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Skip to comments.Obama to Boehner: You Get Nothing I Get That for Free
Posted on 12/23/2012 4:40:22 PM PST by lowbridge
A Wall Street Journal report detailing the broken-down status of talks between President Barack Obama and House Speaker John Boehner on the year-end fiscal cliff reveals that Obama threatened to use both his inaugural and State of the Union speeches to blame Republicans if theres no deal.
Negotiations reportedly came to a standstill after Boehner proposed increasing the tax rate on top earners:
Mr. Obama repeatedly lost patience with the speaker as negotiations faltered. In an Oval Office meeting last week, he told Mr. Boehner that if the sides didnt reach agreement, he would use his inaugural address and his State of the Union speech to tell the country the Republicans were at fault.
At one point, according to notes taken by a participant, Mr. Boehner told the president, I put $800 billion [in tax revenue] on the table. What do I get for that?
You get nothing, the president said. I get that for free.
(Excerpt) Read more at theblaze.com ...
No wonder Americans are scared and losing confidence!
I Boner had any testicular fortitude, the House would pass a spending bill with 50% across the board spending cuts and go home.
How Mugabe-esque!
Like all good Commie/Marxists, Barry loves a FREE ride!
I can't stand either one of those SOB's...
With no spending cuts and the crippling of the top brackets to make use of their available capitol to grow the economy, Zer0 is making sure America stays in the ditch. You can confiscate 100 percent of the top brackets' earnings and that will only pay for the cost of government for 91 days. We need an economy that is growing fast enough so that it pays for 100 percent of the cost of government. This will only come with low taxes and regulatory reform that reduces the cost of business. Anything else are lies and deception.
The headline quote is actually funny.
When are all the spending bills set to expire?
I frankly don't see a problem. The Democrats have said for years that the tax cuts were "Bush's tax cuts for the rich", so what's the problem if those tax cuts for the rich expire and their taxes go up?? /s
Why the Hell haven't the Republicans been shouting that from the roof tops??
Know what else you get for free Barry - title of being the worst POTUS evah!
Instead, Bonehead and Cantor tried to corrupt and who-do conservatives.
Thank god the leaderships jack-thug, Pelosi style arm twisting didn't work.
Boner is not logical, however.
Since when did NObama need an excuse to blame Republicans? There can be no deal when one side refuses to "deal" but will only agree on capitulation. Besides, there is no "going over the cliff" because we have gone over long ago. Really, 16 trillion in debt and we pretend to want to pay it back? That will never happen. Our kids and grandkids are doomed to ever increasing taxes.
Republicans - get a BACKBONE and fight.
And you better get ready for one bitter fight over gun control.
But also re-instate the Bush tax cuts for all and de-fund obamacare.
If the President appears for the SOTU at the invitation of the Speaker of the House...
Let him submit it in writing, or do it from the Oval Orifice. Or, better yet, from his favorite hang: the golf course.
Why can't this guy take this line, stand in front of a TV camera, and ask the american people to just revolt ?
Just take these criminals down. We are being held hostage !
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In an effort to liven up my palate from the creamy dishes that are popular this time of year, I wanted to leverage some of the delicious local, in-season lemons. This weekend, I stumbled upon Louisa Shafia's Lemony Gold Beet Barley Risotto in 2009's Lucid Food (a visually stunning cookbook full of seasonal recipes) and saw that I could easily incorporate parts of this dish with one of my standby pasta recipes. It made for an enlivening and comforting dinner with both new and familiar elements – an instant fan favorite at our house.
Make this little pot o' gold whenever you need some vivid colors and jolts of citrus to brighten up February, the month in which we are made to believe winter will never give way to spring.
Lemony Gold beets + Creamy Goat Cheese pasta w. crushed red peppers
Serves 4 average adult humans (or 2 hungry hippos)
2-4 Gold beets, washed and greens trimmed off
Zest of 1 lemon + 1 TSP fresh squeezed juice
6 TBSP olive oil
1 pound penne rigate
S + P, to taste
4 oz. soft goat cheese
Crushed red peppers (or cayenne pepper), to taste
Parmigiano Reggiano, shaved
Rinse the beets and place them in a large pot. Cover them with water and bring to a high simmer over medium-high heat. Cook until the beets are easily penetrated with a fork (this can take anywhere from 20 – 60 minutes).
As the beets cook, zest and juice the lemon, setting aside the zest and 1 TSP of the juice for the meal. I used the rest of the juice for our water glasses, but that's because I am actually just a walking lemon head pretending to be an adult human.
Once the beets are cooked through, place them in a bowl of cool water and slip off the skins using your hands or the edge of a spoon. Coarsely chop the beets, and set aside in a small to medium mixing bowl.
Bring another pot of water to boil for the pasta. Just cook to the directions on the box or until the noodles are al dente.
As the pasta cooks, mash the chopped beets until they are chunky and just rougher than the texture of apple sauce. Add in the zest, lemon juice, olive oil, S + P to taste. Stir thoroughly and set aside.
Drain the pasta, reserving about a half an inch of the water (or about a 1/2 cup) and return the pasta and water to the pot. Mix in the goat cheese, stirring as it melts into a cream sauce. Add in the beet mixture, tossing gently.
Serve the pasta warm with small shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano and sprinkle with red pepper to taste.
Note: Mix in sautéed garlic, onion and some greens to make this dish a little more toothsome
I'll end with the small confession that I basically try to put lemons, goat cheese or crushed red pepper on everything. Everything. All of the things. And it is delicious.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bulldozers Bearing Olive Branches...But The Peace May Be Built On SandHugh Filman
Amid the thatched huts and stilted wooden shacks of the Muslim town of Parang is the headquarters of the Philippine Army's 27th Infantry Battalion. Twenty minutes by jeep past rice paddies and rain forest and roadside stands that sell petrol out of Coke bottles is all it takes to reach the muddy mountain trail that leads to the main camp of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's second-largest Muslim rebel group. A decade ago, the troops of the 27th might have been on a search-and-destroy mission against the guerrillas. But these days, contact is carefully avoided. Instead, the soldiers focus on protecting roads from bandits and bringing health services to villagers.
It's part of a government strategy being implemented in southwestern and central Mindanao, where most of the country's Muslim minority lives and where tens of thousands have died in the insurgency since the early 1970s. The idea is to erode grassroots support for the guerrillas by fostering economic development. "What we are trying to do is find out the needs of an area and then tie up with the local government officials--tell them what these people need," explains Major Ernesto Aradanas, the battalion commander. He adds that this role as a go-between is vital in an area so backward that farmers can hardly conceive of such notions as a paved road to market.
The government hopes to sign a peace accord with the main rebel group, the Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF), on Sept. 2. It has an informal, uneasy truce with the rival MILF.
"You cannot make the peace permanent if there is no development," says Brigadier General Rene Dado, regional commander. "You have to put up roads, buildings, maybe factories."
Indeed, all along, the biggest enemy has been empty stomachs. The government reported that in 1995, per capita income in and around Manila was $946 a year compared with $131 in four Muslim Mindanao provinces. The villages around Parang are typical of Muslim Mindanao, where large families often cram into one- or two-room dwellings without electricity or running water.
President Fidel V. Ramos' administration is building infrastructure ranging from bridges to power grids. Foreign aid grants and loans are funding 35 ongoing projects worth nearly $470 million on rugged, resource-rich Mindanao--with an additional $1.2 billion to come within three years.
Not everyone agrees that the government is doing things right. Professor Rufa Cagoco-Guiam of Mindanao's Notre Dame University has studied the Muslim Filipinos for two decades. She says that the strategy is "largely modeled on the Western type of development, which Muslims don't like very much." She notes programs that encourage lending structured with interest rates are considered un-Islamic. During one period, Cagoco-Guiam adds, the government encouraged hog raising: While pork is a staple in the Catholic-dominated north, it's a Muslim taboo. At the very least, she says, before bringing in work crews, the government should consult Muslim communities to avoid the gun battles that have stopped some projects dead in their bulldozer tracks.
Manila expects a peace dividend from its pact with the MNLF: investment in Mindanao from such members of the Organization of the Islamic Conference as Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei. Then, too, there's relief from the war's tab of nearly $3 billion since 1970.
But some Christian leaders fear that Manila is giving too much and compromising the interests of Christian migrants from the north, who now are the majority in many parts of Mindanao. So far, there have been street protests, and some Christians have threatened to arm themselves.
Meanwhile, the MILF and extreme Islamic rebel groups fear the MNLF is getting too little. The MILF wants a regional government that administers Islamic education and law, maintains its own security force, and regulates exploitation of natural resources. But they say they do not seek to drive the Christians out. Murad Ebrahim, MILF vice-chairman for military affairs, says his group is simply fighting for survival: "We feel that unless we are successful in establishing a government of our own, then gradually we will be annihilated. We will disappear in our own homeland."
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Cast: Barks & Fletcher in Oliver! Tour, Bristol Coram Boy
Editorial Staff • West End, Blackpool, Bolton, Chester, Lancaster, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Salford, Bradford, Darlington, Derby, Harrogate, Huddersfield, Hull, Leeds, Newcastle upon Tyne, Nottingham, Scarborough, Sheffield, Sunderland, Wakefield, York, Bath, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Salisbury • 27 Oct 2011
Samantha Barks, who finished in the top three of BBC casting show I'd Do Anything, will play Nancy, alongside Iain Fletcher, best known as DC Rodney Skase in the long-running TV series The Bill, as Bill Sikes.
The cast will also feature: Jack Edwards as Mr Bumble; Suzie Chard as Widow Corney; Stephen Moore as Mr Brownlow; David Langham as Mr Sowerberry; CJ Johnson as Mrs Sowerberry; Stevie Hutchinson as Noah Claypole; Emma Dukes as Bet; and Victoria Hay as Charlotte.
Lionel Bart's 1960 musical, which played a two-year run at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane before closing in January, will open in Cardiff on 20 December (previews from 10 December 2011) playing dates in Manchester, Birmingham, Southampton, Edinburgh, Plymouth, Newcastle, Leeds and Bristol with venues confirmed through to March 2013.
The touring company also includes Lincoln Hudson, James Gant, Hadrian Delacey, Joe Maxwell, Kade Ferraiolo, Lee Dillon-Stuart, Matt Harrop, Ryan O'Gorman, Annie Wensak, Kara Lane, Claire Parrish, Alison Connell, Sophie Caton, Beth Davies, Mikaela Newton, Paul Farrell, Nicholas Duncan, Sarah Cortez, and Mary Fox.
Principal casting has been announced for the Bristol Old Vic and Colston Hall's forthcoming Christmas revival of Coram Boy, which was a hit for the National Theatre in 2006 and 2007.
Leading the company of Melly Still's production will be Emily Head (Adult Melissa), Simon Shepherd (Lord Ashbrook) Tristan Sturrock (Otis) and Saskia Portway (Mrs Ashbrook)
Coram Boy will be staged in the Colston Hall from 22 to 30 December (preview 21 December), featuring a cast of 35, a full chorus, a live orchestra and "a host of Bristolian children".
The acting company also features Ed Birch (Adult Thomas), Lucy Black (Mrs Lynch), Grace Carter (Adult Isobel), Fionn Gill (Meshak), Joe Hall (Claymore/Handel), Freddie Hutchins (Adult Alexander) and Catherine Swingler (Mrs Milcote/Mrs Hendry).
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Offering earnings guidance above analyst expectations is obviously a bullish sign, as over time, earnings growth follows sales growth. And when a company predicts greater sales or profits, we expect its stock price might soon follow the upward trend.
Sometimes things don't work out as planned, though, so we'll pair up the brighter outlook with the sentiments of more than 180,000 members of Motley Fool CAPS. If the best and brightest stock pickers think a company's long-term potential is outstanding, coupled with the company's own improved sentiment, maybe then investors should take notice, too.
Here are two stocks that recently raised guidance.
CAPS Rating (out of 5)
Prior or Consensus Estimate
Current Guidance
magicJack VocalTel
Michael Kors
Don't blindly buy into their heady outlook -- you still need to do some research. Use the announcement as a jumping off point for additional research.
Going mobile
VoIP provider magicJack VocalTel is back once again with stupendous guidance for the market! Analyst forecasts? Pshaw! We've already blown past those piddling numbers and we've still got a whole month to go! We might do even better than $0.43 per share because our business is growing like gangbusters. Al Gore's invention of the Internet's got nothing on us: We invented VoIP!
The above is not too far from the "cloud communications leader's" recent press release touting its upcoming earnings. Even better, it's hoping the U.S. economy goes to hell in a handbasket, because that bolsters its business!
I've previously reported my disdain for magicJack's brand of self-promotion, and despite all its hype about how great its business is doing, the stock has fallen 30% over the last three months. While Vonage
As it typically does after a rah-rah update like this, magicJack's stock has bounced higher, rising 33% since the start of June. Too bad for the CEO, who had to sell a boatload of shares "for liquidity reasons" as he'd margined his holdings, and the board thought it wise not to have debt associated with the stock. The CEO of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters just got booted from his position for selling shares in violation of company policy to satisfy a margin call.
While legions of investors swear by their own magicJack, I don't plan on hanging up my underperform rating on magicJack. But tell me on the magicJack VocalTel CAPS page if you think there's some disconnect here, then add the stock to your watchlist to get alerts on the next breathless press release it issues.
Leather and lace
Designer Michael Kors might be more restrained in its own guidance prognostications. It didn't invent the fashion industry, but its forecasted results are every bit as flashy as those of the most ostentatious self-promoter as it follows the trail blazed by handbag maker Coach
But that doesn't mean it's necessarily a better investment. In addition to some impressive growth numbers, it's also benefiting from the cachet its strong brand name carries. Just look at the IPO of luxury luggage maker Tumi, which has seen its shares crater since the IPO. I think there needs to be a focus on "affordable luxury," as Coach and Kors targets, and not just luxury goods in general.
Investors have wondered whether all this competition in the leather goods market might make for tougher times for Coach. Well, the rivalries have always been there, it's only the stocks that are new. Coach also has an established presence in markets Kors is only just trying to break into. For example, it wants to double the number of stores it operates. That's going to raise its expenses tremendously as it strives to catch up to Coach.
Certainly there can be numerous winners in a particular niche; no one company has to dominate another. As might be obvious at this point, I prefer Coach's current position to that of Michael Kors, but tell me on the Michael Kors CAPS page or in the comments section below if you like one, the other, or both.
Raise your sights
These stocks may have raised expectations, but there's a new technological revolution with even wider implications than before, and The Motley Fool has discovered three companies ready to capitalize on the boom. Read the free report "The Future is Made in America" to find out who these winners are, but hurry, because its available only for a limited time.
Fool contributor Rich Duprey holds no position in any company mentioned. Click here to see his holdings and a short bio. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Coach and Green Mountain Coffee Roasters. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days.


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This year's running back class lacks an elite prospect, although two players could ultimately crack the end of the first round. Teams in need of backfield help will do most of the digging between the second and fourth rounds, where the value seems to lie for the position.
The player that tops most running back rankings is Alabama junior Mark Ingram, but even he does not carry a premium draft grade. His ability to be a feature back, carry the ball between the tackles, and pick up tough yardage make him a very good fit for an offense looking for ball control out of their running game. Ingram will pick up consistent yardage and fight for extra yardage at the end of his runs. He has quick enough feet, a good initial burst, and decent enough speed to hit the corner, but he is not going to run away from defenders very often. That lack of homerun speed is the main reason he will not hear his name called in the first ten or 12 picks, but he is the type of back you can consistently give the rock to, and watch him pick up consistent yardage and break an occasional big gain. He is a virtual lock to be the first back taken, and may be the only back taken in the first round.
After Ingram, there are a number of running back prospects that could go in any order in the second or third round. Illinois junior Mikel LeShoure has an interesting combination of size and big play ability. He ran for 1,697 yards and reached the end zone 17 times this season. He has surprising feet for a 230lber and can consistently get into open space and pick up big chunks of yardage. He can finish runs, but he isn't really a bruising type of back despite his bulk. He has an outside chance at landing in the first round but will more likely come off the board in the second round.
Virginia Tech redshirt sophomore Ryan Williams is most likely the second back off the board. He had a fantastic freshman season, rushing for 1,655 yards and 21 scores, displaying a slashing style that led to many big plays. His sophomore season did not go quite as planned, missing substantial time with a hamstring injury and sharing the carries in the Hokie backfield. Williams managed only 477 yards and nine scores on the season. He doesn't have great size and doesn't have blazing speed, but Williams does run hard and can pick up tough yardage, while showing the ability make defenders miss and outrun them once in space. Williams has some big play ability, and could be the second back off the board, which should be at some point in the second round.
Kansas State's Daniel Thomas is most likely the top senior back off the board. Along with LeShoure, his size gives him an advantage for teams looking for a back outside the first round. Thomas packs about 225lbs on his frame, and uses it to be a real factor between the tackles. He is a workhorse type back that will lower his shoulder, and battle for extra yardage at the end of runs. He likes to get outside as well, showing quick feet and the ability to make the first defender miss and get to the corner. Thomas doesn't have ideal breakaway speed, but its decent for a between the tackles runner. Where he ends up depends on how early LeShoure and Williams go, but he should hear his name called in the first three rounds.
Demarco Murray of Oklahoma is an intriguing prospect. He has good size at 6'1 210lbs, good speed, can run between the tackles, and can catch the football. He sounds like a great all around RB prospect. He's more of a slashing back, but lacks great elusiveness and won't create much on his own. The biggest question mark around Murray's game is his durability. He has consistently been banged up or missed time during his college career, which begs the question about how big of a role he can play in the NFL. Murray's hands are as good as any back in this draft, and because of his ability in the passing game, he should be a productive pro back. His ability to stay healthy will determine whether he becomes a starting back in the NFL or not.
There are a few backs in the next group that have size question marks going into the draft. Cal junior Shane Vereen goes about 5'9 203 but is quick, has good speed, and can catch the football. He has been a tough runner between the tackles, but lacks the power and bulk to project well as a feature back.
Oklahoma State's Kendall Hunter is a similar player in build. He approaches 200lbs on a 5'7 frame with good quickness and receiving ability, and is an aggressive runner for his size. Jordan Todman of UConn is another 5'9 200lber that has good speed and big play ability. He runs hard on film, but had a small build. He was jacked up at the combine, showing some added bulk, while maintaining his speed. Any of these guys could slip into the second round before some of the aforementioned backs if teams are sold on them and their ability to play a big role in their offense.
There are a couple sleepers to keep an eye on. USC's Allen Bradford has great blend of size and speed, arguably the best in the draft. He is 230lbs and can be very difficult to tackle once he gets moving. He runs with a lot of power, and is a load to bring down. He also has the speed to hit a seam or turn the corner and outrun defenders. He surpassed the 200 yard mark twice this season in games. Bradford has had some durability issues in his career, which has slowed him down, but it was a penchant for fumbling this year that slowed him down. If he can hold on to the football, Bradford has all the tools to become a major steal on draft day.
Derrick Locke of Kentucky is an all purpose threat that could provide help in a variety of ways. He lacks the size to be an inside threat as a running back, but he has the quickness and speed to be a factor all over the field. He ran for over 800 yards and ten touchdowns this year, despite missing four games. He's also a threat as a receiver and dangerous on kick returns. He has a track background and showcases his speed in games, so he's a guy that may impress in workouts and could rise up, but he probably is on the outside of the top 75 on draft day. He could be one that outperforms people selected ahead of him.
Virginia Tech junior Darren Evans declared for the draft, despite only getting a final day draft grade from the NFL's advisory committee. He had a great freshman season, rushing for over 1,200 yards and 11 scores. A torn ACL forced him to miss the 2009 season, and opened up an opportunity for Ryan Williams to showcase his talents. Evans bounced back this year, sharing carries and still ran for 850 yards and 11 scores. He tips the scales at around 220lbs, is a very good interior runner, and falls forward at the end of his runs. He also has shown quick feet and the ability to turn the corner on occasion. He was a bit of a surprise as an early entry, but he is married and has a child and is seizing the opportunity to provide for his family. That maturity should help him do whatever it takes to find his role and perform when called upon.
Continue to WR rankings -->


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Renewable energy overtakes nuclear power in U.S. market
As noted by The Washington Post's Wonkblog, renewable energy overtook nuclear power as an energy source in the United States for the first time in decades in 2011. The most recent figures from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) show that renewable energy provided 11.95 percent of domestic U.S. energy production through the first nine months of 2011, compared with just 10.62 percent from nuclear. But the story explains that "[t]he two things that most people associate with the term 'clean energy' — namely, wind and solar — are nowhere close to overtaking nuclear power," with the "vast bulk of 'renewable' power in the United States still com[ing] from large-scale hydropower (4.35 percent), biomass (3.15 percent) and biofuels (2.57 percent)." The story continues:
Going forward, however, that could well shift. The nuclear industry is more focused on replacing soon-to-retire plants than expanding outright. There aren't likely to be too many more large-scale hydropower plants in the United States — the prime hydro sites have all been taken. And as for biomass and biofuel, critics have raised serious questions about whether either of these sources are as sustainable as alleged. On the other hand, solar and wind were by far the fastest-growing energy sources last year — solar electricity grew 46.5 percent and wind by 27.1 percent (though it's unclear whether either source can maintain that hectic pace now that Congress has allowed a few key subsidies to expire.)
The article notes that the other "big story" in the EIA figures is natural gas's fast rise as an energy source and coal's decline.


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I want to know what it feels like to love someone and have them love you just as much...
I don't want to be lonely for the rest of my life
I mean really fall in love, like perfect for each other, head-over-hills, romanticly happy, passionate liplocking, kind-of-like-the-movies-but-better kind of love, because who doesn't want that?..
I chose to include this because I want someone to spend the rest of my life with. And to basically be my rock/bestfriend.
love is the best gift person can get
wholly, unapologetically, with every fiber, uncontrollably, fall in love.
i really want to fall fro the one but i don't even know yet if they like me
Because we all fear it and all seek it. To find the one that makes you feel like you can be better and safe, there is nothing better.
i have always thought that i was in love with every guy i have been with but i don't think what i was feeling was what it is suppose to feel like
Who doesn't wanna fall in love?
I want to fall crazy in love, so that the world spins when he smiles, so that my heart takes over my head
Before I die I want to fall in love. I want to see why people risk heart break for love.
What sparked my dream? well as a teenage girl we watch all those "chick flicks". Take the notebook for one, look how that boy treated her,what girl wouldn't want that to happen to her. I want to fall in love and I want it to last
I want to meet my soulmate and fall inlove together!
I never have fallen in love before... I want to feel it to believe it :)
Fall in love and stay there. Fall in love with the same person more than once.
I wanted to have someone to love me and care about me.
I want to fall in love....doesn't everyone? :)
Share the life with that one special person, who will be there till the end of my life.
Find someone worth falling for
I wanna fall in love with someone
Its something everyone wants and needs.
This is at the end of my list. Not because it isn't important, but because it will come if I'm back on track and not waiting snaggy for love.
I want a real relationship. One that will last and i'll be happy in and it'll last a long time.
...so I can finally say "I love you" and mean it for the first time.
Doesn't everyone want to fall in love at some point?
I love to watch romance on movies, in books, to see it in real life. I really want to experience it myself! Soon!
Love is one of the ultimate feelings.


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Category Archives
Featured Press | Glimmer Train Press, Inc.
Glimmer Train has been discovering and publishing emerging writers since 1990.
These are the things Glimmer Train hopes to do:
– Publish literary short stories that were Continue Reading
Awards in Support of Southeast Asian- English Translations
The Translation Project Group of the Southeast Asia Council (SEAC) of the Association for Asian Studies at the University of Washington, Seattle, intends to award subventions to support the translation of key texts not yet published in the social sciences and humanities from a Southeast Asian language into English. Texts, which may be of any length, will be evaluated according to their importance within a disciplinary study of Southeast Asia, or for their decisive impact on the region.
Proposals will be evaluated according to the following criteria:
- Importance of the text to scholarship and teaching about the region;
- Significance of the genre and how well it is represented in existing translations;
- Qualifications of the translator;
- Probability of successful completion;
- Likelihood of publication;
- Probability of classroom use.
Awards will vary from $750 to $2,000, depending on length of proposed text, and will be made annually.
The deadline for submissions is January 31, 2013. This funding opportunity is being made available by a grant from the Henry Luce Foundation.
Judith Henchy
Chair, Translation Project Group
Southeast Asia Section
Box 352900
University of Washington Libraries
Seattle WA 98195-2900
Please submit inquiries to >>>
The Cliff Becker Book Prize in Translation
"Translation is the medium through which American readers gain greater access to the world. By providing us with as direct a connection as possible to the individual voice of the author, translation provides a window into the heart of a culture." —Cliff Becker, May 16, 2005
In collaboration with White Pine Press and the Cliff Becker Endowment for the Literary Arts, the Creative Writing Program at the University of Missouri announce the second annual Cliff Becker Book Prize in Translation, which produces one volume of literary translation in English, annually. These volumes initially will be bi-lingual editions of poetry, but as the endowment grows we will begin to include literary fiction and nonfiction in the prize rotation.
- 80-140 pp., bi-lingual manuscripts in original, English translations of poetry.
- TWO title pages—ONE bearing only the title of the work and name of the non-English poet, and ONE bearing as well the name and contact information of the English translator.
- A current listing of acknowledgements, indicating permission of the original poet or his/her estate, as applicable, and indicating any previous publication of individual poems.
- No other indication of the translator's identity may appear anywhere in the submitted manuscript.
- $25 submission fee made payable to The University of Missouri, with Cliff Becker Endowment for the Literary Arts written on the "memo" line.
- Manuscripts will not be returned; please include a letter-sized SASE for notification of results.
- Postmark Deadline: October 30, 2012
The translator of the winning manuscript will receive a standard publication contract with White Pine Press yielding a bi-lingual edition of 1000 copies of approximately 128 pages. In lieu of an advance against royalties, the translator will receive a prize of $1000.
Send to:
The Cliff Becker Book Prize
Department of English/Tate Hall 114
University of Missouri
Columbia, MO 65211-1500
A Hand Full of Water by Tzveta Sofronieva, translated by Chantal Wright is the first winner of the Cliff Becker Book Prize in Translation, chosen by Willis Barnstone, and published by White Pine Press in the fall of 2012.
Cliff Becker (1964-2005) was the National Endowment for the Arts Literature Director from 1999-2005. Cliff believed translation to be a global necessity, and he led the development of the NEA Literature Translation Initiative. He hoped to establish a National Endowment for Translation, and one of the first steps toward that goal was the launch of the International Literature Awards. The NEA announced that program on May 16, 2005, the day before Cliff died of a heart attack. In May, 2009, Cliff's widow, Leila Bakry-Becker, established The Cliff Becker Endowment for the Literary Arts in her husband's memory.


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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22800499247499993002018-03-06T12:08:52.283-08:00Spyder Outletchunlouhttp://email@example.com:blogger.com,1999:blog-2280049924749999300.post-5625928288611932732014-02-08T01:06:00.001-08:002014-02-08T01:06:23.595-08:00Enjoy Your Ski Spyder jackets Now, everyone wants to be unique, labels, the position of the crowd. Nobody want to fall in behind of person. For me, moncler jacket need function, comfortable, and for the ladies, unique design spyder new arrivals can accord with his personality, is the most important part. Moncler clothing can provide warmth and high quality at the same time.Moncler can provide you with the whole family things at the same time. For example, because desalt female natural makes breathing elevator moisture away from the body and eliminate smell is very easy. Moncler decided not only need to be high-end coat route, after all, a year a few months people really want coat? So we think Moncler export introducing more and fashion series, include super shocking feather shorts, think a feather shorts are material you what happened? With all of the different brands of spyder men ski suits readily available it may be challenging to figure out which brand to invest in. They all come with unique characteristics and are created of unique materials, so why is a single model far better than one more? Nicely, sometimes people today just prefer a particular model. That's the way I am with the . To me the Spyder jacket may be the most awesome. I consider it is because of the type and design. The colors are bright and bold and to me, the jacket is fun and unique which fits my personality. Spyder has a reputation for interest to detail. There's a high level of consideration given to the style and function. Spyder Outlet really is due to this that users from the Spyder jacket often like it much better than the ski jackets produced by other competitors. In present market trends and situations, the easiest way to make money online is through the Internet with Swapen.com. You can even see that many industries are facing different problems because of the recession; therefore many people are choosing Swapen.com as their platform for selling products. You may be familiar with such giants as Amazon.com and Ebay.com for selling and buying popular items and at the same time making money online with them through a home business. But the problem with starting a small business online with big marketplaces is the upfront cost. In contrast a good example of a website that did it right is Swapen.com. Swapen.com is different in a good way that it allows for sellers to profit in a new way. You can sell products for other users without ever needing to have an inventory, shipping the item, or your own website. If you are looking for a reputable spyder ski goggles online store that offers authentic Spyder jackets, you can visit spyder-outlet.com. They offer lots of Spyder ski jackets and ski apparel for both men and women and they even have large discounts on selected items. You can also find spyder jacket and a lot more sports apparel from this store. Now you can enjoy your skiing adventure with the promise of protection and comfort of Spyder jackets.

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text: Michael Huff wrote: > perlio.c: In function `PerlIOStdio_invalidate_fileno': > perlio.c:2899: error: structure has no member named `_file' > > I don't know what is causing this or how to work around it. The version of > pkgsrc I'm using is 2006Q4. > You can "cvs update -A lang/perl5" (to take Perl from pkgsrc-current) and try again. (Generally, it isn't supported to mix the pkgsrc branches, but in this special case it will work.) Roland


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The RLE Computational Biophysics Group is focused on understanding conformational
changes in biomolecules that play an important role in common human
diseases. The group uses an interdisciplinary approach combining
computational modeling with biochemical experiments to make connections
between conformational changes in macromolecules and disease progression.
By employing two types of modeling, molecular dynamics and probabilistic
modeling, hypotheses can be developed and then tested experimentally.
New Video:
Doing double duty: MIT's Collin Stultz


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Join Us
If you treasure our island's natural habitats…..
If you are concerned about future water sources…..
If you cherish scenic or historic spaces…..
If you hope to preserve the traditional character of the community…..
And if you believe somebody should do something to protect these great gifts…..
Be that somebody!
Join Vinalhaven Land Trust today.
The key to a viable future for Vinalhaven Land Trust is keeping and growing a strong, active membership, so that all the people who enjoy Vinalhaven will take responsibility for caring for and protecting it. To join VLT, please download and complete this form and return it to the address below or drop by our office in the cottage in Skoog Park.
Whether you prefer to be out in nature monitoring an easement or clearing a trail, or indoors making sure a mailing is properly put together, there are volunteer opportunities for you. Volunteers contribute so much in time, energy, and talent to Vinalhaven Land Trust.
To preserve wildlife habitat and open space, Vinalhaven Land Trust depends on the generosity of community members. Individual gifts -- in all sizes and forms -- are the organization's lifeblood.
To learn more about the ways a gift to Vinalhaven Land Trust is beneficial both to our conservation effort and to your financial planning, please contact our Interim Executive Director, Linnell Mather.


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Jessica Alba's Advice for Starting Your Own Successful Business
In an industry where nearly every celebrity has their own side business, Jessica Alba is a cut above. The actress, mother of two, and The Honest Company CEO turned her passion project into a $1.7 million company. She's not just the face, though; Alba makes it clear that she's involved in all aspects of the business, from marketing strategy to top-level planning. In a recent interview with Working Mother, she spoke about the biggest lessons she learned from starting her own company and what she'd like to tell other budding entrepreneurs. Read on for Jessica Alba's top tips for turning your big idea into a thriving business.
Invest in Your Staff
Alba says building a business has taught her the value of investing in people. Case in point: The Honest Company recently launched a new parental leave policy, which allows 16 new moms and dads to take up to 16 weeks of paid leave. "If parents feel like they need more time, we'll work with them. We are investing in the people who work here," she says. "The healthier and happier people are, and the more fulfilled they are, the better employees they're going to be. That's something I'm really proud of."
Don't Multitask
"What's important, I think, is compartmentalizing as much as you can and setting aside important times that matter to you," she says. "It's knowing which school events are a priority and making sure you give yourself enough time to do that—and cutting yourself some slack when you can't make every event. There are only so many hours in a day."
Give Yourself a Break
Hard work is imperative to get any startup off the ground, but Alba avoids burnout by prioritizing her health and relationships. "It's about not just cramming your schedule with work-related stuff, but also knowing it's just as important for you to feed yourself as a person," she says. "We do tell our exec team and our managers that if you don't take care of yourself, and take care of your family, your work will be affected. People do better work when they're inspired and happy."
Talk to Your Customers
The Honest Company's latest launch is overnight diapers, a product Alba says was led by consumer demand. Testing the market and keeping an open dialogue with consumers is one of her most important lessons. "We have up to 7000 touch points with our customers every day, through social media, live chat, and phone calls," she says. "We take all of the data our customer service reps pull in and look at the trends."
Surround Yourself With Smart People
As a newcomer to the business world, Alba called on industry experts to inform her decisions—a move that she credits with her success. "If you're the smartest person in the room, you should worry! You always want to grow, and you always want to surround yourself with people who are smarter than you," she says.
Don't Look Too Far Ahead
Alba had big business goals from the start but says she avoided looking too far ahead, to avoid getting overwhelmed. Instead, she took a day-by-day approach. "You kind of have to chip away one day at a time and not look at your year calendar. I don't even like to look a month out. I take it week by week and day by day. I just try to be as present in the moment of what's going on as I can," she says.
Read more of Jessica Alba's business advice at Working Mother.
Inspired to heed Jessica Alba's advice and start your own business? Shop the guide below.
Do you have advice about starting your own business? Tell us in the comments below.


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About product «Icemaker Fagor GIM-45 A»We present you an Ice Maker GIM-45 A, made by FAGOR. Its main application – fabricating icespecified form. If you use this machine, ice shape is granular. Average output of Ice Maker is GIM-45 A 40 kg/24hr. Nominal ice hopper volume - 14 kg.
External factors stability provided by such case material, as stainless steel. А hopper material – stainless steel.
This model of an Ice maker GIM-45 A T (tropical) climate class.


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Emma and her boyfriend Brendan (who live in Australia) are saving up for their first trip abroad together. Emma's uncles, Tim Benzie and Paul Joseph, made this video to convince the couple to come to London instead of going on a cruise. Emma and Brendan: we agree that it's got to be London! Find out more about the video at www.itsgottobelondon.com.
Posts Tagged "emirates airline"
29 Jun
London Video of the Week: The Emirates Airline (London Cable Car)
The Emirates Airline has made its maiden voyage across the Thames connecting ExCeL London to The O2 in 5 minutes. Check our the great views of East London and the Olympic Park.Read more...
18 Jun
Emirates Air Line Cable Car To Open This Month
London will be getting its own cable car this summer, in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Emirates Air Line will open at midday on 28 June, allowing passengers to cross the Thames in just five minutes. The …Read more...


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You are here : Processors > 2009 Desktop CPU Charts (Update 1)
Tom's Hardware's interactive CPU Charts offer the most comprehensive x86 processor comparison on the Internet. The 2009 edition will be updated continuously throughout the year with new processors tested across our complete benchmark suite under 64-bit Windows Vista. The benchmarks include popular synthetics, encryption, productivity, gaming, content creation, and compression metrics, allowing you to find the CPU that meets your requirements. The inclusion of real-time price comparison should also help you find the best value for your budget.


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Today was the day that the "official" email came from Amanda of La Rousse, she is closing the doors of 430 Virginia St. on September 30th.
Yesterday, I was lucky enough to be invited to her VIP shopping event where I was able to score first dibs on clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories. Not to mention delicious sushi and champagne. What more could this girl want?
Do not fear loyal shoppers, Amanda will be maintaining La Rousse in cyber land. That's right, you can still get your fix of adorable designer pieces at her online shop.
If you're not into the "online shopping thing" then you can sign up to be her private client. As a private client, you can setup appointments in her home showroom to buy new and vintage pieces that she will set aside for you.
There is one really good side to this story for the shoppers of Seattle – a HUGE liquidation sale of 50-90% is going on right now until they close. Plus, you can buy new Fall 08 merchandise at 20% off. Who doesn't love a good sale?
La Rousse, the physical store, you will be missed!


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If you're not up on Comedy Central's super funny (and educational!) show Drunk History, you're missing out.
The official description of Drunk History is that it's "the liquored-up narration of our nation's history," but that only tells part of the story.
The best thing about the show? It's HILARIOUS, and it actually teaches folks about moments in American history they've probably forgotten, or worse, never even heard about at all.
On the most recent episode of Drunk History, Crissle West (half of the amazing podcast The Read) retells the truly amazing story of the Combahee River raid and Harriet Tubman's work as a spy for the Union Army. Even better? Oscar-winner Octavia Spencer plays Tubman in a way that really brings the heroine to life.
Our favorite line from the episode: "Goddamn, I freed 750 slaves. This shit was dope as hell!"
We agree.


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Foals tickets Brighton are one of the most sought out commodities in Brighton. With your Foals Brighton tickets you are guaranteed one of the best live performances in Staples Center from some of today's best musicians in Foals.
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In a media release issued on 16 December 2009, the Assistant Treasurer, Senator Nick Sherry, announced that he and the Samoan Minister of Revenue, the Hon Tuu'u Anasi'i Leota, today signed a bilateral tax information exchange agreement (TIEA) that will allow the exchange of tax information between Australia and Samoa.
In addition to the TIEA the Assistant Treasurer and Minister Leota also signed an Additional Benefits Agreement (ABA).
Both agreements were signed at Parliament House, Canberra during Minister Leota's visit to Australia and will enter into force after both countries have completed their relevant domestic requirements. Legislation for this purpose, where necessary, will be introduced into the Australian Parliament as soon as possible.
For a copy of the Assistant Treasurer's media release, No 2009/111, 16 December 2009, go here
For a copy of the TIEA and the ABA, go here


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1973 | NEW YORK, NEW YORK – The designated hitter was born on this date in 1973. The New York Yankees' Ron Blomberg became the first major league baseball player to be in the starting lineup without playing in the field. He also became the first DH to reach base and drive in a run as Luis Tiant of the Boston Red Sox walked him with the bases loaded in the top of the first. Blomberg later singled.
The game changed significantly that day, many believe, for the worse. Hundreds of American League pitchers would go through entire careers without picking up a bat. Hundreds of designated hitters would seldom pick up a glove. The DH has since trickled down to amateur baseball. Many high school and college pitchers don't bat.
Purists were, and remain, appalled for several reasons, the least of which being, baseball used to be one of the few sports that required every participant be able to do everything with some professional proficiency; run, hit, throw and catch.
Take the National Football League, an offensive tackle can make it to the NFL Hall of Fame without ever throwing a football in a game, or catching one for that matter. Dennis Rodman probably went whole NBA seasons without attempting a 3-pointer, let alone making one.
But supporters of the Designated Hitter say it initiated a re-birth of baseball. Attendance boomed until the players' strike of 1994, and is on the rise again. Interestingly however, average attendance is higher in the National League, which has never had the DH, than the American League.
- The DH was first suggested by the National League in 1928, but the American League rejected it [see Dec 12 story].
First Designated Hitters
A different way to look at the DH


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|Department of Public Information • News and Media Division • New York
Sixty-seventh General Assembly
23rd Meeting (AM)
General Assembly Faces Choice: Adapt or be Left Behind, Warns Body's President,
Urging 'Bold Action' to Revitalize United Nations Most Representative Forum
Delegates Say Stronger, More Responsive Assembly, Backed by Implementation
Of Results-Based Decisions, Can Help Erase Current Deficit in Global Governance
"I'm afraid that we are confronted with the choice of either adapting to the new times, or simply being left behind," General Assembly President Vuk Jeremić said today as delegates discussed ways to reinvigorate the 193-member body, which faced an ever-widening gap between its duties and its capabilities.
"The speed of the changes taking place outside these walls is increasingly outpacing the tempo of changes we are able to agree upon in this building," he said, urging United Nations Member States to "find the strength to keep changing ourselves" and in the process, change the world for the better.
Describing the United Nations as without doubt "the greatest humanist project of the twentieth century", Mr. Jeremić said he believed that greatness should extend well into the twenty-first century. "But it's not going to come by default […] Let us conduct ourselves with the courage of our convictions," he said, calling for "bold action".
The revitalization debate was not new, he pointed out, explaining that the Assembly had recognized as early as 1948 the need to adapt to changing circumstances. Decades later, Member States were still trying to make headway in "what has always been understood as a work in progress". But despite some breakthroughs, the world was becoming increasingly unpredictable and volatile, making the need for serious progress to reinvigorate the Assembly more urgent than ever.
In that context, several delegates commended the Assembly President's decision to address the issue of revitalization at the beginning of the sixty-seventh session, rather than later. Last year, the debate on the same topic was held in December. Speaking for the Non-Aligned Movement, Algeria's representative expressed hope that today's outcome would set the tone for the Assembly's work throughout the rest of the session.
Among the related issues covered during the meeting was the need to provide the Assembly President's Office with necessary human and financial resources as well as the encroachment by the Security Council on the Assembly's prerogatives. Delegates also discussed measures to improve the chamber's working methods and improve implementation of Assembly resolutions.
Egypt's delegate said it was "unacceptable that there had been no budgetary increase since 1998" for the Assembly President's Office despite growing demand for its services. During the previous session, no contributions had been made to the Trust Fund to support that Office, he said, highlighting the need for allocation from the regular budget, instead of relying on voluntary contributions.
Algeria's representative noted the Assembly adopted roughly 300 resolutions and decisions annually and established a host of working groups and facilitation functions throughout the year, arguing that such expansion should be matched with budget and personnel increases.
Cuba's representative was among those concerned by the Security Council's practice of establishing legal norms and definitions, conveniently ignoring the exclusive responsibility of the General Assembly to develop international law and ensure its codification. He called for an immediate end to those "dangerous trends", as demonstrated by the growing number of items on the Council's agenda that overstepped its mandate.
He also echoed the concerns of a number of delegates on another issue at the heart of today's debate, saying it was unacceptable that there was virtually no implementation of the many resolutions of the General Assembly, which subsequently had remained "inert". That situation also applied to the resolutions aimed at implementing the body's revitalization, he said, adding "that work cannot be limited to speeches". Yet, there was a lack of willingness on the part of certain States to move forward with revitalization. The matter was not a technical one, as some States would have people believe, but instead a political one.
On matters regarding the financing of the Office of the General Assembly President, the representative of the Russian Federation said that the issue, like others with budget implications, must be considered in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) and in the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). As for the Assembly's work, he said, before proposing any decisions, it was important for Member States to ask themselves how far they could be implemented in principle. He suggested, therefore, that they follow the basic principle of "less is more".
In other business, the Assembly adopted a draft resolution recommended by the Fifth Committee concerning the failure of five Member States to pay the minimum amount of membership contributions in full. By the text, delegates agreed that the failure was due to conditions beyond their control, thus allowing those countries to vote in the General Assembly during the sixty-seventh session.
Also participating in the joint debate today were the representatives of India, Malaysia, Belarus, China, Indonesia, Tunisia, the United States, Japan, Bangladesh, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan and Ethiopia.
A representative of the Delegation of the European Union also spoke.
The Assembly will reconvene at 10 a.m., 15 October, to consider reports of international tribunals for Rwanda and former Yugoslavia.
The General Assembly met today to discuss matters regarding implementation of resolutions on the revitalization of the 193-member body's work and processes.
By its resolution 64/301 (2010), the Assembly created an Ad Hoc Working Group to identify ways and methods to carry through with revitalization. Prior to today's joint debate, the Working Group held several discussions on a host of issues, including the Assembly's role and authority and its relationship to the other principal organs of the United Nations, as well as working methods and implementation of resolutions. The topics also included the Assembly's role in selecting and appointing the Secretary-General and choosing candidatures for other executive heads of the Organization, as well as strengthening the Office of the General Assembly President, including augmenting its institutional memory and increasing its budget.
In other business, the General Assembly was to take action on a report of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on scale of assessments for the apportionment of the United Nations expenses (document A/67/502), in which the Committee recommends that the Assembly adopt draft resolution (A/C.5/67/L.2), which is contained therein. By that text, the Assembly would agree that the failure of the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia to pay the minimum amount of membership contributions in full was due to conditions beyond their control. Given that, those nations would be permitted to vote in the Assembly until the end of its sixty-seventh session.
Action on Draft
At the outset of the meeting, the Assembly adopted by consensus draft resolution (A/C.5/67/L.2) contained in the report of its Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) on scale of assessments for the apportionment of the United Nations expenses (document A/67/502). By the resolution, Assembly delegates agreed that the failure of the Central African Republic, the Comoros, Guinea-Bissau, Sao Tome and Principe and Somalia to pay the minimum amount of membership contributions in full was due to conditions beyond their control, thus allowing them to vote in the General Assembly during its sixty-seventh session.
Opening Remarks
VUK JEREMIĆ, President of the General Assembly, said this was the only body where all countries came together as sovereign equals to advance the aims of the Charter of the United Nations. To be able to meet the expectations of humanity, it was necessary to continue with the process of its revitalization and modernization. "The topic we are focusing on today is not a new one," he said, adding that as early as 1948, the body recognized the need to adapt to changing circumstances.
However, this was the first time the two agenda items – revitalization of the Assembly and implementation of its resolutions – had been scheduled to immediately follow consideration of the Secretary-General's report on the work of the Organization (See Press Release GA/11299). The aim had been to highlight their importance for the Assembly. "It is critical for Member States to consistently implement what has been agreed in this chamber. This should be a core principle of effective multilateralism in the twenty-first century," he declared.
During this session, the Ad Hoc Working Group had been mandated to review the inventory of General Assembly resolutions on revitalization, and issue an updated version in its report to the plenary. Expressing hope that the findings of that exercise would suggest that "we are moving in the right direction", he noted that some progress had been made in a number of areas. On relationships with the other principal organs of the United Nations, he said he had started to exchange views with the Secretary-General, the Presidents of the Security Council and Economic and Social Council, and the Heads of various United Nations entities and specialized agencies, as well as the Chairs of the Main Committees.
He went on to express his intent to continue the tradition established by his predecessors; to convene informal meetings of the Assembly plenary before and after G20 preparatory meetings, as well as the annual Heads of State or Government Summit. "In my view, however, we should work on increasing the complementarity of both policies and actions between the United Nations and key international economic players," he said, proposing a process leading to the establishment of an effective consultative framework between the General Assembly and international financial and trade institutions, as well as groupings such as the G20.
"Let us take a step back for a moment, and consider the overall context in which the process of revitalization is taking place," he said. Whether in the political, economic or technological realm, the world was becoming increasingly unpredictable and volatile. The overall scope and rapidity of the transformation were unknown in the annals of history. That global trend was likely to continue well into the future. "The speed of the changes taking place outside these walls is increasing and outpacing the tempo of changes we are able to agree upon in this building," he said.
"We are confronted with the choice of either adapting to the new times, or simply being left behind to watch the gap between our duties and our capabilities widen by the day," he said, reflecting the sense of urgency surrounding the issue. It was up to Member States only to propose and decide how to move forward, and he was elected to serve them. Quoting Scottish social commentator Thomas Carlyle, he said: "Conviction is worthless unless it is converted into action."
MOURAD BENMEHIDI (Algeria), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, described General Assembly revitalization as an agenda item that deserved equal consideration among other important topics, and he welcomed the Assembly President's decision to address it at the beginning of the sixty-seventh session so delegates could make a better use of the outcome as the Assembly pressed ahead with its work. Emphasizing the need to fully respect the functions and powers of each principal organ of the United Nations, he said the Movement was concerned by the Security Council's ongoing attempts to encroach on the Assembly's prerogatives.
The Assembly, as the Organization's policymaking organ, held the authority and the essential role of drawing the framework, setting the principles and identifying the objectives for the wider United Nations system, he said. Furthermore, the Assembly should remain the principal organ to review the work of all its subsidiary organs and bodies. The Assembly should maintain its role and mandate in setting priorities of the United Nations in considering all budgetary and administrative issues and reforms, including its "absolute authority" to allocate and reallocate financial and human resources, and in the appointment of senior officials in the Secretariat. As the Organization's chief oversight organ, its prerogatives, including those on management and procurement for peacekeeping operations, must be respected.
He noted the activities of the Office of the General Assembly President had increased drastically over the years. The agenda of the Assembly and consequently that of its President now included a tremendous number of issues. The Assembly adopted roughly 300 resolutions and decisions annually and established working groups and facilitation functions throughout the year. Such increased activity should be matched with the necessary human and financial resources, he said.
ROLAND TRICOT, Delegation of the European Union, said that the bloc was committed to multilateralism with the United Nations at its core. In that context, it was also committed to the revitalization of the General Assembly and to supporting efforts aimed at strengthening its role and authority. The European Union and its Member States hoped that the Assembly - as the only intergovernmental body with universal membership – would be able to take up the challenge of conciliating legitimacy and efficiency in a context of emerging global concerns. Indeed, revitalization of the work of the Assembly was clearly linked with the overall reform of the United Nations, he stressed.
L. K. ADVANI ( India), enumerating the challenges facing the global community, said: "Our responses to the most challenging socio-political and economic crises of the last 50 years cannot be patchy and half-hearted." He endorsed the sense of urgency in bringing the Organization into synch with current realities espoused in the President's opening statement. The deficit in global governance must be addressed, he said. The Security Council needed to be expanded in both the permanent and non-permanent categories to reflect current geopolitical realities, and the Assembly's position as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations must be respected both in letter and spirit.
Revitalization of the General Assembly required that it take the lead in setting the global agenda and restoring the centrality of the United Nations in formulating multilateral approaches to resolving transnational issues, he said, particularly the primacy of the Organization in development matters. It was critical to establish a relationship of respect for mandates between the Security Council and the Assembly. The Council should not encroach on the Assembly's mandate through expanded interpretations of what constituted threats to international peace and security. Doing so overburdened its agenda and left it with insufficient time to deal with the hot spots that constituted real threats. The Assembly's competence in areas such as setting standards and codification of international law must also be scrupulously respected.
The Assembly must also have a greater say in the process of selecting the Secretary-General, he continued. It could identify objective criteria for the candidatures, such as extensive leadership, and administrative and diplomatic experience, among other qualities. He also said that the formal presentation of candidatures should allow sufficient time for the interaction of Member States and that candidates should present their views to all Member States. Finally, all parts of the United Nations system must reflect diplomatic best practices in their day-to-day functioning. There was a lot to learn from Member States in that regard.
MOOTAZ AHMADEIN KHALIL ( Egypt) said that increasing challenges facing the world today required a strong and responsive General Assembly to allow that universal body to play its leading role, mandated in the Charter, in global governance at the political, economic and social levels. Resolutions on revitalization, adopted over more than two decades, were not being fully implemented due mainly to the lack of political will. Decisions must be transformed into actions. The Ad Hoc Working Group should continue to evaluate the status of implementation of all previous resolutions, identify constraints hindering their implementation and specify means to overcome them.
One of the main obstacles to revitalization was the Security Council's continuous encroachment on the Assembly's role and functions, as that 15-nation body widened its interpretation of issues constituting a threat to international peace and security. Greater coordination was needed between the main organs to prevent that, he said. The Assembly should be more proactive in responding to emerging challenges of common concern. Assembly resolutions 66/253 A and B on the situation in Syria were clear illustrations of that body's abilities in that regard. He also said that the Assembly should adopt a resolution enhancing the status of Palestine, at minimum, to a " Non-Member Observer State".
Further, the Office of the General Assembly President should be allocated greater financial and human resources from the regular budget to match the growing workload and responsibilities of that official from one session to the next. It was unacceptable that there had been no budgetary increase since 1998. Noting that no contributions had been made during the sixty-sixth session to the Trust Fund established in 2010 to support that Office, he said that in any case, the office should not have to rely on voluntary contributions. Resources from the regular budget must be allocated so as not to affect the credibility or impartiality of the President's position. Finally, he said that the Assembly should be involved in identifying candidates for Secretary-General early on.
JASPAL SINGH, Member of Parliament of Malaysia, said that while attention had been given to the issue of revitalization year after year, "we have only managed to achieve qualified success" in that area. There had been some improvements to the Assembly's working methods over the years, but they were only minor. It was without a doubt that the Assembly was the chief deliberative policymaking and representative organ of the Organization. "It is the highest authoritative body of the United Nations as it represents all 193 Member States," he stressed. In that context, Malaysia firmly believed that that the non-implementation of Assembly resolutions continued to be the largest stumbling block in enhancing its role and effectiveness.
In addition, he said, Malaysia continued to view the issue of encroachment seriously, and he could not emphasize enough the need for all principal organs, especially the two main bodies – the General Assembly and the Security Council – to faithfully respect each other's mandates in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations. Indeed, he said, "encroachment by one organ onto the mandate of the other would severely affect not only the functioning of the organ itself, but the entire United Nations machinery as well".
It was obvious that the activities of the President of the General Assembly had evolved significantly over the years, and there were more issues and agenda items than there had been in the past. Furthermore, the workload of the Assembly now covered the whole year, rather than being limited to its main session. It was therefore only natural that the Office bearer should be provided with the necessary resources to enable him or her to efficiently and effectively perform the role entrusted by the Charter. While Malaysia recognized the benefits of the Trust Fund established to assist in that funding, it was also important that the regular budget be increased as to avoid the President being dependent on voluntary contributions. In addition, he said, the Assembly should play a more meaningful role in the process of selecting the Secretary-General.
VLADIMIR SERGEYEV ( Russian Federation) said that his delegation hoped the efforts of the Ad Hoc Working Group on revitalization would be "balanced" and "depoliticized" in nature. All initiatives and proposals of that panel must be based on the principles of the strict separation of powers, and an emphasis must be placed on improving the working methods of the Assembly as well as streamlining its agenda. The Assembly's programme of work was overburdened, he stressed, and it would therefore be appropriate to consider the biennialization and triennialization of some items. The Russian Federation supported lightening the workload of the Assembly's High-level week in September, in particular, as it was very busy and ministers were committed to attending bilateral meetings.
The Russian Federation was prepared to review proposals to enhance the institutional memory of the Office of the General Assembly President. However, the issue, like others with budget implications, must be considered in the Fifth Committee (Administrative and Budgetary) and in the Advisory Committee on Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ). With regard to selecting and appointing the Secretary-General, the delegation supported maintaining the current practice, in which the Secretary-General was appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council. Moreover, he said, before proposing any decisions, it was important for Member States to ask themselves how far they could be implemented in principle. He suggested, therefore, that they follow the basic principle of "less is more".
YURY YAROSHEVICH ( Belarus) placed a major priority on enhancing the role of the General Assembly, including in the area of maintaining international peace and security. Balancing its authorities and powers with other principal United Nations organs was important. Belarus welcomed discussions on the role of President of the General Assembly and his Office and the method of elections. He appreciated the positive results of an open-ended working group as well as interactive debates in the Main Committees. As a member of the Non-Aligned Movement, his delegation considered it an important step to enhance the visibility of the General Assembly, as evidenced in the United Nations Journal, with the Assembly schedule listed first followed by that of the Security Council.
With regard to this sixty-seventh session, his delegation would undertake active participation in designing a clear mechanism for electing bureau members of the Main Committees. In that regard, efforts undertaken by Venezuela and Cuba in the Ad Hoc Working Group were appreciated. As a universal organ, the Assembly must respond to current international circumstances. He concurred with the President of the General Assembly, who said in his opening speech that the body must "adapt to the new times". A successful businessman thought of ways to improve business every day. In the same vein, the Assembly must reinvent itself, move promptly and become more effective, mindful that its mission is much greater than a businessman.
WANG MIN ( China) said that given the complex international situation, the international community had high hopes for the United Nations and particularly the General Assembly, the organization's preeminent deliberative body. In that regard, China supported efforts to enhance the prestige and authority of the Assembly as well as its credibility. He commended the President of the General Assembly for making the revitalization a priority. The body should place emphasis on common concerns of Member States. Particular attention should be paid to cooperation for development.
As for its relationships with the Security Council and Economic and Social Council, the Assembly should strengthen coordination with those and other United Nations bodies, based on the principle of division of labour. The Security Council reports to the Assembly should be more analytical, concise and clear. China supported efforts to provide the Office of the General Assembly President with necessary funding and manpower. Numerous Member States highly expected the Assembly to play a key role in settling disputes through peaceful means, he said, calling for further implementation of the body's resolutions on revitalization.
OSCAR LEÓN GONZÁLEZ ( Cuba), joining with the statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said that it was unacceptable that there was virtually no implementation of the many resolutions of the General Assembly, which subsequently had remained "inert". That situation also applied to the resolutions aimed at implementing the body's revitalization, he said, adding "that work cannot be limited to speeches". Indeed, he said in that respect, "the General Assembly enjoys all necessary legal prerogatives for taking action". Due to its broad and democratic nature, the Assembly enjoyed legitimacy and great prestige, and was the "ultimate expression of the principle of sovereign equality between States". There was a lack of willingness on the part of certain States to move forward with revitalization. The matter was not a technical one, as some States would have people believe, but instead a political one.
Cuba reiterated its concern at the attempts of the Security Council to establish legal norms and definitions, conveniently ignoring the fact that it was the exclusive responsibility of the General Assembly to develop international law and ensure its codification. Those "dangerous trends", as demonstrated by the growing number of items on the Council's agenda that overstepped its mandate, should cease immediately. He also renewed his delegation's urgent appeal for a "radical reform" of the Security Council into a transparent, participatory and representative organ. Moreover, only a universal and democratic organ such as the General Assembly could truly confront global problems, which went beyond the scope of any one country, no matter how powerful they believed themselves to be.
YUSRA KHAN (Indonesia), also joining with the Non-Aligned Movement, said that Assembly resolution 66/294 (2012), which had mandated the Ad Hoc Working Group to continue its work during the sixty-seventh session, underscored the "zeal" of delegations to reinforce the gravity of the reform process. "That the Assembly alone uniquely reflects the aspirations and concerns of all [Member States] must elevate the status of its revitalization efforts," he said. In that respect, he emphasized the updating and utilizing of the inventory chart that accompanied the annual reports of the Ad Hoc Working Group, which had proved to be a valuable tool in systematically identifying, monitoring and proposing solutions to the issues in the Assembly's revitalization. He reiterated Indonesia's request to the Secretariat to update the chart and provide the Working Group with information on the challenges and obstacles hindering the timely and concrete implementation of all relevant resolutions.
He further underlined that a faithful implementation of United Nations resolutions was vital to strengthening the oversight role of the Assembly. In that regard, Indonesia concurred that a strong oversight role was indeed needed on the management of and procurement for United Nations peacekeeping operations, as well as the wider Organization's post-conflict peacebuilding efforts, including in the areas of preventive diplomacy, conflict resolution and mediation. Those issues should have a dedicated United Nations intergovernmental forum, he added, and the General Assembly should play a more effective role in guiding and supporting the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, of which it was one of the parent bodies.
OTHMAN JERANDI ( Tunisia) described the revitalization of the Assembly as "the basic element of the broader United Nations reform". Because the Assembly was the Organization's most representative deliberative body, his delegation asserted the need to continue efforts to that end, ensuring that its resolutions were implemented and its role and authority were promoted. This Assembly must adapt to changing times to meet emerging challenges. Organizing thematic debates, including interaction with the civil society, was important to respond to contemporary issues, he said, expressing hope for tangible results.
Noting that the responsibilities of the Security Council were set out in the Charter, he said the Assembly should also react more concretely to international peace and security matters. He called for the Security Council's annual report to the Assembly to be more analytical. He also stressed the need for holding periodic meetings with Heads of the United Nations principle organs. "Member States should be informed of these meetings," he said.
On working methods, he said a number of resolutions on the topic should be reviewed, the agenda must be streamlined and best practices should be shared. This debate should focus on the procedure of electing members of United Nations senior management. His delegation supported efforts to provide necessary financial and human resources to the Office of the General Assembly President from the regular budget. The issue of implementing resolutions should be a priority in the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group.
WILLIAM POPE ( United States) said that his delegation was committed to multilateral engagement and a strong United Nations system. Recognizing the important contributions of the General Assembly, he said that the United States would continue to advocate for measures to improve the efficiency, effectiveness and transparency of the United Nations. In that regard, streamlining the work of the Assembly and its Main Committees was at the top of the delegation's priorities for its engagement with the Ad Hoc Working Group over the coming session. He also stressed a number of other goals, including the timely publishing of reports, and better interaction between the chiefs of the main United Nations organs, the President of the General Assembly, and Chairs of its Main Committees. In that regard, greater cooperation among United Nations organs was critical to streamlining agendas and eliminating wasteful overlap.
In addition, he said that merging or clustering items that were related in substance, as well as proposing more omnibus resolutions and urging Member States to be more judicious in submitting texts, and to keep their statements succinct, would also be important. The United States also proposed, among other things, setting deadlines for achieving objectives and encouraging working groups to complete their work on time. Finally, he said, the roles of the General Assembly and the Security Council in selecting the Secretary-General were clearly defined in the Charter; the Assembly should not consider changing that process as a priority matter.
KAZUO KODAMA ( Japan) said that the Assembly "can offer a useful forum as we endeavour to adapt to today's complex society". With respect to the Security Council in particular, he said that, while the Council bore the primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security, the Assembly might play a complementary role when the Council failed to act, as in the case of Syria. Such a function highlighted the necessity of establishing a better relationship between the two bodies. The Assembly must also demonstrate to the people of the world that it was an organ capable of responding adequately to emerging challenges of common concern and of producing result-oriented outcomes. In that regard, the holding of thematic debates on relevant issues was welcome. Additionally, he stressed, the outcomes produced by the Assembly would lose their meaning if they were not implemented and followed up.
It was important to rationalize the work of the Assembly, including by considering ways to streamline and prioritize its agenda and those of its Main Committees. Various possibilities in that respect were the further biennialization, triennialization, clustering or elimination of items. It was also necessary to improve the Assembly's working methods to make the body more effective. For instance, Member States had been unable to reach consensus on the composition of a working group on elaborating sustainable development goals before the opening of the current session, as mandated in the outcome document of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development – known as "Rio+20". The issue of underrepresentation of the Asia-Pacific group countries, in terms of equitable geographic representation, might also be posed in that regard.
MUSTAFIZUR RAHMAN ( Bangladesh) said that revitalization of the General Assembly was a critical component of the wider reform of the United Nations. The discussion of revitalization must lead to decisions that could be implemented in a reasonable period of time. Noting that his views were generally reflected in the statement made on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, he emphasized that the objective of revitalization was to strengthen the Assembly's role as the chief deliberative, legislative, policymaking and representative body of the international community. The Assembly offered all members of the international community the opportunity to exchange ideas on equal footing and reach consensus on solving global challenges.
He expressed concern at the Council's encroachment on the prerogatives of the Assembly. Despite several resolutions adopted on the issue, that encroachment continued. The Council was already overburdened with real threats to international peace and security, leaving it with little time to deal with peripheral issues. In addition, as the role and activities of the Assembly President had evolved significantly over the years, sufficient and predictable financial and human resources were essential to the efficient and successful functioning of the Office. Funding from the regular budget must be increased to avoid dependence on the Trust Fund and voluntary contributions, which would affect the credibility and impartiality of the position.
Further, the Assembly should have a "strong" role in appointing senior management in the Secretariat, he said. Indeed, selection of the Secretary-General should be more transparent and inclusive, involving the entire membership of the Organization. Resolutions adopted that included provisions to that end must be implemented. He supported measures to streamline the Assembly's agenda, among them the clustering or elimination of items, and said the number of reports should also be rationalized to improve their quality and precision. All such actions should be taken with the clear consent of concerned States, without attempts to apply artificial deadlines or so-called "sunset clauses".
ESHAGH AL HABIB ( Iran) recalled that since 1991, 20 resolutions had been adopted containing specific measures aimed at revitalizing and enhancing the work of the Assembly as the chief deliberative, policy-making and representative organ of the United Nations. Unfortunately, while those measures had been agreed by consensus, they were not fully implemented due mainly to a lack of political will. Therefore, he said, a thorough evaluation of the status of implementation of Assembly resolutions, and a clear identification of the underlying causes behind the lack of implementation, was of utmost importance.
As for the Security Council, he said, a considerable number of General Assembly resolutions had set certain criteria to clarify the relationship between those two bodies. "In recent years, we have witnessed the gradual but constant encroachment by the Security Council on the functions and powers of the General Assembly, as well as the other organs", such as the Economic and Social Council. Iran was particularly concerned by the exercise of norm-setting, law-making and establishing definitions by the Security Council in areas beyond its competence.
With regard to the process of selecting and appointing the Secretary-General, he said: "We should not relegate the General Assembly to play the role of a rubber stamp." In addition, ensuring the effectiveness of the Office of the General Assembly President – including through the allocation of sufficient human and financial resources from the regular budget - was also important to improving the role and authority of the General Assembly, he stressed.
JAIME HERMIDA CASTILLO ( Nicaragua), also endorsing the statement on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said that his delegation attached great importance to the democratization of the United Nations. In that regard, he believed that the revitalization of the work of the General Assembly must be characterized by its universality and transparency. The reforms of the Security Council were also essential, and that body must not continue to usurp the powers of the General Assembly.
The international community must strengthen the General Assembly to make it able to meet the needs and aspiration of the 193 Member States of the United Nations, without distinction, and while respecting the sovereign equality of all those members. The Assembly President must also be strengthened, and resources to it bolstered. Nicaragua also believed that the General Assembly should play a more rigorous role in appointing the Secretary-General, with more participation of Member States in that process. All resolutions agreed by the Assembly must be implemented in their entirety. "We cannot countenance ... the paring down of [the Assembly's] role," he stressed, adding that the voice of all Member States should instead be strengthened with each passing day.
RAZA BASHIR TARAR (Pakistan), said that the efforts of the last two decades to revitalize the United Nations had made considerable progress in rationalizing and streamlining the work of the Main Committees, increasing financial savings and gains in efficiency, yet, concerns persisted over a range of issues: implementation of resolutions; growing encroachment by the Security Council on the role and authority of the Assembly; and marginalization of the Assembly's role in choosing the Secretary-General. "Perhaps it is time to revitalize the revitalization debate," he declared.
Two mutually reinforcing aspects - efficiency and efficacy - should form the core of a new debate on revitalization, he continued. The considerable discussion that had already taken place on improving working methods of United Nations bodies, including the Assembly and its Main Committees, had led to steps primarily focused on efficiency and rationalization, where much progress had been made. Yet, revitalizing the effectiveness and authority of the Assembly remained a largely unfulfilled task, he said.
The real causes underlying the conundrum of efficiency gains that seemed to defeat the larger political imperative of effectiveness must be identified, he said. He looked forward to a more focused debate on the correlation between the objectives of efficiency and effectiveness. He proposed that the Ad Hoc Working Group examine the possibility of exploring new ideas on how to bring more vigour, visibility and attention to the revitalization debate at a high-level meeting in future.
DANIEL YILMA WORKIE ( Ethiopia) said a revitalized Assembly would help strengthen the determination of Member States to pursue multilateralism, which in turn would have a far-reaching impact on rebuilding the authority and credibility of the wider United Nations system. His delegation was of the view that the Assembly should benefit from information about the meetings between the Presidents of the General Assembly, the Security Council and Economic and Social Council, as well as from the Chairs of its subsidiary bodies. Periodic briefings by the Assembly President on his recent activities, including his official travel, continued to be appreciated. In the same vein, the Secretary-General's practice of holding periodic informal briefings should continue.
Debates in the Assembly were often repetitive, resulting in the adoption of equally repetitive resolutions without having an effective mechanism to assess and evaluate their implementation, he said. To that end, Ethiopia supported the launch of regular review of previous resolutions and decisions so that necessary adjustment or deletion could be made. Ensuring the effectiveness of the Office of the General Assembly President, including enhancing the office's institutional memory, was essential to improving the overall role and authority of the Assembly. He said that resolution 66/294 on allocating the necessary budget and strengthening human resource to the office was critically important.
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text:
Most highways are closed, flights are barely moving at the airport. All the schools are closed. We're expected to stay under freezing until sometime this afternoon.
You shouldn't see this in San Antonio!
This is a picture of one of the TransGuide traffic control signs – almost every one of them say the same thing.
Screen shot from the local NBC affiliate – this is about 6 miles from my house. It's not quite so nasty here – but it is raining again now…


text:
Another decade of coal for Stratford mine
A Gloucester mine wants to extend its operations so it can extract millions of tonnes of coal each year.
The Stratford mine extension project involves expanding the existing open cut operations to extract up to 2.6 million tonnes of coal each year for 11 years.
It will mean a combined total of nearly five million tonnes will be extracted from both the Stratford and nearby Duralie mine.
All coal will be transported by rail to the Port of Newcastle, and the extension project involves developing new infrastructure and realigning roads and power lines.
An environmental impact statement for the project says there will be an on-site water management system and confined water storages.
There would also be noise mitigation measures including limiting vehicles to first gear on stockpiles.
In addition there will be controls for dust.
Topics: urban-development-and-planning, mining-industry, mining-environmental-issues, gloucester-2422, muswellbrook-2333, newcastle-2300