Amman, Jordan-I was wrong. I had opposed the war on Iraq in my radio program, on television and in my regular columns-and I participated in demonstrations against it in Japan. But a visit to relatives in Baghdad radically changed my mind.
I am an Assyrian Christian, born and raised in Japan, where my father had moved after World War II to help rebuild the country. He was a Protestant minister, and so am I.
As an Assyrian I was told the story of our people from a young age-how my grandparents had escaped the great Assyrian Holocaust in 1917, settling finally in Chicago. There are some 6 million Assyrians now, about 2.5 million in Iraq and the rest scattered across the world. Without a country and rights even in our native land, it has been the prayer of generations that the Assyrian Nation will one day be restored.
A few weeks ago, I traveled to Iraq with supplies for our church and family. This was my first visit ever to the land of my forefathers. The first order of business was to attend church. During a simple meal for peace activists after the service, an older man sounded me out carefully.
Finally he felt free to talk: "There is something you should know-we didn’t want to be here tonight. When the priest asked us to gather for a Peace Service, we said we didn’t want to come because we don’t want peace. We want the war to come." "What in the world are you talking about?" I blurted.
Thus began a strange odyssey that shattered my convictions. At the same time, it gave me hope for my people and, in fact, hope for the world.
Because of my invitation as a "religious person" and family connections, I was spared the government snoops who ordinarily tail foreigners 24 hours a day.
This allowed me to see and hear amazing things as I stayed in the homes of several relatives. The head of our tribe urged me not to remain with my people during its time of trial but instead go out and tell the world about the nightmare ordinary Iraqis are going through.
I was to tell the world about the terror on the faces of my family when a stranger knocked at the door. "Look at our lives!" they said. We live like animals-no food, no car, no telephone, no job-and, most of all, no hope."
That’s why they wanted this war.
"You can not imagine what it is to live like this for 20, 30 years. We have to keep up our routine lest we would lose our minds."
But I realized in every household that someone had already lost his or her mind; in other societies such a person would be in a mental hospital. I also realized that there wasn’t a household that did not mourn at least one family member who had become a victim of this police state.
I wept with relatives whose son just screamed all day long. I cried with a relative who had lost his wife. Yet another left home every day for a "job" where he had nothing to do. Still another had lost a son to war and a husband to alcoholism.
As I observed the slow death of a people without hope, Saddam Hussein seemed omnipresent. There were his statues; posters showed him with his hand outstretched or firing his rifle, or wearing an Arab headdress. These images seemed to be on every wall, in the middle of the road, in homes.
"Everything will be all right when the war is over," people told me. "No matter how bad it is, we will not all die. Twelve years ago, it went almost all the way but failed. We cannot wait anymore. We want the war, and we want it now."
When I told members of my family that some sort of compromise with Iraq was being worked out at the United Nations, they reacted not with joy but anger: "Only war will get out of our present condition."
This reminded me of the stories I heard from older Japanese who had welcomed the sight of American B-29 bombers in the skies over their country as a sign that the war was coming to an end. True, these planes brought destruction-but also hope.
I felt terrible about having demonstrated against the war without bothering to ask what the Iraqis wanted. Tears streamed down my face as I lay in my bed in a tiny Baghdad house crowded in with 10 other people of my own flesh and blood, all exhausted, all without hope. I thought, "How dare I claim to speak for people I had not even asked what they wanted?"
Then I began a strange journey to let the world know of the true situation in Iraq, just as my tribe had begged me to. With great risk to myself and those who had told their stories and allowed my camera into their homes, I videotaped their plight.
But would I get that tape out of the country?
To make sure I was not simply getting the feelings of the oppressed Assyrian minority, I spoke to dozens of other people, all terrified. Over and over, they told me: "We would be killed for speaking like this."
Yet they did speak, though only in private homes or when other Iraqis had assured them that no government minder was watching over me.
I spoke with a former army member, with someone working for the police, with taxi drivers, store owners, mothers and government officials. All had the same message: "Please bring on the war. We may lose our lives, but for our children’s sake, please, please end our misery."
On my last day in Baghdad, I saw soldiers putting up sandbags. By their body language, these men made it clear that they dared not speak but hated their work; they were unmistakably on the side of the common people.
I wondered how my relatives felt about the United States and Britain. Their feelings were mixed. They have no love for the allies-but they trust them.
"We are not afraid of the American bombing. They will bomb carefully and not purposely target the people," I was told. "What we are afraid of is Saddam and the Baath Party will do when the war begins."
The final call for help came at the most unexpected place-the border, where crying members of my family sent me off.
The taxi fares from Baghdad to Amman had risen within one day from $100 to $300, to $500 and then to $1,000 by nightfall.
My driver looked on anxiously as a border guard patted me down. He found my videotapes, and I thought: It’s all over!
For once I experienced what my relatives were going through 365 days a year-sheer terror. Quietly, the officer laid the tapes on a desk, one by one. Then he looked at me-was it with sadness or with anger? Who knows?
He clinically shook his head and without a word handed all the tapes back to me. He didn’t have to say anything. He spoke the only language left to these imprisoned Iraqis-the silent language of human kindness.
"Please take these tapes and show them to the world," was his silent message. "Please help us…and hurry!"


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Russian meteorology service reports 2016 is record warm year in ArcticBusiness & Economy January 24, 18:22
Russian chief negotiator comments on outcome of Syria peace talks in AstanaRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 24, 18:11
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Russian senator says Astana meeting on settling Syrian crisis proves successfulRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 24, 17:55
Russian State Duma speaker hopes PACE will confirm its pan-European status under AgramuntRussian Politics & Diplomacy January 24, 17:14
De Mistura says agreement on Syria ceasefire monitoring major result of Astana talksWorld January 24, 17:07
Damascus won’t accept unilateral decisions on Syria’s federalization — envoyWorld January 24, 16:46
Syrian opposition hopes UNSC will pass resolution based on its proposalsWorld January 24, 16:28
Russian bombers destroy Islamic State's arms depots in Deir ez-ZorMilitary & Defense January 24, 16:22
WASHINGTON, December 23, 22:25 /ITAR-TASS/. Armenia has made significant progress in recovering from the global crisis and reorienting its economy, but important challenges remain, the International Monetary Fund said on Monday, December 23, after the conclusion of the IMF mission to the country.
Mission Head Mark Horton, who visited Yerevan on December 9-18, said the challenges included responding to the slowdown of growth in 2013, low private and foreign direct investment in recent years, and relatively high poverty and unemployment.
“The external current account deficit has been reduced significantly since 2009, including in 2013, but it remains relatively high. While there has been important progress on structural reforms, including in the financial sector, pensions, social benefits, and civil aviation, further business environment improvements are needed to strengthen competition, competitiveness, and connectivity. These actions would help shift private activity to investment and boost exports. In other areas, such as the energy sector, actions are needed to better assess and mitigate risks,” he said.
Horton pointed out that the new programme under discussion would aim at “consolidating stability and implementing further reforms to support Armenia’s transition to a dynamic emerging market economy.”
In 2014, the budget deficit is expected to increase with higher capital spending and wage and pension increases. From 2015, the programme would target a continued increase of capital spending, along with a gradual reduction of the fiscal deficit. Better risk analysis, improved compliance, a more level playing field, and closing of tax gaps would support stronger revenues for social and investment needs and deficit reduction. This would place public debt on a downward path. Monetary and exchange rate policies would continue to target low inflation and support the external adjustment, the IMF official noted.
The Central Bank of Armenia would maintain its buffers at healthy levels and strengthen its capacity to respond to shocks. The programme would also support measures to promote financial sector deepening and further improve the business environment, including by strengthening Armenia’s legal framework in these areas. The programme would aim to promote higher investment, exports, and growth, and in turn, help to reduce poverty and unemployment, Horton said.
The Fund mission and the Armenian authorities made significant progress in discussions on policies and actions for 2014-2017 that would be supported by a possible new Extended Fund Facility arrangement. Further discussions are expected during the next few weeks, the IMF said.
During the visit to Yerevan, the mission met with Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, Minister of Finance David Sargsyan, Central Bank of Armenia Chairman Artur Javadyan, Minister of Economy Vahram Avanesyan, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Armen Movsisyan, and Minister-Chief of Staff of the Government Vache Gabrielyan, as well as other senior government officials and representatives of the international community and the banking and business sectors.

domain: finance


NewseumAfter lamenting in a press conference Friday that he could not do more to avert the forced spending cuts known as sequestration, President Barack Obama will sign a sequestration order sometime later in the day.
Obama and both parties of Congress have been warning about the cuts of the sequester for the past few weeks. Local publications have also started warning about the state-by-state and community-by-community effects.
On Friday, as the cuts were set to begin kicking in, newspapers from California to New York began bracing their readers for the effects.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch breaks down how the cuts affect the nation and the state. Virginia has created a Federal Action Contingency Trust fund to cushion against the cuts.
Source: The Richmond Times-Dispatch
In Sioux Falls, N.D., hospitals will be hit hard by Medicare cuts. Two hospitals could lose a combined $15 million this year.
Source: The Argus Leader
In South Carolina, The Greenville News rounds up reaction from local citizens fearing the uncertainty that comes with the cuts.
Source: The Greenville News
The Morning Call in Allentown, Pa., breaks down the cuts Pennsylvanians are facing in transportation, education, health care, and security.
Source: The Morning Call
The Mail Tribune in Medford, Ore., calls them the "unkindest cuts" because of the effect on the Foster Grandparent and Head Start programs.
Source: The Mail Tribune
The Fayetteville Observer in North Carolina explains in depth about what the cuts mean for Fort Bragg, where about 8,500 civilian employees are set to be furloughed.
Source: The Fayetteville Observer
The Poughkeepsie Journal in New York calls the sequester a "long, slow pain" because of the cuts to local schools, parks, and travel.
Source: The Poughkeepsie Journal
The Asbury Park Press in New Jersey reports that $3 billion cut from Hurricane Sandy aid, and looks at how the state's Meals on Wheels program will be hit.
Source: Asbury Park Press
The Lansing State Journal in Michigan breaks down the cuts, and details how the state's colleges and universities would be affected.
Source: The Lansing State Journal
The Baltimore Sun warns of "millions at stake" in health care funding in Maryland, including $1.5 billion in cuts to the National Institutes of Health.
Source: The Baltimore Sun
The Daily Herald, in suburban Chicago, explained the effects the sequester would have on O'Hare Airport.
Source: The Daily Herald
The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Colo., devoted stories to every individual aspect that the sequester cuts in the area, including travel, Head Start, and the National Weather Service.
The San Diego Union-Tribune warned that the cuts could damage the county's economy by more than $1 billion.
Source: The Union-Tribune
The Anniston Star in Alabama wrote that "budgetary pain" could affect local Head Start programs and the nearly 3,000 local Department of Defense employees.
The Arizona Republic detailed the sequester's cuts to local parks, research, and border security.
Now check out which states should really be concerned...


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Who Should Pay for Changing The Climate?
|December 31, 2004||Posted by Staff under Progress Report, The Progress Report|
Who Should Pay for Changing The Climate?
Eight States and New York City Sue Big Power-Plants Over Emissions
This annoncement comes from OneWorld United States.
by Jim Lobe
Attorneys general from eight states and New York City have filed a landmark lawsuit against the five largest global-warming polluters in the United States demanding that they immediately reduce the amount of heat-trapping greenhouse-gas emissions that most scientists say is wreaking havoc with the world’s climate.
The unprecedented lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Manhattan’s federal district court, is directed against five companies that own or operate a total of 174 fossil-fuel-burning power plants in 20 states that are responsible for almost a quarter of the U.S. utility industry’s annual carbon dioxide and about ten percent of the total U.S. emissions. Defendants include the American Electric Power Company, the Southern Company, Tennessee Valley Authority, Excel Energy Inc., and Cinergy Corporation.
Plaintiffs in the case include the top legal officers of California, Connecticut, Iowa, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin, along with the corporation counsel of New York. Instead of demanding monetary damages, they are asking that the court order the companies to reduce their carbon dioxide emissions by at least three percent each year over the next ten years.
“Our lawsuit is a huge, historic first step toward holding companies accountable for these pernicious pollutants that threaten our health, economy, environment and quality of life now and increasingly in the future,” said Connecticut’s attorney general, Richard Blumenthal. “The eventual effects of CO2 (carbon dioxide) pollution will be severe and significant – increasing asthma and heat-related illnesses, eroding shorelines, floods, and other natural disasters, loss of forests and other precious resources.”
“We must act, wisely and quickly, to stem global warming – and safeguard both our environment and economy. Time is not on our side,” he added.
The plaintiffs’ case is based on the federal common law of public nuisance that provides a right of action to curb air and water pollution emanating from sources in other states or that are not under the direct control of the plaintiffs. The attorneys general take the position that the state governments and the City of New York have the duty to protect their residents and properties from harm caused by the plaintiffs.
In separate statements, the defendant companies denounced the lawsuit and at the same time claimed that they were already trying to reduce their emissions both by making technological improvements and by investing more in renewable fuel sources, such as wind power.
Scott Segal, director of the Electric Reliability Coordinating Council, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that his association considered the lawsuit “frivolous.” “Given that every human emits carbon dioxide every day, the next thing we anticipate from these attorney generals is a collective demand to hold our breath,” he added.
But Rhode Island’s attorney general, Patrick Lynch, insisted the issue was no laughing matter. “It’s imperative that we confront those responsible for unleashing an invader with the power to wreak unspeakable havoc on our climate and to damage, and destroy, our ecosystems,” he said.
“For those who say we may fail (in the lawsuit), I say, ‘Think tobacco,’” said Blumenthal, recalling that the states have won billions of dollars in damages from tobacco companies due to their responsibility for the ill-health and deaths of millions of people who were addicted to smoking. “As in tobacco, we have a uniquely dangerous public-health threat on our hands,” he told reporters Wednesday.
Since the Bush administration turned its back on the Kyoto Protocol, an international treaty that requires developed countries to reduce their total annual greenhouse gas emissions by an average of about seven percent below their 1990 emission levels by the year 2012, states and local communities — many led by Republicans as well as Democrats — have taken the lead in cutting emissions in the United States which, by itself accounts for about 25 percent of global emissions.
Last year, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) reaffirmed a growing consensus among scientists that carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping emissions are contributing to global warming, a phenomenon that has already produced an increase in average global surface temperatures of about one degree over the last century. The most recent data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show that 2003 tied with 2002 as the second hottest year on record, after 1998. The five hottest years over the last century have all occurred since 1997.
Moreover, the rate of increase in global temperatures is accelerating sharply, according to scientists. The most recent estimates by an international panel of experts call for a rise in average global temperatures of between three and ten degrees Fahrenheit by the end of this century, an increase that may not only be catastrophic for various species of plants and animals, but that would create major health hazards for human beings and major disturbances in global and regional climates.
Despite the growing scientific consensus about the causes of global warming and the fact that the NAS report was prepared at his request, Bush so far has refused to alter his position that strong federal action that would require industry to reduce emissions would hurt the U.S. economy. He has insisted instead that more research be conducted on the problem and that private industries, including utilities and automobile manufacturers, be encouraged to reduce emissions voluntarily.
The state that has perhaps gained the most attention to date is California, which passed a law requiring sharp reductions in carbon dioxide emissions by new cars and trucks. Because that state has the largest population and economy of all 50 states, it has established a standard which automobile companies are now trying to meet.
Its attorney general, Bill Lockyer, called the lawsuit a “new legal frontier in the fight against global warming” and insisted that a “head-in-the-sand response is not an option.”
Also see these articles –
What is your opinion on who should bear the costs of global warming? Tell your views to The Progress Report!

domain: news


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A recent study published in the "American Journal of Public Health" examined the demographics of California school students who had requested and received exemptions from mandatory vaccinations for nonmedical reasons. The study, "Sociodemographic Predictors of Vaccination Exemptions on the Basis of Personal Belief in California," found that from 2007 to 2013 the rate of vaccine refusal for personal belief doubled, to 3.06 percent.
Though the rate of overall vaccine refusal was low in absolute terms, it has implications for what's known as herd immunity and raises the risk of disease for the general population. The demographics of vaccine refusal reveal an interesting - and, for many, unexpected - pattern: despite overwhelming scientific evidence that vaccines are safe and effective, it's the more educated parents who tend to reject them.
Nicholas Bakalar of "The New York Times" notes that "Exemption percentages were generally higher in regions with higher income, higher levels of education, and predominantly white populations. In private schools, 5.43 percent of children were exempt, compared with 2.88 percent in public schools. In some suburban areas, rates of exemption were near 50 percent."
Jimmy Kimmel Taps Docs to Mock Anti-Vaccine Deniers
Part of the reason the anti-vaccination theme is so persistent is that it contains a strong conspiracy theory element. The belief is that the dangers and risks of vaccines are being intentionally hidden from the public by doctors and drug companies, in collusion with the government, for big profits. Joseph Uscinski and Joseph Parent, in their book "American Conspiracy Theories," note that "Conspiracy theories about vaccines are partially to blame for decreased rates of vaccination and an increased incidence of disease."
Doubts about the safety and efficacy of vaccines are not merely the domain of the conspiracy crowd but instead are occasionally spread by mainstream news media. Celebrities such as Jenny McCarthy, for example, have long raised concerns, and earlier this year one of Canada's most respected newspapers, the "Toronto Star," ran a front-page series of articles casting doubt on the safety of the Gardasil anti-HPV vaccine - until an outcry from doctors led to the newspaper retracting the story and its publisher saying "the paper failed the public in the way it presented its story."
Such high-profile news stories highlighting vaccine dangers - whether eventually retracted or not - can and do influence the opinions of the educated middle and upper class.
5 Disease Outbreaks Linked to Vaccine-Shy Parents
Andrea Kitta, an Associate Professor at East Carolina University explains in her book "Vaccinations and Public Concern in History:"
"There is a discrepancy between personal health care and public health care. Autonomy and personal rights are very important to society; and North American medical culture values the rights of patients. For patients, it is acceptable to undertake a treatment when ill, but it is harder to accept a preventative measure, especially when the person in question is not sick. Add to this the risk of a health individual being potentially harmed by a preventative measure, and there is no surprise that many will refuse this treatment."
Even those who acknowledge the safety and efficacy of vaccines may oppose them for unrelated reasons. Kitta told Discovery News, "People who choose not to vaccinate truly believe their rights are being violated and believe they are in danger of further violation ... Some people will now reject vaccines solely on the basis that they feel their rights are being violated - not because they necessarily oppose or are even uncertain about vaccination."
In an interview with Lindsay Beyerstein on the "Point of Inquiry" podcast, Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center and chief of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Children's Hospital in Philadelphia, believes that the educated and wealthy parents don't vaccinate because "they don't fear the disease. I think it's that simple. I think in Southern California, you're living this wealthy, upper middle class, upper-class environment. You're eating well, you're exercising. You don't see this disease so you think this is not going to happen to me, until it happens to you. That's the way it always works with these diseases."
Whatever the basis for a given person's opposition to vaccination, the refusals are likely to continue. Protests against vaccinations date back centuries, often opposed not just by the poorly educated but also by those of wealth and status. Until and unless their own children are afflicted by a vaccine-preventable disease, they are likely to keep up the fight.


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Our results demonstrated the strengths and the weaknesses of an existing HIT infrastructure. Although the EHR used in the study clinics is a locally developed system, the observed positive and negative attributes of the HIT systems and the implementation process are not unique to this environment. 49,50
Clinic staff and providers documented and tracked patient status over time. Many providers integrated the EHR into their routine workflow. However, the primary care orientation of the EHR design did not fully support the needs of chronic disease care providers. Based on our results in three diverse ambulatory clinics, we developed a framework of ten guidelines for the design and implementation of HIT solutions for chronic disease care ().
The key commonalities and significant differences among the clinics support a modular approach to HIT design for chronic disease care. Core functionality could support common needs across clinic environments including: tracking patient disease status over time, displaying previous treatments and responses to previous treatments, analyzing trends, assisting with patient education materials, and facilitating communication with patients and throughout each clinic. The core HIT functionality could be supplemented with disease-specific modules. For example, the types of information recorded in notes varied between clinics as a function of disease-related information requirements.
Specialized templates may be necessary to meet unique information needs. However, many components of disease-specific HIT modules could be repurposed for multiple clinics. For example, a generic nutrition module could be designed to support the needs of diverse specialty clinics (e.g., CF, DM, obstetrics, gastroenterology) where tracking dietary information is an important component of care. Additional specialized modules should include qualitative data tracking, tailored order entry and prescription writing, disease-specific self-management support, and graphical input elements (e.g., the homunculus would also be useful in neurology, orthopedics, and physical therapy). In addition to customizing technology to meet disease-specific needs, HIT design should support different users' needs. Clinic personnel collect and enter different types of data and have different information needs depending on their role and responsibilities within the clinic. Interfaces that could be customized to support individual workflow needs and preferences could improve efficiency, user satisfaction, and data quality.
As with any “engineering” process, it is vital to have proper design strategy. Developers and implementers did not have comprehensive requirements for each chronic disease clinic during initial EHR implementation; later phases of implementation did not include time to gather and incorporate this information into design. Although some modules to assist with chronic disease care had been developed, 51
the three clinics did not have access to these modules during the study period. Addressing new requirements as they arise in implementation is a necessity in user-responsive modular HIT development.
Entering information into existing HIT, especially during interaction with patients, was difficult for many providers. Barriers included lack of typing proficiency, data collection form design, and hardware placement. New input modalities, such as tablet computers and software-based solutions like graphical forms, should be developed and evaluated. Advanced speech recognition software could also facilitate data entry.
Data are entered into the EHR from multiple sources and in multiple formats including medical device downloads, scanned paper forms and handwritten notes, and information recorded electronically. As time passes, the volume of information in the EHR increases tremendously. Chronic disease care providers are routinely required to search and filter through this disparate collection of information in an attempt to find the data they need at a particular time; the EHR must facilitate this process. Providers also need to rapidly and accurately synthesize information to formulate a coherent picture of patient status over time and then to inform treatment decisions. Providing longitudinal views of patient disease history is a requirement of HIT for chronic disease care.
The study also highlighted the challenges of HIT adoption in chronic disease care. Our results demonstrated that end users will create inefficient, but policy-compliant, workarounds to accomplish tasks when the HIT does not meet their needs. 52
Perception of system impact on time and workflow can be as important as the actual impact itself. Barriers to adoption must be investigated and addressed to bridge implementation chasms. 53
The inadequate transfer of knowledge among HIT designers, implementation teams, and end users can inadvertently create barriers to adoption. Multiple providers stated that they were aware of or proficient in using only a small fraction of the EHR's functionality. Finding better ways to help end users become proficient with the EHR features they need, including addressing user interface design challenges, would enhance technology adoption.
This study provides a picture of workflow, information flow, and computer use in three chronic disease clinics at one Academic Medical Center. We selected qualitative methods based on the research questions. Quantitative methods such as time-motion studies could supplement the understanding of aspects of workflow in ambulatory chronic disease care. A single researcher (KMU) collected the data, introducing the potential for observer bias. To address this potential limitation, study procedures and data were extensively reviewed and refined by the entire research team. In addition, interviews were conducted with clinic personnel to obtain feedback on the validity of observations and conclusions as a form of member-checking. 54
The three clinics all used the same EHR system. Researchers previously documented high levels of satisfaction among primary care providers using this same EHR, 55
but before this study little was known about usage patterns and satisfaction among specialty care providers. A different EHR system would likely impact workflow in different ways, underscoring the need for additional qualitative research to triangulate the needs of specialty care providers. Chronic disease care was only studied in disease-specific clinics, yet primary care physicians also provide chronic disease care. Changes to policies, procedures, staff, and informatics tools were implemented during the course of the study. While the dynamic nature of the work environment presented challenges, we collected data on these changes as part of the study and incorporated this information into our analysis.

domain: medical


text:
Was wondering if anyone could help me with my macros for a clean bulk. I'm 5'10'' and 180 lbs. and looking to bulk clean. I eat very healthy usually getting my carbs from oats, whole wheat bread, etc... and my protein from lean meats. I did a 3 day average of my macros and it looks something like this.
Carbs - 395 g.
Protein - 160 g.
Fat - 65 g.
Calories - 2700
I know my cals should be higher but was wondering if I should decrease carbs and increase fats. Any advice is appreciated.

domain: food


AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to millions of articles from top publications available through your library.
(From BBC Monitoring International Reports)
Text of press release in English by RA/Pacific Media Watch in English 3 Apr 03
Radio Australia will launch its new 24-hour FM service to Fiji with a live broadcast of the network's popular Pacific Beat program from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat tomorrow evening.
The new 92.6FM RA service to Fiji continues the network's long commitment to delivering quality radio programs to audiences throughout the Pacific, and is another aspect of the strong partnership between the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation and Australia's international radio and online network.
"Radio Australia has been broadcasting …


Browsing Environmental Sustainability Research Centre by Authors
Estimating food production in an urban landscapeGrafius, Darren R.; Edmondson, Jill L.; Norton, Briony A.; Clark, Rachel; Mears, Meghann; Leake, Jonathan R.; Corstanje, Ron; Harris, Jim A.; Warren, Philip H.; University of Sheffield; et al. (Springer Science and Business Media LLC, 2020-03-20)There is increasing interest in urban food production for reasons of food security, environmental sustainability, social and health benefits. In developed nations urban food growing is largely informal and localised, in gardens, allotments and public spaces, but we know little about the magnitude of this production. Here we couple own-grown crop yield data with garden and allotment areal surveys and urban fruit tree occurrence to provide one of the first estimates for current and potential food production in a UK urban setting. Current production is estimated to be sufficient to supply the urban population with fruit and vegetables for about 30 days per year, while the most optimistic model results suggest that existing land cultivated for food could supply over half of the annual demand. Our findings provide a baseline for current production whilst highlighting the potential for change under the scaling up of cultivation on existing land.


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Yep, it’s definitely an auction now. Just days after Brookfield and Cincinnati Bell announced an amended deal at the higher price of $12.50, that unsolicited bidder who prompted it stepped forward into the light with a new offer.
Cincinnati Bell says it has received a binding proposal from Macquarie Infrastructure and Real Assets for $13.50 in cash. MIRA had also bid $12.50 late last week before Brookfield did the same. Now Cincinnati Bell will have to take a look at the new higher offer, and Brookfield will have to decide just how much it wants this as well.
Maquarie was definitely one of the infrastructure funds I thought might be behind that earlier unsolicited bid. They are definitely on the hunt for assets, and last year they bought Bluebird so the Midwest is definitely on their radar.
If you haven't already, please take our Reader Survey! Just 3 questions to help us better understand who is reading Telecom Ramblings so we can serve you better!Categories: FTTH · ILECs, PTTs · Mergers and Acquisitions · Metro fiber


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3D modelling is used in computer games and films to create realistic and cartoon vehicles, environments and characters.
Learn the basics of 3D modelling to create a space transport to journey through the cosmos.
The 3D models will be printed and then displayed in QUAD as part of the Grand Space Tour Participation Exhibition.
Suitable for all ages, Digital Space Journeys: 3D Modelling takes place on Saturday, August 15, from 1pm until 3.30pm.
The cost is £5, and booking is recommended.
For more information, please call QUAD box office on 01332 290606 or see www.derbyquad.co.uk
n The Gothic Warehouse at Cromford Mills is the setting for a Model Railway Exhibition.
The exhibition began yesterday (Tuesday, August 11 and will run there until Monday August 31.
It will be open daily until then (closed on Monday except the Bank Holiday), from 11am-4pm.
Entry is free.
This model railway exhibition by the Wingfield Railway Group features Mettesford and the fictitious Wingfield Junction layouts.
Visit www.cromfordmills.org.uk for further details or phone 01629 825995.

domain: design


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Today we are proud to reveal the logo for our upcoming 2022 Kickstarter release – Thorngate Dungeon.
This will be a single sheet print and play action selection game with great depth. All you will require is 4 dice and a pen for each person that’s going to play. That’s it! The game will play as many people that will be able to see the 4 dice!
Because of this format we can keep the cost of this extremely low and release the game almost immediately after the Kickstarter will end!
We hope to release further info in the coming weeks and months

domain: entertainment


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China is considering the development of an economy outside of the Earth’s perimeter and is planning to establish an Earth-Moon economic zone by 2050. Science and Technology Daily, the official newspaper of the Ministry of Science and Technology, quoted Bao Weimin, director of the Science and Technology Commission of the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), who said that China plans to build an Earth-Moon space economic zone by the middle of this century. Experts predict that China’s annual output in the zone may reach US$10 trillion. Bao said that the development of the space economic zone will not only bring about huge economic benefits, but it will change the current socio-economic model. CASC is the main state-owned contractor for the Chinese space program.
Bao added that China should develop a reliable and low-cost space transportation system between the Earth and the Moon. According to its plan, China will accomplish the basic technology development by 2030 and the manufacture of key transportation technologies by 2040. By the middle of this century, China may successfully establish a space economic zone.
Beijing plans to launch a Mars exploration mission in 2020 and a Mars landing in 2021. Science and Technology Daily quoted Zhang Yulin, former chief of the China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO), who said that the plan for the future development of China’s manned space flight is neither a simple moon landing nor a manned Mars exploration. Rather, it is to preempt an opportunity to steadily develop and utilize the Earth-Moon space via continuous technological breakthroughs and accumulation. In recent years, China has made rapid strides in the space industry, including a large number of lunar exploration research projects. China’s annual investment in space projects is as high as US$8 billion, second only to the United States.
Source: BBC Chinese, November 6, 2019


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Anti-Romani Developments in Italy Highlighted in a Report Launched by NGOs at the OSCE Meeting on Sustainable Roma Policy
10 July 2008
International NGO Coalition Report Outlines Extreme Deterioration of Roma Rights in Italy
Budapest, Bucharest, Geneva, Vienna: Today, a coalition of NGOs launched a report on the deterioration of the human rights situation of Roma and Sinti in Italy, on the occasion of the OSCE's Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting on Sustainable Policies for Roma and Sinti Integration in Vienna. Coalition members include the European Roma Rights Centre, the Open Society Institute, the Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions, Romani Criss and the Roma Civic Alliance of Romania.
The report, entitled "Security a la Italiana: Fingerprinting, Extreme Violence and Harassment of Roma in Italy", includes a concise summary of a series of discriminatory legal and policy measures targeting Roma recently enacted by the right-wing Italian government, in place since the April 2008 elections. The report also includes the results of first-hand documentation conducted by the Coalition in Romani camps Italy at the end of May 2008, exploring the effects of these measures on members of Italy's Roma and Sinti communities, including:
- Illegal fingerprinting and photographing of Roma for the purposes of creating a database of all Roma in the country;
- Police abuse, ill-treatment and forced evictions of Roma;
- Extreme violence by non-state actors and the failure of Italian authorities to prosecute the perpetrators; and
- Other forms of discrimination against Roma.
The report concludes with a series of recommendations for actions to be undertaken by the Italian government, the Romanian government and inter-governmental actors, in order to end the ongoing human rights crisis in Italy and ensure respect for the rights of Roma in the country.
During the OSCE meeting in Vienna on 10-11 July, Coalition members are hosting a side event to discuss the concerns outlined in the report and are organising a protest outside the site of the OSCE meeting on 11 July, starting from the premises of the Fundamental Rights Agency, Rahlgasse, Gumpendorferstraße, Burgring and Heldenplatz – stopping in front of the Hofburg Palace.
The full text of the report is available on the ERRC’s website at: View it (Acrobat pdf format)!
For further information, please contact:
- Tara Bedard, ERRC Programmes Coordinator, firstname.lastname@example.org
- Isabela Mihalache, OSI Senior Projects Manager, email@example.com
- Claude Cahn, COHRE Head of Advocacy, firstname.lastname@example.org
- Magda Matache, Romani Criss, email@example.com
- Iulian Stoian, Roma Civic Alliance of Romania, firstname.lastname@example.org

domain: law


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Source: McKinsey & Company
McKinsey has a new study out on the impacts of QE. I have yet to read the full report (or summary) but the graphic above and excerpt below give you some flavor:
The impact that ultra-low interest rates have had on banks has been mixed. They have eroded the profitability of eurozone banks, resulting in a cumulative loss of net interest income of $230 billion between 2007 and 2012. But banks in the United States experienced an increase in effective net interest margins and a cumulative increase in net interest income of $150 billion. The experience of UK banks falls between these two extremes.
What's been said:Discussions found on the web:

domain: economics


When I Install Jetpack for TK1, the process stuck at Post Installation.
I tested both L4T-2.3.1 and L4T-3.0, and same results.
Screenshot is here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9g4OeFMnBi5S3V2S2M0RnhjQjQ/view?usp=sharing
– modified to additional info.
– console says,
sending file: system.img \ 73400320/2373112356 bytes sent
Everytime, installation job stopped here, and TK1 cannot boot properly.
Any kind of comment will be appreciated.


Hi, I’m Leah, and I will be discussing the News Magazine Education Week Video on Residential schools from 1955.
This video, which claims to accurately inform the viewer on the subject of Aboriginal Residential schools, is nothing more than a propaganda video aimed at an audience of white, suburban Canadians to validate their racism.
The video claims that residential schools have a positive impact on the aboriginal children who attend them. Throughout the video, these children are shown playing, learning, and generally having a good time. The voiceover during these video clips excitedly explains how “they not only learn about games and traditions, like the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day, but the mastery of words which will open to them …show more content…
They make themselves seem as credible as possible by being a part of “education week” which would have the positive connotations of “education” being a good thing, and that the people at home would assume they are being adequately educated on the subject, because of those explaining the situation, professional educators. They portray the principle as caring (as he “dispenses first aid”) and competent (“among his other duties”). They mention how this is only “one of 69 schools,” insinuating that these schools are so beneficial and effective that they have nearly 70 Canada-wide. The video also mentions the schools being “run by the department of Indian Affairs” which causes people to think that this is something aboriginal people are in favour of, that the experts from this department have decided this is the best thing. They also used their convincing, albeit flawed when examined critically, logic. They show various clips of students learning, as well as discuss how students learn vocabulary which will benefit them later in life, and how they give students scientific explanations for the world around them. This video, however, gets the majority of its weight from the pathos, or appeal to emotion, used. They make the schools sound like a humanitarian effort, a place “[for] orphans, convalescents, people who can’t make it to a daily school.” They show video clips of children being happy and having fun, while the “isolation and neglect of the past” is mentioned, making it seem like now these children are being given a fair and equal chance to “ordinary” Canadian society. The video ends with the line, “For the oldest Canadians, a new future.” This again sounds inspiring, and like these schools are such a kindhearted opportunity given to these people seen as “poor
In the story, a character named Stazz talks about his experience being taken to a residential school, “One spring morning with the arrival of a bus that was soon filled with sobbing bodies of children'' (Wagamese 322). He along with many other children were taken in broad daylight and forced into residential schools. This was a common method of stealing Indigenous children from their families, where they were then taken miles away from home and forced to attend one of these schools. These schools were designed as a tool to alienate Indigenous children, leaving them traumatized due to the horrific situations they experienced. Children were beaten and locked away from others for things such as speaking their language and practicing their own religious traditions such as prayers.
There was a lot that I took away from the Capturing Kids’ Hearts presentation. First off, I would have loved to have had a teacher like Rashel Ward-Bussard when I was in 8th grade. When I was that age I wanted to be treated like an adult, and yet, I did not know how to act like one. In the presenter’s class, it sounds like the students are not just taught science—but taught life lessons.
The atrocities that the children of residential schools had to endure is not something that can be ignored, just as the lessons these children learned, like shame, humiliation, hate, compassion, and forgiveness cannot be overlooked (Borrows 486-7). Borrows raises an important point, which is that the children of the Residential schools, who survived, grew up to eventually become elders (487). Although there are some who feel Residential schools had positive impacts, the high suicide rates in Indigenous communities cannot be
Before the Indian Act most of the young members of the First Nations followed the traditions and beliefs of previous generations, however, this changed with the introduction of Residential schools through the Indian Act. By 1948, there were 78 schools operating with nearly 10,000 students enrolled. This education network was established by the government but was controlled by the Catholic, Anglican and Presbyterian churches. The objective of this school system was to teach young aboriginals how to integrate themselves into the “normal” Canadian life. In other words, this whole system was a major cultural genocide.
Novel/Paper Assignment Shirika Hariram 20952694 Professor Joelle Mcneil PLAN 233: People and Plans Section 1: Five Little Indians and The Sociological Imagination (518) Maisie's story blatantly shows the effects of residential schools on Indigenous children and communities. She suffers from the violence she endured physically and emotionally in the residential school and the trauma of being unwillingly torn away from her family and culture. We can see that she deals with the trauma she's endured in unhealthy ways, like self-harm and drugs, to end her life eventually.
What does this mean for those who experienced starvation, malnutrition and other forms of trauma in residential schools?” (Elliott 108). This quote reveals how generational trauma still impacts descendants of residential school survivors because it affects their DNA. Therefore, the physical and mental health problems that Indigenous people experience are predetermined since the horrific experiences of their ancestors have altered their genes. In her essay “Dark Matters”, Elliott compares dark matter to racism in the sense that they are both all around us but people cannot see them.
Throughout studying the Indian Country Today news article on the good and bad things of Indian Boarding Schools one of the main things that it discusses is not only the recent studies by other scholars who have documented education in forced Indian boarding schools, but how many of those schools affect long-run outcomes such as the employment and language fluency of those who attend. Another main item that is covered is how many Canadian boarding schools strove to assimilate Native children both socially, educationally, and religiously. Another highlight from the article is that there have also been benefits from Native American children attending Indian boarding schools. Some of these benefits were that there was a higher possibility of graduating high school, being less likely to depend on government welfare programs, and having a greater opportunity in being employed.
Residential schools had horrible effects on both the students who attended them and the generations which followed as the conditions were terrible, abuse left scarring memories and the actions/incidents had a dreadful impact on their life. Living conditions of the schools were so harsh that more than 4000 students died during ther time in the schools. The overcrowded schools made it difficult for many of the students who did not understand English or were new to the school to get extra lessons or help from the teachers, leading to severe punishment. In the movie, Abraham faced a similar situation as he did not know what the teacher was saying while the students were practicing marching, so along with beating him up with a stick,
Residential schools are a shameful part of Canadian history and have had negative long-term effects on Indigenous Canadians. This investigation will be focusing on the long term socio-economic effects on the Indigenous population of Canada that are evident even today, such as substance abuse, the relationship between the criminal justice system and Indigenous people and communities and finally the financial situations and living conditions of people on reserves. An estimated 150,000 Indigenous children attended residential school. The schools were run by Christian missionaries, primarily Roman Catholics and Anglicans.
The school was embedding such thoughts into their young minds creating hatred for their culture and identity. Therefore, Canada failed in the treatment of indigenous children in residential schools because of the isolation of children’s cultures and identity. Lastly, Canada failed in the treatment of indigenous children in residential schools because of the severe physical abusement student’s received. Students were often punished on a daily basis at the school, the punishments were brutal as they would abuse by “withholding of meals, and washing the child’s mouth with soap. In extreme cases…electrical shocks or pushed needles into their tongues”(Stolen Lives, 138).
We Were Children, the documentary on residential schools, is a re-enactment of two aboriginal children and their first hand experiences in the residential school system. The kinds of problems this documentary presented include mistreatment faced by the children who attended these schools, corruption and scandal inside the administration of the schools, and the false perception about these schools that resonated amongst Canadian society. These two children talk about the bullying they had to endure from the nuns which show that the children were not seen as equal to a child of non-Aboriginal decent. Furthermore, the types of abuse administration would put these kids through was immensely disturbing considering this was a state run institution.
Imagine being ripped apart from family members, culture, tradition, and labelled a savage that needs to be educated. Imagine constantly facing punishment at school for being one’s self. Unfortunately, these events were faced head on for many First Nations people living in Canada in the late 20th century. These First Nations people were the victims of an extensive school system set up by the government to eradicate Aboriginal culture across Canada and to assimilate them into what was considered a mainstream society.
The TRC’s “The History” author appeals to logos through the use quantitative findings. The use of logical evidence from the collection of testimonials made by former residential school students is an effective way to aid the persuasion of a reader. Throughout “The History”, the author describes the memories of known First Nations peoples Frederic Ernest Koe, Marlene Kayseas, Lily Bruce and many others. In addition, the author quotes Vitaline Elsie Jenner’s use of ‘kaya nakasin’ (TRC, 2015, p.38) in describing her experience with residential school. The author’s example that contains the use native language reaffirms his credibility and detailed knowledge of the
The buildings are used for sports or martial arts classes (Canada is a sixth degree black belt in tae kwon do and continues to teach his own classes). These schools and centers have come out of an understanding that Canada and his staff, “have realized that you cannot save children without saving families, and you cannot save families without rebuilding communities” (Canada, 2010, ch. 20 para. 3). The philosophy requires an intense commitment to the program.
or she saw with one or two low-income student. As a future counselor, a statement in such matter showed that this person should not be a teacher. That teacher prefers to not integrate his or her school. Looking at this article through a counselor lens, I believe it is our duties to advocate for all students no matter their SES or ethnic background. There is clearly more work in advocating for students in working class school, but there are students that still needs our help in the upper class school.


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Is it too late to say Happy New Year? January needs all the happiness it can get, in my opinion. I love new beginnings: unsharpened pencils, that first sip of a steamy chai latte, new journals, blank canvases, new years, new seasons, and new opportunities…
Today’s word of the year is yesterday’s resolution. I love the spirit behind it that we all want to make the most of our days. We want to live with intention and integrity, so we boil down our heart’s cry and choose one word. One word to rule them all…for 12 brief months.
This is my 5th year of choosing a focus word…available, commit, yes, ready, and now 2016 is willing. It’s all my previous years rolled into one humble, surrendered, determined word. If it’s from God then I’m willing. If not then I prayerfully wait or move on. I’m willing to struggle, willing to work hard, willing to fail trying, willing to prioritize, willing to be organized, willing to be joyful, willing to serve, and willing to follow God anywhere.
It’s risky to be willing, but I’m willing to risk for the right things. How do I know what the right things are? Sometimes I just don’t. Living by faith involves a lot of moving forward without all the answers and clarity. Blame it on Abraham. He started it.
With faith leading the charge in my willingness in 2016 I also have three questions I’m filtering life’s decisions through in order to willingly prioritize and organize this year:
1. Have I prayed about it?
2. Is the struggle worth the reward?
3. Do/Would I want my daughters to do it?
I’m willing to ask myself the hard questions and answer honestly. I haven’t always been able to answer all three of those questions sincerely. No is a hard word to hear from ourselves. It’s an even harder word to accept from ourselves.
Do you know what my favorite part about the word willing is? Perfection is not the point. To be willing simply means to be inclined to act. Sometimes we’re active in our waiting and other times we’re running faster than we ever thought possible. I’m willing to do both with joy.
Are you willing to make 2016 be the year you too were willing? What would change if you did?

domain: literature


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The company specializes not only in the deep processing of agricultural products based on corn ,but technological research and production and management of produce seeds based on hybrid corn .The products include beer special syrup, malt dextrin and other deep-processing corn products, and high-quality seeds of rice, soybeans, etc. Industrial structure shows a pattern of corn seed industry and the development of corn deep-processing service. Currently The company has the right to promote the corn variety of "Zhengdan 958" which is spread most widely, and continues to be widely used. "Jundan 20" is experiencing a steady increase in sales and it is on the way to be the country's third largest corn variety after “zhengdan 958”and “nongda 108”. As the 2008 corn seed market is still in the pattern of supply exceeding demand, the company will find the right time to expand the rice seed business, continue to expand the scale of fertilizer, and carry out a development strategy of related diversification.
18 Yushan Rd. Nangang Dt. Harbin Heilongjiang
Harbin; Heilongjiang; Postal Code: 150090
Contact Details: Purchase the Wanxiang Doneed Co., Ltd. report to view the information.
EMIS company profiles are part of a larger information service which combines company, industry and country data and analysis for over 145 emerging markets.Request a demo of the EMIS service
To view more information, Request a demonstration of the EMIS service

domain: agronomy


Are you facing External Hard Drive I/O Device Error in Windows 11? In this guide, I have shared some important tips to fix this issue. Also, we will know in detail about this error and why it happens on Windows OS.
This error is not limited to Windows 11 users only. Often Windows 10 users have similar complaints to make regarding the External Hard Drive I/O Device Error. When you start getting this error, you cannot access the files on your PC hard drive, USB drives, or external Micro SD cards.
Reasons Why External Hard Drive I/O Device Error Happens in Windows 11
The I/O Device error indicates that the affected elements are the external storage devices. It occurs when users try to initiate any read or write operation on their Windows PC.
They come across the following error message that states, “The request could not be performed due to an I/O device” error.
Here are some of the common reasons why External Hard Drive I/O Device Error Happens on Windows OS.
- The drivers of external storage are outdated.
- The external storage has some damage.
- There is some issue with the USB port to which the external storage is connected.
- The hard drive may be incompatible with the version of Windows 11 or Windows 10 currently installed on the PC.
- The SATA connectivity may be loose.
Fix How to Fix External Hard Drive I/O Device Error in Windows 11/10
Here are the troubleshooting tips you can follow to fix the error message “The request could not be performed due to an I/O device error” on your Windows computer.
1. Restart the Computer
Begin with simple troubleshooting, which requires you to restart the PC. It is a great way to squash the random tech bugs causing external devices to malfunction on the PC.
- Click the Windows logo in the taskbar.
- As the search console appears, navigate to the right end at the bottom.
- Click the Power icon and select the option Restart.
2. Update the Drivers
To update any device drivers that may be outdated, you have to access the device manager of Windows OS.
- Press Windows + X. It will invoke the Power User menu.
- Select the option Device Manager from the menu.
- Now, scroll to any device driver and click to expand it.
- Right-click on the device driver and select Update Driver.
- Select the option Search for Driver Automatically.
Make sure that at this point, your PC is connected to the internet. Windows will search for the latest drivers available for the concerned device driver and install them. Follow the necessary instructions you will see on the screen.
3. Repair the I/O Device in the Command Prompt
Use the steps below to access Command Prompt and repair the erroneous external device throwing the I/O device error.
- Press the Windows key.
- In the search console type cmd and press enter.
- Once the Command Prompt opens, enter this command
chkdsk F:/f /r /x
NOTE: Replace the alphabet F with the corresponding letter that denotes the external storage connected to your PC.
4. Check for Faulty Cables
If you have connected any external storage device to the PC via a USB cable, then check if the cable has any fault. Replace the faulty connector with a working multi-point connector. Replace the faulty unit with a new and functional one.
Also, ensure that the USB ports on the PC have no issues on them. Go to a nearby service center and have your computer’s USB port checked for any issues.
5. Change the Device Transfer Mode
Here are the steps to set the correct Device transfer mode on Windows 10.
- Press Windows+X.
- Select Device Manager from the menu.
- Scroll to IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers and click on it.
- Under that, right-click on the IDE ATA/ATAPI channel and select Properties.
- Go to the advanced settings tab and click on PIO in the transfer mode box.
- Click Ok to exit the Properties.
If you are using Windows 11, you won’t see the IDE ATA/ATAPI.
- Instead, scroll to Storage Controller and click to expand it.
- Right-click on Intel Chipset SATA/PCIe RST Premium Controller.
Also, you won’t find any option for transfer mode under the above element. Rather you can opt for updating the driver.
FAQs[Frequently Asked Questions]
1. What is I/O Device Error? Can it be Fixed?
I/O device error disables your access to the files on external storage connected to your computer. Yes, you can fix it.
2. Which Devices Does the I/O Device Error Affect?
External storage such as hard drives, USB drives, and SD Cards.
3. I/O Device Error Occurs on Which Windows OS Version?
This error happens on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Now you know all the necessary information about the I/O device error. These tips will be sufficient to fix the affected external driver and enable you to read/write from it.


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Want to beat your Scrabble friends no matter where you are?WordSolver Android App!
1 Definition of Havelock
The definition of havelock, the meaning of the word Havelock:
Is havelock a scrabble word? Yes!
- n. - A cloth covering for a service cap with a flap extending over the back of the neck to protect the neck from direct rays of the sun
Havelock is worth 20 points in Scrabble, and 22 points in Words with Friends
There are 8 letters in havelock: A C E H K L O V
Words that can be created with an extra letter added to havelock:
111 words found using the letters in "Havelock"
6 Letter Words
5 Letter Words
4 Letter Words
3 Letter Words
2 Letter Words

domain: game


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Congressmen Mike Pence and Jeb Hensarling co-author a Wall Street Journal op-ed today proposing a new Constitutional amendment to limit federal spending to 20% of the economy, on the grounds that spending is bad. Apostate Republican Bruce Bartlett, who agrees that spending is bad, dismantles the proposal. Let me pick out three of Bartlett's objections:
5. An even bigger problem is that both the administration and Congress must necessarily develop the budget based on forecasts of GDP, which can sometimes be tragically wrong. For example, the budget for fiscal year 2009, which ended last Sept. 30, was first put forward by President Bush in January 2008. At that time, OMB estimated GDP for 2009 would be $15,215 billion. It turned out to be $14,259 billion—almost $1 trillion lower than expected. CBO did a little better; its January 2008 estimate for GDP in 2009 was $14,997 billion. Assuming that Congress used CBO’s forecast, it would have appropriated almost $150 billion more than permitted under the Hensarling-Pence proposal simply because of forecast error.
6. It would be one thing to impose a constitutional limit on spending if Congress had to vote on all of it every year; that is, if the entire budget consisted of discretionary programs. In fact, discretionary spending, which includes national defense, constituted only 35 percent of federal outlays last year, down from 61 percent in 1970. Since two thirds of the budget now goes either to interest on the debt or entitlement programs, how can this be controlled on a yearly basis? If too many people turn 66 and claim Social Security benefits, is Congress going to say they can’t have them if it would push spending above 20 percent of GDP? Of course not; the idea is ridiculous.
7. Tax expenditures are a huge loophole through which spending can be driven. For example, instead of spending $1 billion to buy some new equipment for the Army, the government could give the contractor a transferable, refundable tax credit worth $1 billion. Even if the contractor had no tax liability, it could simply sell the credit to some business that had at least a $1 billion tax liability. There would be no increase in spending as conventionally measured and taxes would simply be $1 billion lower.
Bartlett has ten such objections, each of which is sufficient to destroy the rationale for this idea. He concludes:
[T]his is a laughably bad proposal that deserves not one second of serious consideration. I’m embarrassed that I wasted so much time on it writing this post.
But of course, these aren't random cranks, they're members of Congress. What's more, Pence is considered something of a brainiac among Republicans. He's "one of the most sensible and intelligent spokesmen for conservative principles" (Washington Times); "smart" and a "wunderkind" (syndicated columnist Ruben Navarrette); "one of the more thoughtful and principled conservatives in Congress" (The Indianapolis Star), and so on.
I'm sorry if this comes off as condescending, but the quality of thought about public policy in the Republican Party right now is extremely low.


The cheapest apartment in the Canary Islands in August 2021 would have cost 6.15 million rubles. The cost of affordable housing was named by experts from the Spain-Real.Estate portal. The analytical note is at the disposal of Lenta.ru.
00:02 – 13 august
Almost for nothing.
Houses in Europe began to sell for 11 rubles. Where can I find them and how can I buy them?
00:01 – January 27
Just take away
In Spain, houses are being sold with discounts of more than 70 percent. Should you buy them?
The accessible facility is located 300 meters from the sea, to the harbor of the village of Las Galletas will have to walk 15 minutes. The one-room apartment covers an area of 47 square meters and is sold with all amenities. The new owner can move out immediately after purchase.
The second most accessible facility for almost 7.2 million rubles is located in the city of Guaza. The one-room apartment on an area of 43 “squares” has a living room with an open kitchen. Near the house there are shops and bus stops. The top 3 of the list was closed by a one-room apartment for 7.5 million rubles in the municipality of Guargacho. The 60 square meters also includes a bathroom with shower and a kitchen. The price includes furniture.
Earlier, experts from Spain-Real.Estate named the cost of the cheapest apartment on the secondary market in the Spanish city of Torrevieja, which is considered the most Russian city in the country. Housing of 29 square meters will cost almost 2.6 million rubles.


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A Birthday Tribute to an Inquisitive Storyteller
Book cover of the German edition of “Jews and Words”
© Jüdischer Verlag im Suhrkamp Verlag
On the occasion of his 75th birthday on 4 May, we wish to congratulate Amos Oz, a great writer who visited the Jewish Museum Berlin no less than twice last year. The award-winning Israeli author—he has received, inter alia, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade (1992) and, more recently, the Franz Kafka Prize for Literature (2013)—and his daughter, the historian Fania Oz-Salzberger, presented their jointly written book Jews and Words (2012) here last October. In four highly entertaining chapters, “secular Jewish Israelis” draw on the genealogy of reading and writing to trace historical continuity in Jewish traditions. They ask which female poet may have penned the Song of Solomon, reflect on other “vocal women,” and philosophize on matters such as the importance of time and the interplay of collectivism and individuality.
Building in a real kibbutz, photo: Mirjam Bitter
In March 2013, Amos Oz paid a visit to the Museum wearing his literary author’s hat, so to speak, to present his latest publication Between Friends (2013, Hebr. original Be’in Khaverim 2012). The eight interconnected short stories in the volume are set in the fictitious Kibbutz Yekhat and immediately attest the author’s familiarity with kibbutz life. Oz left his intellectual father’s home for a kibbutz at the age of fourteen and a half, and lived and worked there for three decades. His descriptions of typical kibbutz settings—the communal laundry, kitchen, and dining room, the cowsheds and chicken coops, huge orchards and swimming pool—instantly made me feel at home, too, since I lived for a while on a kibbutz in the late 1990s. Discussions at Yekhat about the children’s house, on the other hand, situate the action specifically in the 1950s, the Golden Age of kibbutzim.
The stories deal with the universal constants of human nature: love, loneliness, and the struggle to make major decisions in life. → continue reading
When German friends of mine choose to move from Darmstadt, in Hesse, into the surrounding countryside, I shake my head in disbelief. That an Israeli family would leave Tel Aviv not, as many Israelis do, to move to Berlin (see the German-language blog post offering ten tips for Israelis in Berlin), but rather to the tiny Hessian town of Niederbrechen, seems audacious, if not outright absurd. This scenario, however, is the starting point of Sarah Diehl’s debut novel Eskimo Limon 9. The novel depicts a “very particular kind of culture clash,” as the book’s flap announces.
© Atrium publishers
Some of the characters are Israelis, and they have little interest in discussing Germany’s past or the history of European Jews.
“The only thing in the Jewish Museum that will remind me of home will probably be the metal detector you have to go through at the entrance.”
The novel’s Israeli father Chen wishes Germans “would associate us with Eskimo Limon instead of six million dead.” The title of the book refers to a film series of the same name, which aired in Germany in the 1980s as Eis am Stil (Popsicle), “one of the few Israeli pop culture phenomena […] familiar to German audiences.” Many assume that the series is Italian, which—as the author of the novel argues—shows how selective Germans’ perception of Israel can be, and how limited their idea of Jewishness often is.
Other characters are natives of Niederbrechen. → continue reading
On Behind-the-scenes Labor in the Cultural Economy
“Translators create universal literature.” José Saramago, Nobel Prize Winner for Literature 1998
© VdÜ (Germany’s Union of Literary Translators), design: Christian Hoffmann
Today is Giornata mondiale della traduzione, Międzynarodowy Dzień Tłumacza, Journée mondiale de la traduction, Uluslararası Çeviri Günü or Día Internacional de la Traducción—which is to say, International Translation Day, an occasion established in 1991 by the Fédération Internationale des Traducteurs (FIT: International Federation of Translators) in order to raise public awareness of the cultural impact of the wordsmith’s trade. 30 September is the anniversary of the death in 420 CE of Hieronymus, who translated the Hebrew Bible into Latin. Since ancient times translation has influenced the target language in question, and in the globally networked world of today it is our constant companion. Germany’s Union of Literary Translators (VdÜ) puts it in a nutshell: “Wherever words have been spoken, written, read, or even sung, translators have had a finger in the pie, and indeed they still do; and it is thanks to them that the whole world is at home in its own language.” → continue reading

domain: artistic


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Sophie Kinston is Tailor Birds.
Tailor Birds newest album is music that soothes the soul, warms the spirit, and ignites your passion.
Even though the content is 6 songs they are each a 7-10 minute ‘Piece’ forming an album length body of work. Following the success of the previous work ‘Stilts on the Water’ (a single 40 minute piece) this release explores further electro/folk/world territory with more instrumentation such as Piano and Flute added to the already lush soundscape. Recorded in various studios throughout Europe while on tour and mixed and mastered at Damien Gerard Studios Sydney the sonic quality is exceptional.
In Sophie’s own words, “Tailor Birds combines electronic violin, live looping, foley art, percussion, and rich harmonised vocals, to create a sound like no other. A sound that is all about the vibe and positive energy, building an audience that is as diverse as much as it is one, you could say that Sophie is a traveling troubadour. She believes that music should not just be about playing one gig after another with just the music making an impact, but is also o about connecting people to something good again, in a world that is constantly changing. Music needs to inspire and placing Tailor Birds in a space that can do just that, it makes an impact greater than you could ever imagine.”
“Faint echoes of Kate Bush here, Enya there but really like neither and often much spookier”
-Michael Smith – Rhythms Magazine
Tailor Birds’ key influences are Sigur Ros, the Kronos Quartet, Bear’s Den, Chet Faker and more.
Tailor Birds is currently touring through Australia.
Friday October 26 – Miama Marketta, Miami QLD
Saturday October 27 – Storytellers Festival, Raymond Terrace, NSW
Saturday November 3 – The Sound Society, Rainforest Green, South Bank Parklands, Brisbane QLD
Sunday November 4 – Peregian Beach Markets, QLD
Saturday November 17 – Cooran Acoustic Night, Cooran QLD
Tune into these radio stations this week to hear Sophie talk about her new album and the tour. Click the station logos to listen live via their websites!
BAY FM 99.9 Byron Bay – Arts Canvass show at 9am this Thursday November 1
4ZZZ Melbourne – Goldilocks Folk show at 6pm this Saturday November 3
Listen to the new Tailor Birds album at your favourite music site:
Connect with Tailor Birds:


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A unique opportunity to own a piece of F1 history.
The gear is an impressive piece of engineering from a genuine 2007 Honda F1 car, ingeniously recycled into a wall clock or desk clock.
In keeping with the motorsport theme of the clock the centre is high gloss carbon fiber, the clock mechanism has then been is mounted upon this. All the F1 parts are engraved by the Honda F1 team with a unique ID code.
We suppy the clock in a white gift box with a laminated ID card with all the information relevent to that item.
The gear measures approx 11.5 cm (4.5") in diameter.
To ensure the clock reaches you in perfect condition I ship this type without the hands attached, however fitting the hands is simply a case of pressing them onto the centre spindle.
Includes stand and clock battery (AA). ans has a hook for wall hanging.
This is a 'non ticking' clock and the second hand moves with a continous sweep motion. If you'd prefer it can be supplied with out a second hand.
The part was originally used in the RA107 car driven by Jenson Button & Rubens Barrichello.
Completely original clock which you wont find anywhere else!
Shipping & delivery
This item will be posted to you by Ledon Gifts within 3 days of receiving payment.
|Shipping destination||Cost||Additional items|
|Rest of the World||£7.99||£2.99|
You have 7 days, from receipt, to notify the seller if you wish to cancel your order or exchange an item.
Please note: Unless faulty, the following types of items are non-refundable: items that are personalised, bespoke or made-to-order to your specific requirements; personal items sold with a hygiene seal (cosmetics, underwear) in instances where the seal is broken.


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This Canada Day marks the beginning of Artfest Kingston, a four day art festival that takes place in City Park and features the work of 150 Ontario artists. In addition to visual art, clothing and jewellery, the festival also includes music, dance, children’s workshops, theatre workshops, an interactive mural project, a community arts tent, an international food area and more. The festival runs daily from 10am-6pm and all programming is free to the public.
This year marks Artfest Kingston’s fourth anniversary. We recently caught up with local artist and Artfest exhibitor Steve Lawrence. As the appointed cycling and ecotourism advisor for Ontario’s Great Waterway provincial tourism district, Steve is known for his work advocating for cycling in Kingston and his work promoting urban cycling and bicycle tourism. He also has a deep interest in science and nature and this comes to life through his vibrantly coloured and incredibly detailed Well Bred Fractals. Steve will be showing his work at this year’s Artfest Kingston, which runs from July 1st-July4th.
1. Tell us about yourself, your background with respect to the arts, schooling and how you landed in Kingston.
I’m originally from Toronto and am one of those people who came to Kingston just to go to Queen’s but ended up staying because of the discovery that Kingston is a wonderfully beautiful and interesting place to live. As for the reason for my going to Queen’s in the first place, the School of Business was attempting to get more arts-oriented people in the program at that time and I received an offer based on my undergraduate success and the proactive volunteer work I had been doing with the Toronto City Cycling Committee and other organizations in Toronto. Even though I’m a rather holistically-oriented left-hander I somehow survived the first year with its many diverse courses and did just fine in second year when I was able to focus more on marketing. Since graduating I have been a serial entrepreneur with start-ups as diverse as Well Bred Fractals, Complexity Awareness and bicycling-related businesses such as Kingston by Bike!
The great potential for cycling in this city was a key reason that made me want to stay and I soon joined the Kingston Bicycling Advisory Committee and have been working towards making Kingston and region a better place for cycling residents and tourists pretty well ever since. I’m currently the appointed advisor for Cycling and Ecotourism to the Great Waterway (RTO9) provincial tourism district and my informative and fun guided bicycle tours are still in demand and I continue to really enjoy taking people from all over the world cycling around town or up to Kingston Mills on a beautiful summer day.
2. Your work primarily centers on fractals, a natural phenomenon or a mathematical set that exhibits a repeating pattern that displays the exact same way at every scale. What drew you to this very specific art form? Do you pursue or have you ever pursued any other creative mediums?
I have always been interested in the natural world and the natural shapes that are all around us but things really coalesced in the 1980’s when computers with graphic capabilities came along and mathematical pioneers like Benoit Mandelbrot were able to show that the incredibly complicated shapes that we see in nature do in fact have a cohesive geometry to them. When Windows came along and fractal programs that anyone could take advantage of became available, I for one was off to the races. Had you asked me back then whether my directed evolutionary approach to creating fractals would lead to some worthwhile things I would have said probably, but I confess to having no idea of the beauty and intricacy I was to encounter in many of the mathematical universes I have created and explored.
My fractals often mirror shapes found in the natural world and this implies rather strongly that they have evolved through a purely mathematical form of the same sorts of dynamic processes which in this universe have created everything from spiral galaxies and clouds to trees and sea shells. Human beings are also complex fractals down to our very thoughts and dreams and we are hard-wired to have deep emotional and intellectual responses to fractal forms. An interest in the science and mathematics behind my fractal universes has led me to a keen interest in the comparatively new science of Complexity, an umbrella term which encompasses everything from Chaos Theory and Turing patterns to complex adaptive systems like the weather and financial markets. My interest in capturing real world examples of Complexity in nature has led to be an avid digital photographer, specializing in images of plants, animals and scenic vistas such as my Elevator Bay lakescapes.
3. What is your process for creating fractals? Is it entirely computer generated, or do you incorporate elements by hand?
I joke at art shows that the computer and I each get half the credit because it couldn’t create these fractals without me and I couldn’t make them without it. As for our mutual contributions,the computer’s bottom-up number-crunching combines with top-down rule-based decision-making provided by me in a directed evolutionary process. I have used this objectively subjective decision strategy, a menu of mathematical formulae provided by the fractal program, a good sense of colour and design and classical framing techniques to create an amazing variety of beautiful and interesting fractals. I don’t post-process the fractals so you see them exactly as they were calculated and generated on the computer screen.
4. What is your favorite part of being an artist in Kingston? What aspect of the arts scene has kept you here, and otherwise do you feel most strongly about?
I like being surrounded by the abundance of natural and cultural beauty that Kingston possesses, as well as being a part of a very well developed artistic community. Kingston has some really good art galleries, though there could always be more, and one example is Taylor Studios gallery, which proved to be a wonderful venue for a Well Bred Fractals show I did in October of 2013. Events like the Kingston Arts Council’s Juried Art Salon are very popular and have been good for showcasing regional talent.
5. This is your fourth year showing your work at Kingston Art Fest.. As a seasoned participant, what aspects of past festivals do you admire the most? What are you most looking forward to checking out while away from your station?
I’ve been an ArtFest participant since the show’s first year and was involved in getting the show off the ground in the first place. The event has been successful from that first year and it has been gratifying to watch ArtFest Kingston grow and diversify over the years since then. As for the sorts of things I like to look at when wandering around an art fair, I tend to be attracted to natural materials like wood and minerals and I’m not surprisingly quite partial to organic forms. I also enjoy talking to creative people like painters, sculptors and photographers about the works they are showing.
6. With 150 artists and artisans participating in Artfest Kingston, the overall program is diverse and otherwise ripe with local representation/content. What can first time attendees and exhibitors expect?
The Artfest organizers have consistently tried to offer something of quality for a very broad range of tastes and I believe they have to a great extent managed that. From experience I know that both visitors and vendors can expect a well-run and enjoyable show, and hopefully the weather will cooperate, as well. It’s also interesting that this year’s Artfest will start on Canada Day and end on the Fourth of July and that should be fun.


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Supplementary Explanatory MemorandumCirculated By the Authority of the Treasurer, the Hon Wayne Swan MP
General outline and financial impact
Amendment to Schedule 1 - Improving fairness and integrity in the tax system: distributions to entities connected with a private company
The amendment ensures that the use of certain company title flats or home units is not a payment for the purposes of Division 7A of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936 .
Date of effect: 1 July 2009. This amendment does not adversely affect taxpayers.
Proposal announced: This amendment has not previously been announced.
Financial impact: Nil.
Compliance cost impact: Nil.
© Australian Taxation Office for the Commonwealth of Australia
You are free to copy, adapt, modify, transmit and distribute material on this website as you wish (but not in any way that suggests the ATO or the Commonwealth endorses you or any of your services or products).


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U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
A coincident intra-uterine and extra-uterine pregnancy ; Two cases of obliquely-contracted pelvis ; The primary repair of a lacerated perineum ; Stricture of the rectum following a Whitehead operation for hemorrhoids
Hirst, Barton Cooke, 1861-1935
Boston Medical Library, former owner.
[Philadelphia : s.n., 1894?]
Pelvis -- pathology
Perineum -- injuries
Rectum -- pathology
The National Library of Medicine believes this item to be in the public domain.
NLM Unique ID:
See catalog record
Metadata (Dublin Core)

domain: library


Supervisors delay decision on budget
A decision to accept a proposed $47 million budget along with a 30 percent ad valorem tax increase was delayed by supervisors at their Tuesday, Sept. 4 meeting. The issue is set to be taken up again at a special meeting on September 17 at 5 p.m.
Talks began with a discussion of some revisions or the introduction of a second budget to include reduced department spending, pay raises, and a reserve fund. Supervisor Henry Nickson said he’d like “a clearer picture of where the money is going throughout the county.” He said he would also like to see more micromanaging of the departments.
Supervisor Cedric Burnett proposed the creation of a county reserve fund and noted that the county is currently operating solely on gaming revenue.
Transcript released from July 18 Thompson trial The full transcript...
Congressman helps Delta CONGRESSMAN BENNIE THOMPSON...
Dunn named NWCC Alumnus of the Year James E. Dunn,...
School district projects $27.6M in spending budget The Tunica County...
Cookin with' The Columns: Not Mom’s, but good My mother used...


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Recipe by Helen
"I discovered this gloriously refreshing drink in Berlin on a tour of Eastern European cities. Brings back wonderful memories. Serve in a wine glass. Pretty and tasty!"
Watch video tips and tricks
ice cubes, or as desired
2 fluid ounces
1 (1.5 fluid ounce) jigger
bitter orange aperitif (such as Aperol®)
This is such a refreshing drink. Aperol isn't available everywhere, but is worth seeking out. It's a little bitter, but combined with the sweetness of the Prosecco, it makes the perfect, thirst-quenching cocktail.
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Serving Size: 1/1 of a recipe
Servings Per Recipe: 1
Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat: 1
We’ll help you get dinner on the table in no time flat.
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Delicious recipes, party ideas, and helpful cooking tips! Get a year of Allrecipes magazine for just $7.99!
Boom! See how a steady hand and a carefully placed spoon make the perfect B-52.
See how to make a simple, sophisticated Champagne cocktail.
Watch a professional bartender make a signature cocktail with an herbal essence.


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Then on to a quote from a favorite illustrator of mine, Howard Pyle.
“When in Doubt, Leave It Out”
“...it is better to err in the lack of detail than it is to introduce details that may arouse question or criticism...” -Howard Pyle to Paul Leicester Ford, November 30, 1898Words we all can profit by, even more than 100 years later. ;-)
With thanks to Ian Schoenherr - from his wonderful blog – “Howard Pyle”


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Star Wars Underground Toys 24" Talking Plush Yoda
New Unopened Factory Sealed - Batteries dead from age, not use, will need replaced, if able
Original Trilogy - 24" Talking Yoda Plush. This 24" talking re-creation of the best Wookie ever will blow your mind. Almost the same size of a small child, you will spend hours cuddling with him and pressing his belly to make him growl. His spoken phrase is the trademark Wookie Growl. Chewbacca is the perfect gift for any fan who's ever wanted a furry co-pilot of their own. "A Jedi uses The Force"; "You seek Yoda"; "Strong am I with the Force"; "Do or do not. There is no try".

domain: hobby


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This week we celebrate Human Rights Week on The MagkaSama Project and it’s the occasion to highlight the work and events by organizations, foundations and partners we support for a long time. We already mentioned ONU Femmes France and Ornage Day, and also Lighting the Way for Human Rights with Human Rights Watch; today we want to highlight a post by Darcy Ataman published on the HuffPost.
Dr. Denis Mukwege is among the Featured People on the home page of our website, and we have been supporting his work, his foundation and The Panzi Foundation for years. We even organized screenings of the documentary The man who mends women – The wrath of Hippocrates and book discussions. On Monday, the Mukwege Foundation tweeted about a very interesting article:
— Mukwege Foundation (@MukwegeFound) December 2, 2017
In The Art of Resilience in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Darcy Ataman, founder and CEO of Make Music Matter, music producer and guest lecturer at the University of Winnipeg writes about the power of music to heal survivors of sexual violence:
It was the forth night during my most recent assignment to Bukavu, in the South Kivu province of Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). Still jet lagged, I jumped when my phone lit up. Texts and calls from partners in the US and Europe, alerted me: “Darcy, they are shooting near Panzi. Are you okay? Have you heard from anyone else?” I immediately called my security team. They are seasoned experts, and were patrolling the area near Panzi. I sent out messages to our staff and colleagues.
Last October we posted an Editorial about the situation in Congo (in French) : Situation en RDC : les inquiétudes du Dr Denis Mukwege et le rapport accablant de The Sentry. Darcy Ataman wrote his post around same time, October 6th, 2017.
A few days after that, local police and military kidnapped four youth they deemed as suspects. They have not been heard from since. What has been the impetus for this recent escalation of violence in this already impoverished, but beloved neighborhood in Bukavu that is also home to renowned champion for civil rights, Dr. Denis Mukwege? This trip was different. The slow-rolling political crisis in the DRC is beginning to accelerate, and violence is on the uptick.
A few weeks ago, IRIN wrote: Crumbling Congo – the making of a humanitarian emergency. ‘The scale of the humanitarian crisis requires an urgent international response – but the world is yet to step up to the challenge…‘
As the world takes increasing notice of the warnings and political advocacy of Dr. Mukwege – my mentor, partner and friend, the fear in President Kabila’s camp rises palpably. There are real concerns that the increasing instability in the Panzi neighborhood where we operate has been directly perpetrated by Kabila loyalists to intimidate and threaten Dr. Mukwege – trying to force him into exile, or cause extreme fear of another assassination attempt.
This is a great article and we wanted to share it with you. The situation in Congo is still explosive and this article points out what is at stake. Last September we wrote about the role Denis Mukwege could play in Congo (in French): Denis Mukwege et l’avenir de la RD du Congo.
Darcy Ataman concludes with powerful words as we celebrate Human Rights Week:
With Dr. Mukwege, we will not rest until all survivors are able to integrate back into society and continue to be valued as mothers, sisters, daughters, wives and role models to others, including myself.

domain: sociology