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Are Probiotics the Answer to Colic?/
Update 2014/04/02 - Since this article was published, new research has come to light on the use of probiotics to treat colic. For my latest thoughts on probiotics see: The Very Latest on Probiotics
We can thank the Italians for some of the best things in life – good coffee, great pasta, my daydreams of a romantic gondola ride with the man who adores me… Can we also thank them for the answer to colic?
Some really encouraging colic research has come out of Italy this year. A large study of 589 infants reported that the babies who proactively received probiotics from their first few days of life had:
- nearly a 50% reduction in crying time;
- less regurgitation and constipation;
- significantly less pediatric emergency department visits;
- fewer lost parental working days; and
- less use of agents to promote gastrointestinal comfort,
compared to the babies that received the placebo.
Now as a mum of a baby who screamed for hours at a time, results like that catch my attention fast! What I find interesting is that those results are consistent with a 2010 study that also showed a 50% reduction in crying time for babies that received probiotics.
How do Probiotics Work?
The bottom line is that nobody knows what causes colic for certain, but one theory is that affected babies have problems with the types of microflora (micro-organisms like bacteria) in their gut. A small 2013 study reported that infants with colic showed lower diversity and stability in their gut microflora than the control group. The theory is that the microflora imbalance affects gut function, including movement through the intestines and gas production.
The researchers in this latest Italian study said that "colonies of lactobacillus reuteri appear to reduce intestinal inflammation, improve movement in the intestines and lessen sensitivity to pain… but more research is needed to understand exactly what the bacterium does in the body."
Conflicting Results:
It is still early days in investigating probiotics and many doctors think there is still insufficient evidence to recommend them for general preventative use. The difficulty is that there are other studies that had conflicting results – studies where the probiotics didn't appear to work. Some doctors are also concerned that little is known about the long term effects of probiotics use in babies.
My View?
It is far from a slam dunk yet, but the evidence on probiotics is encouraging. One important point for me is that there were no adverse events (scientific-speak for bad side effects) reported in either the 2010 study or the 2014 study. So when I had my own screaming baby, I was definitely willing to give probiotics a shot. The baby probiotics we used with Oliver were a different strain to the one used in this latest study (we used BabyBiotics from BioCeuticals). Although it wasn't an instant fix for us, I think it probably did help.
You can buy baby probiotics from your local pharmacy. It wasn't too hard to use – depending on the type you get it comes either in drops or in a powder. If it's the powder you can mix it with expressed milk or formula. We used to just mix it with some water on a teaspoon to make a runny paste and he'd swallow it from the teaspoon.
The thing to remember about probiotics is that you are working to change your baby's gut flora, so it won't be an instant fix - it might take a week or two to start having an impact.
What If it Doesn't Work For Your Baby?
If you've already tried probiotics and they haven't helped your baby – don't worry, the cause of your baby's colic might be something else. I believe its likely that there's more than one cause of excessive crying in babies. To read more about the causes of colic, check out my recent post: "So What IS Colic Anyway?"
Take care out there,
PS Today I'm linking up with Essentially Jess and the #IBOT team :)


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If you have found yourself in debt or are having trouble making mortgage payments, you may be wondering how a loan modification would affect your credit rating. If you're like most people, you may be skipping over this option for fear of what it will do to your credit score, but you should know that the impact on one's credit score is not always damaging or permanent. While the initial effect on your credit score may be negative, a loan modification agreement is always a better option than foreclosure and may even have a positive impact on the credit score in the long term. Long term effects are, after all, what matters the most.
Loan modification agreements are not reported in the same way by every lender. You cannot change how your lender will report the agreement to a credit bureau or what effect, sometimes negative or sometimes no effect at all, it will have on your credit score, but you can do something about this impact in the long term by meeting all the terms of the loan modification and making payments on time. Doing so will enable you to build up your credit score again and possibly make it stronger than it was before you began having financial difficulties. When credit is rebuilt, it is almost as though the debtor never had any debt in the first place. In fact, many lending institutions will look favorably on someone who has had debt and paid it off, as this shows that the borrower, though he or she may have some difficulties, honors his or her commitments and pays them off on time.
You should always ask your lender how it will report the loan modification agreement to the credit bureaus. If you are aware of this and of what effect it will have on your credit score, you will know if you need to take additional steps to improve your credit score. In some cases, speaking with a free credit counselor can be a very helpful tool in building or rebuilding your credit score. These professionals can help you to make smart decisions that will positively impact your credit, no matter what state it may currently be in. They can also clue you in to small, easy things you can do to boost your credit rating on an almost daily basis.
Debtors should be careful to make decisions that will have a long term positive effect on their credit scores. Usually, the only alternative to a loan modification is foreclosure, and foreclosure leaves a very hefty dent in your credit score that can be almost impossible to recover from. With a loan modification, even if you do have to suffer the temporary drawbacks of a poor credit rating, it will be much easier to pick yourself and your credit score back up. No matter what you situation, be sure to research all your options and to make a smart choice for you and your lifestyle.


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Slavic Brotherhood 2019
Paratroopers from Serbia will be hosts to elite counterparts from Russia and Belarus for this year`s Slavic Military Brotherhood exercise, which will last over 13 days between June 14 and 27.
On June 14 the multinational tactical exercise with live firing "Slavic Brotherhood 2019" started lining up members of the armed forces of the participating countries, in the "Rastko Nemanjić" barracks in Pancevo, northern Serbia.
At the exercise carried out on the topic "Multinational forces in anti-terrorist operation" there are more than 750 members from Serbian, Russian and Bealrusian Army. The Commander of the Special Brigade of the Serbian Armed Forces, Brigadier General Miroslav Talijan, greeted participants of the exercise on behalf of the Chief of General Staff of the Serbian Army, General Milan Mojsilovic.
"This exercise is performed in the area where members of the Soviet Red Army hand in hand with the members of the Yugoslav Army led a decisive struggle in October 1944 to liberate Banat, eastern and entire Serbia from fascists", stated Serbian General Talijan and added that the exercise "Slavic Brotherhood 2019" is conducted with the aim of training commands and units for the execution of missions in special forces operations.
Russian Colonel Viktor Babikov pointed out that members of the army of the three countries will jointly conduct maneuvers and combat operations using the latest resources that these armies have in their arms.
Cooperation between the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and the Serbian Armed Forces began with the implementation of the exercise "Srem 2014", which was realized at the Nikinci field in Serbia.
In 2015, the exercise was organized on the territory of the Russian Federation under the title "Slavic Brotherhood 2015" and besides the armed forces of the Russian Federation and the Army of Serbia, the members of the armed forces of the Republic of Belarus also participated for the first time.
In 2016, the trilateral exercise "Slavic Brotherhood 2016" was carried out in the territory of Serbia. In 2017, the host of the exercise was Belarus, and last year the exercise was carried out not far from Novorossiysk in the Russian Federation.
During the last meeting of the President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, which occurred in late May on the margins of the "Belt and Road" Forum in Beijing, in a joint analysis of the relations between Serbia and Russia, one of the topics of the meeting of the two presidents was military cooperation.
In a statement for the media, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic pointed out that in the previous period payments of about 619 million euros were agreed for various types of weapons from Russia. On this occasion, he added that Serbia will pay more than 60 percent of the sum by the end of the year, or about 360 million.
However, Serbia as a neutral state purchases military equipment from the West also. The president of Serbia announced in mid-February this year that the H145 and H215 helicopters would cost a total of 175 million euros.
What is particularly interesting is the comparison of Serbia's military cooperation with Russia and NATO. In this field, NATO is absolutely dominant. Serbian Army cooperates far more with NATO that it does with Russia. Since 2006, when Serbia joined the NATO Partnership for Peace program, Serbia has participated in over 150 military exercises with NATO member states. The number of joint exercises with Russia was ten times smaller.
Last year in Serbia was held the largest NATO civilian exercise in history of the alliance. International Field Exercise "Serbia 2018" was organized by the Serbian Ministry of Internal Affairs and the NATO EURO-Atlantic Disaster Response Coordination Centre (EADRCC).
From our partner International Affairs
Macron is wrong, NATO is not brain-dead
Right before the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin wall this weekend, French President Macron decided to make another staggering statement in a series of gaffes over the past weeks. "NATO is brain-dead", he said in an interview for the Economist yesterday and everyone gasped. Europeans more than anyone need the alliance alive and well.
Macron also said that he didn't know if he still believed in Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty – the part on collective defense which says that an attack on one is an attack on all. The French President was worried about whether the US was still committed to the alliance.
This is not the first time that NATO has been kicked. The alliance has been scorned over the years, many doubting its reason d'etre. The transatlantic alliance has proven to be a resilient one over the decades, however. It is a mathematical constant, if you wish.
If the transatlantic alliance didn't break on the rocks of the Iraq war, it surely can survive Trump.
Macron's concern is that historical forces are pulling the transatlantic allies apart but that perception is a product of Trump's rhetoric, nothing more – it is not indicative of the pattern of transatlantic relations over the decades. Transatlantic relations are not Trump.
President Trump is facing an impeachment and elections, all within the next months to a year. The assessment of transatlantic relations cannot be based on the rhetoric of a person who might be gone soon. No one in the Washington community believes that Trump would withdraw from NATO, even after all the tough rhetoric. NATO is here to stay, and that is the belief among virtually all US officials and diplomats. Transatlantic relations will soon normalize after President Trump is out of office because that is the pattern. The transatlantic partnership is deeply ingrained in the American political psyche. There is no need for apocalyptic statements that rock the boat.
The US has guaranteed Europe's security since the end of the Second World War. Europe cannot do it on its own. What is true is that Europe needs to start contributing more to its own defense.
For a third of NATO's European member states in proximity to Russia, NATO is anything but obsolete. From the Baltic States, through Poland, Slovakia, Romania, down to Bulgaria, NATO's enhanced military presence since the Crimea war has been felt as a counter-measure to Russian ambitions. That of course is far away from France, but European NATO is not France. Macron doesn't speak for all the NATO European states most of who cannot imagine political life and even survival without NATO.
What is apparent is that French President Macron is rolling out a gaffe after gaffe this week. He caused a diplomatic scandal with the Bulgarian and Ukrainian governments, by saying in a far-right magazine that he preferred legal African migrants to Bulgarian and Ukrainian criminal gangs. The week before that, he blocked Albania and North Macedonia from starting accession talks for EU membership, which drew a lot of criticism from all corners of Europe. Yesterday, Macron called Bosnia a jihadists ticking bomb, of course ignoring that France is a jihadist force itself. Macron's "brain death" comment angered Angela Merkel who warned him to cut down on the drastic remarks.
So Macron, not Trump, is the one with the divisive, anti-European role, judging by the past weeks. Macron, not Trump, is turning into the European anti-hero.
The claim that the French President's series of inflammatory statements is a strategy to position France as the alternative leader of the European Union could be as true at the hypothesis that all this is a part of Macron pandering to the French far-right.
The truth is that NATO is alive and kicking. Its very existence serves as deterrence against a potential attack on a NATO member, so that Article 5 does not even have to be tested. NATO should not be taken for granted; only when something no longer exists will one get to appreciate all the invisible deterrence benefits.
If the history of Article 5 shows us one thing, is that it was used for the first time by the Americans in the aftermath of September 11th. This is a common reminder, anytime someone in the US questions the value of NATO.
So, Macron is wrong on NATO. It will be good if he toned down the lunatic rhetoric of the past weeks, to show that he himself is not brain-dead. If Macron's intention was to make waves, he is succeeding. If his intention was to be vying for the European Union top leadership spot, he is failing.
Strategic Instability in the Era of Information and Communication Technologies: Crisis or the New Norm?
Strategic stability is once again becoming a primary concern in international relations. The topic has received a great deal of attention of late, mainly because of the steady erosion of the reduction and limitation regime: the United States has now withdrawn from both the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty (ABM Treaty) and the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty), the New START treaty is set to expire soon, and no further talks on reduction and limitation of nuclear arms are being held. Another reason is the rapid development of information and communication technologies (ICTs), which are playing a growing role in the global military and political arena in the 21st century. With a new technological revolution under way, can we ensure a level of strategic security that is both necessary and sufficient? Or will instability become a new trend in global strategic security as well? It would be hard to argue that this is not a crisis.
Today there are two approaches — or rather a rift between the old understanding of "strategic stability," which took shape during the bipolar era (when the term itself was coined), and a radically new understanding of the ways of ensuring strategic stability in the modern world and the challenges that this presents.
As is often the case, the truth probably lies somewhere in between. It would be a mistake to discard the experience of maintaining strategic stability that was accumulated throughout the Cold War period and which helped prevent a deep-seated confrontation from boiling over into a large-scale war — even though the political and technological changes that have taken place since then cannot be ignored.
As an example, during the bipolar era, "strategic stability" was defined as a state of relations that would remove incentives for a nuclear first strike.
Since nuclear arms still exist and their destructive capabilities are constantly improving, this understanding of strategic stability is as relevant today as it was during the Cold War, when it was only taking shape. But the situation has grown considerably more complicated over the last three decades, and the methods and mechanisms of preventing nuclear war that were envisaged during the bipolar era are no longer in line with the current geopolitical reality and the level of technological development. With these massive changes in international military and political relations, we need to consider other parameters in addition to the nuclear component, while at the same time preserving the essence of the idea. Furthermore, the bipolar era, when the world was split between two global opposing powers, has given way to a situation where strategic stability is determined by a greater number of players. This is why we need to assess the characteristics and capabilities of the military and political system as a whole.
Strategic stability of the military and political system is a state of the world (the lack of a large-scale war) within which the framework of this system is maintained even under continuous disturbance (destabilizing factors) for a certain (defined) period of time.
Therefore, on a professional level, not only should we be talking about "maintaining" and "strengthening" strategic stability, but we should also acknowledge the need to ensure strategic stability and devise new approaches to assessing its level based on our experience — which means we must develop common qualitative and especially quantitative assessments of this level. For that to be possible, we need to agree on common assessment criteria.
The bilateral discussion of such criteria between the United States and Russia came to a halt in the 1990s, as the U.S. no longer considered it necessary. This has given rise to a global problem, because the reduction of strategic stability to a level that is below what is needed and what is sufficient is dangerous for all states without exception. It is thus in the best interests of all countries to ensure this level, but the extent of their responsibility varies. The nuclear powers are still the most responsible.
What new features of this system, in which ensuring a necessary and sufficient level of stability is so crucial, have emerged over the past few decades?
An increase in the number of local wars and armed conflicts which break out and progress increasingly under the influence of ICTs.
The restructuring of international relations after a period of bipolarity followed by multipolarity dominated by the United States. This new transformation is, first of all, caused by changes in military and strategic relations between Russia and the United States, as well as by the appearance of a new global centre of power, namely China, which is not involved in the nuclear disarmament process.
The gradual erosion of the strategic arms limitation and reduction regime: the United States has now withdrawn both from the ABM Treaty and the INF Treaty, the New START treaty is set to expire soon, and no further talks on reduction and limitation of nuclear arms are being held.
Nuclear missile multipolarity, which consists in a growing number of states possessing nuclear weapons and the increasing probability of their proliferation.
The trend towards doctrinal changes among nuclear powers that are formally aimed at strengthening the deterrence regime but in fact lead to a reduction of the threshold for the use of nuclear arms; in particular, there is a growing possibility of a limited nuclear war.
Creation of a large-scale U.S. missile defence system, which brings about serious changes in the strategic balance of power and increased uncertainty in strategic planning.
The growing role and power of non-nuclear (highly precise and highly intelligent) weapons in strategic planning. These new armaments create the hypothetical threat of a disarming strike against strategic nuclear forces. Developing these kinds of weapons complicates the global strategic landscape and makes crisis decision-making all the more difficult.
Deployment of nuclear and non-nuclear weapons on the same platforms, which may lead to the launch of ballistic or cruise missiles with conventional warheads being perceived as nuclear weapons use.
The appearance of low-yield nuclear weapons, which lowers the threshold for nuclear weapons use and, as a result, increases the probability of an armed conflict escalating to a nuclear war.
Development of ICT-based state-of-the-art anti-satellite weapons that allow countries to interfere with enemy satellites, including parts of the ballistic missile early warning system, and destroy them using ground-based anti-satellite systems. Such weapons can also disrupt the operation of satellites used for network-centric warfare, which is an approach being actively developed by militarily developed states. This is one of the most serious threats to strategic stability at this stage.
The militarization of space. In February 2019, President of the United States Donald Trump signed a Memorandum on the Establishment of the United States Space Force, which lists such purposes as protecting U.S. interests in space, "deterring aggression and defending the Nation," as well as "projecting military power in, from and to space."
In addition to technological developments, experts from various countries increasingly point to the role that psychology plays in influencing strategic stability in the modern world. Western society and its political elites no longer fear nuclear war, which may lead to a considerable reduction of the threshold for weapons use, including with regard to nuclear arms. And most alarming of all is not this confidence in the impossibility of nuclear war, but rather the belief that a "small," local nuclear war can be fought and won. Such views have started to grow and spread partly due to progress in ICTs, which makes it possible to project informational and psychological influence on a huge audience in a relatively short amount of time and at minimal cost.
We can thus distinguish several key factors of the global influence of ICTs on strategic stability. First, ICTs can be used for destructive military and political purposes. Second, the exponential growth of technologies that force countries to acquire strategic advantages can make it tempting to try and win a large-scale war. Third, the boundaries between peace and war, defence and offence in military planning (including in the nuclear sphere) tend to become blurred. Furthermore, the logic of global confrontation is changing: the combined use of non-military tactics and harmful ICTs enables countries to achieve their war goals even without armed conflict. And one last notable factor of influence is the reduced path to the escalation of conflict, caused by the probability of ICT attacks on nuclear missile infrastructure.
When elaborating criteria for assessing the level of strategic stability and developing plans to ensure it, it is wise both to consider those factors that can be found in any historical period and those specific to the current age. The accelerated progress of ICTs falls into the latter category. Analysis shows that all the destabilizing factors in the modern strategic stability system are due to the development of ICTs. According to expert estimates, over 30 states possess so-called offensive cyber weapons; this is why this threat should really be singled out as a destabilizing factor of its own. Moreover, each of the other factors is enhanced by the destructive use of ICTs, the militarization of peaceful information technologies, and the ease of use, unexpectedness and speed of both IT and psychological weapons.
Additional risks are posed by so-called cyber electromagnetic activities, which are being actively developed by the United States. These include cyber operations, electronic warfare, electronic peacetime attacks, electromagnetic spectrum management operations, the suppression of targets by active and passive interference, as well as electromagnetic disinformation.
The potential use of ICTs to undermine the security of military facilities as part of a nation's critical infrastructure is clearly a global threat. At the same time, estimating the possible damage from such threats and developing countermeasures is significantly complicated by the intangible nature of ICTs, as well as by the wide range of sources of possible malicious technologies: state and non-state actors, and even single hackers. All of this increases the level of uncertainty and instability. ICT threats may be attributed to various elements of military organization and infrastructure. But in the context of strategic stability, special attention should be paid to the security of nuclear missile weapons. All nuclear powers are modernizing their nuclear systems to keep up with the progress in computer technologies. The integration of network operations in military planning programmes began more than 30 years ago, and today we can already speak of an ICT revolution in military affairs. More and more components of the military nuclear infrastructure — from warheads and their delivery vehicles to control and guidance systems and command and control systems of strategic nuclear forces — depend on sophisticated software, which makes them potential targets for ICT attacks.
Special attention needs to be paid to the protection of strategic weapons, the early warning system, air and missile defence systems, and the command and control system for nuclear weapons. Furthermore, in addition to, or instead of, the principle of deterrence by inevitable retaliation, there is now growing interest in deterrence by blocking the use of offensive means (a "left of launch" strategy) through the use of ICTs.
Decreased strategic stability is due to the fact that the development of malicious ICTs increases the probability of a number of adverse events, such as the erroneous authorized launch of ballistic missiles; the decision to use nuclear weapons; the receipt of a false alarm from the early warning system about the launch of ballistic missiles, which is possible on account of the growing sophistication of ICT attacks or the damage or destruction of communication channels; interference in the control system of the armed forces (including nuclear forces); and the decreased confidence of military decisionmakers in the performance of control and command systems. In addition, a critical issue is the impact that the increased probability of nuclear weapons being disabled or destroyed by means of ICTs will have on future nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation processes.
The possibility that decisions about the use of nuclear weapons will be influenced by information and communication technologies is therefore the most serious threat that exists today — not in theory but in fact. There is now a greater probability of an erroneous authorized launch of a ballistic missile as a result of false information or due to a lack of confidence in the proper operation of military systems and some actions being perceived as the first step to mutually assured destruction. This leads to a considerable reduction in strategic stability.
All of the above threats are further exacerbated by the growing use of remote-controlled robotic strike weapons, the development of artificial intelligence technologies for military purposes, machine learning, the autonomous operation capabilities of various systems and subsystems, automated decision-making systems and other elements that may be subject to ICT attacks.
What global steps can be taken today in response to these global threats to strategic stability, based on the experience gained in the bipolar era? First, all the parties involved (Russia, the United States and China) will have to find common ground in terms of what in their opinion constitutes strategic stability; develop and formalize a common understanding of the danger of ICT threats; and, of course, develop common approaches to assessing the probability of intentional and unintentional ICT attacks. Moreover, they will need to have a clear agreement on the probable response in the event that an ICT attack on strategic nuclear forces is detected. These steps may provide building blocks for an ICT deterrence policy, similar to what was done with regard to nuclear weapons in the bipolar era.
At the same time, it would be reasonable to start work on an ICT arms control regime (statements, commitments, agreements and treaties) that could include: a ban on ICT attacks against certain targets, primarily military facilities; the limitation and/or renouncement of offensive ICT capabilities; the introduction of ICT arms control measures; the establishment of international norms regulating the ways and means of preventing and stopping cyber conflicts; and the development of a convention on the prohibition of the harmful use of ICTs in the nuclear weapons sphere.
From our partner RIAC
"Let Russia Be Russia" (US debate on global security system)
The controversial decision by the current US administration to withdraw from the INF treaty, as well as its threat to suspend observance of the Open Skies Treaty and the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), has been met with criticism and resistance even in the United States itself. However, opposition to President Trump's moves is multi-pronged and pursues goals not necessarily aimed at preserving what has remained of the global security system as some of the "champions of peace" also happen to be the very same "liberal interventionists," who are responsible for many of the armed conflicts happening today. It is imperative for us to distinguish between pragmatics, who really seek to reduce military threats, such as former US Defense Secretary William Perry, ex-US ambassador to the Soviet Union John Matlock, former presidential adviser Thomas Graham and some others, and experts and media personalities, whose criticism of the US withdrawal from these accords is merely an attempt to jump on the bandwagon of the ongoing anti-Trump campaign being waged by liberal "mainstream" media, which is often openly Russophobic too, faulting Trump for his "too polite" way of dealing with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin.
The Wall Street Journal was among the first to break the news about Donald Trump's plans to withdraw from the Open Skies Treaty (OST). In an October 27, 2019 article, the newspaper wrote that President Trump had signed a document outlining the US administration's intention to withdraw from the 1992 accord. The newspaper's sources specified, however, that the decision was not final and consultations continued.
Earlier, however, in its October 20, 2019 issue, the WSJ reported that former Secretary of State George Schultz, former Defense Secretary William Perry, and former Senator Sam Nunn, all of them critical of the US withdrawal from the OST, had warned about Trump's decision to exit the treaty. While paying homage to the customary tune about Russia's "aggressiveness," these three politicians, known for their participation in past disarmament programs, emphasized the need to keep in place existing defense agreements with Russia, reminding their readers, and above all, Donald Trump, that the great achievement of post-Cold War US diplomacy could soon be erased if some of the Trump administration officials have their say and the United States unilaterally withdraws from the Open Skies Treaty, which even during the current period of tense relations between Moscow and Washington helps to preserve transparency and trust. They argued that such a withdrawal from the treaty would be a big mistake, adding that it would undermine trust between the United States and Russia, and be detrimental to the US allies' security.
The authors added that the idea of the Open Skies Treaty, initially proposed by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1955, got a new lease on life in 1992, when Moscow agreed to open its territory for overflights to verify Russia's compliance with the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE Treaty). With the CFE Treaty now suspended, Russia is showing clear "defense generosity" by maintaining its "most verified country" status (the authors of the letter admit that Russia is a country most extensively covered by OST overflights).
Apparently trying to fend off standard accusations at home of "working for Moscow," Schultz, Perry, and Nunn wrap up their letter with a customary admission about Republicans and Democrats having a shared view about "a serious challenge to international security" allegedly posed by Russia." That being said, they still draw a pragmatic conclusion that instead of pulling out of previously signed international security agreements, Washington should redouble its commitment to the risk-reduction strategies consistently sought by previous US administrations.
This standpoint distinguishes pragmatic supporters of maintaining the security system – the priority, which Schultz, Perry, and Nunn confirmed in their April 10, 2019 article "The Threat of Nuclear War Is Still With Us" – from Trump's professional debunkers from the Democratic Party.
Trump's opponents also criticize him for breaking agreements, and not just defense ones, but trade and environmental as well (above all the Paris Agreement on climate change). However, while criticizing Trump, they still arrive at quite opposite conclusions by calling for ramping up pressure on Russia and filling the White House with "hawks" from the Pentagon and the State Department, etc. They also talk about the imaginary "friendship" between Putin and Trump, allegedly stemming from some Russian contribution to Trump's victory in the 2016 election, and which they believe should be neutralized no matter what, including by initiating new conflicts with Russia.
Jeremy Kuzmarov, who writes for Counterpunch, points to an unprecedentedly high level of Russophobia in the ongoing debate among potential candidates for the 2020 presidential election from the Democratic Party.
Kuzmarov notes that it is impossible to explain this level of Russophobia by the election campaign alone. It is about ideology. Kuzmarov notes that former US President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton both represent the "globalist project," which is still alive and views Russia and China as obstacles on the way of human progress (hence Obama's absurd decision not to include Russia in the Trans-Pacific Partnership project – as if Russia and China were not Pacific powers). At the same time, they see Trump's victory in 2016 as an unfortunate "stab in the back" from US voters. Therefore, all proponents of this ideology, still dominant in the United States, are up in arms and out to fight Trump, whom they never tire of calling "a Kremlin puppet." This is exactly the ideological "narrative" that makes the US Democrats incapable of compromise in the field of disarmament.
Therefore, any proposals of compromise made by independent experts are subjected to appropriate "modifications" before they are published in order to avoid accusations of being "helpful" to Moscow, just like in the case of historian Stephen Cohen. This explains the cautious tonality of the proposal made by Thomas Graham – a former assistant George W. Bush and a prominent expert on Russia. In a think piece titled "Let Russia Be Russia," published in Foreign Affairs journal, he offered a rather strange "quid pro quo" whereby the US and Ukraine accept Russia's sovereignty over Crimea (as if someone is going to discuss this with them!), and Russia withdraws its support for Donbass. Only then, Graham argues, can we discuss disarmament initiatives, joint efforts by Russia and the United States to prevent Iran from going nuclear, etc. Well, even if this rather unrealistic idea resonates with some in the US expert community, it hardly fits into the ultra-liberal ideology of "reformatting" the world, which is still espoused by US political elites. Therefore, it looks like Graham's proposal will remain just a vain wish for a possible compromise. Meanwhile, the last pillars of the global security system are crumbling right before our eyes…
From our partner International Affairs
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India's Continuing Arrogance in Kashmir
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YMCA of Greater Charlotte
While our programs and services have evolved over our 130+ year history to remain relevant to our community, our foundation and mission have been steadfast. To put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body for all.
500 East Morehead Street, Suite 300
Click here to begin exploring the benefits of membership.
Get involved! Volunteering has a meaningful, positive impact on your community. See how you can make a difference.


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Back in the winter, Imogen Hayward headed up to Oxford to interview the American Blue grass band on writing music, dreams, lyrics and travelling around like the old tradition of the bluegrass and folk artists.
Interview with Andrew Marlin (multi-singer) and Emily Frantz (violinist/guitarist-singer). Band members: Josh Oliver (keyboard/guitar), Allyn Love (pedal/steel), Clint Mullican (Bass), Kyle Keegan (Drums).
It must fun playing over here as bluegrass has part of its roots in British and Irish traditional music. How do you like touring the UK?
Emily: Yeah we love it. We've gotten to come here about once a year for the last few years. It's been really fun to become more familiar with it. We've gotten to come to a lot of different places every time but also been able to return to some of the same places and just feel a lot more comfortable the more we come.
How did you guys meet/end up working together?
Andrew: We just met at a bluegrass jam when I first moved to Chapel Hill—which is where we live now, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. So I guess it was about after a year that I'd moved there that I went to this bluegrass jam that was happening every Tuesday and we turned up to the same jam and knew a lot of the same songs and started playing together.
Did you always play bluegrass? Did you listen to it growing up?
Emily: I started with Classical music, that's how I learnt to play my instrument, my violin, but then I switched over to bluegrass around middle school and in high school I got a lot more interested in bluegrass. And so then Andrew and I met that way but since we've started to play together, we still like to play a lot more traditional music, but it's sort of veered off into a little more of an interpretive direction.
Andrew: I first started playing in metal bands and rock and roll. And then when I moved to Chapel Hill, where we live, I got introduced to more traditional music like folk and bluegrass.
Who are some of your favourite artists in general and folk or bluegrass artists right now?
Emily: Over the last couple of years we've been listening to a ton of this mandolin player that Andrew loves named Caleb Klauder, he's from the West Coast from Portland he has a band too a string band but he does a lot of projects and a lot of more old-timey music which to an untrained ear sounds similar to Bluegrass but they're a little bit fundamentally different. And so he's one of the most prominent players that plays Mandolin in an old time context and there isn't a ton of that. So we've been listening to all of his various projects a lot. What else in terms of traditional? [turns to Andrew]
Andrew: A lot of Rayna Gellert.
Emily: Oh yeah, Rayna Gellert is a fiddle player from North Carolina as well, she lives in Nashville now. She just has one of the most awesome relaxed rhythmic fiddle style that we're really drawn to, really melody driven, just a great bowing rhythm.
Do you listen to other genres of music too?
Emily: Yeah! Sometimes pop music but not a ton of pop music on the radio. A lot of stuff that doesn't at all fit into the folk and bluegrass genre but is all over the map.
Andrew: Yeah, I've been listening to Larry Goldings' album which is a jazz-piano record. I just love the simplification and all the melodies in that. I feel like there's a lot of cross-over between jazz and bluegrass because they're both very expressive even though bluegrass is a little bit more…
Emily: Rigid?
Andrew: Yeah more rigid I guess, but still the solo sections, when it comes down to take the solos, it's very interpretive. So I guess that's the crossover between jazz and bluegrass. Then there are a lot of players like David Grisman have incorporated bluegrass into jazz music. He's created this whole idea, that he's called "Dawg Music", where it's just bluegrass rhythms with a very jazz oriented chord-progressions.
How did you come up with the name?
Andrew: We had an orange mandolin. Not anymore, but yeah it was just for some of our first gigs and we needed to call ourselves something so we called ourselves Mandolin Orange and it stuck!
What has been one of your favourite places to play at?
Emily: Red Rocks has got to be a highlight! It's just unlike getting to play anywhere else, you just feel like you've been given a gift to get to play there. Umm… also this fall we got to move up to a lot of really awesome venues across the country that have really nice rooms and great sound and that people really enjoy going to see shows there as they're just set up well. And I just really enjoy playing in a room that's been set up in a way where everybody is really enjoying themselves.
Andrew: I feel like too as time goes on, the tours get a little more organised in a way that we actually get a little better feel of the town and that's been a nice change as time has progressed for us. So yeah I think one of our favourite places to play has been Red Rocks and I think Portland is one of our favourite places to play as well.
As a band what's your aim or goal when creating music for you and your listeners?
Emily: I think you try especially as the more time that goes on and the more records that you put out (and we don't necessarily struggle with this) you have to be aware that you're creating music not necessarily for your listeners; you don't want to create what people are expecting to hear or want to hear. You're taking it in the direction that you want to take it and that's going to satisfy you, because ultimately, if you can't really get behind how you're playing something or how you recorded something, then it's probably not going to last as long for you.
Andrew: Yeah, and I think we try to not hit people over the head with it. I mean we play all the time, whether we're on-stage and off-stage. It's something that feels natural for us because it's such a part of us and what we do. I hope that comes across to people in our recordings. It's not something we're trying to sell to people, it's more like a part of us.
What's the process like for writing your songs? Does the music come with the lyrics?
Andrew: Yeah, it usually comes with it. I do most of the writing and then Emily and I will do the arranging together for the songs! I guess it kind of starts with a chord progression and then from there, we work to find a melody within that. A lot of times I'll spit out nonsensical words too, to get a nice metre going, and then I flow it to where I want the lyrics to go. The first phrase, the opening line, I just follow a stream of consciousness from there and then I go back and edit after that. So yeah, it seems to be that the melody and the lyrics and the chorus just come together all at once.
One thing that has always interested me as someone who writes poetry and studies literature, is whether music and its lyrics are like poetry or not. The topic has especially been a hot topic of discussion in the last few years with Bob Dylan winning the Nobel Prize for poetry. For me lyrics can be poetry, they're just set to music. What would your take on it be?
Emily: I don't know a ton about poetry but from what I remember in school is there is a rhythm to it, even when it's not in a song. So that part seems very relatable to music.
Andrew: I think also in the way that the lyrics fit into the music adds another dimension. For me poetry is like the lyrics, but music actually creates the sentiment without even having to say so, and I feel like that also allows you to leave out certain words and phrases that are just implied within the music.
Following on from that, would you say you use stories or experiences from your own life in your music?
Andrew: It comes in all forms really. I think as a songwriter, I kind of always have this one door open in the back of my head and it's not a conscious thing, it's a subconscious way of being where sometimes a phrase or story will enter in, or you'll hear one of your friends talk about an experience they're having at the time and then once it goes in there it gets stored there. And then when I sit down with a guitar or mandolin with the intent of writing a song it's almost like I can access those stories. So yeah I think it comes from all of the above.
Emily: And I think it seems like, with the way that you write [addressing Andrew], that the line between it being first person or not is kind of blurry because a lot of times it's inspired from what you're hearing about or reading about but in order for you to get to that space where it's coming out in this really emotive, poetic way you have to internalise it a little bit.
Obviously moving from place and place and travelling is one theme that bluegrass and folk music is based upon. Do you feel like travelling the world has impacted the music you produce- experiencing the different cultures?
Andrew: I'm sure it has, I can't think of any concrete ways. I do think travelling around makes you, or it's helped me become a little more comfortable with myself by getting to know different parts of the world and see how they do it. Also, it pulls you out of the day-to-day grind, you know? If I was just living on the same street all the time, I would be writing the same songs all the time.
Emily: It's hard to imagine what it would be like if we weren't travelling all the time, because it's really the only reality that we know but I do think it kind of just helps to broaden your view of everything you know?
Yeah it's like the idea of whether we belong in a place, often a topic country music talks about, and if we should stay there or whether it's better for a person to be rootless and move from place to place. So the question of having a set home where you belong or gaining new experiences by moving about.
Emily: Yeah I almost feel like leaving allows you to reflect upon everything you know.
Andrew: Yeah, I was going to say that. I think it allows you to step back and see everything in its entirety, seeing the bigger picture of it.
Finally, how would you describe a new listener to your music how would you describe it?
Emily: Recently, we came up with the phrase "songwriter-picking music", because in the bluegrass world, I don't know if you've heard people say "let's pick" when people want to play. And so it's kind of like picking music, it's kind of bluegrassy because we're playing fiddle, mandolin and doing all that but it's very song-orientated not just jam music. So yeah, we sum it up that way [laughing].
Andrew: Yeah and I was saying too that there's a certain patience to listening to that kind of music as well you know there's not an immediate hook that will come down and grab you. It's just not in your face music. I hope there's substance in our music; that the longer you listen to it, the more you can get out of it.


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Richman Games - Monopoly of New York is one of the most popular board games. It will take you to the New York City with a business trip. And your goal is to maximize your net worth through various corporate actions and make yourself the richest person in the Richman games. Richman is a multiplayer (4 players) game of business strategy with very simple rules. You can host a game night with family and friends. Now, Let us join in on the "rags to riches" fun!
Do you want to be the owner of Empire State Building? Do you want to be the Oil Magnate? Just Play RichMan!
Back to Games/Miscellaneous


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B044 50ml (out of stock)
$68.50 $48.50
- Brand: Aura-Soma
- Product Code: AUR50044
- Availability: Out Of Stock
|- +
The Guardian Angel
Lilac / Pale Blue. Shakes-to: Lilac
- Keynotes: The sense of a presence. Being in the moment enables clarity in communication.
- Where to Apply: Apply around the 5th/Throat chakra and along the hairline.
- Main Points: Represents the angelic transmutation from above (lilac) of what lies within the depths of our being (blue), bringing a deep peace into our consciousness. As the lilac energy burns away lingering negativities with an intensification of light from above, our thoughts and feelings are transmuted into a softness and lightness of being. Can help to align with the Divine as the Angel within us brings a sense of protection, inspiration and the dawn of new possibilities.
- Specialties:
Someone who has inspiration within their heart and the trust to bring it through into reality. Peaceful change. Discovering your own Divinity, be true to yourself, the angel that you are.
- The Equilibrium/Balance bottles are the heart of the Aura-Soma system. The bottles contain the living energies of herbs, essential oils, gems, and crystals that are specially color-coded bring harmony and balance to our aura and energy centers.


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Now in its 25th year, the Behavioral Safety Now Conference is the premier venue for collecting cutting-edge ideas and strategies for using behavioral technology to achieve your safety goals.
• Serious incident prevention
• Safety culture
• Employee engagement
• Behavior-based safety
• Coaching
• Safety leadership
• Proactive solutions
• Performance improvement
• Safety measurement
• and more...
The Behavioral Safety Now Conference includes an educational program for all levels of management, safety professionals and employee teams who are interested in learning about the behavioral safety approach. Proceeds benefit the Cambridge Center for Behavioral Studies, a Massachusetts non-profit organization.
Help ensure Behavioral Safety Now remains the premiere gathering on applying behavioral science to workplace safety by becoming a sponsor.learn more
Space is limited and booths are available and location assigned on a first come, first served basis so reserve your spot today. Exhibition reservation deadline is September 1, 2019.learn more
Behavioral Safety Now is excited to offer BSN2019 at the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport, Orlando, Florida. Registration is now open.learn more
Experience the industry's most innovative thinkers sharing insights, best practices and success stories in improving safety and reducing injuries using behavioral technology.learn more
Behavioral Safety Now: Past, Present, and Future
Angelica Grindle, Ph.D.
Quality Safety Edge
Are We Still Safe by Accident?
Judy Agnew, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President
Aubrey Daniels International
World Class Safety – The Pillars of a World Class Safety Effort
Jim Spigener
Chief Client Officer
Controlling Risk in a Dangerous World
Jim Wetherbee
Captain, US Navy (retired)
Former Astronaut, NASA
The Welldoing of Wellbeing: A NeuroBehavioral Guide for Behavioral Safety
Timothy D. Ludwig, Ph.D.
Professor, Appalachian State University
What Employees Really Think About Safety
Steve Roberts, Ph.D.
Senior Partner
Safety Performance Solutions
Human Performance Technology Done Right
Carl Binder, Ph.D.
The Performance Thinking Network
Driving Safety through Sustained Performance Improvement
Gina Rester-Zodrow
Director, Operations Learning and Performance
Make the most of your free time with Special Meeting & Convention Theme Park tickets. Advance purchase lets you skip the lines at the Theme Park ticket windows, save money, and customize your free time to suit your individual agenda. These tickets are valid during your pre- and post-stays too!
Using Behavioral Technology to Engage Employees and Create a World-Class Safety Culture
Angelica Grindle, Ph.D.
Quality Safety Edge
Benchmarking Best Practices in Behavioral Safety Programs: Verified Effective
Timothy Ludwig, Ph.D.
Safety-Doc.com, Appalachian State University
Alan Cheung
Costain LTD, England
Beyond the Plateau – A Systems Approach to Continuous Improvement
Mike Diehl & Jeff Carlson, ARM
Liberty Mutual Insurance Group
Got Data? ... Then Use It! Using your Observations to Assess, Sustain and Evolve your BBS Process
Chuck Pettinger, Ph.D.
Predictive Solutions
Distracted from Reality: How Successful People (and Organizations) Avoid Behavioral Pitfalls and Achieve Results
Richard Kazbour, Ph.D. & Lisa Kazbour, MA
How Do I Integrate the Latest Brain Science into My Existing BBS Process?
Jim Spigener
People-Based Safety: The Human Dynamics of Achieving an Injury-Free Workplace
Steve Roberts, Ph.D.
Safety Performance Solutions
Accomplishments Based Human Performance Technology (HPT)
and Behavioral Safety
Carl Binder, Ph.D.
The Performance Thinking Network, LLC
Behavioural Incident Analysis –
A Scientific Approach to Improvement
Bob Cummins, Sodak
Nicole Gravina, Ph.D., University of Florida
John Austin, Ph.D., Reaching Results
Safety in Clinical Settings: Designing and Effective Monitoring System and Making Data-Based Decisions
Samantha L. Hardesty, M.A., BCBA, LBA (MD)
& Lynn G. Bowman, M.A., BCBA, LBA (MD)
Kennedy Krieger Institute & John Hopkins University School of Medicine
In-Depth Learning at BSN
Pre-Conference Sessions
Morning Workshops:
8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m
Afternoon Workshops:
1:00 p.m. - 5:00 PM


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Photography Classes in Russellville TN
Are you ready to take photography classes in Russellville TN? Whether you are a hobbyist, professional, or beginner, the best approach to improving your photography technique is through hands-on training with knowledgeable instructors.
There are many accredited photography schools in Tennessee. Subjects covered in photography classes include portrait capture, exposure and composition, lighting, posing and unposing, and other photography fundamentals. Maturing into an expert photographer can lead to a lifelong hobby or a booming professional career.
There are numerous Photography Classes in Russellville TN:
- Russellville Photography 101
- Russellville Digital Photography Classes
- Russellville Nature Photography Classes
- Russellville Editorial Photography Classes
- Russellville Studio Photography Classes
Russellville TN Photography Classes
Carson-Newman College
1646 S Russell Ave
Jefferson City, Tennessee 37760
Phone: (865) 471-2000
19.08 miles away


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or 4 payments of AUD $5.00 with
4 interest-free payments of AUD $5.00 with
Pay later, no interest
Add some life to your office dressing with the Rockmans Santorini Pencil Skirt. Just add a plain blouse and simple accessories for an understated look.
Demi is wearing a size 10. She usually takes a Standard AU10 size, is 5'10" (178cm) tall and has a 66cm waist.
Fabric: Elastane 5% / Polyester 95%
Care Instructions: Machine washable
Product code: 1038556
All about value, style and quality, Rockmans are renowned for their prints and colours, and offer styles designed to fit, flatter and compliment your everyday life. Rockmans sizing is slightly different to W.Lane. Please refer to the Rockmans size guide for specific fit information.
Shipping and Delivery
If you spend over $80, delivery is free!
We offer $15 AUD flat rate shipping to New Zealand


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Book Now
Save up to 10% with this offer when you book and pay for your room in advance at Vintry & Mercer London.
This offer requires full prepayment and is non refundable and non changeable. This is a room only rate inclusive of VAT. Please check the terms and conditions when making the booking. The discount is subject to availability and varies depending on the time of year.Book Now
The neighbourhood around Vintry & Mercer is overflowing with traditional markets, high-street favourites and designers shops.Read More>
Vintry & Mercer has the tools to help you plan the perfect London weekend. Discover our top picks of things to do in and around Vintry & Mercer, as well as unbeatable offers at the hotel.Read More>
Vintry & Mercer sits at the heart of London's Vintry ward. This historic destination - once a centre for London wine merchants - is now a place for the modern traveller; someone who wants the luxury of today laced with a taste of the past.Read More>


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Below is a list of research papers, reports and other publications from Ekklesia dating back to 2004. Click on the title for more information on each publication, and a link through to the item itself where available. You might also like to sign up for our award winning weekly research bulletin which will ensure you are kept up-to-date with the very latest research from Ekklesia.
December 10, 2011
This submission to the Scottish Government – regarding its proposals to legalise same-sex marriage and religious ceremonies in the registering of civil partnerships – seeks to balance two concerns: namely, freedom of conscience and practice for...
November 24, 2011
On 15 October 2011, the Occupy LSX movement – having been prevented from occupying a space directly in the City of London among the offices of financial institutions – established a protest outside St Paul's Cathedral under the banner 'We are the...
November 2, 2011
The Occupy London group is asking for a real debate in politics and economics, rather than the closed-down debate in Westminster politics and also the City of London. They are right so to do, because no real responses are coming from either,...
May 1, 2011
This short research paper maps out the contours of a revolution in Britain's benefits and welfare system. But the evidence Karen McAndrew examines and evaluates indicates that, far from enabling and supporting sick and disabled people, the...
April 16, 2011
In the light of the massive cuts in public services being implemented by central and local government, there is increasing concern in many sectors of society about the expanding and damaging gap between rich and poor in Britain today. This paper...
Ekklesia Weekly Digest
Stay informed on our latest news!


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About Us
Based out of Hong Kong, Kobo Design specializes in helping Startups and SME's. We strongly believe that to have a brand identity that works, the identity must mirror the founder's personality. After all, a business is just a reflection of the founder's vision and personality.
We work closely with our clients to craft a brand identity that is tailor-made to fit your personality and they way you do business. In this way a company's branding is always consistent. From when potential customers view your website, to how they perceive your namecards to the way the founder looks and acts when they finally meet up. We try to partner with our clients, refining the design work through client and market feedback; constantly improving it to make your brand useful, beautiful and effective.


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Your Chance to Win Tickets to the Sold-Out UL-LSU Baseball Game
Next Tuesday night's home baseball game between UL and LSU is sold-out but you can still score free tickets!
UL has announced the "Night Out at the Tigue" contest online at the University's official Facebook page: facebook.com/officialullafayette. You can enter there or in person at the University's Red Zone Team Shop on the corner of Johnston and St. Mary Streets.
First prize is four tickets and four Ragin' Cajun "Craw Dogs." Second prize is two tickets and two Ragin' Cajun dogs. Third place gets a game-day t-shirt.
The deadline to register in person is 6pm on Saturday, February 23 and online entries need to be in by 8pm on Sunday, February 24.
The drawing will take place on Monday, February 25 and winners will be contacted via Facebook or called.


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Any who, back to the yarn.
Hmmmmm. Not quite as low as I wanted to go, but as Arthur told Babe at the end of the day...
"That'll do pig. That'll do."
I like it! Keep going - I think it'd be beautiful big!ReplyDelete
I think both projects are beautiful, they remind me of the subtle changes in color of this time between late summer and Fall.
These are so fabulous! I love them both-especially the quilt. So soft looking. Keep going ; )ReplyDelete
I love the softer hues you are working with. Sometimes it is fun to mix it up and do something we normally wouldn't do. If I ever finish the squares I am working on now, I will be needing to do a stashbuster!!
xo Kris
I love them both and sometimes subtle is good. Philippa xxReplyDelete
That is such a delicate coluur scheme, i like it! And I also remember Babe, what a nice story that is.
Beautiful idea! I've seen it before in quilts, and think it can work wonderfully in crochet.ReplyDelete
Comfy, cozy, cuddle up colors. :) The neutrals and low volume colors make your quilt and granny squares look like they may have come out of grandma's cedar chest...don't stop...so pretty! penny x
Wow - what a pretty blanket. I have never made something so neutral, didn't think I would like it but this is beautiful. You have changed my mind. What a charming post, too. Thanks.ReplyDelete
Just delightful....i really really like these colour combos, i do think a blanket would be beautiful in those shades,.......love the quilt too.......i wouldnt have the patience to make a quilt, so i always admire anyone who has this skill at there finger tips...xxReplyDelete
Love the muted colors in your basket and in your quilt. Have fun with your Granny squares whatever they end up being. I like the pillow idea. It would look nice as a set with your quilt.ReplyDelete
two lovely pig blankets happening there, you certainly have lots of low volume!!ReplyDelete
I love the colors, really soft & restful.
Am inspired Lynne
Can't wait to see how you go
Karen x
Both of those are looking so wonderfully soft and faded--what a gorgeous palette. I love the layout of the quilt. I am, as usual, madly inspired!ReplyDelete
Loving the soft, restful colours of both your lovely quilt and the new crochet Lynne. It's so good to do a neutral project now and then as a sort of palette cleanser I think! Just such lovely pale colours.
Oh how pretty!! :0)ReplyDelete


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Today is the deadline for people to register certain semi-automatic guns, now defined as assault weapons, with the New York State Police, Here, people protest at Syracuse's Inner Harbor in March 2013 against the gun laws, which the New York State Legislature passed with no public input.
(David Lassman | firstname.lastname@example.com)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. - Any repeal of the NY Safe Act in this session is "highly unlikely," says one supporter of a small, but vocal, effort to erase the state's latest version of gun control laws.
"It's tough," said Assemblyman Bill Magee, D-Nelson. "It's going to be extremely difficult. It's probably highly unlikely."
Today is the deadline for gun owners to register semi-automatic guns that were legal before Jan. 15, 2013, the day Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed the new definition of an assault weapon into law.
Cuomo, a Democrat and a gun owner, championed the new laws as a way to limit high-capacity guns in the state without forcing anyone to turn in previously legal firearms. To that end, the law created a registry for the newly banned guns, a grandfather clause that allows people to keep legal guns owned before Jan. 15, 2013, as long as the owners register each firearm with the New York State Police.
It was unclear how many of New York's gun owners were complying with today's deadline. The Safe Act exempts officials from disclosing information about the registry. To date, state police have declined to release aggregate numbers that could show compliance rates throughout the state.
That's another part of the law that needs revisiting, Magee said today. Assemblyman Will Barclay, R-Pulaski, agreed.
"I think it would be legitimate to get the numbers," Barclay said. "Any general stats on how many people register would be interesting. Then you could see how the law is working."
Those who fail to register face a misdemeanor charge.
Statewide, the majority of registered voters support the stricter gun laws, multiple polls have found.
But that hasn't dissuaded many gun owners, who feel the laws erode their Second Amendment rights. Many critics also argue the laws where rushed through the New York State Legislature, with no public hearings or debate.
A small group of state lawmakers, including Magee and Barclay, are on their side. Sen. Kathy Marchione, R-Halfmoon, and Assemblyman David DiPietro, R-East Aurora, have introduced a bill to repeal the act. It has just 22 sponsors in the Assembly and 10 in the Senate and is unlikely to go anywhere, Magee and others acknowledged today.
Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, supports the repeal effort. But he described it as a "steep, uphill climb." Seward said he knew of just one or two senators who voted for the original act in January 2013 who had changed their minds. The act passed the Senate 43-18.
"For the most part, there's not support for the repeal legislation," he said.
Other Central New York sponsors include Assemblymen Gary Finch, R-Springport and Bob Oaks, R-Macedon; and Sen. Joe Griffo, R-Rome.
The Safe Act does much more than redefine and ban an "assault weapon." It stiffens penalties for crimes committed with a firearm, requires background checks on private gun sales, bans large-capacity magazines and elevates the homicide of a first responder to a first-degree murder charge. It's now a felony to possess a gun on school property.
But controversial parts of the law have festered with some gun owners, and they've won a couple of victories. One, a federal judge in Western New York ruled the laws' seven-bullet maximum limit as arbitrary, negating that part of the law in part of the state.
Two, many elected sheriffs have said they would not enforce
parts of the law. Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh said he would refer tips
about illegal possessions of assault weapons to the state police.
The union representing state troopers also has criticized the laws.
Still, getting a repeal through the Democratically-controlled Assembly, and even co-GOP led Senate, would be a stretch, Barclay said. "I don't think the votes are there in the Senate either," he said. "That doesn't mean you shouldn't hold rallies and show your disdain or disagreement for the laws. That might make people think twice about something else."
Barclay and Seward also said they thought that any real chance of changing the laws would happen in the courts.
Some of the critics say the solution is to get-out-the-vote against Cuomo, who is expected to run for re-election this year.
"Change governors," said Mike Mastrogiovanni, the chair of the Central New York area chapter of the Shooters Committee on Political Education. And, he says, "to keep pressure on the assemblymen and senators and let them know our dissatisfaction with their performance."
Contact Teri Weaver at firstname.lastname@example.com, 315-470-2274 or on Twitter at @TeriKWeaver.


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It's taken me a while to put it together, but now a picture is beginning to form. If you look at a map of the licences to drill being offered to shale gas companies and compare it to the other map, showing where the more permeable bedrock of chalk, limestone and sandstone lays in the country, which support aquifers, it tells the story in itself. Fracking companies need aquifers for water; the water-storing aquifers are in geological areas which are prone to sinkholes.
Where fracking licences are being offered
So I think the moral of the story is this: the sink holes we've seen appearing up and down the country this past month are just a small taster of what's to come if the shale gas companies begin fracking in the UK.
One thing the shale gas industry needs is plenty of water, millions of gallons of it, and so they're coming for our water, which is bad enough. But add to that the fact that we don't know nearly enough about the workings of our subterranean system of waters, known as 'groundwater', means that we're almost certainly playing Russian roulette with our futures.
Actually, Russian roulette would be safer because with that, there's always an element of hope. With fracking, there are no empty bullet chambers and so any feeling of hope would only be irrational denial. We only have to look at what fracking has caused in America, where sink holes have swallowed up 100 foot trees and houses whole. There was a sinkhole in Ohio which devoured a piece of land the size of four football fields.
How will fracking create sinkholes here?
Our groundwater in Britain is stored in aquifers which are located in permeable and semi-permeable rock, in other words, rock which dissolves. It is dissolving rock, like chalk and limestone, which have been causing the sink holes, as they've filled up with water from the continual rain over the past month.
However, there is an extremely complex waterways network under the British Isles, which according to some expert geologists, may be interlinked and act as one complete and self-regulating mechanism. The trouble is, no-one really knows because it hasn't been studied to any great depth. But we do know that it's a very delicate system, that Nature manages it itself, and keeps the balance between the saline waters from the sea and the fresh water.
Most of this underground network doesn't go along subterranean rivers through tunnels or caves, as one might imagine, but it diffuses through porous or semi-porous rock like chalk, sandstone and limestone. Like all liquids, it takes the course of least resistance …the resistance in this case being harder rocks, like shale. But shale, the harder rock upon which this complex system depends for its balance, is the very rock that the frackers want to break up to extract the gas.
So just in that one act alone – breaking up the shale – the whole finely balanced holistic system which has existed for billions of years, under our land, will be disrupted. Some of that water, kilometres down, has been there since the last Ice Age, and is around 20,000 years old. That's what we're messing with – a beyond-ancient self-regulating system that no human really understands.
When the frackers start to abstract their millions of gallons of water, as they will, the underground waters will start rushing around, trying to find a new equilibrium, just like white corpuscles rush around our blood circulatory systems to reach and heal the site of a wound. All of this will cause underground hollows and caverns, some that have been relatively empty for thousands of years, to suddenly fill up, empty and dissolve. This can only lead to one outcome … a plague of new sink holes opening up.
From Syria to Sevenoaks
We all in Britain rely on groundwater for one third of our drinking water, but in the south-east of the country, 70 per cent of their drinking water is made up of groundwater. So fracking will create unbearable pressure on Kent, Surrey and Sussex, which sit over chalk, and that region has already experienced the most sink holes this month.
According to the Environment Agency's Underground, under threat: The state of groundwater in England and Wales (EA 2007):
"The south east of England is an area of particular concern. It is a highly populated area with relatively low annual rainfall. As a result, the supply of water in the south east of England is limited. Some parts have less usable water per person than countries such as Syria. Many more homes are due to be built in the area, putting even more pressure on the water supply."
In other words, when there already isn't enough groundwater to supply the south-east commuter belt of dormitory towns, what will happen when they start fracking the Weald and huge sink holes begin opening up across the crowded lanes of the M25?
A free-for-all land grab
Licences have been offered for shale gas companies to drill all over Somerset, which has recently seen so much flooding. But there has been a particular focus on the Mendips, the beautiful range of limestone hills to the south of Bristol and Bath, which overlook the Somerset Levels. However, because of the limestone, the Mendips have been named as an area at greater risk of sink holes.
Areas of Cheshire are also at risk, because of its salt deposits. Also Ripon, which is becoming known as the sink hole capital of the UK because of its gypsum (chalk) deposits. As you will see from the map (at the top of this post), all these places are being offered up, by "our government", to the ever-avaricious, salivating jaws of the frackers, with no thought for the lives of the people living there.
There is also a question of sea water contamination. When a large amount of freshwater is abstracted from an aquifer, it 'sucks in' more water to replace it, and this could include sea water, known as saline water because it is salty. Thus our groundwater system, upon which one third of our drinking water comes, could very well become polluted with sea water without the hard shale walls in place to provide a natural barrier.
I haven't even got the pollution aspect yet, from the chemicals used in fracking process … the chemicals which no fracking company will dare own up to.
But none of this has been considered, as far as I can see, in the current madness of the 'dash for gas' by the same energy companies that created the tar fields of Alberta.
If you haven't heard of the tar fields of Alberta, please do have a look to see what these types are capable of when they're let off the leash of any kind of regulation, as they will be here. They have irredeemably destroyed land bigger than England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland put together. Here's a picture of just a small part of it….imagine that devastated Mordor-like wasteland spread throughout the whole of this country.
It couldn't happen here…..? Why not?
There will be no law or fine to stop the energy companies turning Britain into a completely uninhabitable land of shale gas fields, with the energy company owners interests over-riding all others at cabinet level, where Lord John Browne of the fracking company Cuadrilla is responsible for 'Business Ethics' (now they're just laughing at us!), and with the dozens of appointments he's made to the Treasury and departments responsible for the environment and energy.
All I can say is, if fracking goes ahead, get ready for more sink holes …. much more sink holes… and much worse.
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LIEN Currents
The seasonal bulletin of the Low-Income Energy Network (LIEN) Volume 7, No.1, Winter 2013.
LIEN is a project funded by Legal Aid Ontario and supported by Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario (ACTO) and Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA)
New customer service policies to assist low-income gas consumers
New customer service policy standards and practices specifically designed to help low-income residential consumers maintain their natural gas service came into effect January 1, 2013. LIEN actively participated in the Ontario Energy Board's consultation process which was initiated two years ago to develop the new customer service policies for the three rate-regulated natural gas distributors in Ontario – Union Gas, Enbridge Gas Distribution and Natural Resource Gas Ltd.
Eligible low-income customers must contact their gas utility company in order to access the policies which include:
· waiving of security deposits and late payment fees under certain conditions,
· a 21-day disconnection suspension if they are applying for LEAP Emergency Financial Assistance,
· year-round access to equal billing and payment plans, and
· access to arrears payment agreements.
An overview of the improvements to the gas utilities' customer service policies (both for low-income and general customers) is posted on the OEB's web site at the following link: http://www.ontarioenergyboard.ca/OEB/Consumers/Natural%20Gas/Gas%20Customer%20Service%20Rules
The three rate-regulated gas utilities are also required to include these policies in their Conditions of Service documents (links below). Although the OEB is adopting a less prescriptive approach with the gas companies, they expect the utilities to comply with the policy standards and practices and will be monitoring customer complaints that may emerge.
Kingston Utilities and Kitchener Utilities are not rate-regulated by the OEB. However, Kingston Utilities has decided to adopt the same low-income customer service policies for both its electricity and gas customers. Kitchener Utilities had indicated that it will voluntarily comply with aspects of the new low-income gas customer service rules given its smaller scope and scale compared to the two major Ontario gas distributors.
Electricity sub-meter providers to offer low-income customer service rules
Unit sub-meter providers will be required to offer new customer service rules for residential and eligible low-income electricity customers similar to those offered by electricity distributors. These rules will come into force on March 15, 2013, and include provisions to:
· waive security deposits for eligible low-income customers,
· arrange for arrears repayment plans,
· suspend disconnection for 21-days if a low-income customer is applying for LEAP Emergency Financial Assistance.
For additional information on the changes to the customer service standards for electricity-sector unit sub-metering providers, please go to:
One-time funding of $42 million to municipalities may be used for energy bill assistance programs
On December 27, 2012, the Ontario government announced $42 million in one-time funding for local housing and homelessness initiatives. This funding will temporarily restore some of the money that the government intended to save when it decided to eliminate the Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) and transfer half of
CSUMB funds to local municipalities.
CSUMB could be used to prevent disconnection of utilities (gas, electricity, water) or to restore utility services if there had been a disconnection of service. It could also be used for utility deposits.
Some municipalities across Ontario are creating new, local programs to make sure that people receiving social assistance continue to have access to funding for expenses that CSUMB used to cover. But many municipalities are not.
Now that the new funding has been announced, it is even more important to contact your local municipal councillors and urge them to make sure that a replacement program is created and that it can be used to access and maintain utility service. Local municipalities are in the process of creating their budgets for the next year right now, so make sure to contact them immediately.
For more information on the components of a good CSUMB-like replacement program, please go to:
Download PDF file
LIEN Currents is issued seasonally by the Low-Income Energy Network for members and others interested in solutions to energy poverty in Ontario. For more information, contact the LIEN Coordinator at firstname.lastname@example.com or 416-597-5855 ext. 5167 or toll-free at 1-866-245-4182 ext. 5167. You can also visit our website at www.lowincomeenergy.ca
Collection of materials related to energy conservation and affordable electricity pricing in Ontario


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ENCINITAS — The vision of the city's five distinct communities was released in draft form and delivered to the City Council Sept. 14, but over a dozen speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the contents of the massive document.
Earlier in the week, Mike Andreen, executive director of the New Encinitas Network, sent out an e-mail blast to approximately 1,800 recipients, railing against the draft plan, calling it "flawed."
Specifically, Andreen criticized the possible changes in land use along Encinitas Boulevard and the El Camino Real corridor. In a November 2010 public workshop, the planning department, along with consultants from MIG, Inc. explored the idea of increasing residential and mixed-use into those and other areas around the city.
Andreen asserted that changes in the commercial zoning had not been "professionally vetted by actual business people, as to its potentially significant financial and cultural impacts on New Encinitas and the annual income stream for the city of Encinitas annually.
"As we all know, traffic in the New Encinitas areas is already a challenge and further degradation of services as the potential and additional 2,200 homes will only make it more difficult for customers to reach/visit the shopping centers, businesses or services that currently generate an enormous amount of sales tax revenue that literally underwrites our local government," he stated in his e-mail.
Beginning in January 2010, a general plan advisory committee, along with city staff and a consulting firm began the first phase of updating the general plan. Over the next six months, the group facilitated five community specific workshops and a citywide workshop on May 1. Additional public workshops have been heavily advertised and well attended. It's unclear how many of the 16 speakers at the council meeting were in attendance at any of the general plan workshops.
The general plan should be updated within a two-year period, according to Planning Director Patrick Murphy. The city's blueprint will be updated to address new policy issues such as sustainable and healthy communities, green building codes and storm water cleansing.
Deputy Mayor Jerome Stocks expressed concern over the way city staff introduced the draft document, saying that employees should issue a "fairly large disclaimer" every time they talk about the document at public events. "It is simply a draft at this point and will likely see significant revisions in the months to come," he added.
While the City Council and the Planning Commission have not reviewed it yet, both will host public hearings.
Patrick Murphy, the city's planning and building director, said staff members have scheduled four months of public comment before the official hearings begin, to allow people significant time to read and comment on the document.
For more information, visit Encinitas2035.info.
General plan draft draws criticism
ENCINITAS — The vision of the city's five distinct communities was released in draft form and delivered to the City Council Sept. 14, but over a dozen speakers expressed dissatisfaction with the contents of the massive document.


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Kristin Heavner
Do you remember the day your "monthly visitor" waltzed into your life for the very first time? If you were anywhere other than at home when it happened — like sitting at your desk in school or in the middle of gym class, for instance — your first time probably wasn't a picture-perfect moment. In fact, it was probably pretty embarrassing.
For a lot of girls, dealing with menstruation at school is mortifying — and this is especially true for early bloomers who may not realize what's happening to their bodies just yet. That's why Kristin Heavner, a middle school teacher in Southgate, Michigan, came up with cute little "menstruation care packs" — small kits full of supplies that she discreetly hands out to help calm down panicky first-timers.
"I use my old ipsy makeup bags and make 'menstruation care packs' for my students who start their periods unexpectedly," Heavner wrote in a Facebook post. "In middle school, this happens a lot."
Heavner's bags include a few sanitary pads, a couple of tampons, and panty liners, as well as a small pouch of pre-wrapped disposable wipes — which is much less embarrassing than having to grab a giant pad from your teacher or from a vending machine in the bathroom. Heavner also noted that she makes it a point to ask girls if they need more supplies to take home.
"I just did it because I teach middle school, and a lot of times students get their first period here, and they don't have supplies because they weren't expecting it, or their cycles aren't regular at all, so they are unprepared," Heavner told Refinery 29.
More than a thousand parents and teachers around the nation have already commented on Heavner's post and praised her for the thoughtful idea. Some users even offered to donate supplies for her kits.
"I have some ipsy bags I can donate if you feel there's a need for the squad," one Facebook user wrote. "Sounds like a nice, discreet way to handle those little emergencies."
"You should post this on the ipsy page and see if people will make them and donate them to their local school," another commenter added. "I never thought about it, and I have all the bags lying around (there are only so many uses) I will be making a batch up and dropping them off at the local middle school!!! Thanks for sharing!!"
How nice would it be if schools everywhere had a similar support system in place to help young women feel comfortable during these awkward moments? We hope Heavner's idea catches on!
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Safe passenger transport and boating for all Victorians.
If you operate a bus service with seating positions for 10 or more adults (including the driver), you are required to be accredited or registered.
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