bulldozers to catch them. We are talking about a population that has enjoyed growing wealth and wonderful opportunities on its own doorstep. It is a country of 17 million sq. km. with vast resources and capabilities, yet one small country can hold up all of the EU concerning an obviously necessary treaty. That situation will not change following ratification of the Lisbon treaty. If we were doing anything insidious in the treaty, would that not be the one item we would change?
Shadows have consistently been thrown at the treaty which have no bearing in reality. When a light is shone on the truth of the questions, however, all one gets is another question. It is our duty to ensure this practical treaty goes through. I have a specific interest in it as I am involved in an anti-drugs group. Fortunately, the Criminal Assets Bureau has sequestered on behalf of the State moneys from criminals involved in the illegal drugs trade. That has been to the benefit of Ireland because it hurts them most when their money is taken away. If the CAB went to the so-called costa del crime to assess Irish criminals’ assets there, however, the CAB officials would be arrested, not the criminals. In today’s society, we need enhanced co-operation to combat the type of criminals involved in such illegal activities. I would welcome such enhanced co-operation.
We were told the treaty would create an EU superstate with centralised powers, but there are no new structures in the Lisbon treaty. We were told the treaty would transfer many powers from member states to Brussels, but the only major change is in the areas of freedom, justice and security. That will enable the EU to deal effectively with international crimes such as drug running and human trafficking. These are all problems we face here in Ireland.
The question of a loss of sovereignty has been raised. In 1973 when we entered Europe, Ireland conducted 60% of its trade with a single state and there was emigration. Only ten years before that, the Barrington report had spoken of the demographic anomaly in Ireland whereby the population contained a huge number of old and young people while a vast number of the people in between had left the country. There was also a tendency not to get married. What type of true independence does a country have when such a situation prevails? Since we joined the EU we have experienced a flowering of our national culture and economy. This has given young people hope and confidence for the future.
The treaty deals only with what it is intended to deal with. It does not, for example, deal with fluoridation of water, if that is a big issue for the voter. That is not what it is intended to do. The treaty is intended to make the working and operation of the European institutions more manageable in a situation where there are 27 member states. In reality, we are ensuring there is more accountability within Europe. The treaty will introduce the concept of a yellow card and an orange card, with the cards held by the national parliaments. If a national parliament considers that an issue from Europe breaches the subsidiarity principle, it can refer the matter back to Europe. If a sufficient number of parliaments agree this is correct, the issue can be removed altogether.
The operation of the European Council will be given greater coherence and continuity by the appointment of a president of the Council of Ministers. A high representative will be appointed for five years, will be a member of the Commission and will report to the ambassadors of the member states. There is also the issue of whether the Lisbon treaty is a power grab by the larger member states. The treaty introduces a double majority requirement — a minimum of 55% of the member states, representing at least 65% of the population.
One of the most serious shadows that is put forward is the suggestion that the treaty will be self-amending. This relates primarily to Articles 33 and 308 of the treaty. Article 33 provides for an ordinary treaty revision procedure and a simplified procedure. Under the ordinary procedure any member state, the European Parliament or the Commission may make a proposal for one or more treaty amendments which could increase or reduce a competence conferred on the Union by the member states. National parliaments must be notified. The simplified procedure applies only to the TFEU, that this, the internal policies and actions of the Union. In the first case, the governments can decide on treaty amendments by common accord. Their decisions must be subsequently ratified by each member state in accordance with its constitutional requirements.
There is also the issue of the militarisation of the EU. With all previous treaties, this issue was put forward each time. Each treaty was alleged to be the one that would bring Ireland into the European superstate and the European army. That and similar arguments relate to the common foreign and security policy and the security and defence policy, both of which were provided for in previous treaties which Ireland ratified by referendum. The sky did not fall. There are situations where European states are required to act as one. Consider what happened in this millennium, the genocide in former Yugoslavia. Genocide is something we thought could never happen again. The European Union was not in a position at that time to deal effectively with it. I believe it should have been. The proposal that this treaty is a movement towards the creation of a European army does not stand up to scrutiny. The Irish triple lock system still remains in place.
The main fear, however, is that the treaty will lead to the harmonisation of corporate tax rules and rates. The European Commission for some time, without success, has been floating the idea of a common consolidated corporate tax base, similar to the system in place for VAT. It has never achieved majority support among the member states and it is not included in the Commission’s 2009 work programme. There is no proposal to harmonise actual tax rates. Even if this proposal were made at a future date, it could not be approved except by unanimous vote in the Council. It is on this issue that people who oppose the treaty have suggested there is a fundamental change. They suggest that, at some stage, there is a possibility that an Irish Taoiseach will act against the best interests of the nation and vote for harmonisation of tax rates in conjunction with all the other Council members. That is not just improbable but simply will not happen. Irish tax rates are seen by other states as an example of a positive social economy with low tax.
The other positive aspect of the treaty is the Charter of Fundamental Rights. European nations fought against each other for many years. Nationalism was rampant throughout the Continent. Now, for the first time, we have an opportunity to show the rest of the world what is possible. When Pat Cox visited the Seanad he spoke about Europe being something of the light. There is no doubt this treaty is a continuation of something of the light. That is what the “No” campaign and the naysayers fear most because it shows their shadows are no more than that.
Senator Liam Twomey: We should be grown up about this treaty. There is no need to call anybody on the “No” side of the campaign a “loo-la” or anything else. I do not really give a damn whether the rest of the member states ratify the treaty through their parliaments or through referendums. We always hold a referendum; that is how we do things in Ireland. We will accept the will of the people in the referendum. It is their decision whether to accept or reject it. One of the arguments one regularly hears is about European armies. I have never yet had anybody in County Wexford or in any other part of the country ask me about the European army. They could not care less about it. Some of the other arguments put forward about Europe verge on the nonsensical for the majority of people in this country.
Senator Liam Twomey: Every time there is a problem with a local issue, one is told it is caused by Dublin. When there have been national problems, Ministers, including those from the Fianna Fáil Party, have been heard to say, “Well, that is Europe for you.” They have been saying it for 30 years. To some degree they have contributed to a feeling among a certain number of people that Europe is a negative thing. When people voted for the previous treaties, in many cases it was because there was a strong economic element in those treaties. Naturally, people will vote in their own interests. However, if one has been consistently knocking Europe by blaming it for environmental issues and ridiculous things such as straight bananas, a sizeable minority of people will have the perception that Europe is bad for them but that they must put up with it and, for as long as Europe is paying them, they do not mind. That is the reason the general public, for no apparent reason, does not take much heed of or is negative towards Europe.
There is also a lack of knowledge about Europe, and that applies to Members of the Oireachtas and members of local authorities. Many of us do not know the names of more than three or four MEPs from other countries, even if we know our MEPs. We do not understand what the European project is about. When one does not understand what the European project is about, it is incredibly easy to knock it and to allege that it is a negative force for the majority of people in this country. When we talk to the people perhaps we should begin by saying that we have used Europe. The Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív, has even said he voted against the Nice treaty the first time round because he had problems with Europe. Perhaps there is a need for Ministers to be honest and to say to the people that they may have misled them in regard to aspects of Europe. That is how we will get the people to vote for this treaty.
The strong economic arguments that have been made about previous treaties do not apply to this one, but one important role of this treaty is the Charter of Fundamental Rights for the citizens of Europe. This is one aspect of it that could be sold to the people. Europe has been very good in protecting the human rights of a great number of people in Ireland. The opportunity is always there for citizens of this country to take a case to the European Court of Justice. Many of them have been served extremely well in that court and that is what we must sell. Many of the most positive social policies implemented in this country have found their origins in Europe. That is how we will buy the people into this European project.
In reality, very little economic debate applies to this treaty. Lisbon is very much about tidying up a number of other treaties and making it little more manageable for the bureaucrats of Europe. That in itself is not a bad thing. It is no harm that we have a European treaty that tidies up a lot of the other work we are already doing in Europe. Many of the principles of the European project are based on previous treaties which have been passed in this country.
Essentially we have been good Europeans. We see the benefits to us and our self-interest has been served in many of the previous treaties. That is not a bad thing. We are also far more open-minded about what previous treaties have brought us. When we see all the other issues about our neutrality and the European armies that have been thrown into the argument in the past few years, we are big enough to see beyond them. It is interesting to observe the type of silly stuff that can become part of this debate.
Senator Doherty mentioned that Fine Gael was voting for tax harmonisation. I found the Bersani Report of 2005. It is fantastic that Senator Doherty has the time and the inclination to look up what Fine Gael MEPs are doing in Europe but his argument was that Fine Gael was looking for tax harmonisation. He quoted from a report that was published in December 2005. Fine Gael Members of the European Parliament voted last week in Strasbourg against the concept of tax harmonisation and we have voted against it consistently 15 times in the past couple of years. That is the type of information that Senator Doherty should be giving to the people. That would help to inform the debate in this country.
The European Parliament is working like a huge super parliament and many of the resolutions passed there carry no weight. Many of the things said there are as full of hot air as some of the debates in both the Seanad and the Dáil and they also carry no weight. The general concept of the European Parliament and its power do not intervene in the slightest with the sovereignty of the Dáil or with the people of this country. We should get that message across to them. The Irish have nothing to fear from Europe which will continue to work in the same way it has worked for the past 30 years. There will be, as there must be, changes in how it works. Europe has altered radically since we joined it in 1973 and its workings have altered to the same degree and yet I do not see the sky falling 30 years later, even as we discuss this treaty.
I say to the Minister that we should go out and give this to the people in the way they want it and talk about it in the way I have heard many contributors from the “Yes” side speak of it. It is a question and answer session for the people. The reason the treaty is so boring for the majority is that it is a housekeeping exercise. It wraps up many things.
|Last Updated: 18/11/2010 19:43:16||Page of 11| | <urn:uuid:3b443665-893c-4262-9e34-4a2bc1746fe2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://debates.oireachtas.ie/seanad/2008/04/30/00006.asp | 2013-05-18T07:22:03Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.971692 | 17,575 |
Avondale Estates Buys Automatic License Plate Reader
The device cost $19,560 and will be mounted on a city police car.
Avondale Estates has spent $19,560 on an automatic license plate reader, a device that digitally reads and transcribes license plates for the city police department.
Police on patrol routinely check license plates to see if a vehicle is stolen or if authorities are lookng for the vehicle in connection with a crime.
The license plate reader will be mounted on a patrol car and will allow police to make that determination more quickly, City Manager Clai Brown said. Without it, officers have to type a tag number into the car computer or call the number into a dispatcher to look up.
The City Commission approved the purchase by a 5-0 vote at the Oct. 22 meeting. Brown said the city plans to train and assign an officer to work solely with the license plate reader. | <urn:uuid:6bffc4b4-96f4-4661-a644-df131d4a520c> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://decatur.patch.com/articles/avondale-estates-buys-automatic-license-plate-reader | 2013-05-18T05:54:23Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.926132 | 189 |
Family Trips are awesome!....That's so funny I can't even type it with a straight face. Let me try again....Family Trips are......nope, still not happening. Family trips, in truth, are a mixed bag and must be approached like a wild animal - with extreme caution. (Some might even argue not at all!)
He embodied joy.
He vibrated such joyful enthusiasm it wouldn't have surprised me if he couldn't hold his body together in one piece any longer.
|In the end Maya was happy (because we were leaving most likely) and Sean was sad because he had fallen and skinned his knee. Did I mention the mixed bag, wild animal analogy - approach with caution and no expectation.|
"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom." Marcel Proust
Thanks for reading! | <urn:uuid:c49f951b-213d-416c-ae45-7d444d6168b2> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dedicatedtojoy.blogspot.com/2011/10/family-trips.html | 2013-05-18T08:09:08Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972587 | 187 |
Who Is Paul McCartney?! →
This makes me WAY angrier than it should.
The only copy protection I need is the fact that tomorrow’s comic doesn’t exist...– RStevens on Kickstarter explaining why he’s releasing his forthcoming Diesel Sweeties ebook DRM-free. (via dianakimball) It’s true. Also, I really like cookies. (via rstevens) | <urn:uuid:dd4177a6-4377-4a41-b5b9-19f9a566a335> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deepr.tumblr.com/archive/2012/2?before_time=1329591777 | 2013-05-18T07:25:00Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.836947 | 90 |
It’s been eight days since Miriam posted at Double XX
This Wired piece on the 10 Worst Evolutionary Designs also made me want to smash some test tubes. It’s a stunningly inane list of animal adaptations that the author thinks are weird, uncontaminated by even the most basic knowledge of evolution.
And the eight days since reading the Wired piece, I have yet to become less irritated by it. Miriam goes on to state at least one problem…
It isn’t cool enough that a cow-like mammal has evolved into a denizen of the open sea? It isn’t neat that dolphins have evolved amazing echolocation, and that humpback whales use their air-breathing abilities to hunt? (Not to mention that only cetaceans—whales and dolphins—have blowholes. Other sea mammals, like seals and manatees, just stick their noses in the air.) Evolution is all about using the tools at hand, and if something works it’s good enough. Whales can’t evolve gills out of nothing, but they can move their nostril to the back of their head and be successful. Kangaroos can’t suddenly evolve a placenta, but being a marsupial works fine.
So as expressed by Miriam the post misses key concepts in evolutionary biology
- As Miriam states, future evolution is constrained by the past. Once an organism starts down a genetic road, it can always veer off and take a slightly different direction, but don’t expect to make it to Tokyo on the road to Tulsa.
- Not all features of an organism are adaptive. Some features are hitchhikers, remnants of the past no longer needed.
- One cannot examine singular features in isolation. An organism should be examined in totality where organismal features represent a balance of environmental constraints. For example, evolutionary miniaturization of organisms often results in loss of organs or organ systems. Instead of saying “Gee is sure is stupid that that fish has no circulatory system”, one should be in awe that organism can lose an entire organ system, question why the organism would need to become small in the first place, and contemplate the evolutionary marvel of solving this problem by organ loss.
- On the same line of thought as the above, features themselves can represent a balance of selective pressures. Back to organismal size again, my personal forte, size can represent a balance of life history constraints, metabolic constraints, space availability, predator/prey relationships, and energetics (food foraging area, fasting potential, food availability). Each of these may select for opposing sizes and the eventual size represents one solution to a complex evolutionary equation.
- Value judging an organism’s features is ridiculous in itself. I personally find that “A few shark species have live births (instead of laying eggs). The Jaws juniors grow teeth in the womb. The first sibling or two to mature sometimes eat their siblings in utero.” to be an excellent, fascinating, and brilliant example of how to both reduce sibling rivalry for resources but increase your own energy consumption prebirth! | <urn:uuid:79f0ed9e-f05f-4bab-99d4-63bff7ed2108> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deepseanews.com/2009/07/worst-evolutionary-designs-no-brilliant-solutions-to-the-complexity-of-nature-and-constraints/comment-page-1/ | 2013-05-18T08:02:06Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.938839 | 657 |
Mad Men – Christmas Waltz
The characters of Mad Men have been dancing around their problems all season, putting up fronts and allowing fights to simply fall away – like say the Don/Megan blow up of earlier in the year – but this week the choreography changed and their motion moved up in tempo. What had once taken only simple steps to avoid now requires a complex number and a much bigger budget. They lie like those Hare Krishna’s chant; softly at first, slowly, then they speed up and repeat then line again and again, getting louder and louder with each lap until eventually they just break and they’re yelling, they’re in a trance an entirely exposed nerve. So far they’re keeping up, they’re managing to stay on their feet but with each passing moment you can’t help but see the trip coming and the fall that will surely follow.
Funnily enough though dancing isn’t the art form that this episode is most concerned with; in another bit of brilliant meta-commentary – I’m sticking with my assertions that Dark Shadows was intentionally included – Matt Weiner has written an episode of the best show on television that purposefully puts all of the mediums other efforts to shame despite also satirizing itself. Having his characters go to the theatre to see a play about America’s audacious excess’ and the advertising industries integral role in this in important enough imagery on its own, that he then has another write a script for network TV and comment on its quality and the way they work transforms the topic entirely. The meta half of this comes in with the fact that all season long people have been criticizing the show for taking its symbolism one step too far into the obvious and here he is having his lead laugh at a show for being on the nose; talk about blunt metaphors and literal stories.
This isn’t just meaningless self reference however, there is a natural statement beneath it as well. What that is exactly I can’t completely say, as you never really can with this show, but the fact that Don is so hurt by the criticisms and so vehemently stands up against them, for advertising, shows that at least on a subconscious level he does still adore this industry and Megan, in instantly siding with Acting in the debate, shows that she was really never meant for that world. We assumed these things of course, as did the characters; they had read the scripts, but it’s not until they find themselves called on to stand-in and actually shout the lines that they know for sure. That the theatre comes first and the episode then transitions to being about TV also talks to the thoughts of the time; the culture was changing, one medium was moving in on the other, taking its job for tis own.
And though Megan is the shows actress it is her husband who does all of the acting this week; Don pretending again to play husband to another of the offices women. It says a lot about his personality, the extent to which he knows what he wants, that week in week out he pretends to be married to a a different woman. As much as he may seem settled Don is not a man who will ever be satisfied by only one spouse. Joan, in the wonderful scene she shares with him, remarks that the Jaguar isn’t the car for him, because he doesn’t need it; in that moment she’s not wrong, in that moment he is happy and charming and irresistibly charismatic but minutes later his mask has slipped to the side, the smile gone and a grimace in its place, his hand violently shifting the stick in an attempt to gain speed.
Though he’s not the only one in the midst of a crisis: Pete’s disappointment has become self-perpetuating, Joan is having a scarlet letter officially stitched to her seductive skirt and Pryce has found that pinching pennies too tight can cause them to fly right out of your fingers. Money problems made up the majority of the shows drama in early seasons but have been missing of late, though they were back this week in full force; the office is concerned again with accounts, needing to net as many as they can to balance out the books, books that Lane has started lying in. Jared Harris is a fantastic actor, as good as if not better than any of the others in the cast, but his character has been bungled this year I feel; thrown in separately to the others and in stuttering sections, he is the Dany of the Draper U. If Lane were the one to flub his lines and fall of the stage, which now seems quite likely, it would be a shame, mostly because he would barely be missed. This stories redeeming element was him forging the name Don Draper on a check; that right there was properly potent imagery that one could write an essay on were they so inclined.
So this episode was many things, most of them good, but funnily enough it wasn’t really a Christmas episode. Mad Men is such a serious show that people seem to forget how much it loves its seasonal episodes, the series featuring many powerful moments that take place at family gatherings, but this time Christmas came and went without much in the way of fanfare. This episode certainly wasn’t a pageant, but i do think that it will be best remembered for its presents. What do you get the man who has everything? A purpose, and that is exactly what Joan, Pete and Megan have given Don. He has been flailing for so long, frightened of his faults and falling prey to these fears but now Don is ready to fight, to swim the channel of champagne that has become his sticky, stagnant life and start anew; he’s alive again…but for how long? The curtain is closing on him and I fear he may be too late to slip under it. | <urn:uuid:a35ae183-4c8f-4ed8-8daf-c22811d14d28> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://deerinthexenonarclights.com/2012/05/21/mad-men-christmas-waltz/ | 2013-05-18T05:54:24Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.985461 | 1,213 |
ACLS Provider Day 1
New 2010 ACLS Guidelines
In order to take this course you must have all of the following in class with you:
1. A current ACLS Provider Manual copyright 2010.
Payment in full is required at time of registration, unless other arrangements
Cancellation Policy if you cancel or do not attend the session you registered, you forfeit the entire course fee. We do not give any refunds.
Rescheduling Policy you may reschedule only once. With more than 7 days notice the rescheduling fee is $45. With 7 or less days notice the rescheduling fee is one-half the course fee. Failure to appear in class or day of class notice - will result in forfeiture of your entire course fee. There are no refunds.
Course Length: 16 Hours (2 days)
Prerequisites: Must be a Healthcare Provider, EKG knowledge, Pharmacology knowledge and Basic Life Support knowledge.
Card Term: 2 Years | <urn:uuid:7a174879-3fc1-41dc-b8da-b33ec8125017> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://defibthis.com/BookingRetrieve.aspx?ID=105960 | 2013-05-18T05:17:40Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.845133 | 202 |
By PATRICK CASEY
The South Walton Seahawks avenged a loss to Ponce de Leon in the season opener with a 50-32 victory over the Pirates on Thursday night that extended the host squad’s winning streak to nine consecutive games.
Senior guard Sam Snider scored 17 points while Alex Lovell added 11 points as the Seahawks earned a split in the regular season series.
The Pirates could not overcome a woeful 13-of-50 shooting night from the floor as they fell to 22-3 on the regular season. Ashley Harper led PDL with eight points on the night.
South Walton jumped out to a 13-5 lead after the first quarter and took a 28-18 lead into the locker room by forcing 11 turnovers from the Pirates in the first half while the visiting team could connect on only 7-of-26 shots from the floor.
The Pirates played the game without the services of center Jasmine Flock and struggled to get anything going in the lane as South Walton forced the squad to settle for outside shots that would not fall for the majority of the contest.
South Walton earned a sweep in the season series with Freeport as they picked up a 58-17 victory at home on Jan. 25. The Seahawks opened the game with a 24-0 run and led 29-2 after the first quarter as they hit 12-of-17 shots from the floor to quickly distance themselves from a Bulldogs squad that was playing the contest without leading scorer Dannica Mosher.
South Walton led 39-8 at the half and coasted to a 58-17 win behind 15 points from Sam Snider. South Walton forced 27 turnovers in the game and held Freeport to 7-of-31 shooting from the floor.
Walton broke the Seahawks winning streak with a 46-39 victory in DeFuniak Springs on Friday night as South Walton enters the District 2, Class 2A tourney with a 16-8 mark. South Walton will likely have to face Holmes County in a semi-final contest on Friday night at Grand Ridge with a playoff berth on the line.
PDL rebounded from their loss to the Seahawks with a 39-18 win over Pleasant Home as the Pirates celebrated Homecoming and the regular season finale on Saturday night.
The Pirates are the top seed in the District 1, Class 2A tournament and will play their semi-final on Friday night in Baker at 6 p.m. against the winner of the opening round contest between Jay and Northview.
Game Notes: South Walton was 0-7 in the short history of the series with PDL until their win last week. South Walton has won eight in a row against Freeport and is 14-4 since the series began in 2003. Seahawks Coach Kevin Craig is in his 7th year at the school and holds a mark of 125-64 at the school. PDL coach Tim Alford is in his 16th season at the school with a record of 347-135. | <urn:uuid:27d9fa01-0f31-45fb-bf72-77963a9b0a89> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://defuniakherald.com/?p=2950 | 2013-05-18T06:24:44Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.972384 | 607 |
|Intimacy Level||Ex-Boyfriend and Girlfriend (sexual), Co-workers (former)|
|Started Dating||True Colors (1st time) (603)|
|Dating Status||Broke up (2nd time) in Jessie's Girl (708)|
In True Colours, Ellie confronts Jesse about why her article about tuition costs is not in the final print of the newspaper. He responds that he didn't publish it because it was filled with "rookie reporter mistakes." Ellie complains about how she put effort into doing the research for the article, and everyone ignores her whining. Later, Ellie approaches Jesse, apologizing for screwing up, saying she will do better if given another chance. Jesse tells her that her paper was lacking passion and that The Core doesn't have time for school projects. The two banter, and Jesse surprises her by asking her out to get a beer. After their date, the two go back to Ellie's house, appearing as if their date went well. Jesse leans in and kisses Ellie on the cheek, before leaving for the night.The next day, Ellie is surprised that she was assigned a great story, and a co-worker comments that she only got the story because she is the "new yearly frosh that Jessie gets it on with." She exchanges her piece with co-worker Eric for one about men's water polo, to Jesse's dismay. He later tells her that he didn't give Ellie the music piece to get her in pants, but because she loves music and that everyone else was busy. Jesse says that she is a good writer and that he can't help the fact that he thinks she is cute. Ellie kisses him, and the two begin a secret relationship, which they plan to keep hidden from their co-workers.
In Eyes Without a Face (2), Ellie and Jesse are going strong, but are still keeping their relationship a secret from their co-workers. After everyone else has left The Core, the two make out atop of a desk, and Jesse invites her back to his place, implying they would have sex, though she declines, using her review's deadline as an excuse. After discussing her relationship with Jesse with Ashley and deciding to be prepared, Ellie runs into Jesse after visiting the sexual health office, and drops a bunch of condoms and birth control in front of him. Later, at a meeting at The Core, Ellie pitches an idea for a series of sexual health on campus, though Jesse turns down the idea and tries to move onto the next one. Ellie, however, keeps trying to defend her idea, and Jesse tells her that the idea is dead, and to stop pitching it. Later, Ellie tells Jesse that she wants to resign from the paper and them, referring to them as a couple. However, the two make up, and promise to have a talk about where they are going as a couple. The two kiss in the hallway.
In Working for the Weekend, Ellie and Jesse encourage Jimmy to sell his designs.What's It Feel Like To Be a Ghost? (2), Ellie reveals to Jesse that Craig is doing coke, which she thinks he got from Manny, and Jesse is not surprised that he is doing drugs. Ellie gets defensive of Craig, saying she needs to keep Craig away from Manny since she is a toxic influence. Jesse then reveals to her that she will be interviewing Taking Back Sunday that day, and she kisses him out of excitement when Craig walks in for his interview. He says he needs to clean out Joey's old garage, and Ellie volunteers to help, though Jesse tells her that Taking Back Sunday is more important than "this Craig stuff."
When Ellie later brings Craig to the band's interview, Jesse is less than happy, as his presence causes Ellie to not fully finish getting the interviews that she needed for the article. Back at The Core, Ellie apologizes to Jesse for bringing Craig, and Jesse comments that he's probably off getting coke when Ellie mentions that he went to go see Manny. Jesse tells her that his best friend used to be an addict, and he can see all of the signs with Craig. Ellie tells him, "Jealous much?", and Jesse retorts that he isn't jealous of "some failed, singer song-writer loser that you're still crushing on." Jesse tells her that it is wrong that Craig keeps "crapping on her, and she keeps coming back for more." Later, Craig and Ellie kiss, meaning Ellie cheated on Jesse.
In The Bitterest Pill, Jesse gives Ellie a coupon books with him revealing that he loves her in a message written ont he back. Feeling guilty, Ellie admits to him that she kissed Craig. She tells him that it is completely over between the two of them, and Jesse tells her that he isn't mad, which surprises Ellie. Her confession leads Jesse to confessing that he cheated on her with a girl in a bar. Ellie throws away the coupons, saying she doesn't need his guilt prize. Ellie later gives him a box full of his things, and he chases after her, causing the two to lament over their cheating. After Ellie attends J.T.'s memorial, she realizes how lucky she is to have Jesse, someone who loves her, and the two reconcile.
In Love My Way, the two are not faring well as a couple. At Dylan Michalchuk's going away party, the two look unhappy, and are fighting because Ellie does not like to dance. Later, at The Core office, the two are fighting again, and Ellie says it is all they have done for weeks. The two decide to break up before they ruin what is left of their relationship.
In Sunglasses at Night, Ellie Nash and Paige Michalchuk are fighting, and Ellie mentions Paige's new relationship with Jesse, saying that Paige takes what she wants, as her and Jesse had "just" broken up.
In Don't You Want Me? (1), Ellie is still upset with Paige for dating Jesse, but Marco tells her to get over it, even though it bugs her. He promises to take her to a club to meet guys.
In Don't You Want Me? (2), while at a club with Marco, Ellie runs into Jesse there. He tells her that she looks great, and the two smile at one another. The next morning, Marco catches the two of them in bed together, marking the start of their second relationship.
In Standing In The Dark (2), Ellie wants to hook Marco up with Eric, but Jesse thinks they should mind their own business, though Ellie tries anyway. She invites Eric over to their house and leaves him alone with Marco, though Ellie's attempt is unsuccessful, as Marco tells Eric that he is with Dylan.
In Death Or Glory (2), Ellie and Jesse go to see a Chuck Klosterman lecture together.In Jessie's Girl, Jesse gets rid of Ellie's front page article in favor of another article, which upsets Ellie. However, Jesse's article falls through, and Ellie finds Caitlin Ryan as a replacement for him. Jesse is amazed that Ellie knows her, and Ellie give Jesse her ticket to go to a reception with Caitlin. When Ellie heads to The Core to get some work done, she walks in on Jesse having sex with Caitlin, essentially cheating on her with her mentor.
The next day, Jesse tries to talk to Ellie about it, but she decides to leave the The Core instead of breaking up with him. Ellie later tells Paige that she saw Jesse making out with Caitlin, and Paige exclaims that she can't believe that either of them were ever with him. Ellie tells Jesse that she is still with him, and Paige advises Ellie that walking away is the mature thing to do in some situations. Ellie says she can't handle the Q & A with Caitlin, but Paige tells her that sometimes Ellie will have to choose between her personal and professional life.
Before the Q & A, Ellie is actively drinking, and Caitlin apologizes to Ellie for the fact that she saw her and Jesse, not knowing that Ellie and Jesse were in a committed relationship. Caitlin is pulled away before Ellie can tell her the truth. Ellie has a hard time facing Caitlin during the Q & A, especially when she sees Jesse in the audience. Ellie begins to make subtle jabs at Caitlin, all while glaring at Jesse in the audience. Not being able to hold it in any longer, Ellie directly asks her why she hooked up with Jesse, and demands an answer. Ellie asks Jesse in the audience if it was worth it, and she calls Caitlin a slut, before walking out of the Q & A.
Caitlin stops by the next day, asking Ellie what right she has to comment on her personal life. Ellie reveals that Jesse is her boyfriend, and Caitlin asks why she didn't tell her. Ellie says she was sleeping with the boss and said it felt unprofessional. Caitlin apologizes and says that Jesse didn't say anything, which Ellie explains is why she quit the paper because she wanted her and Jesse to work so badly. Ellie tells Caitlin not to let a freshman romance stand in the way of her future career. Ellie returns to The Core, and tells Jesse that she is back at The Core, not with him.
In Owner of a Lonely Heart, Ellie is having a hard time getting over Jesse. She complains how he acts like nothing had happened between the two of them, and how on Facebook, he posted that he is looking for "random play".
In Don't Stop Believin', Ellie says that Jesse put her on the short list for editor-in-chief off the The Core. Jesse ends up choosing Ellie to be the new editor, and Eric accuses her of only getting the job by sleeping with Jesse.
In Degrassi Goes Hollywood, Ellie mentions to Craig that Jesse slept with Caitlin, which Craig finds disgusting.
In Roomatus Interuptus, Ellie and Jesse are attempting to have sex, but Paige and Marco interrupt them with an argument over the television channels.
- First Relationship:
- Second Relationship:
- "You're stuck with me, frosh." - Eyes Without a Face (2)
- "You know what's really wrong? The fact that Craig keeps crapping on you, and you keep going back for more." - What's It Feel Like To Be a Ghost? (2)
- They both cheated on each other: Ellie kissed Craig Manning and Jesse hooked up with an unknown woman at a bar and cheated on Ellie with her mentor Caitlin Ryan. However, it was the later incident that caused Ellie to end their relationship for good.
- Ellie lost her virginity to Jesse in season 6.
- They both worked at The Core. | <urn:uuid:ea815cfc-da5e-4cf1-bad7-3fb80cbd2101> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://degrassi.wikia.com/wiki/Ellie-Jesse_Relationship | 2013-05-18T06:57:16Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.981474 | 2,206 |
|Birth Name||Shane Warren Kippel|
|Date of Birth||June 4, 1986|
|Place of Birth||Toronto, Ontario, Canada|
Shane starred as Chad the Jock in the 2003 film Todd And The Book Of Pure Evil. He has appeared in 14 episodes of Life With Derek as the dimwitted but sweet Ralph. He starred in the 2010 film Dog Pound where he played Davis, one of 3 boys sent to a reform school. He was also in the 2010 short film Verona as George, which also starred fellow Degrassi actors John Bregar and Shannon Kook-Chun, who played Dylan Michalchuk and Zane Park , respectively. He appeared in an episode of Pure Pwnage as Ryan in 2010 as well. He has a brother that currently lives in Israel. He was in the band SoundSpeed with Degrassi cast members Jamie Johnston, Raymond Ablack, Scott Paterson and Dalmar Abuzeid. He was the drummer in the band.
- Shane is a Gemini.
- Shane loves to snowboard.
- His favorite color is red.
- Shane has lost over 50 pounds since he first appeared on Degrassi in 2001.
- He has his tongue pierced.
- His favorite article of clothing is boxers.
- Shane has two tattoos both on his feet.
- His celebrity crushes are Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Avril Lavigne, and Ashlee Simpson.
- He is left-handed.
- He is Jewish and has a brother who lives in Israel.
- He shares the same birthday as Annie Clark, but Shane is 6 years older.
- Shane attended Newtonbrook Secondary School in Toronto, Ontario. | <urn:uuid:67a99473-76ff-488c-839e-d1e3736196f0> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://degrassi.wikia.com/wiki/Shane_Kippel | 2013-05-18T07:25:50Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.955856 | 361 |
The DeKalb History Center is open Monday through Fridayfrom 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. We are located on the main floor of the historic DeKalb Courthouse. The museum is free. Please call for holiday hours.
The archives are opened to researchers Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 9 AM - Noon and 1 PM until 4 PM. Appointments are requested in order to better serve our researchers. Please call 404-373-1088, extension 23, or e-mail [email protected] to make an appointment.
The Old Courthouse on the Square provides a unique setting for weddings, meetings, and other special events. For more information on renting our facilities click here: Courthouse Rental
From I-85: From I-85 take exit 91, take Clairmont Road south to Decatur, stay on Clairmont Road for approximately 3-4 miles until Clairmont Road ends at Ponce de Leon Avenue. The Old Courthouse on the Square will be in front of you and our offices are located inside.
From I-285: From I-285 take 78 West. 78 West turns into Lawrenceville Highway/Scott Boulevard. Go approximately two miles to the corner of Scott Boulevard and Clairmont Road. Take a left on Clairmont Road. Continue until Clairmont Road ends at Ponce de Leon Avenue. The Old Courthouse on the Square will be in front of you and our offices are located inside.
From Atlanta: From Atlanta take Ponce de Leon Avenue east. Where Ponce de Leon Avenue forks and becomes Scott Boulevard and West Ponce de Leon Avenue, veer right onto West Ponce de Leon Avenue. (At this fork there is a welcome sign for Decatur, GA.) Take West Ponce de Leon Avenue into Decatur. At the intersection of West Ponce de Leon Avenue and Clairemont Road, the Old Courthouse on the Square is on the right.
Parking is plentiful in downtown Decatur. For infomation on area decks and metered spots go to www.visitdecaturgeorgia.com and seach "parking".
When you ride the MARTA East – West line, the Decatur stop takes you into the middle of the downtown Decatur square. Use either exit and you are about five yards from the DeKalb History Center. | <urn:uuid:4fec3484-fe82-4ff6-ae59-984a054bbc6f> | CC-MAIN-2013-20 | http://dekalbhistory.org/dekalb_history_center_about.htm | 2013-05-18T05:54:25Z | s3://commoncrawl/crawl-data/CC-MAIN-2013-20/segments/1368696381249/warc/CC-MAIN-20130516092621-00000-ip-10-60-113-184.ec2.internal.warc.gz | en | 0.90157 | 485 |
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