text:
The CEOs of senior gold companies are dropping like flies.
Less than a month after Aaron Regent was fired from the top job at Barrick Gold Corp., Tye Burt was removed from Kinross Gold Corp. on Wednesday. His replacement is Paul Rollinson, the company's former head of corporate development.
Unlike Mr. Regent's firing, this one came as little surprise. Investors have been dissatisfied with Mr. Burt's performance for a long time, and there have been calls for his ouster (some of which were quite public). Kinross shares have underperformed rivals as the company faces major cost escalation at its development projects, including the giant Tasiast mine in Mauritania. Mr. Burt acquired that asset in the US$7.1-billion takeover of Red Back Mining Inc., and many investors believe he paid far too much.
Ultimately, both Mr. Burt and Mr. Regent struggled to deal with the cost and capital allocation challenges that are plaguing the industry.
With Kinross due to report second quarter earnings next week, the firing has raised speculation that the company could have some fresh bad news for investors. That was the case with Barrick, which reported a massive cost over-run at its Pascua-Lama mine shortly after removing Mr. Regent.
"We do not believe the timing of the CEO replacement and Tasiast expected guidance update on August 8th is coincidental," Credit Suisse analyst Anita Soni wrote in a note. She believes the decision to replace him is essentially a call on the value of the Tasiast asset, and suggested the project could even be divested.
Mr. Rollinson is a veteran investment banker, but also has a background in geology and mining. In hiring him as CEO, the Kinross board suggested that he is the best person to run the company's capital efficiency and optimization process as it tries to deal with its cost issues.
But George Topping, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, is not so sure. He wrote that he would have preferred a high-profile manager with a track record of operating mines and turning companies around.
"We believe the board has missed an opportunity to make a statement which could have immediately boosted the share price materially," Mr. Topping wrote in a note.
"Given Mr. Rollinson's skillsets in investment banking, the appointment would make sense were it combined with a statement that the company was initiating a strategic review as part of a sale process. However, we understand a sale process is not part of the plan."
Greg Barnes of TD Securities added that some investors could be disappointed that promoting an insider may not represent a "clean break from the past." He wrote that there could be more bad news coming on Tasiast, but that the project has largely been discounted out of the share price already.
Kinross shares were little changed in early trading on Thursday as investors digested the news.


text:
What is Coliving?
July 31, 2019
Coliving might be the next evolution in coworking. Both rely on collaboration and community, but instead of just sharing a workspace with a community, you share your living space with like-minded individuals as well. In other words, coliving is a housing initiative where people with shared inter...
Coworking Spaces for Seniors
July 24, 2019
Coworking spaces for seniors are gaining traction in a market often just associated with the millennial generation. And why not? While the average age of a coworker is 34, the business benefits of coworking spaces are universal. They boost innovation, morale and productivity, provide cost saving...
CRE Events to Attend in the Second Half of 2019
July 12, 2019
The calendar is starting to stack up with a range of exciting Commercial Real Estate (CRE) events to attend in the second half of 2019. Here is an extensive list of the upcoming shows, expos, and CRE events. New England Conference & Deal Making July 16 – 17, 2019, Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. Thi...
Whether you're a freelancer, a small business owner or a professional who prefers the flexibility of coworking spaces, at some point, you're going to have meetings, and you're going to need a space to hold those meetings. Even if you work remotely and only have a virtual business address, you'll want to book a meeting room to meet with prospective clients or partners. Coworking hubs usually offer the option of renting meeting rooms by the hour, so you can talk business with your partners or shareholders and impress your clients with a professional meeting space. What's best, you get to pick the meeting room rental that appeals to you, in a location that is convenient to both you and your clients.
Guide to finding the right meeting space in Indiana
COMMERCIALCafé is your go-to source for finding meeting and event spaces in Indiana. See our selection of Indiana meeting/event/training space providers and find the right space to suit your needs. Whether you're looking for a meeting room rental or event space, or the perfect location for a presentation or training session, we've got you covered. Use our advanced search feature and filters to find the right space, by selecting your desired price, neighborhood, and amenities.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Product Description
- Modern office chair
- Plush seat and back
- Rose gold base
- Adjustable height
- Home office seating
For Use Type: Residential Use Only
Primary Style: Contemporary
Color: Garden
Fabric Info: (-V9) Garden
Weight capacity: 200
Greenguard Certified: No
Ships in: 1-3 Days
Assembled Dimensions: 22W x 24.25D x 35H
Seat Dimensions: 20.5W x 18.5D x 3.25T
Back Dimensions: 21W x 14.25H x 2.25T
Seat Height Min: 18"
Seat Height Max: 21.5"
Office Star Products warrants to the original purchaser that this product will be free from defects in material and workmanship as described below. Office Star Products will repair or replace, at its option, without charge to the original purchaser only, defective products or parts for one (1) year from the date of purchase. Replacement parts can only be supplied if parts are available. Items out of production may be unavailable. This warranty shall be effective for the applicable time period beginning from the date of purchase as shown on your original sales receipt. This warranty is your sole remedy for product defects and excludes defects due to or arising in connection with product abuse or misuse, use modification of, or attachments to the product, and products or parts not used, maintained, or installed in accordance with the company's installation, maintenance and/or applicable guidelines. There are no other warranties, express or implied, other than those specifically described, including without limitation any implied warranty of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose. Office Star Products will not be responsible for incidental or consequential damages. Some states do not allow the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations or exclusions may not apply to you. This warranty gives you specific legal rights and you may also have other rights which may vary from state to state. Our quality standards are among the highest in the industry. Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, there are times when parts are damaged or missing. Our Parts Department will do everything possible to promptly remedy the problem. Contact us via e-mail email@example.com, by Fax 1-909-930-5629, or toll free parts number 1-800-950-7262, Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time.
You may also like


text:
I don't seem to be posting as much as I used to. I think I have a case of LPS (Lazy Posting Syndrome). I have things to share ... I'm just too lazy to share them! Do bear with me as I play a bit of catch-up : ) However, the first subject on the agenda does not involve catching up. It involves RAKs.
This past Monday I mailed 2 RAKs, neither of which I bothered to take photos of before I sent them : ( One was sent to Trace ... some chicken printed fabric & some old china buttons. The other was sent to Vickie ... a set of kissing poodle salt & pepper shakers. Well, what a shock I had when yesterday's mail brought 2 RAKs for me! This first one has a little back story ... sort of. On Tuesday, Gracie posted a photo of an RAK which Dawn sent to her ... a beautiful beaded scissor fob. I was green with envy! This was the most beautiful fob I had even laid eyes on! I commented on Gracie's post about how lovely it was, & on Wednesday when I read Dawn's post where she shared a photo of the fob, I emailed her (I fear I will never be able to comment on blogs with those little white boxes appearing underneath the posts again) to tell her how lovely I thought it was. Well, what a huge surprise I had in yesterday's mail! Dawn had made & sent me a fob as well!
Friday, March 29, 2013
RAKs, Yarn Shop Visit, Blanket Update, & Easter Wishes
I don't seem to be posting as much as I used to. I think I have a case of LPS (Lazy Posting Syndrome). I have things to share ... I'm just too lazy to share them! Do bear with me as I play a bit of catch-up : ) However, the first subject on the agenda does not involve catching up. It involves RAKs.
Posted by Shirlee at 1:56 PM 13 comments
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Happy Saturday morning everyone!
Last night I started crocheting my Granny Stripe blanket. Once again, here is the pattern photo to show what it looks like.
Posted by Shirlee at 12:56 PM 17 comments
Friday, March 22, 2013
A Very Fun Day!
You may recall me mentioning in Wednesday's post that I had been to Frankfort (the state capital ... just under 45 miles from here) for an appointment. That's not the fun part though. The fun part is this: I have been living here in the devil's playground (this part of the state) for what will soon be 4 years. Now hold on ... this is not the fun part either. No way! The fun part is that a well-known fiber shop (all things wool) has been just under 45 miles from me for what will soon be 4 years but I have never gone there. I thought about it. It just never happened.
Posted by Shirlee at 12:16 PM 17 comments
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
March IHSW Report
Greetings one & all! It took me a couple days to post my March IHSW report. Monday was a very dark day ... literally. Very cloudy, very gray, very overcast. Definitely not a good picture taking day. Yesterday I had a few errands to run & by the time I got home, I was too tired to bother with taking pictures. However, this morning I got them taken before we headed off to an appointment I had in Frankfort. That's Frankfort, Kentucky ... not to be confused with Frankfurt, Germany. Sigh! If only!
My first stitch since the dreaded HE Along for the Ride (see header photo) was a pure delight. I posted about this pattern here. It stitched up quickly & I totally enjoyed the whole experience.
Posted by Shirlee at 5:37 PM 17 comments
Sunday, March 17, 2013
IHSW Interruption
We interrupt IHSW to bring you this blog post. I made bread!!! I searched & searched & searched online for "the perfect old fashioned white bread recipe." I found a bunch of them but one sort of called out to me. I know someone is going to ask me what the recipe is so I will tell you ... it's Traditional White Bread Recipe (it has a 5 star rating) & you can find it here on Allrecipes.com. It's a simple recipe I suppose. I did know that making bread takes a bit of muscle. For whatever reason, my upper body strength has always been weak so mixing the dough was quite a feat as was the 8 minutes of kneading it ... but I survived, albeit with some soreness lingering today. I substituted butter for lard (it was noted you could do that if you'd like) & likewise greased my bowl with butter rather than with oil during the rising process.
I punched it down & put it in loaf pans for the second rising. Once again I achieved success : )
Posted by Shirlee at 9:55 AM 17 comments
Thursday, March 14, 2013
IHSW Is Upon Us
Now that I've finished knitting my socks (I still need to weave in some ends & close up the toes), & I don't yet have the yarn I need to start crocheting a blanket (whole 'nother story here), I think it's once again time to pick up linen, floss, & needle & stitch something. This decision has not come lightly. I still have fantasies about taking all my Homespun Elegance charts, piling them in the yard, setting them ablaze, & dancing around them with gleeful abandon ... then sending the ashes to HE with a note saying "here's what I think of your charts!!!" However, that would take a lot of energy ... something this overweight, over stressed stitcher doesn't have much of these days. Therefore, the HE charts will sit neglected in my files until whatever time I decide to burn, sell, give, or trade them.
Although I haven't been able to bring myself to stitch a stitch since my traumatic HE experience, I have purchased a few charts that have shown up on my computer screen ... very few ... for that day when I would feel able to stitch again. I purchased one of them just this morning. I was pretty excited about it, but then I'm usually pretty excited about The Little Stitcher's designs. Laura is one of those God-given designers who create cross stitch designs that are made up of cross stitches only! No blankety-blank french knots, no whoop-de-do fancy stitches, just cross stitches. Nothing more. God bless her! Anyway, yesterday she posted her latest creation, A Day of Joy. Here is a photo which I've copied from her post.
Posted by Shirlee at 5:09 PM 10 comments
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Can I Use This Bowl?
Posted by Shirlee at 5:21 PM 18 comments
Monday, March 11, 2013
A Bird, a Movie, Pain, the Arrival of Spring, Knitting, and Crochet
On Saturday, John & I went outside in the bright, sunshiny 65-degree weather (ugh) to replenish the bird feeders. I hung up this little seed bell & before too long one of the many black-capped chickadees who visit us decided to check it out. He really seemed to enjoy it!
What was I talking about? Oh yes, my left leg. My left leg, my feet, my left arm. Yep, gotta see someone. The pain bothered me all night despite medication & I finally got out of bed at about 3 a.m. & tried sleeping on the couch. No luck, so here I am, writing a blog post. I had plans to do some cleaning upstairs today. I hope I'll be able to do that.
This past weekend I did do a bit of spring decorating. This basically involved taking down the Let It Snow snowman sign hanging in the kitchen, the Warm Winter Wishes sign near the thermostat, & the winter themed cutting board, sewing drawer, & pinkeep in the diningroom, & replacing them with the usual farm themed kitchen sign, a spring paddle, & the spring themed cutting board, sewing drawer, & pinkeep. It also meant changing the dishes. I have Fiesta dishes. I've sorted them into spring colors, summer colors, & fall/winter colors. With the change of these seasons, the old season dishes are pushed to the back of the cabinet & the new season to the front.
Posted by Shirlee at 5:51 AM 22 comments
Friday, March 8, 2013
Bad Habit
Before John & I retired, we used to go to stores & never look at price tags. If we liked something, we either tossed it into the cart or told the salesclerk "I'll take it." I miss those days. Now I must be more careful of my spending. I must look at price tags. I usually remember to do this, but then came New York City. As I mentioned in my last post, I bought some yarn, mostly sock yarn, from 2 knitting shops there ... Knitty City (my favorite) & Purl Soho. I didn't bat an eye at the cash register when the clerk told me what I needed to pay. I figured that I had bought several skeins of yarn & shelling out that amount of money was worth it. I still think it's worth it, but hoo boy! I got out the yarn to take photos to share with you today & nearly choked. I saw that one of the skeins was $30.00! I then grabbed my receipt. Seems I paid $30 each for 2 skeins of yarn. No biggie ... it was a special treat, but I will have to pay more attention next time : )
Posted by Shirlee at 10:54 PM 18 comments
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
A Very Long and Picture Filled Post
Posted by Shirlee at 9:38 PM 26 comments


text:
Halogenated anilines and perfluorinated chemicals are two things you've probably never heard of before. In addition to being mouthfuls to pronounce, both are toxic chemicals that are harmful to the environment and life, both in water and on land. Some anilines can become carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, and several perfluorinated chemicals are known to be toxic for the reproductive and nervous systems of mammals.
Even though these chemicals might be unfamiliar there is a chance you are already in a close relationship with them, as they may have been used in the manufacturing of the clothes you are wearing.
These hazardous chemicals were both found in water samples taken in the textile heartland of China, in the coastal Zhejiang Province. That's where the connection to your clothes comes in. Many popular global fashion labels, including Levi's, Calvin Klein and GAP, source textiles from the manufacturing facilities in the area where the samples were taken, as shown in the Greenpeace International report "Toxic Threads: Putting Pollution on Parade". And that means that many of us are wearing toxic fashion.
Even though China has a large and thriving textile industry that supplies both the domestic and the international market with clothes, there is a severe lack of information about the kinds of chemicals being used and released into environment there. There is also very little information about how the hazardous chemicals used to make our clothes are dealt with. At the moment China relies heavily on wastewater treatment plants to deal with discharges from textile manufacturing facilities in Zhejiang Province.
Life inside a dye factory © Qiu Bo / Greenpeace
While these may be effective for certain kinds of pollution, like sewage or biological waste, toxic chemicals such as many PFCs are especially dangerous because they can survive the treatment system meant to clean the water and pass directly out into the environment. Pollution of water is happening on a massive scale, with almost 70% of Chinese lakes, rivers, waterways and reservoirs affected by some kind of water pollution.
The water samples containing toxic chemicals were taken at the discharge pipe of a wastewater treatment plant being used by factories in a large industrial estate, most of which are textile manufacturing facilities. So we know that these chemicals are entering the environment in discharges from the treatment facility.
The problem is tracking down the culprits.
All industrial facilities in the area put their discharges through the same wastewater treatment plants. When they are all pooled together it is impossible to know which toxic chemical is coming from what facility. Effectively, they hide in the crowd. And it is easy for suppliers and brands that are buying products from these facilities to plead ignorance when there is no way to connect a particular discharge of a hazardous chemical to an individual facility. But it is no excuse for toxic pollution to continue.
Our clothes don't need to come with these toxic accessories: hazardous chemicals that enter the environment both as discharges from the manufacturing facilities, but also potentially as residue that is washed out when we clean our clothes at home. There are alternatives but first the manufacturing facilities, suppliers and fashion brands have to commit to transparency. The real challenge is the complete lack of public information available at the moment.
A change is coming
Just last week – thanks to your help – Zara, the world's largest fashion retailer, committed to Detox its supply chain and products and to eliminate all uses and releases of hazardous chemicals by 2020. What's more, the brand also committed to publicly disclose pollution data from at least 100 of its suppliers in the Global South, including at least 40 in China, by the end of 2013. This transparency is a real breakthrough in the way clothing is manufactured and is an important step in providing local communities, journalists and officials with the information they need to ensure that local water supplies are not turned into public sewers for industry.
It is also the start of something bigger.
For too long global brands have been able to hide behind industrial smokescreens and continue to make their products against a backdrop of toxic water pollution. Even labels that have been around for over a century and who make some of the most worn-in clothing items on the planet have put more effort into revitalizing their brand image in recent years than they have into taking care of the negative impacts their products are having on our environment.
Enough is enough
Around the world, consumers, activists and fashionistas are uniting behind the idea that the clothes we buy should carry a story we can be proud of, not the residues of hazardous chemicals. These people are looking for action from brands, and are taking action themselves. Brands that want to keep their customers therefore need to do more than make a positive statement or write a policy – they need to wear this problem on their sleeves. This means publicly talking about the problem and solutions, publicly disclosing information about exactly what chemicals are being released throughout their supply chains, and becoming active pioneers for toxic-free fashion.
Take action today
Join the campaign: urge Levi's to go forth and detox.
Then help get our new video "Detox Fashion", which reveals the toxic truth behind the clothes we buy, on as many screens as possible.
We know these clothing brands monitor social media as closely as they monitor traditional media, and every time you like, share, comment on, or promote this video, it increases the pressure on the companies to change their ways: to stop poisoning rivers in the countries where their products are made, and stop shipping hazardous chemicals all over the world in their clothes.
This past week we've shown the fashion industry what we're capable of together. But unfortunately the toxic discharges from clothing factories continue, and while Zara is the biggest, more companies must recognise and act upon the urgency of the situation to Detox our water.
Main image: To accompany the launch of the report "Toxic Threads: Putting Pollution on Parade," a series of arresting images have been produced to highlight the toxic truth the lies behind the glamour of the fashion industry. Shot on location in the heart of China's textile industry, in a manufacturing facility in Xiaoshan district, Hangzhou. © Lance Lee / Greenpeace
To post a comment you need to be signed in.
Are you sure to remove this comment?
Are you sure to report this comment as abuse?
Your full name
This field is required.
This is not a valid email adress. Please try again...
Blog entry


text:
Find Our Latest Video Reviews on YouTube!
If you want to stay on top of all of our video reviews of the latest tech, be sure to check out and subscribe to the Gear Live YouTube channel, hosted by Andru Edwards! It's free!
Friday March 28, 2008 11:57 am
Easier iPhone Use with My Touch Keys
Posted by Sheila Franklin Categories: Accessories, Apple, Handhelds
For iPhone users that are having trouble with its smooth keyboard, My Touch Keys may be the solution. It is a tactile overlay that sits on your screen and features cutouts that line up with the on-screen keyboard in portrait mode. Creator Rudy Ugarte claims that you will no longer have a problem with typos and backspacing. Attaching with static cling sheets, we definitely think that the price is right. It's a two-fer for $7.99 if you and a bud want to give it a try.
Read More | My Touch Keys Product Page
Latest Gear Live Videos
- Subscribe:
- YouTube
- iTunes High Definition
- iTunes Standard Version
© Gear Live Inc. {year} – User-posted content, unless source is quoted, is licensed under a Creative Commons Public Domain License. Gear Live graphics, logos, designs, page headers, button icons, videos, articles, blogs, forums, scripts and other service names are the trademarks of Gear Live Inc.


text:
|In stock (1)
Bonsai Elm, Ulmus
This Elm bonsai is suitable for the living room in a bright place.
It can also be placed in a half-shaded position outdoors.
This Elm Bonsai does not tolerate temperatures below -1°C.
Height incl. pot approx.: 18.5" / 47 cm
Potsize: 10.6" x 8.6" x 3.1" /27 x 22 x 8 cm
Age approx.: 14-16 years


text:
Fiber Internet for every home, school, & business in Saint Paul!
The Case for Fiber Internet
Innovation can come from everyone. - Sen. Al Franken
Everyone deserves a fair chance at success. In an age where information is everything, access to that information is crucial. Fiber optic cable networks provide reliable, high-speed communication and, when distributed equitably and responsibly, can pave the way for innovation and a more connected, better-educated community.
Community Owned
- High-speed, fiber optic networks are an investment in public infrastructure, just like our water, roads, sewers, & bridges.
- Public ownership means that profits remain within the community, improving the local economy and providing benefits shared by everyone.
Dig Once
- Nearly 80% of fiber installation costs comes from digging trenches.
- By adding fiber conduit whenever roads, streets, sidewalks, or bridges are under construction, the city can develop a fiber optic network over time in a cost-efficient manner.
- Success in the digital economy requires investing in the needs of future generations.
- Affordable access for all will help close the digital divide by ensuring that all children have equal internet access inside and outside of the classroom
- It will also allow adult learners to engage in distance learning and other educational opportunities.
- By partnering with community businesses and organizations we can promote a more vibrant and diverse local economy that can serve as a hub for entrepreneurs, tech start-ups, and small businesses.
- As a non-profit venture, we can put people before profits by reinvesting revenues to expand the network and improve access for all.
- As a community asset, all operations and finances will be transparent and accountable to the public.
- As a public good, taxpayer dollars will be invested in a jointly-shared enterprise that will help create living-wage jobs and greater opportunities for everyone to utilize the information superhighway


text:
I've added two links to the side-bar. These are PoliticsHome, which is a valuable source of political coverage, and Standpoint, a new magazine, edited by Daniel Johnson, that has many good things. On Standpoint's web site, the Cambridge historian Brendan Simms writes illuminatingly about Serbia after the capture of Radovan Karadzic:
[T]here are still demons on the loose in Serbian political life, in the security apparatus, in intellectual circles, and in public opinion. Much of the population had still not quite come to terms with what was done in their name during the 1990s. Belgrade will therefore need help, rhetorical and practical, to make the last leap into Europe by arresting Ratko Mladic. Now is the time for Europe to reach out. Serbia has once more begun to find its soul, and we must make sure that it does not lose it again.
I very much agree. Another angle, and one well worth examining, about the life and times of Karadzic is provided by Rose Shapiro in The Guardian. It is far from being a frivolous point that the man responsible for a campaign of hatred and genocide later adopted a clandestine career as a practitioner of mumbo-jumbo, or "alternative medicine" as it's sometimes know. Ms Shapiro writes:
Just because Karad[z]ic was a war criminal, it doesn't follow that all alternative practitioners are genocidal maniacs, and indeed many practitioners sincerely believe in what they are doing and want to help their clients. But there have surely been enough cases now of blatant recklessness if not outright deceit to confirm that practising alternative medicine is very often the last refuge of the scoundrel.
The next item doesn't belong in history, and it doesn't belong in the noble tradition of the exposure of pseudoscience, but it's a pleasing juxtaposition. The New Statesman carries a review of a book called A People's History of the World by Chris Harman. Harman's entire adult life has been spent in the service of the Leninist sect the Socialist Workers' Party. He has edited the party's newspaper and theoretical journal, and is a longstanding member of the party's Politbureau.
Being a leading member of the SWP is no barrier to writing a good book. Another former editor of the party's journal, Nigel Harris, wrote a book a few years ago on immigration, Thinking the Unthinkable, that I thought was excellent. And I concede that I have not read Harman's book. But I note with complacence that Harman's publisher, Verso, carry on their web page for the book the commendation of the 9/11 conspiracy theorist Howard Zinn, likening Harman's work to his own.
The Statesman's reviewer is not a historian but a blogger called Richard Seymour. Nothing wrong in that - except that Seymour is also a member of the Socialist Workers' Party. That's a singular editorial decision, as a member of the SWP is, by definition, bound by the views of the party's Central Committee. The SWP, being a Leninist organisation, adheres to the principle of "democratic centralism". This bizarre concept was coined by Lenin in 1906 as the guiding organisational principle of the revolutionary party. As one political theorist has usefully summarised it (Joseph Femia, Marxism and Democracy, 1992, p. 136): 'By "democratic", Lenin meant that the elected Party Congress was to be supreme over policy. By "centralism", he meant that once general policy was agreed, the everyday decisions of the central bodies were absolutely binding on all members, who were expected to march in step, whatever their private reservations.'
It's no great surprise, in the circumstances, that Seymour is overwhelmed by the profundity of the book under review, which is 'a dizzying tale of change "from below", with political, economic and cultural narratives interwoven, and occasional pauses to point out intriguing theoretical vistas'. The Statesman has an unfortunate record of not disclosing the interests of its book reviewers, and it's time this policy was tightened up.
Incidentally, it looks to me as if the SWP regards Seymour as a popular exponent of historical issues. A nice instance was an article in Socialist Worker a year ago, in which Seymour discussed the case of the atomic spy Julius Rosenberg and his wife Ethel ("executed on trumped up charges by the US state"). Seymour explained:
Senator Joseph McCarthy claimed that dozens – sometimes he claimed hundreds – of communists were active in the government. Through the House Un-American Activities Committee, he was able to bully and slander hundreds of US citizens.
The exact number of US citizens whom Senator McCarthy was able to bully and slander through the House UnAmerican Activities Committee (HUAC) was zero. McCarthy was not a member of the Committee. As its name indicates, HUAC was a committee of the House of Representatives; Senator McCarthy, as his title indicates, was a member of the Senate. The House of Representatives and the Senate are not the same thing. If any constitutional theoreticians of the SWP are reading this, I undertake further to explain that the Queen's Speech is not in fact written by the Queen, and that the Lord Privy Seal isn't in charge of locks on the lavatory.


text:
Library for Youth Work
Explore hundreds of diverse resources for a diverse youth sector.
Create an account to access your own personal space: "My Library" that allows you to identify resources relevant to your work, then simply click the "Save To My Library" button and save it in your own personal library. This way, you will have your favourite resources in one place so you won't have to search for them every time you come back.
Filtered By:
- (-) Remove Youth in and leaving care filter Youth in and leaving care
- (-) Remove Institution (Research/Policy Think Tanks) filter Institution (Research/Policy Think Tanks)
Total Results: 39
New Media


text:
Will travel 6 miles
$65 per hour.
4.96 427 ratings
The HSPT (High School Placement Test) and COOP (Cooperative Admissions Examination Program) are both used as entrance exams for Catholic and other private high schools. Both test mathematics, reading comprehension, and verbal skills. There are some variations in the kinds of verbal skills and reasoning required within each exam. Only the COOP tests Quantitative Skills that deal with non-formulaic mathematical reasoning. I have worked with students preparing to take the HSPT and COOP tests quite a number of times over the years, and though my main focus is on all the language-related sections [more]
Will travel 23 miles
$88 per hour.
4.93 798 ratings
As a test prep professional, I have tutored all sections of the HSPT for the past five years. I go over pacing and content. For reasoning and vocab sections, I go over word-learning strategies so you don't have to memorize piles of flashcards, but I do offer flashcard strategies as well. I am an experienced (3000+ hours) tutor certified in over 30 subjects. I'm a college graduate of Tufts University, Medford, MA and have passed my CBEST having worked with children for the past 15 years. I have taught in all environments in ratios of 1:1 to 8:1. Some examples have included home-schooling, tuto [more]
Will travel 4 miles
$500 per hour.
4.99 584 ratings
Along with teaching the SSAT and ISEE, I have helped several students applying to Catholic high schools with the HSPT exam. Like the ISEE and SSAT, the HSPT exam tests students' knowledge of both math and reading. Overall, it is typically an "easier" test than the ISEE or SSAT, but students can still use problem solving techniques that I teach for standardized tests in general, and I can also target and address individual student weaknesses. With over 10 years teaching standardized tests, I have helped students reach their goals and gain admission to private Catholic schools. [more]
Will travel 25 miles
$35 per hour.
0.0 0 ratings
Within the last two years, I have worked with many students preparing for the HSPT. I typically focus on working with students on the grammar, writing, and verbal portions of the test, but I can also tutor math as well. I am very familiar with the test prep materials and have experience working with many students on test-taking techniques. Hello there! My name is Ben. I have been tutoring English, Grammar, and Writing to all ages for over 5 years now. I love to help students improve their writing mechanics, crafting strong argumentative essays, and master English grammar. I also specia [more]
Will travel 15 miles
$125 per hour.
4.94 385 ratings
I have helped many students prepare smarter and score higher on the Catholic High School Entrance Exams. That's because I can provide personalized COOP, HSPT and TACHS prep experience designed to meet your specific needs and goals. I also provide information on test format, question types, and scoring rules, along with expert tips that guide students through verbal and quantitative (math) exercises. I am a certified teacher who now works exclusively as a private tutor. I have taught Biology and Chemistry (including Honors and A.P. classes) and have been working professionally as a teacher an [more]
Will travel 5 miles
$80 per hour.
4.94 16 ratings
As an Educational Therapist with 25+ years experience working with students individually, I bring an extra amount of knowledge to the task of test taking for the COOP/HSPT. Recently some of my students passed very successfully with tutoring and by completing extra assignments between sessions. I use the COOP/HSPT workbook to ascertain weak areas and strengths. I teach strategies for each section and complete at least three practice tests. An increase in self-esteem is noted when a student has a sense of accomplishment after finishing a structured plan for this test. [more]
Will travel 35 miles
$58 per hour.
4.92 174 ratings
I have an electrical engineering degree from Tulane University. I have been a high school tutor for over 10 years since 2005. I've tutored every high school math course from arithmetic to calculus. I've taught standardized tests in a group class setting, including the COOP/HSPT, SAT, ACTand GMAT. I can provide references! I am an electrical engineering graduate from Tulane University. I took several courses in various levels of math, including calculus, statistics, linear algebra and differential equations. Beginning my junior year, I became a teaching assistant for the math department. I h [more]


text:
In an effort to further differentiate their high-end products, luxury watchmakers are continuing to move farther away from precious metals and jewels, and focusing more on wacky novelty features. So instead of just chiming at the top of every hour, Ulysse Nardin's Stranger watch plays Frank Sinatra's 1966 hit Strangers In the Night on a tiny spinning music box.
If you can't wait to show off your investment, the watch can also play the tune on demand. And it's of course still made from such luxurious amenities as 18 karat rose gold, a genuine leather band, and an assortment of embellishing jewels. Only 99 of the Strangers are being made, which roughly translates to: if you think you can afford this, you're probably kidding yourself.
[Ulysse Nardin via Born Rich via W The Journal]


text:
Skip to main content
Course Directory
Early Years and Childcare
Business Support, Tools and Systems
Membership Offer
Workforce Development
EYC Training Support Programme 2019-2020
Conferences and Events
Observation, Planning & Assessment
EYFS in Schools
Forest School
Supporting Quality Improvement
Jigsaw Magazine
Developing community literacy in Cambridgeshire
Early Education Matters
Pupil and Family Support
Community Educational Psychology Service (CEPS)
Education Safeguarding Team
Education Welfare Benefits - Pupil Premium and Free School Meals
Education Welfare Officers
In-School Support: Secondary Age Children
Parents' School Preference Advice (PSPA)
SEND Information, Advice and Support Service
Specialist Teaching Team
Sensory Service
School Improvement
Schools Intervention Service Team
Primary Offer
Courses and Training
School Improvement Projects
Cambridgeshire Primary Heads
Cambridgeshire School Improvement Board
Cambridgeshire's Virtual School for Looked After Children
Assessment and Moderation
English and Maths
Leadership Advisory Team
Improvement Adviser
PE and School Sport
Religious Education
School Governance
School to School Support
School Support Staff
SEND Advisory Team
Services to Schools
Apprentices for Schools
Catering and Cleaning Services
Cambridgeshire Music
Cambridgeshire Outdoors Education
Education Wellbeing
Health and Safety Curriculum
ICT Service
Physical Education Adviser
Recruitment and Retention
Road Safety
School Business and Facilities
Schools Admission and Appeals Service / Fair Access Panel
Pupil Attendance - Advice to Schools
Elective Home Education
Deleting pupil from school roll and Children Missing from Education
Social Care Development
Community Support Services: Caring for children
Fostering Service: Training, Support and Development
Learning and Development: Adults
Learning and Development: Children
Social Work
Contact us
Contact us
About the Education Directorate
About us
to select
Please use your native language to find items on this website.
switch back to english language search mode
You are in english language search mode.
switch back to your native language search mode
Services to Schools
School Business and Facilities
HR Advice Service
HR Advice Service
HR Advice Service
LGSS HR Advisory Service
LGSS HR Recruitment and Payroll


text:
For our global science issue, we asked several of our international members to answer some questions about themselves and science in their countries.
How long have you been an ASBMB member?Maybe as much as 40 years? I am not sure. I believe it was not called ASBMB yet. My name was submitted by my mentor, Professor John Fuller Taylor, a pupil of Mansfield Clarke.
What do you study?My field of research has been, by and large, the structure, function and dynamics of proteins. I worked on myoglobin and hemoglobin for years and then on oxidases and other redox proteins. Over the last decade or so, my main interest has been protein folding.
What are some hot research areas in your country?Limiting myself to the life sciences, structural biology of proteins, stem cells and cellular therapy, immunology and molecular oncology, and micro RNA and cellular control.
Where do you see research going in your country in 5 to 10 years?Unfortunately, at present the perspective is very negative. Many politicians talk about the roles of research and universities as essential components for the recovery of Italian national and international standing, but there is very little positive action. Very few of our research institutions command the respect of the public. We still have good students sometimes, but many of our best Ph.D.s go abroad for good. If there is no serious change in the course of action, the shortest response to your question would be: down the drain.
Are there any barriers to collaboration?It is so variable from place to place that I can hardly present a sensible answer. In principle, of course, collaboration is encouraged and sometimes it works well. Italians working abroad, and especially in the U.S., have been very hospitable and positive.Where do you get most of your funding?The Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research, private foundations, and the European Union.How do you think research in your country differs most from research in the United States?The paucity of funds for curiosity-driven science and of grants targeted to younger researchers makes it difficult for most starting scientists (no matter how smart) to become financially independent and thus to pursue their ideas. If and when they succeed, it is often because they are protected by the system. Moreover, the peer review procedure needs to be perfected, and evaluation of merit should have concrete effects in the allocation of resources.
Did you do any of your training abroad?Yes. At the Max Planck Institute in Goettingen, Germany (with Manfred Eigen) and afterward at the University of Illinois in Urbana with Gregorio Weber (both in the second half of the sixties).
How long have you been an ASBMB member?I have been a member since 2010.
What do you study?I am studying the molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of sickle cell anemia, an inherited disorder characterized by a defect in hemoglobin synthesis.
What are some hot research areas in your country?Knowledge and valorization of tropical plants (at CIRAD, INRA and the University of the French West Indies); health, sickle cell disease, prostate and colorectal cancers (at INSERM, the Sickle Cell Center and the University Hospital Center); and volcanic and seismic studies (at the Magma and Volcano laboratory).
Where do you see research going in your country in 5 to 10 years?I think it will focus more on valorization of pharmacopoeia and agronomy and on development of new therapeutic strategies to improve sickle patients' quality of life.
Are there any barriers to collaboration?No.
Where do you get most of your funding?From France, Europe and local organizations such as Conseil Régional and Conseil Général.
How do you think research in your country differs most from research in the United States?Guadeloupe is a French West Indies island located in a strategic place (the Caribbean and Central America) that represents Europe in this part of the globe. We have our proper culture, history and economy. So our research is centered on subjects specific to the area.
Did you do any of your training abroad?Yes, at the Laboratorium voor Biochemie, Faculteit van de Wetenschappen, Rijksuniversiteit Gent, Belgium and Uppsala University Sweden.
How long have you been an ASBMB member?I have been a member for two years.
What do you study?I am hoping to earn an M.Sc. in medical biochemistry.
What are some hot research areas in your country?Micronutrients (zinc, iodine, iron) and supplementation, endocrinology (thyroid hormones, thyroglobulin, etc), diabetes screening, infectious diseases (tuberculosis, visceral leishmaniasis, HIV, malaria), antioxidant and oxidative stress in various diseases, waste water analysis, prevalence based studies (e.g., snakebites, diarrhea, sanitation, maternal mortality), and clinical research.
Where do you see research going in your country in 5 to 10 years?There are very limited sources of funding for research in Nepal from the government. Research in the next 5 to 10 years is expected to get more funding from governmental, nongovernmental and international agencies, and collaborators. Advanced laboratory facilities for molecular methods and other recent technologies for experimental research need to be established. There is a lot to be done to meet the emerging research needs to improve the health and nutrition status of the population.
Are there any barriers to collaboration?No, there is no barrier for collaboration. However, more international collaboration is needed on our part for technology transfer and development of the capacity of the local researchers.
Where do you get most of your funding?The government provides very limited funding for research due to poor economic conditions. However, there is some funding for university faculty members through the university research committees and grant commissions. Students get no funding at all for their research. Most of the funding for research is through international collaboration.
How do you think research in your country differs most from research in the United States?Research in Nepal differs from that in the United States in that we have to deal with emerging infectious diseases and malnutrition, diarrhea, maternal mortality, snake/mosquito bites, etc., which developed countries usually don't have. So more focus is needed to improve the health status of the communities by creating awareness and conducting research, which will have a significant effect on enhancing health standards of the population.
Did you do any of your training abroad?No.
How long have you been an ASBMB member?Since 1988.
What do you study?Oxidative stress, oxidants and antioxidants, redox signaling, micronutrients (carotenoids, polyphenols, selenium), nutritional biochemistry, hepatic metabolism, vascular responses, and cell-cell communication.
What are some hot research areas in your country?Structural biology, systems biology, stem cell research, neurobiology, hepatology and cardiovascular biology.
Where do you see research going in your country in 5 to 10 years?I predict more disparity between large, high-level research clusters at universities (for example, the Excellence Initiative) and nonuniversity organizations (such as the Leibniz, Helmholtz and Fraunhofer institutes) on one hand and the normal university research chairs on the other.
As for research topics, the big questions tackled worldwide will also be tackled in Germany.The research atmosphere is good (although one can always complain on a high level).
Are there any barriers to collaboration?Fortunately not.Where do you get most of your funding?From the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (the German equivalent of the National Institutes of Health) and also the National Foundation for Cancer Research in Bethesda, Md.
How do you think research in your country differs most from research in the United States?There is no fundamental difference in my view. Competitive grants are the mainstay. My feeling is that cooperation among German scientists themselves could be encouraged more, but the core grants at local universities (Sonderforschungsbereich) do a good job at this.
Did you do any of your training abroad?During my postdoctoral research time at the Ludwig-Maximilians-University at Munich I had the privilege to spend research visits with Britton Chance at the Johnson Research Foundation in Philadelphia.
How long have you been an ASBMB member?I have been an ASBMB member for five years.
What do you study?I study the molecular mechanism of immune/blood cells from the viewpoint of the signal transduction system, especially phagocytic cells, including macrophages, osteoclasts and neutrophils.
What are some hot research areas in your country?In Japan, one hot area is research on induced pluripotent stem cells related to regeneration medicine, and another area is the epigenetic study of malignant neoplastic disease. The inflammatory mechanism in innate immunity is also a hot area.
Where do you see research going in your country in 5 to 10 years?Research leading to a novel technology that generates safe energy including biologic energy or plant biology.
Are there any barriers to collaboration?I do not think so.
Where do you get most of your funding?The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
How do you think research in your country differs most from research in the United States?In Japan, it seems to me, few researchers exchange between public laboratories and other ones.Did you do any of your training abroad?I did not.
More from the current issue


text:
Last week I was working on my ProGen assignment and was considering using my great grandmother, Bridget Welsh McCarry for the subject. It really had nothing to do with the assignment but I thought I would once again search for her father, John Welsh's death certificate. I knew that he most likely died between 1900 and 1910 because he was with Bridget and her family in the 1900 Census. They were living in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia, PA. John we listed as widowed. I have no information on his wife, Catherine's death either. I only know that she died after 1880 and before 1900. Blast that missing 1890 Census! But I was hoping that I would have the same break with them that I had in finding Catherine and Emil Gunther.
I started searching the Philadelphia Death Certificates in Family Search. There are so many John Welshs in there. I had it narrowed down because he was not with the family in the 1910 Census and also they had moved to South Philly by then. Not knowing when they made that move, I was thinking it was after he died. Well much to my surprise I found a John Welsh that was a widower that died in 1907. I opened the certificate to view so I had more information. Well he was from Ireland, good.. then I saw the street address, 1827 Manton St. Ok, check the 1910 Census quick...yes! it is the same address that Bridget and her family were living in 1910! I found him. I also had the fact that James and Bridget McCarry and family moved to South Philly before April of 1907. Don't you love when you can get some other pieces as a bonus? And I had another bonus with this. It listed his parents! John Welch and Catherine Niland. I was in Genealogy Heaven!!! Well the death certificate also told me that he was buried in Westminster Cemetery. This is located in Montgomery County, just across the river from Manayunk. I continued to search the death certificates to see if I could find Catherine. I did find a Katie Welsh. It did not say if she was married or single, but she died in 1896 so I opened it up to view. Well this did not help much. She was from Ireland, good. Of course it did not list her parents, but the address was 4441 Cresson St, Myk ( Manayunk) and she was buried in West-Minster ?Cemetery. So I have nothing to connect this Catherine Welsh to my Catherine Welsh. So my next step was to call the cemetery to see what I could find out. I gave a nice young man all the information I had and he said he would give me a call. And all week I wanted to post about this but I wanted to wait for my happy ending!!!!! Well that nice young man called me back today and I am sorry to say he could not give me my happy ending:( He told me with John Welsh being such a common name and the records from back then are so hard to read and are not indexed that he was not able to find my John Welsh. And to top it off he does not have a record of a Catherine of Katie Welsh being buried there. I thanked him for his time and help and hung up very disapointed.
So I guess I am going to have to search some more. I know I have to try connecting John with this Catherine. See if I can find him at this Cresson St address. Moving forward with the past!!! Oh also, I decided to go with someone else for my assignment!


text:
Hasan's salary cannot be suspended unless he is proven guilty.
To date, preparations for the trial of accused Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan have cost the government at least $278,000 — and that's just in the salary that Hasan received since the 2009 massacre.
NBC's Dallas affiliate, KXAS, reports that Hasan, who at the time of the shooting was working as an Army psychiatrist, has continued to receive his salary for the past 42 months.
The Army said under the Military Code of Justice, Hasan's salary cannot be suspended unless he is proven guilty.
If Hasan had been a civilian defense department employee, NBC 5 Investigates has learned, the Army could have suspended his pay after just seven days.
According to witnesses, Hasan shouted "God is great" in Arabic before opening fire, repeatedlytargeting soldiers that had already been wounded. Thirteen people were killed and 30 wounded.
Despite those apparent details, however, the government doesn't classify the event as an act of combat or terror. According to the government, the shooting was "workplace violence" — meaning that the injured aren't entitled to additional pay or Purple Heart designations. Several members of Congress have written to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, asking for the event to be redesignated.
NEXT STORY: Defense Cuts Are Squeezing Programs


text: For little artists just starting out, this all-in-one art kit has it all! Peel and stick collage boards, crayons for scribbling and drawing, tons of stickers, fringe, tissue paper and more. Bright colors, fun textures and different ways to make unique art will keep your little ones engaged. Everything's included and ready-to-go for six activities as soon as you open the box: First Crayons, crinkly paper, doilies, fringe papers, tissue paper and oodles of easy-to-peel stickers to hold everything in its place. Their canvases are six pieces of multi-colored and shaped activity paper like trees and giraffes. An award winning educational toy from Alex, the art kit is perfect for children 18 months and up to find delight in creative expression, while parents will love the no-mess convenience.


text:
When Laurie Paganelli and her son Jordan, 5, moved to the U.S. Naval Air facility at Atsugi, Japan, in 1997, they felt safe -- free from the dangers of the front lines of war.
Little did they know, Paganelli says, a silent killer was lurking above the base, putting the health and safety of her family at risk: A giant plume of toxic smoke, drifting from a nearby Japanese incinerator, floated through the homes where U.S. military families lived and the schoolyards where children, including Jordan, played, experts say.
In 1990, a U.S. Department of the Navy document reportedly called the cloud a "witch's brew of toxic chemicals."
"It smelled, burned your eyes, and sometimes added a greenish glow to the air around us," Pagnelli told the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs today. "We certainly were not aware of the effects it would have on our family years later."
On Jan. 11, 2008, doctors diagnosed Jordan, then 16, with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, Alveolar Rhabdo-Myo-Sarcoma (ARMS). Paganelli and several doctors believe Jordan's exposure to the Atsugi incinerator's toxic plume is at least partly to blame for the disease.
Independent analyses, however, have not been able to confirm the source of the illnesses or establish a clear connection between the incinerator and the disease.
Paganelli and others exposed to similar chemicals during their military service are asking Congress to fund further scientific research about the incidents, press the military to be more forthcoming about details of the exposures, and guarantee medical care for all exposed, even though some might not have served long enough to be eligible for medical benefits or received a diagnosis to ensure care.
"Although the Navy had no control over the emissions, they did have the ability to avoid exposing thousands of children to toxic chemicals," Paganelli told senators.
The Shinkampo Incinerator Complex was known to release volatile organic compounds, poly-chlorinated biphenyls, pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydro-carbons, dioxins, furans, particulates and heavy metals into the air. Dioxin is also a key toxin in Agent Orange, a defoliant widely used by the U.S. military in Vietnam.
The Department of the Navy warned Atsugi residents of the risks of the incinerator in 1997 and instructed people to stay indoors when the plume blew toward the base. In 2001, the incinerator was closed.
Since that time, at least 61 cases of cancer from former residents -- many children -- have emerged, along with occurrences of other toxic-related disorders.
"We trusted the Navy to provide a safe environment for our family members. But they failed to do so by knowingly housing our families in a toxic waste zone," Paganelli said.
Toxic Tap Water at Camp Lejeune
When Michael Partain, 41, was still inside his mother's womb, he and his family were unknowingly exposed to high levels of toxins found in the water wells of Camp Lejeune, a Marine Corps base in North Carolina, where they lived.
The contaminants -- tetrachloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), dichloroethylene (DCE), benzene and vinyl chloride -- were all subsequently discovered in Lejeune's tap water in 1980.
But Camp Lejeune officials didn't shut down the contaminated wells until almost two years later, in 1985, when they finally notified Marine families that "chemicals had been detected in the water."
Now, Partain and 40 other men who drank the water on the base have since been diagnosed with the rare form of male breast cancer ? a condition many attribute to the toxins they consumed at Lejeune.
"We'd like to see full disclosures of what happened at the base," Partain told members of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs. He is also asking the government to fund further studies correlating breast cancer with the toxic water and ensure medical care or compensation for the victims. "Where's the common sense?" he asked.
Major General Eugene Payne, who oversees Marine Corps facilities, told the Senate panel today that "the studies have not determined an association between exposure and medical conditions" suffered by those at Lejeune.
The Marine Corps maintains that "once the source of the chemicals was determined to be the wells, the wells were immediately taken out of service." The Marine Corps also now states that "taking care of Marines, sailors, their families and civilian workers is our top priority."
In 1997, a federal study on the Lejeune incident said Marines and their families faced little or no increased cancer risk from drinking and bathing in chemical-tainted water at the camp. That report was withdrawn in April after federal health officials found omissions and scientific inaccuracy in the study.
"We can no longer stand behind the accuracy of the information in that document, specifically in the drinking water public health evaluation," William Cibulas, director of health assessment for the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, said in April. "We know too much now."
As many as 1 million people may have been exposed to water toxins over 30 years before the bad wells were closed in 1987, health officials now say. The Marines estimated the number at 500,000.
Orange Dust Clouds and Toxic Burn Pits in Iraq
Lawmakers also heard emotional testimony Thursday from veterans and survivors of U.S. service members who faced exposure to toxins during tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Stacy Pennington, the sister of Iraq war veteran Steven Ochs who died in 2008 from cancer, said a military burn pit in Balad, Iraq, was a "ticking time bomb" for her brother.
The pits are used to dispose of medical waste, fuel, plastic, discarded vehicles, trash and ammunition.
Pennington said her brother and other veterans from Balad, just north of Baghdad, complained of colds, headaches, sinus problems and other ailments presumably due to chemical exposure.
Dr. Robert Miller, a pulmonary and critical care expert at Vanderbilt University, told lawmakers sulfur dioxide plumes from the burn pits pose a "potent lung toxin and will create lung injury."
Ochs was diagnosed with Acute Myueloid Leukemia (AML) upon returning from Iraq in 2007 and died several months later. Doctors said they believed condition was chemically induced but could not definitively prove it, Pennington said.
In a separate incident near Basra in southern Iraq, former Army Staff Sergeant and medic Russell Powell inhaled clouds of orange colored dust that blew throughout the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant when he arrived there in 2003.
"The orange dust was located in large bags that were ripped open" and was so widespread, Powell recalled, that "at times there were at least two inches of dust on my boots."
The substance later identified as sodium dichromate is regarded by the EPA as highly carcinogenic to humans. Frequent dust storms would pick up the chemical and create a toxic breathing environment for the troops.
"We would have severe nose bleeds, coughing up blood, a hard time breathing, nausea, and a burning sensation in the lungs and throat," Powell said. "After a few weeks of being at the facility, several personnel began getting lesions on their hands, arms, faces and nostril area."
Since returning from Iraq in 2004, Powell says he's faced difficulty getting treatment for persisting symptoms at a West Virginia VA Hospital because doctors "know little about sodium dichromate and the affects of it on the human body."
West Virginia Senator Jay Rockefeller said he is pursuing the matter with the Department of Veterans' Affairs. "There's a lack of thoroughness, a lack of concern, a lack of care," he said. "[The Army] chose not to warn about it or clean it up."
Rockefeller said he received a letter from Secretary of Veterans' Affiars Eric Shinseki, who promised a "complete exposure assessment and testing every year and every five years" for victims.
Thirty members of the West Virginia National Guard are suing defense contractor Kellogg Brown & Root, which was conducting repairs at Qarmat Ali, alleging the group was responsible for the chemical dust bags. KBR said in August that it wasn't responsible for the sodium dichromate at the site.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.


text:
Saturday, 24 October 2009
Copenhagen 6 hour race
I now am certain that what I really love about ultras is the long trails and beautiful scenery. The competition, adrenaline and calorie-burning are big plusses, but don't make a race wonderulf on their own. Had this been my first ultra, it may have been my last.
But the result wasn't that bad for SR or me. We ran together for the first hour and then he went ahead while I enjoyed a new music mix. I was the leading woman for almost the first four hours. I tied my marathon PR at 3:39, and figured I was going too fast. Mai-Britt Hansen had been close behind me the entire time. She is generally considered Denmark's best female ultra runner, so it was exciting not only to meet her but to be racing with her. I should have known I didn't have a shot a beating her, but I tend to have an inflated sense of self-worth in ultras.
I ran into SR and we ran together as I fell into second place. He was kind of begging to drop out, but we encouraged each other to keep going. We were both in extreme pain at that point from the pounding on the pavement, so we started running on the uncut grass along the trail. I came through 50k in 4:48, a slow-down but still a 50k PR.
The end of the race was atrocious. I was starving, but couldn't find anything I could stomach among the danish treats. And my legs still killed me. I ran a pitiful 11.4 km in the next hour and 12 minutes. So my ending distance was 61.4km (38.2 miles). My goal was 60 km, so I guess I was happy. I just hadn't expected to crash like that. And in the cold, misty rain, the 6 hours of the race seemed twice as long as the nearly 9 hours of Voyageur. Well, it's over. Oh, by the way, SR ended up with 66.7 km.
Thanks to Charley Prødel and Jan Wolffgang for the photos!
Running Song of the Day: Ghost by Neutral Milk Hotel
11 comments:
- Danni said...
So you were second woman? That's awesome! Sounds a little painful.
- 24 October 2009 at 23:25
- olga said...
Amd that's why I don't do them. Although I used to - back in NYC most of the ultras were on the loop asphalt course, from 1.5M to 4M per loop. I didn't know any better - and then entered a first 50M as one big loop and pretty scenery. Then cam WS, and the hell broke loose:) This year's 24 hr was a good reminder to never do it again. Good job on final times and distances. Keeping it in a rain is a double-kudos.
- 25 October 2009 at 02:38
- cherelli said...
WOW. 6 hours of running, that is just awesome, great result, particularly pushing each other through the toughest stages!
- 25 October 2009 at 02:09
- sea legs girl said...
No, Danni, I was fourth woman. And Mai-Britt ended up in second, which has not happened to her in a Danish ultra as far as I know. Guess we both forced each other to start too fast.
Olga, that's very interesting that NYC ultras are just like Danish ones. But NYC has it's population density as an excuse. Must just be tradition in Denmark. Let's just say I wouldn't mind starting some new traditions.
Thanks for the support, Cherelli. You're right, six hours straight without excuses for walking is rough :).
- 25 October 2009 at 07:17
- SteveQ said...
Time on asphalt can be brutal. When I did FANS last year, I had blister problems for the first time in 20 years; my feet just reacted differently to pavement after a year on trails.
I'm told I'm still weeks away from being able to run.
- 25 October 2009 at 18:09
- SteveQ said...
Had to look at Mai-Britt's blog to see pics of who else ran. Get Kirsten to do the Danish 24-hour and I'll renew my passport.
- 25 October 2009 at 18:48
- sea legs girl said...
Ha ha. I'll work on Kirsten and the 24 hour :). She was the only one who walked the one hill every time, by the way. Guess it worked for her!
And thanks for pointing out my misspelling of asphalt. It is asfalt in Danish. I am starting to get confused I guess. I'll leave it ucorrected just because it adds character.
- 25 October 2009 at 22:01
- SteveQ said...
Umm - I didn't say anything about the spelling of asphalt (like I know Danish!!), but misspelling "uncorrected" was cute.
How long can I expect to be out with bacterial pneumonia and sinusitis?
- 26 October 2009 at 16:55
- Shelby said...
I have been a sporadic lurker of your blog :) over the last few years, (you can thank runango haha) and i thought of you the other day...Oprah did a show on denmark, and it just looks like such a lovely place to live. I told my husband that night i wanted to move there!
- 27 October 2009 at 19:21
- sea legs girl said...
Hi Shelby,
It is great to hear from you! I am so glad you commented. Man that Oprah makes waves. Everyone is also talking about her here and how Denmark is going to get rich by Americans buying all of the Danish rye bread.
Anyway, it is a great place to live, especially for women with families. And it is a very egalitarian society, which means the average person tends to be a lot happier.
But it is a HARD place to immigrate to and Danes are a bit racist (though the wouldn't admit it).
I could go on and on, but thanks so much for writing, Shelby. And thanks for your comment on the Hurricanes, too (last post). :)
- 28 October 2009 at 06:57
- Erin said...
IUD were not nice to my body. I gave it 6 months and finally had to have it removed. I started to get scared when I couldn't see anymore. Yikes!
My list of 15 symptoms went away when I had it removed. Almost instantly.
It works for some people, doesn't for others.
You're so good about listening to your body, just keep on it. : )
- 31 October 2009 at 04:03


text:
The DVCCMNV854 Long Range Weatherproof IR Camera Varifocal can focus in on an object that is half the length of a football field away. For a surveillance camera, the size is huge. It weighs 5 pounds and has been compared to the size of human head, but with a pair of eyes that can see much farther.
This infrared camera by Atrix, Inc. can be easily incorporated into a surveillance system for both professional and commercial use. That's because the camera gives you 540 razor sharp TV lines of color resolution and with 30 high powered LEDs, you can see up to 185 feet away in pure darkness.
The DVCCMNV854 has an integrated 8 to 40 millimeter auto-iris lens with external zoom and focus controls that will help get the best shot from any angle. This means that the camera's lens can be adjusted anywhere between 8 millimeters and a whopping 40 millimeters to achieve the desired field of view (FOV).
The camera has an image sensor designed by Sony that utilizes CCD (charged couple device) technology. The 1/3 inch Sony Color CCD image sensor is used to capture light (or optical image) and convert it into electrical signals, making for a more dynamic picture.


text:
Latest News
Infant survives Baghdad car bombing that killed 8
BAGHDAD — A car bomb ripped through the Shiite district of Kadhemiyah Tuesday, killing eight people and wounding 20 just a day after string of bombings left 32 dead and more than 130 wounded in the Iraqi capital.
An infant survived, but no one knew its name or age, whether its mother had survived her wounds, or whether the dead driver in the black car was its father.
Abu Haider, who sells parts and accessories for motorbikes, told McClatchy he'd rescued the child. He was in his shop when the explosion knocked him to the ground. Through the flames, haze and destruction, he spotted the crying child lying on the pavement near the baby's mother, who was wounded and bleeding profusely. He grabbed the infant and took it to a nearby home for safety and ran back to save the mother. But Iraqi Security Forces blocked the way.
Abu Haider, 40, was embittered. "It's a scandal what the security forces did. Why didn't they let us save the woman?"
A McClatchy reporter, who arrived at the scene half an hour after the bombing, saw the vehicle, damaged by shrapnel and the windows shattered.
Burned out cars and broken glass littered the street outside Abu Haider's shop Tuesday afternoon, and the infant, held in the arms of a man standing outside his home, was still wailing.
Residents had helped the wounded to the hospital, U.S. and Iraqi soldiers were moving through the streets, and the dead were carted off to the morgue. It isn't clear what will happen to the baby, now in the care of strangers.
It's likely that the driver killed in the explosion was the infant's father, as the mother and child had been sitting in the front passenger seat. No other details were known about the family.
"Is this the national reconciliation that Mr. Maliki talks about?" asked Haider, referring to Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki. "He must look for the Baathists and punish them," a reference to supporters of former dictator Saddam Hussein.
Shiites in the neighborhood saw the attack as a crime against Shiites.
Fadhil Hussein, 55, crossed the street and heard the boom. The car burst into flames where he'd been standing seconds before.
"I would be dead," he said. "This is a clear targeting of the Shiites.
As the neighborhood began to recover from the shock, President Barack Obama landed in Baghdad on an unannounced visit.
On the same day, Iraq's high court Tuesday reduced to one year the prison sentence of Muntathar al Zaidi, a television journalist who hurled his shoes at President George W. Bush during his last visit to Baghdad, shouting: "This is a farewell kiss, you dog."
The journalist, who many Iraqis regard as a hero, was sentenced last month to three years.
"He didn't want to kill the president," said his lawyer, Dhia al Saadi. "It was only an expression to humiliate him.
Also on Tuesday, an unknown gunman killed Falah Mohammed Younis, a newly elected member of the council in Nineveh province, at his doorstep in Mosul after he returned from evening prayers. He was a member of the Hadbaa list, a nationalist party that's known as anti-Kurdish. The party won control of the mostly Arab Nineveh province in recent elections. Prior to the elections, the Kurds had control.
In Iskandiriyah, south of Baghdad, the Iraqi Army found the bullet-riddled corpse of a member of the U.S.-backed, mostly Sunni militias that recently came under Iraqi government control. The U.S. military had paid the men to switch sides and help calm some of the hotbeds of the Sunni insurgency, but the Iraqi government, after taking control of the militias, has arrested a number of top leaders.
And outside Fallujah, a white and orange taxi rigged with explosives targeted Saad Abu Qutaiba, a high ranking of member of Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki's support councils. The support councils are tribal groups paid by Maliki. Abu Qutaiba was badly wounded, a policeman was killed and eight other people were wounded.
(Hammoudi is a McClatchy special correspondent. McClatchy special correspondent Hussein Kadhim contributed to this article.)
Obama visits troops, Prime Minister Maliki in Baghdad
U.S. soldier charged with killing worker on U.S. base in Iraq
7 blasts in Baghdad add to Iraq worries of renewed war
Vow to fight raises question: How long will Iraq's calm last?


text:
Estimated time to complete this lesson: 45 minutes.
Download Lesson 1 Reading
Download Lesson 1 Writing Exercise
I know you have literally tried everything to free yourself from a life of chronic pain.Will you allow me to share something new with you?
An emotional exercise can cure a physical problem. Let me send you the first lesson of my Freedom from Chronic Pain course for free.
We respect your privacy.
Thank you! Your lesson is on its way to your email inbox!


text:
Top stories for May & June 2012
Editor's note: This is the third in a six-part series highlighting the top stories in the Summit Daily News in 2012.
Summit County entities were granted more than $200,000 by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, covering all four projects submitted for funding. Breckenridge received $80,000 to fund massive trail projects on seven non-motorized trails in the Golden Horseshoe area. Summit and Park counties were awarded $45,000to study the feasibility of a rec path over Hoosier Pass to connect Breckenridge to Alma. Friends of the Dillon Ranger District was awarded $31,565.
Frisco Bay Marina officials made operational adjustments early due to low snowpack and dry spring conditions. Five docks were planned to be relocated east of Summit Middle School, tucked in a cove on the north side.
A series of errors and inconsistencies contained in redone floodplain maps for Summit County created problems for local officials and new insurance requirements for homeowners. There were an estimated half-dozen mistakes in the revamped maps, which were created by contractors for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The contractors erroneously put some homes and structures in floodplains, thus requiring the properties to be covered by flood insurance when they weren't before.
The snowpack, which hit a season high in mid-March that was still well below average, evaporated quickly across the county. The snow-water equivalent – a measurement of the moisture contained in the snowpack in inches of water – fell to 29 percent of average in the Blue River Basin on May 1 – the lowest on the 45-year record. The Colorado River Basin also hit a record low, with a snow-water equivalent falling to 21 percent of average. The basin's total snowpack was also at 21 percent of average.
Summit County joined Breckenridge on an elite list of bike-friendly communities, winning a bronze level recognition this year for its efforts to make the community safe and enjoyable for bikers. The League of American Bicyclists selected Summit County for the first time, determining that the local government had demonstrated the early stages of a strong commitment to cycling and had "room to grow," according to a statement from county officials.
A lease allowing developer Brynn Grey X, LLC to bring a Whole Foods Market to the town-owned interstate parcel was approved on second and final reading at the Frisco Town Council meeting. The lease gave David O'Neil's development company a 50-year lease on the town's 9.4-acre property, located along Interstate 70 behind Safeway and the Summit Stage Transit Center.
Summit County water districts prepared early for possible drought conditions this summer, implementing voluntary water restrictions, while the Summit Board of County Commissioners considered implementing a Stage 1 fire ban. As dry conditions persisted and the last of Summit County's snowpack disappeared, the town of Frisco and the East Dillon Water District put voluntary water restrictions in place.
Local authorities investigated six small wildfires as arson, after pages of a book, matches and a can of highly flammable bug spray were discovered at two of the scenes.The fires broke out close to one another on Peak 8 in Breckenridge along trails near the Breck Nordic center. Firefighters from Red, White and Blue Fire District were able to contain an active blaze quickly. A second fire had burned out when firefighters arrived. Authorities discovered additional ignition sites at nearby locations upon further investigation later in the day. No structures were damaged.
Aiming to set an example during a period of extreme fire danger, the Breckenridge Town Council agreed to cancel the town's July Fourth fireworks display. Fire conditions this year were particularly bad, fire officials said, and the danger of a wildfire being ignited by home pyrotechnics is high.Both Dillon and the Frisco councils unanimously decided to cancel the towns' annual July Fourth fireworks displays.
Start a dialogue, stay on topic and be civil.
If you don't follow the rules, your comment may be deleted.


text:
Business Online Banking
Interested in Having Online Banking Access?
CNB's Business Online Banking allows you to connect to your business accounts anytime, anywhere there is Internet access. Combine this with our CNBill Pay system for the perfect complement to your commercial cash management solution.
Business Online Banking offers:
Complete Management of Funds
- Schedule transfers between internal accounts
- Setup wire transfers to other financial institutions
- Control user access with customized authorization
- Review a complete summary of all transfers
- Create ACH payroll files and upload for processing
Streamlined Account Management
- Obtain a quick snapshot of the current cash position of all your accounts 24/7
- View historical account balances
- Review current and past statements and check images
- Authorize and review stop payments
- Electronic delivery of your monthly statements
CNBill Pay for Business offers:
- Pay your employees electronically
- Payment from Multiple Bank Accounts
- Pending Payment Calendar
- Email Payments (Person-to-Person)
- Bill Payment Reminders
- Tax Payments
To learn other things that you can do to ensure your information is safeguarded, visit our security tips section.
If you are new to online banking, please take a few moments to view our demo and review some frequently asked questions. If you need any more information, don't hesitate to call us and we'll do everything we can to help.


text:
Charlie Company
Army ROTC is offered to students attending colleges and universities in the Grand Rapids area at Western Michigan University's Grand Rapids-Beltline regional location.
Students who attend full time at a school other than WMU must be accepted to WMU as a guest student. The following schools are affiliated with the Bronco Battalion:
- Albion College (attend at Main Campus)
- Aquinas College
- Calvin College
- Cornerstone University
- Davenport University
- Grace Christian University
- Grand Valley State University
- Hope College
- Olivet College (attend at Main Campus)
If you have 26 or more college credits or using the GI Bill, you will use the guest student application and submit it through the registrar's office at the school you are currently attending.
If you are a high school student or have fewer than 26 college credits, you must apply to WMU as if you were going to attend full time. When filling out your application, you should mark the block that says "Non-degree status" and enter ROTC as the intended major.
Non-degree student application
Contact us
WMU Army ROTC
Scholarship and Enrollment Officer
Phone: (800) WMU-ROTC (968-7682)
WMU-Grand Rapids Beltline
2333 E Beltline Ave SE
Grand Rapids MI 49546-5936 USA
Mailing address
Department of Military Science and Leadership
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5249 USA


text:
Home » Quietest Window AC Guide » Best Countertop Dishwasher Appliance Analysts
Thank you for visiting our site!
We're doing our best to create a collection of useful articles about everything related to homes and appliances.
We aim to save you time, stress, and money; by collating everything you need to find that perfect product.
Find out more about us here.
If we used any. But we don't.
I hate adverts, and I'm sure you do too.
If our content has helped you, please consider supporting us by joining our mailing list or clicking on some of our other articles.
We're small fish in a big pond. Your readership and support means the world to us.
Thanks for visiting. Hope you enjoy the read!
Want to know how to get the most out of it?
Save yourself a ton of hassle with our
FREE 15-page Amazon eBook.
You'll Discover:
✓ How to spot fake reviews
✓ How to get money back as a Prime member
✓ How to find the best deals, offers, and coupons
✓ Why 'Amazon's Choice' & '#1 BestSeller' may
not mean what you think
Free for members of our private mailing list, where we share the best deals and offers from our product research.
Get your copy by signing up now.
You have successfully joined our subscriber list.


text: ShareOn-Campus ServicesAcademic AdvisingOur Academic Advisors help students choose a major or plan a course of study. Click here for a list of Graduate Academic Advisors. Writing CenterPhone: (603) 897-8580Location: The Learning CommonsThe Rivier University Writing Center provides professional, student-centered assistance and academic support as students work on writing tasks in courses across the curriculum. Writers come to the center for one-on-one conferences with a professional consultant to discuss assignments in progress and aspects of writing on which the writer wants to focus. These individualized conferences are available to all students on either a drop-in or reserved appointment basis. The Writing Center is located in the Learning Commons. Career Development CenterPhone: (603) 897-8246Location: The Learning CommonsThe Career Development Center (CDC) encourages students and alumni to actively participate in developing their future career plans. The CDC is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and evenings by appointment. Public SafetyLocation: Dion CenterOur Public Safety Department is staffed 24 hours a day and prepared to offer escorts to your car, jump starts, and any other safety assistance you may need while attending evening classes. DiningRivier has a cafe in Regina Library. The cafe offers light dining options—including sandwiches, salads, and more—Monday through Thursday until 9 p.m. The Dion Center Dining Hall also offers dinner each day from 4:45 to 6:45 p.m. You can use your student ID card to conveniently make food purchases at both locations.


text:
A Sit-In to Save a Sacred Site
The day before construction began on the site of a Native American burial ground, members of several local tribes came to Glen Cove, Calif., and built a ceremonial fire.
That was on April 14 of this year. For 97 days, they camped on the land to protect it and prayed to their ancestors that the Greater Vallejo Recreation District (GVRD) would change its plans to build a parking lot and bathrooms on the site. On July 21, the 98th day of the vigil, the protesters were victorious. The GVRD and the City of Vallejo established a cultural easement agreement with two Native American tribes, granting them a say in the park's development.
During their occupation of Glen Cove, the protesters invoked federal legislation that allows indigenous people access to places of worship. Their efforts stalled construction and pressured the GVRD to negotiate with tribes that had proven connections to the land. Under the new agreement, the GVRD won't build bathrooms, and the parking lot will be moved to an area of the site that doesn't contain human remains.
More than 3,500 years ago, Glen Cove, also known as "Sogorea Te," was a 15-acre trading hub and spiritual center for the Bay Area's tribes. It was also home to a burial ground, or "shellmound." Burials no longer take place there, but it continues to be a sacred site for traditional Native American ceremonies. Of an estimated 425 shellmounds in the Bay Area, only three remain that are not covered by roads, shopping malls, or other types of development.
"It's time to put a halt to desecrating these sacred sites," said Wounded Knee DeOcampo, a Miwok elder and one of the leaders of the Committee to Protect Glen Cove, the group affiliated with the protesters.
DeOcampo says non-native people supported the committee during the protests with boxes of produce from local farms, restaurant fare, water, and prayers. In May, attorneys from the National Lawyers Guild came to the encampment to offer legal advice.
More than a week before the settlement, committee leader Corrina Gould of the Chochenyo/Karkin Ohlone Nation awaited the outcome of a closed-session meeting between the Vallejo City Council and representatives of the tribes.
"I feel like it's my responsibility to ensure protection of this site," she said in a telephone call from City Hall.
That responsibility did not end with the establishment of the cultural easement.
In a press release following the agreement, Gould stated that although the cultural easement is an important victory, the tribes are still concerned about the lack of specific language that would prevent grading on the western portion of the site.
While the committee's work to protect Sogorea Te is not yet done, its occupation of the site is over. At press time, an ending ceremony for the protesters' encampment was scheduled for July 30, 2011.
Lily Hicks wrote this article for New Livelihoods, the Fall 2011 issue of YES! Magazine. Lily is an editorial intern at YES!


text:
This Blog focuses on Ancestor Stories, both the stories themselves about my family's ancestors and discussions of where they come from and how to prepare and share them. These stories may be non-fiction or fiction – we will always tell which is which, of course. Also see my KINNICK blog and The HOMEPLACE Series Blog, left sidebar, scroll down.
Monday, April 26, 2010
My Hometown on Monday - Crouqet Court
From the Coon Rapids Centennial 100 years proud 1863-1963:
Looks like fun!
Families are Forever! ;-)
2 comments:
Aloha Bill,ReplyDelete
Thanks for the welcome to another geneablogger.
Enjoyed the story and photo on croquet! We used to play in our backyards in Baltimore, MD grewing up!
Here are some Ancestors-at-glance fan charts your readers may enjoy at:
Added Henry VIII and other royal ones today.
I am soooo glad I found your Blog.ReplyDelete
I love Genealogy and Family History.. but dont know how to find blogs.
You make your blog so interesting.... thanks and keep up the great work !!!


text:
CARLSBAD Big runs at the start of the game and to open the second half propelled the La Costa Canyon High girls to a convincing 66-43 win over La Verne Bonita on Wednesday in the first round of the Southern California Regional playoffs.
For the Mavericks, the San Diego Section Division II champions, this was their first girls state playoff victory.
"I told the girls to come out with energy," said LCC coach Mario Flores. "I wanted to get the early lead. When we do it, it usually works out well."
The Mavericks (31-2), who will play a quarterfinal home game Saturday, jumped to a 14-1 lead with Esther Wofford and Taylor Pierce each scoring five. The Mavericks led 35-23 at the break.
A 13-4 run to open the second half, fueled by Savannah Irwin, Matti Haglund and Rachel Dumiak, pushed the advantage to 21 and put an end to Bonita's season at 25-7.
"Our big three (Irwin, Wofford and Pierce) play well almost every night," Flores said. "Every game, I ask someone else to step up. Tonight it was Rachel Dumiak."
Irwin, the 6-foot-5 dominant presence in the middle, had 19 points and 16 rebounds for the Mavericks. Pierce, a sophomore guard, finished with 13 points and a career high 16 rebounds. Wofford added 10 points.
Dumiak, also a sophomore, had 12 points, nine rebounds and blocked a pair of shots.
Tag(s): News La Costa Canyon News


text: I am new to java, and these forums etc., and I've seen a few people get called out for posting their questions on more than one site. I'm just wondering why this is such a bad thing? It seems to me you post on two sites and get twice as many answers, and different points of views... but it's taboo here?


text:
Phones using the Android OS are gaining fast on BlackBerry, iPhone
Smart phones now take up 25 percent of the U.S. mobile market, showing steady growth, quarter to quarter, during the past year, according to survey results from the Nielsen Company. And phones with the Android operating system are spreading the fastest, going from basically nowhere a year ago to holding 13 percent of the subscriber market in the second quarter of 2010. In fact, during the past six months, Android phones have outsold Apple's iPhone, by 27 percent to 23 percent of sales during that period, although the iPhone still has more subscribers overall because of previous sales.
Research in Motion's BlackBerry still is the most-used smart phone, but its lead is getting smaller.
Click for larger image. Source: The Nielsen Company
About the Author
Kevin McCaney is a former editor of Defense Systems and GCN.
E-Mail this page
Printable Format
Advanced Search
Sign up for our newsletter.
I agree to this site's Privacy Policy.


text:
They say it's better to give than to receive, but They haven't been to the mall lately.
Americans are doing more and more holiday shopping for themselves, data over the last decade show, even as planned gift-buying for family members has stayed steady (sorry friends and co-workers, your numbers are down).
The reasons are complicated, including a recession that's transformed what used to be a magical few days of strolling past Santa-themed window displays into a weeks-long, competitive fire sale. But experts on consumer psychology say a major cultural shift has been building: It has now become acceptable — even necessary — to give ourselves treats and rewards all year long. We're ripe for a new generation of ads like J. Crew's "To: You, From: You," or Bare Minerals' "What's your gift?"
Is the old-fashioned concept of the gift, that emblem of humility, in danger?
During a recent afternoon at the Pentagon City mall in Arlington, one person after another first said they were there to buy holiday gifts for others, then sheepishly showed off their haul for Numero Uno.
"I was supposed to be holiday shopping," said Katrina Wyder-flowers, 47, as she carefully removed two big boxes from a bag next to her lunch table in the mall atrium and opened them. Out came a pair of blue leather boots, then a pair of mahogany ones, both with super-high heels. "I love a bargain."
Some retail experts call this "gift conversion" — the dance you do in your head when you wind up buying for yourself after ostensibly going out to shop for someone else. Economic, demographic and generational changes, they say, have had a Pavlovian effect. Americans hear "Christmas" and think "massive bargain-shopping for all the stuff I didn't get during the year."
A major driver of what retailers refer to as "self-gifting" is the tough economy, which has transformed holiday retailing. There have been Black Friday sales for decades, but in the past, December was traditionally the month when retailers charmed customers with window displays rather than hitting them with sales pitches. "The conventional wisdom was: Why mark things down at the height of the season? Then it became convention," said Adam Hanft, a branding and marketing consultant who writes about consumer culture.
Selling has become more aggressive and more democratic as retailers compete for fewer dollars. Steep — then steeper — discounts prevail throughout December. Even places like Home Depot and Lowe's that aren't traditional Christmas stores are in the mix. Every store tries harder to reach every customer — no more Target for you and Neiman Marcus for me (the odd couple teamed up this season to create a shared product line, available at either store).
The result: The percentage of people who said in October that they planned to take advantage of sales and buy for themselves during the holiday season has been climbing steadily from 51 percent in 2004 (when the question was first asked) to nearly 60 percent last year. During that same period, the percentage of people who said they'd be buying stayed steady for family (98 to 96 percent), but plunged for friends (80 to 71 percent) and co-workers (38 to 31 percent). The research was done by BIGinsight for the National Retail Federation.
Presents aren't quite so special when we're treating ourselves all year. Indeed, the whole concept of the holiday gift seems to have been ratcheted down a notch. Red flags: As the power of the gift-giving ritual weakens, we increasingly use convenient gift bags rather than wrapping presents by hand; we give gift cards (now available at the supermarket!) rather than selecting something personal; we off-load the whole transaction via online shopping, without even setting our eyes on the gift itself.
Many consumer-behavior experts say people feel more entitled to gifts than they once did. Marketers home in on this feeling and shopping symbiosis ensues. "People feel more deserving than they did, broadly," Hanft said. "Fifty years ago if you asked people, 'Is it appropriate to buy yourself a gift?' They would have said: 'Wrong.' Now a huge number says it's right. I think that's a sea change in values."
Kit Yarrow, a Golden Gate University professor of business and psychology, said marketers have "hammered home the point that: 'You deserve something.' For previous generations, gratitude had a bigger role in gift-giving. People's expectations of what they should have are different." In her book "Gen Buy," Yarrow focused on buyers in their 20s and teens and argued that the concept of giving yourself a present registers much differently for younger Americans.
Which is to say, it doesn't. "They've been exposed their whole life to this idea that you're special, you deserve it," she said.
The BIGinsight poll found that 72 percent of shoppers 18 to 24 said they planned to shop for themselves, compared with lower percentages as people age. Of people 55 to 64, for example, 50 percent said they planned to buy non-gifts during the holiday season.
In the past decade, advertising has increasingly reflected this. Last holiday season saw , — in addition to J. Crew's "To: You, From: You" — the Gap's "Tuck Yourself In" and "One for you, one for me" from Starbucks. Such ads, said Yarrow, "became a mantra for everyone."
Shoppers like Pentagon City's Wyder-flowers are bombarded by conflicting messages about gift-giving. Piles of faux gifts and oversize checklists of people to buy for compete with ad campaigns like BCBG's "Have you been naughty or nice?" and Macy's "Treat yourself."
In the midst of it all last Friday sat Kat and Greg Payne, a young couple from Logan, Utah. They were taking a break from "gift-shopping" in the free massage chairs on the second floor. So far Greg, a 23-year-old brine shrimp harvester had two new baseball caps and Kat, a 22-year-old nursing student, had a new shirt.
"I needed a new hat but bought two. We went in and the guy was so nice. If it's a good sale, might as well," he said.
This is typical of our rationalizing when we self-gift. "Or we'll say 'I'll look better for my husband,' or 'This will make me happier, or a better cook.' We say to ourselves: 'By treating myself, I'm really helping others,'" said Paco Underhill, who has been writing about behavioral research and shopping since the 1970s.
Changing demographics have also played a role in the growth in self-gifting. Young working women with jobs, for example, are more likely today to be single and childless, meaning they have the freedom and resources to shop for themselves. More Americans in general are single, which retail experts say means they are less likely to get the gifts they want if they don't buy them for themselves.
That can lead to dark territory.
At their core, Underhill said, holiday gifts are the ultimate tokens of our feelings, physical representations of what we want to say to other people. I like you. I'm scared of you. I want to know you better. And he believes that our transient, often single culture can be a lonely one. We self-gift in order to say things to ourselves that other people aren't saying.
"We're looking," he said, "for little signs of self-worth we used to get from someone else."


text:
Extendable Orb Round Curtain Pole.
Beautifully designed extendable curtain pole - fittings and instructions included.
100% metal pole.
Colours: Black Nickel, Nickel, Antique Brass, Brushed Steel.
Available sizes:
- 70-120cm
- 120-220cm
- 180-340cm
- 210-400cm
(Prices vary according to size)
Diameter: 28mm (all measurements are approx.)
Matching holdbacks also available.