text:
Before I start, the usual disclaimer: these are my personal opinions, yours may be different. Also please keep it in mind that I'm writing this as a solo player who has only grouped once before for a dungeon in WotLK and never in BC.
Advantages of the new LFG tool
- Solo players such as myself finally have a way to experience 5-man dungeons like never before.
- There's no need for a guild in order to create a group.
- The tool allows anyone to get into a group incredibly quick! Thanks to the new cross-realm technology, queues are so short that you barely have enough time to do anything until you get thrown into a dungeon. I can't speak for specific dungeons but that's how it works for random ones. The first time I queued up, the confirmation dialog came so quickly that I missed it due to not being ready. The next queue came just as fast, under 1 minute.
- Linked to the above point, you no longer have to waste 30 minutes - 1 hour spamming the trade chat for a PUG.
- The LFG tool puts you right inside the instance which means that "noobs" like me don't have to make a fool of themselves by admitting they don't know where the entrance is. In addition, it saves you a lot of time because you don't have to travel all the way to the instance and then wait for slow-ass group members to show up.
- The LFG tool allows all players, even casuals, to experience a lot of content that they would have otherwise missed due to being afraid to group with random strangers.
- It makes PUGs cool and safe. Cool because you don't need to know anyone in the group and as a consequence it allows shy people to be more at ease. Safe because of the voting feature where you can choose to kick out from the group anyone who acts like a jerk.
- Because all the pre-dungeon logistics are taken care of, it's easy to jump right into the middle of the action and finish a heroic in 30 minutes - 1 hour, as long as it used to take just to form a group before patch 3.3.
- All this efficiency allow people to run more dungeons in the same amount of time than they used to. Which also translates into more loot and cheaper mats on the AH. For example Frozen Orbs have dropped on my server, in the few days since patch 3.3 went up, from 30 gold to less than 10 gold.
- The new loot option, in addition to Need and Greed, which is Disenchant, also makes enchanting mats more common and cheaper. Of course, this new option only applies if there's a disenchanter in the group.
- If the random group that you are in is very good, you can choose to complete other dungeons with them, without disbanding, by having the party leader queue the group for another dungeon. How cool is that?
- It allows casuals who care about achievements to accomplish a whole lot of them. In only 2 heroics I got about 10 new achievements.
- As a further incentive to use this tool, we get the Perky Pug as a reward for grouping up with 100 random people.
Disadvantages of the LFG tool
Unfortunately there are a few things that are missing from the LFG tool. They're not exactly major disadvantages but life would be even better with them.
- You can't use the LFG tool for raids. That's very sad because I was hoping to finally jump into some form of casual raiding without having any affiliation with a guild.
- You can't use the LFG tool for older dungeons/raids such as BC or Classic. I would have really loved to be able to group up for some of the older dungeons. Even though I can solo most of the 5-man BC dungeons, that's not the case for raids. For example it would be totally awesome if this tool allowed us to queue up for a Molten Core or AQ raid.
At any rate, despite these minor issues, I declare the new LFG tool a major success. It's probably one of the best features that any patch has introduced in a long time. It opens up World of Warcraft to so many players who had never considered grouping due to various reasons and, I dare to suggest, it removes some of the stigma that surrounds casuals and solo players. The only question that I have is why the hell didn't Blizzard implement this earlier, like in Classic or at least BC? Beggars can't be choosers though and I salute Blizzard and thank them for this new feature.
If you can think of other cool features and/or disadvantages of the new LFG tool that I haven't covered, please drop me a line. And enjoy pugging like never before!


text:
Video: Russo's SportsCenter Top 10 Shot
ALBANY, N.Y. – UMBC women's basketball's freshman forward and America East Rookie of the Year Sara Tarbert (Delta, Pa./Kennard-Dale) registered her sixth double-double of the season and helped the seventh-seeded Retrievers to outscore the Seawolves, 34-28, in the second half, but it was not enough to overcome UMBC's tough opening period, as second-seeded Stony Brook picked up the 61-49 victory in the America East Quarterfinals Friday afternoon at SEFCU Arena.
The young Retrievers' roster struggled to settle in during the first half of the conference tournament opener, turning the ball over 14 times and surrendering 14 offensive rebounds, leading to UMBC taking just 18 shots in the opening 20 minutes. The Retrievers did not give up though, limiting its turnovers to nine in the second period and grabbing an 8-6 advantage on offensive rebounds.
Tarbert scored 13 of her game-high 17 points in the second half and added 11 rebounds and four assists in the contest. Freshman guard Emily Russo (Woodbine, Md./Glenelg) chipped in 11 points, to go with a game-high four steals.
Stony Brook improves to 23-7 on the season and moves on to Sunday's semifinals, while UMBC concludes its season with a 4-25 overall mark.
UMBC hit three of its first five shots, including two-of-three from Tarbert, but the Retrievers turned the ball over four times to remain tied at seven with 15:12 to go in the first half. Despite allowing seven offensive rebounds in the opening eight minutes, the Retrievers' defense held strong, allowing just two second chance points and minimizing SBU's makes to three-of-14 from the field to keep UMBC within two, 9-7, with 12 minutes to go.
Stony Brook held a 24-9 advantage at shots attempted, due to the Retrievers turning the ball over nine times, en route to a 15-7 lead in favor of the Seawolves. SBU would go on a 20-0 run before freshman guard Taylor McCarley (Bowie, Md./Academy of Holy Cross) scored her first bucket of the contest with 4:18 remaining in the first half and the Retrievers' first since the 15:30 mark. Russo knocked down a half-court shot just before the first-half buzzer, but the Retrievers trailed, 33-15, at the break.
Russo continued with her momentum into the second half, scoring eight of her 11 in the second half. UMBC would trail by as many as 25 in the second half, but the Retrievers continued to battle, chipping away at the deficit throughout the period and coming within 12, 56-44, following a three from sophomore Liz McNaughton (Fairfax, Va./Fairfax) with 2:23 to go in the contest. UMBC had the opportunity to come within 10 on the ensuing possession on a steal from Russo, but the Retrievers were unable to convert.
UMBC finished the contest with 23 turnovers, converting into 23 points for the Seawolves.
Stony Brook's Jessica Ogunnorin scored a team-best 13 points, while Chikilra Goodman added 12 points and six rebounds. Sabre Proctor chipped in 10 rebounds in the win.
-Stony Brook takes the lead in the all-time series, 13-12, and earns its first postseason win against the Retrievers.
-Bridget O'Donnell moved into second place on UMBC's single-season block list with 48 swats on the year. It is the most blocks for a UMBC sophomore in program history.
-Emily Russo's half-court buzzer beater was named a SportsCenter Top-10 Nominee. Russo finishes the season with the fourth-highest steal total for a UMBC freshman (48) and sixth in assists (93).
-Sara Tarbert ends the season on a 13-game double-digit scoring streak and finished the year with 400 points, fourth-highest total ever for a UMBC freshman. She added 205 rebounds, sixth-highest all-time among UMBC freshmen.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Once a sleepy fishing village, Placencia has emerged as an increasingly popular eco destination on the Caribbean. A number of attractive holiday home rentals range from spacious waterfront villas to cozy 2-bedroom apartments in the village. One family-perfect waterfront rental spreads over 4000 square feet with a furnished roof-top terrace for dining. Vacation home rentals provide comfortable retreats at the end of adventurous days – a place to unwind, recharge and plan your next excursion.
For those who enjoy outdoor adventure, the Stann Creek region offers a host of activities – hiking through mountainous rain forests, kayaking, deep sea fishing, diving and exploring Mayan ruins. The peninsula boasts 16 miles of tranquil beaches, with a lagoon to the west and the Caribbean to the east and lots of peace and quiet in the middle. Lounging under a coconut palm might be the highlight of your day! Tour guides and dive centers offer a variety of excursions, with boat rides to the outer cayes an ongoing favorite. Also popular are guided land tours to Mayan Ruins or trekking the jungle trails of Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, where the first Jaguar Reserve in the world was established.
The entire region is rich in flora and fauna, a stunning mix of orchids and bromeliads, limestone hills and tropical forests where monkeys, tapirs and wildcats roam under the watchful eyes of over 217 bird species. You and your family will enjoy a virtual feast of sights and sounds and, perhaps at day's end, you might stop in at The Secret Garden for a mouthwatering dinner. In a restful outdoor setting, you can choose from their varied 'surf or turf' menu – shrimp, lobster, beef or pork tenderloin. The Purple Space Monkey is another popular spot to enjoy friendly service, good food and thatched roof atmosphere.
Having your own completely-equipped kitchen is but one of the many advantages of renting a beachfront home or village apartment. You can plan your day over an omelet on the terrace or end the day poolside with a glass of wine. You and your family will enjoy the space, comfort and privacy of your very own home away from home.


text:
This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. For information on cookies and how you can disable them visit our Privacy Policy.
North America
Find out more about our signature anti-theft technology, including our patented eXomesh stainless steel mesh. Learn more…
The Turtle Fund supports projects working to conserve, protect, and sustain our environment so wildlife can live safely. Learn more…
Check out the Pacsafe Blog for ideas and tips for your next adventure. Read how to choose your next bag. Learn more…
Read More


text:
Hey guys, Dawn here once again with some really neat lessons for you all. If you joined me yesterday in Livestream you should already know who I am about to upload. As you know I said I was going to submit some awesome characters whether it be figures from a cartoon, movie, or even a music performer in chibi form. Now since my brother has been getting into the new CD's from Eminem like Recovery, and his other come back album I wanted to do something special for him by drawing a chibi version of the controversial rap star. So, without further ado, get ready to learn "how to draw chibi Eminem", step by step. You will fall in love with this chibi character because he is a hard looking version of Marshal Mathers himself. A lot of people already knew who it was when I was drawing this chibi live yesterday. I had so much fun trying to create a smaller version of Eminem and I think I may have succeeded the feat of trying to make it look almost like him, or share a very close resemblance to him. The hardest part I had when I started the sketch is making the baggy style hooded sweater. This is because it was clothing for a chibi, and as you know when you draw chibi clothes, it can sometimes be troublesome. Anyways, you guys should have a much easier time with drawing chibi Eminem because I have laid out the steps to be simple, clear, and easy to follow. Please let me know what you think of this chibi idea, and if you want me to draw one of your favorite stars chibi style, just let me know and I promise I will eventually get to it. In the mean time, have fun learning "how to draw chibi Eminem", step by step. I will be back in a bit with more drawing fun so stay tuned in to see what it is I will upload next. Peace out peeps!
DragoArt members upload artwork and drawing tutorials! They are also allowed to leave comments on tutorials, profiles, etc. Many more features, as well; it's way better than just being a boring guest! Register Now!


text:
Uganda: Risk Assessment
Country Risk Rating
Business Climate Rating
- Significant natural resources: fertile land, oil and gas reserves, hydroelectric potential
- Work on diversification in particular in the agri-food sector
- International support for infrastructure projects
- Debt mostly subject to concessionary conditions
- Poverty, inequality
- Lack of infrastructures
- Insecurity in the border regions (DRC and South Sudan)
- Slow progress in terms of governance (particularly control of corruption)
Current Trends
Easing of Monetary Policy to Boost Growth
Slowed by the burden of the high cost of credit and the drought, growth should continue to improve in 2018. The return of more normal weather conditions should enable agricultural production, and of coffee, in particular, to continue improving. The improved performance of the agriculture sector should also help boost the household consumption of those dependent on the health of that sector. With the Central Bank's (BoU) key lending rate cut from 17% in January 2016 to 9.5% in December 2017, this should boost the use of credit in the private sector, while also helping to boost growth in household consumption. Services (almost 50% of GDP), starting with retail trade, are expected to feel the benefits of this vitality. The increasingly favorable credit conditions will help boost private investment, attracted in particular by prospects for the exploitation of oil and gas reserves (production expected as of 2020). The secondary sector should see rapid growth thanks to the uplift as a result of public investment as part of the second National Development Plan. There will likely be projects for the construction of the oil and gas industry infrastructures, as part of public-private partnerships, in addition to those of recent years covering transport and energy (hydroelectricity). Under the pressure of capital goods import demand, the contribution of exports to growth will, however, remain negative, despite improved coffee exports. The growth outlook, positive overall, could suffer in the event of any worsening in the country's political and/or security context.
The inflation forecasts are for stabilization around the BoU target rate (5%) after the price pressure under the impact of the drought on food prices eased.
Budget Execution Undermining Public Accounts
The budget deficit in 2016/17, under the impact of lower domestic receipts and the slow rate of execution of the infrastructures projects, was reduced. Similarly to the problems encountered during the preceding fiscal year, the extension of the tax base is unlikely to make much progress in 2017/18. The deficit is thus expected to increase, reflecting the increase in spending on capital investment in the context of developing infrastructures and the oil and gas sector. Progress in the delivery of these projects is however subject to constant delays, leading to budget overspends. The recurrence of this scenario cannot be ruled out, at the same time as the increase in current expenditure might not be enough for the allocation of the resources necessary for the planned investments. These issues have tended to be behind some of the delays, and even cancellations, of the concessionary external financing on which a large proportion of the investment spending is dependent. In addition, the increasing use of domestic borrowing to finance the deficit has resulted in an increase in interest rates, which is in danger of generating a crowding-out effect on the private sector. With this large-scale utilization of borrowing, the debt has increased rapidly and could, at the current rate, undermine its sustainability.
The current account balance will likely worsen in 2018, dragged down by the balance of goods. The increase in exports, and of coffee, in particular, is expected to be slower than that of capital goods. The import bill could also be swollen by the increasing firmness of oil prices in 2018. Transport services will continue to be a burden on the balance of services, while the repatriation of profits will be a further drag on the income balance. Remittances from expatriate workers will once again be the leading positive contribution to the current account balance. The size of investment inflows, mainly from China and India, should help to finance the deficit.
Deterioration in the Internal Political Climate, Unstable External Environment
Yoweri Museveni (72), in office since 1986, was re-elected in the general elections in 2016, after his party (National Resistance Movement, NRM) won a majority. In October 2017, a draft amendment to the constitution to remove the age limit for presidential candidates (75 years old), and which would, therefore, allow Mr. Museveni to stand in the 2021 elections, triggered violent demonstrations. These mounting tensions have also brought attention to the issue of his succession, which remains unresolved. They are also feeding into the rising tide of discontent surrounding the level of corruption and the lack of progress in improving standards of living. Alongside these sources of political instability, there is also ongoing fragile security situation in Uganda's border regions. The instability in South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a particular source of concern. As the leading supplier of troops to the AU mission in Somalia (AMISOM), the country remains a potential target for Islamist terrorism – specifically, El Shebab, which continues to plague Kenya.
These areas of instability have a negative impact on assessments of the operational environment, despite a business climate that is relatively favorable compared to those of its Sub-Saharan African peers. Without any significant progress in 2017, the country has nevertheless dropped seven places in the Doing Business 2018 rankings (122nd out of 190).


text:
We spent this morning in a post-Olympics doldrums, wondering what on earth we are going to do with ourselves, and then remembered: London Design Festival kicks off this weekend!
At Conran, we're pulling out all the stops to make it an enjoyable week. We've already mentioned The Conran Shop's RED exhibition, and today, we have another reason for you to head to Chelsea.


text:
June 28, 2012, 3:44 pm
Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival reaches 25-year milestone in grand style
Delivering a resounding symphonic opener of the Bravo! Vail Valley Music Festival at the Gerald R. Ford Amphitheater here, the Dallas Symphony Orchestra rendered a powerful, insightful interpretation of Sergei Prokofiev's grand and gripping Symphony No. 5 in B-flat Major, Op. 100.
Playing to a sizable audience — and notwithstanding distractions of traffic, passersby, birdsong and a rustling breeze that are par for the course for this outdoor venue — Jaap van Zweden proved himself a master of the tumultuous, often brooding and eventually exhilarating themes of the 1944 work that was composed in just one month.


text:
Travel between
From the big city excitement of Madrid and Lisbon to the small-town charm of Toledo and Lagos, you will have a blast exploring all that these two countries have to offer. You and your fellow travelers will sample the most delectable cuisine, explore ancient cities and enjoy thrilling canyoning, kayaking and surfing! This small group adventure will bring you off the beaten path and provide you with memories to last a lifetime.
Spain & Portugal- Madrid, Toledo, Salamanca, Porto, Peneda Geres National Park, Lisbon, Belem, Sintra, Algarve, Seville
Cosmopolitan cities, beautiful beaches, quaint medieval towns, spectacular sights, and exciting nightlife- this program has it all! Grab your passport and sense of adventure as you and your fellow travelers tour exciting cities as well as small and off the beaten path towns and beachside locales. Immerse yourself in the wonder of architectural and artistic masterpieces, savor and sample tapas and local delicacies and enjoy thrilling canyoning, kayaking and surfing. This small group experience allows for flexibility and spontaneity as you and your travel mates take on exploring these two countries in our perfectly planned itinerary.
Spain & Portugal- Madrid, Toledo, Salamanca, Porto, Peneda Geres National Park, Lisbon, Belem, Sintra, Algarve, Seville, Granada, Figueres, Girona, Barcelona
2020 Travel, Learn, or Volunteer Brochure
Available Monday through Friday between 9 AM and 6 PM Eastern


text:
JoshSanders needed a new web page design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 61 designs submitted by 23 freelance designers.
When I first designed my site , I had very little time and resources. Now I would like to
I need a logo with similar color scheme to the one I already have.
I need a mockup design template for the front page,
-Simple but Elegant (Think European design)
You can use a color scheme of 3 colors (green, and 2 other colors) or anything you feel confident it.
Origin Internships
Its about the experience!
Desired Color Scheme:
green, grey, black ,white
Desired Style:
slick, very usable,
Accepted File Formats:
Standard Web Formats (.jpg, .gif or .png); Layered Formats (.psd or .tiff)
Latest Update : Use the current logo on my site, you can use a different typeface or size, but keep it looking the same. You can add the word 'internship' to it at the bottom or together.
I want the website to look more professional , current critiques are that my site is a little 'child like'
 I am not looking for a Web2.0 site with huge texts, I prefer something more current and professional.
My original site is at http://www.originsingapore.com
 Templates that I like :
 You can use images from this website to include in your mockup :
Thank you.


text:
The job guarantee has been getting a lot of attention in the blogosphere lately. As Bill Mitchell notes in his latest post, some of this has involved questioning whether the job guarantee should be considered integral to MMT. Other discussion has been about the merits of the job guarantee itself. As far as I am concerned, the first question has been answered in the affirmative by the leading MMTers. In this post, I am not concerned with that issue. I am taking as given that the job guarantee is not only consistent with MMT but part and parcel of it. My concern, following on from my previous post, is with the merits of a job guarantee compared with other policy options.
My motivation in this post and my previous one is very different to that of right-leaning critics of a job guarantee. My emphasis is on finding ways to assist a transition to a society in which people can opt for more free time, if they wish. The likelihood of a high degree of mechanization in production in coming decades creates the potential for such a transition.
My previous post led to outstanding discussion, from divergent standpoints, for which I am grateful. It has motivated me to clarify what I have in mind and the reasons for it. My view is that it would be possible to assist a transition to a society in which individuals are largely free to spend their time as they please through a policy combination that also serves the same macroeconomic functions as the job guarantee. This would involve allowing people to choose either a guaranteed job or a guaranteed basic income.
As is usually the case, there was barely anything I disagreed with in Bill Mitchell's post. But in the conclusion he presents a challenge, and I think it is a worthwhile one to contemplate:
If you want to propose a coherent body of macroeconomic thought then you have to address the key questions of full employment and price stability.
I agree with this statement for at least two reasons. First, macroeconomics, as a discipline, has largely been about full employment and price stability from the outset. These have been central preoccupations of macroeconomics across the theoretical and political spectrum. To be a viable macroeconomic theory, it is necessary to have explanations for unemployment and inflation that can inform policy prescriptions.
Second, from a normative perspective, the goals – particularly full employment – make sense, in my opinion. Those who want a job in the formal economy should not be prevented from obtaining one simply because of poor macroeconomic management. Given our current understanding of flexible exchange-rate fiat currency systems, it is clear that these two goals can be attained simultaneously through a job guarantee. The job-guarantee wage would place a floor under all other wages, anchoring the price system, while the spend on a 'price rule' rather than 'quantity rule' would ensure all who wanted a job in the formal economy at that wage could obtain one.
What I want to raise as a possibility, more clearly in this post than my last, is that the attainment of these same goals could be achieved by introducing a 'job or income guarantee'. I'll call it a JIG. Under this arrangement, a person could choose for themselves if they wanted to engage in wage labor or have more free time to pursue their own vocation or leisure. It would be possible for the voluntary job guarantee to pay more than the basic income guarantee if that was deemed appropriate through the democratic process, but for simplicity I will just assume they pay the same as it doesn't really affect the argument. The voluntary job guarantee would be identical in its design to the job guarantee currently proposed by MMTers except that participation would be truly voluntary. The proposal of the MMTers cannot be regarded as truly voluntary because anybody who is unemployed and without an independent income would have little choice but to accept the job-guarantee offer. This would not be the case with the JIG, in which income would be provided unconditionally, irrespective of a person's decision over whether to participate in the voluntary job-guarantee program.
In addition, as mentioned in my previous post, there might also be other voluntary programs a person could join if they did not want employment in the formal economy but did need assistance in making the transition from wage labor to free time. These voluntary programs could offer facilities for people to participate in various activities not considered relevant to employers in the formal economy, and therefore not relevant to the voluntary job-guarantee program. Examples might include arts and crafts, social groups, amateur theater or musical productions, writing courses, and so on. In the previous post, I lumped all the voluntary activities in together, which obscured the nature of what I was suggesting. I think it is clearer to think in terms of a JIG and then whatever other social facilities are provided can be regarded as part of another set of social policies. Here, I will leave these other voluntary activities aside.
My view is that the JIG could help us work towards numerous goals simultaneously.
1. It would open up the option of free time so that those who were ready to embrace it could do so.
2. This would reduce the size of the labor force, and therefore reduce the amount of employment corresponding to full employment. Those opting out of the voluntary job guarantee would not be included in the labor force.
3. The amount of income provided by the JIG would provide a floor under all wages in the economy in just the same way as a 'conventional' job guarantee.
4. I think this floor could actually be more effective as a nominal price anchor than a conventional job guarantee. The reason is that only those who really wanted to work in the formal economy would opt for the voluntary job guarantee. The diligence, effort and quality of work would be better, providing a better source of additional or alternative workers to employers in the broader economy.
5. The JIG would place more pressure on employers in the broader economy to offer decent employment conditions and job opportunities than a conventional job guarantee, because employees would have the additional option provided by the basic income guarantee.
6. The JIG would provide automatic demand stabilization in exactly the same way as the conventional job guarantee.
My reason for thinking that a voluntary job guarantee might provide a more effective nominal price anchor than an essentially compulsory job guarantee (point 4 above) is as follows. Of the people most likely to opt out of the job guarantee, most would fall into two categories: (i) people who don't want to work; (ii) people who don't want to work in the formal economy because there are other socially productive things – broadly defined – that they would prefer to do. Included in this group might be home parents, carers, charity workers, hobbyist gardeners, environmentalists, activists, writers, musicians, artists, actors, athletes, computer programmers, people seeking self-education, bloggers (!), etc.
People in category (i), if essentially compelled to participate in a job guarantee, would be the least enthusiastic and diligent in the program, and therefore would actually detract from its nominal price anchor role, because they would not be providing viable alternatives, from the perspective of employers, to those already employed. To the extent their attitude rubbed off on others, the effect might be a lowering of the average "employability" of the job-guarantee cohort. I think, for these individuals, it would be more beneficial if facilities were made available for meaningful leisure activities that might lead, in time, to a desire to mix leisure with more creative or socially productive behavior outside the formal economy. If they chose to participate in such activities, they would be doing so voluntarily, and so would feel less resentment and perhaps be more open to potentially life-enhancing and more socially interconnected experiences.
People in category (ii), if compelled to participate in a job guarantee, might add less of value to society than they could if freed to pursue their own vocations either individually or in voluntary association with others.
In response to my previous post, various objections were raised against my position on the job guarantee. Addressing a few of these objections here may help to flesh out my thinking on the issue.
One point made was the need to be realistic in the kind of social transformation that we could expect to occur in the immediate term. Even though the ultimate aim may be more free time, currently many people are unaccustomed to such freedom and derive much of their sense of order and belonging from employment in the formal economy. For example, Neil Wilson wrote:
JG would provide a lot of people with some sort of purpose. Not everybody has a sufficiently developed sense of internal motivation to allow them to contemplate what they should do with a life free from labour. Just look at the health and mental problems amongst the legions of the early retired. It isn't easy when our world is so centred around the work relationship.
So first let's make the work relationship equitable, then, in response to the non-job arguments, we can raise the issue of "what else are they going to do?"
I agree that the challenges many people are likely to face in making the transition from formal employment to free time is highly relevant. My problem with the argument that this therefore calls for a job guarantee rather than a 'job or income guarantee' is that it is a backward step specifically in relation to the shift from the current work ethic to an embrace of free time. At the moment, draconian though the current system is, some people have become accustomed to free time, either through extended involuntary unemployment or underemployment. In some cases, maybe for only a small minority, an unintended side effect of this forced break from employment may be that it prompts a reconsideration of personal priorities. What in some cases may initially seem a curse (especially part-time rather than full-time work) may turn out to be a blessing. Not in all cases, certainly, but in some. In this way, there is some change in consciousness that can help to facilitate a transition to a society offering more free time. By placing the onus on the work relationship even more strongly than is already the case, the job guarantee may be counterproductive in this specific sense.
I certainly agree that there would be scope with the job-guarantee program, if implemented as proposed by the MMTers, for us to push for a broadening of what is considered "productive" over time. If the job-guarantee program is introduced, that would seem to be the logical next step in terms of activism. But, equally, it also opens the way for pressure to be exerted in the opposite direction. Strong efforts would undoubtedly be made to eliminate the positive aspects of the job guarantee and turn it into workfare.
Some other commentators addressed political realities. For example, Dan Kervick noted that there is already resentment towards welfare policies let alone a basic income guarantee. Tom Hickey, in contrast, suggested that a negative income tax may be more palatable to many in the U.S. than a job guarantee. I fully acknowledge the relevance of these concerns. Frankly, I don't know how unpopular either policy approach is likely to be, but I agree the political opposition currently appears formidable. Even so, I think discussion of the relative merits of different policy options remains important. As Bill Mitchell wrote in his post:
Whether the defining elements are politically palatable, attainable, or culturally pleasing is irrelevant in theoretical terms. Ideas are not intrinsically popular – which is where the political domain operates. To be elected you have to be popular. Ideas are also not intrinsically time-bound. Some ideas are developed before anyone will accept them as knowledge (in the sense that the theoretical notions are not inconsistent with reality).
Especially in the age of the internet, our discussions can conceivably have unexpected and unknown effects both now and in the future. Maybe the JIG and even the JG are before their time. We'll see. But even if they prove unrealistic options this time round, they – or proposals like them – may come into their own at some point in the future.
Equally, the way we design current policy has an influence on the kinds of policies that will be feasible in the future. If we don't start implementing policies now that begin to encourage a different attitude towards life and a transition to free time, when will it ever be feasible to implement such policies? Fifty or a hundred years down the track, people may still be saying the same thing: "That is for the future, for now we must be realists." Yet, it has been technically feasible to embrace more free time for quite a while.
I also should briefly address Philip Pilkington's concern:
I think that modern history has been the history of self-directed people trying to turn other-directed people into self-directed people. I guess that's what we call 'Utopian politics' (Rousseau, Robespierre, Lenin, Marx etc.). Any politics that tries to mold the Nature of Man through institutions. It always ends in despotism.
My view is that the institution wage labor has done as much as any other institution to mold the way people think about their lives. Mechanization is likely to free up time unless we introduce even more institutions to continue the molding of people's thinking to the ways of wage labor. My suggestion is aimed at giving maximum freedom to choose wage labor or something else. This is no greater an attempt to mold people's thinking than the current system. It gives people more choice to determine their preferred way of living. If it's really true that many people prefer to be told what to do, then they may continue to opt for wage labor. Or perhaps they will form voluntary associations with others who are inclined to take leadership roles, preferring to work under their direction.
As I made clear at the outset, there is very little I disagree with in Bill Mitchell's post, but perhaps the following sentence from the conclusion hints at a difference in our world views, which may explain why I am less enthusiastic than many others about the job guarantee in its currently proposed form:
In terms of the Job Guarantee – my ideological preference is not to have such a capacity. I would prefer everyone to be gainfully employed doing what they love and earning the best wages they could.
I love that sentence except for two words: "employed" and "wages". My ideological preference is for everyone to be able to do what they love without the compulsion to sell their labor power to an employer in exchange for a wage. This is perhaps what most makes me hesitant to support the job guarantee rather than a 'job or income guarantee'.


text:
By Bruce Schreiner
Associated Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) -- A refrigerator component the size of a toaster has sparked a legal fight in Kentucky pitting two appliance giants.
General Electric Co. filed an anti-trust lawsuit claiming it overpaid for the component due to an alleged price-fixing conspiracy involving a couple of Whirlpool Corp. subsidiaries and two European suppliers also named as defendants.
The suit is over a compressor that helps create cold air to keep refrigerated foods fresh or frozen. GE claims the conspiracy began as early as 1996 to illegally inflate the price of the key refrigerator part.
As one of the largest buyers of the compressors, GE says it was "a target and a victim" of the conspiracy, hurting its refrigerator business.
The company, based in Fairfield, Conn., is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages along with a monetary award three times the amount of its damages. It also seeks an injunction against the defendants.
"As a result of the cartel, plaintiff has paid supra-competitive prices for compressors and has been deprived of innovation that would have resulted in increased efficiency, as well as increased sales and profits, in its sales of refrigerators," the suit said.
The 79-page lawsuit was recently filed in federal court in Louisville, home of GE's appliance business. Defendants include Whirlpool and its subsidiaries that produce and sell refrigerator compressors.
Benton Harbor, Mich.-based Whirlpool said it was reviewing the lawsuit and would respond in "due course through the judicial process." The company's other brands include Maytag and Kitchenaid.
A spokeswoman for Whirlpool subsidiary Embraco North America Inc., another defendant, also said the matter was under review.
"We are studying the lawsuit and have no comment at this time, except to say that Embraco does not believe that it caused any harm to GE," the spokeswoman, Rosangela Santo, said in an email.
Other defendants include Whirlpool S.A., a wholly owned subsidiary of Whirlpool Corp.; Danfoss A/S, identified as a privately held Danish company that supplies refrigerator products, including the compressors; and Household Compressors Holding SpA, listed as an Italian company that sold the compressors in the U.S. during the alleged conspiracy period.
Danfoss and Household Compressors did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment.
GE said its plants in Louisville, Decatur, Ala.; Bloomington, Ind.; and Selmer, Tenn., used the compressors as part of production.
GE claims the defendants and two co-conspirators commanded about 85 percent of the U.S. refrigerator compressor market in 2008.
The suit says the conspirators agreed on a plan to allocate GE's business among themselves to avoid competing on price, quality, efficiency and technology. The scheme included restricting or reducing supply to ensure inflated prices, it said.
In late 2004, one co-conspirator notified GE that it planned to increase prices by 11 percent, effective the following spring, the suit said. About the same time, Embraco announced a 12 percent price increase, it said.
The suit claims the alleged conspirators violated federal anti-trust law by meeting to "discuss and agree upon future price stabilization and price increases, customer and market allocation, supply restriction, innovation restriction."
It also claims the defendants committed fraud by making "repeated and material misrepresentations in their communications" with GE. The aim was to induce GE into making purchasing decisions, it said.
Published: Mon, Feb 25, 2013


text:
The Jordan 14-Used as frequent and rough as I usually conduc
Pagina 1 di 1 • Condividi
The Jordan 14-Used as frequent and rough as I usually conduc
Michael Jordan shoes reduction may be difficult toalmost certainly one of probably the most beneficial times. C 'is for people who want to Nike Air Jordan acquire real Air Jordan shoes to reduce rates. Air Jordan goods ceasesattract premium expenses thatit also pays to try to discover these products Air Jordan andincorporation to reduce expenses when you eventually cheap jordan shoes take part in the ability ofcalls for additional funding for them at any time you sell. A pair of very comfortable shoes Jordan can bring joy to you all day.The is Air Jordan 14 (XIV). He is always in fashion and comfortable.Air Jordan 14 (XIV) appear to be durable enough to handle his size and Jordan sneakers weight. As a basketball player per week 'sis quite impressive for me because all announced "basketball shoes "take any lenth of time in case offrequent use and rough as I do. Most of all Air Jordan Retro XIV 14, they appear in an array of styles and colors for your baby to go?t. The shoe features Air jordan shoes different shades of brown, silver and black. We are not s?r of the release date, but you guys informed.Whether you wish to attend posh, air-conditioned and fashionable, or sporty, stylish and sporty, you can accept Air Jordan 14 to decorate your collocation.Air Jordan Retro 14 XIV - White / Black / Red features rubber sole for durability,Max Air unit in heel for soft landings that feel Women's Adirondack Boot II theoffers high quality leather for comfort and durability.its written by jordanera on 12.05
ugg boots
men ugg boots
ugg boots
men ugg boots
- Messaggi : 236
Data di iscrizione : 22.07.10
Pagina 1 di 1
Permessi di questa sezione del forum:Non puoi rispondere agli argomenti in questo forum


text:
Real Estate Mogul Predicts Big Apple Market Will Rebound First
Opportunity For 'Savvy Investors'
It's not surprising that Hirschfeld believes the New York area, where his entire portfolio is located, will be the first to rebound. But his experience there may also allow him to see opportunities when others can not. In fact, Hirschfeld may not be that far off the mark. The Urban Land Institute warns that New York will see vacancy rates skyrocket into the mid teens, office rents plummet 40% and co-op prices drop 25% in its 2010 market forecast. But it also says that "New York offers savvy investors opportunity and more affordable costs over the long term."
The owner of the J&R Music Center, Hotel Pennsylvania, the Manhattan Mall and the Park Avenue Court apartments, Hirschfeld is betting New York will recover before other areas of the country because in his view, the region didn't indulge as much in over-development as did places like Las Vegas and Miami.
"New York didn't suffer the tremendous over-development because the cost of entry into this market is so high," he explains. The high construction costs and the wherewithal needed to obtain all the necessary permits prevent many speculators from coming in and developing properties in Manhattan.
Having Deep Pockets Helps
Those barriers give well-financed industry players an advantage during times of crisis like now. Hirschfeld says that since he resisted buying properties or starting new projects when the market was peaking between 2005 to 2008, his company did not become loaded down with debt. Nor was he stuck owning properties that are now worth significantly less than they were just a few years ago.
While he admits his high profile partnership with the Trump organization to develop the West Side Penn Yards "is delayed now for several years," that disappointment hasn't hurt the company financially. Hirschfeld says he is receiving less rent for the same spaces he did a few years ago, but not having additional debt has allowed his firm's cost structure to stay low enough to remain profitable.
"Now I'm looking at buying projects from banks that are foreclosing on some of the very properties I didn't buy [back] then," he says.
'Avoiding Things That Are Over-Priced'
His guiding principle in deal-making: "Looking for value when we make purchases and avoiding things that are over-priced."
Hirschfeld wouldn't say which properties he was negotiating to snatch up at distressed prices, but he said he is already buying land in the New York market again. The reason? It has become cheap because almost no one will finance it, he says. He also said he is planning to renovate and upgrade some of his existing properties with state-of-the-art mechanics and interior finishes in order to attract higher rents when the market turns.
When looking at investment opportunities, Hirschfeld said residential is the healthiest area of real estate because the need for housing is perpetual. He feels commercial, which will benefit when jobs return, is the next strongest area, followed by hotel, which is benefiting from strong tourism. As prices continue to drop in 2010, he suggests individuals look for opportunities to buy property in Manhattan at a discount while they can.
"If people want to get their foot in the water," he said "They can find a single apartment to buy that they can rent out. Now there is good value in doing that."


text:
Find us on:
The main objectives of the Alabama Department of Public Health are to serve the people of Alabama by assuring conditions in which they can be healthy. The Department is organized into bureaus that focus on a number of health-related issues, including immunization, emergency preparedness, emergency medicine, HIV/AIDS, injury prevention, radiation control, health care facilities, prescription drug monitoring program, WIC, and others.
Review Date: Tuesday, December 06, 2011
List reviewed web resources
The purpose of the Division of Public Health is to use the best scientific knowledge to set public policy, and assure provision of services, which guarantee the health of all Alaskans, that they may live free lives with optimal well-being. The following sections are included in the division: Director's Office, Emergency Programs, Epidemiology, Women's, Children's & Family Health, Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion, Health Planning & Systems Development, State Laboratory, State Medical Examiner's Office, Public Health Nursing and Vital Statistics.
Review Date: Monday, December 05, 2011
The Arizona Department of Health Services administers mental health, disease control, environmental health, and family health services in Arizona. The Office of Health Education provides technical assistance and consultation to health education activities throughout the State, develops and disseminates health education materials, conducts workshops to train health educators and other health professionals, operates a public health reference library and a free media-loan library, offers CD-Rom database searching to general public including training, and sponsors health education conferences.
Review Date: Monday, August 29, 2011
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) mission is to promote public health policies and practices that assure a healthy quality of life for Arkansans. ADH is comprised of ten business units, including five public health regions that support services provided in 94 local health units across the state. ADH offers services focused on six priority areas that include: providing personal health services in local health clinics and in the homes of qualified patients who are acutely, chronically or terminally ill; educating and monitoring industries that impact the public's health, such as food service, water systems, individual sewage systems, and health facilities; providing guidance, leadership and technical assistance to local Hometown Health Improvement Initiatives working to improve the health of communities; promoting healthy behaviors through the Healthy Arkansas Initiative; responding to public health emergencies through bioterrorism preparedness, communicable disease, and emergency response programs; and monitoring and investigating public health trends and problems.
Review Date: Wednesday, October 14, 2015
The California Department of Public Health was established by Senate Bill 162 on July 1, 2007 within the existing Health and Human Services Agency. The goals of the California Department of Public Health are to improve access to quality public health services, to improve health outcomes and to reduce health care costs through prevention with services such as disease screenings and vaccinations, and patient safety initiatives.
Colorado Department of Human Services consists of over 7,500 county or state employees dedicated to providing human services to Colorado residents. It provides services through 63 county or district departments of social services, 2 State Maternal Health Institutes, 10 Youth Corrections Facilities, 5 Nursing Homes, 28 Vocational Rehabilitation Offices, 3 regional Centers for persons with developmental disabilities, and numerous community-based public and private providers. In addition CDHS contracts with several agencies to provide human services. CDHS also administers and provides oversight for a variety of federally funded programs. The Department has five goals, or desired outcomes, for the individuals and families who receive services. they are: economic self-sufficiency; family and community connections; health and rehabilitation; independent living; and safety.
Review Date: Tuesday, August 30, 2011
The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is charged with protecting and maintaining the health and environment of the citizens of Colorado. The Department has 13 main health and environment divisions including Family Health Services; Disease Control and Environmental Epidemiology; Consumer Protection; Hazardous Materials and Waste Management; Water and Air Pollution Control; Radiation Control; Health Statistics and Vital Records; Health Facilities; the Rocky Flats Program (coordinates the state's oversight of the Rocky Flats nuclear weapons plant northwest of Denver); Emergency Medical Services; Laboratory Division -- chemistry, microbiology, alcohol testing, and newborn screening sections, and a toxicology program; and the Division of Prevention Programs.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) is the state's leader in public health policy and advocacy. The agency is the center of a comprehensive network of public health services, and is a partner to local health departments for which it provides advocacy, training and certification, technical assistance and consultation, and specialty services such as risk assessment that are not available at the local level. The agency is a source of accurate, up-to-date health information to the Governor, the Legislature, the federal government and local communities; this information is used to monitor the health status of Connecticut's residents, set health priorities and evaluate the effectiveness of health initiatives. The agency is a regulator focused on health outcomes, maintaining a balance between assuring quality and administrative burden on the personnel, facilities and programs regulated. The agency is a leader on the national scene through direct input to federal agencies and the United States Congress.
Review Date: Friday, April 01, 2011
The mission of the Delaware Health and Social Services (DHSS) is to protect and enhance the health of the people of Delaware by working together with others; addressing issues that affect the health of Delaware; keeping track of the State's health; promoting positive lifestyles; responding to critical health issues and disasters; and promoting the availability of health services.
Review Date: Wednesday, July 29, 2015
The District of Columbia Department of Health provides an extensive range of health care services, human services, and information materials. Direct health services include blood tests, cardiac and chest clinics, dental services, eye clinics, tuberculosis clinics, diabetic screening, and venereal disease clinics, among others. Alcohol and drug abuse prevention and treatment activities are provided by the Department. Child services include a disabled children's unit, child abuse prevention and control, day care services, and assistance for children with speech problems. Maternal and child health services, geriatric services, school health services, and mental health services are provided by the Department. The Department also maintains a rape and sexual assault crisis center, a suicide prevention line, and an information and referral center. The Department maintains hotlines for child abuse and neglect, drug emergency, families and children in trouble, poison control, protective services, rape crisis center, suicide prevention, and AIDS.
The mission of the Florida Department of Public Health is to protect, promote & improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, & community efforts. Florida's public health and related agencies take on three main roles:
1) Health Protection - Environmental conditions, some occurring naturally and others manmade, have an effect upon the well-being of Florida's inhabitants. These effects are often of such magnitude and complexity that only government can mount an adequate response. Contamination of the air, ground, water, and food may cause disease or death. Public health tries to prevent or contain such contamination.
2) Health Promotion and Disease Prevention - Prevention is the key to success in public health. Health promotion and education programs are designed to inform individuals about positive ways in which they can preserve or restore their own health-smoking cessation, moderation in alcohol consumption, proper diet and exercise, wearing seat belts,, etc. Disease intervention programs work to stop the transmission of diseases from a carrier to others by immunizing people against certain diseases, treating new cases as they occur and isolating carriers if necessary, and finding and testing people who have been in contact with an infected patient to administer the proper treatment before the disease becomes contagious.
3) Health Treatment - Health care of the sick and disabled is a role that public health undertakes when individuals are too poor or otherwise lack access to health care services.
Review Date: Thursday, August 20, 2015
The Georgia Division of Public Health is responsible for the administration and delivery of extensive health care services and public health functions. The Division's services include child health, dental health, family services, immunizations, maternal and infant care, the WIC program (nutrition services for women, infant and children), sewage/water/institutional inspections, food service inspections, sexually transmitted disease control, AIDS prevention and surveillance, TB control, stroke and heart attack prevention programs, diabetes program, older adult and rehabilitation programs. Children's medical services, nutrition, pharmaceutical services, occupational health and injury control, laboratory services, emergency health, the primary health care system, environmental and infectious disease epidemiological surveillance (including rabies and refugee programs); and vital records and health statistics are also part of the department's function.
The Department of Health (DOH) believes that health, that optimal state of physical, mental, social and environmental well-being, is a right and responsibility of all of Hawaii's people. The DOH aims to prevent disease and injury, promotes health and well-being, healthy lifestyles and workplaces, and the strength and integrity of families and communities. The DOH ensures that core public health functions - assessment, policy, and assurance - are implemented or maintained; federal mandates, including court-ordered settlements are satisfied; resources are directed at those problems that pose the greatest risk to the public's health and the environment; appropriate and cost-effective resources are dispersed geographically and the health department is the service provider of last resort for uninsurable populations and where there is no other satisfactory alternative.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare (DHW) was created in 1974 to provide for the health and human services needs of the people of Idaho. The DHW offers programs that deal with complex social, economic and individual issues, often helping people in crisis situations. The programs are designed to strengthen families and promote self-reliance.
Review Date: Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is responsible for protecting the state's 12.4 million residents, as well as countless visitors, through the prevention and control of disease and injury. The Department's nearly 200 programs touch virtually every age, aspect and cycle of life. Some of the services provided by the IDPH are vaccinations to protect children against disease; testing to assure the safety of food, water and drugs; licensing to ensure quality health care in hospitals and nursing homes; investigations to control the outbreak of infectious diseases; collection and evaluation of health statistics to develop prevention and regulatory programs; screening newborns for genetic diseases; programs to meet the special health needs of women. Combined, these vital programs and services make up Illinois' public health system, a system that bears major responsibility for the quality of life in the state.
Review Date: Wednesday, January 11, 2012
The Indiana State Department of Health supports Indiana's economic prosperity and quality of life by promoting, protecting and providing for the health of Hoosiers in their communities. The Department is also responsible for the administration of two special institutions--the Indiana Veterans' Home and the Soldiers' and Sailors' Children's Home. The Indiana Family Helpline links residents with maternal and child health services, WIC services, and other support services throughout Indiana.
Review Date: Tuesday, June 21, 2011
The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) partners with local public health, policymakers, health care providers, businesses and many others to fulfill our mission of promoting and protecting the health of Iowans. IDPH is organized into six divisions and the Director's office. The director is the spokesperson and advocate for public health in Iowa and acts as a liaison to local boards of health, local public health agencies, health care providers, and consumers. The director also represents the department in a variety of national organizations and works with policymakers at the local, state, national and international levels. The other divisions include: The Iowa Dental Board, the Iowa Board of Medicine, the Iowa Board of Nursing, the Iowa Board of Pharmacy, the Office of the State Medical Examiner, and the State Board of Health.
Review Date: Tuesday, April 19, 2016
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment was created in 1974 to replace the Kansas State Board of Health, established in 1885. The Department consists of the Office of the Secretary with all supporting services, a Division of Health with eight bureaus, the Center for Health Equity and the Center for Performance Management, and a Division of Environment with six bureaus and six regional offices. There are two support bureaus -- Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics and the Kansas Health and Environmental Laboratory -- which provide information resource management and laboratory assistance to the other divisions and the general public. The Office of Vital Statistics, within the Epidemiology and Public Health Informatics is responsible for registering births, deaths, marriages and divorces and issuing appropriate certificates.
Review Date: Thursday, January 31, 2013
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) is home to most of the state's human services and health care programs, including Medicaid, the Department for Community Based Services and the Department for Public Health. The CHFS consists of several agencies with various functions from internal administration to programs and direct services. The CHFS offers programs and services for seniors, families, adults and children.
The mission of the Department of Health and Hospitals(DHH) is to protect and promote health and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all citizens of the State of Louisiana. The DHH fulfills its mission through direct provision of quality services, the development and stimulation of services of others, and the utilization of available resources in the most effective manner.
The Maine Department of Health and Human Services provides an array of health and human services to the State's citizens. The Department is divided into a number of bureaus and units, including: Elder and Adult Services, Child and Family Services, Family Independence, Medical Services and Health. The latter administers the Department's public health services. Some of its divisions include: Health Promotion and Education, Child Health, Disease Control, Public Health Nursing, Health Engineering and Dental Health. The Department is divided into three regions, with local offices throughout the State.
Review Date: Thursday, July 30, 2009
The mission of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene is to protect and promote the health of the public by creating healthy people in healthy communities; to strengthen partnerships between state and local governments, the business community and all health care provides in Maryland; and to build a world class organization grounded in the principles of quality and learning, accountability, cultural sensitivity and efficiency. The Health care delivery system in Maryland consists of public and private hospitals, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, home health care services, hospices, providers (such as physicians, dentists, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants) health educators, other health professionals, and many others.
Review Date: Thursday, March 17, 2016
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) is mandated by State law to "maintain, protect, and improve the health and well being of the people." To do this, DHP is divided into a central office in Boston, five district health offices and four public health hospitals located throughout the State, and the State Laboratory Institute. Major health related offices within DPH are: Family and Community Health, Substance Abuse Services, HIV/AIDS, Environmental Health, Communicable Diseases, Health Statistics, Hospitals, and Health Quality Systems. Several management, planning, and legal affairs offices are also a part of the DPH organization. A number of toll-free numbers for Massachusetts are operated by programs of the Department.
The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is one of 18 principal departments of state government. The department, the largest in state government, is responsible for health policy and management of the state's publicly-funded health service systems. An estimated 1.5 million Michigan residents will receive services this year that are provided with total or partial support from MDCH. The department was created by an executive order issued on January 31, 1996 by Michigan Governor John Engler. The executive order consolidated the Department of Public Health, the Department of Mental Health and the Medical Services Administration, the state's Medicaid agency. The Office of Drug Control Policy and the Office of Services to the Aging were consolidated with MDCH in subsequent executive orders.
Review Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2009
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) is responsible for protecting, maintaining and improving the health of Minnesotans. The department operates programs in the areas of disease prevention and control, health promotion, community public health, environmental health, health care policy, and registration of health care providers. The department is divided into two bureaus: the Health Systems and Special Populations Bureau which includes the Divisions of Community Health Services, Family Health, Health policy and Systems Compliance, and Facility and Provider Compliance; and the Health Protection Bureau includes the Divisions of Environmental Health, Disease Prevention and Control, Public Health Laboratory, and Finance and Administration. Under he Office of the Commissioner are the offices of Public Affairs; Policy; Minority Health; Budget and Legislation; and Human Resource Management.
Review Date: Wednesday, September 22, 2010
The Mississippi State Department of Health aims to assist every community in the state to achieve the best possible health status for its citizens. The agency carries out this mission through investing in the core functions of public health: assessing health status indicators of the state's population to document each community's health needs and conduct epidemiological and other studies of specific health problems; developing and promoting public health policy and supporting strategies that protect the state's citizens from unsanitary conditions related to the environment and that emphasize healthy lifestyles and the prevention of morbidity and mortality associated with disease and illness; and assuring access to essential health services. The State Department of Health includes four offices, in addition to the Office of the State Health Officer, 9 multi-county public health districts, and 82 county health departments.
Review Date: Tuesday, February 05, 2013
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services plans, coordinates, and delivers a variety of public health services to Missourians. These services, many of which are delivered by agencies or organizations funded by the Department, include maternal and, child health care, and services for children with special health care needs; dental health care services; immunization programs; sexually transmitted disease control programs; tuberculosis control programs; community sanitation and radiological health programs; support for emergency medical services and training for personnel; epidemiology and disease surveillance; community health nursing and home health care programs; laboratory services; licensing of hospitals; licensing of health care and day care facilities; chronic disease prevention programs; and nutrition education.
Review Date: Thursday, October 27, 2011
The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services improves and protects the health, well-being and self-reliance of all Montanans by implementing public health programs and enforcing public health laws and regulations. It assesses health care needs and problems, develops and implements programs to meet health needs and alleviate problems in cooperation with local and private sources, and evaluates current problems. The Department has four broad goals: all Montana children are wanted, safe, and living in healthy families; all Montanans are healthy and safe from injury and have access to high-quality health care; all Montanans have the tools they need to be as self-sufficient as possible; and all Montanans can contribute to these goals through community giving and service.
On March 15, 2007, Governor Dave Heineman signed into law Legislative Bill 296, which merged the three agencies of the Health and Human Services System into one Department of Health and Human Services. The change became effective July 1, 2007.
The organizational structure of the Department of Health and Human Services includes a Chief Executive Officer who is appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the members of the Legislature.
The department has six divisions: Behavioral Health, Children and Family Services, Developmental Disabilities, Medicaid and Long-Term Care, Public Health, and Veterans' Homes.
The directors of the divisions are also appointed by the Governor and subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the members of the Legislature. The division directors report to the CEO. A Chief Operating Officer, in charge of Operations that support the Department, also reports to the CEO.
The Division of Behavioral Health administers state hospitals for the mentally ill and publicly funded community-based behavioral health services.
The Division of Children and Family Services includes protection and safety programs and services (child welfare, juvenile services), economic and family support programs and services, and the service areas.
The Division of Developmental Disabilities consists of the Beatrice State Developmental Center and publicly-funded community-based developmental disabilities services.
The Division of Medicaid and Long-Term Care administers the Medicaid program, aging services, and other related programs and services.
The Division of Public Health includes preventive and community health programs and services, regulation and licensure of health-related professions and occupations, regulation and licensure of health care facilities, and health care services.
The Division of Veterans' Homes includes the Eastern Nebraska Veterans' Home, Grand Island Veterans' Home, Norfolk Veterans' Home and Western Nebraska Veterans' Home.
Operations areas report to the Chief Operating Officer and include Communications and Legislative Services, Financial Services, Human Resources and Staff Development, Information Systems and Technology, Legal and Regulatory Services, and Support Services.
The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) promotes the health and well-being of Nevadans and visitors through the delivery and facilitation of essential services. The goal of DHHS is to strengthen families, protect public health, and assist individuals in achieving the highest level of self-sufficiency. Contact DHHS with any questions or specific needs.
Review Date: Thursday, October 13, 2011
The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the largest agency in New Hampshire state government, responsible for the health, safety and well being of the citizens of New Hampshire. DHHS provides services for individuals, children, families and seniors and administers programs and services such as mental health, developmental disability, substance abuse and public health. This is accomplished through partnerships with families, community groups, private providers, other state and local government entities, and many citizens throughout the State who help make New Hampshire a special place in which to live.
Review Date: Thursday, April 24, 2014
The mission of the State of New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services is to foster accessible and high-quality health and senior services to help all people in New Jersey achieve optimal health, dignity and independence. The department works to prevent disease, promote and protect well-being at all life stages and encourage informed choices that enrich quality of life for individuals and communities. The department seeks to accomplish its mission through leadership, collaborative partnerships, accountability, advocacy - especially for the neediest people - and a strong commitment to informing and serving the diverse consumers of this state.
Review Date: Thursday, June 26, 2008
The New Mexico Department of Health coordinates the delivery of health services through its 50 local health offices. Services are generally free of charge and include health screening, counseling, information, referrals, education, limited medical care, and follow-up in the following areas: cancer prevention, tuberculosis, risk reduction, immunizations, venereal disease, reproductive services, prenatal care, child health, nutrition education, worksite health promotion, and children's medical services. The Division also operates the state's Office of Epidemiology, provides emergency medical services systems support, and coordinates chronic disease prevention and control programs, provides technical support for community based clinics, and develops and supports school health services, records vital statistics, and provides consultation to service providers. The Division conducts health education programs and health promotion for the disabled.
The New York Department of Health ensures that high quality appropriate health services are available to all New York State residents at a reasonable cost. Department functions and responsibilities include: promoting and supervising public health activities throughout New York State; ensuring high quality medical care in a sound and cost effective manner for all residents; reducing infectious diseases such as food and waterborne illnesses, hepatitis, HIV, meningitis, sexually transmitted infections, tuberculosis, vaccine-preventable diseases and chronic disabling illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and respiratory diseases; directing a variety of health-related homeland security measures in conjunction with the New York State Office of Homeland Security. As part of this mission, the Department works with the State's health care community to ensure appropriate readiness and response to potential health threats.
Review Date: Monday, October 05, 2015
The mission of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is to serve the people of North Carolina by enabling individuals, families, and communities to be healthy and secure, and to achieve social and economic well-being. To achieve this mission the Department will: provide comprehensive and coordinated services for prevention, intervention, assistance, education, and empowerment; ensure equal access to services; be accountable for achieving meaningful results; continuously improve service delivery by involving citizens; and support and develop employees as diverse, invaluable resources.
The primary goal of the North Dakota Department of Health is to ensure that the state is a healthy place to live and that each person has an equal opportunity to enjoy good health. The Department is composed of six sections. The Health Resources Section is divided into the divisions of Emergency Medical Services, Health Facilities and Food and Lodging. The Medical Services Section consists of Division of Disease Control and Microbiology as well as the state forensic examiner and the field medical officers. The Community Health Section includes the divisions of Family Health, Injury Prevention and Control, Nutrition and Physical Activity, Cancer Prevention and Control, Chronic Disease, and Tobacco Prevention and Control. The Environmental Health Section consists of Chemistry, Air Quality, Municipal Facilities, Waste Management, and Water Quality. Other sections Administrative Support and Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Review Date: Friday, June 27, 2008
The Ohio Department of Health coordinates and plans health services, offers consultation and technical assistance to service providers, directly provides a variety of health services, and conducts public and professional education programs. Consultation is available to local agencies and providers on program development in the areas of maternal and child health, disabled children, environmental health, preventive medicine, radiation protection, sanitation, school health education, and emergency medical services. Directly provided health care services include maternal and child nutrition, outreach and team management for children with disabilities, demonstration dental health prevention projects. The Department operates special programs involving hemophilia, venereal disease, immunizations, veterinary health, lead poisoning, and sudden infant death syndrome.
The Oklahoma Department of Health provides consultation, information, and diagnostic and treatment services through programs in local health departments and through its central office. The Health Education and Information Service maintains a film library and maintains and distributes a comprehensive library of pamphlets, booklets, and brochures. This service also prepares public service announcements and news releases on Department services and health problems and implements campaigns against health problems. The Information and Referral line answers questions relating to health and provides referrals to the proper agencies and resources; it also administers the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Other programs include Maternal and Child Health Service; Dental Service; Occupational health, domiciliary facilities inspections, chronic disease, and emergency medical care.
The Pennsylvania Department of Health's mission is identified through its slogan "....in pursuit of good health," and all its activities are defined by its functions: health needs assessment, resource development, assuring access to health care, promoting health and disease prevention, assuring quality, and providing leadership in the area of health planning and policy development. The department is responsible for planning and coordinating health resources throughout the Commonwealth. It licenses and regulates a variety of health facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, ambulatory surgical facilities and other in-patient and out-patient facilities. In addition, the Department supports outreach, education, prevention and treatment services across a variety of program areas. Grants and subsidies to community-based groups are used to provide essential services to the Commonwealth's citizens including programs for women and children, nutrition, immunization, diagnosis and treatment of certain blood and communicable diseases, cancer control and prevention and the prevention and treatment of substance abuse.
The Department of Health is a multifaceted state agency with broad-ranging public health responsibilities. The vision statement of the Department of Health is for all people in Rhode Island to have the opportunity to live a safe and healthy life in a safe and healthy community. The mission of the department is to prevent disease and to protect and promote the health and safety of the people of Rhode Island. The Department's programs include: Central Management, Office of the State Medical Examiner, Family Health, Health Services Regulation, Environmental Health, Health Laboratories, Disease Prevention and Control, and Substance Abuse. An automated database contains files on vital statistics, health manpower, health facilities, hospital utilization, ambulatory and long-term care, health interview surveys, population, aggregate health expenditures, and statewide cancer information.
Review Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2008
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) was formed in 1973 as the agency responsible for advising the State in matters pertaining to health and the environment. It has the authority to monitor, control, and prevent pollution, unsanitary conditions, and the spread of communicable disease. DHEC's programs focus on personal health services, environmental regulatory activities, and health regulatory activities. Personal health services include maternal and child health care, chronic and communicable disease care, home health care, and migrant health care. SERVICE LIMITATIONS: Materials will be sent free of charge to residents of South Carolina. Sample copies will be sent to out-of-State requestors, except materials for which there is a fee.
Review Date: Monday, April 20, 2009
The mission of the South Dakota Department of Health is to promote, protect and improve the health and well-being of all South Dakotans. The department provides and funds direct health care services such as community health nursing, maternal and child health programs, nutrition programs, children's special health services, communicable disease control, and disease prevention activities. It licenses restaurants and lodging establishments and surveys and licenses/certifies health care facilities such as hospitals, nursing homes, home health agencies and others. It works to improve health services in rural areas through physician recruitment, community assessment, technical assistance and other services. It maintains the state's vital records and its public health laboratory provides medical, environmental and forensics testing.
The Department of Health works to insure the quality care through the licensure and regulation of health professionals, such as doctors, nurses, and dentists, and of health care facilities, such as hospitals and nursing homes. Prevention, intervention and treatment services help those who are at risk for alcohol and other drug problems and those who are chemically dependent. The department also plays a critical role in assuring that personal health care services are available when and where people need them and are accessible despite economic and geographic barriers. The Department provides a variety of services for all age groups through local health departments across the state, ranging from well-child visits and immunizations, to education.
Texas Department of State Health services focus on preventing disease, protecting health, and promoting safe and healthy living. The Department consists of a public health network that includes local, regional, and state offices. Bureaus of the Department include: Human Resources, State Health Data and Policy Analysis, Office of Regional Administrative Services, Community Oriented Primary Care, Dental Health, Women and Children, Chronic Disease Prevention and Control, Communicable Disease Control, Epidemiology, HIV and STD Control, Emergency Management, and Vital Statistics.
The Texas Health and Human Commission (HHSC) provides oversight for the state's health and human services agencies and programs. In addition, HHSC directly administers programs that provide assistance to low-income Texans. HHSC administers and determines eligibility for Medicaid, Food Stamps, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The agency also administers nutritional programs, services for victims of family violence, and programs that provide disaster assistance.
Review Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011
The Utah Department of Health offers health services and protection to Utah residents. The divisions include Community Health Services, Health Care Resources, Health Care Financing, Family Health Services, State Health Laboratory, and State Medical Examiner. The Department of Health sponsors two toll-free hotlines. The Utah Health Line (1-800-472-4716) provides free information on public health programs, medical services, and health resources, making referrals to the appropriate agency. The Pregnancy Riskline (1-800-822-2229) provides education and counseling about the risks of drug and environmental exposures during pregnancy.
The Vermont Department of Health (VDH) is the state's public health agency. The Department provides preventive and promotional maternal and child health services; prenatal care; diagnostic, counseling, referral, and followup services for children suspected of developmental disabilities; rehabilitation services for handicapped children; an early periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment (EPSDT) program for Medicaid-eligible persons under age 22; immunization assistance programs; cancer prevention and control services; nutrition services; dental health services; training programs for emergency medical technicians, occupational and radiological health services; environmental protection; food and lodging facility inspection; communicable disease control; toxicology services, and training programs and technical assistance for town health officers.
Review Date: Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Virginia Department of Health is an umbrella organization responsible for comprehensive planning and delivery of a wide variety of public health programs and family health services. Specific programs and services include water sanitation management, dissemination of toxic substance information, immunizations, disease control, supplemental nutrition programs, dental health services, maternal and child health services, public health clinics, home health services, crippled children services, and implementation of health promotion programs.
The Washington State Department of Health has responsibility for the administration of public health programs for Washington. The following community-based programs and services are funded or provided: communicable and chronic disease epidemiology; vital records; AIDS education, testing, and surveillance; primary care; laboratory services; radiation protection; adult dental services;immunization programs; venereal diseases programs and services; tuberculosis programs and services; environmental services; emergency medical services programs; health education; birth defects detection and counseling services; diabetes services; and hypertension programs. The Division's responsibilities include the regulation of hospitals and health facilities. Basic and refresher training programs for emergency medical technicians and paramedics are offered.
The Bureau for Public Health directs public health activities at all levels within the state to fulfill the core functions of public health: the assessment of community health status and available resources; policy development resulting in proposals to support and encourage better health; and assurance that needed services are available, accessible, and of acceptable quality.
Review Date: Monday, July 14, 2014
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services administers health programs to promote the health of Wisconsin residents in the areas of maternal and child health, dental health, and disease (acute, communicable and chronic) prevention. Other Division services include facilities regulation, health information and referral, statistical data gathering, vital records and medical assistance programs. Educational pamphlets are provided on request to educators and residents of Wisconsin.
Review Date: Tuesday, February 16, 2016
The Wyoming Department of Health administers and provides services in vital statistics, health planning, community mental health, dental health, preventive medicine, and child health. Administrative services include program evaluation, medical facility licensing, and program management services. Direct service programs include a film library, school dental screening, continuing education, immunizations, laboratory tests, and venereal disease control.
Review Date: Wednesday, April 13, 2016
Note: Documents in PDF format require the Adobe Acrobat Reader®. If you experience problems with PDF documents, please download the latest version of the Reader®.
Language Assistance Available


text:
Sven-Eric Liedman—author of a major new Marx biography, "A World to Win:The Life and Works of Karl Marx"—in conversation with Adam Tooze and Clara Mattei.
Filmed at Verso Books in Brooklyn, on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Marx, May 5, 2018.
Sven-Eric Liedman, Professor Emeritus of the History of Ideas at the University of Gothenburg, has been reading and writing about Karl Marx for over fifty years. He is the author of "A World to Win: The Life and Works of Karl Marx": https://www.versobooks.com/books/2711...
Adam Tooze holds the Shelby Cullom Davis chair of History at Columbia University and serves as Director of the European Institute. He is currently at work on a history of the global financial crisis 2008-2018, which will appear in time for the anniversary in September 2018. He has written and reviewed for the Financial Times, the Guardian, the London Review of Books, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the New York Review of Books, the Nation, and others.
Clara Mattei is Assistant Professor of Economics at The New School for Social Research.


text:
Africa Business Plan Contest's Second Year
KLI, a New York-based private equity firm kicked off it's contest last year by targeting students who are in their second year in Master of Business Administration programs at leading U.S. Business Schools. The contestants have an interest in Entrepreneurship, Emerging Markets, and specifically Africa.
[Business News]
MBA students think big; a few with grand and practical ideas will walk away with a $10,000 check when winners of the second annual Knox Lawrence International's ("KLI") second Annual Africa Business Plan competition are selected next month.
Submission came from teams at the nation's top tier University MBA programs. The competition committee is in the process of selecting the top proposals. Finalists will meet at Columbia University on April 10 for the selection.
KLI, a New York-based private equity firm kicked off it's contest last year by targeting students who are in their second year in Master of Business Administration programs at leading U.S. Business Schools. The contestants have an interest in Entrepreneurship, Emerging Markets, and specifically Africa.
"I'm very excited to see this competition move into its second year," says Ken Globerman, Executive Chairman of the Competition. He adds that there are "several enhancements which build upon its first year success."
Competition chairman, Gregory Altman, notes, "We aim to provide the students with an eye into the process that a private equity investor uses to assess potential investments. Those reaching the final round benefit from exposure and further evaluation by additional practitioners in relevant fields."
Finalists will be chosen at the end of this month and judging will take place at the Columbia event. Those selected contestants will be invited, travel expenses paid, to present their plans to our panel of judges in the hopes of being awarded the $10,000 grand prize. The second and third place teams will be awarded a $3,500 and $1,500 prize respectively.
This year's pool of business plans propose ventures involving healthcare, energy, education, agro-processing, aquaculture, manufacturing, social networking, venture finance, logistics, and natural products - all promising sectors across Sub-Saharan Africa. In the process, students gain valuable experience on developing business plans that address emerging markets.
Last year's winner, team Mozergy from the Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan, conceptualized a business plan using Jatropha to produce biofuel feedstock in Mozambique. The team utilized the grand prize of $10,000 to help fund an extended survey mission to the country to further develop its plan.
A profile of the contestants and their proposed ventures will be presented on the Competition website, http://abpcompetition.knoxlawrence.com
Latest comments
- Ann GarrisonFebruary 22,2018 @ 08:03 PM
I think you have "Filtered HTML" turned on here. If you switch to "Full HTML," it will probably...
googletag.pubads().definePassback('6785150/BENN/BlackStarNews', [[300,250]]).setTargeting('fold',['BTF']).display();


text:
The tests supported by Valab®
Basic tests and additional tests
The tests supported by Valab are organised into two main categories, "basic tests " and "additional tests". The basic tests belong to the 4 main specialities proposed in the standard Valab package (Biochemistry, Hematology, Coagulation, Blood gases). The additional tests are created with the Auto-Expert module, an increasing number of VALAB-certified additional tests are available for download from this web site. Note also that the Auto-Expert module provided with Valab allows users to create their own additional tests if they wish to.
Display the tests according to your criteria
Choose your display criteria (category, speciality, type) and click Search to display the tests you want to see. You can also click at any time on the specialities listed in the right part of the page to display the corresponding tests.
Category : Basic test | Speciality : Hematology | Type : All
Number of tests: 25


text: Find local farms and local food with this Local Food Guide for Western North Carolina and the Southern Appalachians. Get connected with fresh local food, the farmers who grow it, and the markets, grocers, and restaurants committed to using locally grown products. Visit asapconnections.org to view our print version of the guide online or to find pickup locations for a copy.


text:
Just upgraded system and rebooted as linux-3.6.4 was installed. Now chromium won't open. I tried opening from a terminal and I get
Segmentation fault
. I tried installing google-chrome from AUR but get the same thing. Anyone else having this problem?
Edit: I just realized that nautilus is doing the same thing! I'll upgrade my test machine with Arch at work to see if it has any problems.
Last edited by senorsmile (2012-11-01 04:49:22)
I just had the same problem. In my case the root partition was full (because of the pacman cache) and because of that some things were not starting up properly.
It is crashing for me too for some months now. I thought it was going to be automagically solved with some update, but I have seen like 4 chromium updates and it is still the same. I have done this:
% pacman -Rscn chromium
% sudo updatedb
% locate chromium (and removed every file found)
% pacman -S chromium
% chromium
[1] 9317 segmentation fault (core dumped) chromium
What is happening?
Last edited by Slurp (2012-12-26 14:54:11)
Stop the world, I get off...
Got the same issue with google-chrome-dev for weeks...
I've never found any solution.
So i switched back to google-chrome-beta, which is working fine.
I installed that one (google-chrome-beta) and it does exactly the same So unlucky...
Stop the world, I get off...
Kinda same here (it worked properly about an hour before), but bit different. It works until a keypress. Chrome and Chromium, stable and beta.
Now I have to use UZBL...
update: I'm getting more and more crashes. All says just segmentation fault, but with gksu I got this:
(gksu:2443): Gtk-WARNING **: Failed to set text from markup due to error parsing markup: Error on line 1 char 57: Element 'b' was closed, but the currently open element is 'big'
I don't know what it means, so don't know that it's related or not.
Last edited by freyr (2013-01-06 05:38:55)
What, so everyone's supposed to sleep every single night now? You realize that nighttime makes up half of all time?
Who of you uses 64 bits? I do.
Stop the world, I get off...
Who of you uses 64 bits? I do.
Me, too. But I've just re-partitioned my disk and reinstalled the system, because I needed to install a Windows, too and it can't be done on a disk with GPT. I don't have any problems now. Do you use a disk with GPT or MBR? Don't know if it could have an effect or not...
Last edited by freyr (2013-01-09 12:10:12)
What, so everyone's supposed to sleep every single night now? You realize that nighttime makes up half of all time?
I use GPT, but it was working fine, just after some update it started to fail Goodbye Chromium, was nice while it lasted.
Stop the world, I get off...
I have troubles with firefox, chromium and thunderbird. Opera crashes to but it seems to be different (I'll try to find out).
I'm on 64bit with GPT, although this shouldn't be a problem. What is interesting is that I use btrfs, could this be a problem?
After a full system upgrade last week, I too can no longer launch Chromium:
$ chromium
Segmentation fault (core dumped)
$ chromium --version
Segmentation fault (core dumped)
Any ideas as to how I can debug this problem better? How do I increase the verbosity? Where is the core dumped to? I really enjoyed Chromium (I'm running GNOME 3, the GNOME browser is unusably slow be comparison even on a beast of a machine - I think it's fundamentally broken) but now I am relegated to using a less performant browser.
Last edited by dawid.loubser (2013-03-01 09:38:38)
I wonder whether there is already a solution as I have the same problem...
Does everybody still have this problem? :__(
Stop the world, I get off...
I solved it with a simple reinstall...
For me, this problem was the $HOME/.config directory was a symlink to nowhere - a mistake in a script I use to manage dotfiles.
Maybe try deleting the $HOME/.config/chromium directory and try again.
I solved it by removing ~/.pki
Stop the world, I get off...
I solved it by removing ~/.pki
Thank you . I've been messing around for two days trying to figure out why everything is crashing around me... This solved the issue.
Now I just need to go back and clean the mess I made...


text:
Israelis love their armchair activism. As long as they don't have to do anything more than click their mouse, they are willing to show their support. This is particularly evident in the sheer number of people willing to join a so-called online protest, in comparison to how few are willing to put on their coat and walk to the city center for an actual real-world protest.
Armchair activism has a particularly disgusting side as it brings out the trigger happiness in people. In light of recent events, dozens of hawkish Facebook groups were created by Israelis, advocating the annihilation of the Gaza strip. All you have to do is click the 'Join' button, and you have instantly shown your degree of 'patriotism'. Here is a selection of those Facebook groups:
- Demolish Gaza (5,155 members)
- Turn the Gaza strip into a parking lot (5,649 members)
- Push Gaza to the sea (3,245 members)
- Erase Gaza (
723+617+529+425+422+358+277+146+124+115+77+23+22 = 3858 members)
[singlepic id=116 w=200 h=303 float=right]In this atmosphere of collective zeal, I think nothing can be more patriotic than watching War, A Rock Opera this coming Wednesday in Tel-Aviv. The show was created by Israeli musician Kobi Vitman based on his ordeals as an IDF reserve infantry soldier during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002, but it was painfully relevant to the 2006 Lebanon War – and even more so now, as the conflict in Gaza escalates into a ground invasion. The collective Israeli memory is notoriously short, and so watching this show is an excellent reminder of what war is really like in a country where every citizen is a soldier.
What: War, A Rock Opera
When: Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at 10:30pm
Where: Tmuna Theatre, 8 Soncino street, Tel Aviv, Israel
Who: Kobi Vitman, Dvir Benedek, Ayelet Robinson, Yaniv Levi
Why: Read my critique